When there’s zero chance of it happening. In the long run, it’s better to wait for de Jong and potentially have him rather than cut it off whilst there’s still a chance and sign a lesser player. Not only a lesser player, but someone who won’t bring what ten Hag wants outside of Verratti and Arthur who aren’t the alternatives.
Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap
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It's not really an insult, he has done it in the past for Ajax and Barcelona.
Telles is being used as a left footed place holder until we can get Martinez into the team. I suspect Fred was the same in midfield yesterday holding for FDJ so we could trial Donny at 8 and Bruno at 10. ETH is set on playing a certain way and will train it even without the players he wants. Not so weak as Ralf!It seems to be a pattern. Telles got played at CB too and is apparently dispensable. I guess managers are using CB as a way to tell a player it’s time to move on.
The thing is, as i've said millions of times now (or at least it feels that way), we're only getting what the media are telling us, and most of it is coming from Barca, painting a narrative that they want us to hear. Even United complained that what Barca tell the media and what they tell United themselves is two different things, leading them to question whats real and whats not.
United, ten Hag, de Jong and Barca know exactly whats going on and how far things are in the transfer. If at any point anything changes with any of those parties, we'd know and we'd move on to an inevitable, yet less ideal, replacement. Why people think ten Hag is just blagging his way through this transfer with no assurances is truly beyond me. It's just insane to think that we'd waste so much time and effort doing all this if we weren't sure de Jong wanted to play for us
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He should Claim it and then donate it all to charity. That would be epic.
Shall we migrate the “longest numbers in a row thread” to here to get us to 1000 pages as quick as possible…
We don’t, I think. It’s De Jong or no midfielder this year.
they’ll do a compromise for around 12 i reckon. United will then give him a bigger signing on bonus to make him feel loved
Sneaky. Don’t give the Cnut ideas!
26 pages to 1000.
Can we do it ?
Can we do it ?
Yes but Xavi is suggesting that will be his role full time, considering its already as a substitute and they're signing Kounde the writing is on the wall.
You are surely right, our recruiting wasn't something to be proud of but I disagree, that those players failed "because they weren't the right fit for the club". I'd say all of the names you mentioned made sense at the time. The really weird fits have been in the Moyes era. Of course many of the names you mentioned are now regarded as failures, but for very different reasons. Di Maria didn't want to come to us, any resemblance of a current situation, anyone? No. Alright, next... Schneiderlin came from a great season but imploded, Pogba was an awesome prospect, exactly what was needed to match Citys Toure back then. Lukaku was prefered over Morata for the same prices, Telles made sense as Shaw seemed to lack competition, AWB had a very successful season and we were in dire need of a RB. Depay was an up and coming young player, many thought, ne may have a stellar carreer and even Sanchez played really well for Arsenal.
It is easy to look at all of them as failures now 10 years later. But they made some sense at the time - the issue weren't the players all this time, it was us as a club not having a plan how we want to play and then bring in players fitting that plan.
And even if we accept, that we have to change things in terms of recruitment (and of course we do) it still doesn't necessarily mean we should get deeply involved in such a mess like the one with FDJ and Barcelona. At least not to a degree, where it risks our own ambitions. And that is still in the cards.
I see where you are coming from and yes, if some players for the right side of attack and defense are brought in, then I would also change my evaluation of the window. But from what I know, there aren't many real indicators, aren't they? Ajax seems adamant to not let go more of their 1st teamers and I didn't remember any RB talk. And even if those players would join, we still haven't adressed the most pressing issue, the midfield. And again, I can see the point in staying adamant for the 1st choice player, but don't risk missing out completely. A DM would be a great addition to the squad. No matter of FDJ comes or not. Doesn't have to be top shelf, doesn't even have to be one with ambitions for the first eleven. This kind of business has to be done, and it should be done right now.
Don't get me wrong, I like who we bought, Malacia is cheap and has potential, good deal. Martinez seems to be a great character and will be very helpful for ETHs idea of football and Eriksen will provide backup to Bruno. But I can't give the recruitment team very good grades for it, free agent, cheap punt, 2nd choice CB. That isn't the hallmark of a great recruitment effort. At least not only those players.
I agree with you, but one thought crossed my mind. I think, it isn't as "bad" to play a player with FDJs skillset in the center of defence. I think, the game evolves and CBs like Ramos, Hummels, Boateng, Rudiger, Pau Torres and many more show, that the ability to create from deep is slowly moving to this place of the pitch. And who knows, maybe in 5 years time, players like Pogba or Kroos will be playing CB most of the time while the midfield will be packed with all-action-players who aren't in need of too much time and space to do their magic.
Different context. One is ‘Frenkie, I have a crisis I need you to fill I for me and do a job at CB, I believe in you’ the other is ‘oh yes I forgot about you, just go to the back and don’t feck it up’. It’s absolutely a show of being unwanted anymore.
Probably. Hence ten Hag’s comments about central midfield, and how if the right person isn’t available we’ll develop our own.
The plug gets pulled when theres no realistic chance of him coming to the club and all options are exhausted
We’ll do it tomorrow at the latest. Today is there’s any kind of spicy update
Backup CB when they already have Araujo, Garcia, Christensen and are actively trying to sign Kounde.
Surely the hidden message here is "Go to Manchester United so we can sign Kounde or you will be playing CB"
Surely the hidden message here is "Go to Manchester United so we can sign Kounde or you will be playing CB"
Going with Fred, McTominay and Garner as our central midfielders is basically giving up on the season before it starts.
Not very dignified to let some chancer dupe you out of €17m they owed you though, is it?
If Barca truly need the transfer fee and to get Frenkie's future wages off the books then all of the pressure is on them.
Ultimately if Barcelona don't give him the 17m and he stays he'll get the 17m, and they have a player they don't need and no fee... So they will fold eventually, they're just hoping either Frenkie or United will first. Hopefully they both have balls and wait Barcelona out. Waiting won't be the end of the world despite what some here would like to make out.
Ten Hag does not want anyone else than Frenkie so no chance for that!
It's all up to Barca now. If they want him out as much as they seem too, they'll have to get the wage issue sorted sharpish.
Correct. The plug doesn’t get pulled until the windows closed, if we’re being honest
For me yes (warm sausage roll with loads of branston pickle).
For Frenkie "centre half" de Jong, I'm sure he'd want something a bit more up market.
Maybe a chicken slice.
Of course the writing is on the wall but calling it an insult is a gross exaggeration.
Exactly. We know he's played CB before but these are different circumstances. And the insult is in Xavi's statement. Knowing Frenkie already feels he's not being optimally utilised in his favoured midfield role.
When do you reckon that happens?
If Laporta was a quarter as clever as he thinks he is, he'd be a genius.
But he's not, and he's not.
Nope. It is to leave immediately given that he has a standby buyer with a manager that understands him really well. He can't risk it, it's a world cup year. 17m is a dwarf compared to him losing his own reputation and a spot in the world cup. Also makes him look like an even bigger idiot each day. Barca obviously doesn't want to pay and everyone knows they have problems with money, they paint Frenkie as someone unwanted and a nuisance at the club and it's getting worse every week. They are scummy, does Frenkie seriously think given enough time they will succumb to his demands without something negative as a "payback"? let's say that by some miracle they end up paying the money, I bet they wouldn't shut up about it and will make Frenkie as a bad example. We're talking about "more than a club" here, always on their high horse. Club and fans alike. Only a matter of time until Barca fans want him out if this narrative goes on, the manager has clearly stated he is unwanted.
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Muppets can do anything under the sun.
I don't think ten Hag will give up at all to be fair. I also don't think Barca will want him there come the end of the window, so at some point, a compromise will be made and he will definitely leave
It can't be anymore obvious that he will leave. Both him and barca want the seperation, but barca don't want to pay him off and he won't leave with nothing.
xavi's comments literally just a slap in the face and a boot in the arse to usher him out.
xavi's comments literally just a slap in the face and a boot in the arse to usher him out.
No a question of can we do it, it's a question on when will it be done.
Tonight... Tomorrow at the latest
So expect another few weeks of a stand off
I am 100% certain Frankie is coming. Probably going to fire his agent for being incompetent though.
If not this window, definitely the next.
If not this window, definitely the next.
I truly believe he's coming, 110%. I think it'll be sooner rather than later too, as Barca will want to get someone else in won't they
A) This is a very passive stance, as if we are scared to make a mistake we rather stand still in the hope that somebody else moves. I understand that, but it isn't very proactive. Which I think makes for good leadership. And it isn't like being passive doesn't come with a cost itself. Our season preparation is impacted, alternatives may get more expensive, the time to act is reduced.
B) if the player is as vital as you say (I hope he isn't because then we're one injury away from being fecked over again) then why aren't we forcing things? There is talk about 17 million. I remember seeing an article that stated, that Barca is ready to give him 3-4 million. Thats 14 million, ask FDJ to give away 2, add 6 million to his wage package for the full contract time of 3 or 4 years, give him 3 million sign off bonus and give him 3 million in achievable performance based boni. If he isn't ready to lose 2 million, increase his loyality bonus. Done dealio. Lets not act as if our hands are tied so we are forced to wait. Thats not the case.
And if a club has nothing to lose in terms of recruitment reputation, it is us. I don't even think, it will damage our reputation, we show determination and intent by just breaking a barrier. If needed put Barca on the "no future deals" list later and avoid them forever but lets be pragmatic now if the player is that important (I consider that as a very unhealthy relation to a single player but seeing so many people clinging on him, then fine, lets not step away but lets not just wait)
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