Because people (like in this forum) hype up that competition so much, when in reality is just as crap as the others until QF.
Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap
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Because people (like in this forum) hype up that competition so much, when in reality is just as crap as the others until QF.
That's a small pool of actually good players.
Some will need convincing and that's ok.
I am all for buying FDJ as a player, it would be a good fit, he knows the manager, he is very talented, but my concern is that it is not the type of signing that screams "cultural reset". We have made multiple signings whereby we think this or that superstar for £50-90m is going to make a huge positive impact on our team, but what we truly need is a squad of players that are not all on astronomical wages, that think they are somehow responsible for all the teams successes but separate from any patches of bad form.
We are due to shed a ton of wages from a team filled with deadwood, and we have a short window of opportunity to resolve a wage structure that has completely lost the run of itself.
I'm sure this point has been made, but this is an 89 page thread
We are due to shed a ton of wages from a team filled with deadwood, and we have a short window of opportunity to resolve a wage structure that has completely lost the run of itself.
I'm sure this point has been made, but this is an 89 page thread
It is the biggest competition though.
He's on the phone in his profile picture, so he's obviously very fecking important if he even has people calling him while he's having his picture taken.
Lets assume everything we're reading is true for a second. Do we really think that if FDJ had 'no interest' in coming to United, then ETH would continually be trying? The thing doesn't make sense.
The reliable Barca journo said it was 95% done and is now saying that if FDJ wants to stay, he'll have to take a pay cut.
Reliable English journos are saying that we're working on a deal.
Chill the feck out everyone.
The reliable Barca journo said it was 95% done and is now saying that if FDJ wants to stay, he'll have to take a pay cut.
Reliable English journos are saying that we're working on a deal.
Chill the feck out everyone.
that's always wound me up more than it should haveI think it's more reading between the lines. FDJ is saying he doesn't see us as an attractive prospect and he'd rather stay and earn less money.
Then why are we bothering?
Its the big one mate. De Jong is in his prime so playing in the EL next year, and potential a couple more is not actualy an attractive option.We should ban buzzwords like cultural reset and United DNA. Bit boring reading them year after year like they mean much of anything at all.
Mainly I think because it can be a reason for high profile players not to come to your club...
The CL stuff is irrelevant - he doesn’t want to leave Barcelona.
To be fair, we know feck all what's going on.
Maybe the deal gets done maybe not, but I'm putting my hope on the 'no smoke without fire' so I'm staying on this muppet train.
None of them are reliable.
I believe the term for that is plagiarist.
I don’t understand all the whining and bleating about Romano. He a journalist doing his job and reporting facts - just because they are the same facts as every other journo just means his info is somewhat reliable not made up BS.
I don’t see why he gets more shit than any other aggregator.
Good point. Phone = very important.
It's only a short career and from the outside looking in, its not one bad season it's a complete mess.
Apart from it being Manchester United why would he sign at present.
He could sign a 5 year deal and not play CL football, he would have to be bonkers signing the way things are at present.
Fair points.
the smoke comes from us enquiring, but the worry comes from the noise saying he isn't interested.
Who knows how true that is, but it doesn't exactly ignite the muppet fires inside me that's for sure.
Well it is still a pay cut. If it's mentioned in his contract as something he is entitled to and Barca are asking him to forgo that, it would still be a pay cut in all but name.
New manager and same old bullshit.
We have obviously not learnt our lesson, from the Di Maria signing.
Chasing players, who do not want to come here and only might leave, because they are forced out, will only end in disaster for us.
Let’s move on already, before we spend the entire window chasing him, only to end up with nobody, or some Fellaini esque panic buy.
We have obviously not learnt our lesson, from the Di Maria signing.
Chasing players, who do not want to come here and only might leave, because they are forced out, will only end in disaster for us.
Let’s move on already, before we spend the entire window chasing him, only to end up with nobody, or some Fellaini esque panic buy.
I agree which is why I said its not entirely true.
I mean his wages are massive, so not sure even if we will pay it.
If we do I guess it just replaces Pogbas wages.
Because Barcelona have to release their PR to their fanbase to appease them and make them look good, despite the fact that their finances are in disarray and they've had a terrible season.
People are forgetting they just sold Coutinho to Aston Villa for 20 mill. Just 4 years ago they got him for 140.
If it comes out of Frenkie's mouth that he wants to stay then that's different, but all the noise from Barcelona's side is he wants to stay but we have to sell. Which makes Barcelona conveniently look good in that scenario.
I agree, I'm just trying to stay optimistic - would really like some more positive news about him soon.
So he's being forced out against his will and doesn't want to join us, yeah I can really see that as a positive
I think it's quite clear the club are trying to shift him, that isn't the part i'm worried about.
Not sure how that makes Barca look good either if the player is wanting to stay? that only protects FDJ.
The noise about him having doubts over United and wanting CL isn't exactly needed unless he genuinely has doubts?
That's a pic from 2021, it was Howard nurse on the phone. He was asking Romano if he knows anything about Fergie lodging a bid for sneijder.
As others have said, one of the big reasons for our decline is signing players who aren't invested in United. They have no reason to fight for the club
If that's the case, then absolutely don't sign him.
But I feel that United and Ten Hag wouldn't be pushing it unless they were sure behind the scenes that he wanted the move. And why not? If Barcelona are open to selling you and you have a chance to play in the Premier League with Varane, Sancho, Ronaldo and under Ten Hag, it's surely attractive.
If that's the case, then absolutely don't sign him.
But I feel that United and Ten Hag wouldn't be pushing it unless they were sure behind the scenes that he wanted the move. And why not? If Barcelona are open to selling you and you have a chance to play in the Premier League with Varane, Sancho, Ronaldo and under Ten Hag, it's surely attractive.
It looks good for Barcelona, oh we need to sell one of our best players but he actually doesn't want to leave but we don't have any other choice. Better than we've had an offer for one of our best players and he really wants to re join Ten Hag and leave.So he's being forced out against his will and doesn't want to join us, yeah I can really see that as a positive
I think it's quite clear the club are trying to shift him, that isn't the part i'm worried about.
Not sure how that makes Barca look good either if the player is wanting to stay? that only protects FDJ.
The noise about him having doubts over United and wanting CL isn't exactly needed unless he genuinely has doubts?
You think we'd be negotiating with Barcelona if FDJ had told Ten Hag he's not interested in joining ?
Otherwise known as Rashforditis - when one's phone doesn't stop ringing
Yes but it's still a completely ridiculous cycle for at least 24/32 teams as they have no chance to win it, but they give all their efforts to be there next year, dropping lower tiers (which probably is your tier) to be in the first, while teams which actually are in the CL but have no chance to win it have to use their best team in those games which will damage their chances to be in that competition next year (spurs and us this season).
CL should be 16 teams, 7 best league champions + 7 cup champions from those (or league 2nd if repeated) + a playoff winner among league champions and another from cup champions from leagues ranked from 8th to 15th.
The big source of optimism has to be ETH. We have a manager who has gotten the best out of FDJ and will be building a team and system that will suit his strengths.
I agree the buzzwords are a bit redundant and have lost meaning. But I think the wage structure is clearly a problem within this team is a clear issue, our second best paid player is a GK (I think you'd struggle to find an elite team in that situation), and a player like Rashford on a reported 200k a week even though he is an academy product and should be easier to keep at a lower rate. Half the team seem to make their money and rest on their laurels because of it.
I don't see how chucking a barca player on a likely 250k-300k pw really helps us address that structure.
Well he could agree to come if his contract states that if United don't qualify for the CL in 2 years, then he can move if a CL-qualified club comes calling for a pre-agreed transfer fee. So it's actually doable if he is willing to come.
I am not sure it is that simple. Lets take an example, Played A does not want to join United because when he watches United the players are lazy, not very good, and do not play a style of football he likes. They are completely understandable, and things we want to change.
It is kind of worrying that we're not being linked to other midfielders and we appear to have thrown all our eggs in the FDJ basket for now. I hope it's because we're confident that the deal can be done and we're not chasing another pipe dream like Fabregas/Vidal again.
Or signing players who stop playing after joining thinking they 'made' it. Same with youngsters.
Doesn't appear that way at all, barely anyone from England has even spoken about it, just that we're trying for him.
If he doesn't want to come we shouldn't force it. Why would we want a player who didn't really want to be here?
Look at how that turned out with Di Maria.
Look at how that turned out with Di Maria.
Don’t know all the ins & outs of the saga, but if I were him I’d probably take the ‘wage cut’, play in the CL for a year with Barca & watch from the sidelines how the ETH era progresses and make a decision next year.
Unless Barca really have to force his sale. In which case, there’ll be a fair list of clubs he can choose to go to.
Unless Barca really have to force his sale. In which case, there’ll be a fair list of clubs he can choose to go to.
Even most the players already here don’t want to be here.
The state the club is in right now, most would need some convincing to join us.
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