"We've got bucketfuls of agents throwing players at us. We'll trawl through it." - The PL/CL/EL/world off-season transfer thread '17-'18

surprised chelsea would sell to a rival

― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Sunday, 30 July 2017 15:13 (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Meow

Inconceivable that Matic wouldn't immediately improve United's first XI, not just adding a degree of defensive solidity and dynamism that's obviously been missing there but also allowing Pogba to play further forward in a position where he might start justifying his price tag.

Re: selling to a rival, by all accounts Matic and Abramovich get on well which might have smoothed the path somewhat.

posted it on the FW thread but this is the biggest move of the summer, imo
http://www.football365.com/news/exclusive-james-richardson-to-leave-guardian-football-weekly

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/31/darron-gibson-disciplinary-proceedings-sunderland-video-comments

When Gibson’s decision to be out in a bar soon after the Celtic loss was raised, he replied: “I might be off my face in here but I still want to play for Sunderland.”

didn't even notice gibson moved to sunderland, could anything be more inevitable?

The outcome

ok new contender for the non-Prem thread title

darron gibson is off his ting

Understand fee for Matic is actually £35m plus £5m add ons. #mufc #cfc

— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) July 31, 2017

that's actually...not bad

In context it's not

Sturridge scores a beautiful chipped goal against Bayern and injures himself in the process...

that must have pissed on his chip

^^ underrated expressions I have loved.

Despite ManC, and the staggering amount paid for Arnautovic, this transfer period so far is a tad disappointing. Are we waiting for the Neymarapocalypse for things to unfold? And where's 'Arry? Thought I saw him at the airport today etc.

Early days but Bayern and Real have lost nearly every match so far. Esp seeing how Bayern is squandering the ball and being scored against (AC Milan, Pool) is... unusual.

The goal is here: https://streamable.com/r3745

Absolutely sensational. The most Daniel Sturridge thing that has ever happened.

Apparently tomorrow's Racing Post football guide, which is quite respected amongst seasoned idiotic fules that are born to loose! football punters, has predicted Town to finish rock bottom. And to go down with 2 of Burnley, West-Brom and Stoke. I think they have taken note that many of our fringe players are indeed very shit, and despite the new influx - there is still a glaring lack of depth. But fatally, just like last season they haven't factored in David Wagner into their calculations. I might be reading this from a shit source, but no way are Brighton finishing above Town this time. And also not considered a part of the potential relegation dogfight mix.

Absolutely sensational. The most Daniel Sturridge thing that has ever happened.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, August 1, 2017 3:58 PM (three hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

jesus g-d christ

3-0 win against bayern - obv gonna win the league.

what's doubly annoying about sturridge is adam lallana did an interview this week saying he was fit and firing and like a new signing. shouldn't have let myself hope.

It looks like Aurier is likely to go to United, which pretty much leaves Toljan as the only FB linked with Spurs who might still be on.

Still very odd to be eleven days away from the start of the season, with Poch talking about the importance of bringing in more players, and only really being linked with Ross Barkley (who has already turned down £20k a week more than Spurs are willing to offer him) and Riyad Mahrez - who apparently wants to go to Roma instead.

Janssen and sissoko season 2 boost tho

I'm guessing we're going to promote Walker-Peters and stick with Trippier as first choice. If we're going to spend that money it should really go on a CB or a striker though, but I don't think major surgery is needed.

I'd be sceptical about reports of a fee being agreed for Aurier given his legal situation

I'm surprised ManC didn't go for Aurier. I rate him higher than Danilo. Maybe said legal stuff scared them off?

not sure many teams have ever gotten away with not buying anyone at all.

Neymar to PSG signing seems to be in the bag

I dunno how I'd feel of a fan of another team itt took this position, but:

We're way ahead of schedule.

Frankly, unsustainably so.

The investment needed to 'definitely' (lol) maintain a challenge for second /third at this stage and given the activity of manchesters would be too risky.

Stadium move is a big unknown.

Difficult to source players to improve first team for a number of reasons beyond budget -settled team, dynamics, wage bill control- and Poch has practically made a speciality out of bolstering the squad with youth players- which seems like the way to go tbh?

Keeping everyone and keeping everyone happy is as valid a priority at this stage than bursting ourselves keeping up with transfer activity that sees Kyle walker valued at 50m

yeah that's fair enough. i think in the current climate finishing top four every year is no longer to be expected. and the prices are so crazy it'd be v easy to waste a pile of cash.

not to say i definitely think spurs will have a bad season or something, just that it seems like teams usually need a player or two even to stay at the level they were at the previous season.

Additional- firmly believe that there is plenty of further potential in the first team to improve, they haven't filled out yet.

Obv this can always go the other way

XP received wisdom, which isn't always to be discounted out of hand, says you need a few in every season even if (especially if?) you've achieved your goals the year before. It's down to nothing more than trust in the manager and the group that has me relaxed at this stage that they are motivated as things stand.

not sure many teams have ever gotten away with not buying anyone at all.

United in 95 is the only one I can think of, and there was a similar reliance on a talented crop of kids there. Not to say we're going to win the league next season but the philosophy seems to be similar.

In any case I'm sure we'll sign at least a couple of players, even if it's in the usual deadline day supermarket sweep way.

xps all depends if spurs decide to not bother with the champions league again this season

Spurs, arsenal, Liverpool, Everton in a proper tranche of quality teams this year

Add in one of the three big lads (most likely utd imo) who will be closer to that chasing pack than they will to a title challenge and you're looking at a very high standard to get third/fourth place

Are we predicting yet. Chelsea in a walk obv.

City second pep out

United third Mou feted lol

Liverpool fourth

Spurs. Poch in.

Everton

Do think, I know I'm repeating myself here, the very real trend of poch signings only kicking on in year two might be a factor here

Deems otm. It's funny how nowadays a club not bringing in huge signings is the 'experimental' one in some way. Think Spurs' path of carefully crafting a XI, bringing in young players and ultimately selling them for way more, in the long run is the only way to go. Ajax and Monaco are v good examples imho.

Shit I genuinely didn't mean to leave arsenal out there

Arsenal fifth spurs sixth

Poch out

Shit now I'm worried

lol

Spending big on Barkley or another player who would demand first-team football has the potential to unbalance an otherwise excellent attacking unit, as Van der Vaart did in 2010, so they need to be obviously better than what we have and that may be very difficult under our current financial constraints. We do need squad depth though and certainly a couple at Son's level who can provide more tactical flexibility.

1 Chelsea
2 Man C (pep indeed out)
3 Man Utd
4 Spurs
5 Liverpool
6 Arse
7 Everton

Man C
Spurs
Chelsea
Liverpool

Son is a great example of a player that came in, struggled, was improved hugely by the crucible of my personal disapproval on www.ilxor.com and is now perfectly situated as 'important first team squad member' which we need more than 'undroppable'

Lamela.....I mean if he comes back in the decent form he was in before his......hip injury..................then we only need janssen to take up ten games or so worth of slack a season. I'd back him to do that.

Right back, keep the joblot of centre backs and boom

Chelsea
Man U
Man C
Arsenal
???

dependent on United keeping key players fit, just have this horrible feeling

Think Spurs' path of carefully crafting a XI, bringing in young players and ultimately selling them for way more, in the long run is the only way to go. Ajax and Monaco are v good examples imho.

This is right, imo, but Spurs have been missing out on opportunities to bring talented young players they've been linked with in. Driussi went to Zenit, Foyth has gone to PSG, etc. The lack of activity in going after the next generation has been more disappointing than failing to sign an established superstar.

Seen a few pundits say that despite their signings, United are actually behind where they were last season due to departures and players like Carrick being a year older

I can't see mourinhos dark magic failing this season and I can't see it failing to see him sacked before December the season after

basing a lot on the idea that Pogba steps up in a role that suits him better tbh

but broadly their squad-building seems to be working to a (albeit Mourinhoesque) plan in a way that most of the other big dogs haven't this summer imo

plus where's the fun in just expecting everything to shake down like last season redux?

Signs of progress in my life I'm sure but I haven't a fucking clue where other squads are tbh

my observations are strictly casual tbf, much more focused on us becoming Watford Remix or crashing ignominiously

I wouldn't say we're behind last season but on a player by player basis it's hard to say we've significantly improved. Lukaku should match (and will probably exceed) Zlatan's tally but unless the rest of the squad significantly increase their goal production we'll be in bother

Rooney leaving alone improves ManU as a whole tbf