The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 55

[BlackFox]

Sky say Pogba growing more unlikely to sign a contract extension.

Got to hand it to him, or his agent, they know how to move in this market.

Think he will see out this season and see how things go, then he is in prime position to make a killing and go somewhere for success if it doesnt come to United with Sancho and Varane, +1 this season.

Win win for him.

 

[Zantera]

Sky with the "no**** sherlock" news of the last few years with that Pogba info. Sadly this has felt clear for a long time for those of us who follow the team. It's a shame he never played at his best for us (other than in a few games) but it's better for us to sell now and get something rather than get nothing a year from now. Could be VDB's time to shine next season.

Also Sancho getting #25 might be a nod to Valencia but feels a bit lackluster. I'm sure he's a tie-in for #7 next season when/if Cavani goes, but still.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

"Juve have a new offer on the table for Locatelli. €5m (£4.2m) 2y loan fee, €20m (£17m) obligation, €7m (£6m) addons & 25% sell-on. This is still far from what Sassuolo want & probably worse than the previous offer [Via -
@Gazzetta_IT"

This is like when you play Football Manager and you've tanked the economy down the drain but it's deadline day and you desperately want to sign that one player so you make a bid with 40 clauses with no cash up front hoping they are desperate to accept.

Hyped for Sancho! Let's hope Varane and a DM follows. Really hope these rumors around Trippier die down, not a huge fan but also I think there's 2-3 other positions that need attention before a backup RB for 15-20 mil (or more).

Trippier would not be a back up. He'd start. Because Ole wants wing backs who attack, more so then defensive fullbacks.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Sky with the "no**** sherlock" news of the last few years with that Pogba info. Sadly this has felt clear for a long time for those of us who follow the team. It's a shame he never played at his best for us (other than in a few games) but it's better for us to sell now and get something rather than get nothing a year from now. Could be VDB's time to shine next season.

Also Sancho getting #25 might be a nod to Valencia but feels a bit lackluster. I'm sure he's a tie-in for #7 next season when/if Cavani goes, but still.

A very inaccurate portrayal of Pogba's time at United, and what has been asked of him.

 

[BlackFox]

Glad to see Sancho complete his Utd move. Hope it turns out well for both parties and I’m really looking forward to seeing him in the PL next season.

I haven't bought into the Sancho hype yet as I am yet to see him really perform great, I have not watched many Dortmund games to be fair so I'm not saying he cant/hasnt, but I am interested to see how good he can be and what difference he can bring to the side, the only issue will be Ole's approach if its as pragmatic as before then like England he will struggle to make a big impact but we shall see. Its been a while since we have had an actual RW so being able to attack from both sides will be a novel approach for us and give opponents more to think about. Also means Greenwood can get more time in the middle of the front 3 which he probably prefers and will be more effective.

 

[Zantera]

Trippier would not be a back up. He'd start. Because Ole wants wing backs who attack, more so then defensive fullbacks.

If the idea is to move our 50 million signing AWB to the bench for a new RB, we DEFINITELY need someone better than a 31 year old Trippier. I still think DM and CB are much more important areas personally. If we don't strengthen our midfield this window, even IF we end with both Varane and Sancho signed, we're really not much closer to winning one of the big titles IMO because we'll still be starting Fred or McT every game.

Regarding my earlier comments about Pogba I don't think it's far off. I'm not entirely blaming him, it's a combination of us signing him at a time when the club was in a rough spell and he was kinda sold on a project that never happened. He has spent a lot of time for us in positions where he doesn't necessarily plays at his best but I'm also disappointed in his behavior at times and letting Raiola do a lot of crap talking for him. During the Mourinho spell I felt bad for him because he definitely was treated poorly towards the end, Mourinho scapegoating him and he got a lot more negativity than he deserved. But Ole has treated him a lot better and he's still run down his contract and flirted with other clubs quite openly. Either way, I don't think he ever played to his fullest ability for us for long periods and that's both on the club (for playing him in different positions) but also on him. At France he obviously has Kante doing a lot of the tough work giving him freedom, at Juventus his role was way more attacking so he's just been used different for us. I stand by my initial comment that we should try to sell him now to get ~50 mil or something rather than let him go for free, but if you disagree with that I'm guessing you think he will sign a new deal soon? If he did I wouldn't have any problems with him staying to be fair.

 

[BlackFox]

 

[Zantera]

Think this season will be make it or break it for Ole. The transfers under his leadership and the evolution we've had is positive and I think we are closer to what I want the team to be than it was under Moyes/LVG/Mourinho, but this season really needs a serious push for the league and I think at least one trophy (whether it's the league, CL (doubtful), FA Cup or Carabao Cup).

 

[BlackFox]

The timing of it is interesting as well, as if they were waiting for the fans to get excited about Sancho so that Ole's contract extension would get lost in the news and hype from yesterday.

Yeah for me, this is his last season, make or break time. He's been well backed with players and has had plenty of time to get things sorted. The Europa league final was a calamity so unless he can bring in some form of trophy next season he has to go, top 4 wont be enough again alone.

He was always starting this season so a new contract was always likely. Jose got sacked 6 months into his new one so it doesnt mean all that much contracts today.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It's super telling that real managers have got extensions to 2023 and that opposing fans have been cheering the Ole deal. Even if it works out, it is dumb. Where is he going to go? Who is going to take him?

 

[Zantera]

It's super telling that real managers have got extensions to 2023 and that opposing fans have been cheering the Ole deal. Even if it works out, it is dumb. Where is he going to go? Who is going to take him?

I agree that other fans cheering the decision is a bad sign for us but you also have to scratch your head when Arsenal fans are happy about it. They finished in no man's land a few years in a row and even with their signings they don't look any closer to 4th. Arteta doesn't look any better than Ole imo.

 

[PepS]

United making really good moves in the market, I’d be feeling quite good if I was a United fan and am quite jealous.

If you can sort the Pogba situation out and get another quality addition in midfield and then make a go of getting Haaland next summer, you are looking great.

It looks like you have a good chance of getting Eduardo Camavinga too. Really wanted us to sign him, but it’s just not meant to be.

 

[PepS]

I agree that other fans cheering the decision is a bad sign for us but you also have to scratch your head when Arsenal fans are happy about it. They finished in no man's land a few years in a row and even with their signings they don't look any closer to 4th. Arteta doesn't look any better than Ole imo.

We’ve been through so much ordeal the past 15 years or so that most of us are so bewildered we have no idea what we’re saying or thinking anymore. Your streets ahead of us, I wouldn’t take any notice of what we’re saying. We’re just noise.

 

[BlackFox]

At least we are making moves like a big club this summer, how it all works (or doesn't!) is still very much on Ole but he has nowhere left to hide now, he has been better backed than Sir Alex in this summer and any manager since in terms of quality of player being brought in. Sancho and Varane are the best level of player we can get in those positions that were in need of improvement, at least the board have reacted in the right way this time at least, not much more they can do (unless they go out and get Kane done and really blow the doors off or the midfielder that most want more (still think Ole likes Fred and McTom too much to give them up so isnt on the radar)).

Its a good start to the window at least and does improve us, lets see what else happens though, some other big teams are yet to make their moves known so things may not look as rosey in a weeks time but for us we cant complain in the slightest, although Im sure we still will.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

We’ve been through so much ordeal the past 15 years or so that most of us are so bewildered we have no idea what we’re saying or thinking anymore. Your streets ahead of us, I wouldn’t take any notice of what we’re saying. We’re just noise.

Some of your fans enjoy our misery because they don't have much going for them. I can relate.

 

[PepS]

Some of your fans enjoy our misery because they don't have much going for them. I can relate.

Mate, we’re probably the most meme’d and bantered team in, dare I say, the world. You can’t turn in any direction without seeing someone having a pop at Arsenal, be it from rival fans, pundits, or the media.

I think the prominence of AFTV has also attributed to the amount of hate we get due to them rubbing pretty much everyone the wrong way, including their fellow fans.

If its bad now, imagine what it’s going be like when that Amazon ‘All or Nothing’ documentary releases. It’s going to be glorious!

At this point, I just try not to get too upset about it all and just roll with the punches. Because if my team and those in positions of power are showing no ambition then there’s no point in me investing my energy in it at all. What’s the point?

I’d rather be in your position than ours anyway. Bigger club, more successful, and they seem to be trying to get better. Can’t say the same for us in any department.

 

[Iceman]

Utd agree £41m fee for Varane. (Sky)

 

[Hunter Rider]

Utd agree £41m fee for Varane. (Sky)

 

[B]

Utd agree £41m fee for Varane. (Sky)

£41m for Varane seems like a good price if the deal comes off, 28 years old still in his prime years & for a CB 28 is I'd say fairly young. Could quite easily get a good 5 years out of him unless he's an odd case in which decline hits him like a ton of bricks.

Both Sancho & Varane seem like 2, sensible transfer targets given their contract situations & wish to change. It's good to see the club operating with a few brain cells as opposed to seeing themselves getting held hostage & having to fork out extortionate fees.. in today's market, the prices for both I think are fair.

 

[Iceman]

Maguire, Varane, Shaw and Wan Bissaka sounds pretty g.ood

 

[PepS]

£41m for a player who's only 28, in his prime, has been playing at the top level for one of the best clubs in the world since he was 18, has won League Titles, Domestic Cups, 4 Champions League's and the World Cup is amazing business.

To think, United have paid less in combined transfer fees for Sancho and Varane, than we have for Pépé and White. Shambles!

 

[Zantera]

Right now there's no argument about White being better than Varane but I have a sneaky suspicion that long term, White will actually be a great signing for Arsenal. But it's 2 different CBs considering we are getting proven quality now to boost us through the next ~3 seasons and with White you may have to wait a year or two before he's starting to hit his peak.

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah things can change very quickly in this game, not too long ago United were being laughed at for spending £80m on Maguire, we had to overpay to get our man. Everyone knows buying English comes with an added price. Arsenal maybe had to pay more than what Ben White is worth at this present time but in 2/3 years the picture might look very different. Less than 2 years ago everyone was saying how White was the next big thing and everyone was fighting for him so he must have some qualities about him. He might be a solid foundation that Arsenal can build from (the main question is if Arsenal board has that ambition/money to do so).

Pepe looked like he was beginning to get to grips with this league towards the end of last season too, this might be a breakout year for him and he might realise some of that potential.

Varane might struggle to get to grips with the league, might not work well with Maguire and AWB who has some positional issues to work on. The good thing Varane has is experience though, that should help us greatly, we dont have many multiple league and CL winners in our camp anymore so hopefully he can bring a calmness to the squad for the big games that he wont be phased by.

Transfer market is picking up pace now and there are players coming and going all over Europe it seems, Spurs have signed a few, Arsenal making moves, Villa been busy. City and Chelsea have been ominously quiet so far..................

 

[Bobber]

Transfer market is picking up pace now and there are players coming and going all over Europe it seems, Spurs have signed a few, Arsenal making moves, Villa been busy. City and Chelsea have been ominously quiet so far..................

Don't worry. Chelsea aren't signing anyone.
Roman is on his "WE WON, OUR TEAM IS PERFECT" high.

 

[BlackFox]

Don't worry. Chelsea aren't signing anyone.
Roman is on his "WE WON, OUR TEAM IS PERFECT" high.

Halaand seems to be the only one player Chelsea have been mentioned about with and he seems likely to be going next summer when everyone and their dog will be in for him. Chelsea I guess did bring in a lot last summer so perhaps they dont think they need a lot so Roman might well be thinking like this.

What else do you guys need, I cant think of many weaker areas other than the striker position perhaps.