And now Man Utd are linked to Matuidi. Like I said a couple of pages back, he seems more like a Mourinho type of player than Pogba does. Won't sell as many shirts and instant noodles though
The British Transfer Thread
re: Balotelli, I hope someone takes a punt on him and he actually delivers because he's clearly got the potential to be brilliant if he can sort his head out. Plus he's such an awesome character it would be a shame to see his career fade away from here.
He'll probably end up on silly money in China though....
Lallana to Spurs looks a possibility though.
Just don't get why Spurs would want Lallana. They have Eriksen, Lamela, Alli, Heung Son Min and Chadli(is he still there?) that can do that job. What is Lallana... 28? Just seems strange to me.
Maybe they want to buy some experience and plodding build up play?
It looks like the Pobga deal is almost done. It will sell more shirts, but not sure he is Jose's type of player.
Watched every game he played in the Euros and quite frankly did not do anything for me. However, he is only 23 and will only hopefully improve.
Time will tell.
He's played much better at club level than at international level; club level is of high quality anyway. If you guys buy him I'm going straight to the TAB and putting $10 on United winning the league, especially with all the other quality signings you've made and Mourinho at the helm.
He's played much better at club level than at international level; club level is of high quality anyway. If you guys buy him I'm going straight to the TAB and putting $10 on United winning the league, especially with all the other quality signings you've made and Mourinho at the helm.
Now he's young and could improve, but right now I don't see the justification for the hype or price tag.
Lukaku rumoured to be heading back to Chelsea? How many strikers does Conte need? It's not like Chelsea have European games to contend with either
Maybe they are going to play a 4-0-6 formation?
Pogba is finally done! 89m quid plus 20m to his agent (not sure if United or Juve are paying this).
United have also created a cringe-worthy hashtag #pogback
Well United will probably be the frontrunners to win the league then.
Waste of money.
Most money spent in professional football is probably a waste
Waste of money.
What a load of rubbish. They'll sell 10 millions United shirts with Pogba on the back in China alone. Tidy little return on investment.
Oh, he might play some football too...apparently.
He's not even that good though.
Haters gonna hate.
Anyone ever seen him have a good game?
Anyone ever seen him have a good game?
Fergie didn't.
Mou will claim that he has.
Anyone ever seen him have a good game?
Fergie didn't.
Mou will claim that he has.
Ferguson had certainly recognised Pogba’s potential, describing him at the start of that fateful 2011-12 season as “a young boy showing great promise”.
He added: “If we hold Pogba back, what’s going to happen? He’s going to leave. So we have to give him the opportunity to see how he can do in the first team and he’s got great ability, plus he’s got the physique and athleticism.”
Quite why he didn’t play him more often in that campaign only Ferguson can answer. But the fact he suspected Raiola of plotting the move to Juve behind United’s back – and their subsequent furious face-to-face bust-up – didn’t help matters.
In his second autobiography, Ferguson said he “distrusted” Raiola, describing their first meeting as a “fiasco”.
“We had Paul under a three-year contract, and it had a one-year renewal option which we were eager to sign. But Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco."
"He and I were like oil and water. From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus.”
The days of not bending over to "super-agents" like Raiola are over for United. Unfortunately in the long term this will mean every one is going to want 100m and you can guarantee our next transfer is going to break the same records.
Hala Madrid! Whooops I meant.... "Glory Glory Man United!"
The only reason I'm comfortable with this transfer is the visible excitement of Pogba from being "home." (his words).
re his performances - I've always maintained he was overrated. Scores quality highlight reel goals which means his ability and influence is really over inflated to the youtube watching generation. But he does definitely have some moments of quality and always has, so lets see.
John Stones is clearly going to Man City, UEFA say so.....
Number 24
47 Million pounds he went to City for. Already on their european roster too!
An even bigger waste of money.
Pogba worth 89 Million? I think NOT. He blows too hot and cold. Has some brilliant skills yet they desert him when he needs them sometimes at the highest levels.
He's not even that good though.
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[quote=Buffon II]
Anyone ever seen him have a good game?
I guess the manager of Juventus who picked him 124 times & the manager of France who picked him 38 times (so far) have seen something your eyes have not.
Anyone who watched the Euros care to explain how Pogba is worth $60 million more than Granit Xhaka?
Anyone who watched the Euros care to explain how Pogba is worth $60 million more than Granit Xhaka?
Tbf he was being played out of position.
Off course Pogba is worth the money!
What have MU been crying out for since Keane left? A dominant midfielder.
Who is the best midfielder on the market in 2016? Paul Pogba.
Doesn't take much to put 2 and 2 together here, United needed a (potentially) great midfielder so they signed the very best. The $ value doesn't come in to question. If every club in the world had the money to sign Pogba,. then every club in the world would be in to sign him.
I think Pogba is a younger version of Yaya Toure, who was 4 or 5 years older than Pogba when he signed for City (for around a quarter of the fee). Given how prices have risen a la the Auckland property market, United paid the going rate for a player of his quality.
As I'm Not Your Bro says, he played 120+ times for Juve in 3 years, and is generally considered by pundits and players alike to be "the man" for their Scudetto wins.
Pogba is a dominant central midfielder (as opposed to a DM, like Keane) who United strongly believe will score goals, create goals and stop the opposition from doing their thing.
If it works out, and there is no real reason to think it wont, then he's worth every penny and Fergie should start eating a shark sandwich
Anyone who watched the Euros care to explain how Pogba is worth $60 million more than Granit Xhaka?
Because a) Juventus are the sellers, b) United are the buyers, and c) Pogba is a household name whereas Xhaka isn't.
^ yep pretty much
Everything except actual playing ability.
Pogba's got a lot to prove this season. Will be interesting to see how he responds to the pressure.
Who is the best midfielder on the market in 2016?
Who is the best midfielder on the market in 2016?
I should have said the best midfielder in his position. Pjanic and Pogba are different positions. United already have (for better or worse) guys like Mata, Herrera, Rooney (if he dropped deep) and bought Mkhytarian (sp?) that are more similar to Pjanic at the Disco
Even in the France squad there was Kante, who is a different sort of player but probably more what Man Utd need and is already established in England so used to the pace and physicality of the EPL, and again he cost about a third of what Pogba did.
^ yep pretty much
Everything except actual playing ability.
Pogba's got a lot to prove this season. Will be interesting to see how he responds to the pressure.
In other transfer news...
Bolaise to Everton for 30m (make Mane look like a steal)
Stones to City for 47.5m
Opens up a 30m deal for Benteke to Palace (hopefully).
Who still needs what?
In my humble opinion, LFC need a 1st choice RB, a second choice LB and probably DM cover.
edit >>> Stones price
Who is the best midfielder on the market in 2016?
I should have said the best midfielder in his position. Pjanic and Pogba are different positions. United already have (for better or worse) guys like Mata, Herrera, Rooney (if he dropped deep) and bought Mkhytarian (sp?) that are more similar to Pjanic at the Disco
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I should have said the best midfielder in his position. Pjanic and Pogba are different positions. United already have (for better or worse) guys like Mata, Herrera, Rooney (if he dropped deep) and bought Mkhytarian (sp?) that are more similar to Pjanic at the Disco
[/quote]So what position do you see Pogba playing at Man Utd? As one of the 2 in a 4-2-3-1? Because that's where he looked uncomfortable playing for France at the Euros. The general consensus is that he is best on the left of a midfield 3, but if Man Utd play a 4-3-3 how do you fit Pogba, Rooney, and Zlatan on the pitch at once?
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I'll do Jose's job when he does mine!
the more pertinent questions to me are; where does Mkhytarian play, and how do you spell his name?
(but in answer to your question, I'd have Pogba playing in a two-man midfield with Carrick or Schneiderlin in behind him, like the Keane/Ince partnership or however Yaya Toure operates at City. I really think Yaya is the template to go for with Pogba. Do I? Oh yaya, I do)
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In other transfer news...
Bolaise to Everton for 30m (make Mane look like a steal)
Stones to City for 41m
Opens up a 30m deal for Benteke to Palace (hopefully).
Who still needs what?
In my humble opinion, LFC need a 1st choice RB, a second choice LB and probably DM cover.
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Benteke was a bad signing from the beginning for you lot, which makes me happy. He only scored goals at Villa when his contract was being renegotiated.
Palace have done really well in the market so far, they have cover for Bolaise going and Fatty Pardew might be able to motivate Benteke (but maybe not, who knows)
Even in the France squad there was Kante, who is a different sort of player but probably more what Man Utd need and is already established in England so used to the pace and physicality of the EPL, and again he cost about a third of what Pogba did.
Yep, cant argue much here but all I can say is that Kante is more of a DM rather than a CM which Pogba is. United already covered somewhat at DM, so I guess they are feeling they needed a more dominant presence further up the field (again, I don't want to be jerking off at him, but in that Yaya Toure role)
In other transfer news...
Bolaise to Everton for 30m (make Mane look like a steal)
Stones to City for 41m
Opens up a 30m deal for Benteke to Palace (hopefully).
Who still needs what?
In my humble opinion, LFC need a 1st choice RB, a second choice LB and probably DM cover.
Benteke was a bad signing from the beginning for you lot, which makes me happy. He only scored goals at Villa when his contract was being renegotiated.
Palace have done really well in the market so far, they have cover for Bolaise going and Fatty Pardew might be able to motivate Benteke (but maybe not, who knows)
All football is awash with bad signings - there are plenty worse than Benteke, there are many, many better. I still think he's a 30m+ striker but just not for our style of play. The new TV deals mean English clubs are awash with cash so we'll find a buyer I'm sure and I reckon he'll go for at least 25m if not what we paid for him. We got 15m for Ibe FFS...and that includes a buy-back clause!
On the face off it, John Stones for 47.5m is the real eye-opener of the off-season.......he's pretty error prone. But I guess you look a bit deeper, and you see City have a shark ton of money so Everton will charge more, he's English (and City need that), and he's young. You can pretty much justify every transfer fee if you try hard enough in the fantasy vacuum that football exists in (in the real world it's all obscene)