The Summer Transfer Thread [17 May - 9 August]

[Mazuuurk]

Digne seems like a very good signing for Everton. Given Baines seems to be perenially "everton-decent" though I dunno. But I guess he needs to retire at some point.

[randomlegend]

Surely £75m on Lukaku, £90m on Pogba(who looks like one of the best midfielders in the world in a France shirt), £40m on Fred, £30m on Matic and Mkhitaryan, Then similar on Bailly and Lindelof, whilst bringing in Sanchez, can be considered backing him and buying the players he wants?

At some point he should be expected to kick on really.

All of whom were players we needed. Our squad was chock full of dross. Money spent in the past doesn't change the fact that this summer we desparately needed full backs and a right winger and haven't bought them.

[phonics]

Didn't you spend half a million quid a week on someone who can play right wing? Oh wait he has to play on the left because Mourinho has treated your 60 million left winger like shit so he wants to leave. You had a former Bundesliga player of the season who could play on the right wing but Mourinho treated him like shit so he left. Starting to notice a pattern? These are all problems Jose caused.

[SvN]

This Sanchez transfer really hurt you, didn't it?

[phonics]

Considering his output before he left and his performances since in comparison to what we got in return, nah.

I just don't like Mourinho and his pathetic excuse making while he tries to have the richest team in the world play like Burnley against any team in the top 10. He's a busted flush. The Real Madrid job broke his brain.

[Giggles]

This Sanchez transfer really hurt you, didn't it?

He's not wrong though. I don't know how he lost it so bad in so many aspects but as a manager he's gone.

[randomlegend]

I agree the refusal to play Sanchez on the right is weird, but going into another season with Ashley Young and Valencia as our starting full-backs is ridiculous.

[SvN]

We finished second against a team who spent even more than us, and had a better team before Mourinho even arrived. I'm not sure why people are so desperate to claim that he's lost the plot and his tenure has been a disaster so far. Objectively, he's doing fine. If we don't challenge this season, then serious questions need to be asked.

[Yevrah]

People might be getting ahead of themselves, but do you genuinely think you'll challenge this year? There are more signs from last year suggesting you won't than you will.

And he's clearly not been the same manager post that first season back at Chelsea, maybe even before then, but at least he was winning enough to paper over the cracks.

[randomlegend]

If we don't sign anyone else then definitely not. Two very good signings, maybe.

[Mazuuurk]

Wait since when has Sanchez ever played on the right? Can he do that? I've only ever seen him play on the left and centrally.

Maybe for Barcelona he played on the right sometimes (though didn't Messi used to be there back then?)...? But it seems like he's always been a bit like Robben - he's great at doing sudden stops and cutting inside, and it keeps fooling people even though it's all he does.

[SincereTheRebel]

Didn't Jesse Lingard operator from the right. He was Man utd best player most of the time I watched their games.

[randomlegend]

Yeah Sanchez hasn't really played there recently, but there was definitely an assumption when he was signed we'd at least try him on the right since we already have Martial and Rashford and the RW was a big problem for us.

Lingard plays more centrally, he's not much of a winger.

[Mazuuurk]

Rashford on the LW is a joke I think, it's ruining that player.

[SvN]

Rashford on the LW is a joke I think, it's ruining that player.

Where do you think he should be playing?

[SincereTheRebel]

Lingard plays more centrally, he's not much of a winger.

Who was playing from the right last season?

[Mazuuurk]

Thomas Lemar to Athletico completely done now.

Another one of these "everybody wants this one!" players who one year later makes a pretty quiet transfer without many teams seeming interested.

Not sure what the fee was but can't imagine it's the 90M or what it was Arsenal were prepared to pay only 6 months ago...

[Mazuuurk]

Where do you think he should be playing?

Up front - probably together with another striker who maybe sits deeper, Heskey/Owen-style. Or just in a very counter-attacking and direct team where there's space for him to run at defenders.
He has or maybe had loads of talent but I think some of it seems to have faded away in the past year, because when playing out wide he doesn't seem to get enough into central positions where I think he's best and has a chance to score.

[randomlegend]

Who was playing from the right last season?

Mata was usually the named RW but he just drifted into the middle.

[randomlegend]

Up front - probably together with another striker who maybe sits deeper, Heskey/Owen-style. Or just in a very counter-attacking and direct team where there's space for him to run at defenders.
He has or maybe had loads of talent but I think some of it seems to have faded away in the past year, because when playing out wide he doesn't seem to get enough into central positions where I think he's best and has a chance to score.

It's pretty common quick young strikers to start out wide before playing centrally later in their career, right? I think he'll come good.

[Mazuuurk]

It's pretty common quick young strikers to start out wide before playing centrally later in their career, right? I think he'll come good.

Sure, but I just feel he isn't suited to that position as well as maybe Martial is. He runs really well at defenders with the ball, but he doesn't seem to get in a position to beat his defender and cut inside to shoot a lot (which Martial and Sanchez does), from what I've seen he often ends up quite deep towards the end of the pitch and he doesn't cross with his left foot so it's not a great position for him.

But I might be wrong of course.

[thommo]

Thomas Lemar to Athletico completely done now.

Another one of these "everybody wants this one!" players who one year later makes a pretty quiet transfer without many teams seeming interested.

Not sure what the fee was but can't imagine it's the 90M or what it was Arsenal were prepared to pay only 6 months ago...

Been reported in France as between 60 and 65 million Euros, so still a fairly hefty fee. He'll probably move on for more than that in a few years time if he realises his potential.

[phonics]

Alfie Mawson to Fulham for 15 mil. Great signing that. It's amazing that with the same ownership in place, this was the club of Felix Magath a couple of years ago.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got Fulham for top 8 if they can pad out their squad.

Cardiff, on the other hand :sick:

[Shindig]

Rondon swapping places with Gayle, apparently. I'm guessing we need a new centre-back seeing as Lejeune's out for the season. :moop:

[Baz]

I've got Fulham for top 8 if they can pad out their squad.

Cardiff, on the other hand :sick:I wonder what odds you can get for Wolves top 4 & United relegated double. :harold:

[Jimmy Floyd]

2 of the 3 promoted sides being good spells bad news for some of the league's timewasters. Not Roy Hodgson, though. Roy reigns supreme.

[SincereTheRebel]

Rojo to everton for £30m

[Spikey M]

Everton being somehow minted and wasting it all on utter shite is a bit lol.

[mugbull]

I've never been this pathetic about a transfer window. Even been reading the ITKs. Thats how they rope ya in.

This next week is make or break for Spurs, if they don't get anyone in the team will tank and Pochettino will leave at the end of the season, and then it'll be back into obscurity with an enormous stadium.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Have teams not learned about buying United cast offs? Surely the most overvalued people in football. God knows how John O'Shea kept going so long.

[John]

Have teams not learned about buying United cast offs? Surely the most overvalued people in football.

Right now that's definitely Richarlison.

[Shindig]

I do wonder if Sky and BT get to the point where Premier League rights is all they can afford. Although Amazon are picking the pieces up these days so the market's more competitive. I guess that's what's driving this.

[SincereTheRebel]

Everyon have spent at least £30m on a player each summer for thr past five years it seems.

[SincereTheRebel]

Middlesbrough has rejected a bid from Wolves from Adama Traore. He has a £18m release clause but Wolves do not value him that high. He is amazing to watch. He has unbeleive speed and dribbling. He does not score goals at all though in his two seasons he has played in the premier. He is also cursed. I dont want him anywhere near Wolves.

2015 - Bought by Aston Villa
2016 - Relegated with Aston Villa
2016 - Bought by Middlesbrough
2016 - Relegated with Middlesbrough

There was a player who got relegated three times from the premier league every time he was purchased. Who was that?

[phonics]

He's absolute shit. Total fraud.

Nigel Quashie is the record holder for relegations.

[SincereTheRebel]

His highlight reel is scoring but his he wastes so many opportunities. He never scored a premier league goal during his time there. It's probably worth a gamble for some other team for £18m. Just not a team like Wolves though. Get him at Burnley.


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

[Jimmy Floyd]

Honestly can't imagine a player Sean Dyche is less likely to sign than him.

[thommo]

Apparently Cardiff are now in for Troy Deeney for £15m. They're building quite the squad to win the Championship in 19/20.

[SincereTheRebel]

Honestly can't imagine a player Sean Dyche is less likely to sign than him.

They got called out for racism once already and then went and signed some black boy.

[phonics]

It's a sign of how shit you are when 'speed' comes before 'goals' in your youtube highlights description.

[SincereTheRebel]

It's a sign of how shit you are when 'speed' comes before 'goals' in your youtube highlights description.

0 goals in 35+ premier league appearances. They can't go by goals when there is none there. However, he does not need goals. He can live off his speed and asssits.

I still dont want him at Wolves, but it will probably be very likely he ends up there.

[SincereTheRebel]

Gonzalo Higuain is off to AC Milan on loan for 18-20m euros, with Milan having the option to buy Higuain for 36m next summer.

I thought as Juventus signed Ronaldo before selling anyone. They would find it difficult to sell players as they all seem to be in awe of Ronaldo. Im reading too much into it.

[SincereTheRebel]

Looks like Bonucci is on his way back to Juventus as part of the swap deal with Higuain.

[Mellberg]

Traore is possibly the best dribbler on the planet. Absolutely electric.

Can't do any of that playing football, though. If he didn't learn it Barca, he's not going to in the Midlands. Avoid.

[randomlegend]

Guy on reddit who previously called Moutinho to Wolves before any journalists reported it is saying a deal for Smalling to go there is "90% done". He's definitely a player we should be looking to improve on and if he's going I assume we have someone coming in, so I'm happy with that.

[SvN]

Wolves is about his level.

[randomlegend]

Yeah. He's a good defender, but whenever he gets the ball he very much still looks like a player who came from Maidstone.

[Pen]

Mike would’ve been a fine third or fourth choice.

[Lewis]

I think he is better to have around than Phil Jones on the basis that you can at least plan around him giving you six out of ten every week, where as Jones offering only threes and eights ends up with what happened in the FA Cup final. I think they both need to go simply to get rid of them and break with the past, but I would sooner keep Smalling out of the two.

[randomlegend]

Depends who you can actually sell I guess.

[Lewis]

I would have expected Jones to attract more interest from people who think they could iron out his faults and make the most out of his six yard box skills (Burnley, Newcastle, whoever).

[niko_cee]

How much is Smalling going to go for? I always thought he was the very good or very bad guy. England squad, laughing stock, England squad. He must have completed that cycle a few times.

Have United been playing three at the back in pre-season?

[Lewis]

They have, but I think they only took defenders out there.

[Giggles]

Spurs would surely take him for when Alderweireld goes.

[phonics]

I would have expected Jones to attract more interest from people who think they could iron out his faults and make the most out of his six yard box skills (Burnley, Newcastle, whoever).

It's the same with every player. It's the contract. Everton are willing to shell out the transfer fee for Rojo because of how amortization works on the books but if you're doing fee + matching Jones' inflated wages you're stuck with the wage layout that you'll still be paying it off if he fails and you sell him 3 years later to a club paying him less.

[Lewis]

Rojo will be on more than Jones, and part of the reason his supposed transfer fee is so lol is because he only signed a new contract in March.

[phonics]

Rojo will be on more than Jones, and part of the reason his supposed transfer fee is so lol is because he only signed a new contract in March.

Lol at the idea of the first part being true before you even consider what you said at the end of it.

You think Marcos Rojo, signed from Sporting 'Lisbon' CP, was on more money than FEC Phil Jones even before he signed a new contract less than 3 months ago?

[niko_cee]

It's just another classic 'worked with before' job. It's no wonder these recruitment teams are all the rage these days. Unless your manager is Neil Warnock (in which case it's almost unavoidable) clubs should never (or at least try not to) pay money for anyone a manger has coached elsewhere before. They almost always end up getting stiffed.

£80m Richarlison and Rojo? Fuck-a-doodle-do.

[randomlegend]

Lol at the idea of the first part being true before you even consider what you said at the end of it.

You think Marcos Rojo, signed from Sporting 'Lisbon' CP, was on more money than FEC Phil Jones even before he signed a new contract less than 3 months ago?

Rojo is on 160 grand a week apparently. No way is Phil Jones getting that.

[Lewis]

I don't believe those figures, but he will have been on a decent wedge when he signed coming off a good World Cup and with United having to pay premiums due to not being in the Champions' League, and then in March he would presumably have significantly improved his terms. When did Jones last sign a new contract? 2015 is all I can find, and he will have been lucky to get minimum wage then.

[phonics]

I don't believe those figures, but he will have been on a decent wedge when he signed coming off a good World Cup and with United having to pay premiums due to not being in the Champions' League, and then in March he would presumably have significantly improved his terms. When did Jones last sign a new contract? 2015 is all I can find, and he will have been lucky to get minimum wage then.

My apologies, I thought you meant that Phil Jones signed a big contract in March.

[Waffdon]

Inter after Modric apparently. Some signing that would be.

[mugbull]

Lol at Madrid if they lose Modric in addition to Ronaldo with Lopetegui saying he's ecstatic with his squad

[Kikó]

Rojo is on 160 grand a week apparently. No way is Phil Jones getting that.

This is complete bollocks by the way.

[niko_cee]

I've no idea how this stuff is collated (or if it is any way accurate) but this website (https://www.spotrac.com/epl/manchester-united-f.c/payroll/) I stumbled across the other day has him at £110,000 p/w.

I guess that doesn't include bonuses, as doesn't Sanchez have some lol £100k appearance bonus pushing him near the half million mark?

[-james-]

That website is a good laugh. Baba Rahman 86k explains a lot.

[SincereTheRebel]

Chris Smalling to Wolves :cab:

Rather take a gamble on that mad Pepe.

[randomlegend]

The Smalling to wolves rumour is bollocks it seems.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm putting together the pointless bet I do every year which is an accumulator of the champions of the top 5 English divisions (managed 3 last time which was a new PB).

I'm in the top flight odds and my cursor is somehow inexorably drawn to Liverpool at 4/1. Should I click, not click, or just shoot myself?

[-james-]

Click, finger your numpad wildly for a few seconds, and hit return.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Right. Stoke, Portsmouth, Lincoln, Salford, and them lot. The deed is done.

Would cushion the blow.

[Mike]

To be fair, it is our year. ;)

[Baz]

Should’ve done Liverpool with Salah golden boot for 18/1 to fatten up the bet.

[SincereTheRebel]

Should’ve done Liverpool with Salah golden boot for 18/1 to fatten up the bet.

I win £5 if liverpool end up trophyless over the next year
If they do win a trophy, I only have to pay £20

Winning.

[Mazuuurk]

what the fuck kind of a bet is that

[SincereTheRebel]

Typo. I missing a zero. I win £50 and loss £20. Liverpool Stan's

[phonics]

Max Meyer has signed for Palace.

Jordan Ayew to follow shortly in exchange for Jairo Riedewald.

[Mazuuurk]

Saw somewhere Mayer cost 35M and gets 170k per week.

That seems a little off the charts, at least the Salary.



I remember some people being interested in him a few seasons ago but looking at his starts - in lack of any other info, he's scored only 3 goals in the last 2 seasons which can't be a sign of going in the right direction.

[Spikey M]

He was free, wasn’t he?

Edit: he’s also been playing as a DM so I don’t think ‘goals scored’ is the best representation of his performances.

[SincereTheRebel]

What is it at Schalke and their star players can all just leave for free? Leon Goretzka has joined Bayern Munich for free free, Sead Kolasinac joined Arsenal last season and Meyer has also now left.

[phonics]

What is it at Schalke and their star players can all just leave for free? Leon Goretzka has joined Bayern Munich for free free, Sead Kolasinac joined Arsenal last season and Meyer has also now left.

They have the best youth system in the country but the Sporting Directors are arseholes who try to rely on them being Schalke to bully them into taking shitty deals and then proceed to assassinate your character in the press when you say you want to leave. Meyers people claim he wanted to sign a new deal with a release clause of they could get some money but the directors were such cunts about it he shelved that plan.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He'll like Croydon.

[Mazuuurk]

He was free, wasn’t he?

Edit: he’s also been playing as a DM so I don’t think ‘goals scored’ is the best representation of his performances.


Uh ok. I'm wrong on all accounts then, I was sure he was like a speedy winger but I must be getting things mixed up.

[SvN]

Mayer was an attacking player, but he was converted to a defensive midfielder at some point.

[Jimmy Floyd]

At one point he was a chin-stroking number ten. Surprised he moved back as he was a wee lad.

[SincereTheRebel]

Schweinsteiger was a wide man first before he was moved to the center. KDB was the same also?

[Mazuuurk]

Yeah but KDB remains a very attacking player.

[Gray Fox]

We also got Matip for free from them. They need to fire whoever renews contracts for them.

[Mazuuurk]

Well if they did, even fewer people would sign I imagine.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Word is that we've agreed terms with Yerry Mina.

He's only really good at being tall, he was a bombscare for Barca defensively last season.

[SincereTheRebel]

Word is that we've agreed terms with Yerry Mina.

He's only really good at being tall, he was a bombscare for Barca defensively last season.

Jereome Boateng is available. you would think he would slot straight into the center of Man Utd defence with Bailly

[niko_cee]

'Available' in the sense that both he and Bayern want a massive payday.

[SincereTheRebel]

I guess you are implying that Man Utd can't afford him or he isn't worth it in your opinion.

[John]

He isn't worth what they and he will want. He's thirty and already on the decline.

[phonics]

https://i.imgur.com/D5b2qyZ.png

lol

[Max Power]

Petrol station entrepreneur and bigamist Ahmed Musa has been sold to Al-nassr in Saudi Arabia. Match made in heaven. We've somehow turned a profit on him as well, got to love the World Cup.

[Mazuuurk]

He isn't worth what they and he will want. He's thirty and already on the decline.


Boateng aside (cause I'm sure you're right on him), but 30 seems to be the new 18 these days.

It's like back in the days of Bojan and Dos Santos and LA MASIA everyone got their fannies wet as soon as someone under 20 scored over 10 goals in a season.

Now it seems panties only get washed after someones been accumulating "10 years of experience at the highest level" (which can apparently be like West Brom).

[phonics]

Real Madrid have put a £670m price tag on 32-year-old Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, named player of the 2018 World Cup, to deter Inter Milan from making any approach.

Football Manager was ahead of it's time.

[SincereTheRebel]

La Liga players all have a release clause, Modric clause isn't £670m. His contract expires in two years...

[SincereTheRebel]

Madrid will have to give him a new deal or he will be recycled.

[phonics]

Wait... when did Fulham sign Andre Schurrle?

[thommo]

Wait... when did Fulham sign Andre Schurrle?

Got him last week, on a 2-year loan deal. Even though he's been fairly poor for Dortmund, should really be a top player for us.

[phonics]

Got him last week, on a 2-year loan deal. Even though he's been fairly poor for Dortmund, should really be a top player for us.

How have I ended up wanting 4 different Fulham players in my FPL team. That is a ridiculous team you've built.

[-james-]

How many players that started the play-off final are going start the first game? Ream, Cairney, Mitrovic, Sessegnon?

[Baz]

Betinelli binned off?

[-james-]

They've bought some hotshot Spaniard but I dunno who is going to be first choice.

[John]

How many players that started the play-off final are going start the first game? Ream, Cairney, Mitrovic, Sessegnon?

They had a graphic to that effect on Sky last night. Think it was five with six new signings.

[thommo]

How many players that started the play-off final are going start the first game? Ream, Cairney, Mitrovic, Sessegnon?

Those 4, plus Kevin McDonald probably. Cyrus Christie is still our first choice right-back, and he came off the bench in the play-off final.

Squad depth is still a little bit of an issue, also worried about left-back. Le Marchand could play there but he's more of a centre-back option. Ideally I'd want Matt Targett back from Southampton but they apparently turned down a £10m bid.

Bettinelli will be back-up to Fabri, goalkeeper we brought in from Besiktas for about £4m. I do rate Betts as a shot stopper, but I don't think he's a Prem starter.

[phonics]

The Catalan media freaking out over Dembele being photographed with Aubameyang and Lacazette :drool:

It'll never happen but it's nice for it to be the other way round for once.

[Mellberg]

Appreciate you might not have received the memo, but everyone's banned from mentioning the playoff final. Thanks.

[phonics]

Appreciate you might not have received the memo, but everyone's banned from mentioning the playoff final. Thanks.

Thinking it's going to be another year of miserable not quite success again?

[Mellberg]

Depends if we get anyone in and if Grealish stays. As it stands we're worse off than last season with Terry, Snodgrass, Grabban and Jonstone all gone.

Squad's decent on paper though and you can maybe offset those losses against the long term injuries to our better players last year (Grealish, Kodjia and Green).

Basically...I've no idea.

[Lewis]

Have Manchester United signed anyone yet?

[Mazuuurk]

That Fred, right?

[Amigo]

Thoughts on Erik Hamrén, Maz? He's supposed to be the next coach of Iceland and it seems like opinion over him is divided.

I've seen a lot of Swedish fans saying he's inept and doesn't know how to handle the press, but then again everyone said pretty much the same about Lagerbäck.

[Danny]

And that Portuguese full back and Lee Grant. Really exceeding expectations.

[SincereTheRebel]

Joe Hart could be on his way to Burnley for £4m.

[SvN]

Why would Burnley want Hart, considering they already have Heaton and Pope?

[SincereTheRebel]

I think both are injured for a long time.

[Mazuuurk]

Thoughts on Erik Hamrén, Maz? He's supposed to be the next coach of Iceland and it seems like opinion over him is divided.

I've seen a lot of Swedish fans saying he's inept and doesn't know how to handle the press, but then again everyone said pretty much the same about Lagerbäck.


Hard to tell in my opinion. He inherited a team where Zlatan had "resigned" but was basically in his peak at the time, so his whole reign became about bringing Zlatan back and building the whole team around him, and Zlatan is an amazing player but not the kind of player that carries a team on his own the way some midfielders can do.

He tried to make Sweden play a bit more "modern" - basically not a defensive 4-4-2 all the time. But it didn't work out amazingly. At the same time, I think it might have been quite hard for any coach to have to handle that team that was so blatantly inbalanced because Zlatan was in it. Without him, you can get the team working as a unit and "over-performing" like Sweden often did under Lagerbäck as well. He also basically was the coach during a major generation-shift in Sweden that has now to some extent happened. Ageing players like Svensson and Källström who just got worse with the years.


I kind of think he would be a decent coach for maybe a Spanish side. But I'm not convinced he'd do a good job for Iceland. But, maybe he learned a bit from being Sweden coach as well.

[SvN]

I think both are injured for a long time.

That completely passed me by. Heaton has only just come back, I wonder if he's going to be one of those keepers that can't stay fit until they hit their 30s.

[John]

Joe Hart going to Burnley for that money would be a great step on his utter downfall. Five or six clangers over the season then off to Villa for next year almost certainly the next move.

[Mazuuurk]

Even so, there must be better options for a 3rd choice keeper even if it's just for the start of the season basically. Get some youngster in or something.

[bruhnaldo]

This is a dumbass question but is there some kind've rule that if a player is already registered for a UEFA competition they wouldn't need to campaign UEFA for an extra spot to register another keeper?

I only ask because google tells me Burnley have appealed for a special registration spot?

This is all probably way off base just thinking out loud.

Edit: Apparently Burnley only had to register for the Aberdeen match and will submit a new squad for further fixtures so that's not it. Sorry lads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That completely passed me by. Heaton has only just come back, I wonder if he's going to be one of those keepers that can't stay fit until they hit their 30s.

Well he's 32 now.

[SvN]

Jesus. I thought he was still mid 20s. To be fair to him, he looks like he's been close to everpresent for Burnley since he joined, so probably just bad luck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, I thought the same but when I went looking for what injury he had now I came across his age.

Had absolutely no idea he was older than me.

[mugbull]

Week left and Spurs are no closer to their first signing. I wonder when the last time that a team signed nobody during the Summer window was?

[-james-]

They didn't sign anyone until August 23 last summer.

[Shindig]

Imagine the tax on that.

[SvN]

Different rules then though. They've got a week left.

[phonics]

Lucas Torreira is so small I feel like Kante would look down on him. He looks to have the skills but I can't say I'm not terrified that it'll go tits up.

edit: They are in fact the same height, we've either got an absolute gem or it's going to be hilarious.

[niko_cee]

I reckon he'll be decent.

Who are Spurs even going to buy in the final week? Lewis Cook and Jack Grealish? They'd be better off keeping their money (which is I'm sure what Dear Daniel is thinking).

[Kikó]

Word is that we've agreed terms with Yerry Mina.

He's only really good at being tall, he was a bombscare for Barca defensively last season.

The word is complete bollocks.

Toby A is on but we need to wait for spurs to sign a replacement before they release. We should just sign the guy they are and cut out the middle man.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Glad it is.

Mina would be horrific.

[Lewis]

What a partnership Alderweireld/Bailly could be. Let's all look forward to him in a three with Smalling and Jones.

[randomlegend]

The word is complete bollocks.

Toby A is on but we need to wait for spurs to sign a replacement before they release. We should just sign the guy they are and cut out the middle man.

Return of ITKiko?

[Gray Fox]

Vidal to Barca(mate) seems to have come from nowhere.

[Kikó]

Return of ITKiko?

Never been away. :cool:

[Lewis]

Islington Tosser Kiko.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Vidal to Barca(mate) seems to have come from nowhere.

They came in when Inter almost had the deal done.

[Kikó]

Islington Tosser Kiko.

Upgrade from FHT

[phonics]

Barcelona is an absolute shell of a club these days. Where did it all start to unravel, the Qatar Foundation Sponsorship/Neymar deal where everyone in charge ended up in jail?

The club seems to have been run on a more short term basis than Chelsea which is quite something. You're struggling to replace Iniesta/Xavi so you go for Paulinho, ship him out after 6 months and get in Vidal? Guardiola already had to clear out the drunks once this generation and you're going to bring in a guy who crashed his car, pished, coming back from the nightclub at 4am in the middle of the Copa America hosted in his home country?

I can definitely see 'Pep' being enticed back there once Messi has retired. That place desperately needs some top down leadership.

[Yevrah]

They are lacking the sort of continuity that saw Arsenal make so many sensible decisions in the transfer market....

[phonics]

Somehow about Arsenal.

But if you'd like to get into it, I'd say Arsenal did have a very sensible long term transfer policy. In 2000 they decided to built a new stadium.

Before they built the stadium they heavily invested in a young team which got them to a Champions League Final without conceding a goal. Henry wanted to leave and was known to have back problems so was moved on to bring in Robin Van Persie who would go on to multiple 30+ goal scoring seasons. This team was an inch away from winning the league in 2008. The failure broke the team apart with half the team wanting to leave after the disappointment.

At which point they did panic but still brought in Mertesacker (captained 2 FA Cup wins, now is head of the academy), Arteta (Captain for Arsenals first trophy in 9 years) and Giroud (5th all time Arsenal top scorer). Middle tier purchases that were worth far more than the fee paid for them (between 8-16 million)

The summer after that was Santi Cazorla who's one of the best purely technical footballers I've ever seen, robbed of the last 2 years of his career by an infection that threatened him with amputation. Would make David Silva lose his hair a second time over if he had to compete with him.

Then once the stadium payments lessened brought in one undoubtable world class player per season (Ozil, Sanchez, Cech). After that it's a mess as it's a series of fights between Wenger and the stats nerds.

[Mellberg]

tl;dr

Arsenal are shit.

[phonics]

tl;dr

Arsenal are shit.

Fair.

and with Wolves being the best team in the Midlands I can't even fall back on the West Brom stuff now.

[mugbull]

Alderweireld isn’t going anywhere this summer, which I’m sure will send him into a spiral of depression. Cûnt.

[Spikey M]

Far bettter to leave one of the best Centre Backs around on the bench all season again and sell him for half price next summer than accept £55m now. Great decision.

[niko_cee]

They'll just sell him to someone in Europe after the English deadline has passed (if they can't extort United for a ridiculous fee). If you are going to strengthen a rival you may as well do it on as bad terms as possible, and the existence of a selling only period to the window surely suits Levy's brinkmanship.

[Baz]

Yeah he’ll go PSG for ~£60m.

[SincereTheRebel]

Barcelona is an absolute shell of a club these days. Where did it all start to unravel, the Qatar Foundation Sponsorship/Neymar deal where everyone in charge ended up in jail?

The club seems to have been run on a more short term basis than Chelsea which is quite something. You're struggling to replace Iniesta/Xavi so you go for Paulinho, ship him out after 6 months and get in Vidal? Guardiola already had to clear out the drunks once this generation and you're going to bring in a guy who crashed his car, pished, coming back from the nightclub at 4am in the middle of the Copa America hosted in his home country?

I can definitely see 'Pep' being enticed back there once Messi has retired. That place desperately needs some top down leadership.

It's a successful model that appears to works. The short-term basis with players still brings them league titles and European cup runs.

[SincereTheRebel]

Somehow about Arsenal.

But if you'd like to get into it, I'd say Arsenal did have a very sensible long term transfer policy. In 2000 they decided to built a new stadium.

Before they built the stadium they heavily invested in a young team which got them to a Champions League Final without conceding a goal. Henry wanted to leave and was known to have back problems so was moved on to bring in Robin Van Persie who would go on to multiple 30+ goal scoring seasons. This team was an inch away from winning the league in 2008. The failure broke the team apart with half the team wanting to leave after the disappointment.

At which point they did panic but still brought in Mertesacker (captained 2 FA Cup wins, now is head of the academy), Arteta (Captain for Arsenals first trophy in 9 years) and Giroud (5th all time Arsenal top scorer). Middle tier purchases that were worth far more than the fee paid for them (between 8-16 million)

The summer after that was Santi Cazorla who's one of the best purely technical footballers I've ever seen, robbed of the last 2 years of his career by an infection that threatened him with amputation. Would make David Silva lose his hair a second time over if he had to compete with him.

Then once the stadium payments lessened brought in one undoubtable world class player per season (Ozil, Sanchez, Cech). After that it's a mess as it's a series of fights between Wenger and the stats nerds.

You typed this out a while ago and have had it copy and pasted in the cut, ready to unleash it when needed :lol:

[Giggles]

A La Liga title is about as worthless as the Coca Cola cup.

[mugbull]

Far bettter to leave one of the best Centre Backs around on the bench all season again and sell him for half price next summer than accept £55m now. Great decision.

He’ll be playing. Unhappily.

[Lewis]

The soppy twat should really be kicking off and forcing the move. Especially if his current contract is so shit, since whatever 'loyalty bonuses' he might be due won't be worth that much.

[randomlegend]

Never been away. :cool:

It's been a long while since I've seen any evidence of this Kiko. You are up for review.

[Spikey M]

He’ll be playing. Unhappily.

He barely played last season. He got the odd cup match, that’s about it. ‘Poch’ even played Dier, bomb scare that he can be, at CB when he had to, rather than playing him.

[Andy]

Struggled with fitness a fair bit didn't he?

[Spikey M]

He had an injury, but he recovered in January I think. He had ample time to get back to fitness and he was fine for Belgium at the World Cup. It’s the same thing that happened with Walker and Rose. Pochettino turned Trippier into the white Cafu rather than give Walker any serious game time before he left and Rose has been largely in the wilderness science he gave that interview. Pochettino appears to be petty as fuck, which I’m a fan of.

[Giggles]

Do they rate the Sanchez lad? Anytime I seen him he looked fairly ropey.

[phonics]

It's a successful model that appears to works. The short-term basis with players still brings them league titles and European cup runs.

'Having Messi' is not a model.

[Lewis]

Barcelona are just reverting to type. They were always a shambolic, debt-ridden, short-termist bunch of wankers. Hence having only won one European Cup prior to 2006 despite always having had first dibs on the best players around. They then lucked out with what can now be seen as a 'Golden Generation' (I haven't seen a 'conveyor belt' La Masia [mate] article in about eight years), and will end up like United once matey retires.

[Spikey M]

Bring back Rijkaard.

[mugbull]

Everyone thought Toby would have left by now, which was why Poch was tryna phase him out of the team. Now that it (probably) won’t happen this summer, I’m certain he’ll be playing him.

[mugbull]

Do they rate the Sanchez lad? Anytime I seen him he looked fairly ropey.

He’s really good. Not on the Belgians’ level yet though

[John]

Van Persie definitely didn't have 'multiple 30+ seasons' for Arsenal.

EDIT - Missed the new page. This is for Phonics, obviously.

[SincereTheRebel]

From my memory, he had one with arsenal and one with man utd which helped them to a title.

[Gray Fox]

If we're talking just Premier League, he only had 2 seasons were he broke 20 goals and they were back-to-back with Arsenal and United. Those two years are also the only times he hit 30 goals or more in all competitions too.

[SincereTheRebel]

He had a good goal per game ratio but he was made of glass.

[phonics]

Thank you John for picking up that Robin Van Persie only scored 30+ goals twice in his career. The year previous he only managed to score 21 goals despite playing around half the amount of minutes. Disgraceful. Made the whole actual point about forward looking transfer policy (or just basic idea of planning/succession) completely moot. Slap a sign saying 'not for sale' and call me owned.

[Boydy]

You're corn-cobbing here, mate.

[randomlegend]

You're corn-cobbing here, mate.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=corn%20cobbing

?????

[phonics]

It's a Dril tweet.

[randomlegend]

A what? Am I having a stroke?

[Lewis]

lol imagine being this much of a nerd.

[Kikó]

1025857292724592645?s=19

The mirror going for it.

[randomlegend]

Same journalist who wrote that Pogba is going back to Juve this window though.

[Lewis]

Ed Woodward should have put a CHEEKY bid in for Danny Rose whilst he was down there.

[Lewis]

Eighty million for both. Take it or leave it you bald-headed TWAT.

[Kikó]

Danny Rose is shite though.

[Giggles]

Same journalist who wrote that Pogba is going back to Juve this window though.

You'd be so lucky.

[Baz]

Danny Rose is shite though.Another season of Ashley Young at leftback is preferable?

[Andy]

Alderwierld is such a great signing. One of those rare centre backs who can defend and more than comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Such a huge upgrade on Smalling and Jones.

[Shindig]

I'm amazed they haven't put either of them available for loan.

[Kikó]

Another season of Ashley Young at leftback is preferable?

Absolutely.

[Giggles]

Absolutely.

If you're Watford.

[Max Power]

We’ve replaced Riyad Mahrez with Poundland Riyad Mahrez “Rachid Ghezzal”. He even looks a bit like him just uglier.

[phonics]

Calum Chambers to Fulham on loan :cab:

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves are close to signing Adama Traore. Didnt like it when it was first rumoured and still dont like it. He carries a relegation curse. I don't want him any near Wolves. £10m up front and £10m in clauses.

Wolves transfer business has been strange this summer.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea swapping Courtois with Butland is their first move back into irrelevancy. Once Hazard leaves they’ll be a posher Everton.

[Trancemeister]

Rondon Gayle loan swap between Newcastle & WBA.

[Giggles]

Courtois apparently sitting out until he's sold.

[SincereTheRebel]

Has Madrid even made an approach for him? I can't remember reading anything from their side. It's just him claiming he wants to be near his family. He could just move his family with him wherever he goes. Sounds like his pimp hand is weak.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't he shag Kevin de Bruyne's wife, or was it the other way round?

Butland as number one is a pisspoor move.

[-james-]

Chelsea have already signed Rob Green so I reckon you're getting ahead of yourself there.

[Shindig]

Rondon Gayle loan swap between Newcastle & WBA.

Hope his contract doesn't mention bonuses. Adam Armstrong's away to Blackburn forever.

[Kikó]

If you're Watford.

That doesn't make sense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why, are you not Watford?

[Giggles]

That doesn't make sense.

It's his level.

[Kikó]

I'll make it simple for you

Keeping Young at left back is preferable to Danny Rose. As much as I'd like to see Fred and Rose together, he is garbage.

[mugbull]

Danny Rose as garbage :D

[Giggles]

Danny Rose eating his way out of a transfer still doesn't ever mean Ashley Young is the answer.

[niko_cee]

If I were a United fan I'd probably rather see Fatty Shaw play than be jewed out of £50m for Danny Rose.

[Kikó]

I think you're struggling with the word preferable.

[niko_cee]

Anyway, isn't the answer to everyone else's leftback woes that kid from Celtic?

[Kikó]

He seems to like Celtic enough to not want to move. You'd think this would be his last season there.

[-james-]

He's probably got a couple more 0-7 group stage humpings left in him.

[phonics]

Welbz to Southampton. I'm not sure he'd fix the scoring goals issue but he'd make Shane Long look like a bitch.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lucas Perez is off to West Ham

[Mazuuurk]

The Chilean wants Perez to provide competition for main strikers Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez.

That's a little hilarious and sad at the same time. He's going from 3rd choice striker at Arsenal to 3rd choice striker at West Ham.

It's also sad that there's not that much difference between those clubs anymore either, in a way.

[phonics]

Yeah, very little difference :cab:

[phonics]

1026777181232541696

Sounds like a win win to me.

[SincereTheRebel]

I would be very surprised if Man Utd sold Pogba. Jose really has to try and sort it out.

[SincereTheRebel]

Courtois hasn't trained with Chelsea for two days now.
The Curse is having a medal of Wolves.
Kevin Mirallas is joining Fiorentina on loan.
Middlesbrough are interested in Yannick Bolasie.
Jefferson Lerma is in Bournemouth for a medical.
Leverkusen has signed Isaac Kiese Thelin from Anderlecht on loan.

[Mazuuurk]

Yeah, very little difference :cab:


Yeah both are pretty shit, really.

[Mazuuurk]

Leverkusen has signed Isaac Kiese Thelin from Anderlecht on loan.

That is the weirdest move. Leverkusen generally seems like the better team to me (then again Anderlecht do play CL football but...) and Kiese Thelin is anyway probably not good enough to play for either.

[SincereTheRebel]

Yerry Mina (Columbian Giant defender) hasn't turned up to train for Barcelona for whatever reason. He has been linked with every club this summer.

We haven't had a signing yet based on a player's super World Cup performances yet have we? Edit: Ronaldo to Juventus but that wasn't because of his world cup performances.

[Mazuuurk]

Robin Olsen to Roma I guess qualifies as one.

[niko_cee]

Harry Maguire will definitely count as one when that happens.

[Mazuuurk]

Didn't someone buy Golovin as well? Monaco?


It's funny how noone from the Croatia team has been bought.

Then again when I think about it I can't figure out who that would be either.

[bruhnaldo]

Danny Rose eating his way out of a transfer still doesn't ever mean Ashley Young is the answer.

I can't believe there's still Ashley Young slander in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Eighteen smfh.

[niko_cee]

Didn't someone buy Golovin as well? Monaco?


It's funny how noone from the Croatia team has been bought.

Then again when I think about it I can't figure out who that would be either.

The funny named Athletico full back has gone to Inter (Vsaljko or whatever) hasn't he?

[Mazuuurk]

Yeah maybe. But thats doesn't quite count in a way because it feels very much like a sideways (or backwards?) step.

In fairness the Croatia team consists of largely established players and not much youth that shined through in the WC. It was a very Italian WC performance like that.

[niko_cee]

A Pogba - Dembele swap (which seems to be doing the rounds in some form or another at the moment) would be quite lol. How would you feel about that United fans? Raw end of the deal? Dembele and Mina for Poggers?

[SincereTheRebel]

Eidur Gudjohnsen's son has joined Real Madrid as a 16 year old. What happened to that other young icelandics youth they had when he was around the same age. He was on like 40k per week

[SincereTheRebel]

Pogba swap would be madness. He is such a rare and unique talent. There is nobody else like him in world football.

[niko_cee]

Eidur Gudjohnsen's son has joined Real Madrid as a 16 year old. What happened to that other young icelandics youth they had when he was around the same age. He was on like 40k per week

Odegaard?

Didn't he go all Berti-big-bollocks?

Seems like his career has panned out entirely as expected to date, massively disappointing.

https://en.as.com/en/2018/08/05/football/1533482055_166002.html

[SincereTheRebel]

Odegaard?

Didn't he go all Berti-big-bollocks?

Seems like his career has panned out entirely as expected to date, massively disappointing.

https://en.as.com/en/2018/08/05/football/1533482055_166002.html

Thats the one. He can still make a career though. He has had a loan move in holland which isnt that bad.

[Giggles]

Pogba swap would be madness. He is such a rare and unique talent. There is nobody else like him in world football.

Big time Charlies who can't back it up are ten a penny.

[John]

That description seems to apply far more readily to Dembele given his conduct the minute Barcelona glanced in his direction and subsequent performances for them.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea on loan.

[randomlegend]

Giggles hatred of Pogba is bordering on obsessive now.

[Waffdon]

Oblak turned down Chelsea so they’ve triggered Kepa’s £71m release clause from Athletic Bilbao. According to foreign journalists on Twitter anyway. Slight upgrade on Jack Butland.

Fekir being thrown about too.

[SincereTheRebel]

Oblak turned down Chelsea so they’ve triggered Kepa’s £71m release clause from Athletic Bilbao. According to foreign journalists on Twitter anyway. Slight upgrade on Jack Butland.

Fekir being thrown about too.

Sounds desperate if true.

[niko_cee]

Whoever Chelsea replace Courtois with is likely going to be a massive downgrade so they may as well just stick with Slick Willy and Roberto Verdi rather than spaff a fortune on some useless twat.

I guess Di Laurentis propely scuppered what I assume was the plan to just take loads of Napoli players over. Doesn't Mertens have a reasonably non-insane release clause?

In other news I saw a pic of Jay Rodriguez on the bbc live text thing, what the fuck happened to him?

[SincereTheRebel]

Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea on loan.

SSN are claiming that both clubs have agreed on this deal as part of the Courtois deal.

[SincereTheRebel]

In other news I saw a pic of Jay Rodriguez on the bbc live text thing, what the fuck happened to him?

He went on loan to Bayern Munich last year and did superbly. He is on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy at the end of if. He could have went back to Real Madrid but he didnt like that idea much.

[niko_cee]

Not Hamez, the racist one. He looks like a tramp now.

Chelsea stockpiling sideways passing central midfielders like crazy by the looks of things.

[randomlegend]

£71m for a 23 year old goalkeeper with ~50 senior appearances? Wut?

[Lewis]

As if United are going to let Paulp Ogba leave when he's Adidas' top 'baller. Ed Woodward would probably give him Messi-like recruitment privileges if it came to it.

[randomlegend]

I don't see him leaving any time soon to be honest. He could have stayed at Juve or gone anywhere he wanted when he left; he clearly feels an affiliation to Utd. It's probably just Raiola trying to get him a pay rise.

[SincereTheRebel]

Not Hamez, the racist one. He looks like a tramp now.

Chelsea stockpiling sideways passing central midfielders like crazy by the looks of things.

Shame


I don't see him leaving any time soon to be honest. He could have stayed at Juve or gone anywhere he wanted when he left; he clearly feels an affiliation to Utd. It's probably just Raiola trying to get him a pay rise.

Just give him the captains armband. Who is official captain now. Is it Valencia?

[niko_cee]

More likely Raiola trying to get himself another cut. What was it last time? £20m? Can't say I blame him, the odious twat.

[Bam]

Eidur Gudjohnsen's son has joined Real Madrid as a 16 year old. What happened to that other young icelandics youth they had when he was around the same age. He was on like 40k per week

I think you'll find that he's Norwegian.

[phonics]

What was it last time? £20m?

From each club.

[randomlegend]

It was actually £487m, 300 prime stallions, 10 yachts, 3 houses and Ed Woodward's left testicle. I know it's true I read it in The Sun!

[niko_cee]

Whatever it was, it was obscene, so no wonder he fancies another go at it. Probably jealous of all the tax dodging opportunities Spanish-based clients present as well..

[Lewis]

Lukaku sacked that pleb once he got his big move, so he should probably do likewise if he has any interest in all these bullshit stories stopping (which he probably doesn't).