How could Pogba go to Barcelona? I was under the impression they were under transfer restrictions and couldn't sign anyone until the January transfer window.
Allegedly, RVP to Fenerbahce (really?!?!) of all places, is a done deal.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
He's only 31. He should be capable of playing at a million more attractive places than there.
Podolski also sold to Galatasaray, though that actually makes sense.
Fenerbahce is offering a 4 year deal, so the security might make more sense for him. His problem is the soft injuries, and at his age, not being able to bounce back from those injuries. United also opens up a £200,000 wage spot, so losing VP, Anderson, Falcao and possibly Nani, that's about £700,000 in wages that can be used for incoming transfers. I highly doubt that United would have signed VP to an extension for after 2015/16. Looks like the transfer fee is about £4.25 million, so this is more of a salary dump for United than anything. His incoming transfer was for about £25 million, so for 3 years, his fee was about £7 million a year + wages, which wasn't all that bad seeing how the transfer fees have grown the past couple of years.
I don't think Bale goes anywhere, and for the pricing Pool wants, Sterling won't be going anywhere either...IMO. I am still waiting to see what happens with De Gea. I still think United was hoping to get Cech to replace him, but with his move to Arsenal that is out of the question.
As for other moves, I have a feeling Copa America ending will speed up the pace on moves. I don't think teams really wanted to make moves while guys were still playing in that tournament.
I've always heard Lloris as United's first choice for De Gea's replacement. I'm just hoping they aren't able to hijack Chelsea's signing of Begovic.
They can't get past Barca b/c of Messi, Neymar, and Suarez...the same reason no one else can get by Barca.
I might have been thinking of Butland going to Stoke instead of Chelsea and not Begovic.
Real finished 2 points behind Barca and I think that De Gea can help make up that two point difference, although with a year under their belt, the Messi, Suarez and Neymar trio will be tough to beat. It'll be interesting to see if Rafa can get more out of the players than Ancelotti did.
As amazing as the barca offense is, its the defense that keeps winning the trophies, and keeper i totally agree!
Sure a balanced attack vs one man real helps, but last year alone Barcelona d and keeper only gave up 21 goals in la liga to 38 for madrid. Casillas has been bad for years but pepe and ramos are always good for a gaffe or lazy marking. Im stunned Benitez isnt picking up a better CB to start with Varane and letting Ramos go. Pepe id dump first.
De Gea would be a massive upgrade id pay anything United wanted, no other top team has had a goalie as over the hill as Casillas.
[QUOTE="Rishi, post: 456813, member: 2970"If the wages you wrote (£225+K/week) are accurate, he'd be the highest paid GK by a mile in all of footy not just the PL. I could be wrong, but I think Iker is the highest paid currently at ~ 150K/wk but Euros not £s.
I cant buy that united offered 100 for Bale, and then were declined. Idiotic on both ends if true
Looks like I was wrong about Schneiderlin as it's been reported that he too signed with United. Going to be interested to see who United sell now as they've got a lot of "extra" players. It's one thing to have depth, it's another to have huge contracts on the bench who never play. That's going to happen to 2-3 players at United if they aren't able to sell them.
I'm hoping that Javi Martinez of Bayern is made available now. I know that Pep wants to play him at CD, but he is one of the best DM in the world and Bayern was awesome in 2013 with Martinez and Schweinsteiger running the middle of the pitch. That was a virtually perfect double pivot - pretty much what everyone wants when running a 4-2-3-1.
Rishi and guys, what do you think of Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger both playing that defensive minded game out on the pitch together? Does that allow United to open it more up top, with Schneiderlin playing more of an offensive role, much like Carrick does.
Wow...Mexico wins after converting a last-minute aet OT gift penalty vs. Costa Rica in the Gold Cup quarters. Officials had been letting both sides play the whole match and then that call??
For those that don't frequent the Locker Room, I present "Sepp Blatter, literally, showered with cash at FIFA press conference."
http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/fif...-by-tv-prankster-simon-brodkin-11363993494849
I thoroughly enjoyed that!
I guessing you meant Defensive role like Carrick. I think that's definitely what he'll be asked to do. Bastian will probably be more of a typical box-to-box (Lampard type, but better defensively) role with what United looks to be doing. I'm assuming more of a 4-2-3-1 look with Depay on the Left, Herrera in the 10 and Mata on the Right cutting in. Could reshape that same "midfield 5" to make it a 4-3-3 with Herrera dropping deeper to play CM along with Schweinsteiger and Carrick/Schneiderlin holding up in the middle.
I think what'll be really interesting is if they play both Carrick and Schneiderlin as a double pivot against teams with stronger midfields eg. the Arsenals, Chelseas, Citys and UCL big boys how will the team adapt to going forward. I could definitely see those 2 playing in those games with Schweinsteiger in the 10 or even a 4-3-3 setup with Bastian being the one to drop deeper. Definitely won't be as easy to control the middle of the park against United this year with Schneiderlin there (I'm a big fan of his).
I guess I'm interested to see who's going to orchestrate the O, Schweinsteiger or Mata? If Mata plays the 10 at all, he could be back to his Chelsea (pre-Mourinho) form with the weapons that United has assembled. That's assuming that Rooney doesn't fall off the planet in terms of his form and that Depay has a "normal" adjustment and not a "looks great 1 week, terrible the next 3 weeks" type EPL indoctrination.
Also, not sure if United with play a high line and pressing system, b/c if they do, Mata isn't the best in that system -> doesn't have the gas tank or natural inclination to do it. In moments, sure he can, but not over the larger portion of a match or campaign (hence the reason he's not at Chelsea).