Sideshow Luiz

Unlocked?

Shall we get this thread back to the first page?

Bakayoko hasn't been as much of a liability in the second half. Small improvements. I think he'll come good.

This is a very tough month for us, coming up. No matter who the manager is. After that, it will be back to 1 match per week like it was last season.

I've been saying that for years. Lately, I've been coming around to the idea that our club identity is to just get a few decent players, some very good, some okay and have the manager do what he can with them. It's a decent model when you are operating like Real Madrid lite (it's what they do, what is their identity?) or PSG-lite. If you want to do what Monaco are doing these days, or Dortmund. Then you need to put less focus on winning now. This club try to have it both ways right now. Net spend of Southampton and only bring in younger players (or older players who you can get good deals on) but the trophy expectation of the Bernabeu.

Back to his anonymous worst today. No movement off the ball. Never looking for space to link up play. Let Kante run around either side of him to give the appearance of 2 in midfield.

Well. Can't blame bad planning. Who would know that there's a match today. Impossible to forecast these kinds of things.

Having said that. Arsenal would have been better off trying to get Laporte before Man City came in.

Doesn't mean I want them to get stronger. Sanchez was a goner anyway. If they lose Wilshire and/or Ozil in the summer for free, I'll go back to happy again. I don't believe in transfer talk "done deals" until they are holding the shirt in a photo. I won't be comfortable with top 4 until we don't mathematically need the points.

I'm against this move entirely on the basis that it lets Arsenal get Aubameyang.

Business as usual, except we'd look like 90s Newcastle for a short spell.

I'm not against our 30+ policy, I think it's good for the long term club's interested. The baffling thing about this in regards to Dzeko: Is that everyone knew how old he was, and (should have) known what his current contract runs until. So, why is this a stubbling block? Either do it or don't. Should have decided on that before even starting down this road.

I think Arsenal may want to go the other way around. Sell Giroud so they can get PEA. I think that's why they were trying to get him to go to BvB If that's true, then I don't want to sign him.

IT'S THE MAN-BUN!!!

Sold it. Got a good deal on it. Taken us ages to get a replacement in.

Just signed a new extension. Does that mean he's gone soon? I'm just kidding actually. I think he's going to stay at Utd for a long time (by today's standards).

Then, it will be deadline day. Then someone else in. Repeat in July.

I didn't realize that so many people want Conte out. It's crazy, IMO. I generally don't think it's a good idea to give a manager too much power. If he leaves, we have ill suited players for the next guy. But, you have to get the players that the manager needs to suit the system that he thinks is best for the team. Catch 22. The solution to that, of course, is to have a club philosophy, and you get a manager that suits the club. Our club philosophy is: Here's a bunch of players. They're all generally decent. A couple of them are excellent. A couple of them have limitations and are really only suited to particular roles. We want to bring through some youth, our youth program is actually very successful. Oh, and win now. Who's better than Conte for us?

This doesn't make sense. We have to buy both Palmieri and Dzeko or it's off?

I thought he showed a few positive signs tonight. His biggest improvement was his desire to dribble through midfield with the ball. He did it a lot more than usual, I thought. Unfortunately, there were a few times where he had space after getting past his man, then just played a short square ball to someone for no reason, would effectively negate what he had done prior. The needless short square balls in general need to go. You can see team mates being surprised to be getting the ball a few times. But, I hope this is the start of seeing some Essien-like runs through midfield. I thought that's what we were getting. We'll see.

I'd probably believe 80K, based on our current wage structure. Morata - 100 Alonso - 90 Rudiger - 90

With that tweet and what appears to be Kenedy off to Newcastle, it looks as good as done.

I suppose. Though I feel like those players never even got a shot. From one extreme to the other?

That's not how we do it though. He's our FB for the next few years. He's either quality, or an ongoing project. Man City go out and buy a GK for 30M, doesn't work, go out the next summer and spend another 30 for a different one. We don't really do that, we stick with a player long after it's obvious that they wont work (except Baba, that's an odd one).

If you want to sell us a player (or 2), you need to beat us in the CL.