Can someone please tell me why did United bring Dong to the club? We have waited nearly three years to see this guy play for the club but when he does, he is so bad it beggers belief how bad he is. He's been at the club for a year now but I have to say, after watching him in the reserves last season and again last night, I've never seen a player so bad at United in all my thirty years of supporting and watching them. I'm really fed-up of crap players been able to stay on at the club while the likes of Guseppi Rossi are sold on. It's a shame. I was watching the reserves against Everton last night and thinking that some of the players on view like, Pique, Gibson and Fraiser Campbell and to me they seem stuck in a rut. Now if you look at the same type of players at Arsenal, there is no comparison. You only need to look at the careers of Fabregas and Pique. The story goes that Wenger wanted Pique and not Fabregas but Fergie got there first because, and I kid you not, he offered him first team football! Now look at their careers. There is no comparing them. One is full of himself, confidence wise and one of the best players in the world in his position. The other has just come back from a season in Spain's La Liga and goes straight into the United reserves. I know it's obsurred but Dong to me is the biggest gripe I have. The cynic in me would say he was brought to the club to sell United tops in China. Because on the evidence so far, it can't be for his talent. He has bloody none!

I'm not sure how Utd do this: players like Rio could hold their position for up to another 7 years. Yet Pique by being back at Utd could be called upon at any moment especially if Rio's loses his form. Pique is at the right age for Utd. It is his call if he wants to wait for his chance or go elsewhere.

Rossi is another example. I don't think Sir Alex wanted to sell him, Rossi wanted first team football. If Rossi had waited one more season he could be claiming his spot now.

Yeah, I think it's fair to say Dong was bought for pure marketing and nothing else (wonder if we've made the £3m back yet?). He looks pretty terrible. But why don't they just send him out on loan to one of the Premiership sides down the bottom end of the table (if anyone wants him) and see how he gets on? At least he'll get used to the rigours of the Premiership. And Keano seems to want Gibson, so why not send him out too? As good as he is (personally I think he's an excellent prospect), he isn't going to get many games in midfield this season.

Dublin Devil,
I agree with your comments on Dongs lack of ability. If someone said "Watch this game because thier are ten professionals playing and one man from out of the crowd and you have to guess who he is." You would unhesitatingly say Dong.
Ferguson said at the start of this month that Dong has improved enormously in the last 12 months. If thats true can you imagine what he must have been like before!! Embarassing isnt the word.

The Pique vs Fabregas comparison is stupid.

If we didn't have two players better than him in our squad, playing the same position, Pique would be starting games, week in, week out. We don't, so he's not.

If Arsenal had better options than Fabregas in midfield he would be playing for their reserves. They don't, so he isn't. It's really quite simple.

Unless you have a rational explanation for SAF might be deliberately blocking Pique's route to the first team? No? Didn't think so.

Pique will get his chance this season. I really, really hope Vida and Rio stay fit all season but chances are they won't. And even if they avoid injuries AND suspensions, Pique will get cup games and possibly a few league games too, if SAF decides to rest a player or two.

I don't give a toss how well he's done in Spain, it will be his performances in a United jersey this season that will dictate whether or not he has a future at the club. FWIW, I think he does, I think himself and Evans will be long-term under-studies/replacements for Rio and Vida. But they will need to patient. That comes with the territory when you play at MUFC.

Agree that Dong still looks very poor. He is improving. But that's not saying much.

IMO, the pick of our reserves this season will be Pique, Lee, Brandy, Martin, Gibson, Hewson and Campbell. I think that, realistically, only Pique and Lee will have much of a chance of ever making the step up to regular first-team football - maybe Brandy too, but that's a VERY long-shot.

People need to get off Dongs back.

He hasn't been at the club a year yet as he only got his work permit in December/January.

When he first arrived at Antwerp he was absolutely awful in his first season, however, once he had settled after one season he was outstanding in the second, and was top goalscorer in the division. He followed on from that the next year with some outstanding performances aswell.

Arriving in England is a whole new experience for him again, so he will need time to settle and adapt, and should be given the time to do so. He should not be judged instantly and miracles expected of him.

Dong didn't play well last night, but in all fairness who did?

It took young Brandy to come on and win the game for them.

Fraizer Campbell has been extremely disappointing upon his return. He looks nothing of the player he was 2 seasons ago. It seems as though he has taken 2 steps back and not 2 forward.

I think Brandy has the potential to be the best player to come through the system since Giggs.

That's good news!
The young Brandy looked the part in the recent Champs Youth trophy succes.
Let's hope that he can make the step further!

on what I've seen of Dong,he is only at United to sell shirts, Brandy will be ready for first team next season,I think Lee could go straight into the first team now he's that good.

Wham6899.....

You don't sell Shirts unless the player is playing and doing the business on the pitch.

One reason Park and Dong were bought was to strengthen Manchester Uniteds status in Asia, but they were also bought because they were seen as good players with good potential, and as I have already said, if the players aren't good and doing the business on the pitch, then they won't sell shirts and their commerical value in Asia will be quite low.

Tevez and Anderson are great players, but they were also bought with the thoughts in mind of breaking into the South American market, which Manchester United have yet to do, as it is such a difficult area to break into commercially.

Fabio and Rafael were also bought with those thoughts in mind.

You can expect Man Utd to go on a South American tour over the course of the next three years.

Red Dawn - well said.
I saw Dong play for China v
USA in San Jose, CA. a few
months back. Dong was impressive, creating for others as well as himself.
USA were much stronger but Dong held his own. The 6 others I was with at this game are also big United fans
and they agreed Dong is one
for the future. As for Dong selling shrts - doesn't that
help the club, I thought this
was a team sport.
Up the Reds,