JoeYoung:

02/03 was when I really started paying attention but it wasn't until 05/06 that I got interested in forums.

What have I learnt from experience? That summer is meant for holidays and the beach, not for forums.

I agree with you but you can have both Joe. Beach and cocktails in the daytime. A couple hours browsing the forum in the newspaper or on the computer in the hotel lobby. Then off clubbing till all hours.

Last years rumour mill turned me off my transfer window obsession. As far Back as I can remember I've always studied the papers during the summer to see if we signing anyone. It's the only thing that gets me through the off season.

this is my 9th transfer window ive obviously learntnot to believe anyone but certain rumours that dont go away i.e ronaldo leaving berba signing and most recently sneijder of course a rumour doesnt mean a deal is done buti think for example with sneijder there was intrest from us so i guess im saying im better at sifting through the rubbish to find the small amount of truth

Been following United for many, many years and I have taken a feignt interest in transfers, as I know you can swept up in it far too easily, especially since social networking became massive it has just gone off the scale, people starting blogs etc. are basically trying to make headlines and start rumours to get hits on their blog, the more hits, the more money they make so they are bound to have "inside sources" if you ever see a link that says "our sources have led us to believe...." from my experience, never believe it, for those of you where this is your first, second or third transfer, my best piece of advice, believe nothing until it is said on Sky Sports website (official website) or if it is on ManUtd.com - all others are generally falsified and glorified information.

02/03 was when I really started paying attention but it wasn't until 05/06 that I got interested in forums.

What have I learnt from experience? That summer is meant for holidays and the beach, not for forums.

I´ve followed a bunch and for quite a while I have followed a couple of rules:

1)Assume the worst.

2)Hope for the best

and you won´t be too disappointed.

loads cant remember tha exact date of the 1st 1 but i like the 1s where we signed players like ferdinand rooney nistlerooy veron them were the days but the 1s that stick in my mind are the 1s where they got away like robben ronaldinho torres sneijder ozil kaka they still hurt now are teams crying out for star quality

Since transfer. Windows came in but obviously as social media has grown it is now easier to follow transfers in greater depth and news travels at greater speed. I have learned to filter out anything from the daily mail. Goal.com and similar sites as they either report every piece of rumour on every player or make sensational stories with no basis in fact. Even with filtering like this I was still very confident that we'd sign sneijder last season so even though all signs can sometimes be positive a deal can still feel. This summers rumours in the main have been kagawa and hazarsd. Kagawa makes a lot of sense both economic sense and sporting sense and the signs are good. Hazard makes great sporting sense but could be a bit of a gamble financially (though it could be a gamble with great rewards if it works). But to be honest, even though there are a lot of positive sounds on this transfer I still can't see him choosing us over city. Not just because of the money but the sheer pulling power of kompany (especially with 2 imminent internationals) should swing it in their favour. Hope I'm wrong

whyalwaysus 19:

I've followed the past 8 windows very closely. Have learned not to get my hopes up over a transfer because most of the time its just b.s. like all the sneijder and villa stories

but sneijder and villa wernt *** we actually put bids in for these players

iv been following the windows closely since ruud was 1st linked with us but broke down and then signed the year after and what iv learnt in that time is that not to believe in every story the papers report on,not to believe saf when he says we will sign 2 or 3 players and that the window usually throws up a few surprises for us i think one of the worst transfer saga,s was when we were so close to signing ronaldinho from p.s.g the papers had it as a done deal and i really believed it but then barca were willing to spend a few more million than us and the rest is history

can't even count them from how many, but the difference is when you think we might just that player which all the fans want, we wont :P some signings are unknown, for ex. Bebe, but you can tell when SAF knows he needs to buy a couple of quality players or just buy some average/good players and possibly some kids that are prospects

whyalwaysus 19:

I've followed the past 8 windows very closely. Have learned not to get my hopes up over a transfer because most of the time its just b.s. like all the sneijder and villa stories

Yeah i agree man.Thats me aswell.Ive also learned not to get excited over players that may or may not join us.If they happen then great all im saying is guys dont get your hopes up as who we get linked with as most of time its all a load of rubbish.Thats why im not getting my hopes up about Hazard as knowing my luck i will get disappointed.

uncas1:

I would probably say since the Ronaldinho transfer story, so that would be 2003 I would have though

However, its only since last year that I've been following stories through using twitter, which is a whole new kettle of fish and despite 95% of it being rubbish, the shear volume that is on there does make your mind wander and think there is a glimmer of hope for superstar A or B arriving here

To be honest, although I know most of it is rubbish, I actually enjoy a lot of the stories branded about just to watch people saying "I told you so" when they knew nothing, or stupid conflicts!

Ha, me too. I was glued to the SSN and the papers 24/7, so desperate was I to see us get him. So sure it was gonna happen and was truly devastated when he signed for Barca. I certianly still get excited by the prospect of new arrivals, as does most everyone I would say. However, I don't get as attached to speculation now as the wiser you get to it all the more you realise how much of what is reported is BS and also that it simply isn't possible fo us to sign every player we want and so you while you always hold out hope that, say Eden Hazard, will indeed sign for us, your always half expecting to be rejected. And thats fair enough because thats just the way football works. As SAF has said in the past, rejection is an overrated hardship in football because with each snub, a different, more exciting proposition might be just around the corner ie. The money that would have gone toward signing Ronaldinho weeks later being put to good use to sign one Cristiano Ronaldo.

Since 08 I've followed this forum not really posted much haven't seen the point I argue with the other half enough lol! So I'd say in depth since 2008 but I've always had my eye on the latest news. Roll on the new season! They go to quick!!!

therealry:

Not just lived through (that would be me asking for your age and I do not want that), I am talking about following a window very closely and paying attention to all the so called news?

If it is more than say 2, has your experience changed how you approach the window and all the so called news?

12 for me. I'm experienced enough to handle all these sagas. It doesn't matter how much transfer windows you have lived through. What matters is how you manage these stuffs.