Lining Raiola's Pockets - The 2017 Summer Transfer Thread

dudes, take that shit to private messages! lol

 

Or agree to disagree.

 

This is what happens when it's the last week of the transfer window and there are no rumors of United making moves.

 

My bad , you're right.

Sign Bale!
Blind Sucks!
Sign Draxler!
We have no bench!
Wenger out!
THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!

 

a) Mourinho was speaking in NOVEMBER about the club executing the option of a second season.

b) Until the above was confirmed it makes perfect sense for both sides to keep their options open based on how the season progressed.

c) See above.

d) No.

e) No.

f) I would have ditched him as I considered he held us back last season. I have spoke at length on this.

g) The one year deal (with the option to extend) was simply because no-one knew how Ibrahimovic would perform in the league.

 

And you know this for certain?

Ask yourself , what makes the most sense.

 

Addressing the team's current attacking options, Mourinho said: "We spent big money on a striker because, with strikers, you either spend or you don't get. We spent because of what happened to Zlatan and we cannot allow ourselves to be without an important, strong striker for the first six months of the season."

 

As certain as anyone can be and what I have posted is what makes most sense.

Mourinho [on Ibrahimovic] said: "We are going to execute the option of a second season. After that he can do what he wants."

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38080943
23 November 2016

 

Right, of course that what he's going to say.

Hypothetical 1/Theory 1: Zlatan doesn't get injured , he re-signs for another year sometime after the season ends (or whenever). This subsequently prevents us from going into the market for Lukaku ( a player , sources have been quoted as saying Mourinho was obsessed with ). We are left with probably signing a marginal number 9 , someone with decent quality , but not good enough to threaten Zlatan. Thus , essentially pinning our hopes on a 36 year old. Our play remains stagnant , and we still can't counter attack ,with really no reason to assume our offence would be any different. Meanwhile , we didn't even enter discussions for Morata or Lukaku because of Ibra.

Hypothetical/Theory 2 : United and Mourinho decided they had to upgrade the striker position the second that Mourinho was hired. Zlatan was available , so they took him , he was the best available option at the time (considering no champions league/ and the current state of the club/roster). He was a leader , he inspired confidence , and was a Mourinho conduit etc.

All the while they still had their long term targets ( of which Lukaku was one).
Zlatan got hurt and it was a PR blessing . Both sides could look amicable as United (after securing Champions league) , went after their original long term targets. Zlatan was never in the plans if it meant losing out on a long term target. Both parties knew this. Fortunately , the injury happens , and it became a mutually beneficial proposition to add Zlatan later in the season. No fuss , no drama , no PR nightmare.

United would NEVER sacrifice adding a potential young star ( and one of , if not the ,most prolific scorer in the Prem) for another season of a 36 year old Zlatan. Never.

Either Zlatan was ready to accept a lesser role. Or he was never in the plans. That's what makes sense. That's how United operates.

 

Jose, Woody, you can do it. One final push! (or at least you could try, lol...)


www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-alexis-sanchez-13549706

 

@Hustle and Flo you're missing one big point in your debate: Rashford. Before Ibra's injury I think we(and Ibra for that matter) had full intention of signing on for the next season with Rashford being groomed for the central position. That way we could continue to see his growth to make sure he was going to be a worthy successor for the #9 spot. But because Ibra got hurt and Jose & Co. weren't really sure Rashford was ready to the lead the line it forced their hand.

 

Ah , I can understand what you're saying.

But it's important to consider a couple things :

1) Rashford isn't a typical Mourinho #9 . Milito , Drogba , Costa etc

2) Rashford will still only be 20 when Ibra's deal is done this season. No way Mourinho would have banked on a player that young.

Whilst I can see your reasoning , Mourinho's track record would suggest Lukaku being bought regardless.

 

Right , but as I said , the injury changed everything. United would have looked terrible had they just left Ibra in the cold after that.

United has class , they would have allowed Ibra to rehab regardless. He wasn't going to sign with anyone during that initial rehab period/ next few months anyway. No one was positive towards the severity at that moment.

He got hurt on April 21st remember, I think it's fair to assume both sides had done enough posturing to know where they stood. Yet, no deal had been reached.

That means they were basically a month away from May 29th , the deadline for notifying the league which players you intend to keep. With something as basic as an option ( in the realm of contract negotiations) , I find it difficult to believe there was much else to deliberate.

 

This is BigSoccer.

 

Sanchez will not happen, nor Bale. Get Draxler or Mahrez. 40-50 mil is not that expensive today. Valencia may rebound back with his crosses. Shaw, don't know, maybe another LB, unless Darmian and Blind improve their crosses.

 

Puli would be in Dortmund for at least another year. He is part of our front 4.

Puli/Schurrle-Gotze/Kagawa--Reus/Yarmolenko
----------Auba-----—-

 

What do you think of the Yarmolenko move? I was beginning to think he'd never leave the motherland.

 

I wanted him 2 years ago in Dortmund, but he wanted EPL and ended up staying in Kiev. He has the size and attitude to be successful in BL. Plus, he is a Russian speaker, a brother sort of

 

From marketing point and for a long term option, Pulisic certainly looks like United player. Let's see how he does this season.

 

Yeah , it seems like a very Dortmund-esque move.

I'm surprised you guys held onto Aubameyang. I thought for sure you'd get a crazy bid that was impossible to refuse.

 

Well , it's interesting in that Germany and the Bundesliga are desperate to make a dent in America. And to be honest , I can't think of a better way to accomplish that ,than to have possibly the first true American star in your league.

That's the only thing you guys have that the premier league doesn't ( for the casual American fan).

He could be your meal ticket into growing your league and possibly getting a better TV contract.

Of course this all depends on how good he actually becomes and how long you can keep ahold of him.

 

He grew up as a United fan. In that part of PA people are eithe United or Liverpool fans. The money is in EPL. Most players want to play in EPL at some point.

 

Oh , no doubt. The appeal is there.

But all the other top 4-5 European leagues are trying to break into the American Market. It's what gave the EPL such a massive amount of money , they beat everyone to the punch for a myriad of reasons (one being the English language) and now it's a growing goliath.

I'm just saying the Bundesliga, now has the ace of spades ,compared to the Italian , French , and even Spanish markets.

If Pulisic has a big World Cup , look out. Bundesliga ratings are going to go through the roof in America for at least all of the Dortmund games. (if they can hold onto him)

 

I see Dortmund are heeding my advice to get their affairs in order, by getting Yarmolenko. United are coming for Pulisic in a year's time... You can mark it down, in the words of W.