Transfer Rumours Let's ignore the big ****ing elephant and blame the latest manager, again. Are we nearly there yet?

You’re using a generational talent as an example. I don’t think that is the same as Frenkie.

 

Looks like Barca are concluding discussions with La Liga today with a view to registering all their new signings next week. That means they have their cash in the bank - either their rights sales have gone through quicker than expected, or they have borrowed against those imminent receipts. Either way this could ease the pressure on Barca to sell players or it might signal their ability to pat de Jong his deferred wages and sell him. An interesting week ahead.

 

And it does look that they have found new money by selling more of their tv rights . Worth several hundred millions. So either they have enough money to keep DeJong or they still want to move him (apparently Xavi has just declared that he is NOT in his plans) and able to pay the 17m owed. My guess is that they will hold on to the last minute of the window to get Utd to shoulder all (or most) of that debt.

 

I’ve been asking this all along. We assumed that they were simply signing players without a plan and the players also committing to come in without understand the plan.

This wouldn’t be the first time that those Spanish clubs have found a loophole to allow them to survive.

 

They've sold the next 25 years TV rights.

And it's a massive gamble (by the purchaser) on the value of them as they are assuming/hoping the European super league happens at some point. Which, of course, it might not.

Still think they've been given money on the basis of a possibility which surely contravenes FFP, if such a thing even exists.

 

Expect the same from RM and AtM, perhaps this will give hem a way of funding CR7's wages.........................meanwhile back in the PL all the clubs (except City) play by the FFP rules

 

FFP is a complete fugazi!

Heck, even accounting principles for real companies have so many loopholes that companies exploit. And we think that FIFA is a body to uphold financial rules?

 

FFP is controlled by the organisers of the competition i.e.
PL - PL
Championship - EFL
CL - EUFA

 

Should have actually said UEFA which I believe sets the rules that different competitions adopt. Still as corrupt as FIFA though. Or does each competition define how they enforce it?

 

I believe Man City police the FFP for the PL.

 

The rules are enforced from the Middle East.

 

2 -2 against an underwhelming Villa side today, not such a bad result given that the pitch was very bad and the weather was even worse - at one point the players could hardly see each other through the rainstorm.
Sancho was on excellent for again, Martial was lively but went missing for a while and Rashford looks something like his old self, full of running and banging in shots at goal. The liability, once again was Lindelof who was responsible for the error that led to Villa first goal. He was playing on the left, so he was out of position, but even so he was very poor. The kids came on for the last stretch of the game and the momentum was lost and we conceded again. A shame not to be unbeaten on tour but the signs are promising. Now the team are off to oslo then we have one final fixture at OT before the season opener.

 

no shame. We are.

 

Very true, but the manner in which we dropped off and gifted them two easy goals makes it seem like a loss. If you read EtH's post match comments he's none too pleased either - which is promising.

 

yes. it's good to have a hard task master after the 2 jellies we've had lately. But once wholesale changes are made at the end of friendlies, the goals scored or conceded from then on hardly matter IMO.

 

And as usual the press makes it as if Utd has lost a final. Words like collapse and unacceptable blah blah

 

This is exactly the perspective that I was reflecting on after the match. Of course we dropped off after making so many changes. I don’t see the big deal.

What I get out of this preseason so far is that we have been scoring goals. Most importantly too, in the first half. We struggled so much last season to score when CR wasn’t playing or not scoring. That was the start of our problem.

But what worries me is that we have conceded goals in every match but one. And not all the goals have come after the wholesale changes. Hopefully the restructuring of the midfield with Eriksen and Martinez will stop that poor habit. I think it is pointless starting with Fred and McTominay in the midfield. If we can stop that, it should bring more stability to our defending.

 

I really don't want to rehash my old arguments, but I do see the present side as very much what Ole wanted in terms of shape at least, before CR7 was foisted on him by Woodward. With a front three of Martial (would have been rotated with Cavani) together with Sancho and Rashford and Fernandes in behind we are dynamic, the passing is good and the goals can come from anywhere. As soon as Ole was forced to play the ego up front that stopped,it was as if all goal opportunities had to go through him - and in fairness, they did. My point is that the movement stopped across the 18 yd box and it looks as though Rashford, and particularly Sancho, are going to thrives. Whether martial can keep his form up for what is going to be a tough season or whether we need to strengthen in attack remains to be seen.

Having watched all three games there is no doubt our passing is already sharper, our pressing is very good in midfield, our ball recovery all over the pitch is excellent and the off the ball movement is excellent. The only fly in the ointment is our defence - yet again. Maguire has boots of lead and Lindelof is already showing the lapses that cost us goals last season. It's a shame that Martinez couldn't join the tour but he will be a guaranteed starter in defence on the basis of how we've played so far. Shaw is showing glimpses of his old form but is still prone to forget his defensive responsibilities and with Lindelof on the left he can't do that. The youngsters played well, particularly Savage who definitely deserves some minutes this season.

 

@glazerfodder I agree with second half of your post. The only thing that I would issue a rebuttal against is that we lacked dynamism long before CR joined. Ole surely had an idea of what team he wanted on paper. However, we deeply lacked coaching to ever make bring it to the pitch. And once Bruno dropped off, the wheels started coming off.

The difference so far, still early days, is that we actually have a coach who is succinctly clear on what he wants and is fully hands on to ensure that he gets it. I am absolutely confident that if we add no extra players to the team of last year, we would accumulate more points under his stewardship.

 

Absolutely agree, nut not with our current defence. If you've seen the games you can see that there is a complete lack of confidence between Maguire and Lindelof and it is already starting to affect the ability of Dalot/Shaw to bomb forward, but our midfield is having to drop back, much as they had to do last season. Lindelof doesn't have a forward pass in him and the best that Maguire can do is pass sideways to Lindelof, it has been really frustrating watching how their indecision is affecting the rest of the team. I would love to see a martinez/varane combination in defence, either that or have Martinez play in front of Maguire /.Lindelof to give them an outlet for the ball instead of each other. If we don't sort that defence out it will undo all the great work being done elsewhere on the pitch.