Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap

[duffer]

Why are you so sure Chelsea aren't in for him?

Because we have a ton of players in his position, need to spend dosh in other areas of the side and don't have unlimited funds anymore.

We're not going into the season with Kante, Kova, Jorgi, Gallagher, RLC, Barkley, Mount, Gilmour AND this dude.

It would be like us signing another left back, to compete with Chilly and Cookie.

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

What a monumentally frustrating situation this will turn out to be if Romero and Ornstein are right with him ending up at Chelsea.
I mean honestly what the feck has happened here?

 

[theyneverlearn]

Not really reliable. Whilst a bunch of Tier 1's are saying Chelsea is looking increasingly likely. Maybe this is to speed up United because Barca need the transfer to be wrapped up next week, or maybe the T1's are just right.

I'm just glad it sounds like it will be over next week. There should definitely be more discussion though about Chelsea's spending this window. Absolutely ludicrous and is going to contribute as much to inflating the market as any recent transfer.

What do you mean by ‘speed up United’?

We’ve had a fee agreed for weeks, it is Barcelona who need to sort out the deferred wages. We’ve already offered them €10million more when officials met in Barcelona to push this through quicker.

 

[Compton22]

What a monumentally frustrating situation this will turn out to be if Romero and Ornstein are right with him ending up at Chelsea.
I mean honestly what the feck has happened here?

A Murtough masterclass

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

... amateurs!

Not even close

 

[Widow]

 

[cyberman]

In the main I agree.
Can't get my head around the "make our own" stance as a fall back scenario: how long would this take, and where is this option going to be found? No candidates have presented themselves thus far, who aren't at least two loans away from realizing even their PL potential. And as the clock ticks down lets just hope that the body of incomings ( whatever that constitutes? ) can be done in quick succession whether FDJ is the king-making transfer or not.

I do think Eriksen lessens the need in midfield a little bit and if Martinez is a defender who presses forward and starts play from deep then that will help progressing the ball forward as well. Hell I can even see 3 at the back with Martinez in a CB /DM hybrid role.
I can see why Ten Hag thinks he can afford to play around with who we have around that. I just think the squad needs so much work that de Jong or no de Jong makes little difference. For example, I think a great RB transforms our 11 more than a de Jong does.
I do think de Jong is a good player but the only reason I want him at that price is down to Ten Hag and believing he knows how to get him back to his Ajax days. His ok stint at Barca does nothing for me and I don’t think he rediscovers that form under Tuchel and his obsession with playing through his fullbacks.
Going to Chelsea doesn’t really bother me

 

[#07]

The only thing we can tell from this is someone at United wants this version of the truth out there. I doubt Ten Hag knows Robson or is feeding him stories. I'll be interested in the Telegraaf account of our transfers when it comes. That may give us a better window into Ten Hag's views.

 

[Drainy]

In the same article he says ETH is happy to carry on without further signings. So it's probably just a case of, if it happens then great. Otherwise we'll go with what we've got.

If he is, he is a bit deluded. City and Liverpool will be up there obviously, but Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are all going to be competitive and our squad will be weaker than last season.

Coaching and proper team spirit can only get so far.. In the PL the midtable teams are stubborn as hell, quality matters.

 

[Berbaclass]

If Chelsea were going to sign him it would already be a lot more concrete than just “interested”

Nothing stopping them from agreeing a deal with Barca. It’s a bluff IMO

Barca heavily under pressure with registrations of players etc.

 

[Rajma]

Club briefing to try and picture that they’re blameless in this situation and the buck stops with ETH. However, our new structure was meant to prevent from accepting stupid requests from the manager that might derail our season? They’re as much to blame from my perspective.

 

[Brownie85]

It's not the best source to be fair, and I see know reason to believe that this info comes directly from us, rather some speculation on the journalists part

But thats the thing, a lot of the Chelsea stuff has been speculation and the sorts from the journos part. Because de Jong and his team have said nothing at all, it makes any information difficult to verify.
A lot of the Chelsea information is coming from Barca it seems, i think Romero confirms that this morning, so, knowing Barcas position do we believe it as absolute truth, or do we see it as Barca trying to force Uniteds hand. Thats what we have no idea on

 

[Compton22]

Umm, guys, I think Romero's lost it

 

[charlenefan]

@duffer doing the classic reverse jinx

He's acting all casual but his muppet juices are flowing

 

[hellhunter]

But thats the thing, a lot of the Chelsea stuff has been speculation and the sorts from the journos part. Because de Jong and his team have said nothing at all, it makes any information difficult to verify.
A lot of the Chelsea information is coming from Barca it seems, i think Romero confirms that this morning, so, knowing Barcas position do we believe it as absolute truth, or do we see it as Barca trying to force Uniteds hand. Thats what we have no idea on

Well yes, but speculation by pretty good sources, while the most recent 'pro United' stuff is speculation by lesser sources.

 

[duffer]

Chelsea are talking with Barca about Alonso. Maybe a straight swap

 

[Berbaclass]

Chelsea are talking with Barca about Alonso. Maybe a straight swap

 

[duffer]

@duffer doing the classic reverse jinx

He's acting all casual but his muppet juices are flowing

For a central midfielder? I'm dryer than Ben Shapiro's wife.

 

[#07]

Club briefing to try and picture that they’re blameless in this situation and the buck stops with ETH. However, our new structure was meant to prevent from accepting stupid requests from the manager that might derail our season? They’re as much to blame from my perspective.

That's my suspicion too.

When the club hired Ten Hag the briefing was one part that attracted them to him was he was accustomed to working with a Football Director in a structure.

What happened to all that, eh?

 

[Blood Mage]

Seems Chelsea have now got involved when they know he’s definitely leaving. I still find it flabbergasting he’d choose them when ETH has waited for him all summer and wants to build around him going there - almost as flabbergasting as Chelsea having the money to buy him and the need with all their midfielders - but it doesn’t look good.

Chelsea have a better squad, show more ambition in the market, are in the CL and are in a better position to win trophies than us overall. If we take off the red tinted specs it's a no-brainer to pick Chelsea.

 

[hellhunter]

That's my suspicion too.

When the club hired Ten Hag the briefing was one part that attracted them to him was he was accustomed to working with a Football Director in a structure.

What happened to all that, eh?

ETH having numerous demands and wanting a lot of power and influence before signing for us would somewhat contradict that

 

[avgp_1]

I'd wait for Romano to come out with his stories on this saga before I completely give up on this. He has been the most clued in from what I remember, even at the time of the bid he didn't seem the deal was close because of Frenkie's interests.

 

[Compton22]

Club briefing to try and picture that they’re blameless in this situation and the buck stops with ETH. However, our new structure was meant to prevent from accepting stupid requests from the manager that might derail our season? They’re as much to blame from my perspective.

That's disgusting! It's bad enough that they haven't backed him properly in the market, but to simultaneously point the finger at him and absolve themselves of any blame?

They're not just incompetent. They're back stabbing, slimy AND incompetent.

 

[WPMUFC]

 

[hellhunter]

I'd wait for Romano to come out with his stories on this saga before I completely give up on this. He has been the most clued in from what I remember, even at the time of the bid he didn't seem the deal was close because of Frenkie's interests.

Romano has no clue about this particular deal, he was consistently behind other sources

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Romero is literally full of shit at this point.

He fishes for likes.

 

[Brownie85]

Well yes, but speculation by pretty good sources, while the most recent 'pro United' stuff is speculation by lesser sources.

Well yeah, but speculation is speculation. With what Romero has said, i'm pretty sure all the Chelsea stuff is being driven by Barca and not by Chelsea.
I'm not denying it might all be totally accurate and real, but given Barcas situation, it seems more likely to me that they're forcing Uniteds hand, and United being in contact with de Jongs camp aren't biting.

Thats my opinion, obviously i have no idea as do none of us here

 

[Berbasbullet]

Because we have a ton of players in his position, need to spend dosh in other areas of the side and don't have unlimited funds anymore.

We're not going into the season with Kante, Kova, Jorgi, Gallagher, RLC, Barkley, Mount, Gilmour AND this dude.

It would be like us signing another left back, to compete with Chilly and Cookie.

I agree, but it does sound like your new owner is playing real life FM and wants to make statement signings, beating united to their main target is a big statement.

 

[Berbaclass]

Romero is literally full of shit at this point.

He fishes for likes.

I think that but he’s also heavily misquoted/mistranslated

 

[hellhunter]

That's disgusting! It's bad enough that they haven't backed him properly in the market, but to simultaneously point the finger at him and absolve themselves of any blame?

They're not just incompetent. They're back stabbing, slimy AND incompetent.

If this all fails, you realise we're in this mess exactly because they were backing the manager to the fullest, right?

 

[pacifictheme]

Still really relaxed about this transfer tbh. I don't even really see it as incompetence if he ends up at Chelsea. Think it will get done to us next week.

 

[Swedish_Plumber]

So Frenkie is pulling out?

 

[christinaa]

If he is, he is a bit deluded. City and Liverpool will be up there obviously, but Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal are all going to be competitive and our squad will be weaker than last season.

Coaching and proper team spirit can only get so far.. In the PL the midtable teams are stubborn as hell, quality matters.

So true!

 

[Mickeza]

Chelsea have a better squad, show more ambition in the market, are in the CL and are in a better position to win trophies than us overall. If we take off the red tinted specs it's a no-brainer to pick Chelsea.

Before this transfer window started Chelsea did not have a better squad than us and were not in a better position to win trophies hence why Tuchel went on a meltdown. They’ve shown far more ambition though - I’ll give you that - and seem to want to back their manager.

 

[Compton22]

If this all fails, you realise we're in this mess exactly because they were backing the manager to the fullest, right?

By failing to get his no.1 target then hanging him out to dry with press briefs!? What world are you living in?

 

[Litch]

From the outside looking in, ETH seems like a straight dude and I can’t believe that he would be that invested without reassurances. If he has, and Frenkie turned his back on him this late in the day, then not the type of player we want anyway……

 

[Judas]

That's disgusting! It's bad enough that they haven't backed him properly in the market, but to simultaneously point the finger at him and absolve themselves of any blame?

They're not just incompetent. They're back stabbing, slimy AND incompetent.

How has he not been backed? We’ve spent all summer chasing his targets and forgetting about the previously planned ones. I support the new manager, but to act like he wouldn’t take some of the blame here is bonkers.

 

[AlexUTD]

Something is happening guys.

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

All aboard the “Frenkie is shit and we don’t even need him anyway” train anyone?

 

[avgp_1]

Romano has no clue about this particular deal, he was consistently behind other sources

I won't mind him being behind just seemed a lot more certain with him when he said at the time of our bid going in that the deal was far from close unlike Romero and his 95%