If Ole is looking to play decent football then it's a good move for United. Lukakus second touch was either a tackle or him pumping some more weights. Dybala might not be what the hype was for him, but he can play the proper stuff.
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If Ole is looking to play decent football then it's a good move for United. Lukakus second touch was either a tackle or him pumping some more weights. Dybala might not be what the hype was for him, but he can play the proper stuff.
Sadly Ole hasn't managed in a Champions League final so he doesn't have a style of football for Dybala to fit into. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Are there any YouTube videos dedicated to Dybala losing the ball and missing sitters? If not, it's a steal.
Haven't Juve already got Higuain? What on earth do they want with Lukaku? I know it's all made up but lol at Dybala's reported wage demands. Do you reckon every United wage negotiation starts with the player's agent passing across a portrait of Alexis in a brown envelope whilst giving it the full :naughty:?
Looks like we’re in negotiations over Bruno Fernandes. Don’t want him if it means Eriksen would leave, but if that’s happening anyway then at least we’re trying for someone decent
I'd love Eriksen.
I’m sure you would
There are some quality memes going around depicting Lukaku and Higuain as Mark Henry and The Big Show.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Oh never mind then. #AvramGrantInQuote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Pepe to Arsenal official now.
I guess I can unfollow him on Instagram now.
Do we know what plane Bruno Fernandes is on?
I'll let you know when we do.
Maguire's pulled out of Leicester's squad for their next friendly.
Spurs back in for Fernandes. Levy vs Westwood increasing their bids by 1p per day until they realise the window has shut and he's signed for Atletico Madrid. :cool:
No wonder Uniteds transfer business has been such a mess if THE BIG DOG is running the business.
https://d3c1jucybpy4ua.cloudfront.ne...m_westwood.jpg
I don't even know how I've managed that, but I'm leaving it.
Holler Gunner Solskjaer.
The story is Tottenham made one bid which was clearly going to be rejected and are now not pursuing it any further.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
[X] doubt
Was looking up Eriksen and saw this on his wikipedia page:
:DQuote:
Born in Middelfart, Denmark, Eriksen followed in his father Thomas' footsteps when he started playing football in the academy of local side, Middelfart
That's an FM save waiting to happen.
It's been glorious this summer as a Chelsea fan with no transfer bollocks to worry about. I recommend it very highly.
You're missing out, it's really fun to track a plane online.
Especially when the player isn't even in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
Catching a plane taking off on flight radar is actually pretty cool to see.
Same.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Ahh the United ITKs are scrambling now i seeQuote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
For once we are actually looking too offload players rather than keep our team together.
Listening to offers for Cedric, Boufal, Lemina, Austin, Hoedt, Carillo, Forster, McCarthy and Elyounussi - basically anyone weve signed in the last three years.
They're all on mega money so it's tough to find anyone interested.
Need to shift a couple of those on to free up funds for a cente back.
Hasnt Lemina been constantly supposed to leave (and be good)...?
Che Adams seems pretty awesome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy
I'm not entirely convinced either of us are really in for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
It's just good to know you've got reliable Spurs ITK's in your team.
Hes good about three times a season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazuuurk
That was the story publicly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
All of them in TV games. He's a lazy piece of shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy
Meanwhile, Kevin Prince Boateng has just signed for Fiortentina from Sassuolo, after having spent last season being loaned out to Barca :cab:
That man is one of the biggest mysteries in modern football, to me.
He must be fucking minted in signing on fees.
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Here we go.
The link to the Tweet is bust, but did anybody think it wasn't going to happen? It'll just be a case of how much United give in and chuck at Leicester because we've got fuck all else going on.
Other than that airliner full of talent that's taxiing on Jorge Mendes' driveway, obviously.
Sky deleted the tweet. Classy.
Indeed and he thinks hes the best thing since aliced bread as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Requested a transfer a few weeks ago, pulled out of the pre season tour and started posting tweets trying to sell himself with #TonicLikeLeminade.
Hopefully we find a buyer.
Dani Alves has joined Sao Paulo on a three-year deal.
Malcom has moved to Zenit Saint Petersburg for £36.5m plus £4.5m in add-ons.
Krystian Bielik has joined Derby for £7m.
Rafael Leão has joined AC Milan for £27m. FFP isnt a problem after all.
So Lille are just casually selling off their whole attack for about 100M.
Maguire done for £85m.
You'd think that deal probably could and should have been done about a month ago.
The window shuts before a ball is kicked so they all still have time. You would think Leicester already have a shortlist from the end of last season. They may have to overpay now though, but who gives a fuck.
Fucking FINALLY. Let's get Dybala and Bruno Fernandes over the line and on to winning the league by January.
Dybala is the type of signging I thought Man Utd would stay away from, but they are back into it all again.
Tarkowski or Dunk are the ones they are rumoured to be after. Given Brighton seem to be spending £25m on that Championship lad I'd say it's Dunk most likely.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Should have just bought Shane Duffy and saved 60 or 70 million quid. I'm not even joking either.
.
I hope we stick with what we have defensively and spend a chunk of it on a winger. Imagine it’ll huge money on a Dunk/Tarkowski type though.
Given we're swapping him for Lukaku I don't really see the risk. He's not some flouncy mong like Di Maria or turning 30 like Sanchez.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Liam Ridgewell has just signed for Southend. He could have fitted right in.
Maguire is gonna be such a lol Phil Jones style semi-disappointment
He won't get mucked about the way Jones did but, more importantly, also has a less hilarious face.
I doubt he'll be bad and given some of the other dross we've had in that position he'll probably receive a lot of praise by comparison.
FEC must be close to testimonials for Man Utd now, while still being below 30. He has been around for time.Quote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
#JusticeforJose
He can't really 'play out from the back' though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I still reckon Dunk would be a good signing, although I don't think he's really progressed in the Premier League as I thought he might. He's not that young anymore either, so selling him on for double in a year or two probably isn't an option.
*issues hands off warning*Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Two players in. Jetro Willems and Alain Saint-Maximin.
Sport are claiming we’ve put in a loan to buy move for Coutinho which must be nonsense. Annoying if it is true as I’ve spent years saying he’s overrated.
Lukaku EXPOSING Big Fat Luke Shaw as being the slowest person at the club (even slower than Juan Mata, who runs in actual slow motion). What a day.
I can confirm that the data he's using doesn't exist because I don't believe Lukaku has ever actually sprinted.
Has anyone ever said he lacked pace anyway? Gets knackered after every sprint, yes; but I don't recall the running speed being an issue.
That data is just the fastest they ran in a random training session, not sprint tests or anything, so it's basically irrelevant.
I think he was pretty quick off the mark before he added all the extra muscle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
His pace is decent enough still but I reckon it takes him longer to get a shift on. That might be totally inaccurate though.
Can he play like that?
Can't make him any worse.
Am I wrong to think that spending 85 million on Harry Maguire is terrible business?
If they’ve been chasing him for as long as they seemingly have, not buying him when it was Mourinho wanting him for 50 is the mistake not the purchase.
I'm surprised it's not more of a general consensus. Most of the media seem to be skipping the fact he's average.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonsky
I was being overly harsh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonsky
He's fine. He's a middling defender. But he'd have been a quarter of the price if he wasn't English, and he's just cost 3 and a bit Alderweireld's (before the release clause expired).
Depends what you're measuring it against, fees of other players in his position or how much cash United have on the hip.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonsky
I assume sponsors and such are soon going to get hacked off if we're not in the Champions League regularly again but other than that I don't imagine spending the money has much of an impact.
He'll be fine, but not amazing.
That new chant he's got makes it all worthwhile.
The new chant is aids. Let England call his head massive.
What is the chant?
His head's bigger than Kiko's,
His head's bigger than Kiko's,
His head's bigger than Kiko's.
Whether it actually is the new chant or not is to be questioned (as I didn't recognise anyone at the game yesterday so mostly there for the friendly/kids and families)
To la bamba:
Harry Maguire
Fucked off Leicester
For Manchester
His heads fucking massive
(England sing drinks the vodka, drinks the Jaeger which is relatively funnier)
I thought Toby has the largest?Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
Maguire will be a great signing for United, lots of money but it's always going to be the case as Premier league teams are all loaded.
I think Maguire doesn't get the respect he deserves in some circles as hes seen as this fun loving, big headed oath. Hes technically gifted and solid. Huge improvement on Bailly, Smalling and Jones.
United have brought well in defence, if they can get the balance right up front they should get back into the top four fairly comfortably. The right hand side was a reall issue last season and Wan-Bissaka is the sort of player who can control the whole flank on his own.
He does. Maguire is nowhere near that level.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
So Dybala's wage demands were so unreal that even United had to call it a day? You have to wonder what the fuck he was asking for considering their liberal approach to doling it out.
He wanted to make Sanchez look like a peasant.
The new Director of Football has reservations about signing anyone not from Northern Europe.
Oh well that was fun while it lasted.
Kermit gave up too has he
Man City are giving Juventus £27m + Danilo (forgot he even played for them) for Cancelo.
Simon Mignolet has joined Brugge
Júnior Firpo is at Barcelona for £17m
Wolves have signed Pedro Neto and Bruno Jordao from Lazio for a combined fee of £23m
Getting Lukaku on a plane to Italy is still the best thing that could come from the whole deal so at least that's still alive.
I've now been off FM for long enough that I don't have the first clue who any new arrivals in the country are. It's like being back in the 90s.
I stopped playing FM in 2015 and my knowledge from then died, up until the past year with FIFA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Firpo is the left back Liverpool were being linked with for fifty million at the start of the summer, presumably because that was his release clause and papers like to put a big number on things where possible. In the U21 World Cup he looked brainless to a previously unimagined extent, so that should be good fun.
That Mignolet deal has happened quickly, he was up collecting his runners up medal with Liverpool at about half five last night.
Phase one has started
https://www.skysports.com/football/n...day-supplement
Man Utd have officially rejected an offer from Real Madrid for Pogba which involved James Rodriguez. Madrid are also interested Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £60m
Liverpool has signed former West Ham goalkeeper Adrian on a free transfer.
Decent signing, still only 32 too so not super old.
I always thought Adrian was pretty good.
Not sure why they ended up dropping him and having him as the backup.
I’m not sure either, I’ve always rated Adrian myself.
It’s a strange one too given Adrian wanted first team football and has signed for a team with an established top rated No.1
I can only assume Liverpool are paying him enough to not care or he’s been promised 15 games a season.
Got to build the retirement fund. Unlike someone like Heaton, who presumably harbours international ambitions, Adrian has no chance on that front and he's at an age where sitting on the bench for 5 years and maybe picking up a few medals probably appeals.
He'll get domestic cups and irrelevant European games, I would imagine.
Maybe he really wants to win the Club World Cup or whatever it is called.
I'm a bit disappointed if Wilson's lack of involvement yesterday means he's off. They'll get good money and all (and maybe he wants to go) but I'd like to have seen him given a go. Hopefully he's just had enough pre-season minutes and they needed to get more of the returning players up to speed.
Saw something floating around that Man Utd may be in for Eriksen. Having thought he was 29/30 already but being 27 I'm starting to entertain the idea it would better for us to go for a known Premier League quantity in CE than spending the same amount or more on a player for the Portuguese league, even if he is younger, mostly because let's face it if Bruno came and excelled at Man Utd whose to say he'd sign a second contract and doesn't have ambitions of playing in Spain just as he's entering his prime.
This is all a load of shit I'm talking but just how my mind works.
Eriksen would be a cracking signing for anyone in the Premier League, but I think Levy would want too much. He's much more likely to go for a more reasonable (non-insane) amount once the English window has shut.
You don't reckon wanting Bruno Fernandes themselves would convince them to get the easy cash from Utd to then use to bring in BF?
Just curious though I doubt Spurs are penny pinching like that anyways.
I guess someone on Sky has said United are done in the transfer window.
I sure hope Fred has a stellar 2nd season, then.
I don't think that's how Spurs work. To make it work they'd want £100m for Eriksen and to bring in a replacement for half that, at most, and I'm not sure either of those things will happen. Bruno Fernandes would be a good replacement for Alli if they were looking for one.
I hope Bruno comes for that exact reason, because Dele needs to be smacked around a bit, but he probably won't. It's been a shit window all things considered. Just one player in, fantastic. Sessegnon might be coming which would be fine but doesn't really touch on any of the problem areasQuote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Erikson has a year left on his deal I think.
Did Madrid not want Eriksen? I thought I'd read loads of crying about him being packed up to go before the CL final. Or was that only a backup if they didn't land Hazard?
They did want him, then he was shit for 6 months and they moved on.
He seems like the ideal Modric replacement
He already was the ideal Modric replacementQuote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Has he ever been as close to as good as Modric? Granted he does some good highlight stuff but outside that he just strolls around looking like he doesn't want to play the game at all. Modric ran games.
Yeah, Modric was better.
Before he started sulking he had impressive stats all round.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
https://www.premierleague.com/player...-Eriksen/stats
We've almost reached the point (if we haven't already) where transfer fees for English clubs are almost irrelevant. If Utd are capitalising that fee over 5 years (is that the length of his contract?) then it won't even touch the sides.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoonsky
I read somewhere it was 6 years but that's probably wrong surely.
6 with an option for another.
I've not seen anything about wages, hopefully he's on ridiculous money.
I hope he is too considering there's no reason he shouldn't be paid handsomely.
Man Utd generate what a billion + in revenue so let the players get their fair share of the ramen noodle money like idk... it's not my money so why not.
He's not reported to be on anything THAT ridiculous, think I read 190k.
The Italian journalists are still pushing the narrative that the Dybala deal isn't completely off. I really don't understand why we seemingly aren't in for Bruno Fernandes though, unless the Eriksen stuff is real.
If the window ends without any more signings then we've fixed the defence but midfield is PAINFULLY thin.
Angel Gomes mate. The twelve year old David Silva.
How has Sir David fared in pre-season?
I really think Gomes and Greenwood are going to be genuinely class.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Neal Maupay for £20m?
At least he's not come from the Eredivisie, I guess. Beyond that I have no idea. Any good?
I have no idea about the rest of them, but Greenwood looks like a legitimate freak. If he doesn't make it they might as well all give up, and I would be tempted to just chuck him straight into the first team and see what happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Brentford fans I know like him, but they are a strange and evangelical lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Scores a lot of goals, has done fairly consistently for the last 2/3 seasons.
Seems to have really quick feet and is a great finisher.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Both his goals this pre-season were great.
He’s a nasty bastard.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
What’s the latest with Pogba? My fantasy season depends on him.
Rooney is joining Deby in a coaching role?
Antonio Valencia has gone back to Ecuador to play for L.D.U. Quito
I'm a big fan of Maupay and he impressed me more than any other Championship striker last season.
He's ridiculously ambi...footstrous? as well, to the point he takes set pieces with either foot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
Guess his FM stats will have to be universally nerfed then
Did we not have all this under LvG? Young kid given a chance, United fans cream their knickers, next Class of 92, next Busby Babes etc until reality sets in.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Most of those who got given the opportunity failed to make the grade and now ply their trade in the lower leagues. Rashford is the only first teamer and that's more to do with Man United not having anyone better as opposed to him being 'that' good, because he's not. He's made to look better by default of United looking predominately shit.
Surely a striker looking good in a shit team is more impressive than one looking good in a good one?
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smjffy
These next couple days will be wild :drool:
Not really, he only looks good because he breaks into a sprint now and again as it surely can't be for his goal return.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
Is Lo Celso an Eriksen replacement?
I don’t think we’re signing him unless Eriksen goes, so I guess
He's does of a Dele Alli as far as I can tell.
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Just say two footed. Or ambidextrous of the feet.
You having a stroke?Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
Apparently ambipedal is the word RL was looking for
Ambidextrous of the feet is far worse.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
Ambidextrous van den Feet
It's not a clean phrase, but it means what you were trying to convey and consists of real words properly applied.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Kinda did. Tuanzebe, Blackett, McNair, Love, Borthwick-Jackson, Fosu-Mensah...Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
That's not to say any of this batch will not turn out well (like Rashford and Lingaard) but it's fair to say a batch came through last time and the majority didn't cut the mustard.
That is pretty much always the case though, isn't it?
Er.
Tuanzebe is in the first team squad this season. He's barely featured for us and has been on loan for years. A bit early to write him off.
Blacket was always crap, most United fans thought so.
McNair I'll give you. I thought he'd make it.
Donald Love played 1 league game.
Borthwick-Jackson was a weird one. He never looked particularly good other than being able to cross a ball. Not sure many United fans were particularly excited about him, but he did an okay job when he filled in.
Fosu-Mensah had raw talent, but was thick. A lot of United fans overrated him and did get a bit giddy over him.
2/6 isn't bad I guess.
None of them were remotely as highly regarded as Greenwood and Gomes.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
You'd have been better off including Januzaj, who people were well and truly wanking over.
None of them are a patch on Andre Wisdom or Ben Woodburn.
By you. I’ve only ever heard of Gomes through your posts. Greenwood has had some media hype, not as much as Adnan thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Yes, but he is itk of the itks.Quote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
Apparently Coutinho loan is on. Probably at the expense of Lo Celso and Bruno, as well as Eriksen.
Yeah because who you've heard of is a good barometer of who is highly thought of in English youth teams :cab:Quote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
It’s probably a fairly accurate proxy
I think Jimmy was the most guilty party on this front.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny
We've allegedly signed a player called Ludwig Francillette. Excellent.
Dybala to Spurs is ON #ITK
If that happens, it means we're getting Eriksen.
Another terrible season ahead at Man Utd, then.
I'd be delighted if we get Eriksen. Superb player.
Eriksen would be fantastic.
Massively over-rated. Can't do anything if you're not doing his running for him. He's just another Coutinho type.
In other news, we're being linked with Rugani for 40 million euros after a 2 year loan. Never seen him play.
Surely Levy's not coughing up wages that were too steep for United?
Eriksen wants 'a new challenge'. I guess leaving Champions League finalists for Europa League bottlers would be a pretty lol challenge.
He'll leave Spurs for someone in Europe after our window closes.
All the Dybala and Coutinho rumours will be utter bullshit.
Eriksen has decided he's ready to make the step up, that's all.
I can't speak for Eriksen for lack of watching him, but Coutinho for all the bad feeling, is very good.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
He can get a little like that one kid at school who was better than everyone so tries to do it all himself. But he has the ability to pull a goal or a free kick out of very little. Everyone bar City would be a better team for having him in it.
Surely Ozil is the prime example of that?Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
Phonics has been EtheredQuote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
I’m definitely willing to let Eriksen go, he contributes a lot of assists but he stymies our play and defines our attack in a way that has annoyed me a lot over the past couple years. We’ll miss him, but we need some changes to our attack and he makes the most sense to shift on. I hope United don’t get him though, I’ll be forced to wish him ill ever weekend which I don’t want
I'm not sure how he fits into a Paulp Ogba-led midfield unless he takes a Luka Modric-like recycling role. He could do that, but will he? If it's one sensible midfielder in a free-for-all then it will be useless.
Eriksen usually has one of the highest average distances run in the league. 2017/18 he was top. Spurs fans all say this is rubbish too.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
Eriksen is consistently one of the players who covered the most ground per game :cab:
Edit: as above
Yeah, but he's about to leave, ergo he's shit.
He's just aimlessly jogging around pretending to do things.
Clearly.
Sideway signing.
It's Phonics on Spurs. Think Smiffy on United but more smug and somehow less substance.
Oh shit :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
Eriksen's only weak point is set pieces. Which is odd because he started out as a free kick specialist.
He hasn't beaten the first man from a corner in about 2 years.
We've played 4-2-3-1 in most of the preseason games, with Pogba as one of the two further back where he plays for France. The other formation we've played is the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond Ole seems to like. In both cases Eriksen would play as the 10 I would imagine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
He'll fit right in :drool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
He can be backup to Jones on corners.
I can see those being run to pieces.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Sky are running with Spurs agreeing £64m for Dybala.
Eriksen surely off then.
EDIT: Thinking about it, wouldn't Dybala be comfortably the best paid player at the club? Not very Spurs like if true.
Or he's about to join, ergo he's the best player ever. It's always the same no matter what the player or the two clubs involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by SvN
How are Spurs going to pay Dybala when Utd couldn't and they should be spending fuck all with the new ground and all anyway?
Probably Juve trying to push Utd to stump up what Dybala wants so they can get rid of him. The reports have all come from the Italian side, nothing from the UK journalists.
Man Utd probably decided not to pay him.No doubt, they can afford him along with the rest of the big six
Our ITK'ers have been all over him for a week, i'm sure you believe the rumors nowQuote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Actually, MATE, I've rated Eriksen up there with Ronaldo for the last 45 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Llorente to Man Utd. Please please please.
If Spurs sign someone on big wages then don't a number of players in the team get rises? I personally don't see him nor Coutinho leaving anywhere.
Crystal Palace yesterday rejected a £70million bid, plus two players, from Everton for Wilfried Zaha.
The two players being added were like some lol bid you'd make on FM where you're not actually prepared to give up anybody you want.
James McCarthy and Cenk Tosun.
Copy and pasted directly from SSN
"Palace will not consider any offer less then north what Manchester United paid Leicester for Harry Maguire"
Even my writing isnt that bad.
Doesn't look like we're signing a midfielder which is a bit fucking disastrous.
The magical 1999 side didn't have a midfield either, you'll be fine.
I don't know what, precisely, you're trying to say about Jonathan Greening but I for one am not having it.
True, Keane and Scholes were shite.
Everton have bid 30m for Iwobi.
Everton are throwing around the coins. That's an amazing offer for Arsenal though. Iwobi has zero end product.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
Apparently we’ve knocked it back and a 40m bid expected - all Ornstein reported, so should be legit.
I like the way Raul Sanllehi is going about this window - the Kos situation is a great example of what we’ve done poorly in the past. Grabbing 4.7m for a crocked 33 year old rather than caving and letting him go for free is the kind of business we need to do. Similarly I’d snap Everton’s hand off for 30m to go towards Tierney and/or Upamacano but if we can Levy another 10m out of them then we’ve done a grand job. 10m for a young lad who’s hardly appeared for us and has basically played all of his football in League 1 was pretty decent as well...
All bodes well.
Just had a 3rd bid rejected for Bruno, who would cost the same as Lo Celso, despite Lo Celso seemingly being a far superior player. United can grab Bruno if they want, if it means we can get one of the other targets.
Talks with Atletico for Eriksen apparently too.
I’ve fallen to new lows as I’m reading ITK threads on Spurs forums. Luckily i’ll be off the crack after tomorrow
Lo Celso is crap.
+1
Not that I know either of them well, but Fernandes failed out of Italy and has had one bonkers season. Lo Celso I’ve actually watched and he looked dazzling when I did, but PSG didn’t want him either. Neither of them strikes me as destined for greatness but they seem to be the hill we’re willing to die on
One really good season in an average league seems to be £100m before you've started these days so whatever fee is meant to be getting chucked about for Fernandes is a bit of a bargain, somehow.
lol at Zaha putting in a transfer request. Bit late now you brainless twat.
I like the look of Fernandes. Not sure about Lo Celso, wasn't he used as a right back not that long ago?
Good on Coutinho lolling at the London 'offers'. Just don't go to United now, you div. Stick it out at Barcelona and come back home once all of the appearance/team performance clauses have been triggered.
Everton have an interesting transfer 'strategy' by the looks of it. Might end up being a decent side this year though. Or completely terrible. You can never tell.
Everton are just bidding, very openly it seems, for everyone.
David Luiz?
I would like to sign this petition.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
David Luiz in an Arsenal defence would be fucking amazing.
Because he's former Liverpool or because you don't rate him? I don't see why he's so disliked by a lot of supporters, both his own, former or rivals. He's a handy player.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Tackie Mensah has joined Watford on a free
It's that Timothy or someone else?Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
I think they have made some nifty move in the market tbf to them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazuuurk
WelbeckQuote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
They've turned it down :cab:Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
He isn’t worth what was paid for him and what he is likely being paid. You robbed them blind and are better off for it. We don’t need another left winger cutting inside and shooting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smjffy
He's not worth £100m+ (although in a world where Zaha is £80m+ and Alex 'WTF?' Iwobi is apparently worth £40m who knows) but he's a good enough player to improve most Premier League sides as a loanee punt, it should be a no-brainer for most teams, but he doesn't want to go to most teams and Liverpool don't seem to want him back. It'll be Bayern or PSG as the window winds down methinks. I hope he sticks it out there for another year.
21 million isn’t exactly a loan punt.
I don't care that he's ex-Liverpool. It'd be different if he'd been some vocally anti-United Scouse stalwart but even then if the player's good enough I'm not sure I'm bothered.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smjffy
Other people have covered the other reasons. He'd cost a lot to not be a significant bump, I suspect he'd only really come as a last option anyway.
If I was being facetious I'd say the investment is ruined as soon as a defender thinks to show him onto his left foot but Danny puts it less smart-arsey, we've already got enough fart-about-and-cut-inside merchants, even Coutinho has a better Premier League record than presumably all of them.
Is that what they want for a season or is that his wages?
Don't they want £80m for him anyway? In many ways you could say that represents value when compared to someone like Pepe or Zaha.
Lukaku to Inter is done. If we don't spend that money (which obviously we won't) then we're a disgrace.
Today's twitter rumor is that we're going in for Inaki Williams from Bilbao.
I know fuck all of the player outside of FUT but apparently he had a quote in a Spanish newspaper that read
"I have about 5-10 million Euros and fuck four times a week" which has now added him to my "Absolute Dons I Want For Utd" list along with "I am.." David Neres "come to me".
Would Inaki Williams really be much of an improvement on Lukaku?
Particularly seeing as that quote suggests he's a potential pound-piler-oner.
Isn't Memphis supposedly tearing it up in France? Has the boat sailed on him?
I mean surely they put in a buy-back.
I bring this up because when I looked up Williams and it showed "Comparable players" Memphis was #2 who I'd assume would cost less due to the clause if it exists.
It can't have taken you this long to decide that Woodward is absolutely useless in the transfer market. You're about six years late.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Tomorrow we're either buying nobody or panic-buying somebody.
Llorente is going to come save us fellas please remain calm.
:D
Soz, Bruh.
Lo Celso agreed between Spurs and Betis. Ornstein.
On it.
He just has to make it past the Chelsea taxi.
At least he seems to have made it over The Channel.
Emil Krafth is in for his medical. £5m fee rumoured. We still need a left back, tbh. Maybe another striker, too although nobody's bothered with Dwight this time around.
I don't want to get my hopes up but we've spent money and Joelinton looks sharp enough.
ColdQuote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Second best left back in the world is joining Arsenal.
Fair play to the guy on the right going on temporary strike.
Might have to buy an Arsenal season ticket lads. With David Luiz in defence, they are probably odds on to conceded 70 goals in the league, regardless of his partner.
So... David Luiz and Tierney to Arsenal. Lol at whoever came out with the ~£40m budget claim.
Real also apparently in talks with PSG about Neymar. I have no idea how they can go about that without breaking about every FFP rule there is.
Why are we selling David Luiz to Arsenal when we can't replace him? We should make him train on his own for two years.
Good news for Christensen I guess.
Feels like Chelsea and Arsenal have swapped so many high profile players down the years.
Why would he even want to go to Arsenal?
I imagine Lampard has told him he's not going to play much and it's a decent move without having to move house.
Maybe SFB thinks he's shit, which (without resorting too blatantly to the Law of Departing Players mentioned before) would not necessarily be a massive departure from the truth.
We have Zouma back and Christensen, as well as Rudi, but after that you're down to Fikayo Tomori and playing Azpi out of position.
GiroudQuote:
Originally Posted by Spoonsky
A.Cole
Cech
Benayoun
Dallas
Diarra
My mind will break seeing Luiz in an Arsenal kit.
Just put Guendouzi through that face ageing app and you'll get the gist.
Probably some sideways loan move with the obligation to buyQuote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49256280
Cancelo has joined City for £60m with Danilo going to Juventus for £34.1m.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Waffdon
Good for Arsenal. They've played cheap for so long the media was happy to take this bait and run wild with it. As such, likely improved their negotiating position at least SOMEWHAT in these circumstances.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Meanwhile, we're still drowning because this douchebag Woodward was out here talkin about wAtCh ThIs SpAcE while the only good news coming out of the club regards new shoelace sponsorships or whatever the fuck.
Well, Lukaku looks to be going, so there's that
Replace him with Berahino. GAINS.
Morning news:
Leicester agree £18m fee with Sampdoria for Dennis Praet.
Tottenham agree £25m fee with Fulham for Ryan Sessegnon.
Inter agree £74m fee with Man Utd for Romelu Lukaku
Ah, it's that time of year I'm reminded Achraf Lazaar is still our player.
I watched about 5 minutes of DEADLINE DAY MORNING before going to get the train and I think it gave me brain damage.
Mario Mandzukic (seriously how old is he?) to replace Big Fat Rom? Mind-bottling.
Sounds like a temporary step backwardsQuote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
£8m for Luiz is ridiculous.
Hopeful news coming out wrt Dybala...
I'm still stunned that Levy is stumping up whatever money it is that Woodward wouldn't. Assuming it's as simple as that of course, and not just a case of Dybala fancying United less.
I know. It's about £4m too much.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
West Ham have signed Ajeti from Basel for £8m.
I dont understand why Arsenal would want David Luiz. Doesn't seem like an upgrade on anything we have already. Well except Mustafi, but I was sort of hoping he was already behind Holding, Sokratis & Chambers...
Dennis Praet joining his big mate Tielemans for the rather quaint looking £18m. Really nice looking midfield we have right now, would have liked another wide player ideally but oh well.
Dybala to Tottenham is actually happening.
I would honestly resign if I was OGS after this transfer window. He hasn't got a chance with our midfield. If Pogba gets a long term injury we will be struggling for top 8, never mind top 4.
Ole clearly wants Martial and Rashford to be first choice strikers. Mandzukic is quality, but aging and would be happy to sit on the bench. It would be a good signing given those circumstances. We won't make it.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
The best bit of business so far is Man City somehow convincing Juventus that Danilo is worth £30m
I suspect you wouldn't.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
If he resigns he's never getting a job at a club of United's stature ever again. He's got significantly more to gain than to lose by hanging about, even if you take the raw monies out of the equation.
I'll just be interested to see whether the initial lift when he came on or the following slump are closer to the norm. It sounds like he's been putting them through the wringer to get them fit so that'll be one less excuse if and when it all goes pear-shaped.
The Sessegnon deal to Spurs is supposedly £25m (rising to £30m) and Josh Onomah. If that’s the case, then I think we’ve done really well to get that for a player in the last year of his contract.
Now I’m not too fussed on Onomah, but after Saturday’s shambolic performance, it’s clear we do need depth and options in the middle of the park. Hopefully the money can go towards one of the defensive transfer targets we’ve been linked with.
All in all, will be tough to see Sessegnon go after rapidly flying through our youth ranks but hopefully he’ll progress and become genuinely world class in the future.
It's a reasonable swap for Koscielny - reportedly a similar fee and wages for a guy one year younger and who has won just about every competition between France and England. The long term option is Saliba, and the club clearly identified Upacemano as the preferred long term bet alongside him along with Holding. Upacemano's deal is up in 2 years and he looks unlikely to sign again so I'd not be surprised if we're back in for him in Jan or next summer. Either way, it's a short term gap being filled.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazuuurk
My concern is he's very similar to Sokratis. I like the idea of Holding-Luiz as I do Holding-Sokratis, but Sokratis-Luiz feels a bit errr, aggressive... Both like to charge out and win the ball early, both are not adverse to charging up field with the ball. Overall though, Luiz might be the better player for us with his range of passing (another reason I think we were in for Upamecano).
Sokratis? Sokratis is a brute who can sort of defend a bit but cannot touch the ball at all. David Luiz is a brazilian diva who always wanted to be an attacking midfielder but had to settle for defence. His only real skill is he's got a decent touch and a pass for a defender.
I find they are more opposites than anything else?
Also, Arsenal doesn't need "a reasonable swap for Koscielny", they need a "massive overhaul of their entire defence by signing some quality defenders".
At the end of the day I don't mind Koscielny leaving as he was being a massive cunt about it, and because he's basically been fucked since his achilles injury and was never going to completely recover. But what they need is to sign someone who is a bit class in defence.
Newcastle have signed Emil Krafth from Amiens. Nice with a new swedish player in the PL.
They convinced them by bunging them £60m for some other mook.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Haha we got owned
The biggest disappointment of the United window is not shifting enough of the rubbish. What have they got seven 'senior' centre-backs?
They could use another midfielder, but I'm not overly arsed about another forward not coming in as long as they fill the gap with kids (money for Jadon Sancho next year). If I have to watch Juan Mata huffing and puffing on the wing then yes someone wants shooting.
Yeah, a lot of people are going on about how we need to replace Lukaku, but I don't think we do. The midfield is a much bigger concern, as we haven't filled the gaps that Herrera and Fellaini left. I have no idea how we're going to cope this season without another midfielder.
Rojo will go today, hopefully. Would be nice if FEC joined him.
FEC to be converted to an all-action box-to-box midfielder.
So Dybala deal is off and Sess deal might be off too. Wonderful. Phonics wins this round
I'm also fine with us not signing another forward, but no midfielder is a disgrace. Our net spend this year is like £35m...
With regards to outgoings, the window for the rest of Europe is still open so I imagine some of the dross like Darmian might still be shipped out.
The answer to all your questions is 'McTominay'.
Private jet just went Turin-Biggin Hill and then another took off a few minutes later to Manchester. Maybe Mandzukic.
EDIT: False alarm, not landing in Manchester.
I think McTominay is actually really good. I guess if Fred starts looking like someone worth more than 20p this season it might not end up a total disaster.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Same plane that Bruno Fernandes was on?Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Why wouldn't you just give Koscielny the contract he wanted? He may have been past his peak, but so is Luiz, with added lol factor, at least Koscielny had standing within the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Merse
And if the bolded bit meant anything, you could have had Gary Cahill for nowt.
Also, Aaron Mooy to Brighton is a deal I can fully get on board with if it's happening, would be a quality signing. I'm suddenly getting that dangerous feeling that it might not all go to shit this season.
Luiz placed in the Chelsea team wasn't certified, which means if he is moving to Arsenal. He walks straight into the team.
Apparently Utd have pipped them with a better offer.Quote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
That said, Arsenal are signing Luiz so no matter what happens you've won by default.
Haven’t heard anything about United being in for him, seems it has to do with image rights. Solution could be a loan w/ obligation similar to Lo Celso
Yeah. Fred being less shit, Gomes and that James Garner. I'm actually looking forward to it. Better than buying some flavour of the month flub (like Fred).
Reports in Italy are saying that Wolves have agreed a £28m fee with AC Milan for Frank Kessie.
The main problem with Dybala, apparently, is that his image rights are owned by a Maltese company who bought the rights 10 years ago.
We successfully tracked Danilo the other day by accident!Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
Then he ripped up the contract and they're suing him or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
God, the times you'll have reminiscing about that at the reunion.
How people aren’t being positive about Guendouzi and his Dad playing with each other I don’t know.
That's a hole that can never be filled.Quote:
Originally Posted by SvN
Wolves. :drool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Trancemeister
Andy Isnt he always injured? Carrol is on his way back to Newcastle.
We've had a blinding window, I reckon.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
(Ready to delete this post at 5pm, 5 minutes after Dunk has signed for Leicester. :gs:)
We've still got the Macho Man but it's not the same without Fellainimania. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
Sané has done his ACL apparently.
Sarr to Watford could be a good signing. Always quite liked him when I've seen him play.
Zaha will stay at Crystal Palace
Mooy to Brighton on loan.
The lump has gone :drool:
He's only gone for the vertical stripes.
Not for everyone is such a weird tag line.
Iwobi has gone for 40 million or so. Shame. Think he’ll do well there.
Indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
https://www.inter.it/en/news/68249/i...t-for-everyone
What a load of bollocks.
£40m for a striker who is 23 and has scored 15 professional goals must usher in a new era of madness.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
It's as if Everton have never had money before and when presented with a large chunk of it, have panicked.
Striker? We talking about someone else?
Iwobi is a nothing player.
Everton still seem a bit of an unbalanced squad. Slow start and Silva to get the bullet is my prediction.
Jesus, sorry. I genuinely thought he was.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
That's fair enough, I reckon Everton have done the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
They have a decent team but really fucked up by forgetting they needed a centre half.
Iwobi’s got a lot of talent but it seems to come really hard to him. The amount of times he’ll absolutely embarrass someone and then turn back and have to beat him again is frustrating. If some one unlocks it, they’ll have a really good player on their hands.
I can’t believe we’ve managed to bring in 2 CBs a CM and a winger. We’ve got an actual squad for the first time in years.
Their whole thing is signing failures from the top 6.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Anything good Iwobi does always looks as if it's happened entirely by accident, although it is quite often spectacular.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
And I don't want to rain on your actual squad parade and all, but isn't one of those centre-backs not actually in the squad, and is the other one David Luiz? And if Dani Onions is any good it'll be a first for a Real Madrid loanee.
:lol:
:D
That's incredible.
Andy Carroll should do one of those outside a Greggs.
Lazaar hasn't went ... yet so we still technically have cover at left-back.
At least David Luiz cock ups are entertaining. I’ve watched Mustafi for 3 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Have to say top top work from the Chelsea fans. 1 starring his restaurant claiming there are snakes in the kitchen.
I think Iwobi has the potential to be very good... but I think I might be basing most of that off the impression he looks kinda cool and has good balance. Looking cool and balanced > goals and assists.
Who's had the best window do people reckon?
I don't know who the likes of West Ham have signed so probably Arsenal.
Chelsea.
Liverpool. Did exactly what they had to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reg
Arsenal good
Villa lol fuck knows
Bournemouth good. did they really get 30 million for Tyrone Mings & Lys Mousset? Fucking hell.
Brighton :rave:
Burnley are going down
Chelsea basically spend Hazard proceeds on Kovacic and Pulisic which, eeeeeehhhh. Decent clear out, I suppose.
Palace probably the worst of the lot, and maybe the only team that are now worse?
Everton sure
Leicester are very good
Liverpool yep
City it's getting a bit silly now
United did pretty well tbf
Newcastle maybe the best of the lot? Fuck me I did not expect that.
Norwich dunno
Sheffield United decent, I think
Southampton generic Malian Belgian winger and Che Adams who doesn't sound like a real person but is meant to be good. I assume we'll find out this season if the Belgian league is any good, because everyone suddenly has a hard-on for it.
Spurs fucking hell
Watford that Ismaila Sarr is good, but their defence is still completely lol
West Ham will score loads of goals this season and probably concede just as many
Wolves could probably still do with more than 13 players
We'll see how it goes when the games matter. I'm not sure about Bruce but the personnel looks decent. I just wonder how bad we'll miss Rafa's pragmatism. Fair play, the board needed to bring people in to prevent a full-scale dressing room riot. The fact is, anybody skipping home games will flock back if results turn in our favour.
I'd forgotten Burnley were in the league until we somehow managed to offload Danny Drinkwater to them earlier. Still got time to try and flog Bakayoko to Metz, or Sochaux, or whoever the fuck will take him.
Is Fat Frank really going to play the youth? :drool:
I really want to see how our new players fit in and see the Longstaff brothers play together, but I also think a stand needs to be taken. It's tricky as I live with and work closely with a Newcastle fan, so I'll just use the time we're on to go to the gym or something.
I'm surrounded by mags at work. One of them's a season ticket holder so we'll see how his resolve holds.
I've got two Arsenal fans and a Man United fan. Two are Bulgarian and the other is from South Africa. Listening to them has been an experience in itself.
We did, last season.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
It had fuck all to do with contracts - he’s taken a pay cut to leave. He wanted out of the club and to return to France. He already said (on his return from injury last year) that had the injury not occurred he’d have left when Wenger did, apparently he was in a right huff when we brought him back in and asked him to play too many games, and he believed that from conversations before he left for the summer break that he had been promised a free transfer should anyone come in for him from France.
And whilst Luiz may also be past his past his peak, at least he’s never crocked.
United are looking to tie up ddg and so on contracts soon and we resume the hunt for a new technical director.
I'm not sad Lukaku is gone. One of the worst first touches I've seen and conditioning was a disgrace. Not surprised Herrera wasn't replaced or we were shambling along largely at the end as that's the same as every window. Defence is improved, midfield will need to see the incumbents massively improve, forwards need to step up.
While I think the business really is quite good for Arsenal, and it excites me to think that Nelson, Willock and this Martinelli maybe will get more chances now, I so also feel a bit sad to see him go. But still kind of felt like he would never reach his potential (if there's more to reach) at Arsenal.Quote:
Originally Posted by phonics
Trying as hard as a vegetarian city kid forced to go hunting with his uncle from the countryside.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
Gaël Kakuta has joined Ligue 1 side Ligue 1 on a free
No one has done well at Everton since about 1986.
I dunno, Big Fat Rom did well enough.
Never heard of them. Have they just got promoted? Sounds deserved, if so.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
Shinji Kagawa is 30 and has joined Real Zaragoza in the Spanish second division. Im sure somebody really loved him when he was at Man Utd
This guy.
Whilst Klopp has become universally adored, let's not forget how much of an oaf he seemed when spouting this soap opera worthy piece of melodramatic tosh regarding Kagawa:
Quote:
Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing, my heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw. ‘But for most Japanese people it means more to play for Man United than Dortmund. We cried for 20 minutes, in each other’s arms, when he left.
:D
He was right though. That move pretty much ended his career. Coutinho should have taken note.
I do wonder how he'd have ended up if Fergie had stayed on. Moyes didn't have a clue how to use him.
He should never have gotten his teeth fixed.
https://media.balls.ie/uploads/2013/09/klopp.gif
Zulte Waregem have signed Berahino after Stoke terminated his deal.
Balotelli looks set to join Flamengo in Brazil.
Alright, Balotelli in Brazil sounds like a fun watch.
He can just fall over and feign injury to protect a 1-0 lead as happens in all the other matches there.
Nguyễn Công Phượng had become the first Viet to play in Europe having signed for Sint-Truiden in Belgium.
He isn't very good.
Have the sales of Sint-Truiden shirts shot up in Vietnam? :drool:
Thats insane it has taken that long. Was the Vietnamese league only founded in recent times?Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
Perisic to Bayern Munich on loan.
Professional league started in 2000. Before that it was a shit show. In fact, it still is.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
So many weird transfers this window. De Rossi, Trippier, Balotelli, Luiz, Juanfran, Lukaku, Kean, and on and on.
I know it's only preseason, but Joao Felix is starting to look worryingly like he might justify that bonkers transfer fee.
I have never seen him play, but im tuning in now.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
What channel?Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
Premier sports 1
I know the Filipino league is gold for betting purposes. High scoring games and all that.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
He's the real deal. His composure is outstanding for a guy who's about 18.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
He looked wank for Portugal when I saw him but yeah, he seems set to really push on for Atletico.
Adil Rami has been fired by Marseille because he claimed he was injured, missed training and took part in some mud wrestling tv show.
Mangala has joined Valencia on a free
Sneijder has retired
Barcelona are in Paris to discuss Neymar deal
Wesley Sneijder to United OFF.
Garay is still on.
If he's not on a trackable plane I don't care.
I see Man City have been bribing FIFA to let them off handily without a transfer ban.
You have to wonder what the point in having rules is if you end up fining the infinity money Emirate a couple of hundred grand, but you'd imgaine they've been focusing most of their largess on the UEFA stuff about FFP.
Wissam Ben Yedder has joined Monaco for £37m with Rony Lopes moving the other way for £18m
How do player swap deals work financially?
"Look mate we need Neymar but we're fucked for FFP leeway so whatcha reckon, Coutinho's worth about 175 mil, yeah?"
They are usually actually done at separate concurrent purchases as far as I can tell.
Lol come on fam.Quote:
(Kieran Trippier) was valued at £61m while at Spurs, a rating which increases for the buying club.
That must be his post-World Cup value, because there's no way it can be that high after the season he's just had.
Can someone explain how these "values" are calculated anyway?
I realize their contracts are one part of the equation, but while that should really be all of it, it isn't.
People with computers and numbers did it, so it's definitely 100% right.
Too bad they don’t have an indicator variable for “turned out to be irredeemably shit” in their model
I wonder about stats like 'distance ran' which always seems to be given value, when surely it's not always a pro. Why is every headless chicken running about, snapping at heels more valuable than players who have decent positioning and spend most of the match patrolling a 12 yard box?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
"Analytics twitter" has roundly lolled at that article. I can't believe it got published.
It always amazes me that nobody understands what Moneyball was about, even people who have read/seen it. Moneyball was not about using stats to value players, it was about using valid reasons to value players instead of arbitrary, made up, shite reasons.
Stats can come into both of those camps.
What are valid reasons?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
How good they are at doing things which actually matter to the end goal, which in team sports is 'the team winning'. The examples given in the baseball world were the ancien regime were signing players based on how nice their swing was, or if they had a 'good body', rather than results.
It was basically a book about seeing the world as it really is rather than as you think it is. For some reason though in the popular imagination it's some revenge of the nerds nonsense.
I forget whether you are one of those who hate expected goals, but that statistic I think is one of the most relevant and useful that anyone’s come up with in this sport. Idiots misuse it or just don’t understand it, and of course there is subjectivity in how you determine goal likelihoods, but it’s a very good abstraction
I think expected goals is a good stat, but it's one of those things that needs to be referred to over a very long period of time rather than in one game. In one game there is a pretty high degree of randomness.
Coutinho has gone on loan to Bayern.
Your mother has gone on loan to my dick
What the fuck? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by mugbull
She's a right journeyman.
'The nomadic matriarch'
Not sure hiring a 60 year old with Sjogrens for sex is really the winning move you're looking for.
Don't you kink-shame him.
Yeah RL wtf
It wouldn't even be the weirdest kink we've had on here. I'm not sure it's even top 5.
Mahow preferring already great looking women after they've got their alien costumes on is number one, and then everything else wallows around in the distance.
Why am I always at the top for these things? :(
You're the biggest deviant here.
That question should be addressed to yourself rather than the rest of us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
Di Marzio and Romano saying Inter might be taking Sanchez off our hands.
It pains me to say it, but given our window is shut and how thin we already are in attack, I'm not sure we can afford to sell him at this point.
What exactly ever happened with him anyway? Was it injuries or did he just basically retire once he got the huge deal?
Can't pretend I watch Arsenal, but I understand he'd been playing pretty badly for them for a while before he moved, but it was put down to him wanting out. Nothing has changed since he got to Utd though; he's just been average to rubbish. Seems he might just be 'done'.
If we can get rid we get rid. No question.
I think it's a bit revisionist to say he looked shot before he left Arsenal (although with hindsight there is an air of the last days of Torres at Liverpool about him) but I do recall Arsenal fans on here saying that much of his 'good work' in hassling for the ball and the like was actually because he gave it away so often and his relative drop in performance wasn't simply a reflection of the wider malaise at Arsenal.
From what I saw at Arsenal he was always decent when he was the main man, there was a huge drop off as soon as he moved from central striker to a wide position.Quote:
Originally Posted by randomlegend
There was a huge difference in his goal involvement with Giroud in and out of them team.
I think that combined with age related drop off and playing for a more defensive manager done him in.
Some of his best performances were as a wide man with Giroud through the middle - his whole first season, Giroud always having been a great foil for goal threatening 'inside forwards' of the like of the French partners, Hazard et al.
Toward the end, he became isolated easily and his link up play went lacking - he dropped off a cliff in terms of his 90 minute performances but was still getting a few goals and assists due to being in and around the right areas.
Surely no kink discussion is complete without James and that woman he posted in the Shameful Lustage thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
I'd still let Begum blow me up.
Is that not just very questionable taste rather than an actual link? Where's the line?Quote:
Originally Posted by Byron
That woman is over any line.
Ashley Cole has retired lads
In terms of goal involvement he was always better off without Giroud in team (stats here: ,https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.red...h_and_without/) obviously you can still play well and score/assist which you would be in a far better position to judge. I obviously dont watch games in as much detail as you would as a fan.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Merse
I've always found him an interesting player, to me he always seemed like there was an extra level he could have gone to but very rarely achieved it.
He's just your typical 'luxury player'. He's beautiful to watch when chipping into a team that's firing on all cylinders, but when things aren't easy he goes missing. He has no appetite for 'getting stuck in'.
Nonsense, if there's one thing Sanchez actually has shown in a United shirt, it's a willingness to do the running and 'get stuck in'.
Twitter debate on who was the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
I went Cole, Irwin, Evra, Baines, Le Saux.
Data without commentary for the most part. The first seasons stats are the truest as Alwxis played wide all year, regardless of who else was in there with him, albeit it must be pointed out that I’d have thought (no evidence other than memory) that his minutes without Giroud that year were with Theo at striker, which was basically in ‘easier’ matches - a trend which continued into the next year albeit with Danny Welbeck in place of Theo. In year 3 we often played Giroud and Sanchez centrally together in the year Wenger was experimenting with 5 at the back. Additionally, Sanchez played maybe 25% of his time at Arsenal as a striker in place of Giroud, and would be expected to contribute more goals centrally, without Giroud than when playing wider with him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy
Pop all of the mitigations together and you get a better idea that the data in isolation like that is a bit loose. I’d prefer to see Arsenal XG, goals and assists with both on the pitch vs with only one, and some way of assessing the quality of the data by looking at the league positions of the opponents, then you perhaps get something nuanced enough to compare to the fans vie.
He was never all that good.
It not worth debating. Cole was levels above them all. He was the most complete left-back since 1998. I would rank him above Carlos and Maldini in that position. Im going there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smjffy
Coutinho in Germany to complete his loan move to complete obscurity whilst big Maurizio has told Can he's surplus to requirements at Juve.
Worked out well boys, worked out well.
:schadenfreude:
He wasn't better than Maldini.
My favourite thing about Ashley Cole is still that for all he could keep Ronaldo quiet he fell for Valencia's one move seemingly every single time.
Well, that and the "Well I suppose you're liable to get booed when you play away from home..." commentary.
Im with Ashley on this one, especially as a left back. Maldini wasnt that great going forward but was superior in defence. I would take Cole as my LB in my dream team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
As if anyone would have Ashley Cole ahead of Maldini.
I came late to the party where Maldini was a CB. He still wouldn't get into my favourite CB though.
He is your favourite tennis player though, right?
Balotelli has signed for newly promoted Brescia in Serie A
Cashley over Maldini. :roflol:
I watched Serie A that far back but can't remember much of Maldini as a left back.Quote:
Originally Posted by SincereTheRebel
He played as a left back for most of his career. :cab:
Depending on how much your trust transfermarkt it’s a lot closer than you would think
https://www.transfermarkt.us/paolo-m...n/spieler/5803
There’s quite a few missing games but even listing them all as LB keeps it closer than I would have imagined. He certainly moved central later on though
I'm sure he was still left back in 2005 at Istanbul, and he started playing in about 1942 so has to qualify as a left back.
Presumably at some points in the 90s he would have been on the left of a three, which is kind of both and kind of neither.
Fuck it. He played there at Steve Harper's testimonial. Can't believe I forgot that. :D
Great work finding a Newcastle angle on whether Maldini played most at left or centre back.
He was indeed. They had Stam and Nesta in the middle and Cafu on the right as part of what must be one of the oldest back lines ever assembled.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
CSKA Moscow defence over the last few years must be getting on.
Sometimes you need to see greatness in person. Best player on the pitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
Nesta was still in his 20s then. 39 year old Costacurta was on the bench though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Costacurta is still on the Milan bench in my mind's eye, as is Sebastiano Rossi.
I had the same thing with Del Piero regarding greatness in person, never saw the fuss whatsoever, then saw him at Stamford Bridge in I think a Champions League tie late in his career, and he was about 1000 light years ahead of all his team mates in everything he was doing. Opposite effect with Buffon though, thought he was shite.
Zappacosta has joined Roma on loan.
Franck Ribery is joining Fiorentina on a free
Lozano had joined Napoli from PSV
Renato Sanches has joined Lille
Sturridge has joined Trabzonspor. I had him locked to join Rodgers at Leicester. £20 lost on that way
All that did was make me look up Colin Kazim-Richards' whereabouts. He cannot stay put.
Was not expecting Veracruz.
Try a bit of banana peel on them.
Sanchez gone on loan to Inter Milan.
Are Inter trying to sign every flop United have?
They've still not got over that Henning Berg clearance so they're stealing all our 'stars.'
Rojo, Jones and Smalling next, please.
If anyone can bring Lukaku and Sanchez back from the dead, Conte has a better chance than most. The man's an incredible manager.
Smalling gone on loan to Roma, out of nowhere.
He must have faith in the yoof as that squad is remarkably thin.
I dare say Ole can pick somebody else if need be out of the 27 shit centre-halves we seem to have.
I would have kept him out of the three useless ones. Not least because of how close he is to a testimonial.
Roma assembling the dream team defence of Mike Smalling and Dejan Lovren.
Ole clearly wants us to play out from the back, Smalling is the least able to do that (he still looks like a Maidstone player when he has the ball). I'd guess that's why he's bottom of the pecking order even if he's a better defender than some of the others.
I miss route one long ball. My perfect center backs would consist of two white center backs. One must be bald-headed and other must-have a ginger beard. Just smash people and kick it long is all that is required.
What about a baldie with a ginger beard?
https://tmssl.akamaized.net/images/p...1464942849.jpg
Basically "modern football" doesn't have any room for your average Shit Kicker anymore.
This is also why noone can defend really anymore.
The sport evolved so now every team starts with 11 midfield players. It will evolve once more, but in what type of direction?
4-4-2 will become the norm again
Matteo Darmian going for ten per cent of his original fee must make him one of the low-key shittest transfers in recent memory. Watch him do a Daley Blind as well.
:drool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir Andy Mahowry
:hail:Quote:
Originally Posted by Vercetti
I don't think a move to Italy can help with his lack of footballing ability. At least Blind could play a bit but moved slower than wind erosion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lewis
He looked reasonable enough in his odd central appearances to have got a few more starts ahead of the other spastics at least.
I remember watching Darmian play for Italy against England yonks ago and he was brilliant. It's amazing how shit he was for us.
The manc sean territorial scouting method strikes again.
He's been pretty much spot on for years now. Latins = ponces. Scandis and Irish = get them in.
Manc Sean, what happened to that idiot? Actually, are you still meeting up with him Kiko?
You know, for an 'informal beer' with the wife.
I see him now and again usually at the football.
He's working in Portsmouth now - think doing some CAD stuff for the MoD.
If I didn't doss off so early we could carpool.
The government is hiring lager louts now?
Are you a tabloid newspaper?
No, but he was always a right filthy cretin. Or played the part of one here at least, and what more can we go on than that.
He's nothing like the persona you have in your head ("filthy cretin" ffs!).He is as plain spoken as he typed though in real life.
Grand. But he played it different here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
Don't we all. Bamster works for NASA.
Pikey is a fat cunt with no hair on his tiny head, he's also a debt collector for the government.
2 out of 3. Not bad.
Sweet.
Although it's more 3 out of 4.
If we're doing it properly it's 5 out of 7
Only the italics I'm unsure about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bam
Pikey, no hair and working for the government are wrong. Debt collection is partially correct, although it's only about 10% of what I do.
Nacho left arsenal with three FA cups.
Never trust a foreigner.
Yep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
Not according to "horrified" Keeks. Oh my days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baz
Are you on the hippy crack? Or planning a romp?
Not mutually exclusive.
"filthy cretin" ffs!
Good heavens Margerie, the horror of it. I need to lie down.
Alright. I just find your description of someone I've known for about 12 years as "filthy cretin". :charm:
The truce is off just in time for THE MEET. Can we hire a dingey local with a boxing / wrestling ring in the basement?
Always with the homoeroticism.
Might as well fight in a car park, although that gives Giggles home advantage.
Kiko to bring Smiffy in his corner and Giggles to brick it.
I don't think the trip is open to us all.
I actually would travel for a TTH meet fight night.
White collar boxing?
Although I've watched snatch and I don't want to deal with that.
I'd quite like to do white collar boxing just to act like a spaz throughout the training then annihilate some gimp for the first white collar knockout ever.
Not a fan of 'dags'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
If Kiko's past form is anything to go by, he'd shit himself and go into stealth mode. I don't care how young you were, Kiko! :checkit:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pepe
Didn't you get the application form by PM?Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
I answered incorrectly on the ‘genuflect three times an hour to Lord Keeks’ section and it was rejected.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
:lol:
Kikó would be sound, as most would be, but it's the overall fake pals vibe I wouldn't be able to stomach. As if I'm going to turn up and pretend Phonics and Raoul are fine.
I've never experienced a fake pal vibe.
And of course "everyone is invited". Don't be so precious.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Offshore Toon
Mkhitaryan is joining Roma on Loan
Keylor Navas and Alphonse Areola are swapping teams between PSG and Real Madrid
Javier Hernandez has left West Ham to join Sevilla
Liverpools Bobby Duncan is joining Fiorentina for £2m
I missed the Offy - Raoul beef. Where's this been popping off?
So, that Sanchez/Mkhitaryan deal worked out well for all concerned.
Bobby Duncan sounds like a variety act from the 70's.
Đoàn Văn Hậu joins Heerenveen on 1 yr loan
https://gyazo.com/28341890fd19030f96b9f2b2df156732.jpeg
Asmir Begovic to Qarabag in Kazakhstan on loan.
(Edit) Azerbaijan not Kazakhstan :D
Hopefully you're not the one booking his flight.
Lazaar's off to Cosenza and Ronaldo Aarons is off to Wycombe. They're both contracted until 2021. The poor bastards. :(
I see Bolton signed the best part of a team today (9 players). Think that takes them up to 13 contracted senior players? If the players have any sense the (non-loan) deals will be short term.
Callum Roberts (you might remember him from scoring against Blackburn last season) has also signed for Blyth Spartans.
I totally appreciate that, but it's not for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
He's a complete write off. Ravel Morrison MKII.Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco