And at the time we bought Berbatov it was reported that Fergie had been after signing him for years.
Berbatov | Fulham player
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Far from panic buy? He cost 30m and he arrived at the final day of the window. That's panic. I don't know what being European champions has anything to do with it. God forbid someone criticizes SAF a little bit because no one said the same thing at the time and hasn't changed his mind since.
I don't think Welbeck has been better. He's been good enough to warrant a start but he hasn't been better. I like for my strikers to score. Fact is that Welbeck has been generally wasteful, so has Rooney, whilst Hernandez and Berbatov have been very clinical.
I don't think you can call it a panic buy when we tried to sign him two summers previously - a panic buy suggests we didn't take enough time to identify the right player.
ie. Andy Caroll
We were after him for most of the window though and, as Brwned has said we tried to buy him two seasons earlier. The club and Levy had different prices in mind for Berbatov and both sides wouldn't budge which is why it took until the final day and if not for City's interest I think the final price for him would have been slightly less than £30m (but not much) so I suppose it was a panic buy in the sense that we didn't want City to sign him, but it was entirely different to the panic buys that have happened recently in the sense that we had wanted to sign him for years.
In my head I don't think of it as a panic buy but can see why you think that.
Why wasn't he bought for 30million in June then? That way he'd get to know his team mates, would get a pre-season with the team and would have joined the team before the season actually started.
Wasn't a panic buy. That was like a white trash family winning in the lottery.
Presumably because we thought we would get him for £5-10m cheaper. We had everything going for us: the player was refusing to play for Spurs and wanted to come to United.
Whoever was negotiating must have been rubbing there hands thinking it's only a matter of time until they buckle. Unfortunately City got bought and came into the picture offering £32m+, at this point all pressure on Spurs to sell to us was off and either we matched their valuation or didn't get the player.
We then decided to match their valuation.
He didn't refuse to play. He was dropped. City didn't bid before us. At least not to my knowledge. Their presence didn't influence it. They were a nothing club then. Besides, Berbatov said that he'd never go there.
City being interested did have an effect. Berbatov said he'd never go there but there was still not that much pressure on Spurs to sell once they were interested and they did make an offer over £30m which was accepted (hence why Berbatov was being flown to Manchester in the first place so that he could have talks with City over personal terms) and it was after that when we did agree a fee with Spurs. Things happened as finneh said.
Out of the travelling squad to Amsterdam. Shame, I was hoping he would play. Supposed to have a knock from what I have been reading.
Goodness - if he hasn't traveled due to a knock that is just bad luck. If he hasn't traveled because boss doesn't see a need for him ... ouch.
That's a shame as I'm sure Fergie probably planned to start or at least given him some decent game time in Europa while Welbeck is being selected over him in the league. Might benefit Chicharito with a chance to get back to form I guess.
He's obviously injured.
Being rested due to overexertion
Hello Randy, you miserable git
Ferguson: Berbatov's fit and he'll be here next year.
Let's start again... Good or bad news?
Let's start again... Good or bad news?
We'll we've already nearly pissed 5.2 million down the drain over the last 12 months, might as well give him another year to rot on the bench.
Can't see him staying with our wage bill in mind. I'd like him to stay personally, he's probably the best fourth choice striker in the world, but looking at the latest financial results I wouldn't be too surprised if we release him in the summer. He must be on something like 100k a week which is an awful lot of money for a player who hasn't even played 1000 minutes in this season (though contributing fairly well it has to be said).
Definitely good news. He might not be a regular starter, but he's still a class player to come off the bench.
Eeeehhh great news!!!!
I'm very happy with Rooney, Chicharito, Welbeck and Berbatov.........if Owen is happy as 5th striker then he should stay too.
Because Macheda and W.Keane should go on loan.
We haven't got enough space next year for Owen if we keep Berbatov. And frankly given his injury record it would be entirely pointless to keep him anyway.
So four strikers are enough next season?
I know Owen is injured since November and is injury-prone but if he's happy as 5th striker........i would keep him another season.
I know Owen is injured since November and is injury-prone but if he's happy as 5th striker........i would keep him another season.
I hope Owen fecks off, really haven't liked him and he offers feck all anyways.
Yes!
We have players like Young, Giggs and Nani who can play behind a striker in the event of an injury crisis. But if there is an injury crisis then you can be damn sure that Owen will be one of the players injured so what's the bloody point in keeping him? He's never actually available on the few occasions that we need him. We're tight enough in terms of the 25 man squad limit next season already without Owen taking up one of the spots as a 5th choice striker.
Its ok news. Berbatov no longer fits into the system United plays. On the other hand if he's happy to play bit parts then he's quite useful to have around, I suppose. Fergie likes to have 4 strikers and if you discount Owen then that's what we have.
Good news for United, probably not great news for Berba himself unless things do change in terms of his playing time. Hopefully he gets a start tomorrow, I wouldn't put it past Fergie to start him as a lone striker.
Quality player + quality attitude for United for at least another year - awesome.
Quality player + quality attitude for United for at least another year - awesome.
Great news.
Injuries can and will happen. Just too bad that injuries are the only reason we actually get to see Berbatov.
Injuries can and will happen. Just too bad that injuries are the only reason we actually get to see Berbatov.
I'm delighted with this news, I doubt it will stop the caf regulars speculating that he's going to be sold though.
I can't see how it can possibly be seen as bad news?
Release him? You know that would cost money. That's paying up the rest of the contract. He can be easily sold if we wanted to. And he's on less than 100k. We don't have many players on 100k or more.
People shouldn't be against players who are like this.
Devil's advocate:
1) His wages could be used elsewhere.
2) Continued distraction of being asked why have a 31m player on the bench
3) The games/minutes he is given being 4th choice could go to an up and coming player instead.
Good record when starting as well. People keep saying he only punishes lesser teams, but you need players like that who can unlock teams who put ten men behind the ball etc.
I do think he has deserved more minutes than hes been given.
Great attitude, wouldnt blame him if he wanted to leave, but more than happy if he stays.
I do think he has deserved more minutes than hes been given.
Great attitude, wouldnt blame him if he wanted to leave, but more than happy if he stays.
It's a luxury to have a 100k-a-week striker as fourth choice. It makes even less sense when you consider our financial situation and the losses we are going to make at the end of the season compared to last season.
Are you really naive enough to think there will be no speculation in the summer?
Berbatov himself may request a transfer. I dont think Utd will stand in his way if he does.
A club may put in a silly bid for him, I dont think Utd will refuse a good offer.
Or nothing will happen and next season he will be Carling Cup top scorer
I'm astonished that you lot are taking fergie at his word. He lies, all the time. He swore that veron was staying until the day he left.