Last week’s Topic of the Week question on the FSR was something along the lines of whether or not Manchester United need to sign a big-name player. Luis Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen have committed pen to paper but it is commonly accepted that they do not fit the bill – a younger Owen would, while it will take half a season for many United supporters to realize what a very good player Valencia actually is.

Gabriel Obertan a youngster bought from Bordeaux is another who fails to meet the “big-name” criteria. (It has been particularly funny reading articles, blogs and responses about Obertan over the last few days given that only a tiny fraction of those willing to offer an opinion have actually seen the kid play).

The latest rumour has SAF going for Brazilian youngster Douglas Costa. The Guardian tells us that Costa “has been hailed as "the new Ronaldinho" in his country”. I think Manchester United need to clear up what they are getting here.

If Costa is the "the new Ronaldinho" then do they really want him? The last time I checked Ronaldinho was not exactly the star of the show at the San Siro. Or is it more the case that Costa is the new-old Ronaldinho – that is what Ronaldinho use to be when United wanted to sign him from PSG before Barcelona stepped in? Or do we have to go further back to a time when St. Mirren came close to securing a move to Love Street for Ronaldinho?

It all seems a bit strange and even more so when this is a player – Costa -  that United wanted to take on trial only a couple of weeks ago before making a decision.

Either way I digress. The subject of a big name signing for United was part of a discussion I took part in with Steven and Kenny on the Friday edition of WSD. Our general conclusion was that the blitzkrieg-type moves by Florentino Perez at Real Madrid had stunned the other big clubs in Europe and because of this we might have to wait until later in the transfer window to see the majority of big moves.

The discussion continued during lunch with names like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero and Frank Ribery being tossed about. But another possible strategy came to light. What if Manchester United killed two or more birds with one stone?  Instead of going overseas again what if Manchester United opted for a Premier League stimulus package?  

A trip back to the days when the big teams consistently pillaged their challengers by buying up their better players might be a viable option. The team that broke United’s 26-year League title drought was hardly grown and nurtured at Old Trafford.

Most of the mainstays of that side were signed from other clubs and most from English sides.  The back four of Paul Parker (QPR), Steve Bruce (Norwich), Gary Pallister (Middlesbrough) and Denis Irwin (Oldham) only missed in combo a total of 13 league games during the 92/93 season with Bruce and Pallister ever present. Paul Ince came from West Ham and was absent only once.

Only Ryan Giggs numbered Manchester United as his only professional club although Mark Hughes had showed that you can go home after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

So what chances of a raid on Aston Villa with transfer targets like Ashley Young and/or Gabriel Agbonlahor? Or a bid for Mikel Arteta that Everton just could not turndown?

What was said….

Zidane and some obscure friends have a good number of fans upset.

www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=...

A University of Victoria professor thinks that he has found a flaw in the 2010 World Cup tie breaker procedure at the group stage. Personally I don’t think he has – it seems clear to me that in his example Turkey would qualify in second place.

www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Victori...

webhome.csc.uvic.ca/~haron/tiebreaker.pd...

Ruud van Nistelrooy looks set to start the new season at the Bernabeu and not Old Trafford. Manchester United and Real Madrid have agreed a fee and a medical seems to be the only thing between the Dutchman and a move to La Liga.

RVN becomes the latest in a long line of either clubs or players that Sir Alex Ferguson has fallen out with. And to think he once accused Dennis Wise as being able to cause a fight in an empty house.

His playing days in Scotland were marked by recurring friction - St. Johnstone, Dunfermline, Rangers and Falkirk.

His second managerial appointment - at St. Mirren - finished with him being fired and then suing for unfair dismissal through an Industrial Tribunal.

Players who have eventually fallen foul of Fergie include Gordon Strachan, Paul Ince, Paul McGrath, Jim Leighton, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, David Beckham to name a few. RVN was added to that list in the spring.

For United the question is who replaces the Dutchman? Rooney, Solksjaer (fitness question), and Saha are not going to be enough. Fernando Torres looks set to stay with Athletico Madrid for the forseeable future. It seems unlikely that another Premiership side will sell United a striker even if one was considered good enough and there doesn't at the moment.

Klose at Werder Bremen is an option. Ronaldo's name crops up on the rumour mill but it is hard to understand why United would take such a risk and if they were it surely would have been part of a swop deal. The lack of top class goal scorers was reinforced at the recent World Cup Finals.

As for Real Madrid they have another forward which seems to be a clear indication that Fabio Capello is far from happy with the choice he inherated. So out of Raul, Robinho, Baptista, Ronaldo, and Cassano who will be forced out?