Summer Transfer Window 2019

[Gray Fox]

Barcelona have given Greaseman #14 and not reassigned Coutinho a number :D

[randomlegend]

Another Redditor ITK? They've been on top form this Summer.

Realistically there's only one I pay any attention to and he's got absolutely everything right that he's said. The rest is just a bit of fun.

And no, it's some twitter guy that the Leicester fans say is very reliable. His feed is mostly unrelated drivel and he seems like a twat, but that's what they say.

[Max Power]

He’s not reliable it’s a parody account created by some weirdo who has created numerous “characters”. Had a run of predicting the starting eleven last season which made some people think he was a fabled “itk”.

[randomlegend]

I've been conned.

[SincereTheRebel]

1149325788954730496?

[Yevrah]

I don't have a big enough tongue to taste all of the tears coming out of Atletico Madrid over this Greizmann transfer.

The massive tools.

[Giggles]

It's Barcelona. Anyone should be happy to see Atletico fleece those cunts.

[phonics]

I'm not sure there's a player who's done more to destroy his image than Griezmann over the past few years. Gone from hard-working grafter with incredible skill to flash cunt who thinks he's Lebron James when he's not even Klay Thompson.

[Ian]

Yeah hopefully Atletico take Barcelona to the cleaners for this.

And then one of Griezmann"s knees falls off.

[SincereTheRebel]

They have to if they are serious. Hopefully, they follow through with legal action and not just cry about it online.

[Spikey M]

Yeah hopefully Atletico take Barcelona to the cleaners for this.

And then one of Griezmann"s knees falls off.

In a head on collision with a returning Neymar.

[Gray Fox]

Fekir for €30m... to Real Betis.

[Baz]

Phew.

[Giggles]

"player that didn't sign for us is shit now"

30m is a pittance you mong.

[Smjffy]

Who needs to spend £30M when you've got like a new signing Lallana and co...

:uhoh:

On a serious note, I reckon we're going to make a statement signing late on.

[Baz]

"player that didn't sign for us is shit now"

30m is a pittance you mong.

He didn't sign because of a major injury problem being flagged during his medical. Better off without that.

Pity the same physio team didn't do Lallana's medical.

[Smjffy]

Lallana may not have faced Barcelona but he's still a comeback king. :cool: Norwich.

It's a shame we can't loan Suarez for the opening day only.

[Gray Fox]

I think there wont be any incoming this summer.

Our biggest needs are maybe a more clinical striker(though Firmino is the heart of the attack so that's very tricky). A goalscoring/more forward thinking midfielder and some back up full backs.

You could argue we have to give Brewster the chance of being the striker. The 2 creative midfielders we've gained back in Ox and Lallana and one of the young lads impressed at LB in the first game back. We have Clyne back for RB too.

There's also the cuntish looking lad coming in from Fulham. You don't imagine he'd join if he didn't think we'd be playing him some time.

[Spikey M]

Aside from adding depth Liverpool would be stupid to change anything.

[niko_cee]

They should have sacked off signing those kids and taken a voluntary transfer ban to be paid forward at some point in the future when it will no doubt be needed.

I kind've hope they keep Wilson as a Shaqiri alternative, but I don't know whether he'd be happy in that role when he could probably go and start elsewhere.

[Clunge]

Villa splashing the cash again - £15m for Douglas Luiz (who?), £7m for Bjorn Engels (again, who?), and £12m for Ezri Konsa (once again, who?).

I'm sure they've all been thoroughly checked out, Konsa worked with Smith at Brentford, but I feel so out the loop. Luiz has done two years with City without so much as getting near the first team squad. Boffed out on loan Girona. Sounds like Guardiola really rates him though.

[Andy]

Aside from adding depth Liverpool would be stupid to change anything.

Centre back alongside VVD would be the only place I'd be looking to strengthen, would allow Gomez to cover right back and still be strong.

[Shindig]

Well, it just so happens a guy I know (who knows a guy) spotted De Ligt landing in John Lennon Airport last night.

[niko_cee]

Doubt we'll do anything unless there is a severe injury in pre-season, and even then these things take a lot longer than just deciding you need cover somewhere.

Would prefer to keep Clyne as cover at rightback as Gomez is a bit of a liability there. I suppose Fabinho can also cover that spot, theoretically.

Reckon we're chancing our arm on Robertson being superhuman again with only youth teamers as cover, but what are the alternatives?

[Baz]

There's also the cuntish looking lad coming in from Fulham. You don't imagine he'd join if he didn't think we'd be playing him some time.Harvey Elliott? He’s only 16. Can’t see him playing much, if st all. Plus he plays in Salah’s position, who could curb stomp Klopp’s wife and still start every week.

[Mike]

Yeah, a left back coming in would be good, we’re hopefully find elsewhere. Bit thin up top of we get any injuries. Big Divock will step up though.

[Gray Fox]

Harvey Elliott? He’s only 16. Can’t see him playing much, if st all. Plus he plays in Salah’s position, who could curb stomp Klopp’s wife and still start every week.

Yeah that kid. Looks like a bit of a twat but hopefully he plays good.

At present it seems he's happier to turn to youth, rather than go and spend on a different more experienced option. He'll need a little while for fan mentality to adjust to that, a little like when he first came in and wanted a stop to people moaning at matches.

The first team could go on for another 5 years or so without any change due to everyone being nice and young. The likes of Wilson and Brewster could come in and do better than a Lallana or Sturridge would have done respectively.

[Gray Fox]

Twitter says that Maguire to United is done for £80m. Comes after Maguire kicked off about being priced out of a move.

[Spikey M]

Madness.

[SincereTheRebel]

Is it he good? I haven't paid much attention to his games but he seemed very ordinary.

[Giggles]

That's the biggest case of English tax I've seen. If he was Spanish he'd have been about €25m.

[Lewis]

He wins headers and he isn't Phil Jones. Pay them double for a laugh.

[Spikey M]

Is it he good? I haven't paid much attention to his games but he seemed very ordinary.

He's ok, but nothing you couldn't get pretty easily for less than half the price if they weren't English

[Max Power]

Is it he good? I haven't paid much attention to his games but he seemed very ordinary.
Good in the air. Decent passer and his charges out of defence are great fun.

He is slow and can get exposed especially when not playing alongside a senior partner but I’ll be sad to see him go. Yeah the fee is high but when we go and spend £40m of it on Lewis Dunk or James Tarkowski it’s sort of irrelevant.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Disgusting.

[randomlegend]

Yeah Maguire is done. Idk the fee. I've heard it's more like £60m with 20 in add-ons, which given everyone is reporting £80m is probably true.

Bruno Fernandes looks likely to be next.

[SincereTheRebel]

Barcelona have given Greaseman #14 and not reassigned Coutinho a number :D

They unveiled him without a number during the press bullshit.

[SincereTheRebel]

Maguire sounds like a sensible signing. He needs to make a step-up now though. Its Man Utd now. They don't settle for ordinary.

[SincereTheRebel]

Also, what is with the negativity surrounding Pogba? It does not seem as like he has done anything wrong on and off the game.

[randomlegend]

I've made it pretty clear before I'm not exactly thrilled by signing Maguire, but given it's happening I guess it's time to hope he steps up and is our VVD signing.

If can ignore the fee, we've definitely upgraded our back 4 significantly compared to last season. Shaw - Maguire - Lindelof - AWB is the first actually good back 4 we've been able to field in ages.

SincereTheRebel

Yes, the Pogba hate is absolutely ridiculous.

[niko_cee]

Maguire is a beast of a man. He's always looked decent when I've seen him against Brighton. Don't take Dunk.

[Manc]

Laughable fee. Laughable club.

[SvN]

Your mum's laughable, you wet cunt.

[Pen]

Didn’t expect a reply like that 😅

[Jimmy Floyd]

Leicester laughing all the way to the bank for that money, not that he's bad, but great deal for them.

[Spikey M]

You could have bought 2 Kante's off them and still had money left for an Eastern European Maguire.

[Lewis]

It's encouraging that he seems to have made the move happen, rather than just being a Leighton Baines-style fanny sitting there in his comfort zone. CHARACTER.

[Smjffy]

Absolutely bonkers at that price but at the end of the day he's an experienced Premier League defender and you get what you see. I don't see him as VVD but then who thought VVD would turn out so good anyway.

[Andy]

Absolutely bonkers at that price but at the end of the day he's an experienced Premier League defender and you get what you see. I don't see him as VVD but then who thought VVD would turn out so good anyway.

Probably anyone who had watched Southampton in the 18 months prior to his injury.

[Spikey M]

VVD was top quality at Southampton just as Alderweireld was, so yeah, I don't think it was much of a surprise. Maguire isn't going to touch either of their levels though, and with Alderweireld available for £25m or for free in 12 months, I know what I would have done.

Madness.

[randomlegend]

VVD was top quality at Southampton just as Alderweireld was, so yeah, I don't think it was much of a surprise. Maguire isn't going to touch either of their levels though, and with Alderweireld available for £25m or for free in 12 months, I know what I would have done.

Madness.

The rumour is Alderweireld is asking for ridiculous wages and a long contract, trying to get his last big payday. Given there's few teams in the world he wouldn't be a no brainer signing for at £25m and yet there seems to have been 0 interest in him, I'm inclined to believe it's true.

[mugbull]

The rumour is Alderweireld is asking for ridiculous wages and a long contract, trying to get his last big payday. Given there's few teams in the world he wouldn't be a no brainer signing for at £25m and yet there seems to have been 0 interest in him, I'm inclined to believe it's true.

Apparently Roma are deep in talks with him

[-james-]

Filip Benkovic is a ready made Maguire replacement and Leicester already own him. Monstrous player. I guess if Rodgers is aware he's got a bunch of cash to blow on a centre back he'll do it anyway.

Maguire for 80 million is fine I suppose, but United's scouting policy does appear to be no more than "players we saw on the terrestrial television".

[Max Power]

Benkovic and Soyuncu waiting in the wings so I hope we don’t hose £45m of the Maguire money on Lewis Dunk and give those two promising guys a go with the excellent Johnny Evans. Spend the money on a winger instead :nodd:

[Spikey M]

The rumour is Alderweireld is asking for ridiculous wages and a long contract, trying to get his last big payday. Given there's few teams in the world he wouldn't be a no brainer signing for at £25m and yet there seems to have been 0 interest in him, I'm inclined to believe it's true.

You're paying Sanchez 7 billion a week to scratch his nads and J-Lingz 2 billion to keep his insta-game strong. Whatever the demands are, they will not be more silly than that.

[randomlegend]

You're paying Sanchez 7 billion a week to scratch his nads and J-Lingz 2 billion to keep his insta-game strong. Whatever the demands are, they will not be more silly than that.

Well yeah, we've made that mistake with Sanchez and are not going to make it again.

[phonics]

Well yeah, we've made that mistake with Sanchez and are not going to make it again.

lol. citation needed.

[Pepe]

We've learned, mate. We have learned.

[Lewis]

I had forgotten about 'Alexis'. Didn't he cripple himself again on international duty? January move to China for that man.

[SincereTheRebel]

I had forgotten about 'Alexis'. Didn't he cripple himself again on international duty? January move to China for that man.

He isnt going anywhere

[Lewis]

In that case he will come back like Eric Cantona and win them the title.

[Shindig]

I've been think Bruce might be the first person to manage both Newcastle and Sunderland. Then I remembered Allardyce. :moop:

[Gray Fox]

Rumours going about that Coutinho wants to go back to Liverpool, who would also like him back.
Proposed 2 year loan with obligation to buy for £80m+ at the end of that.

I'm not sure Barcelona can afford to put off the fee due to FFP though. They need to balance the books after splashing on Griezmann, De Jong and co.

[niko_cee]

They are totally ballbagged with Coutinho. No one is going to give them anything near his value, whatever that is. They either keep him, hope he agrees to go to China (doubtful), convince PSG some insane swap deal is a good idea (doubtful) or, well, apparently loan him back to Liverpool (insane). That would be both incredible and completely unbelievable, perhaps eclipsing even the Eto'o/Ibra deal in terms of badness.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48998009

Delph has gone to Everton.

[Lewis]

Barcelona must have the shittest transfer record of the past few decades. Other than absolute sure thing no-brainers (David Villa, Dani Alves, Luis Suarez) they seem to balls it up whenever they try to be a bit clever.

[randomlegend]

Private jet went from near where Maguire lives to Manchester a little while ago, Lewis

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The same one that was picking up Bruno and De Ligt?

[Lewis]

Leicester to Manchester must be about a two hour drive. I hope he plants some trees the cunt.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think we're heading for the return of the shambles La Liga era of the mid 90s. Only one Italian team is remotely serious, though, and the German league isn't in business at all, so it's Rule Britannia for the next five or so years as Lionel slows down.

If Lyon weren't French I'd have a small punt on them for the CL.

[randomlegend]

The same one that was picking up Bruno and De Ligt?

No, different one.

[phonics]

Barcelona must have the shittest transfer record of the past few decades. Other than absolute sure thing no-brainers (David Villa, Dani Alves, Luis Suarez) they seem to balls it up whenever they try to be a bit clever.

Considering how much they tell everyone that there isn't a player in the world who doesn't want to sign for Barcelona or Real Madrid, it does make you wonder why their wage bills are 70-80 million more a year than anyone else.

[randomlegend]

Tonne of articles just came out that De Gea is signing a new 4 year (with our usual club-side option for an extra year) contract.

[Lewis]

He threw the last season so nobody wanted him. Legend.

[phonics]

Tonne of articles just came out that De Gea is signing a new 4 year (with our usual club-side option for an extra year) contract.

Didn't you just say you weren't going to pay people silly wages... 15 posts above this one?

[Lewis]

He is worth whatever anyway, and that's before you consider him going for shit all and then having to find a worthy replacement.

[randomlegend]

Well it won't be as much as is reported (as player wages never are) but we're clearly going to have to accept overpaying to keep hold of our best players whilst Sanchez remains in the squad, because of the leverage he gives everyone. It's still not the same as signing new, over 30 year old players on huge, long contracts.

[phonics]

It's amazing that five years of making Arsenal look competent hasn't drained your optimism.

[randomlegend]

It's only me who loses out by being negative before a ball is even kicked.

[niko_cee]

Why are wages never what they are reported? I'm pretty sure most of the one's reported for Liverpool are on the money.

[Gray Fox]

Wouldn't they have to declare such things in financial reports?

[randomlegend]

Maybe it's just United players then, but Pogba for example turned out to be on nothing like what was reported when we signed him.

[randomlegend]

Wouldn't they have to declare such things in financial reports?

Would they have to report individual wages?

[Gray Fox]

Would they have to report individual wages?

I'm not sure. But it'd make sense for tax reasons.

[Baz]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48998009

Delph has gone to Everton.Good signing that. Surprised Klopp didn’t see him as a Milner replacement. I mean he’s only 29, could easily get 8 years out of him. :p

[SincereTheRebel]

Neymar has officialy asked to leave PSG.
Inter have offered £60m +bonuses for Stormzy
Koscieln will be allowed to leave Arsenal

[Gray Fox]

West 'am to sign Haller from Frankfurt for £40m

[SincereTheRebel]

Ryan Gauld has joiend Portugue second tier team Farense. He has a £3.6m buyout clause. He is 23 now. Im sure Waff will be ecstatic.

[Smjffy]

Coutinho back to Liverpool is actually going to happen, isn't it...

[SincereTheRebel]

that sounds like an awful move. Even on loan. Liverpool the cunts, have a special team up and running. Coutinhio and his style does not sound like it fits, even from the bench.

[-james-]

Delph is 30 in a few months and presumably on massive wages. Is he a Gueye replacement? Lol if so.

[Gray Fox]

that sounds like an awful move. Even on loan. Liverpool the cunts, have a special team up and running. Coutinhio and his style does not sound like it fits, even from the bench.

He did well in our free flowing attacking days. Takes a mean free kick too. My concern is we've moved on from the PRESSING and open games to a more controlled and at times, gritty style.
He'd undoubtedly improve the squad by a lot, even though I don't like it for how he left.

[Baz]

Pep Ljinders will get Coutinho upto speed with the new style, I’m sure. :alan:

[randomlegend]

Noise about a Bale to Utd on loan again. So long as there's no obligation to buy I'd be over the moon with that to be honest.

[Ian]

I'll believe it when Reddit knows whether he's sitting window or aisle.

[randomlegend]

I'll keep you updated.

[Byron]

West 'am to sign Haller from Frankfurt for £40m

If this ends the Higuain rumours then I'm all for it. Strange though, I still see £45m as expensive but it's clearly chump change these days.

[John]

Trippier off to Atletico Madrid for twenty million, which is a strange transfer all round.

[mugbull]

Thank fuck

[Giggles]

BBC is the only itk required.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48729302

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

But his private jet...

[SincereTheRebel]

BBC is the only itk required.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48729302

As a defender, why are the bbc telling me how many goals he has scored. What about those clean sheets?

[Pen]

Trippier for twenty million is pretty cheap in the current market. I wonder why (assuming they didn’t) didn’t go for him at that price.

[Baz]

So who's Spurs' right back? Aurier? :harold:

[Shindig]

As a defender, why are the bbc telling me how many goals he has scored. What about those clean sheets?

Corners. A vital part of a central defender's game.

[Max Power]

Harry Maguire taking a break from his extended Man Utd medical to play for Leicester City at Scunthorpe tonight.

[Giggles]

Harry Maguire taking a break from his extended Man Utd medical to play for Leicester City at Scunthorpe tonight.

That's mad. They'd never let him risk injury so the whole thing must be more hot air.

[Shindig]

Or the game's part of his medical.

[Baz]

Coutinho to United £87m

[randomlegend]

Lol no.

[SincereTheRebel]

But his private jet...

Certified

1151226134345977857

[SincereTheRebel]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/17/09/16153816-7255931-image-a-1_1563352769494.jpg

[mugbull]

Trippier official to Atletico. Don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to see someone go, although he does seem like a good guy. Not sold on Aurier but at least Poch won’t be playing Trippier out of loyalty anymore

[Shindig]

He might look great over there. Sheff Wed are launching into some hot legal action over Bruce's departure and our approach. Take us to the cleaners, lads.

EDIT: And allegedly in for a £40m striker from Hoffenheim. Because that money for Rafa's contract didn't exist. Can we get raided by HMRC again, please?

[Giggles]

How was the De Ligt fee so 'low'? Purely age?

[niko_cee]

Doesn't that make him the second most expensive defender of all time? As a 19 year old with a couple of seasons under his belt in Holland. It's a lot to pay for potential. Ajax probably can't afford to take the piss on fees like other clubs can.

[randomlegend]

How was the De Ligt fee so 'low'? Purely age?

Ajax set a price and stuck to it. They definitely could have got more if they'd allowed a bidding war to start, but didn't for whatever reason.

[mugbull]

How was the De Ligt fee so 'low'? Purely age?

What?

[Danny]

Ajax set a price and stuck to it. They definitely could have got more if they'd allowed a bidding war to start, but didn't for whatever reason.

This. Overmars did an interview where he explained it


"We made an agreement with Matthijs last year that we would cooperate and would charge a price in line with the market," says Overmars. "Not the top prize, but not the bottom either. Then you can always say: who estimates that? I can do that, I get paid for that. In the end we determined a price. I think the price of Matthijs in the current market, if you see what is being paid for other players, could have been slightly higher than what we ultimately asked for. But that's not the point.

[SincereTheRebel]

Them Ajax man knew he was going to be nice from last year?

[The Merse]

He'd already played a full season.

[Danny]

He had pretty much forced his way into the first team at the end of the 16/17 season (played in the Europa final against United), they knew they had something special on their hands but I don’t think anyone imagined the situation around him and de Jong escalating quite this quickly.

[SvN]

I'm still surprised he didn't go to Barca. It seemed so nailed on at one point.

[Pepe]

I'm still surprised the ITKs were wrong.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We were also nailed on according to the plane watching ITK's.

Edit: Pepe \0.

[Ian]

Listen, right, these were RELIABLE guys who KNOW what's going on.

It's probably Juventus and De Ligt who got mixed up.

[Baz]

Lampard to Chelsea done. #ITKThis was my only #ITK post in this thread. :cool:

I didn’t hashtag the Coutinho to United one so it’s not official but when it happens I will still boast.

[randomlegend]

I think it was fairly obvious I was never very convinced we were getting De Ligt. The only ITK who is actually reliable never claimed De Ligt to United either.

[SincereTheRebel]

This ITK gang is like the Man Utd version of RAWK for Liveprool.

[Pepe]

The backpedaling. :drool:

[John]

Furious backtracking.

[Boydy]

You owe me three quid I lost on de Ligt to United, RL. 'ITK' my arse.

[John Arne]

Taxi spotted heading to RL's gaff.....

[randomlegend]

I've not backtracked on anything, other than a few very obviously unserious De Ligt posts.

[Kikó]

Apparently a KLM flight has just landed in Manchester from Amsterdam. MOTWYW.

[Spikey M]

Flight no. RL-L0L

[Giggles]

What?

HOW WAS THE DE LIGT FEE SO 'LOW'? PURELY AGE?

Hope that helps.

[Spikey M]

What?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

HOW WAS THE DE LIGT FEE SO 'LOW'? PURELY AGE?

Better?

[Pepe]

What?

[Shindig]

Low? That's two Ayoze Perez's.

[SincereTheRebel]

Barca have officially offered 90m plus two players from a possible six. Dembele, rakatic, semedo, coutinhio, malcolm and someone else.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Based purely on FIFA, I'd go for Dembele and Semedo.

[Giggles]

Tonton Zola Mokouko and Anthony Vanden Borre all the way here.

[Manc]

This Neymar deal is getting desperate.

[SincereTheRebel]

This Neymar deal is getting desperate.

It really is. Great deal for Barca

[mugbull]

HOW WAS THE DE LIGT FEE SO 'LOW'? PURELY AGE?

Hope that helps.

Can’t really say it’s low when a 19 year old from the Dutch league has just broken the record transfer fee for a defender can you?

But you’re notoriously bad with units so maybe if we convert it to euros you’ll understand

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sixth player is Umtitti.

Him and Dembele + £90m is huge for PSG.

[niko_cee]

Umtiti's absolute shite though.

Surely you'd take Coutinho and Dembele plus the cash, if for no other reason than sealing their collective fates as part of the weirdest transfer tryst of all time.

That and, without knowing an awful lot about Malcolm, they're the two 'best' players on that list.

[SincereTheRebel]

My guess is every team is now looking down the back of their sofas for extra coins if they know neymar is available. Who can really afford him though because clearly Barca cant.

[Giggles]

Can’t really say it’s low when a 19 year old from the Dutch league has just broken the record transfer fee for a defender can you?

But you’re notoriously bad with units so maybe if we convert it to euros you’ll understand

He's regarded as the second coming of Christ and had three of the richest clubs in the world after him in an age where Harry Maguire is being talked about at 80m.

Someone that knew the reason explained the reason already anyway, so you can run along and get back to disagreeing with people to show how alternative you are.

[mugbull]

Yeah, I don’t buy that the fee was low, although if United had been serious contenders I’m sure Ajax could’ve bumped it up some more

[Andy]

Surely this whole pick some players plus cash thing is media BS.

You wouldn't risk alienating 6 players at once with only 2 of them leaving. Not to mention how complicated a deal would be that involves 3 players, 3 agents and god knows how many different clubs/contracts.

I'd imagine this situation ends with Neymar signing for Real or a bumper new contract at PSG.

[SincereTheRebel]

I thought at the time Eto’o + £60m for Zlatan was bad value for Barca.

[Gray Fox]

That's assuming Barcelona properly care about any of their players not named Lionel.

Neymar to Madrid is best for the neutral I think, but I think he'll slither his way back into Catalonia.

[Baz]

I've just read about Cutrone to Wolves. That'd be pretty mega. Being rumoured to get Diego Costa and ending up with Patrick Cutrone. :drool:

[randomlegend]

Juventus have gone with the truly strange "Turn De Ligt on" as their tagline for the signing.

Should have come to us mate...

[Spikey M]

Angel De Ligt.

[Lewis]

Juventus are worse than the Germans for this stuff, and it all stems from that pathetic badge change.

[mugbull]

Juventus are worse than the Germans for this stuff, and it all stems from that pathetic badge change.

It’s one of the few that hasn’t gotten any better since it was introduced. Really fucking shit still

[Jimmy Floyd]

Italians trying to be funky and corporate is one of the more tragic sights in Europe, along with the Germans trying to swear and the British going on holiday.

[Lewis]

I think I need a Geoffrey Boycott suit and hat for my next trip. The generic mustard trousers and UKIP blazer just haven't cut it in terms of inspiring awe.

[Shindig]

Joelinton is having his medical, apparently. I hope his name doesn't have some bollocks Brazilian pronunciation. Joe. Linton. Joel. Inton. Jo Elinton. Spoilt for choice.

[-james-]

From what I've seen of him, he'll be a brilliant signing.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Joelinton is having his medical, apparently. I hope his name doesn't have some bollocks Brazilian pronunciation. Joe. Linton. Joel. Inton. Jo Elinton. Spoilt for choice.

It's usually Joe Linton which I find a bit strange as it sounds more European than South American.

[Danny]

Joe Linton sounds like a budget striker from league one. They will have Ashley fooled until it comes to signing the contract.

[John]

How the fuck have they got Mike Ashley to sanction a forty million quid signing?

[Shindig]

Panic buy. Makes him look like an even bigger shitehawk considering what Rafa was asking for to be kept on.

[Gray Fox]

So for Rafa he wont budge but get Steve fucking Bruce in and he'll flash the cash? Bottom of the tyne, lads. It's the only way.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Bruce probably thinks Joe Linton is a hard working Northern lad who has been plying his trade in League One.

[Lewis]

Joelinton is having his medical, apparently. I hope his name doesn't have some bollocks Brazilian pronunciation. Joe. Linton. Joel. Inton. Jo Elinton. Spoilt for choice.

Tim Vickery is at home right now deciding whether silencing the second n in 'Hholheentton' makes him sound cleverer.

[SincereTheRebel]

Man utd have officially rejected 60m euros straight cash for Stormzy from Inter.

[-james-]

Gareth Bale wasn't in the matchday squad today because the club is negotiating his departure...I hope it's soon, that would be the best for everyone".


Bale was pretty handy to Zidane over the years so being this blunt strikes me as a bit of a dick move. I wish disaster upon Real Madrid every season, but I really do hope Zidane crashes & burns this time.

I presume we'll hear more about Bale next week. Manchester United and Jiangsu Suning are really the only two options that I could imagine happening.

[SincereTheRebel]

Zidane was ballgobbling Bale in order to bring him into Madrid. If Bale just didn't fit Madrid anymore, then it is what it is. Italy have recently had a bunch of money dumped into the league. Maybe he could be off to Milan.

[Smjffy]

I'm going to be gutted if Bale returns to the Premier League, at least playing in Spain meant he was relatively fresh when he joined the national squad. It seems a real shithouse way to get rid of a player who has arguably done more in a Madrid shirt than Zidane ever did too.

[SincereTheRebel]

I reckon madrid take the whole “Im Gareth Bale. Fuck you. Im not speaking no spanish” situation as total disrespect.

[Shindig]

He joins us, shaves his head and Steve Bruce converts him back to a left back.

[randomlegend]

Apparently the stuff about him not speaking Spanish isn't true, he just doesn't like to in public.

I really don't see him coming to United. If he and Madrid were open to a loan I'd imagine we'd be all over it, but his agent came out and said a loan outright will not happen. Even Woodward isn't mad enough to put up the fee and especially the wages it would take to buy him now.

If he changed his mind and is open to a loan, I'd be delighted if we took him for a year.

[Andy]

Maybe its PSG interested as a replacement for Neymar.

Cant see him coming to England.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Can't Lightpockets Levy take him back at a cut price now they are trying to get rid this hard?

[The Merse]

Maybe its PSG interested as a replacement for Neymar.

Cant see him coming to England.

This occurred to me today. It’s just about the only one I see happening.

[Smjffy]

I'd rather he goes to China.

He's an awesome player but age and price tag go against him now. I wouldn't be happy spending the sort of money he'd cost, especially as a Premier League club as I can't see him hacking it physically. He'd be out of action more than on the field which is bad news for Wales, if not already too late for us.

[Gray Fox]

By all accounts he's insistent on getting those remaining 2 years of £500k a week and to be honest, why wouldn't you? He's already won everything.

If that is true then there's only 2 or 3 clubs in the world outside of China that could afford him.

[Smjffy]

I would be surprised if any of those two or three could even see the positives of such an investment as really, there aren't that many. You'd gain a cracking player but he could break at any moment and you're only getting a couple of years out of him at best. Once his pace goes he's gone.

[randomlegend]

Can't Lightpockets Levy take him back at a cut price now they are trying to get rid this hard?

No, because he is on 600k a week and perfectly happy to continue being paid that to live in Madrid and play golf.

[Giggles]

He's dead right too.

[Lewis]

Wouldn't he stand to lose sponsorship monies (either existing or potential) by being out of action for two years? Somewhere along the line it must make more sense to be actually playing on half that at another high-profile club.

[Giggles]

Really and truly, he has enough made by now anyway. I'd just do whatever annoyed Zidane the most.

[John Arne]

Bale to Jiangsu.

[Spikey M]

Probably. Clubs that can/will pay his wages are pretty thin on the ground in the civilised world.

Unless he actually wants to play football and takes a massive pay cut, that is.

[Foe]

Bale has surely had assou-ekotto on the phone telling him what's what. Man has a well paid job, enjoy it.

[Mazuuurk]

a player who has arguably done more in a Madrid shirt than Zidane ever did too.

I agree Bale has done more than he seems to get credit for (at least now), but just... no fucking way mate :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Bale has played there for longer, played more games, scored more goals and won several more trophies. It's not an outrageous claim.

[SincereTheRebel]

You can only live off your old sucsess for so long. Besides, what you did in the past has nothing to do with what you are doing now and can do in the future. You sounds like a scorned wife.

[Mazuuurk]

Bale has played there for longer, played more games, scored more goals and won several more trophies. It's not an outrageous claim.

Of course it's outrageous. I hold Zidane as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He's also a fucking don. Bale is maybe top 30? 50?
And Zidane wasn't exactly a goalscorer or a forward, so that's not a fair comparison in the first place (it would be more fair to compare Zidane to say Modric, but then Zidane still wins).

Bale is a great player but honestly I think he peaked around the time he came to Madrid really. And most of what he's done since then has been in the shadow of Ronaldo, Ramos, Modric and others, I think. He has never been the main star at Madrid, not even after Ronaldo left.


And I know when Smiff says "in a madrid shirt" here he means as a player on the pitch, but unless I'm mistaken, Zidane has been there for most of the trophies that Bale has won as well and that also matters when looking at his legacy to the club of course.

[Mazuuurk]

You can only live off your old sucsess for so long. Besides, what you did in the past has nothing to do with what you are doing now and can do in the future. You sounds like a scorned wife.

You can live off of old success until someone else surpasses you. Not many has surpassed Zidane in terms of skill and impact on the pitch so far.

[Max Power]

Zidane is historically overrated because of good performances in international tournaments and because he was elegant and nice to watch.

Great player no doubt but not sure he was ever dominant in club football.

[Mazuuurk]

Uh he was a number 10 attacking midfielder. He was supposed to be elegant and nice to watch.

And he was more dominant for Real than what Bale has ever been.


I cant believe you guys are actually thinking Bale is comparable to Zidane in anyway. You are all maniacs :cab:

[Ian]

Jonathan Wilson touched on this on Football Weekly.

I didn't watch enough of Zidane outside big games to have a firm opinion on this either way but I'm fairly sure some of the people who'd vocally call him one of the best ever haven't seen much more of him than I have and their argument largely boils down to "because Zidane" and reeling off a couple of their favourite goals.

[Lewis]

I think he just used to phone it in most weeks, but the fact his best performances were all at the highest level would suggest that he was incredible.

[SincereTheRebel]

I think he just used to phone it in most weeks, but the fact his best performances were all at the highest level would suggest that he was incredible.

Most of the legends are graded like that. The Likes of Pele and Maradonna turned it on at World Cups. Add R9 to the list also. Even though he was injured 80% of the time. I like to think of it being the way, Women's football is now. You only ever seen mass coverage of the Women's World Cup. Nobody seems to care about club-level football.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Uh he was a number 10 attacking midfielder. He was supposed to be elegant and nice to watch.

And he was more dominant for Real than what Bale has ever been.


I cant believe you guys are actually thinking Bale is comparable to Zidane in anyway. You are all maniacs :cab:

Zidane overall is obviously way above most people, but Bale has achieved just as much as a Real Madrid player.

[Bam]

He hasn’t won the CL as manager with them!

[Manc]

They both have defining moments for Madrid, but arguably both were performing at a higher level prior to landing in Spain.

[Mazuuurk]

Zidane overall is obviously way above most people, but Bale has achieved just as much as a Real Madrid player.

Yeah but so has someone like Benzema, for instance, and you still wouldn't say his name in the same breath as Zidanes.

[SincereTheRebel]

Captain De Gea on 1m per week.

[Ian]

I imagine he will be in some currency or another.

[bruhnaldo]

I think the problem with the Bale thing isn't necessarily that RM/Zidane are wrong for wanting rid, more that Zidane is seemingly being so disrespectful about it despite what Bale has contributed to the club, whether or not he was a focal point of that or not.

That being said, much like Zidane time will be much better to Bale I think. I'd honestly like to see him go to the Bundesliga or something but it seems China will be his only saving grace w/r/t his wages.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bale is in a strong position though for his own pockets. Real need to pay him to fuck off.

[Spikey M]

Hopefully the end up having to do what City did when they wanted rid of Adebayor and carry on paying half of his wages.

[SincereTheRebel]

Hopefully the end up having to do what City did when they wanted rid of Adebayor and carry on paying half of his wages.

#SupportThePlayers

[randomlegend]

I can't see any reason why Bale would go to China. He already earns insane money and has an incredible life in Spain, even for double what he's on I can't imagine he wants to go breathe smog in China.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's always wanted to wear one of those lampshade hats.

[Lewis]

The Chinese will hate him for his chonmage haircut.

[Andy]

I can't see any reason why Bale would go to China. He already earns insane money and has an incredible life in Spain, even for double what he's on I can't imagine he wants to go breathe smog in China.

I read they are going to double his wages. Rich people just want to carry on getting richer, he will have an incredible quality of life wherever he lives at this point in his career.

[SincereTheRebel]

He can become a full time monk. He is already halfway converted with the look on his face.

[Kikó]

Most of the legends are graded like that. The Likes of Pele and Maradonna turned it on at World Cups. Add R9 to the list also. Even though he was injured 80% of the time. I like to think of it being the way, Women's football is now. You only ever seen mass coverage of the Women's World Cup. Nobody seems to care about club-level football.

Hold on, Ronaldo was the most unbelievable forward even at the end when he was ballooned and broken. He was absolutely unplayable.

[Raoul Duke]

Bale should just go full Bogarde and tell Zidane to shove it up his arse

[SincereTheRebel]

R7 > R9

Dont talk to me.

[bruhnaldo]

as in Raul?

[SincereTheRebel]

Fekir is off to real betis

[SincereTheRebel]

as in Raul?

Robert Pires

[Spikey M]

Lol.

[bruhnaldo]

lololol fair play.

[Shindig]

Hold on, Ronaldo was the most unbelievable forward even at the end when he was ballooned and broken. He was absolutely unplayable.

I was devastated when he missed out on the 2010 World Cup. As for 7 vs 9, they still have different roles to me. Cristiano still feels like a wandering winger that bangs the goals in. I don't recall seeing them whilst Ronaldo was around.

[Bam]

He can become a full time monk. He is already halfway converted with the look on his face.

Bit racist. It works both ways you know.

[niko_cee]

Wouldn't he stand to lose sponsorship monies (either existing or potential) by being out of action for two years? Somewhere along the line it must make more sense to be actually playing on half that at another high-profile club.

Don't Real do a weird thing (or maybe not weird) where they take control of all image rights etc in exchange for the fat wage (thus making their wages seem somewhat disproportionately higher)? Which makes it extra lol.

[mugbull]

Bit racist. It works both ways you know.

Tbf sincere never moans about harmless “racist” banter so i dont know what you’re getting at

[Mazuuurk]

Dani Ceballos loan to Arsenal seems done. It seems like a good loan move and all, but I don't really exactly see how he is that necessary for Arsenal. I suppose he'll compete with Ozil for the no 10 role?

Arsenal really should just focus all their efforts on getting defenders.

[John Arne]

Who is the guy you got on loan last season who turned about to be quiet turd?

[SincereTheRebel]

Dani Ceballos loan to Arsenal seems done. It seems like a good loan move and all, but I don't really exactly see how he is that necessary for Arsenal. I suppose he'll compete with Ozil for the no 10 role?

Arsenal really should just focus all their efforts on getting defenders.

Thats not the Arsenal way. Buy more attackers like Zaha and them. FEC 2.0 has returned from injury and he is arsenal best defender and like a new signing.

[Mazuuurk]

Who is the guy you got on loan last season who turned about to be quiet turd?

Denis Suarez from Barca. For all intents and purposes, he looks like the exact same player as this Ceballos.

Mind you, I read somewhere that that Suarez basically had a massive injury going on the whole loan spell and wasn't really able to run, so I guess he never even had a chance.

[Mazuuurk]

Thats not the Arsenal way. Buy more attackers like Zaha and them. FEC 2.0 has returned from injury and he is arsenal best defender and like a new signing.

Yeah, basically being a bit daft. Who is FEC? And is 2.0 supposed to be Holding? Cause he'll be OK but it'll take at least half a season for him and Bellerin to get back into some sort of decent form I reckon, after those injuries you just don't step back on it as if nothing happened. Besides, it's not as if they are exactly world class defenders, they are just better than Kolasinac and Mustafi :harold:

[Ian]

"Who is FEC?" :nono:

https://img.maximummedia.ie/joe_co_uk/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvbWVkaW Etam9lY291ay5tYXhpbXVtbWVkaWEuaWUuczMuYW1hem9uYXdz LmNvbVxcXC93cC1jb250ZW50XFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAxOV xcXC8wNFxcXC8wMjIxNDkzM1xcXC9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMTkt MDQtMDItYXQtMjEuNDkuMTgucG5nXCIsXCJ3aWR0aFwiOjcwMC xcImhlaWdodFwiOjM3MCxcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxc XC9cXFwvd3d3LmpvZS5jby51a1xcXC9hc3NldHNcXFwvaW1hZ2 VzXFxcL2pvZWNvdWtcXFwvbm8taW1hZ2UucG5nP2lkPTQzYmNh OWRlN2ViMjY5NzM3YTBmXCIsXCJvcHRpb25zXCI6W119IiwiaG FzaCI6IjQyMWI4ZDdmZjdiYjliM2I3OTI3ODRhZWYyZTMxYThl MGJkYjA0NTAifQ==/screenshot-2019-04-02-at-21-49-18.png

[SincereTheRebel]

Yeah, basically being a bit daft. Who is FEC? And is 2.0 supposed to be Holding? Cause he'll be OK but it'll take at least half a season for him and Bellerin to get back into some sort of decent form I reckon, after those injuries you just don't step back on it as if nothing happened. Besides, it's not as if they are exactly world class defenders, they are just better than Kolasinac and Mustafi :harold:

phonics seems to think Holding will good enough to lead Arsenal to glory.

Im giving Holding the tag of FEC 2.0. Who else is a better fit?

[Mazuuurk]

Ah I see.

Yeah Holdings is alright but not amazing or anything, I think. We'll see I guess. Phil Jones feels like a very different kind of defender, but I guess they are a bit comparable in a way. Though to me Holding feels more like a poor mans John Stones.

[Pen]

Surely FEC 2.0 would just be FFEC. A bit like all the new Maradonas.

[SincereTheRebel]

Did FEC ever get the armband in the end?

[Pen]

There’s a long way from FEC to EC.

[Smjffy]

And I know when Smiff says "in a madrid shirt" here he means as a player on the pitch, but unless I'm mistaken, Zidane has been there for most of the trophies that Bale has won as well and that also matters when looking at his legacy to the club of course.

Bale scored in most of the trophy winning finals, no? Winning goals too. I believe that matters if you're looking at ZZ's 'legacy'.

[Cheddar]

Some outrageous claims in this thread about (the real) Ronaldo and Zidane. If you’re regarding these two as anything less than in the bracket of some the greatest players of our time then take your face for a shit.

[bruhnaldo]

"Take your face for a shit" is new for me.

[Giggles]

Has he ever played a first team game or is this on the back of some youth international stuff? Crazy money.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49091233

[SincereTheRebel]

Paid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Has he ever played a first team game or is this on the back of some youth international stuff? Crazy money.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49091233

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=107004&season_id=151

24 games total for Chelsea last season with 5 goals. Plus 2 games for England.

[Giggles]

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=107004&season_id=151

24 games total for Chelsea last season with 5 goals. Plus 2 games for England.

Jaysus. Was he good in any of them? I never read one bit of raving at all.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Waff was raving about him...

[Giggles]

Waff was raving about him...

That only means he's black.

[mugbull]

That only means he's black.

Eden Hazard, the black man that we all know and love

[Giggles]

Eden Hazard, the black man that we all know and love

Sorry, I didn't realise I'd mentioned Hazard.