Summer Transfer Window 2019

[SincereTheRebel]

Feels like Chelsea and Arsenal have swapped so many high profile players down the years.

Giroud
A.Cole
Cech
Benayoun
Dallas
Diarra

[Manc]

My mind will break seeing Luiz in an Arsenal kit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just put Guendouzi through that face ageing app and you'll get the gist.

[SincereTheRebel]

So... David Luiz and Tierney to Arsenal. Lol at whoever came out with the ~£40m budget claim.

Real also apparently in talks with PSG about Neymar. I have no idea how they can go about that without breaking about every FFP rule there is.

Probably some sideways loan move with the obligation to buy

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49256280

Cancelo has joined City for £60m with Danilo going to Juventus for £34.1m.

[SincereTheRebel]

Second best left back in the world is joining Arsenal.

:D

[bruhnaldo]

Lol at whoever came out with the ~£40m budget claim.

Good for Arsenal. They've played cheap for so long the media was happy to take this bait and run wild with it. As such, likely improved their negotiating position at least SOMEWHAT in these circumstances.

Meanwhile, we're still drowning because this douchebag Woodward was out here talkin about wAtCh ThIs SpAcE while the only good news coming out of the club regards new shoelace sponsorships or whatever the fuck.

[mugbull]

Well, Lukaku looks to be going, so there's that

[Shindig]

Replace him with Berahino. GAINS.

[Trancemeister]

Morning news:

Leicester agree £18m fee with Sampdoria for Dennis Praet.
Tottenham agree £25m fee with Fulham for Ryan Sessegnon.
Inter agree £74m fee with Man Utd for Romelu Lukaku

[Shindig]

Ah, it's that time of year I'm reminded Achraf Lazaar is still our player.

[Ian]

I watched about 5 minutes of DEADLINE DAY MORNING before going to get the train and I think it gave me brain damage.

[niko_cee]

Mario Mandzukic (seriously how old is he?) to replace Big Fat Rom? Mind-bottling.

[SincereTheRebel]

Mario Mandzukic (seriously how old is he?) to replace Big Fat Rom? Mind-bottling.

Sounds like a temporary step backwards

[Shindig]

£8m for Luiz is ridiculous.

[mugbull]

Hopeful news coming out wrt Dybala...

[Ian]

I'm still stunned that Levy is stumping up whatever money it is that Woodward wouldn't. Assuming it's as simple as that of course, and not just a case of Dybala fancying United less.

[SincereTheRebel]

£8m for Luiz is ridiculous.

I know. It's about £4m too much.

[Trancemeister]

West Ham have signed Ajeti from Basel for £8m.

[Mazuuurk]

I dont understand why Arsenal would want David Luiz. Doesn't seem like an upgrade on anything we have already. Well except Mustafi, but I was sort of hoping he was already behind Holding, Sokratis & Chambers...

[Max Power]

Dennis Praet joining his big mate Tielemans for the rather quaint looking £18m. Really nice looking midfield we have right now, would have liked another wide player ideally but oh well.

[randomlegend]

Dybala to Tottenham is actually happening.

I would honestly resign if I was OGS after this transfer window. He hasn't got a chance with our midfield. If Pogba gets a long term injury we will be struggling for top 8, never mind top 4.

[randomlegend]

Mario Mandzukic (seriously how old is he?) to replace Big Fat Rom? Mind-bottling.

Ole clearly wants Martial and Rashford to be first choice strikers. Mandzukic is quality, but aging and would be happy to sit on the bench. It would be a good signing given those circumstances. We won't make it.

[SincereTheRebel]

The best bit of business so far is Man City somehow convincing Juventus that Danilo is worth £30m

[Ian]

I would honestly resign if I was OGS after this transfer window.

I suspect you wouldn't.

If he resigns he's never getting a job at a club of United's stature ever again. He's got significantly more to gain than to lose by hanging about, even if you take the raw monies out of the equation.

I'll just be interested to see whether the initial lift when he came on or the following slump are closer to the norm. It sounds like he's been putting them through the wringer to get them fit so that'll be one less excuse if and when it all goes pear-shaped.

[thommo]

The Sessegnon deal to Spurs is supposedly £25m (rising to £30m) and Josh Onomah. If that’s the case, then I think we’ve done really well to get that for a player in the last year of his contract.

Now I’m not too fussed on Onomah, but after Saturday’s shambolic performance, it’s clear we do need depth and options in the middle of the park. Hopefully the money can go towards one of the defensive transfer targets we’ve been linked with.

All in all, will be tough to see Sessegnon go after rapidly flying through our youth ranks but hopefully he’ll progress and become genuinely world class in the future.

[The Merse]

I dont understand why Arsenal would want David Luiz. Doesn't seem like an upgrade on anything we have already. Well except Mustafi, but I was sort of hoping he was already behind Holding, Sokratis & Chambers...

It's a reasonable swap for Koscielny - reportedly a similar fee and wages for a guy one year younger and who has won just about every competition between France and England. The long term option is Saliba, and the club clearly identified Upacemano as the preferred long term bet alongside him along with Holding. Upacemano's deal is up in 2 years and he looks unlikely to sign again so I'd not be surprised if we're back in for him in Jan or next summer. Either way, it's a short term gap being filled.

My concern is he's very similar to Sokratis. I like the idea of Holding-Luiz as I do Holding-Sokratis, but Sokratis-Luiz feels a bit errr, aggressive... Both like to charge out and win the ball early, both are not adverse to charging up field with the ball. Overall though, Luiz might be the better player for us with his range of passing (another reason I think we were in for Upamecano).

[Mazuuurk]

Sokratis? Sokratis is a brute who can sort of defend a bit but cannot touch the ball at all. David Luiz is a brazilian diva who always wanted to be an attacking midfielder but had to settle for defence. His only real skill is he's got a decent touch and a pass for a defender.

I find they are more opposites than anything else?

[Mazuuurk]

Also, Arsenal doesn't need "a reasonable swap for Koscielny", they need a "massive overhaul of their entire defence by signing some quality defenders".

At the end of the day I don't mind Koscielny leaving as he was being a massive cunt about it, and because he's basically been fucked since his achilles injury and was never going to completely recover. But what they need is to sign someone who is a bit class in defence.

[Trancemeister]

Newcastle have signed Emil Krafth from Amiens. Nice with a new swedish player in the PL.

[niko_cee]

The best bit of business so far is Man City somehow convincing Juventus that Danilo is worth £30m

They convinced them by bunging them £60m for some other mook.

[mugbull]

Haha we got owned

[Lewis]

The biggest disappointment of the United window is not shifting enough of the rubbish. What have they got seven 'senior' centre-backs?

They could use another midfielder, but I'm not overly arsed about another forward not coming in as long as they fill the gap with kids (money for Jadon Sancho next year). If I have to watch Juan Mata huffing and puffing on the wing then yes someone wants shooting.

[SvN]

Yeah, a lot of people are going on about how we need to replace Lukaku, but I don't think we do. The midfield is a much bigger concern, as we haven't filled the gaps that Herrera and Fellaini left. I have no idea how we're going to cope this season without another midfielder.

Rojo will go today, hopefully. Would be nice if FEC joined him.

[Ian]

FEC to be converted to an all-action box-to-box midfielder.

[mugbull]

So Dybala deal is off and Sess deal might be off too. Wonderful. Phonics wins this round

[randomlegend]

I'm also fine with us not signing another forward, but no midfielder is a disgrace. Our net spend this year is like £35m...

With regards to outgoings, the window for the rest of Europe is still open so I imagine some of the dross like Darmian might still be shipped out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The answer to all your questions is 'McTominay'.

[randomlegend]

Private jet just went Turin-Biggin Hill and then another took off a few minutes later to Manchester. Maybe Mandzukic.

EDIT: False alarm, not landing in Manchester.

[randomlegend]

The answer to all your questions is 'McTominay'.

I think McTominay is actually really good. I guess if Fred starts looking like someone worth more than 20p this season it might not end up a total disaster.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Private jet just went Turin-Biggin Hill and then another took off a few minutes later to Manchester. Maybe Mandzukic.
Same plane that Bruno Fernandes was on?

[niko_cee]

It's a reasonable swap for Koscielny - reportedly a similar fee and wages for a guy one year younger and who has won just about every competition between France and England.


Why wouldn't you just give Koscielny the contract he wanted? He may have been past his peak, but so is Luiz, with added lol factor, at least Koscielny had standing within the club.

And if the bolded bit meant anything, you could have had Gary Cahill for nowt.

[niko_cee]

Also, Aaron Mooy to Brighton is a deal I can fully get on board with if it's happening, would be a quality signing. I'm suddenly getting that dangerous feeling that it might not all go to shit this season.

[SincereTheRebel]

Luiz placed in the Chelsea team wasn't certified, which means if he is moving to Arsenal. He walks straight into the team.

[Giggles]

So Dybala deal is off and Sess deal might be off too. Wonderful. Phonics wins this round

Apparently Utd have pipped them with a better offer.

That said, Arsenal are signing Luiz so no matter what happens you've won by default.

[mugbull]

Haven’t heard anything about United being in for him, seems it has to do with image rights. Solution could be a loan w/ obligation similar to Lo Celso

[Lewis]

Yeah. Fred being less shit, Gomes and that James Garner. I'm actually looking forward to it. Better than buying some flavour of the month flub (like Fred).

[Trancemeister]

Reports in Italy are saying that Wolves have agreed a £28m fee with AC Milan for Frank Kessie.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The main problem with Dybala, apparently, is that his image rights are owned by a Maltese company who bought the rights 10 years ago.

[randomlegend]

Same plane that Bruno Fernandes was on?

We successfully tracked Danilo the other day by accident!

[randomlegend]

The main problem with Dybala, apparently, is that his image rights are owned by a Maltese company who bought the rights 10 years ago.

Then he ripped up the contract and they're suing him or something.

[Ian]

God, the times you'll have reminiscing about that at the reunion.

[phonics]

How people aren’t being positive about Guendouzi and his Dad playing with each other I don’t know.

[Pepe]

Yeah, a lot of people are going on about how we need to replace Lukaku, but I don't think we do. The midfield is a much bigger concern, as we haven't filled the gaps that Herrera and Fellaini left. I have no idea how we're going to cope this season without another midfielder.

Rojo will go today, hopefully. Would be nice if FEC joined him.

That's a hole that can never be filled.

[Baz]

Reports in Italy are saying that Wolves have agreed a £28m fee with AC Milan for Frank Kessie.
Wolves. :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Andy Isnt he always injured? Carrol is on his way back to Newcastle.

[Reg]

Also, Aaron Mooy to Brighton is a deal I can fully get on board with if it's happening, would be a quality signing. I'm suddenly getting that dangerous feeling that it might not all go to shit this season.
We've had a blinding window, I reckon.

(Ready to delete this post at 5pm, 5 minutes after Dunk has signed for Leicester. :gs:)

[Ian]

That's a hole that can never be filled.

We've still got the Macho Man but it's not the same without Fellainimania. :(

[Giggles]

Sané has done his ACL apparently.

[niko_cee]

Sarr to Watford could be a good signing. Always quite liked him when I've seen him play.

[Trancemeister]

Zaha will stay at Crystal Palace

[Trancemeister]

Mooy to Brighton on loan.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1159475797939429378

The lump has gone :drool:

[Lewis]

He's only gone for the vertical stripes.

[randomlegend]

Not for everyone is such a weird tag line.

[phonics]

Iwobi has gone for 40 million or so. Shame. Think he’ll do well there.

[Yevrah]

Not for everyone is such a weird tag line.

Indeed.

https://www.inter.it/en/news/68249/inter-is-not-for-everyone

What a load of bollocks.

[Yevrah]

Iwobi has gone for 40 million or so. Shame. Think he’ll do well there.

£40m for a striker who is 23 and has scored 15 professional goals must usher in a new era of madness.

[Gray Fox]

It's as if Everton have never had money before and when presented with a large chunk of it, have panicked.

[phonics]

Striker? We talking about someone else?

[Max Power]

Iwobi is a nothing player.

Everton still seem a bit of an unbalanced squad. Slow start and Silva to get the bullet is my prediction.

[Yevrah]

Striker? We talking about someone else?

Jesus, sorry. I genuinely thought he was.

[-james-]

Jesus, sorry. I genuinely thought he was.

That's fair enough, I reckon Everton have done the same.

[Waffdon]

They have a decent team but really fucked up by forgetting they needed a centre half.

[phonics]

Iwobi’s got a lot of talent but it seems to come really hard to him. The amount of times he’ll absolutely embarrass someone and then turn back and have to beat him again is frustrating. If some one unlocks it, they’ll have a really good player on their hands.

I can’t believe we’ve managed to bring in 2 CBs a CM and a winger. We’ve got an actual squad for the first time in years.

[Giggles]

It's as if Everton have never had money before and when presented with a large chunk of it, have panicked.

Their whole thing is signing failures from the top 6.

[niko_cee]

Iwobi’s got a lot of talent but it seems to come really hard to him. The amount of times he’ll absolutely embarrass someone and then turn back and have to beat him again is frustrating. If some one unlocks it, they’ll have a really good player on their hands.

I can’t believe we’ve managed to bring in 2 CBs a CM and a winger. We’ve got an actual squad for the first time in years.

Anything good Iwobi does always looks as if it's happened entirely by accident, although it is quite often spectacular.

And I don't want to rain on your actual squad parade and all, but isn't one of those centre-backs not actually in the squad, and is the other one David Luiz? And if Dani Onions is any good it'll be a first for a Real Madrid loanee.

[John]

1159407168128466944

:lol:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:D

That's incredible.

[Shindig]

Andy Carroll should do one of those outside a Greggs.

Lazaar hasn't went ... yet so we still technically have cover at left-back.

[phonics]

Anything good Iwobi does always looks as if it's happened entirely by accident, although it is quite often spectacular.

And I don't want to rain on your actual squad parade and all, but isn't one of those centre-backs not actually in the squad, and is the other one David Luiz? And if Dani Onions is any good it'll be a first for a Real Madrid loanee.

At least David Luiz cock ups are entertaining. I’ve watched Mustafi for 3 years.

[phonics]

Have to say top top work from the Chelsea fans. 1 starring his restaurant claiming there are snakes in the kitchen.

[Reg]

I think Iwobi has the potential to be very good... but I think I might be basing most of that off the impression he looks kinda cool and has good balance. Looking cool and balanced > goals and assists.

Who's had the best window do people reckon?

[Lewis]

I don't know who the likes of West Ham have signed so probably Arsenal.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea.

[Spikey M]

I think Iwobi has the potential to be very good... but I think I might be basing most of that off the impression he looks kinda cool and has good balance. Looking cool and balanced > goals and assists.

Who's had the best window do people reckon?

Liverpool. Did exactly what they had to.

[-james-]

Arsenal good
Villa lol fuck knows
Bournemouth good. did they really get 30 million for Tyrone Mings & Lys Mousset? Fucking hell.
Brighton :rave:
Burnley are going down
Chelsea basically spend Hazard proceeds on Kovacic and Pulisic which, eeeeeehhhh. Decent clear out, I suppose.
Palace probably the worst of the lot, and maybe the only team that are now worse?
Everton sure
Leicester are very good
Liverpool yep
City it's getting a bit silly now
United did pretty well tbf
Newcastle maybe the best of the lot? Fuck me I did not expect that.
Norwich dunno
Sheffield United decent, I think
Southampton generic Malian Belgian winger and Che Adams who doesn't sound like a real person but is meant to be good. I assume we'll find out this season if the Belgian league is any good, because everyone suddenly has a hard-on for it.
Spurs fucking hell
Watford that Ismaila Sarr is good, but their defence is still completely lol
West Ham will score loads of goals this season and probably concede just as many
Wolves could probably still do with more than 13 players

[Shindig]

We'll see how it goes when the games matter. I'm not sure about Bruce but the personnel looks decent. I just wonder how bad we'll miss Rafa's pragmatism. Fair play, the board needed to bring people in to prevent a full-scale dressing room riot. The fact is, anybody skipping home games will flock back if results turn in our favour.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd forgotten Burnley were in the league until we somehow managed to offload Danny Drinkwater to them earlier. Still got time to try and flog Bakayoko to Metz, or Sochaux, or whoever the fuck will take him.

[SincereTheRebel]

Is Fat Frank really going to play the youth? :drool:

[Offshore Toon]

I really want to see how our new players fit in and see the Longstaff brothers play together, but I also think a stand needs to be taken. It's tricky as I live with and work closely with a Newcastle fan, so I'll just use the time we're on to go to the gym or something.

[Shindig]

I'm surrounded by mags at work. One of them's a season ticket holder so we'll see how his resolve holds.

[Smjffy]

I've got two Arsenal fans and a Man United fan. Two are Bulgarian and the other is from South Africa. Listening to them has been an experience in itself.

[The Merse]

Why wouldn't you just give Koscielny the contract he wanted? He may have been past his peak, but so is Luiz, with added lol factor, at least Koscielny had standing within the club.

And if the bolded bit meant anything, you could have had Gary Cahill for nowt.

We did, last season.

It had fuck all to do with contracts - he’s taken a pay cut to leave. He wanted out of the club and to return to France. He already said (on his return from injury last year) that had the injury not occurred he’d have left when Wenger did, apparently he was in a right huff when we brought him back in and asked him to play too many games, and he believed that from conversations before he left for the summer break that he had been promised a free transfer should anyone come in for him from France.

And whilst Luiz may also be past his past his peak, at least he’s never crocked.

[Kikó]

United are looking to tie up ddg and so on contracts soon and we resume the hunt for a new technical director.

I'm not sad Lukaku is gone. One of the worst first touches I've seen and conditioning was a disgrace. Not surprised Herrera wasn't replaced or we were shambling along largely at the end as that's the same as every window. Defence is improved, midfield will need to see the incumbents massively improve, forwards need to step up.

[Mazuuurk]

Iwobi has gone for 40 million or so. Shame. Think he’ll do well there.

While I think the business really is quite good for Arsenal, and it excites me to think that Nelson, Willock and this Martinelli maybe will get more chances now, I so also feel a bit sad to see him go. But still kind of felt like he would never reach his potential (if there's more to reach) at Arsenal.

[randomlegend]

resume the hunt for a new technical director.

Trying as hard as a vegetarian city kid forced to go hunting with his uncle from the countryside.

[SincereTheRebel]

Gaël Kakuta has joined Ligue 1 side Ligue 1 on a free

[Jimmy Floyd]

No one has done well at Everton since about 1986.

[niko_cee]

I dunno, Big Fat Rom did well enough.

[Baz]

Gaël Kakuta has joined Ligue 1 side Ligue 1 on a free

Never heard of them. Have they just got promoted? Sounds deserved, if so.

[SincereTheRebel]

Shinji Kagawa is 30 and has joined Real Zaragoza in the Spanish second division. Im sure somebody really loved him when he was at Man Utd

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

This guy.

[The Merse]

Whilst Klopp has become universally adored, let's not forget how much of an oaf he seemed when spouting this soap opera worthy piece of melodramatic tosh regarding Kagawa:


Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing, my heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw. ‘But for most Japanese people it means more to play for Man United than Dortmund. We cried for 20 minutes, in each other’s arms, when he left.

[niko_cee]

:D

He was right though. That move pretty much ended his career. Coutinho should have taken note.

[SvN]

I do wonder how he'd have ended up if Fergie had stayed on. Moyes didn't have a clue how to use him.

[SincereTheRebel]

He should never have gotten his teeth fixed.

https://media.balls.ie/uploads/2013/09/klopp.gif

[SincereTheRebel]

Zulte Waregem have signed Berahino after Stoke terminated his deal.
Balotelli looks set to join Flamengo in Brazil.

[Shindig]

Alright, Balotelli in Brazil sounds like a fun watch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He can just fall over and feign injury to protect a 1-0 lead as happens in all the other matches there.

[John Arne]

Nguyễn Công Phượng had become the first Viet to play in Europe having signed for Sint-Truiden in Belgium.

He isn't very good.

[P_3]

Have the sales of Sint-Truiden shirts shot up in Vietnam? :drool:

[SincereTheRebel]

Nguyễn Công Phượng had become the first Viet to play in Europe having signed for Sint-Truiden in Belgium.

He isn't very good.

Thats insane it has taken that long. Was the Vietnamese league only founded in recent times?

[Trancemeister]

Perisic to Bayern Munich on loan.

[John Arne]

Thats insane it has taken that long. Was the Vietnamese league only founded in recent times?

Professional league started in 2000. Before that it was a shit show. In fact, it still is.

[Bernanke]

So many weird transfers this window. De Rossi, Trippier, Balotelli, Luiz, Juanfran, Lukaku, Kean, and on and on.

[randomlegend]

I know it's only preseason, but Joao Felix is starting to look worryingly like he might justify that bonkers transfer fee.

[SincereTheRebel]

I know it's only preseason, but Joao Felix is starting to look worryingly like he might justify that bonkers transfer fee.

I have never seen him play, but im tuning in now.

[SincereTheRebel]

I know it's only preseason, but Joao Felix is starting to look worryingly like he might justify that bonkers transfer fee.

What channel?

Premier sports 1

[SincereTheRebel]

Professional league started in 2000. Before that, it was a shit show. In fact, it still is.

I know the Filipino league is gold for betting purposes. High scoring games and all that.

[Kikó]

I know it's only preseason, but Joao Felix is starting to look worryingly like he might justify that bonkers transfer fee.

He's the real deal. His composure is outstanding for a guy who's about 18.

[randomlegend]

He looked wank for Portugal when I saw him but yeah, he seems set to really push on for Atletico.

[SincereTheRebel]

Adil Rami has been fired by Marseille because he claimed he was injured, missed training and took part in some mud wrestling tv show.
Mangala has joined Valencia on a free
Sneijder has retired
Barcelona are in Paris to discuss Neymar deal

[Lewis]

Wesley Sneijder to United OFF.

[Kikó]

Garay is still on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If he's not on a trackable plane I don't care.

[Waffdon]

I see Man City have been bribing FIFA to let them off handily without a transfer ban.

[niko_cee]

You have to wonder what the point in having rules is if you end up fining the infinity money Emirate a couple of hundred grand, but you'd imgaine they've been focusing most of their largess on the UEFA stuff about FFP.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wissam Ben Yedder has joined Monaco for £37m with Rony Lopes moving the other way for £18m

[Mazuuurk]

How do player swap deals work financially?

"Look mate we need Neymar but we're fucked for FFP leeway so whatcha reckon, Coutinho's worth about 175 mil, yeah?"

[randomlegend]

They are usually actually done at separate concurrent purchases as far as I can tell.

[niko_cee]

Holy shit this is some next level bullshit. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49319480)

[bruhnaldo]

(Kieran Trippier) was valued at £61m while at Spurs, a rating which increases for the buying club.

Lol come on fam.

[Spikey M]

That must be his post-World Cup value, because there's no way it can be that high after the season he's just had.

[Mazuuurk]

Can someone explain how these "values" are calculated anyway?

I realize their contracts are one part of the equation, but while that should really be all of it, it isn't.

[Jimmy Floyd]

People with computers and numbers did it, so it's definitely 100% right.

[mugbull]

Too bad they don’t have an indicator variable for “turned out to be irredeemably shit” in their model

[Spikey M]

People with computers and numbers did it, so it's definitely 100% right.

I wonder about stats like 'distance ran' which always seems to be given value, when surely it's not always a pro. Why is every headless chicken running about, snapping at heels more valuable than players who have decent positioning and spend most of the match patrolling a 12 yard box?

[-james-]

"Analytics twitter" has roundly lolled at that article. I can't believe it got published.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It always amazes me that nobody understands what Moneyball was about, even people who have read/seen it. Moneyball was not about using stats to value players, it was about using valid reasons to value players instead of arbitrary, made up, shite reasons.

Stats can come into both of those camps.

[Boydy]

It always amazes me that nobody understands what Moneyball was about, even people who have read/seen it. Moneyball was not about using stats to value players, it was about using valid reasons to value players instead of arbitrary, made up, shite reasons.

Stats can come into both of those camps.
What are valid reasons?

[Jimmy Floyd]

How good they are at doing things which actually matter to the end goal, which in team sports is 'the team winning'. The examples given in the baseball world were the ancien regime were signing players based on how nice their swing was, or if they had a 'good body', rather than results.

It was basically a book about seeing the world as it really is rather than as you think it is. For some reason though in the popular imagination it's some revenge of the nerds nonsense.

[mugbull]

I forget whether you are one of those who hate expected goals, but that statistic I think is one of the most relevant and useful that anyone’s come up with in this sport. Idiots misuse it or just don’t understand it, and of course there is subjectivity in how you determine goal likelihoods, but it’s a very good abstraction

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think expected goals is a good stat, but it's one of those things that needs to be referred to over a very long period of time rather than in one game. In one game there is a pretty high degree of randomness.

[randomlegend]

Coutinho has gone on loan to Bayern.

[mugbull]

Your mother has gone on loan to my dick

[Giggles]

Your mother has gone on loan to my dick

What the fuck? :D

[Spikey M]

She's a right journeyman.

[Jimmy Floyd]

'The nomadic matriarch'

[randomlegend]

Not sure hiring a 60 year old with Sjogrens for sex is really the winning move you're looking for.

[Ian]

Don't you kink-shame him.

[mugbull]

Yeah RL wtf

[Spikey M]

It wouldn't even be the weirdest kink we've had on here. I'm not sure it's even top 5.

[Lewis]

Mahow preferring already great looking women after they've got their alien costumes on is number one, and then everything else wallows around in the distance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why am I always at the top for these things? :(

[Disco]

You're the biggest deviant here.

[Spoonsky]

Why am I always at the top for these things? :(

That question should be addressed to yourself rather than the rest of us.

[randomlegend]

Di Marzio and Romano saying Inter might be taking Sanchez off our hands.

It pains me to say it, but given our window is shut and how thin we already are in attack, I'm not sure we can afford to sell him at this point.

[Giggles]

What exactly ever happened with him anyway? Was it injuries or did he just basically retire once he got the huge deal?

[randomlegend]

Can't pretend I watch Arsenal, but I understand he'd been playing pretty badly for them for a while before he moved, but it was put down to him wanting out. Nothing has changed since he got to Utd though; he's just been average to rubbish. Seems he might just be 'done'.

[Ian]

If we can get rid we get rid. No question.

[niko_cee]

I think it's a bit revisionist to say he looked shot before he left Arsenal (although with hindsight there is an air of the last days of Torres at Liverpool about him) but I do recall Arsenal fans on here saying that much of his 'good work' in hassling for the ball and the like was actually because he gave it away so often and his relative drop in performance wasn't simply a reflection of the wider malaise at Arsenal.

[Andy]

Can't pretend I watch Arsenal, but I understand he'd been playing pretty badly for them for a while before he moved, but it was put down to him wanting out. Nothing has changed since he got to Utd though; he's just been average to rubbish. Seems he might just be 'done'.

From what I saw at Arsenal he was always decent when he was the main man, there was a huge drop off as soon as he moved from central striker to a wide position.

There was a huge difference in his goal involvement with Giroud in and out of them team.

I think that combined with age related drop off and playing for a more defensive manager done him in.

[The Merse]

Some of his best performances were as a wide man with Giroud through the middle - his whole first season, Giroud always having been a great foil for goal threatening 'inside forwards' of the like of the French partners, Hazard et al.

Toward the end, he became isolated easily and his link up play went lacking - he dropped off a cliff in terms of his 90 minute performances but was still getting a few goals and assists due to being in and around the right areas.

[Byron]

Mahow preferring already great looking women after they've got their alien costumes on is number one, and then everything else wallows around in the distance.

Surely no kink discussion is complete without James and that woman he posted in the Shameful Lustage thread.

[Spikey M]

I'd still let Begum blow me up.

[Ian]

Surely no kink discussion is complete without James and that woman he posted in the Shameful Lustage thread.

Is that not just very questionable taste rather than an actual link? Where's the line?

[Spikey M]

That woman is over any line.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ashley Cole has retired lads

[Andy]

Some of his best performances were as a wide man with Giroud through the middle - his whole first season, Giroud always having been a great foil for goal threatening 'inside forwards' of the like of the French partners, Hazard et al.

Toward the end, he became isolated easily and his link up play went lacking - he dropped off a cliff in terms of his 90 minute performances but was still getting a few goals and assists due to being in and around the right areas.

In terms of goal involvement he was always better off without Giroud in team (stats here: ,https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/5ay7fd/how_alexis_sanchez_performs_with_and_without/) obviously you can still play well and score/assist which you would be in a far better position to judge. I obviously dont watch games in as much detail as you would as a fan.

I've always found him an interesting player, to me he always seemed like there was an extra level he could have gone to but very rarely achieved it.

[Spikey M]

He's just your typical 'luxury player'. He's beautiful to watch when chipping into a team that's firing on all cylinders, but when things aren't easy he goes missing. He has no appetite for 'getting stuck in'.

[randomlegend]

Nonsense, if there's one thing Sanchez actually has shown in a United shirt, it's a willingness to do the running and 'get stuck in'.

[Smjffy]

Ashley Cole has retired lads

Twitter debate on who was the best.

I went Cole, Irwin, Evra, Baines, Le Saux.

[The Merse]

In terms of goal involvement he was always better off without Giroud in team (stats here: ,https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/5ay7fd/how_alexis_sanchez_performs_with_and_without/) obviously you can still play well and score/assist which you would be in a far better position to judge. I obviously dont watch games in as much detail as you would as a fan.

I've always found him an interesting player, to me he always seemed like there was an extra level he could have gone to but very rarely achieved it.

Data without commentary for the most part. The first seasons stats are the truest as Alwxis played wide all year, regardless of who else was in there with him, albeit it must be pointed out that I’d have thought (no evidence other than memory) that his minutes without Giroud that year were with Theo at striker, which was basically in ‘easier’ matches - a trend which continued into the next year albeit with Danny Welbeck in place of Theo. In year 3 we often played Giroud and Sanchez centrally together in the year Wenger was experimenting with 5 at the back. Additionally, Sanchez played maybe 25% of his time at Arsenal as a striker in place of Giroud, and would be expected to contribute more goals centrally, without Giroud than when playing wider with him.

Pop all of the mitigations together and you get a better idea that the data in isolation like that is a bit loose. I’d prefer to see Arsenal XG, goals and assists with both on the pitch vs with only one, and some way of assessing the quality of the data by looking at the league positions of the opponents, then you perhaps get something nuanced enough to compare to the fans vie.

[Pepe]

He was never all that good.

[SincereTheRebel]

Twitter debate on who was the best.

I went Cole, Irwin, Evra, Baines, Le Saux.

It not worth debating. Cole was levels above them all. He was the most complete left-back since 1998. I would rank him above Carlos and Maldini in that position. Im going there.

[niko_cee]

Coutinho in Germany to complete his loan move to complete obscurity whilst big Maurizio has told Can he's surplus to requirements at Juve.

Worked out well boys, worked out well.

:schadenfreude:

[Ian]

He wasn't better than Maldini.

My favourite thing about Ashley Cole is still that for all he could keep Ronaldo quiet he fell for Valencia's one move seemingly every single time.

Well, that and the "Well I suppose you're liable to get booed when you play away from home..." commentary.

[SincereTheRebel]

He wasn't better than Maldini.

My favourite thing about Ashley Cole is still that for all he could keep Ronaldo quiet he fell for Valencia's one move seemingly every single time.

Well, that and the "Well I suppose you're liable to get booed when you play away from home..." commentary.

Im with Ashley on this one, especially as a left back. Maldini wasnt that great going forward but was superior in defence. I would take Cole as my LB in my dream team.

[thommo]

As if anyone would have Ashley Cole ahead of Maldini.

[SincereTheRebel]

I came late to the party where Maldini was a CB. He still wouldn't get into my favourite CB though.

[Ian]

He is your favourite tennis player though, right?

[SincereTheRebel]

Balotelli has signed for newly promoted Brescia in Serie A

[Bam]

Cashley over Maldini. :roflol:

[Shindig]

I came late to the party where Maldini was a CB. He still wouldn't get into my favourite CB though.

I watched Serie A that far back but can't remember much of Maldini as a left back.

[Bam]

He played as a left back for most of his career. :cab:

[Danny]

Depending on how much your trust transfermarkt it’s a lot closer than you would think

https://www.transfermarkt.us/paolo-maldini/leistungsdaten/spieler/5803

There’s quite a few missing games but even listing them all as LB keeps it closer than I would have imagined. He certainly moved central later on though

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm sure he was still left back in 2005 at Istanbul, and he started playing in about 1942 so has to qualify as a left back.

Presumably at some points in the 90s he would have been on the left of a three, which is kind of both and kind of neither.

[Shindig]

Fuck it. He played there at Steve Harper's testimonial. Can't believe I forgot that. :D

[John]

Great work finding a Newcastle angle on whether Maldini played most at left or centre back.

[Gray Fox]

I'm sure he was still left back in 2005 at Istanbul

He was indeed. They had Stam and Nesta in the middle and Cafu on the right as part of what must be one of the oldest back lines ever assembled.

[Waffdon]

CSKA Moscow defence over the last few years must be getting on.

[Shindig]

Great work finding a Newcastle angle on whether Maldini played most at left or centre back.

Sometimes you need to see greatness in person. Best player on the pitch.

[thommo]

He was indeed. They had Stam and Nesta in the middle and Cafu on the right as part of what must be one of the oldest back lines ever assembled.

Nesta was still in his 20s then. 39 year old Costacurta was on the bench though.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Costacurta is still on the Milan bench in my mind's eye, as is Sebastiano Rossi.

I had the same thing with Del Piero regarding greatness in person, never saw the fuss whatsoever, then saw him at Stamford Bridge in I think a Champions League tie late in his career, and he was about 1000 light years ahead of all his team mates in everything he was doing. Opposite effect with Buffon though, thought he was shite.

[SincereTheRebel]

Zappacosta has joined Roma on loan.
Franck Ribery is joining Fiorentina on a free

[SincereTheRebel]

Lozano had joined Napoli from PSV
Renato Sanches has joined Lille

[SincereTheRebel]

Sturridge has joined Trabzonspor. I had him locked to join Rodgers at Leicester. £20 lost on that way

[Shindig]

All that did was make me look up Colin Kazim-Richards' whereabouts. He cannot stay put.

[The Merse]

Was not expecting Veracruz.

[Spikey M]

Try a bit of banana peel on them.

[randomlegend]

Sanchez gone on loan to Inter Milan.

[Spikey M]

Are Inter trying to sign every flop United have?

[Ian]

They've still not got over that Henning Berg clearance so they're stealing all our 'stars.'

Rojo, Jones and Smalling next, please.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11795916/zlatan-ibrahimovic-says-if-manchester-united-need-him-he-will-return

[Baz]

If anyone can bring Lukaku and Sanchez back from the dead, Conte has a better chance than most. The man's an incredible manager.

[randomlegend]

Smalling gone on loan to Roma, out of nowhere.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He must have faith in the yoof as that squad is remarkably thin.

[Ian]

I dare say Ole can pick somebody else if need be out of the 27 shit centre-halves we seem to have.

[Lewis]

I would have kept him out of the three useless ones. Not least because of how close he is to a testimonial.

[Gray Fox]

Roma assembling the dream team defence of Mike Smalling and Dejan Lovren.

[randomlegend]

Ole clearly wants us to play out from the back, Smalling is the least able to do that (he still looks like a Maidstone player when he has the ball). I'd guess that's why he's bottom of the pecking order even if he's a better defender than some of the others.

[SincereTheRebel]

I miss route one long ball. My perfect center backs would consist of two white center backs. One must be bald-headed and other must-have a ginger beard. Just smash people and kick it long is all that is required.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What about a baldie with a ginger beard?

https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/portrait/originals/12691-1464942849.jpg

[Mazuuurk]

Basically "modern football" doesn't have any room for your average Shit Kicker anymore.

This is also why noone can defend really anymore.

[SincereTheRebel]

The sport evolved so now every team starts with 11 midfield players. It will evolve once more, but in what type of direction?

[mugbull]

4-4-2 will become the norm again

[Lewis]

Matteo Darmian going for ten per cent of his original fee must make him one of the low-key shittest transfers in recent memory. Watch him do a Daley Blind as well.

[Vercetti]

What about a baldie with a ginger beard?

https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/portrait/originals/12691-1464942849.jpg

:drool:

[Bam]

:drool:

:hail:

[Kikó]

Matteo Darmian going for ten per cent of his original fee must make him one of the low-key shittest transfers in recent memory. Watch him do a Daley Blind as well.

I don't think a move to Italy can help with his lack of footballing ability. At least Blind could play a bit but moved slower than wind erosion.

[Lewis]

He looked reasonable enough in his odd central appearances to have got a few more starts ahead of the other spastics at least.

[randomlegend]

I remember watching Darmian play for Italy against England yonks ago and he was brilliant. It's amazing how shit he was for us.

[Lewis]

The manc sean territorial scouting method strikes again.

[Kikó]

He's been pretty much spot on for years now. Latins = ponces. Scandis and Irish = get them in.

[Bam]

Manc Sean, what happened to that idiot? Actually, are you still meeting up with him Kiko?

You know, for an 'informal beer' with the wife.

[Kikó]

I see him now and again usually at the football.

He's working in Portsmouth now - think doing some CAD stuff for the MoD.

[Lewis]

If I didn't doss off so early we could carpool.

[Giggles]

The government is hiring lager louts now?

[Kikó]

Are you a tabloid newspaper?

[Giggles]

No, but he was always a right filthy cretin. Or played the part of one here at least, and what more can we go on than that.

[Kikó]

He's nothing like the persona you have in your head ("filthy cretin" ffs!).He is as plain spoken as he typed though in real life.

[Giggles]

He's nothing like the persona you have in your head ("filthy cretin" ffs!).He is as plain spoken as he typed though in real life.

Grand. But he played it different here.

[Spikey M]

Don't we all. Bamster works for NASA.

[Bam]

Pikey is a fat cunt with no hair on his tiny head, he's also a debt collector for the government.

[Spikey M]

2 out of 3. Not bad.

[Bam]

Sweet.

[Bam]

Although it's more 3 out of 4.

[Spikey M]

If we're doing it properly it's 5 out of 7

[Bam]

Pikey is a fat cunt with no hair on his tiny head, he's also a debt collector for the government.

Only the italics I'm unsure about.

[Spikey M]

Pikey, no hair and working for the government are wrong. Debt collection is partially correct, although it's only about 10% of what I do.

[SincereTheRebel]

Nacho left arsenal with three FA cups.

[Spikey M]

Never trust a foreigner.

[Baz]

The government is hiring lager louts now?Yep.

[Giggles]

Yep.

Not according to "horrified" Keeks. Oh my days.

[Kikó]

Are you on the hippy crack? Or planning a romp?

[Spikey M]

Not mutually exclusive.

[Giggles]

"filthy cretin" ffs!

Good heavens Margerie, the horror of it. I need to lie down.

[Kikó]

Alright. I just find your description of someone I've known for about 12 years as "filthy cretin". :charm:

[Spikey M]

The truce is off just in time for THE MEET. Can we hire a dingey local with a boxing / wrestling ring in the basement?