Both anderson and ronaldo so far missing the start of the season, when are we going to start recruiting new faces it seems that spurs are the only team who are bidding for players, van der vart turned them down recently, but surely he would jump at the chance to join us.

Why are international's, international tournaments, managers and teams always a pain in the rock n roll for United!

Not today's big story. Which is, of course, Everton making the Fletch their top summer transfer priority! Can't believe they'd actually go as high as £4m, though. £35m for Adebayor; £35m for Berbatov; now £4m for the Fletch... the inflation is this summer's market is just plain crazy.

Ronaldo and Anderson to miss the start of the season. CQ is off to Portugal. Lost out on Boswinga and berba/benzema are too expensive. Not much positive coming out of OT this summer.

Why weren't we interested in Jo? Never seen him play, but he sounds like a younger and fitter version of Saha. And that's what we need.

No worries CM is a position of strength with 5 quality players.

It will be a good chance to see him play for Brazil and it would do the world of good if he could come back with a goal to his name!

Shame he misses some of the pre-season tho.

We would be silly to sell fletch without getting in a replacement and he should be kept anyway, players who love the club and dont complain are at a premium, and if we did contemplate selling him not for only 4million anyway, sidwell who's been benched all last season is valued higher.

Don't forget Nani is suspended for the first two games also.

We all knew Anderson was going to the Olympics, so it isn't exactly 'news'.

Robbo,

Fletcher is worth in the region of £8 million, not £4. He is a very underrated player, who never puts a foot wrong when he takes to the pitch, but still gets stick from alot of the fans. If he was a long-haired Brazilian but played indentically to how he does now, you'd all be raving about him, but Darren is just a short back and sides Scottish lad, who cost nothing, so people aren't interested.

People will only start to realise how good he is when he actually leaves United and starts playing regularly for another club.

That said, 'todays top story' as you call it, is just more transfer speculation thrown in to a fill a gap in a newspaper. There is no way the manager would sell him for £4 million. He is only 24 aswell remember.

People are too impatient with regards incoming transfers. United fans are spoilt rotten most summers, especially last, when we signed four players. Fans are expecting that kind of activity every year now, which won't happen, I can assure you of that.

It's not easy to sign players of the required quality, as the majority of them will already be playing for top European sides who won't want to sell, and clubs that may consider selling are going to demand top dollar, even moreso when United come calling.

We won't sign players just for the sake of it either. They have to be right for the club.

I happened to watch again the CL final penalty shoot out last night. Anderson's penalty was a highlight: he didn't place it more thundered it straight in. I I so look foward to watching his progress. Let's just hope he comes back fit.

Robbo, you are hardly a United-fan. Hardly. You cannot claim to be a true fan if you are slating one of the most loyal players in the squad.

Fans moan about players not being loyal, where is fans loyalty to players? In case you didn't know, and you obviously don't, Fletcher is an excellent squad player and to use the words of Fergie himself, a "big game player". Every club needs squad players who are not superstars, and if you think you need only superstars then have a look at Real Madrid. As an added bonus, Darren Fletcher has played immensely in big games, outperforming others who are deemed to be of much higher class.

Robbo, if you don't know what I am talking about I will list every occasion of last season where Fletch was excellent, never mind the seasons before that. Also, has Fletcher said he wants to leave? Has he not on numerous occasion stated his love for United? A true fan supports ALL players in the club (unless they do a Heinze).

Fredrick, wait and see. There is generally a reason why big clubs, like United, are not interested in players which smaller clubs, like City, are. Reports are one thing, watching the players is one thing, but knowing that the player can maintain high quality throughout the season is another thing completely. For United, this last thing is paramount. Also, is the player ready to make the step? Take Kuyt. Liverpool wanted him and their deranged fans thought he was the next Ruud. United knew better and took him for what he was: a glorified right-back.

I see you caught a couple out with your wind-up Robbo! I bet even you were surprised!

The positives.Rio Wes Evra Vida signed extension contracts.Ronaldo hasn't left! We won the CL and EPL.Other clubs think our players are that good they would like to buy them.The transfer kitty has earned another months interest in the bank and the negatives...in reality there are none,only fairy tales dreemed up by the press.UNITED will continue.

Gary Breen/Red Dawn. The by now semi-mythical Cup game at home to Arsenal aside, when exactly was the Fletch "excellent" last season? He only started 11 games, most of them routine early Champions League games or humdrum league matches against lowly opposition. True, he was injured for a bit, but when he was fit, he frequently couldn't make the bench, never mind the starting 11. Fact is the squad has moved on in terms of quality, Fletch is now 24 (ie not a 'promising' youngster), and we need to create space for others to show what they can do (ie Possebon).

The latter of your post solidifies part of my point even further Robbo.

You want to oust Fletcher, who is Scottish, for an extremely raw talent like Possebon, who is Brazilian.

If Possebon was Scottish, he wouldn't even get a mention.

Fletchers appearances were limited, yes, but every time he stepped on the pitch he did an excellent job.

If he played the whole season in midfield I'm sure we would have still won the double.

The thing is, when you are competing against Scholes, Anderson, Hargreaves and Carrick for a spot, it isn't easy.

Just because Darren's appearances are limited doesn't mean he isn't a top player and an important member of the squad. You can bet your boots the manager rates him alot higher than £4 million and won't be sold unless the player himself wants to leave.

GBH and george, I have definately not given up on us signing one or two quality players. But have have this sneaking feeling that we won't build on our European success this time either. We didn't do it in 99 and we'll see if we can do it this time around. Signing Boswinga and Berbatov would send a message of intent that we are ready to defend our two titles.

And the Houllier Moment Award goes to Red Dawn:

'If he was a long-haired Brazilian but played identically to how he does now, you'd all be raving about him'

Sorry mate, couldn't resist!

We've got Carrick, Scholes. Fletcher & Hargreaves for cover in CM so there's no problems here at all.
as for Nani there's Giggs & Park. That's why we won the double last term !!!

Gerry,

Park's injured though.

So that leaves just Giggs available for the start of the season. Maybe Hargreaves will play wide right again.

Fredrik Sweden;The odds are stacked against any team defending the CL,but I'm hopeful.Stam and Johnson didn't carry on at UNITED long after 99.If the back four become even stronger thru playing together and stay fit we have a real chance.Our younger players will hopefully progress.Chelski are very strong and we matched them in the final.We have to believe we can defend the trophy and that will be our objective.We were the only team undefeated in the CL campaign. It's a record the lads will want to continue.Remember the banner;BELIEVE.Believe and keep believing UNITED can do it!

regarding the issue of a raw talent like Rodrigo Possebon...yes he is very much that. but 12 months ago weren't Nani and Anderson the same. from all my time of watching the reserve team, then we have some real raw talents coming through...Drinkwater, Cleverly, Eckersley, Macheda and Rodrigo...

please just give them the opportunity to prove it, when there time comes and for me this is the season Rodrigo makes the step up...regardless of the length of his hair or nationality!!! lol!!

as for Fletch, he has been a great loyal squad member, but perhaps he should be sacrificed at around 8-9 million and he has my thanks and wishes for the future...as does Chris Eagles

After seeing players like Anderson, Ron, Rossi, Park and Rodrigo (Possebon)etc play for only a few minutes in a United shirt I had no doubt that they could be United players. After over a 100 games of Fletcher I still can't understand why he gets to play so often. If Fletcher becomes an obstacle to Possebon getting a chance it will be a crime.

Rodrigo is strong, got a brilliant pass, great vision and looks every bit as good as Anderson but more composed and assured. If you haven't seen him play think of a stronger version of a Xavi or Iniesta, yeah I think he can be that good!

nealbreen;I've only seen a little of Possebon but he looks a bit special.I think he was training with the first team squad toward the end of last season.Saf must want to know if he can cut the mustard with the big boys! Certainly he shows a lot of talent.

Actually, I was unaware Fletchers contract expires next summer, so that would weaken his value considerably.

£4 million would be about right taking that into account.

Darren has a big decision to make now as he is at the crossroad in his career and must decide what path to take.