"Don't worry son, we can still skype each other"
If reports are to be believed it’s now only a matter of hours before Samir Nasri joins Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor at Manchester City.
The French midfielder will be heading to Eastlands for a fee of around £25 million and wages of £160k a week according to the majority of reports.
Earlier this Summer it looked as though United were going to secure Nasri’s services with Arsenal even claiming the Reds were the first club -and only club- to make a bid. Talks were supposedly held between representatives of the club and the player but never really got off the ground. It wasn’t long before City entered the fray and United dropped out. A few weeks ago Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out that he felt Nasri would either join City or stay at Arsenal, meaning the chances of him coming to Old Trafford seemed to have evaporated.
It’s obvious that United simply weren’t willing to meet the players wage demands while City had no such qualms, the question is did we do the right thing or should we have paid the Frenchman the money he wanted?
The most obvious point to be raised is whether United truly need him. There’s no denying he’s a good player, but would he elevate our team or simply add to the depth of the squad?
Last season was Nasri’s true breakthrough year, although he’d been at Arsenal since 2008 and had enjoyed the ocasional highs- not least a brace against us in his debut season, it wasn’t until 2010 that he really floursihed. Ten Premier league goals in just 28 starts, is a record most strikers would be proud of let alone a winger/attacking midfielder such as Nasri.
Then there’s the quality of some of his strikes, with the goals against Porto in the Champions League and Fulham being simply breathtaking.
It wasn’t a wholly convincing season for Nasri though, after all of the 16 goals he scored, by New Year’s Day he’d scored 13 of them. The back end of last season saw a dip in form, at a time when Arsenal needed him the most. There’ also Nasri’s lack of assists, he only had one to his name last season, which isn’t really good enough for an attacking player- especially when you’ve got the likes of Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas alongside you.
Would Nasri get into United’s starting XI? Probably, but only as a rotational player, I’m confident that if Sir Alex was asked to pick his strongest side then Nasri wouldn’t be part of it. Let’s not forget, Nani, Ashley Young, Ji Sung Park, Tony Valencia and Wayne Rooney can all play in similar positions to Nasri. Then there’s the emergence of Tom Cleverley, regular readers of this site will know that I’m a massive fan of his and truly believe he’s a future United star in the making. Do we really need to be jettisoning a player that’s shown he’s now ready for the first team after coming through the ranks in favour of a big money highly paid signing, I think not.
Nasri’s Premier league experience could have been useful, plus there’s no denying that on his day he can be a truly mesmerising player. However as Sir Alex looks to the future, Manchester United have a great young squad, that’s perhaps one holding midfielder away from being able to challenge Barcelona, Nasri would be a good addition but not a great one.
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you got a team now to challenge barcalona lol you only just managed to beat west brom erm ie west brom own goal you muppet
It’s ‘Barcelona’
It’s ‘rather’, not ‘eother’.
It was actually ‘either’ but thanks anyway.
As a Gooner, the imminent departure of nasri leaves a bad taste.
Not because he was a great player for us, but simply because he is moving simply for the money.
He had half a good season at Arsenal and then tailed off dramamtically, right about the time he was tapped up by Man Chavvy. His form dipped as he lost interest in playing for Arsenal. Given how the way our season panned out, having one of our better players playing like they didnt give a shit, tells you all you need to know about this player.
He is your typical money orientated selfish arrogant pampered footballer.
But you dont need me to tell you about twats like that when you have Rooney.
Bottom line, nasri had half a good season, is motivated by greed and wont be missed.
You dont want that at your gaff do you?
He moved to Arsenal for money. City guarantee trophies now, something Arsenal can’t offer.
1 trophy in 35 years isn’t much of a guarantee
He’s moved for the ones to come in the future, as has Aguero. Seem to remember your lot went 37 years before breaking your duck. Are you betting against City adding to the FA Cup now?
That’s exactly what I’m saying, I’ve heard it all before with rich benefactors, Blackburn in the 90’s, Chelski with the Russian oil money, we’ll see at the end of the season but I wouldn’t go thinking you’re guaranteed trophies just yet.
Justin, how does City’s lack of success in the past have any impact on how successful we are in the future? It really is about time you rid yourself of the obsession with the past. It’s what did for the scousers.
We don’t think we’re guaranteed trophies-we’re City fans my friend! What we are though, is very excited-who wouldn’t be?
No, Chavvy guarantee money, thats it, nothing else.
Like Rooney pmsl
@Sean my reply was to Daz who stated “City guarantee trophies now” which is obviously wrong because regardless of money no club can ‘guarantee trophies.’
As for the ‘obsession with the past’ okay lets look to the present, United have just beaten City, are the current Premier League champions and have eight internationals under the age of 22 in the first team squad.
guarenteed trophies at shitty, 1 trophy in 37 years whoa slow down a bit,gareth gates screwed jordan but the glamour girls are not limed up in his trophy cabinet. 1 fa cup for city=1 ride for ggggareth.
Portsmouth, and Birmingham have won domestic cups in the past few seasons and are now in the championship, cup runs aren’t the benchmark.
Nasri like the entire Arsenal squad is a Choker, he won’t win you tough games he’l fade out or get sent off, he can be amazing against the weaker opposition but disappears when needed most. Wouldn’t have him at united, he’s worth about 80K per week tops. anything more is for city who need to bribe players to join, Fabregas took a wage cut to win trophies with Barca.
No matter how many City supporters say otherwise, players go to city for money, not to play regularly and not win trophies, and even when they get more money than they’ll get anywhere else they still want out, ie; Tevez. No matter how much money they spent, they are still a small club.
never before have so much s@@t come out of a mouth of a city fan.
“He left for money and city guarantee trophies now”….get lost
not one of your players left the clubs they played for because city could deliver trophies
it was all down to players greed.
you have been the poor relations, always have always will be. your one trophy in 36 years, your 17 managers since 1986 (the year ferguson took over at united)
stick to your past its all you have….lmao
Well United have still got Owen,don,t forget that.
No, we need the youngs and jones that want to be here .
no mate…i dnt want to see him in reds….bcuz all he wants is money and we need players who will play for trophies not for money..
passion and never die n hunger for trophies is wat manu all about…
Like Rooney.
One thing that works in City’s favor and don’t think they didn’t consider this: City is not only strengthening by gaining Nasri, they are also weakening a direct rival. Now you have the potential for other players to want to leave Arsenal or potential signings thinking twice about joining. When you consider all those things, 25 million is a bargain.
Yeah, 25 million is a bargain for a player who would be free in 8 months and a for club that sees money as no object, which hamstrings other clubs trying to compete with them, and wastes money at a time when Europe and other parts of the world are on the brink of economic collapse.
Sorry that I don’t see the wisdom or frugality in this move like you do.
Look I’m a City supporter obviously. If we wait til Nasri is available for free, do you think we get him? No, United does, or Barcelona, or Real Madrid. Why, because those clubs have history and they win titles. They use that to their advantage as they should. Until City gets to that level they use the advantage they have, money.
That is how the rest of the world works. Why not football? If I have a technology company and I want to compete with Apple I have to offer my employees more money. When this happens am I ruining the Technology industry? No, it’s called competing.
Your comment above doesn’t really explain your opinion in calling it a bargain. The “world” doesn’t work on spending at levels exponentially beyond its revenues. So no, it’s not competing as any normal industry would, but a gloried agrandisement and vanity project from a far removed royal family. True, the Glazers are not model owners; but I’m sure United’s transfer fees and wage structure mirrors reality a lot more closely than City’s does.
Fine, City do what they have to do to grow by throwing out money like it’s going out of style; but please respect our intelligence and the millions struggling to get by, by refraining from calling the deal a “bargain”.
I write here with a Gooner’s view.
I think Nasri would not suit Man Utd and he didn’t really help Arsenal as much as some people like to think. He is like that kid in the school playground who likes to get hold of the ball and run round and round playing keep-ball, to see how many people he can beat. (We had Hleb before who was just the same). Since the days of Henry, Bergkamp, Vieira and Co., the pace of Arsenal’s attacks has slowed dramatically and this has made it much more difficult to score (or easier to defend against).
United like to counter-attack at pace and I can’t help thinking that Nasri would slow that down and have a negative effect on performance.
The other assessments made in this article are spot on – flashes of brilliance but no consistent quality.
£25m for a half season wonder.
Just like Adebayor.
How’s he doing BTW?
Lets face it, players are going to Chavvy for one thing, the cash.
£200k a week is what tuned nasri’s head.
Stop kidding yourselves City is a long term project for players. Its simply a fat pay day, then they’ll be off, like Teves
Like Rooney. For the love of the money. King of all Chavs…pmsl
If players got paid for what they win, ie performance related, I’m sure Rooney is not out of order for looking top dollar, 4 prem leagues, 2 league cups, 3 community shields, a champions league and a FIFA club world cup. In fairness he should prob be getting as much as the entire City squad. Nasri has emmm, zilch and is looking top dollar, he’s not a winner, and should suit City perfectly.
So he wasnt on top dollar when he arrived at united… I get it.. he was new to the team you just gave him the statutory minimum….and then built it up slowly as you won things.
Give me a break.
You paid him more because he threatened to leave…
United have attracted players with top wages and the promise of winning competitions for years. That is exactly what city are doing now. Whether we achieve that is another thing but its a good start with the FA cup last season. The players joined city to win something and they have.
No player gives a crap about history unless its their own
It’s you who is ‘kidding yourself’.
When it looked like he was gonna be a ‘Rag’ a few months ago this same ‘Rag’ was crowing about him and how good he would be in their team.
Now (cos they can’t afford him) cos he is going to be a Blue he is crap and was never wanted at all.
Never mind ‘Rags’ Fletcher is coming back from injury and you still have Gibson and a few more ‘Puddings’ available to control your midfield instead of Scholes.
Fletcher has 4 prem winners medals, an FA cup, 2 League cups, 4 community shields, a champions league and a club world cup he’ll never be successful, don’t know why fergie puts up with him. Tevez won 6 trophies in 2 years at united, not surprising he isn’t happy with a club that has 1 FA cup in 36 years. but he was spoiled at united.
BTW where exactly does nasri see himself playing for city? He ‘ prefers’ to play in the center, and he’s not defensive, don’t see that happenin.
When it looked like he was gonna be a ‘Rag’ a few months ago this same ‘Rag’ Website was crowing about him and how good he would be in their team.
Now (cos they can’t afford him) cos he is going to be a Blue he is crap and was never wanted at all.
Never mind ‘Rags’ Fletcher is coming back from injury and you still have Gibson and a few more ‘Puddings’ available to control your midfield instead of Scholes.
typical city fan uses the term cant afford, youve got some ragheads money, and now nobody can afford,billions and billions and now any tosser that can kick a ball wants a citeh pay day.
Here’s some of the articles we published when it looked like Nasri may be coming to Old Trafford: None of which are crowing about him joining. As for the ‘puddings’ in our midfield, they didn’t look too shabby as they took the p*ss out of your lot at Wembley a couple of weeks ago.
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/07/blogs/why-united-should-avoid-competing-with-city-at-all-costs
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/07/lets-hear-it-for-the-boy/nasri-desperate-to-leave-following-manchester-united-offer
http://redflagflyinghigh.com/2011/06/blogs/could-samir-nasri-come-to-united-for-less-than-10-million