I think United are coming to the end of a pretty big cycle, if that makes sense? I'd expect this year to be Scholes', Giggs' and Neville's last year, as well as VdS' last year, too. So I wonder if he'll spend this year just involving the youngsters more and hope for the best. You can't just write United off because they're always strong and competitive, but I just wonder if Fergie's going to take a year or two to gel a new crop of players together, and hope for another sustained period of success.

Mintball wrote:Links with City and Adebayor seem to be getting a little beyond rumour. I can't see Benjani being around long. Or Caicedo, frankly. Jô's on loan again and I'm not sure how much Ched Evans is really up to the mark. So our strikers at present are Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Valeri Bojinov and Carlos Tevez. The club officially lists Robinho as a striker, but I don't think many really see him that way. Bojinov has already said he wants to stay – but only if he's getting regular first-team football. So the idea that we're top-heavy with strikers is something of a myth. What we are in danger of, though, is actually having genuine strength in depth in that position. And to clarify: five signings thus far this summer – one defender, one goalkeeper, a midfielder and two strikers. The Adebayor rumour started off on Sunday on a City forum. The lad who posted the info, stated that talks were already at an advanced stage. There are also further rumours that we will be signing a midfielder and it will be a 'major' signing. I guess we will have to wait and see. Lescott may be here very soon. We are apparently waiting for Everton to sign a replacement? It's a very interesting time..

Mintball wrote:Links with City and Adebayor seem to be getting a little beyond rumour. I can't see Benjani being around long. Or Caicedo, frankly. Jô's on loan again and I'm not sure how much Ched Evans is really up to the mark. So our strikers at present are Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Valeri Bojinov and Carlos Tevez. The club officially lists Robinho as a striker, but I don't think many really see him that way. Bojinov has already said he wants to stay – but only if he's getting regular first-team football. So the idea that we're top-heavy with strikers is something of a myth. What we are in danger of, though, is actually having genuine strength in depth in that position. And to clarify: five signings thus far this summer – one defender, one goalkeeper, a midfielder and two strikers. The Adebayor rumour started off on Sunday on a City forum. The lad who posted the info, stated that talks were already at an advanced stage. There are also further rumours that we will be signing a midfielder and it will be a 'major' signing. I guess we will have to wait and see. Lescott may be here very soon. We are apparently waiting for Everton to sign a replacement? It's a very interesting time..

Just read you're after Alonso. I think if you offered us something stupendous, like €50m, then you might get him, but other than that, if we're to let him leave, it would probably be a foreign side who get him.

Think Dunne will go?

Who can Liverpool sign to replace Alonso? Apparently he is ready to pack his bags.

Cambiasso has been mentioned. What about Lee Cattermole? Or is he too like Mascherano? Thought for the England Under-21s he looked a bit like Gerrard did 10 years ago.

D'Agostino is apparently a highly sought-after player, but I know nothing about him.

I quite like Diaby and Song at Arsenal, too.

Just a bit. I can't really believe it, frankly. I am trying – but not very successfully – to ignore the rumours and not get caught up in imagining what it would be like of any of them are actually more than that.

Chelsea IMO. A return to the boring but winning approach that will grind out the points in a way they didn't in the first half of last season.

Hope so According to teh papers, he is refusing to leave. Can't blame him in a way. He has been through the mill with City, and now we are looking more competitive, we are trying to get shut. He's settled in the country nearby and has a young family. I can't blame him for standing his ground. I actually thik Dunne could have one last hurrah with us - although I would rather he is no longer first choice. I really do think that if we signed a couple of good defenders, he would raise his game, and may come off the bench for a couple of games and be a hero. I certainly wouldn't begrudge him that honour.

Hernanes at Sao Paulo looks like the type of player who could replace him very well, but he'd take a while to settle, and wouldn't bring the defensive qualities that Alonso does. There's Steven Defour or Axel Witsel at Standard Liege, although they're both very pricey considering the league they're coming from, same with Hernanes.

I'm not too keen on the thought of signing an Italian, whether that be Aquilani or D'Agostino, if we were to sign from Serie A, I'd rather it be Felipe Melo, but he looks likely to move. Daniele de Rossi I'd rather over Cambiasso, but neither would be at the top of my list. Possibly Gokhan Inler or maybe even Javi Martinez if we wanted to change things up a little. There are many options, but I very much doubt we can just replace him like that, I'd rather we went for somebody young'ish.

I'm not sure. Ancelotti has never struck me as a boring, defensive coach. His sides have always expressed themselves and I'd never call them dull. I'm a little mixed on Ancelotti, I'd have though he might have come in, ruffled a few feathers and got rid of a few players, but he's kept the squad basically the same. If he can keep the dressing room and the respect of the players, Chelsea will definitely be there or thereabouts, but I have a slight feeling he might 'do a Scolari' and struggle to keep the faith from the board and the dressing room.

TBH I'd prefer Alonson ahead of all of those.

Is Alonson leaving because...
...he is surplus to requirements
...he wants to leave
...Rafa hasn't forgiven him