2017 January Transfer Window

[SvN]

Sandwiches are up there at the top when it comes to food.

[Lewis]

United must have about twenty million quid a year of wages doing nothing. 'Memphis' will be on a bit, World Clashley Young (now there is somebody I thought Corporate Jose would have used a lot more) is still sitting there on well over a hundred grand a week, Adolf Schweinsteiger earns vast amounts, and didn't that flub Adnan Januzaj end up on a whopping contract for looking better than Ronaldo (FACT) for three months? It's like those weird Real Madrid years that nobody remembers where they signed Thomas Gravesen.

[John]

Real Madrid were doing mad, strange things more recently than that. It must have been about 2010 that they took Julien Faubert on loan from West Ham and had fucking Juande Ramos in as manager.

[Lewis]

The better example would have been when Barcelona went mad with all of those crap Dutch players and didn't win a title for about six years, but I didn't want Graham Hunter coming round kicking off in his pants.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember who it was who had an episode on here over the issue of Juande Ramos referring to himself as that when his full name is 'Juan de la Cruz Ramos'.

[Lewis]

My guess is eltharion 'Brasil' doa.

[bruhnaldo]

I really don't rate Lingard much. He seems to run around a lot, but he doesn't really do much or seems to have much impact on the game really. For instance I think Rashford is way, way more impactful than Lingard is. So I don't get the hype at all. Am I missing something?


He's one of those players who fans (including me) don't get, but 'football men' love.

Not only do I not get him, he infuriates me. I'm not trying to sound harsh but frankly I think he's awful. I really just do not fucking get it with this kid. Every 20 appearances he has a freak wonderstrike. 9 out of 10 times otherwise he's utterly fucking useless to the point he kills off any momentum built in attack when he touches the ball. He does nothing but run into dead ends and give away possession. Every time he's in the teamsheet I get annoyed. Even more so than Fellaini. At least with Fellaini I can somehow get the reasoning (though I've never seen a tall man lose more aerial battles to shorter opponents in my life).

I will admit he's put in a couple decent performances this year and IIRC had a lovely cross to Ibra(?) that was one of the best crosses I've seen from the team in many, many years. But a couple shining moments aside I just don't see it with him.


But I'd rather we pay slightly more to a local player who's been at the club since he was 7, rather than paying market value to a foreign player who will want to leave within 18 months due to lack of game time.

I thought this was silly until I read that Memphis is on 90k a week to run around Carrington like a twat for his instagram page. At least Lingard has that one wonderstrike every 20 appearances. Even still, I'd rather try and move him on and use the funds elsewhere. Am I wrong to think if Schneiderlin is still worth 22m the club could get similar or better return for him, especially given the English premium? United are hardly a frugal club but I can't help but think 25m (and what, 19m in wages over 4 years?) could be better spent elsewhere.

Though maybe you have a point. Maybe Jesse is okay with just being around to be used whenever and that's it. Maybe you do need those types of players in your squad. I just feel like the Lingard ship has sailed.


World Clashley Young

:drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't think anyone has ever had a squad of 20 top, top players. It wouldn't work.

The great Ferguson sides had all sorts of jokers on the bench.

[Reg]

I like Lingard, he makes a lot of good runs and speeds up the play. He's a lot more mobile off the ball than Martial and quicker than Mata/Rooney. I wouldn't usually pick him but it's good to have options, and it's nice that he's a fan etc.

[Ian]

I'll forgive Lingard pretty much anything after he shoved Pardew's nauseating dance up his hole.

[Jeet]

That's why Conte wanted llorente :D

Costa off to China 30mill per year. Agent in China apparently

[Lewis]

That agent being Jorge Mendes. This must be the best Jose Mourinho MIND GAME yet. :drool:

[Lewis]

819983147643367425

Imagine being a 'Freelance journalist... Covering Chelsea FC & more' and somehow not realising that Diego Costa is the biggest tip rat in the game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

People don't seem to have twigged that Brazilians and Africans (apart from some of the posh, white Brazilians) will go literally anywhere their agent tells them to go. They're still using 1990s footballing logic.

[Max Power]

Don't think I'd need Jorge Mendes to convince me that earning £30m a year is a good option.

Probably will get a new contract out of Chelsea tbh.

[bruhnaldo]

I'd like to imagine I'm "ABOUT THE FOOTBALL NOT THE MONEY" but if someone said "hey come fuck off in China for a year and I'll pay you 30m" I'd be gone.

[Raoul Duke]

:harold:

820540539342729216

[Jimmy Floyd]

What was it before?

[phonics]

Five.

[Jimmy Floyd]

God bless the Communist Party.

[Lewis]

Won't that just concentrate resources behind making the Carlos Tevez-style mega moves more likely?

[Baz]

Foreigners = anyone not Chinese?

That's killed that then.

[Raoul Duke]

The extra lulz comes from it happening 6 weeks before the season starts and in the middle of the transfer window. The big players will be fine, but squads have been padding out their teams with "local" players (Aussies etc.) who are now screwed.

Probably good for longer-term youth development though Classic China in-terms of implementation

[Jimmy Floyd]

Generally quotas are bad for youth development, because there's no pressure for places.

[Mazuuurk]

It seems so odd though. All this money is somehow contributed by the government, surely? The grand idea being to put Chine on the footballing map internationally?

Or where else are Shanghai and Chenzen clubs getting billions of pounds from?


It does make more sense to use that billion quid to build youth academies across china, as I suspect there's little infrastructure set up around that, but then again why make the U-turn now?

[phonics]

You realise there's a lot of super rich fuckers in China, right?

The Chinese government want this to happen so they say it. The super rich then do it to carry favour with the Government. Pretty simple.

You can't just 'Build Youth Academies Across China', the country isn't set-up like that. Hell, the Government barely reaches the country side.

[niko_cee]

I wonder how the pay works with the Chinese clubs. I'd be wanting it up front in a swiss bank account (or at least not in fucking Renminbi [spellchecks wants to correct that to 'binmen' :sherlock:]).

[Mazuuurk]

You realise there's a lot of super rich fuckers in China, right?

The Chinese government want this to happen so they say it. The super rich then do it to carry favour with the Government. Pretty simple.

You can't just 'Build Youth Academies Across China', the country isn't set-up like that. Hell, the Government barely reaches the country side.

Of course you can, if you want to. China can build or do whatever they wish if they decide to chuck enough resources and people at it.

And yeah I realize there's a lot of rich people in China. But that's exactly what I said - because the Chinese government must be somehow sponsoring this whole thing is why it's happening - and why would they then impose stricter international transfer rules (because it's surely not some head of the chinese FA who is passionate about domestic footballing talent who made that decision)?

Now, my guess is they have a bunch of advisors that ended up telling them that, wait, it might be better to foster national talent instead. And you don't have to build the academies in fucking himalayas, you build them around the big cities.

[John Arne]

Why must the Chinese Government be sponsoring it? From what I can see, most of the companies investing in Chinese clubs are private-owned enterprises.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And it's the Chinese government trying to crack down on it, although it's not exactly in their top 10 most punishing crackdowns it must be said.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I wonder how the pay works with the Chinese clubs. I'd be wanting it up front in a swiss bank account (or at least not in fucking Renminbi [spellchecks wants to correct that to 'binmen' :sherlock:]).

Didn't the first wave of this basically collapse? I remember Drogba not being paid and there must have been others.

[phonics]

In much more interesting news. I saw this video game cover the other day and I have only one thought.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1YkfMSVEAAlB4h.jpg:large

Is that guy on the bottom left supposed to be Woy?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nah, he was a mere youth in those days. It's probably meant to be every Bundesliga manager ever. No, wait. Every African Nations manager ever.

[phonics]

Sounds good though


The player controls an international football team who has failed to perform adequately in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and must qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup through the 1988 European Championships.[1] Instead of a transfer market, the player is given a choice between 100 eligible football players and must choose from 22 of them.[1] The matches are presented in the running commentary style of sports announcing with a small graphic depicting where the ball is.[1] Players must qualify for the 1988 UEFA European Football Championships in West Germany.

All the famous football players like Peter Shilton and Diego Maradona are included in this game.[5] There is an England player called 'Breacher' in the game. In reality there was no recognised top flight footballer with this name. Many commentators assume that this error was due to a typo of the name of then Luton Town player Tim Breacker.

[Giggles]

Tracksuit Manager on the C64 was :drool:

[Mazuuurk]

Why must the Chinese Government be sponsoring it? From what I can see, most of the companies investing in Chinese clubs are private-owned enterprises.


And it's the Chinese government trying to crack down on it, although it's not exactly in their top 10 most punishing crackdowns it must be said.

It may just me my perception of China, to be fair. I always think the Chinese government seems to control most aspects of commerce and flow of money in one way or another. And when you're talking 30-80 million pound deals - all of a sudden - as that government I'd be all over it.

If it's corporations doing it, it must be some sort of money laundering scheme. But I don't quite see where the returns would come from if you send the money off to Chelsea and Boca Juniors.

[phonics]

You're not sending the money to Chelsea and Boca Juniors. You're sending it to Roman Abramovich, Jorge Mendes and Kia Joorchabian.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why the hell does Payet want to go back to Marseille? Not only is the league shit, but Marseille are fucking shit within the league. Have they got newfound dodgy money a la Monaco?

[Boydy]

I read his family are homesick.

[Max Power]

They have been taken over by some American bloke.

[Giggles]

Somene was making that point on Sunday Supplement. He's never getting the same wages or a 5 year deal at 30 off Marseille so if he goes there then it's for a pay cut and maybe he's genuine. Then again, they were probably homesick before he signed the West Ham deal.

[Spikey M]

In much more interesting news. I saw this video game cover the other day and I have only one thought.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C1YkfMSVEAAlB4h.jpg:large

Is that guy on the bottom left supposed to be Woy?


https://youtu.be/k2Gur2TnMds

:drool:

[Foe]

Marseille is a shit hole too. Boy wants to join bloatalli in nice instead.

[Disco]

The manager in that picture looks terrifying, as if he's leaning in to devour the 18 yard box.

[Giggles]

Hoddle's a bit deformed looking too.

[Disco]

I always liked this one with sarky Nick Barmby on the left.

http://i.imgur.com/r6RRSTZ.jpg

[Raoul Duke]

The guy is choosing which one to sexually abuse

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The guy is choosing which one to sexually abuse
That's why the guy he chose has his face partially obscured, he was probably 14 when the game came out.

[Giggles]

First one I ever played.

http://www.atariprotos.com/other/labelvar/museum/2600/peleerror.jpg

:drool: :drool: :drool:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSEASVJIEx4

[Danny]

One of my first:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdwwAJLlepg

[Disco]

http://i.imgur.com/m6S2IiM.png

[Reg]

Not as old school, but :drool: :

https://images.nintendolife.com/games/n64/iss_98/cover_large.jpg

[Giggles]

I still do too. Class game.

[Spikey M]

Not as old school, but :drool: :

https://images.nintendolife.com/games/n64/iss_98/cover_large.jpg

Was this the one that used to say CROSSBAR or POST whenever you hit one of them? If so, this was fucking great. Although it used to go a bit mad and have the ball whacking off both posts and the crossbar every so often and get stuck in some kind of loop.

[phonics]

Keeks I had to delete your post. What was it?

[Boydy]

What game was that from?

EDIT: That was Kikó.

Is that why everything went really slow? This place would barely load when I tried to quote him there.

[Kikó]

http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/218376-ultimate-soccer-manager-98-windows-screenshot-the-traditional.png

Oops sorry. It's USM 98.

[phonics]

What game was that from?

EDIT: That was @Kikó (http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=5).

Is that why everything went really slow? This place would barely load when I tried to quote him there.

I probably deleted the post at the same time you quoted it and it got caught in a loop.

I've been meaning to turn that off for about 6 months now. My first piece of work on TTH since we got started :cool:

[Disco]

Ultimate Soccer Manager :cool:

Play long enough and the inflation meant you had to charge hundreds of pounds for pies and cups of tea.

[phonics]

http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/l/218376-ultimate-soccer-manager-98-windows-screenshot-the-traditional.png

Oops sorry. It's USM 98.

I think I bought one of those, it had Ron Atkinson on the front which assured me it was a quality product. It wasn't.

[Boydy]

I think I bought one of those, it had Ron Atkinson on the front which assured me it was a quality product. It wasn't.

You might be thinking of FIFA Soccer Manager (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=fifa+soccer+manager&espv=2&biw=1481&bih=878&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjntvyd0MfRAhXDXBoKHV1TAUcQ_AUIBigB).

That's what I thought it was at first as it looked familiar and I remember having it. Never played Ultimate Soccer Manager.

[Disco]

FIFA had Bobby Robson on it.

[Raoul Duke]

This was well good:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/Fifa_street_2012.jpg

There was another indoor footie game I had which I can't even clearly remember what platform it was on. Dreamcast?

[phonics]

Fifa 97 had the best indoor football mode hands down.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Fifa_97_indoor.png

Fifa Street is dog shit.

[Raoul Duke]

delete your account

[Smiffy]

I think it was Premier Manager 97 where you could turn the age off or transfer any players for a certain fee no matter how shit.

That game was awesome.

[Reg]

I liked the first Fifa Street. It was novel at least. And I like some 'upgrade your character' games.

I didn't play any indoor ones on Dreamcast, only Virtua Soccer, which was good but not as fun as in arcades, and Uefa Striker where every slide tackle lasted about twenty yards.

[phonics]

Honestly the worst football series ever made only made more insulting trading on the name of one of the greatest sports series of all time.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/NBA_Street_Vol._2_Coverart.png

[bruhnaldo]

my first football game was:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Nintendo_World_Cup_Cover.jpg

so many hours lost :drool:

[Boydy]

FIFA had Bobby Robson on it.

Yeah.

I didn't mistake that old guy on the cover for Ron Atkinson at all. :rosebud:

[phonics]

Yeah.

I didn't mistake that old guy on the cover for Ron Atkinson at all. :rosebud:

I've been in a state of flux since you posted it, I'm CERTAIN it was Big Ron but I can't find any record of him appearing on the front of a video game.

[Giggles]

Honestly the worst football series ever made only made more insulting trading on the name of one of the greatest sports series of all time.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/NBA_Street_Vol._2_Coverart.png

Just remembered I have NFL Street somewhere.

[niko_cee]

Ultimate Soccer Manager :cool:

Play long enough and the inflation meant you had to charge hundreds of pounds for pies and cups of tea.

Was that the one where you could build you stadium to unlimited capacity?

I think I'm thinking of something else (Onside?) - it was one of the first to have a (dreadful) 3D highlights option (although I think it claimed actua soccer graphics) and you could build a stadium to hold hundreds of millions of people. Set ticket prices to the absolute minimum and sell it out every time. Invest the cash in another 30 millions seats . . .

The Premier Manager series also had more realistic (disappointing) stadium expansion options.

[Shindig]

Premier Manager 97 used the Actua Engine, I think. All the Barry Davies you can eat.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Honestly the worst football series ever made only made more insulting trading on the name of one of the greatest sports series of all time.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/NBA_Street_Vol._2_Coverart.png

That was so good, this was my favourite basketball game though:

http://iv1.lisimg.com/image/4652069/640full-nba-hang-time-cover.jpg

:drool:

NBA Jam a close second.

[Ian]

Ultimate Soccer Manager '98. :drool: I think my bribes failed every single time.

[phonics]

Im just googling names people mention in here and then 'Ron Atkinson' at this point. I'll never sleep.

[Disco]

The indoor mode of Striker...


Look at the glutes on this dude.

http://i.imgur.com/3QVvFE9.png



...had a bug that allowed you to score from the kickoff every single time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

USM was great. I love the idea of Jose Mourinho setting the burger prices.

[Disco]

And sorting out the sponsorship, that was a mainstay of 90's football games.

[Ian]

In ISS Deluxe your goalkeeper could catch the ball outside the area. I used to try and run him down the field and score backheel chips with him so of course when I fucked up he had to leg it back to his own box. On one such occasion their goalie punted the ball right down the middle, so mine just turned and caught it while stood in the centre circle.

[Shindig]

Premier Manager 3 had something where rival fans would torch your stands. There was a one on the Amstrad that featured blackmail.

[Offshore Toon]

Fifa 97 had the best indoor football mode hands down.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Fifa_97_indoor.png

Fifa Street is dog shit.
Wasn't that 95?

I remember playing a football game on the Super Nintendo. Superstar Soccer? That would have been my first, I guess.

[Baz]

http://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/220568-the-mission-playstation-front-cover.jpg

This was the business. Miles better than FIFA Street.

[phonics]

Wasn't that 95?

I remember playing a football game on the Super Nintendo. Superstar Soccer? That would have been my first, I guess.

Considering the image you quoted's url is https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Fifa_97_indoor.png. Probably not.

[Offshore Toon]

Don't believe everything you read.

[bruhnaldo]

Did anyone play that "Secret Tournament" game on Nikefootball.com back in like the 2002 World Cup lol

So many hours lost man... lmao wow.

http://worthplaying.com/press/40/bb4.jpg

:drool:

[John]

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/7/73970/2607745-manchester_united_europe_front.jpg

The first football game I ever played. Miles ahead of its time in terms of graphics. It probably looked better than the FIFA games that were coming out five years later.

[The Merse]

Ultimate Soccer Manager '98. :drool: I think my bribes failed every single time.

Bribing whilst attempting promotion from Serie B in USM 98 brought an element of realism that FM has never replicated.

Loved the newspapers too. Imagined Jimbo reading them over his Sunday morning espresso on Football Italia.

[SvN]

Speaking of indoor football, I had completely forgot about Striker '96 on the Playstation, which had Andy Gray on commentary. It was pretty shit, but in a good way.

http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/7/1/3/1/267131-striker_003.jpg

Did anyone play Adidas Power Soccer? Fucking atrocious, but the special moves made it all worth while. You could push people over, kung fu kick them in the chest, punch the ball into the net, and so on. And if you hit a "Predator Kick" it would knock the keeper into the net from its sheer power.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkBByIJaoSs

Go to 7 minutes 40 seconds for an example.

Just me?

[Baz]

Adidas Power Soccer was ace.

I remember playing it to death and thinking I was done with it, but then found out about the female commentator "cheat" so played it to death again.

[wullie]

First football game I had


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbEeCPQFLeE

After that was Emlyn Hughes International Soccer which was a revelation in comparison.

[SvN]

First football game I had


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbEeCPQFLeE

After that was Emlyn Hughes International Soccer which was a revelation in comparison.

Ahhh this game takes me back to a cringeworthy memory. I was about 7 at my cousin's house, and he was raving about an amazing new football game he had. I was excited to play it, and told him that I was playing a game at my mate's house the other day that had crap graphics, was blocky as shit and rubbish to play.

So he loads up his game and of course, it's the same game. And I say "Oh yeah this is it! This is the crap game my mate has!". And my cousin just looks totally devestated and says he doesn't want to play any more.

[Giggles]

It was on a cartridge instead of cassette though :cool:

[Waffdon]

Chelsea after Traore of Middlesbrough. Him and Llorente would be some transfer window...

[Pen]

my first football game was:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Nintendo_World_Cup_Cover.jpg

so many hours lost :drool:

If that's the cover of that game where every country had their own 'super kick' then that's my first football game too and it is indeed brilliant. I loved the multiplayer mode with different pitches like ice and sand. I also spent hours mastering the more manager-esque (in very loose terms) Tecmo cup :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some of the thigh definition on these cover players is sensational.

[bruhnaldo]

If that's the cover of that game where every country had their own 'super kick' then that's my first football game too and it is indeed brilliant. I loved the multiplayer mode with different pitches like ice and sand. I also spent hours mastering the more manager-esque (in very loose terms) Tecmo cup :drool:

Haha yes that's the one!! Awesome game.

[Pen]

We played a twelve team tournament with two person teams a few years back and I won the whole thing even when paired with a girl who had never played before. Everything was still well in muscle memory.

[Lewis]

'Memphis' looks to be off for half of what they paid for him, and where would Antoine Griezmann fit in? Can he come in off the right?

[Magic]

Lol @ Cheeseman. Another bottling French cunt in the ranks for untold millions. Old whiskey nose must be spewing. At least his shite was inexpensive.

[7om]

How would you arrange United's frontline, Lewis when you've got: Micky Taryan, Pogba, Martial, Rooney, Rashford, Lingard, Mata and Ibra.

Do you think they might call it a day with Martial?

[Lewis]

I don't know. It probably all hinges on Wayne Rooney fucking off, since that at least makes Juan Mata the second number ten, and leaves you with two good players in each position (and Jesse Lingard managing Paulp Ogba's Twitter for him). Marcus Rashford might have to wait another year for 'Zlatan' to finally expire, and could probably do with a loan spell in that case, but whatever.

Martial/Ogba/Mkhitaryan, with Griezmann as the striker maybe. No more headed goals ever.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Martial is one of those who I think will probably go mega at some point.

[SvN]

Martial has just started to pull his finger out, why would we call it a day now?

[Reg]

I think what they're doing is working. Always play Zlatan because he's the only one who's more likely to score that not. Rotate the two players on the wings (or floating wherever in Mata's case). Keep the same three in midfield (Carrick, Herrera, Pogba) as they finally have some continuity and chemistry there.

[Lewis]

It took Eden Hazard about eighteen months to stop being a timewaster didn't it (and he had more French experience)? Pencil Martial in for 2018/19.

[7om]

Martial has just started to pull his finger out, why would we call it a day now?

I've only seen him a few times this season, but I've never been that impressed with him. And I've noticed a few times that Rashford has replaced him on the left and immediately had more of an impact. Maybe he should play up top after Zlatan goes.

[randomlegend]

Martial had a wank spell the start of this season, but he was brilliant last season (considering) and has looked good again recently.

There's no way they'd bin him off.

[John Arne]

Martial would help himself if he enjoyed playing. He constantly looks like he hates being out there, hates being a footballer, and hates being French.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You can forgive him the last part.

If I could choose a nationality as a footballer I'd want to be the sole leading light for a small nation, like Gudjohnsen, or Ibrahimovic. Imagine the adulation combined with the ability to blame your shit team mates when things go wrong.

[7om]

South Korea.

[Waffdon]

Griezmann playing off Ibrahimovic would be a bit good, but means Pogba sitting deeper which won't work against the decent teams.

[Lewis]

United have apparently got a buy-back clause on 'Memphis', but do they even need it when they're ballin' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38655480) to this extent?

[Mazuuurk]

With the reservation that what I've seen from Griezmann was mostly from the Euros, I reckon he wouldn't work well with Zlatan at all.

[Luke Emia]

I think my biggest reservation with Griezmann is that he is a fantastically large bottler, would fit in well at Spurs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's the most French looking bloke there is. You could imagine him: modelling leotards for Dior, driving a Ligier in the 1970s, being sent out as cannon fodder by the Maquis, being annoyingly loud on a school trip to London as an ineffectual teacher looks on, standing on the barricades as the Paris Commune starts to fall apart, saying nothing and getting his cock out for no reason in a 1970s film... and all the rest.

[John Arne]

It's pretty amazing how terrible agents suddenly become when a club actually wants rid of a player (and presumably the player wants first team football). I have absolutely no idea why the likes of Sakho and even Schweinsteiger are still hanging around at their respective clubs - I can only surmise the neither of them want to leave for lower wages.

[Max Power]

WIth Sakho, isn't it Liverpool asking for £20m thats doing it?

[John Arne]

For sure. But again, agents usually find a way to sort these things out somehow.

[Jimmy Floyd]

With those players it's in everyone's interests not to rush a move. There are still 12 days left in January, wait for someone to be desperate on deadline day and the price will go up. And if no one is desperate, then financially they're better off staying there anyway.

[Shindig]

Given what Rafa was saying after the match, we're holding station.

[John Arne]

Just found out that it was Mourinho who sold Bonucci when at Inter Milan for $3.4m. Ha.

[7om]

If I could rant for a moment; Zola is now P7, W0, D3, L4.

Yeah he;s changed the style and we have a much higher possession statistic under him but this has been a quite catastrophic bit of decision making by us. When Rowett left we were out of the playoffs by goal difference and now we sit 9 points off. If the reason for his sacking was because they weren't convinced of his abilities to get us in the playoffs then this has backfired worse than their stupid brains could have imagined.

This isn't Zola's fault in reality, but I can't help wanting to smack him one every time I see one of his crap interviews. This is typical Birmingham, though. The fans have been shit on for years after Bruce left and just when some hope was coming back with a manager who was universally liked they go and pull this stunt. Just so disheartening.

[Smiffy]

It's absolutely bonkers when you think they won the League Cup just six years ago.

[wullie]

Was Zola hired because they wanted some kind of big name? I'm still bitter about us turfing out Eric Black to get Peter Reid in for that reason 13 years ago.

[Lewis]

Whether Peter Reid is still a 'big name' or not is probably used as a metric of success in Premier League HQ.

[Waffdon]

With the reservation that what I've seen from Griezmann was mostly from the Euros, I reckon he wouldn't work well with Zlatan at all.

Eh? France only started to look half decent when they played him behind Giroud.

[Mazuuurk]

Eh? France only started to look half decent when they played him behind Giroud.

Yeah but... what? Zlatan and Giroud are absolutely nothing alike as players, apart from the fact that both are strong.

[phonics]

Berainho has signed for Stoke :cab:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38696547

Didn't they reject £15m from the Jews in 2015 and then £21m from Newcastle last January?

lol.

[phonics]

And Fonte has just signed for West Ham. What is happening?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/10150521/saido-berahino-in-demand-as-stoke-an-newcastle-enquire

And Stoke made a £21m bid last year.

Played.

[Giggles]

Is that the big move Fonte was holding out for? They better be paying him a fortune the twat.

[niko_cee]

Two completely nonsensical deals. All hail the January transfer window!

[igor_balis]

Our brinkmanship with Berahino went really well. Rather than sell him at the peak of his hype, we basically stuck him in the reserves, rejected offer after offer whilst shitting on him in the press, then sell him for about half we could have. This is like AI transfer policy on FM. Good job I don't give a toss about football anymore and just find it funny rather than infuriating.

[Shindig]

Yeah but... what's he ever done? Seriously. If he was the player he thinks he is, the club couldn't have managed that.

[igor_balis]

Fuck all, and I always thought he was massively overrated. I don't think that we've wasted his talent or failed to utilise him, the error was not getting rid when people were willing to pay £20m. I can't understand why they didn't.

[Byron]

That Fonte deal came out of nowhere. I can't see us being a step up for him either so we'll be paying him a truck load of money.

Still, we needed someone there since selling Tomkins so I won't complain.

[Baz]

Winston Reid is already his bitch, I reckon.

[Shindig]

Fuck all, and I always thought he was massively overrated. I don't think that we've wasted his talent or failed to utilise him, the error was not getting rid when people were willing to pay £20m. I can't understand why they didn't.

In Newcastle's case, Mike would never sign off on personal terms. I can't remember Spurs striking options at the time but they must've decided they were covered. Paying £20m for a striker should land them in the first team immediately. Maybe they decided he and Kane weren't going to fit.

[Raoul Duke]

Berahino deal is basically the opposite of Moneyball.

He's alright, but only really had one decent season before he turned fat and mental.

[mo]

All this talk of Fonte but no mention of the fee...is no one else utterly baffled by £8m for a 33 year old?

[phonics]

Mauro Zarate has signed for Watford.

[Giggles]

All this talk of Fonte but no mention of the fee...is no one else utterly baffled by £8m for a 33 year old?

£8m is the new £1m.

[John Arne]

£8m for another 2-3 years of decent defending probably isn't that bad nowadays.

[igor_balis]

that sounds about right to me, when you consider how much money is spent on younger players now

[Trancemeister]

Alexander Isak has joined Dortmund for 9m€.

[Raoul Duke]

Alexander Isak has joined Dortmund for 9m€.

What's the deal with him? Looks solid from his scoring record and YouTube (lol).

Dortmund have bought some cracking youngsters recently. Be exciting to see them develop and then get sold to Bayern Munich

[Yevrah]

£8m is a pointless amount of money to sell a good player for these days.

FM17 has it right with its £20m valuations of absolute mediocrity.

[ScousePig]

Sounds like Van Aanholt is on his way to Palace for £9-12m.

I'm not sure anyone really wins in this deal.

[niko_cee]

Fucking hell. Markovic (Markovic) is still alive and is on his way to Hull.

[Shindig]

Sounds like Van Aanholt is on his way to Palace for £9-12m.

I'm not sure anyone really wins in this deal.

Hmmmm .... I mean, I don't know where the money goes. Are you selling to bring in money to spend or is it going to running the club? I was going to mention how quiet this window was but it just sounds like I've not been paying attention. #ChampionshipLife

[Lewis]

Nine million euros for some seventeen year old in Sweden. The Connor Wickham Principle in action. If he's shit then lol, if he isn't then somebody richer will pay forty for him in three years.

[niko_cee]

How's that Norwegian(?) superchild who went to Madrid getting on?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How's that Norwegian(?) superchild who went to Madrid getting on?

Odegaard.

He's joined the mighty Hereenveen on loan for 18 months.

The new Adu.

[Danny]

Hoffenheim on loan I think

Edit: Heerenveen rather as How said

[Bernanke]

Nine million euros for some seventeen year old in Sweden. The Connor Wickham Principle in action. If he's shit then lol, if he isn't then somebody richer will pay forty for him in three years.

He was apparently really close to signing for Real before changing his mind and going to Borussia. Smart lad.

From what I've seen from him he's a very intelligent forward with good functional technique, but the "next Zlatan" label is lol-worthy.

[Raoul Duke]

Next Zlatan basically = tall, I thought. Doesn't seem anything like him stylistically, other than playing up front.

[ScousePig]

Hmmmm .... I mean, I don't know where the money goes. Are you selling to bring in money to spend or is it going to running the club? I was going to mention how quiet this window was but it just sounds like I've not been paying attention. #ChampionshipLife

Probably just clearing the decks a bit and getting whatever we can now before values drop.

I'd be surprised if we replaced him with anyone good enough for what we need.

[Shindig]

It's more likely that money will go on two or three bodies just to give the squad a bit of depth. Championship types.

[Magic]

£8m for another 2-3 years of decent defending probably isn't that bad nowadays.

Exactly. Fonte doesn't rely on pace. He's a beast.

[Bernanke]

Next Zlatan basically = tall, I thought. Doesn't seem anything like him stylistically, other than playing up front.

Yeah, I know, but he's built like Peter Crouch.

[Mazuuurk]

Next Zlatan basically = tall, I thought. Doesn't seem anything like him stylistically, other than playing up front.

He's actually more similar to Zlatan than you initially think, if you think about what Zlatan looked like when he was 19 and still Played in Sweden. Basically he was skinny then, and fast for his size.

It's still Lol-worthy, because we will not have 'another' Zlatan for at least 50 years, from a pure talent perspective. But actually stylistically the difference isn't as big as you might think. Though a player like Isak will have to keep his pace about him I think, and it'll not work out so well being that tall - unless he drastically improves his touch and technique. We'll see.

[Magic]

Mauro Zarate has signed for Watford.

This cunt basically propelled my WBA side to glory in FM05. What the hell.

[phonics]

That 6 months or so at Birmingham was his peak. Him and Amir Zaki up front for Wigan :drool:

[Weaver]

Joleon Lescott in at Sunderland, free transfer until the end of the season.

Not sure what he'll be like for them.

[phonics]

Joleon Lescott, Steven Pienaar and Jagielka linked to a move there. Just get Tim Cahill in and we can have the 2005 Everton team back together.

[Magic]

Indeed, except none of them played for Everton in 2005 apart from Cahill.

[phonics]

That's 8 points for being a boring cunt.

[Magic]

No need to be so harsh on yourself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In 2005 they had the likes of Thomas Gravesen, Pissed Tony and David 'Davey' Weir.

[Mazuuurk]

Sorry phonics, but you got schooled.

[phonics]

Look, 2005 was about 4 years ago and I won't have any arguing with it.

[Magic]

In 2005 they had the likes of Thomas Gravesen, Pissed Tony and David 'Davey' Weir.

Andy 'AMRLC/FC' VDM. :drool:

[Amigo]

Birkir Bjarnason to Aston Villa. :cool:

[Foe]

In 2005 they had the likes of Thomas Gravesen, Pissed Tony and David 'Davey' Weir.

Thomas graveson as a Real Madrid player is a trivia question if the future. Everton, Real Madrid, Celtic. Hmm.

[phonics]

Not sure if he quite earns the title but once FM Wunderkinder M'Baye Niang has signed for Watford for 16 million quid. Starting to feel a bit sorry for Troy Deeney.

[Giggles]

823994154929848321

[Spikey M]

That'll go well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This is why footballers shouldn't be allowed near Twitter.

[Giggles]

Palace have had a 9m bid accepted for Robbie Brady. Did they not just sign van Aanholt?

[Mazuuurk]

This is precisely why footballers should be allowed near Twitter.


Fixed that for you :drool:

[bruhnaldo]

Orlando City have signed Jonathan Spector, once of the Man United academy and more recently of Birmingham City.

[Demerit]

Not sure if he quite earns the title but once FM Wunderkinder M'Baye Niang has signed for Watford for 16 million quid. Starting to feel a bit sorry for Troy Deeney.

Sorry why? The bloke is guaranteed a start every week.

[Baz]

Plus he scored goal of the season (vs West Ham).

[Demerit]

Exactly, he's got it made.

[Adamski]

Reece Oxford to Rangers on loan being mooted.

[Waffdon]

This is why footballers shouldn't be allowed near Twitter.

He was 16...

[Spikey M]

Still lol.

[Waffdon]

He'd have been on the gear. Let him off.

[Max Power]

In a relegation battle and shipping goals at will with a creaky and depleted defence so yeah let's go and spend £15m on Gaston Ramirez :moop:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Smart move tbh, Middlesbrough will never score another goal without him.

[Max Power]

Yeah not disappointed with it just doesn't seem a priority with six registered defenders on the books all playing like twats.

Boro fans seem devastated with the potential loss as you hinted at so that's good.

[Demerit]

Niang deal done.

Anyone know anything about him?

[Max Power]

Has all the tools but plays like an absolute twat 95% of the time. Worth a punt on loan.

[Adamski]

Why the fuck have Everton resigned Jose Baxter? Especially as he's still banned for 6 months :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Charity, probably.

[SvN]

The contract doesn't start until the summer, when his ban ends.

[Lewis]

lol, Dimitri Payet got his move. For twenty-five million as well.


The club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the club and fans showed him, particularly when it rewarded him with a lucrative new five-and-half-year deal only last year. I would like to make it clear that we have no financial need to sell our best players and that the decision to allow Payet to leave was in accordance with the wishes of the manager and the interests of squad unity. To be frank, my board and I would have preferred for him to have stayed in order to make an example of him, as no player is bigger than the club.

He donned you, mate.

[Yevrah]

Releasing a statement is a bit small time. Everyone knew what went on.

[Lewis]

'It's not for me to speak on behalf of the dead, but I know for a fact that Bobby Moore...'

[Giggles]

That newspaper showing Bilic up for his double standards was the best thing about all this.

[phonics]

Oviedo and Darren Gibson to Sunderland.

Does his phone only have three numbers in it?

[CJay]

When is the window slamming shut this week?

[Raoul Duke]

When is the window slamming shut this week?

Tomorrow innit. Amusingly there's a round of games scheduled, so some people will be missing out on moves potentially.

Twitter are apparently live streaming Jim White wanking himself dry, so there's that to look forwards to.

[Raoul Duke]

I see Pato has taken the Chinese wonga. What a bizarre career he's had.

[niko_cee]

The most bizarre bit being they deemed him worthy of chucking the wonga at.

[Manc]

He was never special, just Brazilian.

[phonics]

Villa linked to another 15 million pound striker today.

They've spent the same amount on strikers in 18 months as Wellbeck, Giroud and Lucas Perez :cab:

[Mazuuurk]

In fairness (and in hindsight I suppose) - those are all extreme bargains really. Well maybe not Perez, he seems more appropriately priced so far.
And yeah of course you kind of gotta factor out Welbz' injuries.

[Spammer]

Villa linked to another 15 million pound striker today.

They've spent the same amount on strikers in 18 months as Wellbeck, Giroud and Lucas Perez :cab:

Wellbeck is only a single human being in fairness so I don't really know what he's playing at buying strikers. What does he buy them for? To clean his house?

[phonics]

826377248760557569

Is that Brendan Rodgers in the picture frame?

[niko_cee]

I didn't realise that Chinese Team 43 had payed nigh on £16m for Pato.

So may filthy nests being feathered.

[phonics]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3gPteoXAAY0fSs.jpg:large

You might be surprised to find out there is no such player as 'Yermas Dildo'

[Jimmy Floyd]

This dude in the picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Gnoh%C3%A9r%C3%A9

[Mazuuurk]

This is by far the most boring January transfer window there has ever been.

Maybe that's a good sign, though.

[Demerit]

Happy with our business this January.

Cleverley on loan, Niang on loan and Zarate for £2m with possibly Tim Krul coming in as backup on loan still.

Ighalo out for £20m rising to £25m, Paredes off the wage bill (wasn't registered for the first half of the season) and Guedioura off for £3-4m.

Now if we could only have someone that could actually get these players to play..

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had a blind guess at which club Ighalo might be joining for '£20m rising to £25m' and went for Guizhou Renhe. So fucking close.

[Giggles]

I would have guessed West Ham.

[Max Power]

Steven Caulker to Lokomotiv Moscow clearly the deal of the window

[Trancemeister]

Kim Källström has had his contract mutually terminated by Grasshoppers. Coming back to Djurgården :drool:

[Trancemeister]

Bournemouth has supposedly bid 18m£ for Nathan Ake.

[Reg]

We've got Chuba Akpom on loan. Any Arsenal fans got an impression of him from the bits he's played?

[phonics]

Really good athlete, will run all day, very highly rated when coming through the academy (all the hype was over him not Iwobi) but seems to snatch at chances he gets. Has Sterlings, 'not sure he can kick a football' problem. Seems to be a confidence player, think he got 5 in 5 for Hull only to never score a goal for them all season.

[phonics]

Kim Källström has had his contract mutually terminated by Grasshoppers. Coming back to Djurgården :drool:


"I look like a boy as I walk across the grass, with the ball under my arm. Well-groomed side-parting, a clean red shirt, white sleeves, and a golden cannon on my breast. I'm a man past thirty years of age, in a boy's dream. It's the semifinal of the English FA cup, against Wigan, with 82,000 people on the stands of Wembley Stadium, among which 50,000 root for us. They are loud and starving fans that hunger for a title. They haven't won anything for nine years, which is an eternity for a club that is considered one of the greatest in the World. They have the most loyal fans, gooners. By strange and unexpected detours, I've ended up at the top club Arsenal, in north London. With straight legs, I bend down and put the ball on the spot. I throw a quick glance at the keeper. I've already decided where to place it. I try not to smile. The moment is here. I'm here - in the middle of the latin motto of the club: Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory grows through harmony. I can't help myself but smile slightly. I haven't even played half an hour for Arsenal. I debuted against Swansea, for eleven minutes, and now I was substituted on in extra time when it was to be decided. Fifteen minutes of a footballer's life, which changed my story."

"I got a call from my agent, Roger Ljung [World Cup bronze medalist in '94]. 'Do you want to be loaned out to a club in the Premier League?" "No." "Do you want to be loaned out to Arsenal?" "YES!"


"It was transfer day and a rumour of a new player had leaked. The training facilities were filled with supporters, journalists and tv was transmitting live. When we arrived at Heathrow, we had to drive to a field and switch cars so that no one would recognise the vehicle. Everyone was nice to me, and I get training clothes and number 29. I was sent to a team physician for the obligatory medical exam. While the physician is going through the tests, I'm sitting in the cafeteria, drinking a cup of washy English coffee. I'm dressed in the club colours, in the civilian outfit of the professional football player, meaning a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Players pass by on the way to today's training. I knew a few of them, as they were French, and we small-talk a bit. The physician fetches me, and I'm driven quickly to a hospital for a X-ray exam. Something's wrong. We return to the training facilities. I'm put in a situation that reminds me of a talent show on tv. I'm standing in front of a jury, in Arsenal clothes, the cd with my X-ray images, and bad posture. In front of me sits the team physician, the sporting director, and the powerful manager Arsene Wenger, who has run the club with an iron fist and a low-key attitude for almost 20 years. The physician starts speaking. He understands that Arsenal is a big thing for me and that my hopes have been lit, but the back problem is too bad, and he's sorry. He lays down the facts. There are three cases of vertebral fractures, and I'm out for atleast 4-6 weeks. I'm shocked - disappointed, but I understood. Against the evidence of the X-ray images, neither boyhood dreams or arguments help. I understand. 'If you're injured, you're injured', I say, but in truth I was angry as hell. There's silence in the room. Wenger hasn't said anything. He hasn't even looked at his colleagues as they inform me of their logical verdicts. He thinks for himself. I wait for him to say something. He sighs, and says 'The transfer windows shuts in a few hours. It's impossible to find a replacement. Either I take you or no one.' Surprised, the others turn to the big boss. No one knows how he'll continue, but they know that his words are law. It's evident that he has not anchored his decision among the rest of the staff. Wenger decides. "You'll stay, heal, and train. I'll take you when you're fit."


"Now, the next circus starts. I could follow the events in real time, as the media started writing and friends contacted me. In spite of a time difference of four hours, and the Russian football association being closed, the transfer was done. The contract was signed in the last hour. I had left Spartak Moscow when everyone was asleep; I was just gone the next morning. I got a few good luck texts, but other than that, Russia was over for this time."


"I train like a mad man in England. I'm good at that. One day at the gym, Wenger stops by. When he enters a room, everybody sort of stops, as if they're waiting for a signal. He has that effect on people. I keep peddling on the exercise bike, as I'm trying to beat a certain time. Wenger is watching with his French, slightly casual, yet serious, gaze. We small-talk and we're on the right track. I felt like I was building confidence with the leader, without having kicked a ball yet. After five weeks of hard rehab, and the uncertainty whether my back would be restored, I'm suddenly back on the pitch. It was a long time since the club had won anything, and the British capital is boiling, with the tabloids as directors. We're favourites against Wigan in the semi-finals, but we only manage to achieve a draw at full-time. The clock ticks, without anyone ending it. I'm sitting on the bench without any personal expectation. There's seven minutes left and I'm suddenly substituted for an exhausted Aaron Ramsey. The ref blows the whistle. Now, one of the finalists must be decided by a penalty shootout. A simple and brutal way to end things. Now, understanding of the game, tactics, and physical prowess are meaningless. Now, there is only a confused mess of nerves and chance. Penalty shoot-outs in football crown kings, and always a scapegoat. You must score. All the pressure is on the taker. I hear Wenger shouting in French: "Kim, do you take penalties?" "Yeah, I'd be glad to take one." "Good. You're second." I decide early where to shoot it. When I walk alone to the spot, in a stadium with three times as many spectators as there are inhabitants of my hometown, Sandviken, I must suppress my smile. It's a long way to walk across the pitch. I'm relaxed - perhaps happy. I put the ball on the spot. Now, I just have to back up and find the right distance to the ball, run up, and strike the ball hard and high to the left. Just do what I usually do, what I know, and always have done. I've done it a thousand times before, and there's no nervousness. The keeper goes early, in the opposite direction of where I had decided to put it. When I watch the penalty on Youtube, the feelings return. The calm and the joy, but I'm surprised where the ball ended up. The ball ended up in the lower left corner, opposite of how I remembered it. I had decided to put it high to the left, but I remembered it as I actually put it low to the right. I'm confused, but the ball ended up in the net. We won the final and we're praised by over 200,000 supporters on the streets of London. Although my contribution was small in the 120-year history of the club, it was a highlight for me. The greatest fifteen minutes of my life, and it turns out I don't remember what happened. Where was I in that deciding moment? Trance, shock, delirium, coma, nervous breakdown, call it whatever you want. The only thing I know for sure is that sports and football are incomprehensible. That's why we love it. As long as that penalty continues to end up in the net, my experience is true. I'm sure of it."

We probably chucked a league not getting anyone but him in that year but he's a fucking legend in my books.

[Reg]

Really good athlete, will run all day, very highly rated when coming through the academy (all the hype was over him not Iwobi) but seems to snatch at chances he gets. Has Sterlings, 'not sure he can kick a football' problem. Seems to be a confidence player, think he got 5 in 5 for Hull only to never score a goal for them all season.
Cheers, sounds like he could be an alternative for Baldock with the running which could be very useful.

[Weaver]

826522674218299394

He's back.

[Baz]

Seen the photo of him arriving in Wigan?

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/spongebob/images/3/3e/ExplodingPie.png

[randomlegend]

Chuckled.

[Magic]

@ladbible RT

[Giggles]

Brady to Burnley done.

[Offshore Toon]

Obertan. :cool:

I actually wanted him to stay. Give him the simple job of bombing up and down and laying the ball off and he's pretty good.

[Giggles]

What's this Gabbiadini lad like?

[Lewis]

Sky Sports News is really struggling with nobody of note doing any DEADLINE DAY business.

[Lewis]

Seventeen for long shots! Woah.

[Giggles]

Seventeen for long shots! Woah.

They didn't, did they?

[Ian]

They didn't, did they?

I saw some of this the other day, them talking about a player-rating database ALL THE SCOUTS USE and it was rating attributes out of twenty.

Probably just the FM database reskinned slightly.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I heard that they use Mantralux's database.

[Giggles]

SLAMMED SHUT.

That was shit.

[John]

Sky Sports have been using FM stats for a couple of years now, calling it a 'professional scouting tool used by clubs around the world', or somesuch. The best fun comes when they start comparing potential signings to the players they'd be replacing.

[Giggles]

Jim really does try, bless.

[Kikó]

Rooney didn't go to China :(

[Raoul Duke]

Rooney didn't go to China :(

They're building up the means to make it happen though - lots of 'this year' qualifiers in sentences.

[randomlegend]

https://twitter.com/IndyFootball/status/826486293496471553

[Lewis]

I wonder what sort of transfer fee United would get for Wayne Rooney. The contract offers sound as mental as expected, so would they also fork out loads, or will the wages eat into their ability to do so (and would United really hold out)?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you're opening up £12 million a year on the payroll by getting rid then the fee is kind of immaterial.

[Giggles]

You'd imagine removing Sakho from a squad is like bringing someone in.

[niko_cee]

I still don't get the Sakho business, or perhaps the 'business' of football more generally. Even though he's a bombscare much of the time (or at least looks it) he was a fairly key figure for Liverpool last season until his ban (and everything went to shit in his absence). Then something happens and he's gone forever, whilst mooks like Lucas (bless him) are regularly used at centre-half. And to top it all "we want £20m for him". Erm, if you want that sort of money for him then you probably need to be playing him to some extent. Are the business side and the football side really so divorced that a personal feud (or whatever it is) can bring about a £20m+ loss (when you figure the needless wages he could collect for years) and no one bats an eyelid? It's mental.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've just seen that Hull bought Kamil Grosicki yesterday :drool: