retired_slayerbing

Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and is arguably the most popular football club in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide; average attendances at the club have been higher than any other team in English football for all but six seasons since 1964-65.

The club is also one of the most successful in English football; for over twenty years, since the 1986-87 season, they have won 18 major honours, which is more than any other Premier League club. They are the Premier League's reigning champions, and have won the Premier League/Football League 16 times. In 1968, they became the first English club to win the European Cup, beating S.L. Benfica 4–1, and they won a second European Cup in 1999. They also hold the record for the most FA Cup titles with 11.

Since the late 1990s, the club has been one of the richest in the world, and until recently had the highest revenue of any football club for several years running. As of 2007, the club has the fourth largest turnover in club football, but remains the most profitable club based on operating income. Manchester United also remains the most valuable club in the world. The club is a founding member of the G-14 group of Europe's leading football clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been manager of the club since 6 November 1986. The captain is Gary Neville, who succeeded Roy Keane in November 2005.


First team squad

1GKEdwin van der Sar
2DFGary Neville (captain)
3DFPatrice Evra
4MFOwen Hargreaves
5DFRio Ferdinand
6DFWes Brown
7MFCristiano Ronaldo
8MFAnderson
9FWLouis Saha
10FWWayne Rooney
11MFRyan Giggs (vice-captain)
12GKBen Foster
13MFPark Ji-Sung
15DFNemanja Vidić
16MFMichael Carrick
17MFNani
18MFPaul Scholes
19DFGerard Piqué
21FWDong Fangzhuo
22DFJohn O'Shea
23DFJonny Evans
24MFDarren Fletcher
25DFDanny Simpson
26DFPhil Bardsley
27DFMikaël Silvestre
28MFDarron Gibson
29GKTomasz Kuszczak
30MFLee Martin
32FWCarlos Tévez
33MFChris Eagles
38GKTom Heaton
39FWFraizer Campbell
40DFAdam Eckersley

Reserves

Current squad

As of 22 September 2007, according to official site.[1]

23DFJonny Evans
25DFDanny Simpson
28MFDarron Gibson
35DFKieran Lee
36DFDavid Gray
38GKTom Heaton
39FWFraizer Campbell
40DFAdam Eckersley
41GKRon-Robert Zieler
MFMichael Barnes
MFSéan Evans


On loan

Lee Martin (at Plymouth Argyle until 1 Jan 2008)
Craig Cathcart (at Royal Antwerp until 1 Jan 2008)
Ritchie Jones (at Yeovil Town until 31 Dec 2007)
Michael Lea (at Royal Antwerp until 1 Jan 2008)
Ryan Shawcross (at Stoke City until 1 Jan 2008)

Club Information

Stadium: Old Trafford
Stadium Capacity: 76212 all seater with under-soil heating
Pitch dimensions: Length: 107m, Width: 70m
Maximum Pitch dimensions: Length: 117m, Width: 75m
Reserve Stadium: Victoria Stadium, Northwich
Home Kit: Red Shirt
Away Kit: Black Shirt
Founded: 1878
Chairman: Loves the club
Status: Professional
Reputation: World wide
Favoured Personnel: Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bryan Robson, Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, Gary Neville, Brian Kidd, Paul Scholes, Rudd van Nistelrooy, Brian Mcclair, Teddy Sheringham, David Beckham, Steve Coppell, Nicky Butt, Sammy Mcillroy, Andrew Cole
Fierce Rivals: Liverpool, Man City, Leeds,
Other Rivals: Arsenal, Chelsea, Bolton
Finances: Okay
Estimated Value: £158m (Loan debt: £685m)
Training Facilities: Top training facilities
Youth Facilities: State of the art training facilities + youth academy
Continental Competition: European Champions Cup
Media Prediction: 1st
Squad Average Age: 26
Squad Personality: Very determined
Captain: Gary Neville

Great game posts

If you have just had a sensational win or a great match write little match report on it as it shows more than a screenshot does.


Who should I sign posts

If you want help and advice on a new signing post as much information as possible – this should include at least your transfer budget remaining, wage budget remaining, bank balance, players already in said position, transfer targets and what type of player you want (e.g. a quick, strong striker that is under 24).

Help strengthening team posts

If you want help and advice regarding strengthening your team post your starting line up and formations, substitutes, your feelings on the team, positions you want strengthening, transfer budget, transfer targets and the type of players you want. If you include as much information as possible it is easier for us to help you.

Updates

If you are going to post updates, please keep it to three a season – end of pre-season, end of January transfer window and end of season. This will make the thread easier to use and less clogged up. Also if you try and only use screenshots in these updates otherwise the thread will be littered with screenshots. If you do want to talk about a signing either put it in one of the three updates.

These updates should be along the lines of:

Pre-season update (year)
Transfers In
Transfers Out
Formation
Squad
Expectations for the season
Pre-season odds
Remaining transfer budget
Remaining wage budget

January transfer window update (year)
Transfers In
Transfers Out
Squad
League table
Cup competitions
Revised expectations
Player and Manager Awards

End of season update
End of season league table
Cup competitions
Manger’s thoughts on the season
Transfer targets

(apologies and/or thanks to Crazy Gra for using part of his 07 post for inclusion in this start up.

retired_quelab22

I have begun as the mighty red devils, just started and am looking to buy Asamoah Gyan for a Target Man.

I will put up some results shortly

retired_anorris

Another good thread again this year, lets hope we can have it booming like last years :thup:

Only problem, you screwed the badge at the top of the page :p But I'm sure Cleon will sort it out if you ask nicely

retired_minstyles

Should have embedded it. And again will you be on this thread often?

retired_elpata

Whats it matter if he is or isn't? Its the Manu Thread so it will be used either way.

retired_minstyles

Well it's not going to be great if he doesn't contribute to the thread he has created.

retired_slayerbing

Well having at a whack at the demo I notice the link up play is much better there fore I am quite excited about how i am going to get Ronaldo to perform.

My initial set up will be a 4-3-3 with the following earmarked to start early in the season:

GK: Van der sar
DL: Patrice Evra
DR: Gary Neville/Wes Brown
DC: Rio Ferdinand
DC: Nemanja Vidic
AML: Ryan Giggs/Nani
AMR: Cristiano Ronaldo
MCd: Owen Hargrieves
MCa: Paul Scholes

FC: Wayne Rooney
FC: Carlos Tevez

I think the side is pretty strong though in the first season I might look to find an extra AMC player as a long term replacement for Scholes. I wasn't that impressed with Anderson in the demo though there wil be plenty of time to test him out thoroughly.

My early choice as a possible incoming player is Matias Fernandez who I tried out with Barcelona in the demo. He was sublime to say the least and can be purchased for under 15mil which is a bargin considering he is a wonderkid.

Strikers

Up front might need some depth too with just Tevez and Rooney in my opinion good enough to start. Saha is someone to bring of the bench and in a long season I think Utd need someone else to take the pressure of the Rooney/Tevez pairing.

Early prospects there are possibly Fred at Lyon (though I will check him out more to see whether he is suitable) and Ashley Young (if I decide to combine a midfield and striker sighing into one).

Midfield

The United midfield is strong when you consider the world class flair of Ronaldo and the promise of Nani plus the experienced old heads of Scholes and Giggs.

However Giggs and Scholes are only medium term considerations so thought needs to be given as to their sucessors. nani certainly is one and Anderson remains to be seen. Hargrieves and Carrick should be good for a few years in the holding/playmaker role.

Defence

It may be that Gary Neville needs a long term replacement brought in since Wes isn't probably in most of our minds as a starting right back. Ideally I'd love to buy Micah Richards though the Man City rivallry might well be a stumbling block there.

Central defence is strong and in Pique there is a bright prospect to replace Vidic or Ferdinand in case of injury.

Left back is strong with Evra and while I was considering a Gareth Bale type player to come in as cover it may be that Silvestre is suitable for a season at least.

Goalkeeper

Van der Sar is undisputed number one in this area though I suspect once he ages past 2/3 more seasons there will be a temtation to buy someone big. My initial interests are in Frey who I think would be cheapish considering his talent. The likes of Ustari, Akinfeev and even Craig Gordon are in the frame though.

retired_slayerbing

Yes I'd like to be... though I hope people are more welcoming than you seem to be.

retired_tageisen

Great opening post.

Won't be doing a demo game gonna wait for the full game to start a Man Utd career game.

retired_charytine

Good opener. :thup: