Summer 2021 Plane Tracking Thread

[Don]

I saw something about us being without our AFCON trio along with our Brazillian trio (due to some isolation rules) for a game with Man Utd. Tbf we'll rape them with Kaide Gordon but it would be nice to pull out 1 senior attacker out the blue :drool:

[niko_cee]

Chelsea and Italy defender Davide Zappacosta, 29, is set to join Atalanta on a four-year deal.

I'm not being funny but how many players do Chelsea actually [still] own?

[Luca]

If today wasn't a shockingly clear indication that we need a controlling DM, I don't know what is. Flog Marshall for half whatever he's worth to whatever shit French team needs a striker, do the same for 'JLingz' and get on with bringing Ruben Neves in.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not being funny but how many players do Chelsea actually [still] own?

A lot. Drinkwater, Barkley and Bakayoko are all currently commuting in to Cobham for training.

[Lofty]

I thought that was a funny snippet of commentary the other day, talking about how good Chelsea's academy must be because so many ex youth players of theirs are at other PL teams now. That's just weight of numbers surely.

[SincereTheRebel]

Checking their wiki, Baba Rahman and Musonda are also still officially Chelsea players

[SincereTheRebel]

I thought that was a funny snippet of commentary the other day, talking about how good Chelsea's academy must be because so many ex youth players of theirs are at other PL teams now. That's just weight of numbers surely.

That means they are good then. Add to the fact that they are still extremely successful at collecting trophies without those good academy players. It should be admired.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We produce fucking loads of players who are top two divisions quality. Obviously getting into a top 4 first XI you are going to have to be an elite level talent, which not many people are.

[Shindig]

If the academy was that good, they'd all be playing at Chelsea. They make their names and reputations elsewhere.

[Lofty]

That means they are good then. Add to the fact that they are still extremely successful at collecting trophies without those good academy players. It should be admired.


We produce fucking loads of players who are top two divisions quality. Obviously getting into a top 4 first XI you are going to have to be an elite level talent, which not many people are.

Chelsea also poach loads of kids and send them out on loan forever before selling/releasing them, not sure they can really claim those as a job well done when it is more about hoarding talent away from rivals.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If the academy was that good, they'd all be playing at Chelsea. They make their names and reputations elsewhere.

That would have to be by far the best academy in the history of any sport, or possibly in any field of human endeavour.

[SincereTheRebel]

Chelsea also poach loads of kids and send them out on loan forever before selling/releasing them, not sure they can really claim those as a job well done when it is more about hoarding talent away from rivals.

We have been doing it on FM for year. Chelsea just copied us, and it worked.

[Spikey M]

Chelsea's youth recruitment is superb. Their willingness to promote from their youth teams is less so, but then they don't need to I suppose.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we were coming 14th every year we could play them all, but a team challenging at the top is only ever going to promote people - Mason Mount, Reece James, etc - who are good enough.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea certainly have an impressive youth hoovering set-up. Their youth teams have been pretty much the benchmark for 15 years or so, each time with a different set of multi-named prospects.


If today wasn't a shockingly clear indication that we need a controlling DM, I don't know what is. Flog Marshall for half whatever he's worth to whatever shit French team needs a striker, do the same for 'JLingz' and get on with bringing Ruben Neves in.

United should go for Bissouma.

[Andy]

Tino Liveramento looks like an absolute boss from his first couple of games.

[randomlegend]

If today wasn't a shockingly clear indication that we need a controlling DM, I don't know what is. Flog Marshall for half whatever he's worth to whatever shit French team needs a striker, do the same for 'JLingz' and get on with bringing Ruben Neves in.

It's going to be another season of having a mostly very good team but with a GLARING hole that leaves us coming up short.

[Ian]

And a manager who appears to put players on the pitch and go "Yeah, I dunno, can't you guys just figure this out for me?" if the opposition aren't very generously playing in the one specific way we're decent at exploiting (Hi, Leeds.)

[randomlegend]

Ole probably won't turn out to be good enough, but he's not as bad as people want to make out. You don't finish second with a manager who's completely clueless, no matter how good the squad is (look at Chelsea under Lampard).

He has done a very good job of improving the squad and will generally leave the club in a drastically better position for the next manager.

[Kikó]

I think the plan at least in the first half was obvious and based around trying to score from set plays. Unfortunately we fucked them all and lost momentum. Winning after conceding isn't easy.

[randomlegend]

Tottenham are trying to buy Traore from Wolves.

Atletico seem to have decided on Cunha for their striker.

[Yevrah]

I genuinely think Ole is on the cusp of something, which admittedly, could very easily go the other (wrong) way. He's clearly not a very good tactician, but if he can find a way of beating the shite that sits deep against him then he could have a pretty successful side on his hands. He absolutely needs to rid the squad of the wasters though, of which there are many.

[Ian]

We're nearly three years in. If he was going to work out how to fix the flaws we've had for all of his reign other than that entertaining first couple of months I feel like he'd have done it by now.

He's just plugging players into the team and hoping they'll fix the stuff he can't figure out.

[randomlegend]

I don't know. He had SUCH a dysfunctional squad when he came in. Even now, with all the money spent and despite pretty much all his transfers being good, the midfield is still absolute wank. VdB probably wasn't the optimum use of funds in hindsight but otherwise Bruno is our only player in that position.

I think anyone would struggle to win the league with McTominay and Fred as your starting midfield pair.

[Yevrah]

We're nearly three years in. If he was going to work out how to fix the flaws we've had for all of his reign other than that entertaining first couple of months I feel like he'd have done it by now.

He's just plugging players into the team and hoping they'll fix the stuff he can't figure out.

Well quite and he's doing that because like Sir Gareth Southgate, tactics are not his forte. But that doesn't mean he can't be successful and as long as progress is being made, no matter how small, while he's learning on the job then I think he's worth persevering with for another year or two. I'd have gone all out to get small pockets when he was available but now that ship's sailed I'm not overly sure who would be worth binning Ole off in favour of. You can tell when a manager is going to be rancid/is rancid (hello David Moyes) and for me you need to bin those guys off sharpish, Ole doesn't fall into that bracket.

[Raoul Duke]

My wishlist for him to still get shot of:

Phil Jones (:cab:)
Matic
Martial
Lingard
Van de Beek
Fred

In descending order.

He's cleared out a lot of timewasters though. Then there's people like Mata who are fine as squad/cup players. Hard to know if Donny is any good as he never plays...

[Yevrah]

I would genuinely get rid of Marcus Rashford too, but I know I'm probably alone in thinking that.

[Andy]

The United squad is class, they should have won comfortably. Every single United sub would have started for us yesterday.

[Yevrah]

As others have said, it's just a bit unbalanced and being managed by someone who doesn't know how to change a game beyond how far motivating players works.

[randomlegend]

My wishlist for him to still get shot of:

Phil Jones (:cab:)
Matic
Martial
Lingard
Van de Beek
Fred

In descending order.

He's cleared out a lot of timewasters though. Then there's people like Mata who are fine as squad/cup players. Hard to know if Donny is any good as he never plays...

I suspect Van de Beek was brought as cover/rotation for Fernandes but Fernandes wants to play 10000 games a season so "Donny" has had hardly any games.

I think the fact you want rid of Matic, Fred and VdB says it all about the quality of the midfield. That would leave Pogba (who's clearly better further forward) and McTominay as the only senior central midfielders.

[Lewis]

The team he played against Leeds gets the most out of who he needs to get the most out of in ninety per cent of games, so he should have just stuck with that; but, for somebody who specialises in like-for-like substitutions, he can't rotate starting players for shit. If McTominay had an injury just play that team with Donny van de Beek in and assume he's good enough to handle Southampton.

[Lewis]

Liverpool won the league/Champions' League with a stodge midfield, because their used their shit hot attackers consistently and properly. Ole Gunnar Binman would have been throwing Divock Origi random starts for being 'sharp in training'.

[Ian]

I think anyone would struggle to win the league with McTominay and Fred as your starting midfield pair.

I don't expect us to be winning the league as things stand. Other teams have better squads than he does. However he doesn't learn and anybody who doesn't find that incredibly grating is either far more patient than me or puts a lot less value on their time.


I'm not overly sure who would be worth binning Ole off in favour of.

This has been part of my issue. But then I imagine the club has given this less thought than I have. They don't care so long as the money keeps coming in.


I would genuinely get rid of Marcus Rashford too, but I know I'm probably alone in thinking that.

He got twenty odd goals without playing well. I don't think he's good enough to be a first choice as things stand (he and Martial are the same in having one thing they want to do if they get the ball regardless of whether it's working) but unless somebody made a daft bid for him, which they won't, it'd be silly to get rid for the sake of it. Maybe we could just implement Lewis' shot-clock idea for him.


Phil Jones (:cab:)

Did you see that he turned down a testimonial saying "Apart from my mum and dad, who else would turn up?” :D Poor Phil.

[Ian]

I suspect Van de Beek was brought as cover/rotation for Fernandes but Fernandes wants to play 10000 games a season so "Donny" has had hardly any games.

If only there was somebody, let's call him a 'manager', who was able to tell Fernandes he's getting a fucking rest whether he likes it not.

I genuinely have no idea how good van de Beek is or isn't. Is he a shit trainer or something or has OGB just taken against him / didn't want him in the first place?

[randomlegend]

Brandon Williams off on loan to Norwich.

Seems a weird move all round.

[Manc]

Two games in and the Ole inquest has begun. Just fucking get rid.

[Kikó]

Rashford is a good right side forward. I think post recovery on his shoulder he'll be closer to his best which is very good. Much much better than Martial

Edit: or is it left side? I can never remember.

[John Arne]

He got twenty odd goals without playing well. I don't think he's good enough to be a first choice as things stand (he and Martial are the same in having one thing they want to do if they get the ball regardless of whether it's working) but unless somebody made a daft bid for him, which they won't, it'd be silly to get rid for the sake of it. Maybe we could just implement Lewis' shot-clock idea for him.


I heard recently that he had never hit 20 in a season?? Unless you're counting some league cup goals or something.

He's certainly no Mason Greenwood.

[Ian]

I just looked at his total goals tally. He won't have hit 20 league goals. But then some shitty cup nobody cares about is comfortably our best chance of winning anything so y'know, bring on the Wafer Cup specialists.


Rashford is a good right side forward. I think post recovery on his shoulder he'll be closer to his best which is very good. Much much better than Martial

Edit: or is it left side? I can never remember.

Left. On the right he has his moments but spends most of it going "Right, I have the ball! Now to cut onto my ri-.. oh, I'm already on my right. Erm erm erm erm" *loses the ball*

[Lewis]

If only there was somebody, let's call him a 'manager', who was able to tell Fernandes he's getting a fucking rest whether he likes it not.

I genuinely have no idea how good van de Beek is or isn't. Is he a shit trainer or something or has OGB just taken against him / didn't want him in the first place?

I like to think that Bruno Fernandes was brought in in the January because Paulp Ogba was leaving that summer, and then van de Beek was brought in because he was leaving this summer. But he hasn't.

[Luca]

Can some stats nerd give me the Bissouma/Neves side by side?

[Gray Fox]

Powercube officially gone to Lyon. Expected to bring in £9m or so.

Harvey Elliott having a stormer of a pre-season essentially filled his spot. No incoming expected.

[Manc]

Can some stats nerd give me the Bissouma/Neves side by side?

Click me (https://fbref.com/en/stathead/player_comparison.cgi?request=1&sum=0&comp_type=by_type&dom_lg=1&spec_comps=big_5&player_id1=6c203af0&player_id2=44bfb6c5)

[Luca]

Huh, on that basis alone, it seems like Bissouma is closer to what we need. Neves is more prolific in advanced positions, contributes more to creating attacking plays, and can dribble slightly better, while Bissouma is the more accurate passer and a much better tackler. Also, compared to other midfielders, he's top decile in tackling, top quintile in interceptions and dribbles, and top quartile in clearances and pass completion. Sign him up, OGB :drool:

EDIT: Asking price is £40m. Surely if we kick Martial and Lingard out at cut rates we can still scrape that together. Don't send Amad out on loan to make up for losing Lingard, and promote Elanga to the first team to make up for Martial.

[Lofty]

Supposedly Willian might leave Arsenal on a free to Corinthians, no doubt the club will have to pay him a wedge to leave. He was liking Chelsea's social media posts after the match on Sunday, top tier shithousery.

[Reg]

Luca Not a stats based opinion but Neves being more of a creator/dribbler and Bissouma being more of a 'destroyer' sounds about right. Bissouma was just ridiculous against Watford, I thought. Granted it was Watford, but it was one of those painstakingly obvious occasions where a player's at a level above his club. Sad to say but his performances are crying out for a move. I'd be shocked if we accepted £40m, though.

[Ian]

What about £40m, Andreas Pereira and a loan of Phil Jones?

By my calculations that takes the value of the deal right up to a whopping £30m.

[randomlegend]

Bernando Silva has agreed personal terms with AC Milan. They are now trying to dig enough Lira from down the back of the sofa to make City happy.

Shit source though.

Saul to Chelsea or United doing the rounds again

[Baz]

Good. I don’t want him at Liverpool.

[randomlegend]

Who, Saul?

Yeah nothing you hear from how his last couple of years have gone is very promising. Rumours it's a loan with option though so basically zero risk. One of the Atletico tier 1s has apparently confirmed he's closest to United.

[Kikó]

United should buy Silva and do the swap deal Ian suggested.

[randomlegend]

United should buy Silva and do the swap deal Ian suggested.

Silva doesn't want to stay in the UK, that's a major part of why he's leaving City.

[Kikó]

What a loser.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has he thought about buying a coat?

[randomlegend]

Reports now that Chelsea and United have both had loan with option to buy offers accepted. Buy option around 45m euros. Saul now just has to choose where he wants to go.

You'd think he'd get a lot more play time at United.

[randomlegend]

Ornstein saying Kane most likely to stay at Tottenham and City unlikely to make another bid.

Kane had absolutely donned himself silly.

Ronaldo been offered to City but they aren't interested.

[Ian]

You'd think he'd get a lot more play time at United.

What, and change the team? What if it eats into Matic's all-important playing time? Or hinders Fred's development??

You haven't thought this through at all.

[Waffdon]

Fred, Matic and Saul all lefties. Have fun with that.

Saul was pretty average last year, not sure if his kidneys are catching up with him or what. 2015-2019 he was GOATy

[Lewis]

What, and change the team? What if it eats into Matic's all-important playing time? Or hinders Fred's development??

You haven't thought this through at all.

Fernandes, Fred, McTominay
Fernandes, Fred, Matic
Fernandes, Fred, Saul
Fernandes, McTominay, Matic
Fernandes, McTominay, Saul
Fernandes, Matic, Saul

Lots of potential combinations there. Still possibly one short though depth-wise. That might scupper them down the line.

[Waffdon]

He’s better off joining Man Utd as he’ll start every week whereas Chelsea is Kante +1 when he’s fit. Chelsea do need cover though as they’ve only got 3 centre mids and Kante is injured every other week.

[Manc]

Is Saul the one who signed a decade long contract?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Nine year.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40468498

[Ian]

Fernandes, Fred, McTominay
Fernandes, Fred, Matic
Fernandes, Fred, Saul
Fernandes, McTominay, Matic
Fernandes, McTominay, Saul
Fernandes, Matic, Saul

Lots of potential combinations there. Still possibly one short though depth-wise. That might scupper them down the line.

Don't forget van de Beek coming off the bench in the 93rd minute to mix it up a bit.

[Gray Fox]

Roberston the latest in the 'everyone gets a contract' movement.

Salah the next one in line.

[Manc]

Pape Matar Sarr is a new one on me.

[randomlegend]

Romano reckons United are trying to get a midfielder in before the end of the window. Options are Camavinga, Saul and Ruben Neves in that order of priority.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Which is probably the reverse order of how good they are.

[Don]

Only 1 more week of RL's spamming :drool:

[Luca]

I’m surprised more people aren’t seriously in for Bissouma. But I suppose it’s because he’s in his last contract year next year, and Brighton (per Reg’s post above) don’t seem to be strapped.

[Spikey M]

Only 1 more week of RL's spamming :drool:

That should end half the doctor shortages alone.

[Kikó]

What's Pallestri saying?

[Don]

I’m surprised more people aren’t seriously in for Bissouma. But I suppose it’s because he’s in his last contract year next year, and Brighton (per Reg’s post above) don’t seem to be strapped.

He knows Potter is responsible for his development. He's not going to sacrifice that to go work under some Norwegian herring farmer who has less than 12 months left before unemployment. His agent will know Jurgen will come calling when the time is right.

[Lewis]

Don't forget van de Beek coming off the bench in the 93rd minute to mix it up a bit.

Possibly, if Lingard gets his move.

[SincereTheRebel]

Supposedly Willian might leave Arsenal on a free to Corinthians, no doubt the club will have to pay him a wedge to leave. He was liking Chelsea's social media posts after the match on Sunday, top tier shithousery.

Top lad :lol:

[randomlegend]

Only 1 more week of RL's spamming :drool:

You have almost as many posts in this thread as I do.

[Don]

You have almost as many posts in this thread as I do.

Each one as searing as the other. Levels.

[Bam]

You have almost as many posts in this thread as I do.

Only 200 less. :sorry:

[Spikey M]

You have almost as many posts in this thread as I do.

You have nearly triple the posts of Lewis in 2nd place.

:drool:

That said, I'm third and I don't even give a shit about this nonsense, so fuck knows.

[randomlegend]

Search function done me dirty.

[randomlegend]

Triple second place :drool:

[randomlegend]

PSG have turned down 160m euro bid for Mbappe from Real.

[Don]

Where tf have Real Madrid sourced that money from? Why are Man City and Man Utd not in on it? Why would PSG not be able to keep him? All of this makes it seem very suspect.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Maybe it's just Real Madrid trying to save face by putting in a large bid they know will be rejected, with money they don't have.

[niko_cee]

They can always print out a new training ground or "sell some youth players" as I believe is the modern parlance.

[-james-]

I don't know about their wages (Ramos and Varane off the books can't be bad), but Real's net spend on transfers is generally pretty close to zero. They've sold about £150 million worth of players over the last couple of years and bought nobody.

[niko_cee]

€30m a year to Bale isn't it? :happycry:

[niko_cee]

Quite interesting looking at the Madrid squad on transfermarkt. It's not really a glittering constellation of stars is it? OK if it's his dream and all, and he could obviously have quite a transformative effect on them, but surely going there puts him further away from winning a Champions League than he's probably ever been. I would say PSG are mad to turn down that sort of money if he genuinely is going to leave for nothing next summer, but maybe they figure with him they've got the best possible chance of winning the Champions League this season and that's worth more than money to them. I suppose if they can then hoover up Haaland for his release fee to soften the blow of losing Mbappe.

[Lewis]

Given that age is on his side, surely you would stay in Paris this year and then go on a free for twice the bonus/wages. There is also probably something to be said for just staying in France unless an English club or Bayern came in.

[Reg]

I'll lose some respect for Mbappe if he goes to Madrid this year. He has the chance of playing with maybe the greatest player of all time and enjoying probably quite absurd football, why not stick around for one reason? Although, Madrid are less morally corrupt than PSG, aren't they, so maybe he should gain respect.

How good is Saul? I have him pegged as the Spanish John O'Shea (he wishes) because I don't really know if he's that much better playing centre mid than he is filling at left wingback or whatever.

[Manc]

Is Niko aware PSG are bankrolled by an oil state?

[SincereTheRebel]

In other news. Jack Wilshere is 29 years old, hasn't been injured in over a year and a half, and has zero contract offers on the table after being cut by west ham.

[Spikey M]

Beautiful stuff. :drool:

[SvN]

I wonder what Mantralux has to say about that.

[Ian]

No offers? That just sounds like he or his agent is setting the money bar too high or aren't working with clubs who'd take a punt if they could mitigate (financially) for potential future injuries which must be what's putting people off.

Some of the absolute toss who are never without a club, I refuse to believe there aren't a load of clubs who'd give him a go if they could afford it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely any club Championship or below, or any club in many foreign leagues, would take a short-term punt on him if playing football was what he wanted to do.

Either that or he's back on the marching powder.

[SvN]

Wilshere recalls the day when Archie came home from school upset after another pupil referred to his dad as “Jack Wheelchair”.

:lol:

[Ian]

:D

Fucking hell, I missed that bit.

[Spikey M]

:lol:

[Lofty]

It seems more like Wenger's prediction of players sitting out their contracts has become true, not least due to covid which was obviously unpredictable. Wilshere isn't the only player in that situation. Mustafi also can't get a contract. Yes he is wank but you would think surely some lower tier team would take a punt on him, given some of the players contracted professionally. Side effect of covid on football finance supposedly, if you aren't shit hot when you're a free agent you are fucked.

[SincereTheRebel]

The demands they are making clearly are not been met.

[Lofty]

True but surely if you want to maintain your lifestyle it comes to the point where you either take something less than you wanted or retire. I imagine once you are out of the game for so long your value plummets even further?

[SincereTheRebel]

You dont retire until you can no longer get the money you think you deserve.

Im sure they will all find a club soon enough.

[randomlegend]

Spurs tier one reporting Kane has given up on moving to City.

What a colossal cluster fuck that's been. Never really looked like happening.

[Ian]

If only there was some way he could have known that trusting a gentleman's agreement with Daniel Levy wasn't going to work out for him.

[Don]

What a grave grave error on Kane's part, extended holiday and some tweets calling his character into question for a couple of weeks.

[Spikey M]

1430496495225262084?s=19

Lol.

[Pepe]

Jack Wheelchair is excellent banter. :lol:

[Andy]

Spurs tier one reporting Kane has given up on moving to City.

What a colossal cluster fuck that's been. Never really looked like happening.

Seemed fairly obvious they wouldn't sign Kane and Grealish.

[Gray Fox]

"This summer"

[Spikey M]

All attention will turn to Haaland next year.

[Giggles]

He’s missed the boat now the twat.

[Luca]

Surely any club Championship or below, or any club in many foreign leagues, would take a short-term punt on him if playing football was what he wanted to do.

Either that or he's back on the marching powder.


:lol:


:D

Fucking hell, I missed that bit.


:lol:

I have had an extreme case of déjà vu with this series of posts. I could swear that Jimmy made the same post about him last year, someone posted the same Wheelchair anecdote, and it was followed by some lols.

[Manc]

What's happening with Cronaldo and Mbop? Tier 1 sources only. randomlegend

[randomlegend]

Real bid 160m euros for Mbappe. PSG said no and are very butthurt. They've admitted Mbappe wants to leave

Ronaldo, fuck knows. Looks like he was offered to them, they said no we are after Kane, but now Kane isn't happening they might go back for him.

Source: me, I am tier 0.5

[Lewis]

Ronaldo would win City the Champions' League making four sprints a match. Rapist cunt.

[niko_cee]

Is Niko aware PSG are bankrolled by an oil state?

Aye, but they do still have to theoretically operate within the same limits as everyone else.

I'm sure I read the other day that Haaland's release clause becomes active in January. If that's the case they should just sell Mbappe [given the only alternative of losing him for nowt] and get Haaland for the meaningful stuff after Christmas. Not sure of the tier on that Haaland stuff though, and maybe it meant he can talk to clubs about signing for his release clause in the summer [a la Upemecano last year - is that how they work in Germany?].

[Manc]

Limits? I hope you're not referring to FFP.

[Giggles]

I didn’t realise he was in his final year until I heard it today. Had been wondering what all the fuss was about for a seemingly lowball bid.

[randomlegend]

Romano has just said on his twitch (yes him streaming is a thing) that City are going in hard for Ronaldo now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Does he have an OnlyFans?

[niko_cee]

Limits? I hope you're not referring to FFP.

"Theoretically"

Anyway, I covered off your initial complaint. An increased chance of winning the Champions League this year is obliviously worth more than €160m to their owners. Not many in that boat.

Ronaldo to City will be lol on so many levels.

[Ian]

Watch a Twitch stream for transfer news. :D

[Luke Emia]

Ronaldo to Citeh would be excellent. Can you imagine the seethe from the United fans?

[Kikó]

Does he have an OnlyFans?

The banks don't allow such smut.

[randomlegend]

Watch a Twitch stream for transfer news. :D

I would like it on record that watching Romano's stream is too sad even for me.

[randomlegend]

Zouma to West Ham is OFF.

[Spikey M]

1430591060678414337?s=19

:happycry:

[Lewis]

Fair play. No point carrying on if the owners won't back him.

[Shindig]

He'd be a good binman for Spain.

[Pepe]

Play a Copa America? Is he a Bolivian citizen or something?

[randomlegend]

Madrid are coming back with a higher bid for Mbappe.

They are completely insane.

[Shindig]

Nah, Perez just has a vault full of stolen Franco gold.

[randomlegend]

Zouma to West Ham is OFF.

And possibly back on?

[Ian]

What a rollercoaster.

[randomlegend]

Can't imagine how Chelsea fans are coping.

Kounde looks to Chelsea looks to be happening. Think that's going to turn out a banger signing, unfortunately.

[Waffdon]

Ronaldo to City is a done deal. (tier 2 source)

[Kikó]

Fuck you Ronaldo. This is worse than the glazers.

[randomlegend]

Ronaldo to City is a done deal. (tier 2 source)

More like tier 5. But it's absolutely going to happen.

[Kikó]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-man-city-news-b1909193.html

What's Miguel?

[randomlegend]

I don't get all the bealing about Ronaldo going to City to be honest. He wants out of Juve and they want him gone; City's clearly his only option to leave. Expecting him to essentially waste a year of his career out of loyalty to a club he left over 10 years ago is all just a bit naive and pathetic.

[randomlegend]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/cristiano-ronaldo-man-city-news-b1909193.html

What's Miguel?

Tier of shame.

[Yevrah]

I know it's a more short term move, but I'd take that over Harry Kane any day of the week.

If Guardiola doesn't win the CL with City now he never will.

[randomlegend]

I know it's a more short term move, but I'd take that over Harry Kane any day of the week.

If Guardiola doesn't win the CL with City now he never will.

Yeah I think it's a much better move. Leaves them free to go for Haaland next summer which (despite what some of you lot seem to think) would be difficult to manage if they'd bought Kane.

[randomlegend]

City and Ronaldo have agreed terms. City don't want to pay a fee, Juve are asking 30m euros.

[Lewis]

That story about the Haaland entourage trying to cash in was a bit lol. Alf-Inge wants twenty million, and the agent wants thirty-odd. If you were a club owner could you not sit him and his old man down and say I don't mind paying you off, pops, but what am I giving that fat cunt thirty million for?

[Don]

You'd rather face a City side with the rapist upfront rather than Jesus. He should get goals but he isn't making them much better (if at all).

[Kikó]

It's going to be interesting to see how Guardiola plays Ronaldo. Doesn't seem the right type of player for him but let's see, hopefully it does fail. It's also on brand for Ronaldo, he wants to win, he wants to be the best. It doesn't matter where.

[mugbull]

Ronaldo going to City is the end of their title bid right there

[Lewis]

Do United have anybody of sufficient Character to lay him out in the derby? Say what you will about Wayne Rooney, but he would have done.

[-james-]

Looks like I'm eating my words on Ronaldo and am a Chelsea fan now

[Yevrah]

It's going to be interesting to see how Guardiola plays Ronaldo. Doesn't seem the right type of player for him but let's see

You literally just stick him in the team and watch the goals fly in.

[Luca]

Do United have anybody of sufficient Character to lay him out in the derby? Say what you will about Wayne Rooney, but he would have done.

You'd like to think (hope) McTominay wouldn't think twice about it.

I don’t see how he fits into PepBall though, given that he plays most matches these days at a leisurely amble, and has no desire to contribute to a progressive build-up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Croon (I have always called him this inside my own head, for absolutely no reason I can think of) will be good for smashing the shit. Fuck the CL, who cares about that.

[SincereTheRebel]

Do United have anybody of sufficient Character to lay him out in the derby? Say what you will about Wayne Rooney, but he would have done.

Scott McTom is the second coming of Darren Fletcher. He will turn up in the big games and dominate. He may be able to handle C.Ronaldo once he arrives in a Wolves shirt.

[Luca]

Croon (I have always called him this inside my own head, for absolutely no reason I can think of) will be good for smashing the shit. Fuck the CL, who cares about that.

Fair enough, really. For instance, he’ll capitalize on crosses where shit teams leave him open/he can make a quick movement, like Cavani does for us.

Although it seems like a fairly unnecessary expense to beat the shit (which they do pretty well already, all things considered). Oh wait, they did lose to Tottenham…

[Don]

If this Mbappe approach isn't a bluff, the rapist surely goes PSG.

[Waffdon]

Speaking of rapists…

https://www.mancity.com/news/club/club-statement-63765586

[randomlegend]

Do United have anybody of sufficient Character to lay him out in the derby? Say what you will about Wayne Rooney, but he would have done.

McTominay? Brandon Williams absolutely would if he wasn't on loan at Norwich.

[Lewis]

Speaking of rapists…

https://www.mancity.com/news/club/club-statement-63765586

'Pep' getting the big racism calls right once again.

[Waffdon]

They love a rapist. Adam Johnson, Robinho and now Mendy

[Spikey M]

And Ronaldo on the way.

[Max Power]

Barry Bennell as well. Football heritage.

[Lofty]

1430921927586103306

Apparently the straw that broke the mong's back.

[randomlegend]

Marca reckon Mbappe to Madrid* is happening for 170m euros + 10 in add-ons.

Di Marzio saying City will bid 30m euros for Ronaldo tomorrow, Juve will accept and that'll be done too.

[Spikey M]

Marca reckon Mbappe to PSG is happening for 170m euros + 10 in add-ons.

Di Marzio saying City will bid 30m euros for Ronaldo tomorrow, Juve will accept and that'll be done too.

That's alot for a contract renewal.

[Lewis]

Pen I'm burning all my old Ronaldo shirts.

[randomlegend]

That's alot for a contract renewal.

Whoops.

[Spikey M]

Tier 12.

[Baz]

30m? Can we get two please, Klopp?

[randomlegend]

1431001859125256201?s=21

Wot :D

[Waffdon]

1429864154849030152

Quite enjoyed this tweet from his mate too. You would be proud of the finer detail, RL

[Baz]

If that’s all it takes, I’m surprised there aren’t more transfers in football.

[Offshore Toon]

I did think Ronaldo was a rat before, but if Man Utd didn't go in for him when they could definitely use him and have the money then I guess he only had one offer on the table.

[niko_cee]

Probably wishful thinking but I can definitely see Ronaldo to City being the sort of car crash signing they fortuitously dodged with the likes of Fred and Jorginho.

I suppose they have Mendy. Would him being convicted put him into Ariel 'get sued for all your money' Ortega territory or are City just going to have to wear it?

[Waffdon]

Jorginho would have been incredible under ‘Pep’

[Kikó]

You literally just stick him in the team and watch the goals fly in.

Oh right. Mad when you think.

[Clunge]

We keep being linked with McKennie at Juve for £30m. All I know about him is that he's American, and that immediately makes me suspicious.

[Shindig]

13 games and a goal for Juventus. So he's not a charlatan like James Troisi.

[niko_cee]

Some [undoubtedly low tier] rumours emerging about Bissouma and Liverpool.

:drool:

[Baz]

Should have just paid Wijnaldum a decent wage.

[niko_cee]

Nope.

Not that they could have matched whatever PSG are paying him, and the knock-on effects had they done so (with all of the other renewals) would have been crippling.

Not sure Bissouma is a player Liverpool really need right now, but he is an excellent player and it'd be interesting to see them try to plug him into Wijnaldum's old position. Excellent cover for Fabinho as well.

[Manc]

Fabinho
Henderson
Keita
Thiago
Milner
Ox
Jones
Elliott?

Save the £.

[-james-]

How many of those do you expect to be playing regularly in five years time? Bissouma is basically a sure thing.

[Spikey M]

I fucking love Bissouma. Anyone but Liverpool please.

[-james-]

Ronaldo to United looks on lol. Looking forward to the United fan pivot on this one.

[Lewis]

Look, some women do make these things up.

[randomlegend]

1431239233470091276

I'm still not sure it's a good idea, but hard not to get a bit emotive about this one.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It makes more sense for both parties than him going to siddy.

Like a slightly better version of when they signed Zlatan 'Zlatan' Ibrahimovic.

[randomlegend]

1431238280780132353

Talksport have (bizarrely) broken nearly everything this summer and been right.

[Spikey M]

Training him up as a kid, letting him leave for his dream club, winning titles and happy to welcome him back in his twilight years. Man Utd have completed their transition to a small club.

[randomlegend]

https://www.flightradar24.com/ATL9K/28eea9f6

Ronaldo on his way to Manchester.

[Kikó]

Prepare the helicopter.

[Lewis]

Walks into training, the manager calls him 'Ronny', walks out of training.

[randomlegend]

1431246918991101962?s=09

City out the race. It must be done.

[-james-]

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/23/09/4877E1C200000578-5296779-United_s_newest_player_putting_pen_to_paper_on_his _contract_with-a-9_1516698173188.jpg

[Lewis]

Beat them to Fred as well. :cool:

[Offshore Toon]

This is a great outcome considering where we were yesterday. You'd hope he'll go some distance to flushing out the fanny mentality in the dressing room.

[randomlegend]

1431262846092972036

It's actually happening lol

[Waffdon]

I’ll wait until a Tier 1 confirms it.

[Spikey M]

1430733371773128708?s=19

:lol:

[Dark Soldier]

https://c.tenor.com/NN89l8Ln8iIAAAAC/randy-marsh-south-park.gif

[Baz]

Ronaldo in a City shirt = absolute must have in fantasy football
Ronaldo in a United shirt = ehhhhh :happycry:

[Yevrah]

This signing could help Ole get his promotion from binman.

[Waffdon]

Ronaldo in a City shirt = absolute must have in fantasy football
Ronaldo in a United shirt = ehhhhh :happycry:

Bruno Fernandes will go from being in 55% of everyone’s teams to about 2%

[Baz]

The transfer nerds private jet-shaming on SSN, saying how much better Lukaku’s was compared to Ronaldos. Is this what it’s come to?

[Offshore Toon]

Ole will always be a binman. Ronaldo drawing up the tactics board for him won't change anything.

[Danny]

1431274262644600835

[Manc]

Juve must have really needed him off the books.

[Baz]

Will Cavani give up the 7 shirt? (Or Martial 9?)

Pellistri (lol) has 28, which he apparently wore at Sporting.

Lowest numbers available are 12, 15 & 24. 77?

[Pepe]

6+1

[Spikey M]

Considering his brand is CR7 I imagine he'd be pretty firm on the no. 7 shirt, surely?

[Kikó]

It's done.

Lol

[Jimmy Floyd]

From Juve's end it feels like when you start a new game on CM/FM and find your club saddled with some old cunt on a billion quid a week and are happy to flog him anywhere, in that case to raise money to buy some wonderkids, but in Juve's case probably to raise money to pay off their Illy coffee bill and/or pay off the local magistrate.

[Waffdon]

400k likes in 10 minutes. Ronaldo >

[Spikey M]

Messi to PSG. Ronaldo to Man Utd. Sissoko to Watford. What a window.

[Gray Fox]

CR77?

I mean I imagine Cavani just gives up the shirt but it'll be lol if he doesn't.

[randomlegend]

We MUST be planning on selling a forward after this. Currently have Ronaldo, Cavani, Greenwood, Martial, Rashford, Sancho, James and prolly Lingard for 3 positions.

[Ian]

Ole will always be a binman. Ronaldo drawing up the tactics board for him won't change anything.

I made a comparison to Ole managing this like a FM team and this just adds to it.

[randomlegend]

CR77?

I mean I imagine Cavani just gives up the shirt but it'll be lol if he doesn't.

Do players actually have any choice on whether they give up a shirt or not? I know the media like to pretend they do but I doubt it tbh.

[Spikey M]

Depends if they care enough to include their shirt number in their contract. You just know Ronaldo would.

[Gray Fox]

Genuinely no idea. I would imagine Cavani is wise enough to know the score though.

[Waffdon]

We MUST be planning on selling a forward after this. Currently have Ronaldo, Cavani, Greenwood, Martial, Rashford, Sancho, James and prolly Lingard for 3 positions.

Lingard back to West Ham I presume? 6 for the front 3 is a decent amount of cover.

Maybe Martial to Italy as well since Pogba is better off the left

[Ian]

It's actually 4 if you include Martial. He's so disinterested I'm counting him as -2 players.

[Offshore Toon]

I don't see the issue there. 7 for three positions is healthy as Lingard would mostly be in the midfield three anyway, right? Greenwood and James are young, Martial is going to moan regardless, then Ronaldo, Cavani and Sancho are all good enough to play plenty. Rashford is the only one you might worry about, but he's shit so him throwing his toys out of the pram would be a blessing in disguise.

[Yevrah]

You shouldn't worry about Rashford.

[Max Power]

The feeding kids campaign may lose momentum when it’s figurehead plays for Everton.

[Lewis]

Ronaldo will bollock him during Super Sunday and we'll get a thousand words starting 'So, about earlier...' just before the news deadlines.

[SincereTheRebel]

Has Ole won anything with Man Red so far?

[Dquincy]

The Man Utd fans 180'ing from this time yesterday is all sorts of lol. :drool:

[niko_cee]

No.

And for fuck's sake United, just let City have their catastrophe. Aren't they already paying Cavani a small fortune? Their pensioner department is going to put the goalkeeper department to shame. From an outsider's perspective, whatever they are chucking at this deal would be much more useful in footballing terms being aimed at their midfield.

[-james-]

Yeah impressive how they've nuked the "we've changed!!!" narrative in the space of an afternoon. Fun though.

[Pen]

Pen I'm burning all my old Ronaldo shirts.

Wish I’ve waited now. Had to order three new full kits and a tracksuit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

1430733371773128708?s=19

:lol:
:D

[Kikó]

1431306673474449411?s=19

Penandes 🥲

[niko_cee]

Also, mustn't forget to mention the big brains at Juve. £100m and god know what in wages and they've basically gone backwards at a million miles an hour. Money well spent.

[Shindig]

Cristianor Onaldo.

[Spikey M]

Christianoro Naldo.

[Spikey M]

Christian O'Ronaldo.

[Shindig]

Such versatility. Hopefully it doesn't shit the bed like Ogba's return.

[Baz]

Such versatility. Hopefully it doesn't shit the bed like Ogba's return.

His first games against Newcastle innit?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I love the Boavista shirt draped over the chair / grandfathered in so as not to make his home fans seethe.

[randomlegend]

He's reportedly on half what he was at Juve.

Chucking a small transfer fee and 300 odd grand a week at Ronaldo for two years is really not the same as the Sanchez signing

I'm still not sure though, and we definitely should have brought a midfielder in before looking at doing this.

[Shindig]

His first games against Newcastle innit?

Well, consider me excited.

In other news, we've sent Matty Longstaff to Aberdeen for a year. Poor lad.

[Dquincy]

1431306673474449411?s=19

Penandes 🥲
What in the cringe is this.

[Kikó]

Mad to think Wullie all this time was Penandes.

[Reg]

He's reportedly on half what he was at Juve.

Chucking a small transfer fee and 300 odd grand a week at Ronaldo for two years is really not the same as the Sanchez signing

I'm still not sure though, and we definitely should have brought a midfielder in before looking at doing this.
Midfielders. 😂

But seriously, why worry about tactical details and transfer what ifs, when they’ve just signed perhaps the greatest player of all time.

United to win the league.

[Spikey M]

Chelsea will win the league.

[Lewis]

It's Ronaldo mate forget midfield losers.

[Lewis]

He'll bang a 'trademark' freekick in within his first three home games, and then spend the rest of the season trademarking them into the crowd/wall. :drool:

[Spikey M]

1431335864123146246?s=19