[Editor]

I didn’t directly say he’s the best. Just that I wouldn’t swap him for anyone in the league. In part due to his versatility. With the possible exception of Robertson (who seems to have declined in the last year or so anyway), names of top LBs in the league aren’t springing to mind though. I think Shaw is a better LB than Chilwell and Zinchenko anyway. Can’t think of any others. City don’t have any top traditional LBs.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

As for Greenwood, I’m fully expecting him to come back into the fold, unfortunately. He’s had a baby with the same girl and is training again. I’d love Utd to make a statement and sack him but we all know that won’t happen. Look at Arsenal with Partey and West Ham with Zouma. Even the incidents of racism from Terry and Suarez. When faced with situations which would, under normal circumstances, lead to dismissal from a job, clubs simply can’t/won’t sack players who are that valuable. Now I’m not comparing incidents of racism to what Greenwood did (which was far worse) but you only need to look at how the whole Partey thing has been swept under the carpet at Arsenal. It’s very disappointing and I’ll never cheer a goal of his but I’m not the least bit surprised.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

We’re not trying to sell AWB Chucky. It looked for a long time like he didn’t have enough going forwards to be our RB but he did improved a lot last season and is likely to be our starting RB. Alfie was rightly questioning thr critique of AWB’s defending, which I fully agree with. I’d replace him if we could afford it but not because of his defending. I don’t think there are many better at that than him. Shaw I wouldn’t swap for any other LB in the league, not least because he deputised excellently for Martinez at CB when required.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

I don’t think Liverpool have to sell to buy though Sean. That’s just how they choose to do business. Let’s see where we finish up in terms of spending. It’s a pointless debate until the window is shut. Everywhere was reporting us only having £100mil net to spend this summer, hence a gamble on someone like Hojlund rather than a Kane/Osimhen type. We’ve no idea yet where we’ll end up spending wise.

There were some unique circumstances for that spending under Ten Hag being so heavy the first season. He absolutely has to have ball playing CBs (and ideally a GK, though this one had to wait a season) to play his style. Hence the big outlay on Martinez. He took over a side without a defensive midfielder, hence the outlay on Casemiro. The Greenwood thing happened. Without that, I don’t think Anthony signs (who the jury is very much out on). He still went into that first season knowing his keeper was not right for him and he didn’t really have a striker to use as Martial was injured all season. He had nobody valuable to sell at all.

Klopp does need to be given more money if he’s to be expected to compete but Liverpool have been very good at finding gems and great at selling players for good fees. That’s their model. Look at what Brighton can do despite spending a fraction of what Liverpool spend, never mind Utd, City, Arsenal, Chelsea etc. You don’t need to spend loads if you have a good scouting network and transfer team identifying the right players.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

I did read that Adlab but he’s been training today and I’ve also read that it’s not anything as bad as that after all. As you say, he wouldn’t have passed his medical. They need to sell papers though I suppose.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

I think people are being very harsh on utd. They have improved their squad and their home form is formidable. Ten hag had more a net spend in a year then Klopp had in his whole Liverpool tenure and Klopp needs to given money like Chelsea, Arsenal and utd to compete.

In fairness Sean, Klopp has had to bide his time to build his squad but he’s still had over £750mil to spend on players. That he’s had a low net spend is as much about him having had some valuable assets to sell. Ten Hag has had absolute rubbish given to him and only being able to sell players for measly sums. Nobody wants the likes of Bailly, Martial etc. Looks like we might finally be getting some money in for Maguire, McTominay, Fred and some others but before them, we’ve had nobody to sell because nobody wants our players due to such poor management previously giving them such high deals that nobody else would match.

Klopp and Pep have both had 7-8 years now to build their squads and that’s almost always a huge advantage over managers like Ten Hag, Poch and Postecoglu who all need to rebuild sides.

My predictions:

Top 4
City
Arsenal
Liverpool
Utd

6,7,8
Brighton
Chelsea
Newcastle
It feels wrong putting Spurs as low as 9th because I think Postecoglu could do a good job there but I can’t imagine any of the above being that low either and I think there will be a real transitional period for Spurs this season where they make a lot of mistakes as they introduce a new style

Relegated
Bournemouth
Luton
Sheff utd

Top scorer
Haaland

Signing of the season
Caicedo if he signs for Chelsea

Flop signing
Havertz

First manager sacked
Hodgson (reckon that spell when he came back was a bit of a false dawn and they’ll soon realise he isn’t up to it any longer)

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Liverpool conceding 4 for the second time in 3 games looks slightly concerning. I’m surprised Klopp hasn’t prioritised defensive reinforcements yet to be honest. Plenty of time left this window.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

With Gvardiol, Guardiola would have spent a whopping half a billion pounds on his defence since he arrived at the club. Absolutely insane sums of money.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

City are a very well run club now Adlab. No denying that. Still, they’re in a very privileged position to be able to be run so well. Lots of historic reports about City paying illegal sums of money to parents of academy prospects. Those academy prospects allow you to have tons of money coming in from selling them. So yes the net spend is low but dig beneath the surface and it doesn’t look particularly organic and that’s what I think a lot have a problem with. That and the fact you’re run by an entire state with an ulterior motive. I think constantly bringing up net spend as a City fan with the amount City have spent through the years is a bit rich (no pun intended).

Liverpool been scoring a lot in pre-season but also conceding a lot.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Tell me about it Waspy, I mean, the Abu Dhabi Sportswashing Campaign are still in a postive net spend so far this one transfer window… all is forgotten!!

I feel for Pep sometimes having to wheel and deal as he does. Working absolute wonders on a shoestring. I think he’s only spent £1.2bil since he came to the PL! That’s before another £100mil player arrives in Gvardiol.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

You’re after Robert Sanchez by the sounds of it Lucky. Him and Caicedo won’t be cheap from Brighton. Raya to Arsenal and Sanchez to Chelsea. Sanchez should be decent enough for you. Lots of goalkeeper changes this summer.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

He’s very raw. The media comparisons (with Haaland) are inevitable because of where he’s from and the similarly sounding names. If he’s half the goalscorer Haaland is, I’ll be delighted 😄. Haaland is a once in a generation talent. Comparing Hojlund to him won’t do him any good.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Lucky, no worries at all. I thought the Chelsea site there would decline once Nine was no longer around. He’s a huge miss to both sites. He really is.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

I think Liverpool have bought well again though Sean. Nunez has had a season to bed in now so it’s at least a settled forward line, a settled defence and a settled goalkeeper. Mac Allister is top quality. Assuming Lavia comes in, I think Liverpool could hit the ground running.

For us, I think Mount will do ok. Never really thought he’s that good in all honesty but I hope Ten Hag knows what he’s doing. Onana looks good but it will be a big change to go from De Gea to him and I think we’ll make a lot of defensive mistakes trying to play out from the back more. The defence as a whole are still not really suited to that yet aside from Martinez and probably Shaw. Varane is a great defender but can be a bit careless on the ball. I like what we’re doing but I think we’re going to take time to evolve into what Ten Hag wants, just like Arsenal did under Arteta and even Liverpool under Klopp.

Not too worried about Spurs this season for the same reason. I think Spurs will take a while to transition from Conte/Mourinho to more of an attacking, passing game. For all Liverpool’s midfield upheaval, I think they can benefit from the likes of Utd, Spurs, Chelsea all being much further behind in their rebuilds.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

The Haaland-Hojlund comparisons are crazy. It’s easy to understand why the media want to make the comparisons. The names sound similar. They’re physically quite similar. Blonde hair. From the same part of the world. Likely to be leading the line for each Manchester club. That’s where the comparisons should end though. Hojlund isn’t anywhere near Haaland’s league yet, if ever. Hojlund is extremely raw and nowhere near as prolific as Haaland. The fact they’re comparing transfer fees is hilarious though. They always seem to somehow forget to mention the massive wedge paid to agents and Erling’s dad in the Haaland deal. I never understand why that isn’t talked about more. They never mention Haaland’s extortionate £900k a week wage either, which is about 10x what we’re paying Hojlund.

Hojlund has plenty of promise but I hope for his sake he isn’t compared too much to Haaland or his chances of succeeding will be very slim.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Adlab, who on earth said them 2 would score more than Haaland? Absolutely no chance. His only competitor for the golden boot is Kane and he might well be leaving for Germany by the sounds of it.

Very tough season for predictions. I’ll save my full predictions for the specific thread but it’s Obviously City again winning it (who else?). After that, it does feel like it could be any 3 from Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd, Spurs, Newcastle, Brighton (yes I’m not ruling them out despite losing Macallister and probably Caicedo too). Villa will be a force, too. I think Utd may just get 4th although I think we’ll still be better than last season and close the gap to the top. Beyond City, I think Arsenal and Liverpool will both finish above us as they are so much further ahead in their rebuild. We’ll be shaky as we get used to almost a whole new spine in a new GK, Mount and a new ST.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

I actually think Uefa will respond to this by removing the barrier of multi-club ownership groups competing in the same competitions. That would allow the Saudis (and the rest) to instead just buy ready made established clubs beyond what they’ve done with Newcastle and everyone (bar the “legacy” fans) would be happy. Uefa retain the premium product with the best players, the best competitions and the best fans. The oil states can buy as many toys (clubs) as they want and it will just become a farce. Uefa have already hinted at softening those rules.

If Sportswashing is the end goal, it’s a much slower process to sportswash in their own country which could take years, decades even, to get to a point where the quality is good enough. With that said, the likes of Henderson ditching his morals at the first sign of a big bag of cash, won’t help in terms of slowing that process down.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Why on earth would Uefa let the Saudis join the Champions League? The Champions League is their cash cow. Their USP. Let the Saudis in and there’s no uniqueness to the product that is European football. You say “money talks” but there won’t be much money left if they dilute the Champions League and start letting others get a piece of the pie as there’ll be nothing left for players to stay in Europe for.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

That’s it Sean. They’re (mostly) all hypocrites. I know Bruno annoys a lot of people but it was great to see that he rejected multiple Saudi offers to stay at Utd. I’m sure there are a few others who have done the same, too. Jamie Vardy and Son a couple of others I’ve read who supposedly turned down moves there. It really does look bad on Henderson though considering his previous actions and words. As it would on Neville if Qatar took over Utd. Hopefully that will never happen. There are whispers now that the Glazers might be delaying things in the hope Uefa remove that multi-club ownership barrier. I really dread the can of worms that will open. I don’t want my club being a plaything for an oil state.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Editor]

Insane offer for Mbappe and for only 1 year. If we’re not already there, we’re very quickly approaching an age where football, as we know it, is gone. As soon as UEFA (as expected) remove the barrier of multi-club ownership not being able to compete in the same competitions, we’re going to see a situation where your only hope as a football fan (assuming you want to see your club do anything of note) is to sell your soul and pray for one of the oil states to come in. Seeing the likes of Henderson succumb to the lure of money and kiss goodbye to his morals is disappointing but probably inevitable and will pave the way for many more to do so. Removing that barrier for multi-club ownership is probably UEFA’s only hope in retaining the top talent but it’s a scary prospect imo.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Author]

Posts