Summer Transfer Window 2019

[mugbull]

Hazard is Waff’s biggest rave, you should pay more attention

[Giggles]

You'd think so.

[Shindig]

Joelinton's in. And the sun is right in Bruce's eyes.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/4159/production/_107992761_joelinton-main.jpg

[Baz]

His stats are Firmino level pre-Liverpool (I was gonna write Pre-Klopp but one of my favourite facts is that Sir Brendan bought him) so I wonder if he’ll be a similar “pressing forward.”

[Giggles]

He'll be shit and Bruce will be gone by January.

[Shindig]

Aye, we've seemingly replaced a 10 goal a season guy with another. I'm still pissed off they opted to spend the money here and now rather than secure Rafa and give him the money to do as he wished. He could've brought in 2-3 players for £40m.

[Smjffy]

It just rubs salt in the wound. I don't think I could cope being a Newcastle fan at the moment, some serious WTFuckery going on.

[Manc]

Seems to me like Newcastle are just spending money they have recouped. You'd imagine Rafa would have wanted additional funds.

[Mellberg]

His stats are Firmino level pre-Liverpool (I was gonna write Pre-Klopp but one of my favourite facts is that Sir Brendan bought him) so I wonder if he’ll be a similar “pressing forward.”

There's absolutely zero point having a forward like that in a Steve Bruce side. Their defenders could just pass it left and right as your wingers would be dawdling about by their own penalty area.

Trezeguet done for us.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I reckon they've made that kit so that everything else they do seems better.

[Mazuuurk]

Well it makes sense they wanna tie one of their main supposed talents down when there's been interest from Bayern and they have their Transfer ban thing going on.

[Mazuuurk]

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'.

Yeah it matters, of course, but Bale is still not in the same league as Zidane.

[SincereTheRebel]

International succses is still, and always will be levels above club football.

[Giggles]

:drool:

Delighted for the self righteous cunts.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49100040

[Ian]

It would amuse me greatly if he ended up having to go back to Atletico until the next window.

[bruhnaldo]

I don't understand why, given how long this has gone on, La Liga is just now saying what they could do.

Why wouldn't they already have the facts of the situation and be ready to make a judgment? I mean this shit has dragged on for months.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Because that bloke Tebas is Walter Mitty.

[Yevrah]

I know there's a fair bit of Barca hate generally, but it's the moronic mandatory release clause system that's at fault here rather than them.

[Smjffy]

Yeah it matters, of course, but Bale is still not in the same league as Zidane.

Different eras so you can't really suggest anything of the sort. It's been thirteen years since Zidane retired which I think is pretty much the same season Bale made his debut. 2006?

In that time Bale has scored more goals despite playing less, won more trophies, won four Champions League titles (I give the players more credit than the manager, ZZ being like Di Matteo than a Rafa 2005) and one of the biggest, for me personally, he led Wales to the Euro semi finals, a nation of 3M or so in our first tournament in 50 plus years. Zidane may have won World Cup and Euros but he did so as part of a golden generation for France, not a team made up of championship no hopers, Ashley Williams and an unsigned player.

Not that I dispute Zidane wasnt good but I think many of the big players in the 90's are remembered more fondly than they should be.

I'm of opinion a huge majority would struggle in today's game anyway.

[SincereTheRebel]

So bale is above zidane for you in your G.O.A.T leaderboard? Say no more...

[Andy]

Zidane is levels above Bale.

Bale isn't even the next best after Messi and Ronaldo of the current top generation. He's won an awful lot at Madrid with some key goals along the way but theres plenty of other players in the squad who have been more influential.

Zidane bossed.the biggest games, played for an incredible France side and possibly the best ever Juventus side.

[Smjffy]

So bale is above zidane for you in your G.O.A.T leaderboard? Say no more...

I only have one 'goat' and it's Messi tbf.

I'm not even serious with the Bale/Zidane stuff. I mean, how much of Zidane did people actually see on a regular basis? It's not like football was overloaded on TV then as it is now.

[Lewis]

We were restricted to things like the 2006 World Cup quarter-final when he put in one of the best individual performances ever.

[Smjffy]

OK, so hear me out. Forgetting Bale, purely on Zidane now. Is it not conceivable that because you hear he's a good player then he goes and puts on a performance in one of the few games you do see of him that you suddenly think, yeah, he's a great player. I personally would have the likes of Ronaldinho as miles ahead of him.

I don't even dislike him but I don't think he was as great as a number of you lot do. Not that that should surprise anyone, I guess. :uhoh:

[Gray Fox]

Wasn't Zidane voted European footballer of the century or something similar?

[Spikey M]

I'd have Ronaldinho ahead of anyone. Such a don.

[mugbull]

The Spurs press people are saying we’re going after Dybala. Prob just to get the Lo Celso fee down, but if that happened....

[Jimmy Floyd]

The debate was never is Bale better than Zidane, only a monkey would favour the former, it was who achieved more as a player for Real Madrid, which is very much in question.

[Ian]

How is the Lookman fee so low?

In the current market the 36 top division appearances Wikipedia tells me has means he must surely be worth at least £100m before you even worry if they're any good.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves have been linked with numerous players with not one signing so far.

[Manc]

Cutrone inbound.

[Clunge]

Douglas Luiz announced by Villa subject to work permit.

Super impressed by our business this summer. We've made permanent the key loans, cut the deadwood and replaced 6/7 departing squad players with younger, more talented players. It really feels like there genuinely was a very in-depth plan for this eventuality. Most new players will have spend 2+ weeks, in not 1+ month with the squad. We have young players stepping up too - Davis and O'Hare have looked good pre-season.

Excited.

[Danny]

1154421068846784515

:face:

[Mike]

Haha that’s pretty good

[SincereTheRebel]

De Rossi has joined Boca Juniors.

[SincereTheRebel]

Jesus Vallejo is joining Wolves on a loan with no option to buy. He was the best CB in the world on FM15 which is the last one i played.

[Gray Fox]

Nicolas Pepe to Napoli for £71m.

[Manc]

Refreshing.

[Gray Fox]

Although there's reports coming from France and Italy that both Inter Milan and Liverpool have also agreed a fee in principle and it'll be up to the player.

Difficult to sift through the shit on this one, but I wouldn't mind him.

[Lewis]

I know Liverpool could benefit from a bit more DEPTH, but the absolutely last thing they want to be doing is rocking the boat up front. They would be better off getting Rickie Lambert back.

[Yevrah]

If it is true I guess you just have to trust Klopp. He’s in that rare breed of manager category that absolutely know what they’re doing.

[Lewis]

People can't not fiddle with things. Alex Ferguson signed Berbatoss to give the best team in Europe a 'different dimension', and it just ushered Carlos Tevez out the door.

[niko_cee]

£70m for DEPTH is a bit mental, I think they'd be better spaffing that on Bruno Fernandes.

Especially when they're going to sign Mbappe next summer anyway.

A depth signing should be someone like this Pepe character this time last year - ie a prospect, not someone you break the bank for.

Someone like that Fraser geezer from Bournemouth.

[Shindig]

We just seem to be getting our depth from discarded youth players. Also Sports Direct are facing a £605m unpaid tax bill.

Would be a nice time for a takeover, wouldn't it?

[randomlegend]

Bales actually gone to China. £1m a week.

[Lewis]

What a twat.

[Giggles]

I've seen £1m a week and £19m (€22m) a year which is not making sense so we should just split it.

[phonics]

If it is true I guess you just have to trust Klopp. He’s in that rare breed of manager category that absolutely know what they’re doing.

Anyone thinking Klopp has anything to do with the transfers in an idiot. Like Brendan Rodgers thought Firmino was an excellent false nine. It's all statistics.

[Spikey M]

Christ you're a cunt.

[SincereTheRebel]

Juventus want to include Dybala in a deal for lukaku.

[SincereTheRebel]

Bales actually gone to China. £1m a week.


I've seen £1m a week and £19m (€22m) a year which is not making sense so we should just split it.

Lots of players have gone to china in recent years. Have any of them done crazy numbers over there on the field?

[Spikey M]

Juventus want to include Dybala in a deal for lukaku.

No they don't.

[Mike]

I’d move to China for £1mil a week for a few years.

[Shindig]

Only so you could see Rafa.

[Spikey M]

I'd rather live in the civilised world on half the wage.

[Giggles]

I'd rather live in the civilised world on half the wage.

If he's interested in the game at all then it's some waste when you've your money made already. When you get to his levels it most likely is just a job though.

[Spikey M]

True, but you must have love for the game to get that good. That's what confuses me. And £500k per week or £1m per week, either way you are never going to run out of money. Especially when you factor in sponsorship deals etc.

[niko_cee]

Are Real just letting him go?

I hope he's stung them for that 'loyalty payment' you always hear about.

[Manc]

He'll be playing LWB for Conte in six months.

[randomlegend]

No they don't.

I wouldn't be surprised if that's true. They've not been able to find a way to fit him in the team with Ronaldo at all successfully.

[Spikey M]

I wouldn't be surprised if that's true. They've not been able to find a way to fit him in the team with Ronaldo at all successfully.

It doesn't mean they've gone full retard. Lukaku is a donkey and these swap deals are never true.

[Lewis]

Ronaldo seething himself to death every time he fucks a move up.

[Manc]

Pepe to Arsenal.

Zaha. :harold:

[randomlegend]

Palace said before they won't sell Zaha and AWB in the same window right? I guess once the latter went they just point blank refused to negotiate a remotely reasonable price on Zaha.

[Spikey M]

Bullet dodged for Arsenal. The guy would be absolute turd for any team that busses are parked in front of.

[Lewis]

I wonder whether football transfer business will pass a lol point where it turns into rugby-style moves of two and three year contracts for minimal/no fees. You're basically a hostage to fortune if you sign a five year contract with a lesser English club. Yes, you will earn good money; but if your ambitions extend beyond that then you can end up stuck at Crystal Palace forever. It could also go down the American ten year mega deal route (Australian rugby clubs are increasingly doing likewise), possibly with clauses relative to average earnings or something since you can't price in salary cap changes. Alternatively, anyone with a brain could just insist on a release clause of 'less than lolty million' and the problem disappears.

[Yevrah]

Anyone thinking Klopp has anything to do with the transfers in an idiot. Like Brendan Rodgers thought Firmino was an excellent false nine. It's all statistics.

Well I mean you're wrong, but that's never stopped you before, so carry on.

[Gray Fox]

Rodgers had a reasonably low success rate and even then the better signings of his have all fared much better under Klopp.

Klopp brought 9 out of 11 of the starting team for the CL final. His success rate is near perfect thus far. The only exceptions to that are Karius and if you count him as more than a back up, Ragnar the Red.

Either in a massive coincidence we suddenly got loads better at transfers the second Klopp came in, or better luck next time.

[SincereTheRebel]

Palace said before they won't sell Zaha and AWB in the same window right? I guess once the latter went they just point blank refused to negotiate a remotely reasonable price on Zaha.

Palace will accept offers less than the £80m they are asking for Zaha . Especially if Arsenal identity other targets.

[-james-]

Phonics is probably mostly right.

Klopp's signings before Michael Edwards were Grujic, Matip, Karius, Mane, Klavan and Wijnaldum. That's what, a 50% hit rate? And half of them were clearly players he saw in Germany.

[SincereTheRebel]

Cutrone has left the milan training camp after talks with wolves. No idea how bad he is but hopefully, he is an Inzaghi regen and celebrates like a madman every time he scores.

[phonics]

Phonics is probably mostly right.

Klopp's signings before Michael Edwards were Grujic, Matip, Karius, Mane, Klavan and Wijnaldum. That's what, a 50% hit rate? And half of them were clearly players he saw in Germany.

And the combined fee for those players outside of Mane was about 50p so I’m sure he’s allowed his picks when they’re that price.

Read literally anything written from Mallorca pre-CL final. It’s all statistics/moneyball transfers.

I’m sure he gets to say no but he’s not picking the players they spend 10s of millions on.

I am a cunt but I’m an informed one.

[Spikey M]

Isn't this where the difference between 'Manager' and 'Head Coach' comes in?

[phonics]

Sorry weren’t you calling me a cunt for pointing this out less than 12 hours ago?

[Spikey M]

I was calling you a cunt for being a cunt. I didn't say you were wrong.

[niko_cee]

The committee were there under Rodgers and signed a lot of shite, along with the odd gem.

The same people have had a miraculous run at Liverpool in the past few years. Not just signings that have done well, but signings that have performed outwith all expectation (Salah) which have transformed the team.

In the end, for all the analytical shit, which everyone does, it boils down to good luck. Sometimes you sign Andy Robertson, sometimes you sign Alberto Moreno.

That said, for all the players, Klopp has clearly been the best signing Liverpool have made in the last 5 years and he's the one that has taken the team to where they are, regardless of whether he does all the legwork on transfers.

[randomlegend]

Lukaku to Inter looks to be happening.

[Giggles]

Anyone giving actual money for the lump at this stage (and paying him enough to leave) means they're absolutely blessed.

[The Merse]

Pepe :drool:

That’s the shit I’m after. Add Tierney and between the signings and the youth promotion, this summer looks a good ‘un.

[Spikey M]

Never even heard of him.

[The Merse]

You uneducated philistine.

[Giggles]

Has he ever done anything or is it another one of those :drool: :drool: mate things that the forum latches onto every once in a while? I'm also looking at this lad at Milan going to Wolves.

[SincereTheRebel]

Pepe :drool:

That’s the shit I’m after. Add Tierney and between the signings and the youth promotion, this summer looks a good ‘un.

Dont you need a serious CB and RB and GK though? I like the attacking youth arsenal are bringing through but defensively, as always its a problem.

[phonics]

Dont you need a serious CB and RB and GK though? I like the attacking youth arsenal are bringing through but defensively, as always its a problem.

They already bought a CB, he’s just not turning up for a year. Neither of the other two are problem positions.

[SincereTheRebel]

They already bought a CB, he’s just not turning up for a year. Neither of the other two are problem positions.

Arsenal have Leno and who is the other gk they have as a cech replacement. RB is Bellerin and who else?

[phonics]

Martinez who got player of the year at Reading last year.

Maitland Niles is the back up at RB. Theyre not Man City, can’t have two 50 million quid players per position.

[SincereTheRebel]

Argentina Martinez? If so, he has been at Arsenal for about 10 years now. Niles isnt a RB though is he? He got thrown back there. He was good when i saw him though. Rather see him play RB over Bellerin but Niles still isnt good enough.

[phonics]

There’s so much wrong in there that I’ll just drop the subject.

[The Merse]

Dont you need a serious CB and RB and GK though? I like the attacking youth arsenal are bringing through but defensively, as always its a problem.

Bellerin and Leno had great seasons. CB is an issue but LB is way more. Holding and Sok is a proficient CB pairing, with Saliba to come next year. LB is a car crash hence the desperation to announce Tierney.

[The Merse]

Argentina Martinez? If so, he has been at Arsenal for about 10 years now. Niles isnt a RB though is he? He got thrown back there. He was good when i saw him though. Rather see him play RB over Bellerin but Niles still isnt good enough.


Martinez has also been great in league cup / fa cup / friendlys
Etc. When that ten years is from the age of 16 as a GK and he’s been first choice on loan for three clubs in three years, it’s not exactly a protracted period. He’s genuinely decent and as a back up to a guy with no injury history, perfectly adequate. Bellerin could do with back up, but, as mentioned, we’re not Man City and even they deployed Delph at LB most of last season.

[niko_cee]

How did Bellerin have a great season last year? Wasn't he injured for most of it?

Leno is average. The rest of the defence is abysmal. Definitely buy more attackers.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How did Bellerin have a great season last year? Wasn't he injured for most of it?

Leno is average. The rest of the defence is abysmal. Definitely buy more attackers.

Don't bother talking about the defence with an Arsenal fan (especially if it's Phonics).

Bellerin has only ever been about speed and has lacked it due to injuries for a couple of years, they'd be better off fleecing Barcelona.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

51 league goals conceded last year (same as the previous year too), the last time they conceded more than that was in 1983-84 when they let in 60 goals in 42 games.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arsenal_F.C._seasons

[SincereTheRebel]

arsenal can break into top four but only because of chelsea losing their hazard and basically being fucked for a year. They will probably still mess it up and Wolves to snipe them all.

[phonics]

How did Bellerin have a great season last year? Wasn't he injured for most of it?

Leno is average. The rest of the defence is abysmal. Definitely buy more attackers.

He was playing well before getting injured in January? I’m not sure what the question is here.

As mentioned previously they’ve bought a centre back and are trying to buy a left back. What’s the issue? You can’t rely on Lcazette and Aubameyang scoring every game. Think Auba got 30 something, Lacazette around 20 and the next guy had like 4.

I think they’ll be better than last year, that abysmal away record can’t continue forever and OGS and Lampard are big time bin men so it should be enough.

[Manc]

Trolling of the highest order.

[Smjffy]

Wolves will get closer only if they beat the shit.

[Andy]

I wonder whether football transfer business will pass a lol point where it turns into rugby-style moves of two and three year contracts for minimal/no fees. You're basically a hostage to fortune if you sign a five year contract with a lesser English club. Yes, you will earn good money; but if your ambitions extend beyond that then you can end up stuck at Crystal Palace forever. It could also go down the American ten year mega deal route (Australian rugby clubs are increasingly doing likewise), possibly with clauses relative to average earnings or something since you can't price in salary cap changes. Alternatively, anyone with a brain could just insist on a release clause of 'less than lolty million' and the problem disappears.

If Arsenal were serious about signing Zaha he would have kicked up a fuss, handed in a transfer request and gone on strike. Anything to force a move.

It's easy for these players to force a move as theres no point keeping hold of an asset who is refusing to play. Look at Lallana, Lovren, Van Djik etc

[mugbull]

Arsenal got a central defender who *might* be good enough in a few years, and who they won't have for 1 year anyway.

Can't wait for the season to start

[Ian]

Gareth Bale's move to China is off after Real Madrid cancelled the deal (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49144872)

Oh good I was hoping for more of this.

Also who's this teenage dickhead with a fucking top-knot / bun hairdo that Liverpool have signed?

[Shindig]

Heh. Zidane must be seething.

[SincereTheRebel]

Madrid cancelling the deal is all kinds of lol.

[Giggles]

Was it because they were loaning him back to some Italian club?

[Yevrah]

None of this makes any sense.

[Spikey M]

Fun though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He had already gotten eye surgery to fit in more ffs.

[bruhnaldo]

Isn't it because Asensio is crocked so now they actually need to play him?

[SincereTheRebel]

Bale isnt a bad backup

[randomlegend]

Loads of chatter today about Bruno Fernandes to United. Not from anyone remotely reliable, but fingers crossed.

[bruhnaldo]

:happycry:

[Ian]

Ah, now onto the unreliable sources.

Just start copy-pasting the BBC gossip column and the transition is complete.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

SPOTTED.

Mark Kerr kicking an empty Fanta can just outside Old Trafford.

Hearing he's going to be Pogba's replacement.

[randomlegend]

Ah, now onto the unreliable sources.

Just start copy-pasting the BBC gossip column and the transition is complete.

That's what most of the people in this thread do.

[Giggles]

That's what most of the people in this thread do.

All. Bullshit from another source is still bullshit.

[SincereTheRebel]

Thats the whole purpose of the thread.

[phonics]

That's what most of the people in this thread do.

Yeah and none of them pretend otherwise. Did any of your super ITK shit actually happen?

[Kikó]

Fernandes in a bola apparently spotted listening to Ian Brown on Spotify.

[randomlegend]

Yeah and none of them pretend otherwise. Did any of your super ITK shit actually happen?

Yes. He's so far been spot on on everything.

Would expect Maguire and Bruno Fernandes to be at United before the end of the window.

[phonics]

That’s public knowledge and has been so for months...

[John]

Wasn't Fernandes supposed to be flying in to sign about a fortnight ago? You were tracking his plane like a kid using that NORAD thing that shows you where Santa is.

[randomlegend]

So have about 10 other players.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In the other news, we idiots on reddit tracked a private jet owned by the same company Utd used to fly in AWB. It said on their website it was going to Lisbon so obviously we thought it was for Bruno Fernandes. Then one of the ITKs came in and said Bruno is flying in today but from Porto not Lisbon. At that exact moment the flight turned towards and ended up landing in Porto. ITK info is it will fly him back this afternoon, landing in Manchester at 5:15pm.

Golden.

[randomlegend]

Wasn't Fernandes supposed to be flying in to sign about a fortnight ago? You were tracking his plane like a kid using that NORAD thing that shows you where Santa is.

The flight tracking is a bit of fun/nonsense. That didn't come from this guy.

[randomlegend]

Golden.

"we idiots on reddit"

[phonics]

So have about 10 other players.

I thought everything they’d said had been perfectly accurate?

[randomlegend]

I thought everything they’d said had been perfectly accurate?

What?

About 10 other players have been public knowledge to definitely be joining United. The only ones he's said we're signing are the ones we've signed. He's said Maguire will happen and Bruno is likely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I thought everything they’d said had been perfectly accurate?

He keeps harping on about THE GOD OF ALL ITK'S who never gets anything wrong but barely says anything.

Apparently, all these other ones are people who get things wrong a lot for people being so ITK.

[Spikey M]

Doubling down. :drool:

[Lewis]

Randrew living in all these heads. :cool:

[phonics]

What?

About 10 other players have been public knowledge to definitely be joining United. The only ones he's said we're signing are the ones we've signed. He's said Maguire will happen and Bruno is likely.

Good to know that reading a newspaper makes me ITK. Randrew, save yourself some time and just follow @Sport_Witness.

[randomlegend]

Good to know that reading a newspaper makes me ITK. Randrew, save yourself some time and just follow @Sport_Witness.

I mean he called Dalot and James long before it was in any of the papers (or on twitter), if you want to play this game.

[phonics]

The James thing was literally on the front page of the bbc (or was it the guardian?) before you even posted about it...

[randomlegend]

He first posted about James on the 10th of May. I'll wait for you to find the BBC article from then or before.

[Pepe]

Don't forget about the exact time of the announcement.

[phonics]

I’m not going out of my way to find it so I just did a basic search on twitter. Here’s ‘the Florida post’ mentioning it on... the 10th of May.

https://twitter.com/thefloridapost1/status/1126930593365684224?s=21

Now I wouldn’t want to doubt their itks but...

Appears it was on sky sports according to this tweet on the 10th May from a Newcastle fanzine

https://twitter.com/nufcthemag/status/1126771392211369984?s=21

[Mellberg]

Hands off John McGinn you twats. Many thanks.

[phonics]

Moving on from this nonsense De Rossi going to Boca is one of those moves that confirms he’s an absolute dude.

[SincereTheRebel]

Moving on from this nonsense De Rossi going to Boca is one of those moves that confirms he’s an absolute dude.


De Rossi has joined Boca Juniors.

It was reported days ago. Try and keep up please, you are well behind the rest of the class.

[Mazuuurk]

On Arsenal defence - it's an absolute joke is what it is. The "Best" player is Holding who have so far only showed a hint of maturity for about half a season. Him and Sokratis should form a decent, above mid-table pair, but not top 4 stuff. Bellerin is OK at times, but he's really a wingback. And injured half of each season. He just defends a fair bit better than Kolasinac which isn't really saying that much. He still makes some massive mistakes every few games. Maintland-Niles being considered a fullback is about as crappy as the attempts to play Oxlade - Chamberlain, Reiss Nelson and others in wingback positions have been in the past few years. It'll be a waste of his talents, in the end. Chambers has been "maybe a talent" for like 3 years now. How can a defensive player who played for Fulham last year have had a "pretty successful season"?

Left back let's just not even talk about that. The best option remains Monreal and that's telling a lot, as he peaked maybe 4 years ago.

[SincereTheRebel]

Is Hazard a fat boy or is he just gaining muscle?

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/07/29/10/16624168-0-image-a-10_1564393665644.jpg

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's always been highly buttock-dependent. Those chunky cheeks drive his ridiculous acceleration and strength on the ball. Rest of him has always been a bit suggestive of continental breakfasts.

[SincereTheRebel]

Evra has retired
Idrissa "better defensive midfield stats than Kante " Gueye is at PSG for a medical

[bruhnaldo]

I thought Evra had already retired tbqh.

[Lewis]

Absolute hero. He Knows the Club as well, so there should be a job in it for him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who is the longest serving/most prominent former United player who does not Know the Club?

Ruud van Nistelrooy?

[Mazuuurk]

Ronaldo maybe

[SvN]

Paul Ince

[Lewis]

Ruud van Nistelrooy definitely bought into things. That time they got showed up 3-1 at Madrid he was Roy Keane-like in his own way. It's probably Paul Ince, since anyone Alex Ferguson liked would get a pass, and the last six years can just be written off.

[Yevrah]

If ever there was a player that Fergie tolerated as a means to an end it was Paul Ince.

[Lewis]

I only read it recently, but there is a good Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/22/manchester-united-liverpool-class-of-92-spice-boys-eric-cantona) read from a few years ago about United and Liverpool in the nineties that covers that stuff well.


The Barcelona game was the beginning of the end of Ferguson’s relationship with Ince. “You fucking bottler, Incey! You can’t handle the stage, can you?” was Ferguson’s half-time observation. When Ince replied, “Don’t you dare call me a bottler, don’t you dare,” Ferguson walked purposefully over to Ince and hissed in his face, “You are a fucking bottler!” The pair had to be separated by Steve Bruce and Brian Kidd. The Liverpool game, four months later, confirmed Ferguson’s judgement that Ince was getting ideas above his station. Ince struggled to stick to instructions to stay on the left of midfield to neutralise Steve McManaman. When he went on a run of his own down the United right, the ball was headed clear to McManaman, who ran into the space left by Ince to start the move that led to Jamie Redknapp’s first goal. “I sensed that he no longer wanted to be the anchor-man in midfield, where there was none better at the job,” Ferguson wrote later. “It was clear to me that he now saw himself as an attacking midfield player, which was a hopeless misreading of his strengths.”

The thought of him steaming over, probably in his short-sleeve shirt and tie, and getting in his face is hilarious. Which takes us back to Ferguson being a massive let down in retirement. Imagine the book he could write if he wanted to let it all out.

[Ian]

Was Ince not also one of the various players staring at at his feet and trying not to be noticed when the future Sir Gareth Waistcoat ended up having to take a penalty against Germany too?

[SvN]

And when he did find his balls in 98 he missed.

[niko_cee]

I can only imagine the lolling when china whoever found out that Real wanted £85m for Bareth Gale.

They were lucky to be giving him away.

[Smjffy]

I hope Real Madrid have an awful season but it's a good move. He would be wasted in China just as much as he will be at Madrid.

[Danny]

Some Italian journalist, who is apparently good for Sarri (and of course some ITK) is saying Lukaka/Dybala swap.

[randomlegend]

Di Marzio and Agresti who are both extremely reliable for Juve are saying it too.

[Mazuuurk]

I dont understand that at all. Isnt Dybala a much better player?

[Baz]

Might as well swap McTominay for Pjanic while they’re at it.

[randomlegend]

I dont understand that at all. Isnt Dybala a much better player?

They've basically not been able to fit Dybala in since Ronaldo came and feel Lukaku is a better fit. It would be cash + Lukaku for Dybala.

[Spikey M]

Ronaldo is 84, Dybala is 25/26. Ridiculous.

I still don't buy the Lukaku bullshit though.

[Mazuuurk]

I suppose if you stick Ronaldo and Lukaku up front together, all you really have to do is cross the ball.

[SincereTheRebel]

Dybala playing behind Ronaldo sounds like a great idea. Especially considering Juve win Serie A by November.

[Manc]

Dybala strikes me as a nonce.

[Pepe]

Dybala has the Argentince overhype syndrome. Complete shite like all of their strikers since Crespo.

[SincereTheRebel]

He isnt a striker though, he plays the number 10 role.

Messi> Riquelme >Dybala > Aimar > Ortega >

Who am I missing?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Those are even worse for overhype.

[Pepe]

Indeed, 'number tens' are even worse.

[SincereTheRebel]

Everton has agreed on a £27.5m transfer fee, potentially rising to £36.6m with Juventus for Moise Kean.

[mugbull]

Juve giving up on him that early?

[SincereTheRebel]

Maybe they see him as Balotelli/Cassano 2.0

[bruhnaldo]

I had this thought re: Dybala/Lukaku.

I think United are in for Dybala, it's a perfect signing for them let's be honest (and by them I mean Woodward/Glazers and the folk obsessed with ramen noodle sponsorships).

What I don't think is that Juventus are in for Lukaku. Why would they want Lukaku, exactly? He's really not that good, and sure, Juventus will win Serie A by November, but what purpose would that serve them to have him?

I look at it like this. I think Juventus and United have basically agreed to a fee for Dybala or are likely very close to doing so.

Juventus and United both realize that Inter paying a higher fee for Lukaku is beneficial to both parties. Juventus have somewhat of a tradition of trying to jack up fees for players they don't actually want to cost their Italian rivals as much as possible.

As such, while Dybala ponders his future, they're leaking these swap rumors to try and con Inter in ponying up the cash up front.

This is a flimsy theory but anyways.

[Danny]

Juve giving up on him that early?

I read they are putting a buyback in the agreement.

[bruhnaldo]

Di Marzio supposedly saying we're close to Bruno now.

Sign Bruno.
Sell Pogba.
Sign Dybala.
Sell Lukaku.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've never really gotten the hype around Dybala, I haven't seen much but he's never impressed.

[mugbull]

I've never really gotten the hype around Dybala, I haven't seen much but he's never impressed.

That’s kinda how I’ve always felt about Griezmann, but I’ve never had confidence in my opinions on the subject to voice them

[randomlegend]

Di Marzio supposedly saying we're close to Bruno now.

Sign Bruno.
Sell Pogba.
Sign Dybala.
Sell Lukaku.

We're thin as hell in midfield, no chance Bruno relies on selling Pogba. Milenkovic-savic will be the target if Pogba goes by the sounds of things.

[randomlegend]

I've never really gotten the hype around Dybala, I haven't seen much but he's never impressed.

The season before Ronaldo came in Dybala was really, really good.

[Pepe]

After thinking about it, Crespo was probably shit too. We might have to go as far as Batistuta.

[SincereTheRebel]

I've never really gotten the hype around Dybala, I haven't seen much but he's never impressed.

Left footed attackning players with flair. The rarest kind

[Pepe]

He isnt a striker though, he plays the number 10 role.

Messi> Riquelme >Dybala > Aimar > Ortega >

Who am I missing?

D'Alessandro and Gallardo. Then you get into the modern wankers, who are not even worth mentioning.

[bruhnaldo]

Truth be told Dybala is one of those players who I've watched maybe 10 times but never once came away thinking "wow, what a player" but constantly hear about how good he is from the internet.

[niko_cee]

I reckon that Bruno chap will be a decent signing for whoever picks him up.

Can't see Pogba going, who is going to get near what United want for him? PSG if someone coughs up for Neymar? Barcelona if someone coughs up for Coutinho? Real Madrid if someone gives them £85m for Bale? :roflol:

[Giggles]

Any chance there's a PL or decent Championship club that would give Troy Parrot a good look on a season loan?

[Spikey M]

He's a decent chance of playing back up to Kane this season, so I'd imagine he'll stay put.

[Giggles]

That would be even better.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves have officially signed Patrick Corleone from AC Milan. I know nothing about him, so I’m dubbing him an Inzaghi regen into he proves otherwise.

[mugbull]

If Troy Parrott takes Llorente’s spot in the squad then we’re fucked

[randomlegend]

Parrot looked very promising against United the other night. Was really impressed.

[Spikey M]

He's looked good all pre-season. Plus there's Son and Moura to step in of he's not quite up to it.

[Pen]

Truth be told Dybala is one of those players who I've watched maybe 10 times but never once came away thinking "wow, what a player" but constantly hear about how good he is from the internet.

He did score 26 goals in the season before the last one. I have no idea if he’d be a success in England, but I’d be keen on swapping him for Lukaku. These swap deals happen like once a decade though, so I’m not holding my breath.

[randomlegend]

He did score 26 goals in the season before the last one. I have no idea if he’d be a success in England, but I’d be keen on swapping him for Lukaku. These swap deals happen like once a decade though, so I’m not holding my breath.

It actually looks like it's happening. Sky Italy reporting the swap is agreed, just waiting on Dybala to agree terms with Utd.

[Smjffy]

:harold:

Basically not happening then, yeah? Same as Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

[randomlegend]

Maguire is definitely happening. Players from Portugal it's fucking impossible to know because their media just spam bullshit constantly.

[mugbull]

This whole summer you've been acting like an American fan who's experiencing his first ever transfer window

[randomlegend]

You've all basically spent the whole window screaming "STOOP HAVIIIING FUUUUUUN" at me. You can all chortle my balls.

[Lewis]

Dickhead Eric Bailly getting yet another injury buys Phil Jones another year, so some centre-back had better be happening.

[randomlegend]

The Maguire transfer basically looks like it's one end of a little chain of CB moves, including Dunk to Leicester and Adam Webster (who?) to Brighton. Really think it'll happen.

[Max Power]

As ever it seems people are trying to complicate transfers. Manchester United will sign Harry Maguire if they meet the asking price. They haven’t yet, so he ain’t going.

I feel they will get desperate and meet it but also Rodgers has said we have set a deadline before the actual transfer deadline as we don’t want to be scrambling to buy a replacement so United probably need to get a move on. Don’t think “Adam Webster” or whoever has anything to do with it.

[randomlegend]

Leicester wanting Dunk as a replacement and Brighton wanting a replacement for Dunk is entirely believable.

[Shindig]

It's like house buying but with more dominoes. And less money.

[phonics]

As ever it seems people are trying to complicate transfers. Manchester United will sign Harry Maguire if they meet the asking price. They haven’t yet, so he ain’t going.

I feel they will get desperate and meet it but also Rodgers has said we have set a deadline before the actual transfer deadline as we don’t want to be scrambling to buy a replacement so United probably need to get a move on. Don’t think “Adam Webster” or whoever has anything to do with it.

I want you to play that Turkish guy just to confirm whether we dodged a bullet or fucked another transfer up.

Speaking of Leicester, anyone see this going round the other day? :D

https://i.imgur.com/snLYK5d.png

[Max Power]

I want you to play that Turkish guy just to confirm whether we dodged a bullet or fucked another transfer up.
He looks like a bit of a laugh. Shit hair, striding out of defence and pinging crossfield balls. But definite bomb scare in the brief minutes we’ve seen thus far. Would rather give him and Benkovic a go than spend a huge chunk of the £90m Maguire fed (if United grasp the idea that this is the price and they have to meet it) this window.

[Spoonsky]

What's up with the influx of Italians to the Premier League?

[phonics]

Leicester wanting Dunk as a replacement and Brighton wanting a replacement for Dunk is entirely believable.

I wonder what the longest chain you could make is. Off the top of my head the best I can do is 4. Ozil to Arsenal funds Bale to Madrid funds Dempsey+Dembele to Tottenham which funds Berbatov to Fulham.

[phonics]

What's up with the influx of Italians to the Premier League?

https://www.premierleague.com/news/1213395

I see Cutrone to Wolves and no-one else?

[phonics]

He looks like a bit of a laugh. Shit hair, striding out of defence and pinging crossfield balls. But definite bomb scare in the brief minutes we’ve seen thus far. Would rather give him and Benkovic a go than spend a huge chunk of the £90m Maguire fed (if United grasp the idea that this is the price and they have to meet it) this window.

Just get both the Brighton CBs and make them watch Morgan/Huth videos all day.

[Bernanke]

What's up with the influx of Italians to the Premier League?

New tax rules in Italy which mean that if you live for two years abroad and return you get a massive tax break. So an exodus of Italian players looking to return to Serie A in a couple of years. Read claims that it is one of the reasons both Ronaldo and Ramsey went to Juve as well.

[bruhnaldo]

So Cristiano is going to leave Juve and then come back for a tax break?

[phonics]

So Cristiano is going to leave Juve and then come back for a tax break?

He's conflating two tax breaks. The one mentioned is to get Italians who have money abroad to come back (my mates Dad has been wanting to move back to Sardinia but was unwilling to take the 35% tax to repatriate), there's a seperate one for foreigners earning over x amount that gives them a tax break if they base their affairs in Italy.

[bruhnaldo]

Ahhh ok my bad. Thanks bub.

[SincereTheRebel]

Dickhead Eric Bailly getting yet another injury buys Phil Jones another year, so some centre-back had better be happening.

Still time for FEC to show us it isn't all bullshit.

[Mazuuurk]

16m for Cutrone seems an absolute steal. Isn't he meant to be Italys next big striker basically?

Why are Milan selling?

[SincereTheRebel]

16m for Cutrone seems an absolute steal. Isn't he meant to be Italys next big striker basically?

Why are Milan selling?

Financial Fair Play Regulations

[Ian]

I only read it recently, but there is a good Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/oct/22/manchester-united-liverpool-class-of-92-spice-boys-eric-cantona) read from a few years ago about United and Liverpool in the nineties that covers that stuff well.

I'm working my way through this article in bits and pieces but it's really good.

Does anybody on here read The Blizzard regularly?

[Mazuuurk]

Financial Fair Play Regulations

Who have they spent so much on? And if that's the issue, why sell so cheap? I feel like that player is more proven than for instance Moise Keen, who is only a few years younger but twice the price almost? It still seems insanely cheap to me.

[SincereTheRebel]

Who have they spent so much on? And if that's the issue, why sell so cheap? I feel like that player is more proven than for instance Moise Keen, who is only a few years younger but twice the price almost? It still seems insanely cheap to me.

The last three years they have spent £388m somehow. In the same time, they have recouped £138.

[Mazuuurk]

What the fuck. Somehow is the word.

That is some seriously fucking up in the market, then.

[Mazuuurk]

Looking a bit at it, they bought Bonucci from Juventus for 37M and then sold him back one year later for 31M.

What the fuck. Italy, man.

[SincereTheRebel]

The £20m here and £30m there adds up faster than you think. For the past three years, they have bought at least six players per season for £15m or more :cab:

[mugbull]

Cutrone isn’t very good, he had a solid few months about 2 years ago but no one expects him to be a class player anymore

[Mazuuurk]

Yup. That strategy always seems to be the absolute best way to financial ruin without at least getting some Silverware on the way.

Always better to buy one star player for 80M than 3 mid-tier players for 25M each...

See what happened with Spurs when they sold Bale, for instance.

[Spikey M]

Yup. That strategy always seems to be the absolute best way to financial ruin without at least getting some Silverware on the way.

Always better to buy one star player for 80M than 3 mid-tier players for 25M each...

See what happened with Spurs when they sold Bale, for instance.

They transformed their squad and ended up in a Champions League final?

[SincereTheRebel]

Can Bale take credit for that though? He was sold six years ago...

[Spikey M]

They hadn't signed anyone for 2 years prior to this summer and when you consider that their Net Spend is generally one of the lowest in the league I think you can point to Bales £90m having a ripple effect for a good few years.

[bruhnaldo]

Cutrone isn’t very good, he had a solid few months about 2 years ago but no one expects him to be a class player anymore

Strange because I saw Milan folk on twitter losing their shit about how could they do this to a kid who was supposed to becom the next great one club man or some shit lol

I'm not saying you're wrong it's just funny how there's such a difference of opinion all the time.

[niko_cee]

I saw some folk on twitter?

Is that any levels up from comment sections?

[Dave.]

They transformed their squad and ended up in a Champions League final?

Spurs spent all of the Bale money in the summer he left the club. Only two of these players (Eriksen and Lamela) are still at the club while some of their signings that summer contributed next to nothing to the teams results - Soldado etc.

[bruhnaldo]

I saw some folk on twitter?

Is that any levels up from comment sections?

What's the difference between the opinions of people on here than other people on a different social media platform, exactly?

Especially when they're folk who basically dedicate their accounts to talking about specific football clubs?

What a strange response.

[mugbull]

I’ve never watched him play, I’ve just heard this from a bunch of Milan fans the past 3 months

[Smjffy]

Spurs spent all of the Bale money in the summer he left the club. Only two of these players (Eriksen and Lamela) are still at the club while some of their signings that summer contributed next to nothing to the teams results - Soldado etc.

Chadli reached double figures the following season tbf. Capoue went on to be a Premier League regular but the one that sticks out after a little look is Paulinho. Definitely dodge.

Tottenham buy him for just under £17m, then they sell him to China for £10m, Barcelona sign him for £36M, he does the double with them before being loaned back to China less than a year later, then six months after that they Chinese snap him up again for £37m. Suspect as fuck.

[Reg]

I'm working my way through this article in bits and pieces but it's really good.

Does anybody on here read The Blizzard regularly?
Yeah, it's good. I haven't got a copy for a while but have listened to the podcasts recently (just a guy reading the articles). There was an interview with Alex Ferguson in one of the early issues, that's worth checking out.

[Spikey M]

Spurs spent all of the Bale money in the summer he left the club. Only two of these players (Eriksen and Lamela) are still at the club while some of their signings that summer contributed next to nothing to the teams results - Soldado etc.

And the sales of the useless players were invested again. The core of the side was built within 3 years of Bale going.

[randomlegend]

Utd have signed Hannibal Mejbri, an extremely highly rated 16 year old midfielder who we've been after for ages. 10m euros.

[Waffdon]

Cheers mate

[Shindig]

I look forward to seeing him move on a free transfer at 20.

[SvN]

To Newcastle on 90k per week, having made 3 appearences in the League Cup.

[Shindig]

Optimistic.

[SvN]

*West Ham

[Spikey M]

Sunderland used to be the Man Utd dump, didn't it?

[Spoonsky]

Strange because I saw Milan folk on twitter losing their shit about how could they do this to a kid who was supposed to becom the next great one club man or some shit lol

I'm not saying you're wrong it's just funny how there's such a difference of opinion all the time.

I think outside of Juve the levels of expectation in Italy are pretty far from those in the Premier League. There's no way Cutrone is the next great Italian striker.

[Lewis]

Utd have signed Hannibal Mejbri, an extremely highly rated 16 year old midfielder who we've been after for ages. 10m euros.

Exciting. On a similar note, Zoran Tosic is thirty-two. Where does the time go.

[Mazuuurk]

They transformed their squad and ended up in a Champions League final?

That same summer they bought Lamela and Soldado for 30M each, Paulinho for 20m, Eriksen for 13M (that, admittedly, was a bargain), Capoue for 11M, Vlad Chiriches and Nacer Chadli for about 9M each.

Now I may remember it wrongly, but I think they were doing quite shit in the league after that. But I may be wrong :sorry:


The principle in general never seems to work. Like when Arsenal sold Van Persie and 30 goals per year and replaced it with "not bad but not star" players, like Mertesacker and Arteta.

[Spikey M]

That same summer they bought Lamela and Soldado for 30M each, Paulinho for 20m, Eriksen for 13M (that, admittedly, was a bargain), Capoue for 11M, Vlad Chiriches and Nacer Chadli for about 9M each.

Now I may remember it wrongly, but I think they were doing quite shit in the league after that. But I may be wrong :sorry:


The principle in general never seems to work. Like when Arsenal sold Van Persie and 30 goals per year and replaced it with "not bad but not star" players, like Mertesacker and Arteta.

My point is that even after buying a load of shite, they sold them off and recycled the money again. Without Bale going for what was a huge sum at the time you don't get the squad they have right now.

[Andy]

Most of their success has come from Pochettino, Kane, Alli and Eriksen who they signed for a combined fee of about 20m.

In recent times they've had more success than failures but there was a time most the transfers in were shite.

[Spikey M]

Alderweireld and Son too.

[-james-]

This Lukaku for Dybala swap deal, if true, is somehow a terrible deal for both clubs.

[Ian]

I'm sure I must have seen Dybala play at some point but I can't pretend to recall if I have.

[-james-]

I think he's fairly inconsistent, and that's in Serie A where he's played his whole career. Strikes me as the opposite of what United need.

[Ian]

Another pacey attacker who is either really good or basically absent and never anything in between?

Awesome.

[Giggles]

One team loses a Lukaku and one teams gains a Lukaku, so it's not a terrible deal for the former.