ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Fergie does a Harry?

We've all griped about Moyes's targets being followed by other managers / teams, like Redknapp, Newcastle, but is Alex Ferguson now following suit?

In the summer we were strongly linked with Steven Defour of Standard Liege, but nothing happened, probably due to our transfer budget being dependent on the developing Lescott saga. Now Defour is out with quite a bad foot injury, and Fergie decides to take time out from berating referees to pen a letter to him (below).

I know Utd had a formal relationship with Liege a while back, but I still think this is incredible — don't think I've ever heard anything like it before. Another player to file in the "If only..." drawer I think.

The letter read: "I have just heard about your injury and, in the name of Manchester United, I would like to wish you a full and speedy recovery.

"I am sure at the moment you must be feeling awful and that you'll have all kinds of questions.

"Steven, these are natural worries, but I have to tell you that modern medicine and treatments are incredible, you have to have confidence in them.

"I'm going to follow your progress closely and I will remain in contact with your club to have news of your recovery."

Defour subsequently confirmed that the letter had been passed on to him via his current club.

He added in Het Laatste Nieuws: "One thing I should like to highlight is that Ferguson has followed his interest officially. He addressed the letter to Standard.

"I think the attention is great, but I do not want people think I am already at Manchester, which is no means the case. But if they come knocking, then I would obviously not cause problems."
Matt Traynor, Singapore Posted 15/10/2009 at 22:15:38

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Terry Beeken
1 Posted 16/10/2009 at 09:03:04

Report abuse

Unfortunately, another player we don’t have the finances to sign so eventually the big boys come knocking and won't dither over signing him.

Alan Kirwin
2 Posted 16/10/2009 at 09:47:11

Report abuse

What a strange post Matt.

Two things. Firstly you have more or less just regurgitated the press story itself word for word (you’re not the only one that reads the sports news). Secondly the idea that Man Utd need Everton’s help in finding players, or would publicly jump in with a target of ours is risible.

Our money is spent. We have no current targets that we can afford. There is no story here.

Malcolm Evans
3 Posted 16/10/2009 at 10:05:08

Report abuse

Do we even know if we were actually interested in Defour in the 1st place?
For all we know that was just paper talk, as he plays for the same club we signed Fellaini from.

If our scouts were actually looking at every player we are linked to they would have to be at every single club game every week!

Simon Walker
4 Posted 16/10/2009 at 10:45:31

Report abuse

Yeah, anyone with a memory back to early 2008 will remember us being linked with this kid called Arshavin, the damn Euro’s came along and put our signing in the shop window and Arsenal opened talks, though I understand this was only because David Moyes was sniffing around — not because he’s a class player that was making people look stupid at the Euros.

Mike McLean
5 Posted 16/10/2009 at 13:08:36

Report abuse

S A F needs Moyes’s help to spot a good player? God give me strength.

Brian Waring
6 Posted 16/10/2009 at 13:44:41

Report abuse

This is getting fucking stupid now. So, everytime we are linked with a player, and he ends up at another club, the only reason that said club purchased him, was because Moyes was interested?

Hey, here’s a thought, maybe Moyes was interested in Ronaldo, and Real Madrid got wind, and that's why they signed him.

Stewart Littler
7 Posted 16/10/2009 at 15:13:16

Report abuse

What’s also getting stupid is the assumption that every time we supposedly miss out on a player, it’s 'cos of Moyes’s dithering or a lack of funds. Anyone ever thought that we may indeed have enquired about Defour only to be told he wasn’t interested at this time as his club are in the CL?

Malcolm Evans
8 Posted 16/10/2009 at 15:37:05

Report abuse

I think its the other way round. If we are linked to a player then we blatantly don't want him. Moyes actually keeps his cards close to his chest! Saha, Bily, Fellaini, Heitinga, Distin — none of these were the subject of constant speculation. Pretty much the first we were linked with them was when it was either a done deal or very close to it!

Karl Masters
9 Posted 16/10/2009 at 18:25:50

Report abuse

You are SOOO right, Malcolm.

A canny Scot at work and I would not be at all surprised if Ferguson was also masking his true intention with this ’Defour story’ .

It could also be that he knows Arsenal or Liverpool are interested in Defour and wants to a) make them think they have no chance or b) make the player discourage them thinking he’s going to end up at Manure anyway. It also means the price would go up if Liege think Manure are interested, sapping his rivals of valuable funds.

It could also be a way of garnering some good publicity after he well and truly shot himself in the foot over the ’Wiley is unfit’ rant. ( I prefer to think of Wiley as being blind myself after his penalty farce in our game at Stoke last year, but I’m digressing )

Fergie plays the mind games and I suspect that Moyesie has watched and learned a trick or two himself.

Iain Love
10 Posted 16/10/2009 at 23:50:41

Report abuse

Damm good idea from Fergie! Moyes should take note and send a letter to any decent player currently injured.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.