OT: Association Football Thread II (All Soccer Talk Here!)

[BarbaraAlphanse]

So after Pedro, any more moves for United before the transfer deadline?

Otamendi?
Muller?
Gotze?
Ibrahimovic?
Gaitan?
De Gea to Real?
If so, Cilesson or Lloris to replace?

 

[East Coast Bias]

What a performance by Memphis today. Absolutely dominant.

He could have had 4-5 goals.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

So after Pedro, any more moves for United before the transfer deadline?

Otamendi?
Muller?
Gotze?
Ibrahimovic?
Gaitan?
De Gea to Real?
If so, Cilesson or Lloris to replace?

Otamendi's going to Man City. Muller's not being sold. Bayern says Goetze's not for sale, but I think they would sell him. Ibra's not going to United. He'd go to MLS or back to Milan if he leaves. Gaitan is possible, but they don't need him. De Gea to Real is probable. If so, Lloris should be the target. Cillessen isn't much of an upgrade over Romero.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Otamendi's going to Man City. Muller's not being sold. Bayern says Goetze's not for sale, but I think they would sell him. Ibra's not going to United. He'd go to MLS or back to Milan if he leaves. Gaitan is possible, but they don't need him. De Gea to Real is probable. If so, Lloris should be the target. Cillessen isn't much of an upgrade over Romero.

Just last week Otamendi was coming to United. Tabloids for soccer are the worst. I don't believe a thing.

Muller or Goetze would be really interesting. I'd like Marco Reus, if he could be had, if not...

 

[East Coast Bias]

Just last week Otamendi was coming to United. Tabloids for soccer are the worst. I don't believe a thing.

Muller or Goetze would be really interesting. I'd like Marco Reus, if he could be had, if not...

United won't match the buyout clause. Valencia still owe City 20 million euros (maybe pounds?) over the Negredo deal, so maybe they're willing to to work something out sans buyout price.

Bayern aren't selling Mueller. I really hope they're not fixated on this Mueller/Bale thing. Neither are moving.

Nail down Pedro already. Another striker is needed - but I'm honestly not sure if there's anyone available out there that interests me.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

United won't match the buyout clause. Valencia still owe City 20 million euros (maybe pounds?) over the Negredo deal, so maybe they're willing to to work something out sans buyout price.

Bayern aren't selling Mueller. I really hope they're not fixated on this Mueller/Bale thing. Neither are moving.

Nail down Pedro already. Another striker is needed - but I'm honestly not sure if there's anyone available out there that interests me.

Reus. Goetze. Youth.

 

[I Eat Crow]

So after Pedro, any more moves for United before the transfer deadline?

Otamendi?
Muller?
Gotze?
Ibrahimovic?
Gaitan?
De Gea to Real?
If so, Cilesson or Lloris to replace?

Otamendi to City is all but confirmed.

Muller isn't going anywhere, thought I'd wet myself if he went to United.

Gotze, as mentioned, probably isn't for sale, but if a team gave Bayern an offer they couldn't refuse in the 70-80 million Euro range, I think they'd sell.

Ibra?

Gaitan would be a redundant piece.

I think De Gea goes to Madrid this window. If not, he's going to go there on a free transfer next summer. It would be numbingly stupid to let him go for nothing. Plus, why sit him in the first few weeks of the season and risk unsettling a guy you may not sell? The writing on the wall is there.

If the only option to replace De Gea is Cilesson, I'd rather just stick with Romero. Instead of Cilesson or Lloris, I'd throw a ton of cash at Leverkusen for Leno.

I think that United need a solid 10 to play behind Rooney or a striker to slide Rooney into the 10 role. United have enough wingers. I don't think the Pedro rumors make sense even though it looks really close to done.

My ultimate rest of window fantasy looks like this...

Sell De Gea to Madrid for 60 million Euros.

Double swoop Dortmund for Reus and Hummels for 130 million Euros with the De Gea and di Maria funds.

Sign Leno for an offer Leverkusen can't refuse.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Otamendi to City is all but confirmed.

Muller isn't going anywhere, thought I'd wet myself if he went to United.

Gotze, as mentioned, probably isn't for sale, but if a team gave Bayern an offer they couldn't refuse in the 70-80 million Euro range, I think they'd sell.

Ibra?

Gaitan would be a redundant piece.

I think De Gea goes to Madrid this window. If not, he's going to go there on a free transfer next summer. It would be numbingly stupid to let him go for nothing. Plus, why sit him in the first few weeks of the season and risk unsettling a guy you may not sell? The writing on the wall is there.

If the only option to replace De Gea is Cilesson, I'd rather just stick with Romero. Instead of Cilesson or Lloris, I'd throw a ton of cash at Leverkusen for Leno.

I think that United need a solid 10 to play behind Rooney or a striker to slide Rooney into the 10 role. United have enough wingers. I don't think the Pedro rumors make sense even though it looks really close to done.

My ultimate rest of window fantasy looks like this...

Sell De Gea to Madrid for 60 million Euros.

Double swoop Dortmund for Reus and Hummels for 130 million Euros with the De Gea and di Maria funds.

Sign Leno for an offer Leverkusen can't refuse.

I like where your head is at. IEC for GM.

 

[jniklast]

Reus will not move this summer, no chance.

Götze probably would be available for 50M€, but I'm not sure he wants to leave yet, but at least with him there is a chance.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Lol. Chelsea sign Pedro. The heck was Woodward doing there then if it wasn't for locking this up?

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

I hope we shock sign Muller. 100 m pounds. I don't care.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Lol. Chelsea sign Pedro. The heck was Woodward doing there then if it wasn't for locking this up?

Either LVG was trying to nickel and dime Barca for Pedro, or the Pedro interest was a smokescreen for a bigger fish. Knowing United, the Pedro interest was a smokescreen for a bigger fish, though I have no information to weigh that speculation against.

I don't mind that Chelsea undercut United for Pedro. Why would Pedro agree to move from a big club's bench to another big club's bench...in a foreign country? Doesn't smell right to me. Mourinho had to have promised Pedro a starting XI spot. Does this mean Willian or Oscar are for sale?

 

[ecemleafs]

Either LVG was trying to nickel and dime Barca for Pedro, or the Pedro interest was a smokescreen for a bigger fish. Knowing United, the Pedro interest was a smokescreen for a bigger fish, though I have no information to weigh that speculation against.

I don't mind that Chelsea undercut United for Pedro. Why would Pedro agree to move from a big club's bench to another big club's bench...in a foreign country? Doesn't smell right to me. Mourinho had to have promised Pedro a starting XI spot. Does this mean Willian or Oscar are for sale?

who was the last world class player united bought? id be very surprised if united managed to bring in a bigger fish than pedro this summer.

 

[I Eat Crow]

who was the last world class player united bought? id be very surprised if united managed to bring in a bigger fish than pedro this summer.

Di Maria was a rather large buy, but he unfortunately flopped here. Van Persie was a world class striker before he fell off a cliff last year. A couple others I'm sure that I'm forgetting at the moment.

 

[ecemleafs]

Di Maria was a rather large buy, but he unfortunately flopped here. Van Persie was a world class striker before he fell off a cliff last year. A couple others I'm sure that I'm forgetting at the moment.

totally forgot about di maria. rvp was already 29 years old so i dont really classify that as a world class signing. he gave united about 1.5 years and no resale value. united really arent like barca, real, chelsea, bayern, citeh anymore with being able to beat out the very top top teams for world class players.

 

[Machinehead]

Poku Party

 

[silverfish]

Reading Moneyball with TV on in the background in mute. Look up after a few pages, see the game started and it's 2-0. Look back at the book. Up again in a few minutes and it's 5-0.

 

[I Eat Crow]

totally forgot about di maria. rvp was already 29 years old so i dont really classify that as a world class signing. he gave united about 1.5 years and no resale value. united really arent like barca, real, chelsea, bayern, citeh anymore with being able to beat out the very top top teams for world class players.

Yeah, Barca, Real Madrid, and Bayern basically buy players just to weaken their competition, and are on another level in terms of attracting top talent. I'd also add PSG to that category, as well. United is unfortunately in the second tier with teams like Arsenal, Milan, Dortmund, and Atletico in terms of attracting talent.

The Memphis signing could turn out to be the team's best young signing since Ronaldo, and that's not ok.

 

[ecemleafs]

Yeah, Barca, Real Madrid, and Bayern basically buy players just to weaken their competition, and are on another level in terms of attracting top talent. I'd also add PSG to that category, as well. United is unfortunately in the second tier with teams like Arsenal, Milan, Dortmund, and Atletico in terms of attracting talent.

The Memphis signing could turn out to be the team's best young signing since Ronaldo, and that's not ok.

rooney* ronaldo was actually at united before rooney which just seems strange thinking about lol.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Poku Party

Is Lampard going to even start when he comes back?

 

[BroadwayStorm]

Lampard has been a complete bust and failure at NYC FC. Look at all the difference Pirlo has made settling down that back midfield. And Poku has emerged as a very talented player. Eons better than Mixkerud who is a prop really. I would bench Dix for Lampard just because I know at half speed he is still a better player and they should not sit Poku. That defense is still awful though but they can make the playoffs. I know they can.

As far as Memphis Depay, he projects to be the next great Dutch player and I'm usually coy on such praise because that can be a deceptive statement considering they (dutch players) have historically all choked in big spots and their recent track record has really proven that (Schneider, Van Persie, Robben) the first derailed by injuries, the second by overhype and the third by being a downright selfish player on the field. But as far as skill wise he is exactly the kind of player you need to be signing and building around, that is young and highly skilled from a league whose natural progression is a top tier where they can hit the ground running. The problem is Man U, not unlike a lot of Brit sides save for Man City and Chelsea, still plays the game like it's 1966 and that is why Real and Barca and those types of faster and offensively deadly teams will always destroy them.

Pedro is good insurance for Falcao and Diego Costa.

 

[Machinehead]

Is Lampard going to even start when he comes back?

I hope not. He can crawl back to the deepest pits of Hell where he came from.

 

[ecemleafs]

Lampard has been a complete bust and failure at NYC FC. Look at all the difference Pirlo has made settling down that back midfield. And Poku has emerged as a very talented player. Eons better than Mixkerud who is a prop really. I would bench Dix for Lampard just because I know at half speed he is still a better player and they should not sit Poku. That defense is still awful though but they can make the playoffs. I know they can.

As far as Memphis Depay, he projects to be the next great Dutch player and I'm usually coy on such praise because that can be a deceptive statement considering they (dutch players) have historically all choked in big spots and their recent track record has really proven that (Schneider, Van Persie, Robben) the first derailed by injuries, the second by overhype and the third by being a downright selfish player on the field. But as far as skill wise he is exactly the kind of player you need to be signing and building around, that is young and highly skilled from a league whose natural progression is a top tier where they can hit the ground running. The problem is Man U, not unlike a lot of Brit sides save for Man City and Chelsea, still plays the game like it's 1966 and that is why Real and Barca and those types of faster and offensively deadly teams will always destroy them.

Pedro is good insurance for Falcao and Diego Costa.

lol sneijder was the most important player on a CL winning team in inter. van persie wasnt as hyped as the other 2 and still went on to be arguably the best player in the prem for 2 seasons. robben for someone who didnt make it sure seems to have been a very important player for the most successful richest clubs in the world.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Lampard has been a complete bust and failure at NYC FC. Look at all the difference Pirlo has made settling down that back midfield. And Poku has emerged as a very talented player. Eons better than Mixkerud who is a prop really. I would bench Dix for Lampard just because I know at half speed he is still a better player and they should not sit Poku. That defense is still awful though but they can make the playoffs. I know they can.

As far as Memphis Depay, he projects to be the next great Dutch player and I'm usually coy on such praise because that can be a deceptive statement considering they (dutch players) have historically all choked in big spots and their recent track record has really proven that (Schneider, Van Persie, Robben) the first derailed by injuries, the second by overhype and the third by being a downright selfish player on the field. But as far as skill wise he is exactly the kind of player you need to be signing and building around, that is young and highly skilled from a league whose natural progression is a top tier where they can hit the ground running. The problem is Man U, not unlike a lot of Brit sides save for Man City and Chelsea, still plays the game like it's 1966 and that is why Real and Barca and those types of faster and offensively deadly teams will always destroy them.

Pedro is good insurance for Falcao and Diego Costa.

To be fair, LVG is getting them away from the "move the ball up the wing and cross it" game strategy. Which is a woefully unskillful strategy that is unsuccessful.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Reus to United. Arrived at Manchester Airport within the last hour. Met a United official. Got in a car and drove away. I can't imagine they let him get away. He will agree to terms, request a transfer. United will pay whatever the fee is.

Reus is a good move. A very good move.