Antonio Valencia shirt number

[Moon Utd]

Antonio Valencia gets his first run in the Man Utd team today versus Boca Juniors.

It looks like he'll be wearing the number 27, unless Fergie has had a last-minute swap around, or the lights go off in the dressing room and they get changed in the dark.

Although Valencia wore 16 at Wigan, Carrick's not likely to give up his shirt in a hurry.

It makes sense that fellow new boy Gabriel Obertan will wear 26 because that's what he wore in France.

There is another possibility ..... Danny Simpson has been in the gossip columns for a while as a target for Roy Keane at Ipswich. A sign that he's on his way out will be if the no 25 shirt gets worn by Valencia today. Even if he stays, Simpson could be bumped down to a lower number.

One final thought is this: Sir Alex gave Michael Owen the no 7 so Valencia wouldn't have to live up to the reputation of departing Cristiano Ronaldo. But what if he wants to stick his nose up (again!) at Carlos Tevez? Valencia might get the vacant number 32 to show Tevez's shirt (and the team) have moved swiftly on after his departure to City.

What do you think?

[Rooneys_Temper]

I think its just a number.

[Nigel'sChin]

Its just a number. The only number that has significance would be the no.7, which owen is wearing, and is fit for it. agree with you that the no.7 might give him lots of pressure, but be it 16,25,26,27, or even 32, it makes no difference.

[Moon Utd]

I think its just a number.

Arguably you're right. It's just a number. But at the same time it can say a lot about SAF's intentions. It's unlikely there will be any major changes when the official squad list is announced for the new season. New players take the available numbers. But I am interested in the possibility of players coming and going, which could be indicated by the swapping of numbers - as I mentioned in the case of the decent defender, Danny Simpson.

When Van Der Sar came to Utd from Fulham, his squad number was 19. Wes Brown used to wear 24 before he got moved up to 6. It's a sign of status, and your place in the pecking order, to move up to a better shirt number when one is available. Jonny Evans had 47 a few seasons back, but now he's up to 23 and is established as the first choice deputy for Vidic and Ferdinand.

If Owen had NOT been given the number 7 it would have meant (in my opinion) that Fergie was expecting to sign a world-class replacement for Ronaldo right away.

You may not think shirt numbers are important but I believe players are governed by politics, their own sense of worth and identity that a squad number does for them, and all other kinds of nonsense like superstition. For the young players, don't you think it's a big deal for SAF to say "well done lad, here's the number 30 shirt for you to wear this year because you're in my plans and you have a future at the club"?

It was a deliberate decision to not give Valencia the 7. I think it will be about making Obertan feel at home to give him the same number 26 he wore when playing for Bordeaux. I was merely speculating that Valencia will most likely get the lowest number available (27) UNLESS Simpson is being sold, or UNLESS Fergie wants to wave the 32 in Tevez's face. That's all! If you're incapable of caring or a more in-depth debate, why waste your time to "fart" a few words on to the page? Move on and read another thread.

[Sir Ryan]

Too many unless, if etc from your point of view mate ! what about macheda he still got 41.

[justboy]

Why does giving Obertan the #26 make him feel more at home?

some peoples obession with squad numbers id ridiculous!

[Moon Utd]

Why does giving Obertan the #26 make him feel more at home?

some peoples obession with squad numbers id ridiculous!

Not as ridiculous as you wasting your time to tell me you don't care. Is anyone interested in you announcing that? Do you know what I do when I come across a thread from someone I don't give much thought to? Ignore it, move on.

[Moon Utd]

Too many unless, if etc from your point of view mate ! what about macheda he still got 41.

Yes, I think there is every chance that Macheda could get a higher number for the new campaign as he's a genuine First Team squad member now, but maybe he's happy with 41? I think that's what he has been wearing on the Asia Tour.

A few seasons back a number of established players left and quite a few players moved up to new squad numbers. It's a while since the team had a big realignment of numbers.

[Sir Ryan]

Well you seem to be more interested with numbers, don't ya? numberology

[Moon Utd]

Well you seem to be more interested with numbers, don't ya? numberology

I don't believe in any science behind the choices, just that players themselves relate to different numbers and feel at home wearing the same one, or want one over another.

Quote from Wikipedia entry about David Beckham: "Although Beckham had worn the number seven shirt for Manchester United and England, he was unable to wear it at Madrid as it was currently assigned to club captain Raúl. He decided to wear number 23 instead, citing his admiration of basketball player Michael Jordan, who also wore the number 23 shirt, as the reason behind his decision."

I don't see it as strange that Obertan might want the same number 26 he wore in Bordeaux or that if SAF values Macheda he might "reward" him with a "better" number in the top 30. A few years down the line he might be handed the number 9 if he becomes Utd's main goalscorer alongside Rooney.

[justboy]

Not as ridiculous as you wasting your time to tell me you don't care. Is anyone interested in you announcing that? Do you know what I do when I come across a thread from someone I don't give much thought to? Ignore it, move on.

ignore it, move on?
nah i asked a question that i wanted to hear the answer to. thats not wasting my time (and by time i mean the 20 seconds it took me to reply).

[Moon Utd]

ignore it, move on?
nah i asked a question that i wanted to hear the answer to. thats not wasting my time (and by time i mean the 20 seconds it took me to reply).

Oh that was a genuine question? It sounded like rhetoric.

If you didn't like my choice of phrase about Obertan feeling at home wearing the same shirt number that he had in Bordeaux, then what would you do if you were drawing up the Man Utd squad list? Manucho left. The number 26 is free. You need to find a number for Obertan. He used to wear 26. Bingo. He will feel neither more at home or less welcome but he might notice the coincidence that he has the same shirt number at two different teams. Maybe he will sleep better at night, perform better on the pitch, and make the cheap seats jump to their feet in celebration.

[justboy]

Yeah fair point. Will be interesting to see if anyone does move around ie. Macheda.

[HANDYMAN]

players shouldn't have personal numbers.
players on the pitch 1 - 11, subs 12 upwards.
no need for names either.

[NoxiousD]

Hes number 25, confirmed

[antdevil78]

its only a number. million and one other things more interesting to discuss than. will he wear this number or does fergie want him to have this number. I am only guessing but i reckon fergie couldnt give a flying toss who has the numbers bar the main ones.

this is why pre-season does my nut in and try avoiding this place. we end up discussing the most brain numbing topics

[Moon Utd]

[QUOTE=Moon Utd;432283]

"There is another possibility ..... Danny Simpson has been in the gossip columns for a while as a target for Roy Keane at Ipswich. A sign that he's on his way out will be if the no 25 shirt gets worn by Valencia today. Even if he stays, Simpson could be bumped down to a lower number."


Valencia has the number 25 shirt so it's goodbye Danny Simpson, or a low number and another season in the reserves. I think he'll be in the Ipswich first team asap.

Who else will be dispensable this year and go out on loan?

[maco]

Ritchie De Laet he is a good player maybe loan him out to get him some first team experience..

[JJtheRed]

players shouldn't have personal numbers.
players on the pitch 1 - 11, subs 12 upwards.
no need for names either.

very ''pub team''

[eoininho]

i like squad numbers...individuals can make numbers their own... like ole with 20 and keane with 16...