[FOOTBALL] 2018 January Transfer Window Thread

[SincereTheRebel]

Proper waster if he takes the money.

Could end up being good for him. Just ask paulinho. No fucking idea how he pulled it off.

[Lewis]

Wasn't he giving it the big'un not so long ago about preferring his Roman lifestyle to Premiership money?

[Baz]

The one who played for Spurs is clearly a different man to the one at Barcelona.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If City manage to con United into taking Sanchez (30 this year) for about 8 trillion quid a year over 4+ years, they'll have played a blinder.

[John]

If Arsenal manage to get Martial going the other way then they'll have done their first good bit of business since they signed Sanchez.

[Magic]

Projected costs? I fucking hate this game.

[phonics]

The Martial thing is as much of a goer as Sterling was. Wenger just gets bored and starts taking the piss at this point I think.

[Baz]

https://i.imgur.com/9KJhZRd_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium

[Giggles]

Who's that with the dogs?

[Spikey M]

The Martial thing is as much of a goer as Sterling was. Wenger just gets bored and starts taking the piss at this point I think.

Is it not just Tabloid bollocks? Surely not even Wenger is that mental.

[phonics]

Mkhitaryans been left out so who knows.

I'm going to have to learn how to spell his name.

[Mazuuurk]

How'd that go against Forest?

Arsenal lost 4-2

[Pen]

If City manage to con United into taking Sanchez (30 this year) for about 8 trillion quid a year over 4+ years, they'll have played a blinder.

United getting Sanchez would be a great signing. He’s very good. If they send Martial the other way, then it’s obviously a horrible deal.

[Mazuuurk]

Martial is playing and just scored. Can't see him going.

Then again, Sanchez would basically ensure he's going to get even less games than now, given he only really plays out to the left.

So all in all, Martial is probably the loser whatever happens here.

[Kikó]

He'll take Mata's spot.

[Baz]

Who's that with the dogs?Alexis Sanchez

[Mazuuurk]

He'll take Mata's spot.

Maybe but don't you think Martial would be a little shit out to the right? Cutting inside and bending it in the corner is all he ever does.

[Lewis]

He means 'Alexis' will go on the right.

[Pleb]

Citeh isn't bothering with getting Alexis according to MNF...I mean SSN.

[Reg]

Sanchez will go behind Lukaku, I think. It'd be harsh on Lingard but you wouldn't think his goalscoring form will last forever.

[Mazuuurk]

Nah he'll go out left, and they will stick some other poor fucker on the right.

[Pleb]

Martial for Arsenal then?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Martial for Arsenal then?

There's more chance of me lining up at Old Trafford next to Pogba.

[Giggles]

Not sure how good Delaneys contacts are.


953007471781666816

[Jimmy Floyd]

Probably just trying to wind up Mourinho, there's no way we'd blow that amount of money on him.

[Giggles]

I'd lol my tits off if they did though.

[ScousePig]

Jack Rodwell has said he wants to leave Sunderland, and we've offered to cancel his contract. It would cost him around £5m.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland/15829021.SUNDERLAND__He_d_lose_around___5m__so_wil l_Rodwell_agree_to___70_000_a_week_contract_being_ torn_up_/

Strange old situation.

[Kikó]

He means 'Alexis' will go on the right.
Yeah this.

Sanchez would do fine on the right.

[Lewis]

From what I remember of the YouTube compilations I watched when they were in for him in 2011, he used to get up and down there like a train for Udinese.

[Dark Soldier]

Balague's meltdown on Twitter about Sanchez not joining his beloved Pep is next level.

https://i.gyazo.com/ec8ff29a3dbd2c4fca9bc1934ba54851.png

https://i.gyazo.com/43d0678b4e64e4932b2eb0cf6fd7c3c0.png

[Lewis]

City aren't interested in anyone who only cares about money, not least because Kevin De Bruyne would be jealous of their wages. What?

[John]

Aren't the Chinese still paying out billions to twats like Pelle? If they were making him the fourth highest paid player in the world it wouldn't be behind those three. Balague is a hopeless mug.

[Dark Soldier]

Aye, and Bale's on about 500k a week. Its genuinely beautiful, he's having a cheeky Alan crywank right now watching Barca circa 08/09

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He lives in my town and helped save the local football team's ground as the owners (Hitchin Cow Commoners Trust) wanted to sell it.

I've never seen him (I don't think) which is probably good for him, he probably wouldn't be able to deal with my internal seethe at his general shitness.

[Lewis]

I like to see Football Twitter lolling at him for getting transfers from two years ago wrong. Mate, he had Fernando Torres at every club in Europe before you were even born.

[John]

Peak Balague was when he claimed to know a deal was done before the player involved or his agent did.

[Shindig]

Jack Rodwell has said he wants to leave Sunderland, and we've offered to cancel his contract. It would cost him around £5m.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland/15829021.SUNDERLAND__He_d_lose_around___5m__so_wil l_Rodwell_agree_to___70_000_a_week_contract_being_ torn_up_/

Strange old situation.

He's played so little they might wonder whether they can sell him on. He probably just wants to get out and play some games. Also, I didn't realise Hartlepool were that close to being wound up. Sad times.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Literally the only reason for City to be in for Sanchez is to stop their rivals from having him.

[phonics]

Peak Balague was when he claimed to know a deal was done before the player involved or his agent did.

He's in the papers today claiming that the 'English Press' is overplaying the Ronaldo to United rumors and that nothings actually happening. I didn't see it in any English papers. I did see the front cover of the paper he wrote the article in yesterday though:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTprztPW0AAqux_.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

Spanish sports dailies are probably the very bottom of the pile when it comes to journalistic integrity. You get more substance in the Beano.

[phonics]

Walcott to Everton for a cool 20 mil. I'm not sure there's many clubs who need him less. Lookman would be a better option from the right if you're going to play Tosun.

[SvN]

It's not a bad signing. At least it will give them some much needed pace up front.

[phonics]

It's not a bad signing. At least it will give them some much needed pace up front.

Big Sam isn't playing 2 up front and they just spent 30 million on a target man.

edit: Dortmund want Giroud as part of the Aubameyang thing. It's like every Arsenal transfer is being made for me to not enjoy.

[SvN]

By "up front" I didn't literally mean a centre forward, I just meant in the last third.

[Giggles]

Is Walcott gone or just more rumours?

[Magic]

Is Sanchez even that good? Fuck sake.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Aubameyang and Lacazette up front for a completely spineless team, oh my sides.

[phonics]

Ornstein gets literally every Arsenal confirmation and never speaks before stuff is done so he's solid.

953215751934169089

[Mazuuurk]

Seems a little daft to pass on Giroud, he's not your starting striker but he's always a great option to have and has been loyal to Arsenal for a long time now.

I don't really see Abuyamang and Lacazette functioning together at all.

[Magic]

What on earth has Walcott done to earn a £20m price tag?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Scored 113 career goals in 421 appearances, and won 47 England caps with 8 goals.

[John]

What on earth has Walcott done to earn a £20m price tag?

Played his whole career in the Premiership.

[Magic]

And made 0 starts this season, and only about 4 last season.

[phonics]

What's Nathan Ake? 20 million is piss these days.

[Giggles]

What on earth has Walcott done to earn a £20m price tag?

In this market, just existing.

[John]

And made 0 starts this season, and only about 4 last season.

Which is why it's twenty million and not forty.

[Magic]

40 million for a crocked striker who has barely scored apart from like 2 seasons. LOL. #ENGLISH

[SvN]

He scored 19 last season.

[phonics]

edit: Cheers SvN.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd say £20 million is quite cheap for him in this market. Probably got away with it so Arsenal could dump his stupid wages.

[randomlegend]

Sky Sports are reporting that the Sanchez - Mkhitaryan deal would be a straight swap.

If that's true and it goes through then Arsenal are getting rogered.

[Lewis]

Will Wenger have to stay on another year to integrate these new signings?

[phonics]

Considering the option is that or nothing at all, how are Arsenal getting screwed exactly?

What are we going to do with 30 million quid? Get Theo Walcott and Francis Coquelin back?

[John]

40 million for a crocked striker who has barely scored apart from like 2 seasons. LOL. #ENGLISH

You should probably stop posting about football. You obviously know absolutely nothing about it and always make a howling arse of yourself.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Will Wenger have to stay on another year to integrate these new signings?

I think my biggest hope for the remainder of the 17/18 season is that they win their last 12 games and he gets a new four-year deal.

[Lewis]

Also, has City walking away with the moral victory brought the transfer fee down? lol if so.

[phonics]

Didn't you buy the guy for 35 million?

[SvN]

£27million was the reported fee.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Arsenal in their current state adding Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and some Brazilian winger twat with one name would be beyond parody.

Does the post-Messi footballer industry only churn out midgets and cut-inside forwards? Where are the centre backs, centre forwards and physical central midfielders that actually make teams successful?

[Magic]

You should probably stop posting about football. You obviously know absolutely nothing about it and always make a howling arse of yourself.

#admin

[randomlegend]

Arsenal in their current state adding Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and some Brazilian winger twat with one name would be beyond parody.

Does the post-Messi footballer industry only churn out midgets and cut-inside forwards? Where are the centre backs, centre forwards and physical central midfielders that actually make teams successful?

Actual wingers seem a bit of a dying breed as well. Like you said, it's all cut-inside these days.

[phonics]

Arsenal in their current state adding Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and some Brazilian winger twat with one name would be beyond parody.

Does the post-Messi footballer industry only churn out midgets and cut-inside forwards? Where are the centre backs, centre forwards and physical central midfielders that actually make teams successful?

Hasn't Aubameyang scored seventy bajillion goals over the past decade?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hasn't Aubameyang scored seventy bajillion goals over the past decade?

He's scored at a very good rate since about 2014, but if you watch the Bundesliga you'll know that everyone plays with a stupid high line and makes the pitch absolutely massive, which plays perfectly to his quite limited strengths. If he gets 20 a season over here then fair play but I can't see it.

[niko_cee]

Actual wingers seem a bit of a dying breed as well. Like you said, it's all cut-inside these days.

Wingers need old-fashioned centre forwards and 4-4-2, neither of which exist in the modern game.

The last proper one was probably Stuart Ripley.

[phonics]

Mark Albrighton is the definition of an old school winger.

[randomlegend]

Wingers need old-fashioned centre forwards and 4-4-2, neither of which exist in the modern game.

The last proper one was probably Stuart Ripley.

Do they? I'd have thought Lukaku and Y'nited would love a proper 'down the line and whip a cross in' winger on their right flank at the moment, but I don't really have much of a clue about TACTICS when it comes down to it.

[phonics]

Do they? I'd have thought Lukaku and Y'nited would love a proper 'down the line and whip a cross in' winger on their right flank at the moment, but I don't really have much of a clue about TACTICS when it comes down to it.

That's what your fullback does.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wingers' jobs have been sub-contracted to full backs, who now need to be physical titans. Even then you get coaches (hi Antonio) who refuse to let their full backs / wing backs take people on the outside.

It's interesting because our Mourinho dominating team of 2004-6 had 6 players in the team purely to defend (Cech, back four, and Makelele) and the full backs stayed at home. Then we had Duff and Robben who were genuine wingers, Drogba a powerful centre forward, and Lampard a powerful attacking midfield player. That team utterly dominated the landscape and the closest thing to a luxury player in the whole squad was Joe Cole.

Nowadays it seems to have gone completely in the other direction and everyone on the pitch must attack.

[randomlegend]

That's what your fullback does.

Look mate, if Becks and G Nevs could learn to share and both have a go at crossing then I'm sure these modern plebs can too.

[phonics]

Look mate, if Becks and G Nevs could learn to share and both have a go at crossing then I'm sure these modern plebs can too.

98% of them can't get a corner past the first man.

[randomlegend]

Now that is true. I genuinely, not even trolling, think my corners when I played in under 15s were better than a lot you see in professional matches these days.

[Mazuuurk]

Arsenal in their current state adding Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan and some Brazilian winger twat with one name would be beyond parody.

Does the post-Messi footballer industry only churn out midgets and cut-inside forwards? Where are the centre backs, centre forwards and physical central midfielders that actually make teams successful?

Was discussing this (kinda) a bit yesterday with someone: basically there aren't really any completely beastly Defenders around anymore, and the Defensive midfield beasts are also in extremely limited supply.

We agreed that Ramos is probably (arguably I know) the best CB in the world at the moment, which sort of says a fair bit. Players who used to be more prominent some years ago such as Chiellini or Tiago Silva just havent really had any successors.

If you look at the "Top 10 CBs in the world today" its all players like Hummels, Pique (lol) and Bonucci who aren't bad or anything, but thet are nothing on what John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic or even looking back a bit Nesta, Cannavaro et all all were.

You could say the same for DMs where perhaps Makelele was the greatest of them all but even now players like Keane, Gilberto Silva, Gattuso, or even (peak) Marscherano/Essien/Cambiasso would have walked into any team today that doesn't happen to have Kante, who is the only really class one there is right now (or am I missing someone?).

[randomlegend]

Eric Bailly is the best defender in the history of the world.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The depth in 'proper' central defenders around the turn of the century was amazing. Off the top of my head: Ayala, Hierro, Montero, Lucio, Ferdinand, Maldini, Desailly, Cannavaro, Costacurta, Samuel, Linke, Nesta, Stam, Campbell, Kuffour, Wörns and I've probably missed several more who would be top three in the world today. All these playing top European level football between, say, 1997 and 2003.

[niko_cee]

Was Worns ever good outside of Championship Manager?

Chivu (wasn't).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chivu, Mexes and Bouma, the CM01/02 holy trinity of blowouts.

[John]

Stick Boumsong on that list too.

[Lewis]

Chivu was good when he wasn't injured.

[John]

I think he's the first player I saw wearing one of those little padded Cech bonnets.

[Lewis]

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is back at United. DEPTH (he will probably never play for them again).

[SincereTheRebel]

SSN are reporting that “Dortmund were also keen to sign Walcott, but the desire to play for Big Sam at Goodison proved decisive“

Big Sam and that :cool:

[Max Power]

Mark Albrighton is the definition of an old school winger.

A right footer who plays 95% of the time on the left?

One of the most underrated players in the league as well.

[Magic]

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is back at United. DEPTH (he will probably never play for them again).

What an absolute shitcunt he is.

[Baz]

Following on from there clearly being two Paulinho’s, are there also two Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s? The one who plays for Belgium is a monster.

[Reg]

Wingers are undervalued. It's like coaches don't believe that staying wide on your 'true' side and crossing can work nowadays, but it does. Sane's doing it at Man City. There's Douglas Costa too.

[John]

Any time I've watched City Sane has come inside far more than he's beat a man on the outside and swung a cross in.

[Andy]

His role in the side isn't ideal either, he'd be playing completely differently if Mendy was fit and in the side.

[Reg]

Any time I've watched City Sane has come inside far more than he's beat a man on the outside and swung a cross in.
He comes inside when he has a chance to score from a cross. But otherwise he's really wide and pretty much sticks to the line. In the Liverpool game he was roaming more for some reason.

[John]

I went to check to make sure I wasn't missing loads of games where he was hitting the byline like a curly bonced Damien Duff and WhoScored has him crossing on average less than once a game.

Douglas Costa is a good example though. Well done there.

[Mazuuurk]

I've also never seen Sane look anything like a winger. The last "traditional" winger in the league was Valencia really, until he became a fullback (and kind of proving Jimmys point).

[Reg]

I went to check to make sure I wasn't missing loads of games where he was hitting the byline like a curly bonced Damien Duff and WhoScored has him crossing on average less than once a game.

Douglas Costa is a good example though. Well done there.
https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/total_cross 58 crosses. Not as high as I'd have thought. He stays wide like a true winger. You can look at his heatmaps if you don't believe me.

Try not to be so patronising.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Speaking of outdated wingers, Joaquín is absolutely donning it for Betis this season. It's like being back in year nine.

[Disco]

At a conservative estimate that makes him nearly 700 years old.

[Lewis]

It was surely qualitative stats-driven wank wot killed the Proper Winger. If you cut inside you have more people to aim at, and you can safely coward it back across if the options are crap and live to expected cross another day.

[Bam]

Andy Carroll is going to Chelsea for £35m, Conte has lost the plot. :cab:

[Giggles]

:D fucking hell if that's true.

[Lewis]

You really would just recall Tammy Abraham if you were desperate.

[Bam]

:D fucking hell if that's true.

Something is going on, he hasn't been played or put on the bench since the rumour come about.

Also a few consistent ITK's are also saying that he's in talks with them. Could be done by the end of the week.

[Spikey M]

I've also never seen Sane look anything like a winger. The last "traditional" winger in the league was Valencia really, until he became a fullback (and kind of proving Jimmys point).

Aaron Lennon? Zaha? Mirallas?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mirallas has just gone on loan to Olympiakos, which sums up the winger's plight.

Conte has been desperate for a bomber command striker ever since he got here. Morata's had the Operation so we need an alternative. Still, lolling at Andy Carroll for £35 million in January is nostalgic if nothing else.

[SincereTheRebel]

Just checked and joel campbell is still officially an arsenal player on loan at betis and gael katuka is at aimes in france. No relevance do what is going on in this talk but I just want to throw that out there.

[Giggles]

Mirallas has just gone on loan to Olympiakos, which sums up the winger's plight.

Conte has been desperate for a bomber command striker ever since he got here. Morata's had the Operation so we need an alternative. Still, lolling at Andy Carroll for £35 million in January is nostalgic if nothing else.

At least the £35m these days is only about 25p.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The other thing I'll say re the reaction to us possibly signing Carroll is it's a clear example of anti-English bias from fans (this is definitely a thing nowadays, at least among certain tranches of football fan). If we signed a 2-in-7 target man called Rodrigo Malgoleo from somewhere like Valencia, everyone would be saying 'yeah, decent, mate' instead of proclaiming the end times.

Case in point was Zappacosta, he's basically Bournemouth's Adam Smith on a rusty moped.

[SvN]

The Walcott transfer is another example. £20m is a great price for him in the current market, and he's just the sort of player Everton could do with. But instead you've got the entirety of Twitter too busy bantering about how Everton have been ripped off.

[Magic]

He'll be a shite signing, as will Carroll.

How can I back that up? Salah. Trust me.

[ScousePig]

Carroll's very good when he's fit and having a run of games.

[SincereTheRebel]

Carroll's very good when he's fit and having a run of games.

But he rarely is fit, which means he is shit. And when he does play, he isn't dropping numbers

[randomlegend]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTkfDi1XkAAgZMP.jpg:large

Wages to turnover percentage :drool:

Quality stat. Lewis, mate.

[Lewis]

Yeah, when you see people lolling at various United contracts you wonder whether it has sunk in just how much of a financial advantage they have over everybody else, even with a load of crap wages still on the books. City can live with them in most cases, but in financial terms they are to Liverpool what Liverpool are to Stoke.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The only restriction on the Manchester clubs is their own competence. PSG is the same except they are also limited by being French.

[Lewis]

One of them should get into the Eden Hazard bun fight for the lols.

[Gray Fox]

Yeah, when you see people lolling at various United contracts you wonder whether it has sunk in just how much of a financial advantage they have over everybody else, even with a load of crap wages still on the books. City can live with them in most cases, but in financial terms they are to Liverpool what Liverpool are to Stoke.

I try and make this point to Liverpool fans who seem to think we should be going out and signing top players every season. It doesn't work mind you, but I have to try.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think watching Real Madrid and Barcelona get knocked off their fucking perch will be the most enjoyable aspect of the next ten years in football. Preferably with Messi becoming a shit, failed manager at the latter.

[Lewis]

To link to the Ronaldinio thread, it's mad to think that an entire generation has grown up thinking Barcelona are a well-run club, when actually 2005 to now makes up about ninety per cent of their entire historical competence. Similarly, if you don't lol at any mention of Vanderlei Luxemburgo then you have missed out.

[Pepe]

Spain were also the perennial bottlers, with the likes of Luis Enrique shitting the bed any time something remotely important was at stake.

[SincereTheRebel]

They are really killing walcott in media with this whole should have done more narrative. His career played out like every other english wide man. Beckham clearly being number one, but since then. There is an obvious gap between beckham and the rest. You rank the rest of them, walcott comes out near the top. He is just one of the best of a bad crew.

Shaun Wright Phillips
Aaron Lennon
Kieron Dyer
Joe Cole
Stewart Downing
Ashley Young
James Milner
Raheem Sterling

Sterling could still end up at barcelona, but the rest of them are converted full backs or just fell off if you look at the numbers. He should have left arsenal years ago though.

[Magic]

Milner doesn't really count.

[SincereTheRebel]

Converted full back but he started out wide I think. Surely there is some players ive missed off that list. Surely the wide men england have produced isn't that small since beckham.

[Mazuuurk]

Aaron Lennon? Zaha? Mirallas?

Yes, Lennon, I'll give you that one.

Zaha I'd say is more versatile and seems to play more off the striker of in the Center, and he does also cut inside a lot does he not? More of a goalscorer than an assister really.

Mirallas I always found the same, and has largely played to the left despite being right-footed for Everton, hasn't he?


I mean all is matter of definition, but when I think of a "Propa Winger mate", I think of someone who Plays on the Right with more or less only a Right foot to him and will 9/10 times try to beat his man through sheer pace, and the whip in a cross. More or less a one-trick-pony.

Whenever Oxlade-Chamberlain was put on to the right wing for Arsenal, he also looked a lot like your average WINGER. Which, incidentally, often worked very well when Giroud was on the pitch (but unfortunately always was coupled with Arsenal chasing from behind having gone - that - desperate).

[Jimmy Floyd]

In the late 90s the league was packed with proper wingers who beat their man on the outside or at least favoured their outside foot. Ryan Giggs. Marc Overmars. Ginola, you could argue. Keith Gillespie, Damien Duff, Patrik Berger, Niclas Alexandersson, Steve Guppy.

Steve Froggatt.

[phonics]

Malcom has been disciplined by Bordeaux after being looking too happy on camera after a 2-0 loss.

He'll fit right in at Arsenal.

[Mazuuurk]

"Looking happy" seems like a right French reason to discipline someone.

[Ian]

Steve Froggatt was probably in with a shout of getting a few England caps given we were forever putting whoever was the least trendy of our midfielders out on the left wing. Until Summerbee happened to him, that is.

Just learned on Wikipedia that his middle name is "Juniour", though, so lol at that.

[SvN]

In the late 90s the league was packed with proper wingers who beat their man on the outside or at least favoured their outside foot. Ryan Giggs. Marc Overmars. Ginola, you could argue. Keith Gillespie, Damien Duff, Patrik Berger, Niclas Alexandersson, Steve Guppy.

Steve Froggatt.

You've missed the wingerest winger of them all.

https://i.imgur.com/nYOQZUD.png?1

Probably because he played for United, but he's the player that always comes to mind when I think of "proper" wingers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was slightly too young to catch his peak. Anders Limpar as well.

[John Arne]

Andrei Kanchelski was/is one of the few Man Utd playes I've never really minded. Him, Ronny Johnson and Solskaer (pre-Newcastle foul).

[The Merse]

I too miss the proper wingers. Glenn Helder was a favourite at Arsenal as the shitter half of our Dutch international duo.

Steve Stone c. 95 and McManaman pre-Real stick out as some of the last quality English exponents, but Roberto Donadoni in his pomp with Capello’s Milan was probably my favourite of the period.

[Samadini]

Solano :hail:

He gets overlooked in this type of discussion, as you tend to remember those that used their pace above all else, but Solano was more in the Beckham mould. What a player he was.

[Disco]

Jason Wilcox, Stuart Ripley, John Barnes, Ruel Fox, Lee Sharpe. The 90's was lousy with them.

[Spikey M]

4231 killed football, the bastard.

[phonics]

Rafa killed the radio star.

[The Merse]

Solano :hail:

He gets overlooked in this type of discussion, as you tend to remember those that used their pace above all else, but Solano was more in the Beckham mould. What a player he was.

Yeah see, I’d put Newcastle Solano (as pre-Newcastle he was more of a wing back/full back from what I’d seen and post-Newcastle played more centrally) as a wide midfielder rather than a touch line hugging winger, same for Beckham, Parlour and also Patrick Berger.

[Mazuuurk]

That's a bit of hairsplitting I reckon. Sure, I get you, but it's a bit like when someone is faffing about whether a player is a Fullback or a Wingback depending on how far forward they get. These are the same cunts who have played a bit too much FM and starts to argue whether Ozil is a "Trequartista" or a "Raumdeuter" or a "Lazy fucker" or whatever.

Essentially, Beckham was a slow winger, so he'd cross from deep, and someone like Giggs was fast, so he'd run past players and cross from the byline.

[Baz]

Solano :hail:

He gets overlooked in this type of discussion, as you tend to remember those that used their pace above all else, but Solano was more in the Beckham mould. What a player he was.He was fucking class on SWOS. Had to sign him from Sporting Cristal. :cool:

[Byron]

In news that I'm sure Giggles will be overjoyed with;

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42716844

[Jimmy Floyd]

Contracts for both O'Neill and Keane could be formally signed before the Uefa Nations League draw in Lausanne next Wednesday.

There's so much excitement in that sentence I can hardly contain myself.

[phonics]

953633034011660288

Lol that works out to 500k a week. No wonder City dropped out and no wonder they need Mykhitaryan (I'm going to have to add this to the phone dictionary) out as well.

[-james-]

953633034011660288

Lol that works out to 500k a week. No wonder City dropped out and no wonder they need Mykhitaryan (I'm going to have to add this to the phone dictionary) out as well.

It's more like £270k per week, unless I'm being thick.

Arsenal have been mugged the fuck off tbh.

[Lewis]

People see 'after tax', think that all these people are paying the top rate like chumps, and then double it in their heads.

[Mazuuurk]

How much is the tax?

[randomlegend]

It's more like £270k per week, unless I'm being thick.

Arsenal have been mugged the fuck off tbh.

£270k after tax so £500k before tax?

EDIT: too slow.

Having said that, the wages for most of our players seem to end up coming out as much lower than what the media report at the time. Pogba is on waaaaaaay less than what was originally claimed if I remember correctly.

Anyway, I refer you back to the excellent graph in my previous post.

[Mazuuurk]

I dont get this.

14.000.000 / 234 (4.5 years in weeks) = 60.000.
But that cant be right, even if that was after paying 50-60% i tax.
So what am i missing?

[Lewis]

His earnings will be run through a company (at the very least), so his tax rate will be what twenty per cent? Where is GS when you need him?

[randomlegend]

I dont get this.

14.000.000 / 234 (4.5 years in weeks) = 60.000.
But that cant be right, even if that was after paying 50-60% i tax.
So what am i missing?

£14m per year, not over the length of the contract.

[Mazuuurk]

£14m per year, not over the length of the contract.

Right, figured I was missing something. From the wording:


Alexis Sanchez agrees four-year Manchester United contract worth £14m

that isn't very obvious (yeah you can 'conclude' but write it like it is dammit).
Or is that how you just write stuff in the UK? Sort of like driving on the wrong side just to be a bit wonky and so that there will at least be one thing forever fucked with your former colonies?

[phonics]

You can dodge the tax all you want once it's in your pocket, the company that pay you still has to pay the declared amount. Which makes it 500k.

[randomlegend]

Right, figured I was missing something. From the wording:

that isn't very obvious (yeah you can 'conclude' but write it like it is dammit).
?

No I totally agree it's not clear in the way it's written. I originally read it the same as you but when that came out at £60k a week I thought it must be wrong.

[SvN]

You can dodge the tax all you want once it's in your pocket, the company that pay you still has to pay the declared amount. Which makes it 500k.
What? If we're extrapolating from "after tax" figures, then the total amount the club pays it completely dependent on what percentage of tax the player pays.

[phonics]

Considering I highly doubt Matt Law knows Alexis Sanchez' personal tax accountant, I'm going to assume he subtracted 45%.

[Pepe]

Reporting after tax wages is pretty lol.

[niko_cee]

People see 'after tax', think that all these people are paying the top rate like chumps, and then double it in their heads.

They will be. This isn't Spain.

[phonics]

I remember seeing Jon Arne Riises payslip that he forgot somewhere, I think while he was at Fulham. 26k out your payslip on tax. Woof.

edit: Found it

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02404/Untitled-1_2404476k.jpg

[Byron]

It's never 'x' less 45% anyway.

He gets his £11,500 personal allowance so that's tax free.
Anything between that and £45,000 is taxed at 20%
Then anything after £45,001 is taxed at 45%

Granted it'll still be a high composite tax rate, but it's not going to be a flat 45%

[Pepe]

What if he donates to charity or something?

[phonics]

Sure but that doesn't effect what United are paying him

[Pepe]

Which is why reporting after tax is nonsense, right?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What if he asks for cash in hand?

[SvN]

Sure but that doesn't effect what United are paying him

Well... it does if the reported "after tax" figure is accurate.

[Pepe]

What if he asks for cash in hand?

Or if he wants payment in Bitcoin.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Or if he wants payment in Bitcoin.

The backwards cunt would be lolled at as it's all about ethereum now.

[The Merse]

That's a bit of hairsplitting I reckon. Sure, I get you, but it's a bit like when someone is faffing about whether a player is a Fullback or a Wingback depending on how far forward they get. These are the same cunts who have played a bit too much FM and starts to argue whether Ozil is a "Trequartista" or a "Raumdeuter" or a "Lazy fucker" or whatever.

Essentially, Beckham was a slow winger, so he'd cross from deep, and someone like Giggs was fast, so he'd run past players and cross from the byline.

When I think of ‘proper old fashioned wingers’ I’m talking about their playing style more than their positioning. I.e. beating a man, hugging the line, crossing for the big man.

Not trying to correct you, just state how I think of the term. If we’re talking position on the park then it’s all much of a muchness frankly.

[Andy]

It's never 'x' less 45% anyway.

He gets his £11,500 personal allowance so that's tax free.
Anything between that and £45,000 is taxed at 20%
Then anything after £45,001 is taxed at 45%

Granted it'll still be a high composite tax rate, but it's not going to be a flat 45%

44.999%

Not sure why it matters what he's getting paid, he's a class player and the transfer fee is tiny.

If he had 3 years on his contract he'd be a 100m+ transfer.

United can probably pay his wages through a new noodle sponsorship plan anyway.

[Lewis]

The noodles deserve their own chant at this point.

[Raoul Duke]

The deal is not just salary, it'll be image rights and whatnot, which will certainly go through some dodgy Cayman Islands setup

[Ian]

Everybody thought [Walcott] was gonna be Rooney, everybody thought he was gonna be Michael Owen.... and he's not quite the best ever but he's better than a lot of people say.

Not quite the best ever, you say? Calm down with the bold exclamations, Arsenal fan!

[Mazuuurk]

Err, really depends on what database you're using mate.

[Lofty]

What site does Mantralux write for again? Love to see her chimp out about Walcott.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Carroll's injured so we've now been linked with Peter Crouch. I think, on balance, that would be the greatest transfer ever.

[Spoonsky]

I thought Morata only ever scored goals with his head. Why do you need a massive target man?

[Lewis]

You could just about make the case for Peter Crouch if it was a five month loan/free transfer (and if all their loans are set in stone), but if any money changes hands then lol.

[Disco]

We should take him to the World Cup.

[Mike]

Does anyone not love Peter Crouch?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If Crouchy isn't available, it'll be Jon Stead.

[Baz]

My Liverpool shirt with Crouch 15 on the back is going up in value.

[SvN]

Is Kevin Francis still about?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I like to think Marina has got FM2014 database filtered by height and started ringing around.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Should just ask Jan Koller to come out of retirement tbh.

[Mazuuurk]

Sometimes I do wonder what would happen if you took a top team, maybe even more pertinent if it was a team like City or (ahem) Arsenal who keep the ball a lot, and just essentially parked someone like Crouch in the box and told everyone to pump it down the flanks and cross it, and that's it. Now I know, there's players like Giroud and Drogba that have largely been Target men type forwards but no one like Crouch.

[phonics]

You remember he played for Liverpool right...?

[John Arne]

Peter Reid`s tribute to Laurie Cunningham is all sorts of amazing.....

953731785015341067

[phonics]

I had to pause there because I thought he was going to go into something about 'Creoles'

[phonics]

953642773760172032

At least Carrolls injury has saved the local library.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't get what's wrong with it. Why is everyone so angry. He's a backup target man who has played, and at times done well, for Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham. I remember a particularly terrifying raid against us in the 2012 cup final.

[phonics]

It's just a couple of idiots on Twitter joking about. Imagine if every threat written on this place was taken by the press was taken literally and written up by the tabs. You'd think the world was infested with psychopaths.

[Lofty]

Football snobbery, the same way Crouch was axed at Liverpool to make way for Torres despite Crouch being their best goal scorer before hand.

[Giggles]

Torres didn't exactly shit it up.

[Mazuuurk]

It's just a couple of idiots on Twitter joking about. Imagine if every threat written on this place was taken by the press was taken literally and written up by the tabs. You'd think the world was infested with psychopaths.

That's what I already think. Look at America.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Nigerian/Kenyan/Bangladeshi replies to Chelsea tweets are amazing (as they are for every club no doubt). Yesterday the club were tweeting pictures and videos of the squad meeting a Holocaust survivor and hearing his story. Literally every reply was 'WHO CARES WHY NO TRANSFER NEWS', 'ANNOUNCE WORLD CLASS PLAYERS' etc etc. And also a bit of Holocaust denial, because why not.

[phonics]

The Nigerian/Kenyan/Bangladeshi replies to Chelsea tweets are amazing (as they are for every club no doubt). Yesterday the club were tweeting pictures and videos of the squad meeting a Holocaust survivor and hearing his story. Literally every reply was 'WHO CARES WHY NO TRANSFER NEWS', 'ANNOUNCE WORLD CLASS PLAYERS' etc etc. And also a bit of Holocaust denial, because why not.

The sheer amount of Arabs on Arsenal Twitter getting very angry at any LGBT message is always hilarious.

[Kikó]

Is Kevin Francis still about?

I wonder if he's still a copper https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/life-after-football-kevin-francis-890254

[phonics]

Should team up with Arjan De Zeeuw who is a homicide detective.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought he was a doctor? Do his talents never end?

[Gray Fox]

Goretzka has gone to Bayern on a free.

Hopefully we can sort a deal out with Emre Can. Replacing him would be costly.

[phonics]

I thought he was a doctor? Do his talents never end?

Think you're confusing him with someone else. He's in forensics.

[Kikó]

Wolf of White Hart Lane - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3142442/Ramon-Vega-shed-blood-Tottenham-making-millions-trader-City-Wolf-White-Hart-Lane.html

Or Pavlyuchenko - repping Putin - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11770291/The-strangest-retired-footballers-jobs.html?frame=3390960

Lizarazu's is great http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11770291/The-strangest-retired-footballers-jobs.html?frame=3390963

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think you're confusing him with someone else. He's in forensics.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/20/sport.comment2

He is all of these things and more.

[phonics]

Goretzka has gone to Bayern on a free.

Ruminegge has just come out and said Bayern have done this for 'the good of the Bundesliga' rather than letting him be poached by foreign clubs :D

That's now Schalke and Leipzig they've taken their best player off for free this year. If Dortmund weren't dog shit this year they'd probably find someone to nick off them too.

[Andy]

Sometimes I do wonder what would happen if you took a top team, maybe even more pertinent if it was a team like City or (ahem) Arsenal who keep the ball a lot, and just essentially parked someone like Crouch in the box and told everyone to pump it down the flanks and cross it, and that's it. Now I know, there's players like Giroud and Drogba that have largely been Target men type forwards but no one like Crouch.

Teams would play with a high line and keep the target man away from the goal and squeeze the midfield.

If they tried to leave a target man and a faster player on the defensive line the other team would win the midfield battle and control the game.

You need a big strong player with a bit of pace about them really or they can get isolated no matter how good the rest of the team is.

[Lofty]

Torres didn't exactly shit it up.

He didn’t and is obviously the better player, whoever Crouch’s record for them at the time they could’ve refined the system to really favour him and maximise his returns. Of course that wouldn’t be ‘good football’ or ‘the Liverpool way’ etc etc

[John]

Sometimes I do wonder what would happen if you took a top team, maybe even more pertinent if it was a team like City or (ahem) Arsenal who keep the ball a lot, and just essentially parked someone like Crouch in the box and told everyone to pump it down the flanks and cross it, and that's it. Now I know, there's players like Giroud and Drogba that have largely been Target men type forwards but no one like Crouch.

Drogba was orders of magnitude better in the air than Crouch.

[phonics]

And no ones scored more headed goals in the league than Giroud since he signed in 2012.

[SincereTheRebel]

Van Persie has moved back to Feyenoord Rotterdam after 14 years away.

[phonics]

Arsenal involved in big money transfer

954438371925004288

[niko_cee]

Brighton sign Jurgen Locadia from PSV for club record fee (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42755312)

No idea.

Goals in the Eredivisie, what could possibly go wrong?

[Reg]

He's injured as well. :cool:

[-james-]

I know a couple of Eredivisie followers. They're Dutch, not just massive dangers. They both told me he's wank. Ho hum.

[niko_cee]

He'll probably be amazing then, as is the largely inversely proportional nature of looking good in Holland versus being competent elsewhere.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Was going to say, he's a one in three man in Holland so he'll double that here.

Kezman 122 (105) over there. Dear dear. Dear dear dear.

[Magic]

I know a couple of Eredivisie followers. They're Dutch, not just massive dangers. They both told me he's wank. Ho hum.

They said that about Jay Roy Grot and they were so far wrong it's hilarious.

Oh wait...

[John]

Locadia was the one who burst into the team with a ten minute hat trick in his first appearance or something.

[Baz]

He’s the Dutch Leon Best then. :rosebud:

[SincereTheRebel]

Locadia was the one who burst into the team with a ten minute hat trick in his first appearance or something.

He was linked with wolves earlier this season but they pulled out. He wasnt good enough.

[niko_cee]

Looks like Arsenal should have used Lionel Hutz for the Sanchez deal.

No money down (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42762918)

[Reg]

Am I forgetting or is this the first high profile swap deal in about half a century?

[randomlegend]

There was the Eto'o and Ibrahimovich one, but that was + cash.

Straight swap? No idea.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, I was thinking the same. Haven't had a good player swap deal since the Ibrahimovic/Eto'o effort, which was probably the transfer equivalent of the KT barrier for swap deals.

[Dark Soldier]

Carini for Cannavaro was lol

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Always used as rumours in papers though.

[Lofty]

Gallas for Cole

[Lewis]

David Moyes would have three titles if he had worked with this Ed Woodward instead of that crap one.

[Magic]

There was the Eto'o and Ibrahimovich one, but that was + cash.

Straight swap? No idea.

Lol Hleb was involved as well.

[Danny]

Carini for Cannavaro was lol

Seedorf for Coco too

[Magic]

Everyone else googling top player swap deals football lol

[Lewis]

Weren't these all just players getting thrown in with bigger transfers rather than actual straight swaps?

[nsd]

Kenwyne Jones for Odemwingie :cool:

[The Merse]

Lol Hleb was involved as well.

No he wasn't. He opted out of the loan, and instead went back to Stuttgart. Hence, the deal was never contingent on him going to Inter, it was just a separate bit of business being conducted by the same clubs at that time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

United twitter over the last six months has done the impossible and converted me into a massive Pep Guardiola fan. Congrats guys.

I mean, 'Ed Woodward' is currently trending.

[SincereTheRebel]

Arsenal :face:

[randomlegend]

United twitter over the last six months has done the impossible and converted me into a massive Pep Guardiola fan. Congrats guys.

I mean, 'Ed Woodward' is currently trending.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJyUhwAVAAAQUhh.jpg

[phonics]

I'm really not sure how Ed Woodwards come out of this looking good. Pogbas already out asking for his wages to be doubled.

[Lewis]

The Fake News Mainstream Media already has him on about three-hundred grand a week, so that can't be right.

[Pleb]

This transfer window is a barrel of laughs.

[randomlegend]

The Fake News Mainstream Media already has him on about three-hundred grand a week, so that can't be right.

Pretty sure it came out he's on more like £180k.

[randomlegend]

I'm really not sure how Ed Woodwards come out of this looking good. Pogbas already out asking for his wages to be doubled.

'Already out' by which you mean there's an article in the mirror?

[Lewis]

Whatevs. New contracts all round.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think Luke Shaw is underpaid.

The proper lol will be this summer when Madrid try to buy everyone and realise they don't have the money.

[Lewis]

Luke Shaw has been donning it since he steamed into that City aggro and finally won the manager over. If he doesn't get another injury (which he will) he will probably be due a pay rise soon enough.

[Jimmy Floyd]

1 year: Ronaldo goes back to United
2 years: Alan Pardew calls for a salary cap
3 years: United hire Alan Pardew on £2 million/week to do his dance 12 hours a day in a cage outside Old Trafford
5 years: Alex Ferguson buys the Moon
7 years: RL hired as Gary Neville's personal patissier
10 years: Paul Pogba imagery becomes mandatory in every British household
15 years: That 'Adam Joseph' cunt on twitter is elected UN Secretary General
25 years: Duncan Castles funeral is attended by 170 heads of state
40 years: United announce new sideline in space travel. Bobby Charlton looks melancholy on maiden voyage
50 years: United finally win the league again after a half century of straight titles by Guardiola's City

[Lewis]

When do you become one of Shaw's flunkies?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Never. I'll be killed when they genocide Chelsea fans for 'buying success'.