Summer 2021 Plane Tracking Thread

[Jimmy Floyd]

If PSG or City had a Champions League in them, it would've happened by now.

More likely it will happen every year for the next 20 once the other supposed mega-clubs get left behind.

[Baz]

At least we don’t have to worry about fitting a 14.0 player into our FPL teams

[7om]

I can’t help but think that if Messi had anything about him he’d have come to the Premiership. Who cares if he goes to France and bangs in 4 per game against the likes of Auxerre and Montpellier and whoever the fuck.

[Baz]

Ronaldo, probably.

[Ian]

Romano giving it the HERE WE GO (@Spikey M).

The most boring outcome for all involved.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can’t help but think that if Messi had anything about him he’d have come to the Premiership. Who cares if he goes to France and bangs in 4 per game against the likes of Auxerre and Montpellier and whoever the fuck.

I doubt Messi has any say in any of this. Too much money riding on him for him to have any agency.

[7om]

Sky Sports saying Messi has signed a two year contract. 25m net per year plus bonuses and a 25m quid signing on fee. Those were tears of joy the other day.

[Gray Fox]

Donnarumma, Ramos, Wijnaldum and Messi for free. Hakimi in and supposedly looking at Hernandez for left back.

Smallpockets is perhaps the luckiest manager alive.

[Lewis]

There was a good letter on Football 365 floating this all being a work. He wanted to leave regardless, and Barcelona wanted his wages either gone or significantly reduced, so they cooked this bullshit up between them so that neither gets murdered by the fans. All that was missing was the Bash at the Beach promo.

[randomlegend]

There was a good letter on Football 365 floating this all being a work. He wanted to leave regardless, and Barcelona wanted his wages either gone or significantly reduced, so they cooked this bullshit up between them so that neither gets murdered by the fans. All that was missing was the Bash at the Beach promo.

Tebas would come out in an instant and shoot this down if that's what Barca were trying to pull.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It sounded to me like Barcelona genuinely spent the whole time thinking it would be alright on the night, or some higher power would come and bail them out.

[Lewis]

Griezmann laying down for the pin, Laporta throwing a new contract at him.

'Is this your deal Laporta?'

[randomlegend]

It sounded to me like Barcelona genuinely spent the whole time thinking it would be alright on the night, or some higher power would come and bail them out.

Yes. They thought La Liga would give in and let them register Messi despite being over the salary cap. They thought La Liga would see his loss as too big a hit to the league's marketability and wouldn't allow it to happen.

Surprisedpikachu.jpeg

[Gray Fox]

Barcelona should 100% have wanted rid.

As great as he has been, he was now at the point of causing more trouble than he is worth there. No manager(even Josep) could ever take him on at the club and win, so Messi held all of the cards and he knows it.

He's 34 years old. At this point he should be reducing his contract to help out the team he supposedly loves so much, never mind being on over twice the next best player. So you're either giving him a multi-year deal on stupid wages, or every year he does a 1 year extension with this circus starting up again.

[Manc]

Am I correct in thinking Amazon have just secured the TV rights for Ligue 1 on a bargain basis?

[randomlegend]

Barcelona should 100% have wanted rid.

As great as he has been, he was now at the point of causing more trouble than he is worth there. No manager(even Josep) could ever take him on at the club and win, so Messi held all of the cards and he knows it.

He's 34 years old. At this point he should be reducing his contract to help out the team he supposedly loves so much, never mind being on over twice the next best player. So you're either giving him a multi-year deal on stupid wages, or every year he does a 1 year extension with this circus starting up again.

He'd agreed to half his wages hadn't he?

[Gray Fox]

He'd agreed to half his wages hadn't he?

He could have done so months ago and avoided this issue(remember he wanted to flat out leave last year), but I think he only did that after it was too late anyway.

If as you say, Barcelona knew this day was coming and just thought that "Mes Que un Club" would have the league ignoring the rules for them, then this is everything they deserve.

Any news on if they can actually keep the likes of Aguero and Depay properly yet?

[randomlegend]

They still can't register them, no

[Jimmy Floyd]

Am I correct in thinking Amazon have just secured the TV rights for Ligue 1 on a bargain basis?

BT have it in the UK, so as a big Metz fan I'm ok for now.

[Giggles]

Barcelona should 100% have wanted rid.

As great as he has been, he was now at the point of causing more trouble than he is worth there. No manager(even Josep) could ever take him on at the club and win, so Messi held all of the cards and he knows it.

He's 34 years old. At this point he should be reducing his contract to help out the team he supposedly loves so much, never mind being on over twice the next best player. So you're either giving him a multi-year deal on stupid wages, or every year he does a 1 year extension with this circus starting up again.

Jokes on you. Did you not see the tear show?

[Lewis]

He'd agreed to half his wages hadn't he?

Over five years, so not really.

[randomlegend]

Tier 1 for Tottenham saying he might sign a new contract :cab: Only thing you can imagine would make him do that would be to insert a release clause, but why would Tottenham offer that when he's on a long-term contract already?

[Spikey M]

1425080252825485339?s=19

:happycry:

[Spikey M]

Now I know how Niko feels :(

[Manc]

Messi reportedly taking home €35m a year. I'd love to see the books at PSG.

[Spikey M]

Tier 1 for Tottenham saying he might sign a new contract :cab: Only thing you can imagine would make him do that would be to insert a release clause, but why would Tottenham offer that when he's on a long-term contract already?

It's probably the contract he should have signed in the first place, including success based clauses and a release clause for if that success is not forthcoming.

It makes sense for Spurs if it keeps him happy in the short term and it works for Kane because a) when Spurs win nothing he can leave for a set price and b) he can pretend he hasn't spent the last 2 weeks being a petulant little shit that wants to leave.

[Spikey M]

Messi reportedly taking home €35m a year. I'd love to see the books at PSG.

Saw earlier that the French League basically has no FFP rules. It's UEFA that are going to take a shit on them if they don't shift a load of players to balance it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Except UEFA clearly aren't going to take a shit on them as something has made Ceferin pivot towards Qatari money in the last couple of years.

[Spikey M]

Please read "are going to" as "fucking well should (but won't)".

[Jimmy Floyd]

They were hard at them a couple of years ago. Something has clearly changed in UEFA politics.

[Don]

Tammy to Arsenal? They're so fucked :D

[Gray Fox]

Jokes on you. Did you not see the tear show?

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/476466012024340483/874055459424837752/E8TJDR3X0AIgcCP.png

[randomlegend]

They were hard at them a couple of years ago. Something has clearly changed in UEFA politics.

Yes, FFP is suspended because of covid.

PSG are taking the opportunity to spend whatever the fuck they want to win something now and accepting they might get in trouble when it comes back

[niko_cee]

Wijnaldum is probably going to have to get through at least twice the work (if he gets a game) that he did at Liverpool to compensate for the lack of any defensive work Neymar and Messi are going to be putting in.

I guess it's a good job they have a solid 'keeper.

[Gray Fox]

I can't help but feel Navas is criminally underrated as a top keeper.

Gini wont know what's hit him. He's gone from arguably the single most hard working LW/LB combo on his side to one that will offer almost nothing.

That said, they'll only play a good team about 6 times a year.

[SincereTheRebel]

343 to fit them all in?

Navas
Marquinhos-Ramos-Kimpembe
Hakimi-Wijnaldum-Veratti-Di Maria
Mbappe-Messi-Neymar

[Waffdon]

I presume they’ll play 3 at the back otherwise signing Hakimi would be a bit pointless

[Gray Fox]

Messi wearing 30 seems quite strange to see.

[Giggles]

What was it, 16? Who has that at PSG now then.

[Waffdon]

His first number I’m fairly sure

[Don]

Gini and some random Arab to provide all the running in a side? They'll be raped by top sides.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, pretty sure I have a Messi 30 shirt from when he first came on the scene and wasn't part of the official 25 man squad.

[Danny]

Yep, 30 back in the day.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/lionel-messi/rueckennummern/spieler/28003

[randomlegend]

343 to fit them all in?

Navas
Marquinhos-Ramos-Kimpembe
Hakimi-Wijnaldum-Veratti-Di Maria
Mbappe-Messi-Neymar

Di Maria as a wing back :lol:

[Waffdon]

Hardly the craziest shout.

[randomlegend]

Di Maria has the body type of an anorexic teenage girl and offers about as much defensively.

If you think you're getting away with a wing-back who doesn't defend when you've already got Messi, Neymar and Mbappe who do absolutely zero defensively then you're bonkers.

[Manc]

A central defensive partnership of Ramos and Kimpembe is about as rash as it gets. They'll win nothing of note.

[Waffdon]

Di Maria has the body type of an anorexic teenage girl and offers about as much defensively.

If you think you're getting away with a wing-back who doesn't defend when you've already got Messi, Neymar and Mbappe who do absolutely zero defensively then you're bonkers.

Sure that’s an issue against half the French teams. He’s a workhorse and decent defensively anyway, there’s a reason Mourinho loved him.

[Lewis]

Dire Maria is one of the grafters in midfield either side of that Italian, like he was in his last season at Madrid.

[Don]

How the fook is the Kane transfer not gone through yet? I mean I'm not complaining as it'll help us establish a nice cushion in the title race before it does go through but there's surely fuck all chance City are going into the season with Jesus as their only forward.

[Lewis]

All of the official PSG graphics are referring to him as 'Leo Messi', which he hasn't generally gone by since about 2006. Why?

[Gray Fox]

https://i.imgur.com/BP3F9jv.jpg

I remember you could get him for less that £10m if you tried immediately.

[Lewis]

I think 'balance' might be the lollest stat there.

[Pepe]

Composure spot on. :eyemouth:

[Baz]

That skin is so much better than FM21.

[niko_cee]

PSG will be in pot 2 for the Champions League this year won't they? Be pretty lol if they get City in the groups. Make it happen. Some absolute gak in pot 1 by comparison.

[-james-]

Just clocked that Sheriff Tiraspol are two games against Dinamo Zagreb away from getting into the group stage. Scenes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was just making the same Wikipedia journey as you and ended up on their squad page. What a kaleidoscope of talent that is. 17 different nations represented.

[Waffdon]

The Pot 1 looks absolutely horrendous. City will still draw Shakhtar home and away 3 times though

[randomlegend]

Vestergaard to Leicester for £25m looking likely. Bid accepted.

[niko_cee]

Check out the power of Arsenal social media with the BBC favourite striker thing [although perhaps the final was a series of well staged match ups]. Think I only followed it up to the last 16. Bergkamp over Cantona I'm not sure about, and Bergkamp over Aguero is just plain lol.

[Lofty]

Almost like one of the people he was up against was a polarising figure amongst neutral fans and the other's legacy was at a soulless petrodollar club.

[phonics]

Arsenal Twitter is undefeated. Got Jack Wilshere a goal of the season so mediocre they stopped using public voting to decide it.

[Baz]

Kane to City done :happycry:

£127m?

[Manc]

Leeds leaving it late to tie down Bielsa for another year.

[randomlegend]

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/08/12/romelu-lukaku-comes-home?cardIndex=0-0

Here we go!

[Baz]

Did they not have his size?

[Danny]

Comes home? Funny looking Anderlecht shirt.

[Shindig]

Aye, his old size from when he first left.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He wants his muscles to POP.

[randomlegend]

Lukaku on between 325 and 450 grand a week depending on bonuses hit. Jaysus.

Honestly think he'll look no better than he did at United. Italian league is piss poor.

[randomlegend]

https://www.transfermarkt.com/chelsea-return-confirmed-lukaku-surpasses-neymar-as-most-expensive-player-in-history/view/news/390772
Lewis (I think)

[Giggles]

Lukaku on between 325 and 450 grand a week depending on bonuses hit. Jaysus.

Honestly think he'll look no better than he did at United. Italian league is piss poor.

Did he not slim down and become less of a lumbering mess at Inter?

[Waffdon]

Comes home? Funny looking Anderlecht shirt.

1425869210413146115

Based on that probably

[Waffdon]

Lukaku on between 325 and 450 grand a week depending on bonuses hit. Jaysus.

Honestly think he'll look no better than he did at United. Italian league is piss poor.

He scored over 20 goals every season after he signed for Everton. I’m sure he’ll be fine, he’ll score for fun based on the chances Chelsea were missing last year.

[Giggles]

Where does it leave Werner anyway? He always seemed to be the type that once it clicked he’d score for fun.

[Waffdon]

Probably plays off the left and cover for Lukaku. Might play alongside Lukaku as that’s where he had most success in Germany alongside a big striker

[randomlegend]

He scored over 20 goals every season after he signed for Everton. I’m sure he’ll be fine, he’ll score for fun based on the chances Chelsea were missing last year.

Yeah, I'm sure he will be "fine". But I don't think he'll be one of the best few players in the league which is absolutely what they should be expecting for the money they've paid.

I think there'll be a whole lot of Chelsea fans at the end of the season saying "Yeah he's good, but...".

[Baz]

Where does it leave Werner anyway?

Offside somewhere, probably.

[Lewis]

How many of those chances Chelsea were missing were created by the guy eventually missing them not letting it bounce off his shins in the build-up?

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he doesn't get operationed that'll do me. 25 in all comps. You can do it, Rom.

[randomlegend]

Being happy with spending £100m on a striker who scores 25 in all competitions is wild.

[Ian]

Caring about transfer fees if you support a fabulously wealthy club is pretty wild too.

[Kikó]

25 goals is pretty good for a forward .

[Spikey M]

RL is right, he's not worth all those hard earned pounds that are going to come out of Jimmy's bank accout.

[Gray Fox]

If he doesn’t work out they’ll just spend that again on Haaland next year.

As long as Roman is running the show they can make win-now signings like this all they want.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't want Haaland. Looking at his face makes me feel ill.

[niko_cee]

Haaland surely goes to City next summer when they don't buy Kane this year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Imagine my surprise when I turned the golf on last night to be greeted by a grainy recorded message from Harry Kane, congratulating floundering 40-something pro Justin Rose on winning the 'Payne Stewart Award'. RL will be tracking Kane's flights I'm sure but I hope the cockpit hasn't depressurised already.

[SvN]

The Haaland saga next summer is going to be so fucking boring.

[Luke Emia]

The Haaland saga next summer is going to be so fucking boring.

With that agent for sure. But, I can see there being several of them next summer Mbappe & Pogba spring to mind as well.

[Baz]

Mbappe’s already signed for Real Madrid if you believe Tier S sources, with Ronaldo going to PSG to replace him. :drool:

[Ian]

PSG having Ronaldo and Messi would be like me on CM in the late 90s when all the famous player started becoming free agents and I'd hoover them up for United and the team would die on its arse.

[Manc]

1425711767850782721?s=20

[Spikey M]

:D Jesus

[Lofty]

More footballers dressed as mega paedos for signing announcements please.

[randomlegend]

1426126916629770240

Odegaard to Arsenal looking quite likely.

[Lofty]

Cheaper than Maddison, more of a known quantity than Aouar, right age profile. Hopefully sorted soon.

[Don]

He'll become a phenomenal player once he manages to actually do anything of consequence on the pitch beside living off his rep.

[Lofty]

If you watched any of him he is already a tidy player on and off the ball just hasn't set the world alight at Madrid, mainly because he never gets the minutes. High potential ceiling still, worst case scenario he is competent back up for Smith-Rowe.

[randomlegend]

Had an excellent season at Sociedad by all accounts as well

[Lofty]

Willock to Newcastle done.

[Gray Fox]

This surge of new contracts is being done rather quickly. Alisson, Trent, Virgil, Fabinho and Elliott. There's just the tough decision of the front 3 left.

[niko_cee]

I believe the logic is Salah will be the final new contract announced as he will be paid the most so you have to do that last to stop everyone from asking for parity.

Didn't realise they were all contracted to 2023 though.

[Manc]

Salah is a must.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds like it might be Henderson next actually.

Klopp has also confirmed that Elliott wont be available for loan, likely reducing our need to buy a new CM and also went on a bit of a rant. He's essentially said he cant buy with numbers as they are, so confirming you'd have to see a couple leave before anything could really happen.

[randomlegend]

Varane transfer fucking FINALLY confirmed.

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/raphael-varane-completes-transfer-from-real-madrid-to-manchester-united

[Lewis]

Are they going to parade him around the pitch at half-time with a scarf like in the olden days?

[randomlegend]

Are they going to parade him around the pitch at half-time with a scarf like in the olden days?

They are doing it now.

[randomlegend]

Are they going to parade him around the pitch at half-time with a scarf like in the olden days?

https://i.redd.it/4q7ao5q87bh71.jpg

:thbup:

[Lewis]

Doing it pre-match is a bit small time, like he's some washed-up Italian joining a bottom half side twenty years ago.

[randomlegend]

I did think the same but I suppose it's a cool thing for the fans being back in the stadium for the first time in months.

[randomlegend]

Doing it pre-match is a bit small time, like he's some washed-up Italian joining a bottom half side twenty years ago.

These boys are back:

https://i.imgur.com/rpcJHWe.jpeg

:cool:

[Lewis]

If that's the old crew then they might be the signing of the summer.

[Gray Fox]

Barcelona have announced today that Gerard Pique was their big hero. He has taken the massive pay cut which has now allowed them to register Depay and Eric Garcia ahead of their game against Sociedad this weekend.

La Liga has now come out and said they're chatting bollocks, the players cases are merely being reviewed.

[Lewis]

MASSIVE respect for Phil Jones if he really refused to give up his squad number. Fuck off you French cunt.

[Vercetti]

I thought he'd gurned himself to death, to be honest.

[Waffdon]

What’s Mourinho playing at wanting Tammy Abraham and why are Roma paying up to €40m for him? Chelsea must have made back near enough the Lukaku fee on deadwood and youth players

[randomlegend]

1426654772069900291

Looks to be a done deal. Can't understand what they are playing at either.

And yeah, Chelsea have now fully covered the Lukaku fee with outgoings.

[-james-]

They've clearly just looked at Lukaku's career history and thought hmm, 20 goal a season striker and we get double the fee back in a few years time, dece.

[Lewis]

I think he will be quite good there, but I'm not sure how Chelsea have held out for that amount unless another English team was seriously in for him.

[randomlegend]

They've clearly just looked at Lukaku's career history and thought hmm, 20 goal a season striker and we get double the fee back in a few years time, dece.

Even then he's only ever scored >20 goals in a season twice and both of those were in the Championship. He did get 15 in 34 league games for Chelsea one season which is decent I guess.

[randomlegend]

I think he will be quite good there, but I'm not sure how Chelsea have held out for that amount unless another English team was seriously in for him.

Arsenal were weren't they?

[niko_cee]

What’s Mourinho playing at wanting Tammy Abraham and why are Roma paying up to €40m for him? Chelsea must have made back near enough the Lukaku fee on deadwood and youth players

If ever you needed convincing that a large amount of football transfer business was basically an organised crime operation, you simply have to look at the business Chelsea do. How much did China pay for Ramires again [without even needing to get into the Oscar business]? Yeah, well connected.

£150m for Hazard was it, with a year left on his contract?

Completely on the level.

:happycry:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The David Luiz transfer(s) were criminal as fuck. As for Roma paying 40 million euros for Tammy Abraham, that's, well, last days of Rome stuff. Presumably the visigoths are at the gates.

[randomlegend]

Chelsea have an 80m euro buyback clause which can be triggered after two seasons.

Lol.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Complete FFP fix then, like a loan with benefits.

[randomlegend]

RTP (one of the better Portuguese sources, although none of them are great) reporting City are after Ronaldo.

Honestly think that would be a better move for them than Kane. Take Ronaldo on a 1-2 year contract and then go all out for Haaland next summer. If they buy Kane then Haaland is off the table for them (not because they couldn't afford him, but because there's no way either of them would be happy being second fiddle to the other and City won't play 2 strikers).

[Don]

If they have both, I'm sure Pep won't need to think too hard to find a way of accommodating both, particularly as Kane is well on the way to making the Rooney transition to deep-lying useless wanker.

One thing is for certain, Pep's on tilt with the fans back and the media questioning the finances of the club and it's going to be beautiful to see the meltdown.

[randomlegend]

Having said all that, Aguirre who is extremely close to Ronaldo (he literally went on his valentine's day date with him wtf) said this morning that Ancelotti has been in touch trying to convince him to go back to Madrid.

Ancelotti has directly refuted this on his personal twitter :D What a world.

[randomlegend]

If they have both, I'm sure Pep won't need to think too hard to find a way of accommodating both, particularly as Kane is well on the way to making the Rooney transition to deep-lying useless wanker.

One thing is for certain, Pep's on tilt with the fans back and the media questioning the finances of the club and it's going to be beautiful to see the meltdown.

I suppose he could try Kane as a 10, but Pep pretty much ONLY plays his 4-3-3 doesn't he? Or did he do something else at Bayern?

[-james-]

Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Man City is never happening. I don't give a fuck about your tiers. Horse shit.

[randomlegend]

Odegaard to Arsenal is close.

[Lofty]

Hopefully it is done and stops this Coutinho nonsense.

[randomlegend]

€35m. That's a great buy.

[Don]

Naaaaat.

[randomlegend]

You are so boringly predictable.

[Spikey M]

Taz has had a bad 2021. Hopefully he can turn it around and stand a chance in Offy's Award Fred.

[Don]

Listen man, I'm all for throwing some hands where possible but are you his sibling or something? Calm the fuck down, you gimp :D

Edit: Here we go, Spikey on the tail.

Yev, mate, can you start the breakaway please? We'll focus on mental health priorities (and superior football knowledge).

[Gray Fox]

I thought you'd have Taz figured out by now. Show him a tick ting or a BLM youth and you've got his full attention. Or else he isn't interested.

[Offshore Toon]

Taz has had a bad 2021. Hopefully he can turn it around and stand a chance in Offy's Award Fred.
He should get a podium spot for Worst Arab.

[Don]

We're talking about a pure playmaker here, ain't nothing darker than my balls gonna cut it so the milkybar kid is ticking major boxes on aesthetics and racial categories. Unfortunately, it's absolutely clear as day he's got fuck all ability to make it at the top.

[randomlegend]

We're talking about a pure playmaker here, ain't nothing darker than my balls gonna cut it so the milkybar kid is ticking major boxes on aesthetics and racial categories. Unfortunately, it's absolutely clear as day he's got fuck all ability to make it at the top.

How does Pogba fit in with your "playmakers can't be black" thing? Given that's clearly what he is and you think he's brilliant?

[Don]

Jesus, it's a generale rule of thumb not a fucking 25-point plan, you backwards fuck.

But seriously, is there even a 2nd name on that list? Just shows how unique a talent Pogba is, I guess.

[Spikey M]

Ronaldinho

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had to stop reading whichever of the Secret Footballer books it was I was reading when he started saying it was widely agreed in the game that you couldn't play two black centre halves together. Just utter tripe.

[Spikey M]

Didi

I'm counting Zidane as well because the list is pretty thin and fuck you.

[randomlegend]

Jay-Jay Okocha.

[Lewis]

Taz has become better at pulling the strings since he became white, so there must be something in it.

[Lofty]

I had to stop reading whichever of the Secret Footballer books it was I was reading when he started saying it was widely agreed in the game that you couldn't play two black centre halves together. Just utter tripe.

Yeah that all black back 4 Arsenal rocked in 2004 were calamitous.

Odegaard is solid as a player now, has potential to set the world alight but even if he ticks over it is a good signing, he was injured during his half season loan last time round which didn't help.

[SincereTheRebel]

Batsman signed a new deal with Chelski until 2023 and is going to turkey on loan.

[randomlegend]

Pereira off on another fucking loan with option to buy (Flamengo this time). Look forward to him lighting up pre-season again for us in 11 months time.

Some low-tier chatter about Vlahovic to Man City and United being interested in Tchouameni.

[Manc]

Can we have a definitive tier list? Preferably colour coded.

Rennes picking up Baptiste Santamaria along with Sulemane & Bade is fantastic business. 8/1 for a top three finish or 25/1 to win (without PSG). Decent value.

[Waffdon]

Probably means Doku leaving you’d think.

[Manc]

Potentially. Hopefully they won't sell both him & Camavinga.

Lyon in absolute tatters. Aouar has to be saved from the wreckage.

[randomlegend]

https://theathletic.com/news/arsenal-reach-agreement-in-principle-worth-initial-24m-for-aaron-ramsdale/2WLLuMU91QG0?amp=1

I have no idea how good Ramsdale is, but this seems to be an OOFT.

[randomlegend]

Locatelli to Juve is official.

Fiorentina President reckons he won't pick up the phone for less than 100m euros for Vlahovic.

Milenkovic signed a new contract at Fiorentina after being linked to a load of Premier League clubs.

Atletico after Cunha apparently.

[Waffdon]

https://theathletic.com/news/arsenal-reach-agreement-in-principle-worth-initial-24m-for-aaron-ramsdale/2WLLuMU91QG0?amp=1

I have no idea how good Ramsdale is, but this seems to be an OOFT.

He is fucking awful. Relegated twice in a row, clearly looking for a hattrick. Idk what Arsenal are thinking

[Shindig]

Yeah, I don't rate him. Not the kind of bloke you want behind a jittery defence.

[SincereTheRebel]

I know we were in the middle of covid at the time but that Martinez sale still seems weird. He was the best goalkeeper when I saw him play compared to Leno. He should have got the no1 shirt after the FA Cup final.

[randomlegend]

Kenedy (Chelsea) also gone on loan with option to buy to Flamengo.

[Shindig]

So good we loaned him twice. :( How is he only 25?

[Kikó]

My knowledge of football seems particularly low as I have no idea who the players are mentioned on this page since RL mentioned Andreas.

[randomlegend]

You must know who Locatelli is. He was playing for Italy at the World Cup.

Milenkovic is a young centre back who's been linked to a whole load of Premier League clubs over the last year or so, including United. Looked like he was off to West Ham earlier in the window but never happened.

Vlahovic is the next wonderkid striker apparently.

Cunha random young Brazilian striker.

Kenedy is one of Chelsea's loan army; another Brazilian forward/winger.

[randomlegend]

Not that I imagine you care.

[Pepe]

Include CA and PA next time, please.

[randomlegend]

I am a transfer rumour aficionado, not a scout. Idiot.

[Kikó]

Locatelli and Kenedy I'll give you. The rest I'm properly out of the loop.

[Shindig]

I am a transfer rumour aficionado, not a scout. Idiot.

Aren't all paediatricians sort of scouts?

[Lofty]

I know we were in the middle of covid at the time but that Martinez sale still seems weird. He was the best goalkeeper when I saw him play compared to Leno. He should have got the no1 shirt after the FA Cup final.

Definitely but I think the club thought they were getting a decent fee for a half season wonder and Leno was their man. Now Leno is playing shite and wants to leave, which makes the Martinez deal look even worse. I would have always kept Martinez as he had been with the club so long and played so well, Leno was always an ok keeper but clearly doesn't like the role Pep Jr wants him to do.

At least with Ramsdale he is a young Englishman I suppose.

[Gray Fox]

Lewandowski has told Bayern he's ready for a new challenge. He doesn't necessarily want to move immediately, but does want to move to a club outside of Germany before he's 35.

[Andy]

Going to be such an anti climax when Haaland signs for Bayern.

[Manc]

Bayern seeking £110m. The striker market is well and truly broken.

[Spikey M]

So is this guys brain

1428253130509139968?s=19

[Baz]

City should just buy him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Moose? Probably better value than Kane.

[Lofty]

Odegaard has completed all the stuff for transfer apart from being officially announced as an Arsenal player apparently. Ramsdale deal as £26m with a potential £6m in add ons is likely to be done in time for Chelsea.

[Manc]

Fully confident that Ramsdale deal ends Arteta/Arsenal.

[Lofty]

To be fair the alternative was letting Edu and Kia give each other a hand shandy while rubberstamping a 20 year deal for Neto.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It is quite funny how modern fans react to 'underwhelming' British signings. If they'd signed Aarón Ramsdalio from Peñarol, the same fans would be cooing, having never seen him play, as opposed to disappointment or even anger at having seen him play largely competently with the odd mistake in the same culture and league as where he is going. Fans seem to want exotic signings for sake of it.

[Manc]

Alright, Allardyce.

[Ian]

Hasn't that been the case for decades? There are plenty of signings made of foreigners especially in the 90s I remember which seemed a lot more exciting than they eventually turned out to be just because we didn't know who the fuck they were or sort-of did but knew them only by reputation and wanted to see them play in "our" league.

Of course the unknown is going to be more interesting or exciting than signing a probably-alright goalie from The Mighty Blades.

[Spikey M]

Jimmy wants 11 Mark Nobles.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mark Noble is better than all the wank foreign midfielders West Ham have wasted tens of millions on during his spell at the club.

[Max Power]

Signing a goalkeeper with back to back relegations for £30m when you already have a number 1 and sold a better goalkeeper than both for half the price last year is an occasion where I would allow the arsenal fans a bit of a meltdown tbf.

Doesn’t seem like there’s much of a recruitment plan at that club at all.

[Gray Fox]

I was going to say, isn't Leno actually somewhat decent?

They're not in Europe or getting there any time soon so it can't be for squad requirements.

[Spikey M]

Signing a goalkeeper with back to back relegations for £30m when you already have a number 1 and sold a better goalkeeper than both for half the price last year is an occasion where I would allow the arsenal fans a bit of a meltdown tbf.

Doesn’t seem like there’s much of a recruitment plan at that club at all.

Atleast they've moved on from overpaying for Chelsea rejects. (Or are they still in for Tammy?)

[Jimmy Floyd]

Tammy has gone to Roma for 40 million smackers.

[Spikey M]

Ah, I missed that.

[Lofty]

I was going to say, isn't Leno actually somewhat decent?

They're not in Europe or getting there any time soon so it can't be for squad requirements.

Leno definitely does not like playing out from the back, and is unhappy at the club's decline in stature so is unlikely to renew his contract (final 2 years now). He has spoken about playing in the Champion's League, assume someone in the German set up has told him if he wants to be their number one he needs to sort his career out.

Even in pre season he has been wobbly.

Case in point about Leno not liking the system, Brentford. They played such an aggressive press it actually made sense to play short from the back and try and break it, but Leno actually bottled it early in the first half and told everyone to push out while he kicked it long.

[randomlegend]

Fab has gunned down the Tchouameni to United rumours already. Was fun for 12 hours.

German press are all saying the Lewandowski story is bollocks.

[Raoul Duke]

Leno is miles behind Neuer and Ter Stegen in the German pecking order, surely? I'm not sure why, of all the things their team needs, Arsenal have spent £30m on a sub keeper

[Lofty]

Almost like they know their 'number 1' (on paper anyway) wouldn't stay if they wanted him to so they 'sub keeper' will be starting sooner rather than later. Honestly if I was Arteta I'd start him this weekend.

Edit: Leno and Ter Stegen are both 29, Neuer is 35. Assuming Neuer retires after this world cup, Leno probably thinks if he goes to a big club in Germany he could supplant Ter Stegen.

[Don]

Brentford sign a 23 year-old Spanish international goalkeeper as their number 2 on a loan with option to buy. Arsenal spend £30m on Aaron Ramsdale. Levels.

[Giggles]

Mark Noble is a very solid player.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mark Noble is shit who is only thought of as "solid" because he's English.

[Ian]

He's obviously not shit.

[-james-]

Mark Noble is a very solid player.


Mark Noble is shit who is only thought of as "solid" because he's English.

Ah, the two genders.

[Spikey M]

I picked Mark Noble because he's the most Traditional English player I could think of. PASHUN, FIGHT, LOYALTY, EEE PUTS A FACKIN SHIFT IN. But I appear to have kicked some kind of beehive. Apologies.

In my defence, we have inadvertantly upset Mahow, which is always worthwhile.

[Manc]

Noble did his best work when Payet was sharing the same pitch. He's been dross ever since.

[Pen]

Noble is also apparently the longest serving current club player in Europe. That alone should see him classed above any Markus Nobler trying to usurp him.

[Jimmy Floyd]

458 (52) in the Premier League does, I'm afraid, make you a very good footballer indeed.

[Manc]

It's a Noble hill to die on.

[Gray Fox]

Noble would get more respect if he played for a more 'fashionable' club.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Noble wouldn't have gotten game time at a more fashionable club.

[Ian]

We gave Andreas Pereira loads of games the other year. I'd have taken Noble over that.

[Kikó]

I doubt Mark Noble is even discussed this much in Mark Noble's house

[randomlegend]

If the Odegaard and Ramsdale deals go through Arsenal will be the highest spending team this window. Are they even better?

[Jimmy Floyd]

They need to sack Arteta and send some sort of maverick in there to put the boot up everyone. Even if it doesn't work, it would rattle the cage enough to get them at least moving somewhere at some point, rather than this state of inertia they've been in for a decade. Can't believe more clubs haven't tried it after watching Bielsa's Leeds. I suppose boards want predictability rather than glorious chaos.

[Spikey M]

I doubt Mark Noble is even discussed this much in Mark Noble's house

Next time people start talking about something tedious I'm just going to mention his name and bring it to an immediate halt.

[Manc]

I've run THE numbers for last season.

1. Ospina
2. Martinez
3. Fabianski
4. Ramsdale
5. Leno
6. Szczesny (lol)
7. Mannone

[Manc]

Mark Noble.

[Lewis]

Mar Knoble.

[Spikey M]

Spikey Moble

[Raoul Duke]

They need to sack Arteta and send some sort of maverick in there to put the boot up everyone. Even if it doesn't work, it would rattle the cage enough to get them at least moving somewhere at some point, rather than this state of inertia they've been in for a decade. Can't believe more clubs haven't tried it after watching Bielsa's Leeds. I suppose boards want predictability rather than glorious chaos.

If they were run properly they'd sack Arteta and get Conte

[-james-]

I know everyone likes to lol at Arsenal but some of the hot takes going around since they lost a single game against a decent side in which they had zero available strikers are a bit daft.

I reckon Arteta is "fine" and I wouldn't sack him unless they're 13th or something at Christmas. I've got them on for 7th-ish this season.

The problem has been the recruitment team being total mugs for about three seasons running, but Odegaard, White and Lokonga all look excellent signings.

[Spikey M]

I'm pretty sure the hot takes are off the back of them being shit and in decline for years now.

There's only one player they should be signing and they've bottled it.

[SincereTheRebel]

If the Odegaard and Ramsdale deals go through Arsenal will be the highest spending team this window. Are they even better?

They are trying to pull a Liverpool and raid the shit teams for their standout players in the league. I don't believe them though.

[-james-]

I'm pretty sure the hot takes are off the back of them being shit and in decline for years now.

There's only one player they should be signing and they've bottled it.


Those hot takes are rubbish though. They were generally excellent from Christmas onwards last season. From Boxing day onwards: Third most points acquired, third most goals scored, second fewest goals conceded.

[Spikey M]

Those hot takes are rubbish though. They were generally excellent from Christmas onwards last season. From Boxing day onwards: Third most points acquired, third most goals scored, second fewest goals conceded.

And their lowest league finish in how long?

[SincereTheRebel]

That dont count. You have to do it over a full 38 game season, not just from December to December.

[Ian]

Next time people start talking about something tedious I'm just going to mention his name and bring it to an immediate halt.

COVID thread, if you're taking requests.

[SincereTheRebel]

Rafa Mir has been sold to Sevilla for £13m. He has been on loan in Spain for a few years scoring 23 goals in la liga last season. He never kicked a ball for Wolves in the prem. He had one year left on his deal. Wolves paid £2m for him.

Fuck knows.

[Gray Fox]

I hear Pedro Neto is out indefinitely due to something connected to the broken kneecap he got last year.

Wolves could be in some bother.

[SincereTheRebel]

That should keep Liverpool's filthy hands off him. I am concerned for Wolves though. Scared. Shook.

[-james-]

And their lowest league finish in how long?


That dont count. You have to do it over a full 38 game season, not just from December to December.

Look at their side in the first half of last season and you find the likes of David Luiz, Willian and Mohamed Elneny starting regularly. Doesn't it make more sense to apply more weight to the second half, where the side much more resembles this season's with the likes of Smith-Rowe, Odegaard, Partey (White, Lokonga)?

[Giggles]

They are trying to pull a Liverpool and raid the shit teams for their standout players in the league. I don't believe them though.

They’re trying to do what they used to do when they weren’t shit.

[Manc]

Pedro moving to Lazio for the banter.

[SincereTheRebel]

First direct transfer between Roma and Lazio since 1981

[Vercetti]

Some Mark Noble appreciation. You love to see it.

Hopefully he'll get to shuffle the ball sideways against some goatherders on his european tour, this season.

[Gray Fox]

And his farewell tour at that

[Lofty]

Odegaard official, cant play Sunday.

Interesting stats show he is worth the £30m despite his limited play time last season: 'Odegaard created 18 chances in 767 minutes across all competitions for Arsenal last term. Granted, his sample size is smaller, but he stood clear of every other teammate having created a chance every 42.6 minutes – ahead of Smith Rowe (53.3), Kieran Tierney (66.2) and Dani Ceballos (66.4) in the leaderboards. The 22-year-old also created 4.25 shot creating actions per 90 last season, leaving him in the 86th percentile for attacking midfielders across the top five European leagues, while his 4.83 progressive passes per 90 placed him in the 87th percentile – highlighting his impulse to play forward and avoid the dreaded Arteta horseshoe.'

[Don]

https://understat.com/team/Arsenal/2020

His xA and xG are pathetic which lines up with the assessment that he's nothing but a pass merchant and a risk-averse one at that. No physicality to boot and you have yourself a player ending up at Ajax in the next couple years.

[Lofty]

Also in the higher percentiles for dribbling, if he was a BLM signing for Liverpool with those stats you'd have been ordering a new wank sock.

[Don]

Yeah, if our competent heads of recruitment were in anyway interested it would usually be a marker that he's got something (you could have had one of ours like Sarr for that money). Don't bring skin colour into it, this isn't the 60s.

[Lofty]

Super Ben Davies disagrees.

[Don]

Gammons don't fucking count.

[randomlegend]

Odegaard is very good. Taz unsurprisingly talking nonsense.

[Don]

Odegaard watch replacing Pellistri watch, I guess :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Arsenal twitter account repeatedly referring to him as a 'baller' does not scan. Can a 'baller' really look like a delivery boy about to be murdered by gangsters for his uniform?

[randomlegend]

Odegaard watch replacing Pellistri watch, I guess :drool:

Pellistri watch was never a thing. You just tried to imagine it into existence.

[Baz]

The Arsenal twitter account repeatedly referring to him as a 'baller' does not scan. Can a 'baller' really look like a delivery boy about to be murdered by gangsters for his uniform?Liverpools only baller is Curtis Jones, so I’m going to say yes.

[Don]

Pellistri watch was never a thing. You just tried to imagine it into existence.


Penarol's president (either him or the agent, the translation was a bit garbled) quoted saying Utd asked for Pellistri to be kept in a training bubble during negotiations so he wouldn't have to isolate as they plan to use him in the first team squad straight away

:*)

[randomlegend]

Basing a whole year of Pellistri watch posts off that is Magic levels of tragic.

[Don]

Lad, take the dicking like a man.

[randomlegend]

Mate you've spent a year having an argument with nobody.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ether :D

[niko_cee]

Shaqiri finally seems to have found himself a move (to Lyon for £9.5m). Some good memories but overall just not fit often enough.

Would expect Origi to follow him out the door as well in the next week or so and maybe one to come in with the squad space that would open up.

[Luke Emia]

We had to sell one or the other to get space in the squad. In the same manner as selling Lovren last summer and hoping for the best I can see us going into the AFCON in the winter with just Jota & Firminio up front.

[niko_cee]

I wouldn't be surprised to see another attacking player come in (in the mould of a Traore or Doku maybe), but at the same time I also wouldn't be surprised to see them try to get by with the likes of Elliot, Jones and Chamberlain as makeshift attackers.