lol, y'all carry on. i just kinda found it funny (and confusing?) arguing, not about winning titles, but about which titles

7/14/2019 7:07:00 AM

It’s hilarious coming from a spurs fan who has never seen his team win anything to assign importance to a trophy. Mate maybe start by winning the Mickey Mouse Cup at least.

7/15/2019 8:15:20 AM

To be fair, they won the ICC pre-season tour trophy last year when most clubs were resting their World Cup players lol

7/15/2019 10:52:50 AM

Six. Goddamn. Times.

7/15/2019 3:45:14 PM

29 frickin' years

7/15/2019 5:12:16 PM

transfer market is absolutely bonkers this year. Some insane prices being thrown around for players.

7/16/2019 10:18:24 AM

Tottenham potentially losing Trippier and Eriksen is going to hurt.

7/16/2019 10:33:58 AM

Dont think Trippier is a huge loss. They do need a backup though. Good move for Trippier in my opinion however. Doubt they will lose Eriksen as Zidane isn't interested and Levy will absolutely price other english clubs out unless he pushes for a move which is unlikely.

Tottenhams issue is can they improve year on year with the same players. Ndombele being their only addition isn't great. How will an aging Toby and Vertognen keep up with the demands of CL/PL. The core of this squad has been together for 3 years and I don't see why they wouldn't keep improving for another season given their age but one or two key injuries and they are fucked. Lots of last min winners last season points to mental strength but also relying on individual effort.

7/16/2019 12:58:37 PM

Reading back, it appears multiple people think Wolves are a top 4 side this season

7/16/2019 2:19:04 PM

^ nah its the ABU crowd that wishes United would get relegated. Bonkers that they believe Leicester and Wolves are better than United and Arsenal. Not surprising considering they are by and large pool and spurs fans finally being able to get one over their rivals for once.

7/16/2019 3:14:11 PM

I see we’ve picked up right where we left off last year.

1) Liverpool
2) City
3) Spurs
4) someone else but probably Chelsea, Arsenal or United

I actually think Liverpool should be clear favorites. City obviously have the recently pedigree but a chunk of their stars are getting older.

7/16/2019 3:29:07 PM

I'm not too worried, as City have the second youngest squad in the league. They just bought Rodri, 23 years old, as a potential Fernandinho replacement. Sterling, Sane, Bernardo Silva, Laporte, and Stones (when he's not having a brain fart) will likely be in phases of peak performance over the next few years. My main concern is that Gabriel Jesus will never cut it as Kun Aguero's successor. But I think Sergio will provide plenty of goals for another couple of years.

7/16/2019 5:39:21 PM

too early for predictions. Way too many variables now with different teams and the only one that has come close to challenging consistently like old United is City. I expect city/pool to remain in the challenge and set the pace. Either of them are clear favorites. I do not expect the title winner to have more than 90 points this year though. I think the league will be more competitive at least in the top 15. That will leave two spots and I think Spurs/Chelsea/Arsenal/United will be in the hunt. I expect Arsenal to actually do much better this year but injuries might be their biggest issue.

I will be curious to see what Ole does. If we finish outside the top 4 but play consistently and a good brand of football then he deserves one more year. The excuse after PSG was that the team didn't have proper fitness so after a fresh off season with Ole that excuse will no longer be relevant. If we keep Pogba, De Gea and players like Martial, Rashford, Dalot, Shaw, and Fred can step up I can see us finishing top 4 comfortably but there is too much uncertainty. Still need a CB to pair with lindelof and I am not sure if Macguire is the best one for that. Its unfortunate Ole and the team couldn't capitalize at the end of last season and take a top 4 spot because I do think De Light may be playing here if that had happened. I am kind of hoping we let the kids play in the Europa because it doesn't seem like we are going to get rid of the deadwood so there is a deep squad there. Our bench is bang average but players like Sanchez, Rojo, Jones, Romero, Periera should be Europa starters with academy kids. Hoping we let Lukaku go and get a Bas Dost or Ben Yedder to replace him for Europa/cups as well.

7/17/2019 11:39:28 AM

Dalot stepping up? On the bench maybe.

I never said Leicester would finish over United as an official prediction but they have a better coach, had some solid momentum to end last year and their squad looks pretty settled (again, if Maguire stays) unlike United at the moment.

7/18/2019 4:42:16 PM

A brief debate:



No.

7/19/2019 7:20:08 AM

7/19/2019 9:11:08 AM

^^tbf I almost posted that too but the article almost immediately says its tongue in cheek bc of how much money they want for him.

7/19/2019 9:42:40 AM

I understand where Leicester is coming from but they are stupid not take 60 mil + 15 in performance based bonuses. Slabhead isn't worth anywhere near that and they won't get this sort of valuation next year. Doubt its going to make much of a difference in their league finish.

Quote :

"better coach"

Very debatable. Rodgers is a tool.

Dalot can play at RW. We are going to need the younger plays to contribute and improve. Not necessarily become starters but Rashford, Martial, Dalot, Shaw, McTominay and AWB are going to be integral to us if we are to finish top 4 and they are around the age we expect them to step up and start taking on more responsibility.


[Edited on July 19, 2019 at 10:08 AM. Reason : a]

7/19/2019 10:06:38 AM

Quote :

"Rashford, Martial, Dalot, Shaw, McTominay and AWB"

I'm curious how many of these guys you think would get in last season's top 4? If that's United's "core" moving forward to try and get top 4 they better get a lot better as individuals quickly.

The only guy I can say for sure is AWB in our lineup because we have an obvious hole to fill in that spot at the moment with Trips gone.

7/19/2019 2:30:45 PM

I think AWB is really good. He's a different player then TAA and Roberson but I don't think he would make Pool worse. I think he would be maybe be an upgrade on other top 4 sqauds, but I guess Chelsea/city/arsenal fans can argue with me

7/19/2019 2:58:17 PM

I wouldn't say they are the core aside from Rashford, Shaw and AWB who are obvious starters. These are the guys I am counting on improving so as a squad we can get into the top 4.

Our starting line up and depth at the moment looks like this.

------ Rashford ------
TM/AS --------- Dalot/JM/DJ
-- Pogba/JL - Matic/SM- Fred/AP
Shaw - Lindelof - Smalling - AWB


Rashford, Pogba, Shaw, AWB and Lindelof all probably start in atleast Chelsea' setup and that is the real core of the team. Pogba def. starts in every top 4 team and I would say AWB probably also improves every top 4 team with Shaw and Lindelof solidifying the bench and probably receiving a lot of minutes off the bench. I would take Rash over Gabriel Jesus and he probably gets in ahead of Origi for pool. Spurs not so much given Son/Kane.

Looking at that starters/backups its clear if Lukaku leaves we need a backup or else we are relying on Martial and then academy kids like Greenwood. Not great if Rashford doesn't improve. Glaring lack of quality on the right side as Dalot, Juan Mata and Daniel James are not right wingers. Worrying midfield depth quality after Pogba, Matic and McTominay hence the need for McTominay to step up big.

I actually think with AWB and Shaw (thus the need for both to step up) we are looking better in defense. Obviously our priorities should be CB and midfielder and then striker if Lukaku leaves. RW will have to be a stop gap but now with AWB we can push Dalot up.

This is why I identified those players as needing to step up and improve if we are to make top 4 alongside another CB at least.

7/19/2019 3:27:17 PM

The entire Fiorentina team just walked into my hotel in Charlotte. I would have asked for autographs, but I didn't recognize a single player lol

7/19/2019 11:22:27 PM

Two Ls in consecutive years against Dortmund. Obviously BVB > Liverpool.

7/19/2019 11:59:56 PM

^^ wow looked at their roster and it’s pretty rough for a pretty proud Italian Club. Also, they were very poor last year (16th in Serie A).

7/21/2019 8:04:05 PM

Levy and Spurs would do well to also get Lo Celso in. I think that may just help them take the next step. Its time for August 10 to arrive though, I hate pre season.

7/22/2019 9:56:57 AM

Quote :

"Pogba def. starts in every top 4 team and I would say AWB probably also improves every top 4 team"

Not Liverpool. Pogba would not do well with the defensive responsibilities required for Klopp's midfield. And AWB does not start over the best RB in the league mate.

7/22/2019 11:08:52 AM

Quote :

"Not Liverpool. Pogba would not do well with the defensive responsibilities required for Klopp's midfield. And AWB does not start over the best RB in the league mate."

The Pogba bit is laughable. He is the most technically gifted midfielder in the world at the moment and any manager would kill to have that kind of player in midfield. Don't let the fact that he plays for United and didn't adhere to Mou's defensive mindset cloud your judgement.

I said AWB would improve every top 4 team. Doesn't mean he starts over TAA but he would certainly be fighting for minutes and would be a clear improvement for your squad overall.

[Edited on July 22, 2019 at 11:58 AM. Reason : a]

7/22/2019 11:54:11 AM

Pogba is really good but just doesn't fit Liverpool right now. I don't see how that's laughable.

7/22/2019 12:02:32 PM

Gini started in your midfield for the last two CL finals. Pogba is a definite upgrade over him, especially in the role that he plays. He'd be just fine tracking back and pressing, he has done it before.

7/22/2019 12:07:13 PM

doesn't seem to do it consistently for United but ok

7/22/2019 1:32:33 PM

I agree with you and I keep saying his attitude is an issue but he is unplayable in a team that wins a lot which your lot has certainly done last year. I get the insistence that he wouldn't start in Liverpool's lineup but take off those red tinted glasses and its clear Pogba would slot into any midfield in the world and also why Zidane has such a hard on for him.

7/22/2019 1:45:19 PM

Quote :

" but take off those red tinted glasses"

oh the irony

7/23/2019 12:46:30 PM

Yup totally have me red tinted glasses on for a player who I think is better off being sold. Crazy stuff. You would think winning a CL trophy would make you lot less delusional. Never change pool fans, never change.

[Edited on July 23, 2019 at 2:08 PM. Reason : a]

7/23/2019 2:07:48 PM

Wait you want to sell Pogba or you think it would be better for Pogba to be somewhere else? Or both?

7/23/2019 2:38:30 PM

ICC > Champions League.

Come at me.

[Edited on July 23, 2019 at 7:41 PM. Reason : Pogba would be Balloon D’or caliber under Klopp. Come on..]

7/23/2019 7:40:19 PM

Would he? Against good teams, the whole point of the middle 3 is to stay compact and get the ball either to the overlapping fullbacks or the wingers where Pool have a clear advantage. Since Coutinho left, we never initiate attacks thru the middle where Pogba is very dangerous and effective. The setup as is at Liverpool negates his strengths and I don't think his defense/effort is any better than the current trio. Look at Keita for example who has been compared to Pogba as a creator/dribbler, etc. and he found it tough to break in to the midfield because of the defensive responsibilities.

Of course against teams that sit back, that's where he'd be effective but so would Keita, Ox, and even Henderson when he started playing that advanced role.

7/24/2019 7:21:51 AM

^^^

Both, he is a distraction at the moment and a luxury. Obviously if we are to have a good season then he is key but it would have been better if Madrid had ponied up 150M and we sold him but only if we had gotten in two midfielders to replace him as well. Seems to be too late in the window now for us to consider it and it seems Madrid can't afford him this year either.

The club continues to fail every manager though and on the basis of this transfer window so far I have zero hope of making the top 4. Nothing will change till Ed Woodward is out and the club actually has football men making decisions. Glazers have no clue how to run a football club and only want to line their pockets. Only hope we have is that Ole has the managerial chops to punch above his weight. If it all goes tits up again I truly do hope we have a few seasons finishing 10th or below to get rid of the cancer that is the backroom/owners.

7/24/2019 2:00:24 PM

I really don't understand why they're so stubborn. A DOF/dedicated team for personnel would help the results side but it would most likely save them money in the transfer market and with wages. And it's clear that business aspect is what they care about.

7/25/2019 8:14:06 AM

Yea its mind boggling because they are spending money but they are spending without a proper system or plan so ultimately it costs them more in the long run. Woodward is their man though and he was one of the people that helped facilitate their takeover. I suspect at the end they'd rather work with a guy they trust and has made them boatloads of money to line their greedy little pockets than someone who will ask them to make tough decisions and push back. Its still stupid business practices. That said it seems the only individuals that can buy United are Chinese investors and Arabs. Neither is exactly a better option for us and the last thing I want is for United to be a marketing machine for nation-state sponsored criminals.

On a more positive note, lads its Tottenham hahahaha. ICC definitely >>>>>>> Champions league

7/25/2019 9:52:02 AM

Quote :

"Yup totally have me red tinted glasses on for a player who I think is better off being sold. Crazy stuff. You would think winning a CL trophy would make you lot less delusional. Never change pool fans, never change."

hahahahahaha he thinks I'm talking about Pogba. Never change wazza, never change.

7/25/2019 9:54:12 AM

If we are truly not going to sign anyone else I think Ole really needs to start players like McTominay and Tuanzebe with others like Periera, Greenwood and Chong getting significant game time. I am tired of Sanchez, Rojo, Jones, Smalling, and Darmian. Its time to trust the kids because really the other options are utter dross.

7/25/2019 9:56:46 AM

at least they're buying young players with potential and not olds like Sanchez

7/25/2019 12:36:03 PM

in b4 we pay over the odds for Bale on deadline day haha. I agree we are buying young players and its good but I don't know if it is a marked shift in strategy or not yet. Time will tell so lets see. At least Ole will always have the fan support and if we are seeing improvement then a failure in reaching the top 4 is squarely on the shoulders of the board, Ed Woodward and Glazers. They have been the ones to fail 3 managers since Sir Alex and they have learned zero lessons in the last 7 years it seems.

7/25/2019 2:45:22 PM

Those are good points.

I think this video provides some interesting counters
https://youtu.be/buoMlAshKXQ

7/25/2019 3:09:35 PM

https://twitter.com/meninblazers/status/1154484399339012098?s=21

Holy shit

7/25/2019 6:56:58 PM

^Was that you, Ribs?

7/25/2019 7:42:54 PM

I actually gained a lot of respect for Sead

Anyone surprised Ozil disappeared? He does that in big moments

7/26/2019 9:21:07 AM

7/26/2019 10:27:49 AM

He's our number 4

7/26/2019 1:15:24 PM

Puts the size of that trophy into perspective, Van Dijk is a big fucking dude.

7/26/2019 2:12:51 PM