What annoys me is that Sky give my hard earned money to this twat Merson, who's thicker then a church candle
Dumbest person on TV
Paul Merson Grades the Transfer Window
- Thread starter GBBQ
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What annoys me is that Sky give my hard earned money to this twat Merson, who's thicker then a church candle
Dumbest person on TV
better than i thought. ESPNFC gave us a D, liverpool a B and Arsenal, who signed feck ALL, a C
DOG AND DUCK: A+
MERSE SAYS: I get rat arsed in here every night for less than the cost of Sterling's haircut. Value.
MERSE SAYS: I get rat arsed in here every night for less than the cost of Sterling's haircut. Value.
He generates threads like this and gets us to talk about him and eventually Sky. Thats why they pay him, controversial/annoying people are a marketers dream in the right context.
Not even that controversial, just the usual inane ignorant opinion based on Merson's sincere lack of intelligence.
Delaney's is a fecking whopper though. What a deluded moron.
Delaney's is a fecking whopper though. What a deluded moron.
We talking about Miguel Delaney?
His B minus of us is fair but the other teams are all over the shop with those ratings. Piss head.
He is a prat but he was a good player to be fair.
Quite easy.
Paul Merson deducts 1 point for every signing that he thinks is crap/over-priced etc etc.
Since we have 6 signings, he gets to deduct more points. Arsenal have only 1 and so not much to deduct.
Merson rocks!!! The Gunners will be so happy with these brownie points.
Damning.For reference
"Samir Nasri isn't going to get a game, which is phenomenal for me. They have bought well, but I am going to give them a B- for the money they have had to pay.
MANCHESTER UNITED: B-"
Why are people so in love with Nasri? Neve understood that... just seems like a rather mediocre player but an above standard dickhead.
MANCHESTER UNITED: B-"
Why are people so in love with Nasri? Neve understood that... just seems like a rather mediocre player but an above standard dickhead.
Some people on here seem to think real football is a computer game. The only positions we needed was a striker and substitute DM. We tried for Benzema and it didn't work.
There's no point in us bringing players in who don't improve us. We already have quality in most positions. Cazorla, Ramsey, Ox, Alexis, Theo, Ozil and Giroud will more than suffice. Gabriel Paulista looks ready, got his first Brazilian national team call up. Bellerin is pushing on and in the Spain squad too. You'd think we were a Sunday league team with the way people were acting.
Also, not sure what's so bad about giving United a B-.
There's no point in us bringing players in who don't improve us. We already have quality in most positions. Cazorla, Ramsey, Ox, Alexis, Theo, Ozil and Giroud will more than suffice. Gabriel Paulista looks ready, got his first Brazilian national team call up. Bellerin is pushing on and in the Spain squad too. You'd think we were a Sunday league team with the way people were acting.
Also, not sure what's so bad about giving United a B-.
Because whatever way you dress it up, United have had a better transfer window than Arsenal.
Yes, Arsenal are a settled side who didn't need wholesale changes, unlike us, but Wenger still neglected signing a defensive midfielder and a striker. In the event of a Coquelin injury you will be desperately short in the defensive midfield position, as Flamini and Arteta simply don't cut it. Schneiderlin was an option and would have been a perfect addition, but Wenger ignored him. Then there's the likes of Carvalho, Kondogbia, Lars Bender, etc, who were all attainable even if you can question how significantly they'd improve your side. All three would certainly be worthwhile additions to the squad. The strikers position is perhaps more understandable as there is a dearth of quality strikers. Still, Wenget could have pushed the boat out for Lacazette, or at least test the waters for a striker. It's what Arsenal need to take them to the next level, otherwise it wouldn't surprise me if it's another season of stagnation for you.
In contrast, we made three very good, shrewd signings in Darmian, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin that were absolutely essential. Darmian's has been very good for us, with scope for improvement and at quite a paltry figure in today's market too. The aforementioned Schneiderlin has proven himself as one of the best defensive midfield players in the league for the past two years and last season, only Matic ranked above him. Again, he's already made a difference to the team even if he could offer more on the ball at times. A figure of £25M might initially seem excessive, but he has no issue with adapting and what we desperately lacked. Bastian may be past his best, but for what we paid you can't really go wrong and he's still a very good player with invaluable experience.
Then we sign two excellent young prospects who are largely regarded as two of the best young talents in their positions. Memphis joined at a reasonable price on the back of an excellent season, albeit in a weak league, has only shown glimpses this far, but was well worth the outlay. We've significantly overpaid for Martial, thats undeniable, but still acquired a huge talent.
Yes, there were other areas that needed strengthening and I'm really disappointed we didn't sign Pedro as I think he will prove to be one of the best signings this season, especially value for money. However, what can you possibly expect when we needed major surgery? It's not going to be a perfect window. We've retained our best player even if it was an acrimonious scenario and we've shifted practically all the 'deadwood'.
Personally, I find it staggering how someone can suggest Arsenal have had a better window than us. We've enhanced our squad and Arsenal have signed a keeper who has arguably seen better days.
I think we did to be honest.
@Glanville95 That's fair, mate. I'm inclined to disagree and from the outside looking in I think United havent had that great a window at all. I wouldn't have minded Schneiderlin at Arsenal but not for that price. We were linked with him every year but I don't think there was ever any concrete interest in him. I genuinely believe Wenger is satisfied with the squad but did try for Benzema in a situation which he sees as win-win; either sign Benzema or stay with the squad he trusts. Also, the addition of Cech should hopefully end our goalkeeping problems which the club have had since Lehmann left.
With regards to United, I think Darmian looks a shrewd signing although he could have easily cost you the win at Villa with that clear penalty on Micah Richards which wasn't given. Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger improve your midfield solidity. After that, it got so much worse I couldn't understand what was going on. You needed an experienced winger and a prolific attacker to compliment a struggling Rooney and a young Depay who looks like he's trying to find his way in the league and instead you offloaded your substitute striker, an attacking midfielder who is one of the only 2 players from your team to score a goal in the league this season only to replace them with a grossly overpriced teenager. That, complimented with the De Gea mess up, resulted in a closing part of the window for United which I thought left a lot to be desired. No matter how much I think about it, I can't find any logic in that Januzaj loan.
With regards to United, I think Darmian looks a shrewd signing although he could have easily cost you the win at Villa with that clear penalty on Micah Richards which wasn't given. Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger improve your midfield solidity. After that, it got so much worse I couldn't understand what was going on. You needed an experienced winger and a prolific attacker to compliment a struggling Rooney and a young Depay who looks like he's trying to find his way in the league and instead you offloaded your substitute striker, an attacking midfielder who is one of the only 2 players from your team to score a goal in the league this season only to replace them with a grossly overpriced teenager. That, complimented with the De Gea mess up, resulted in a closing part of the window for United which I thought left a lot to be desired. No matter how much I think about it, I can't find any logic in that Januzaj loan.
There are other strikers than Benzema out there. Arsenal have a very strong line-up with two glaringly weak positions - striker and defensive midfielder. Considering the money the club should have had available I'm amazed no one was signed in those positions. The simple and harsh truth is Arsenal are going to struggle hugely to win a title with the striking options they currently have.
Ha Arsenal fans are almost a clone of each other. The positive vibe coming from the select words to describe your own joke of a window compared to the tones to describe ours. Wenger has been happy with his transfers for the past decade and they've returned perhaps 2 more cups than Birmingham if that during the same period. If he's happy, more reason you should be concerned and calling your business exactly what it always is...underwhelming!
I think it's more of a case that fans of United and City don't understand that Arsenal are aware of their financial limitations. We, like most clubs across Europe, can't spend recklessly like those two clubs can. I don't expect to win the league at all but we're certainly in position to take advantage if one of the oil clubs slip up.
You do wonder how our transfer window would have been perceived if the signings of Darmian, Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin were more of a spread across the whole window, opposed to the mess that some will portray late on in the window.
I'll be honest and say I wasn't satisfied with how we handled the de Gea situation and it descended into somewhat of a debacle. Initially, we maintained the stance that de Gea would remain a United player at all costs and if that meant seeing out his contract, so be it. I agreed with it, but our firm stance then lessened and to agree to selling him with hours remaining in the window, only to see the deal fall through looks very amateurish on our part. I'm perhaps a bit old-school in my thinking, because of how prevalent player-power has become, but a player is under contract, so if you want to retain said player, you should at all costs and the player should respect that. I know his focus has been off, but in de Gea's case he didn't even force the issue by handing in a transfer request so the club/Woodward/LvG should make it clear he's staying and that's that.
In the end, he's staying though and that's actually Madrids fault, not ours. I fully expect him to be a model professional and performing to the standards he's set over the last two years, even if that means rejecting a new contract offer from United. The Euros are on the horizon, so he's going to be highly motivated to perform. I agree on Januzaj though and I'm not even a huge fan of him, like some on here. We're really deprived of quality wide options though and even if he's playing #10 we could do with another body in our attacking ranks. We could rue that loan move.
So there are a few blots on our window. Ultimately though, I think saying who has had the best window is practically the same as saying who has enhanced their squad the most? I do think Cech will prove to be a good signing and solve your goalkeeping problem for the foreseeable future, but we have streamlined the squad and significantly upgraded our rightback and central midfield options. We are light up front of course. I just prefer our business as a whole.
But do you not think there is a middle ground between spending recklessly and buying no one?
I don't go along with that notion. The money's there now, as the Ozil and Sanchez transfers prove and the money was all that was lacking in giving you great pulling power. I don't think the same could be said for Liverpool for instance.
There is. And that middle ground is where we found Alexis and Ozil. But clearly, in this window, a quality striker was not available for a sustainable price and that's why we didn't buy.
I'd rather us spend nothing than spend a fee of potentially 80m euro on a 19 year old. United fans disagree. That's because the situation of the clubs is different.
Errr... to be fair, he was an unprolific defensive midfielder at Barcelona and didn't really have a decent goal record at anywhere beforehand.For reference
A lot of his career at Barcelona and Monaco consisted of Yaya throwing strops that he wasn't started as an attacking midfielder, but I'm not sure if it was expected him to take up that position at Man City.
Well Its vantage points, I'm sure Everton fans would say they'd never spend 50 mil on Ozil, Southampton would say they'd never spend 30 million on Lukaku and so on down the league.
But Arsenal are not a poor club and could have afforded to invest in upgrades on their current playing squad. Maybe not a striker but a central midfielder and central defender could have given a good boost to the team.
I don't understand Merson as a pundit, he has no judgment skills whatsoever.
His weekly column with his predictions is laughable at best.
I feel bad for some footballers, they quit football and they literally do not know what to do after football. Some become pundits and terrible ones at that.
It's this narrow minded approach of "British football" being the best, when it's not.
Personally I see United this transfer window as similar to that in 2004-5 when the squad was "Building", you have some talented players in there like Depay, Martial (I reserve judgment at this stage, however I have no doubt he's a potentially great striker).
Looking at it now you have:
* DDG if he signs a new contract great, that's a great goalkeeper for the next decade, if not there are other players out there.
* Darmian - 25, could be a great servant to the club, technically excellent and will be a great RB for the Club.
* Shaw - 20, again excellent young player both fullback positions are potentially top-class.
* Schneiderlin - a great successor to Carrick (but Carricks main issue was he doesn't like to be aggressive into a tackle, Schneiderlin is perhaps more versatile).
* Schweinsteiger - a leader, and has a few years in him, will help inspire the young players and guide them, just as Keane, Scholes, Giggs would have done a decade ago.
* Herrera - A good perhaps underrated midfielder who is box to box with good technique and he's quicken the tempo of the game.
* Depay - a top class winger in a few years once given time to develop, but will probably get 15-20 goals this season.
* Januzaj - out on loan at Dortmund, will learn from the likes of Reus there and I think Germany will help him with his "tactical" side to his game a little bit more, and his decision making as Dortmund are a counter attacking team.
* Martial - potentially a top striker, the scouts obviously know what he is capable of.
Also earmark Pereira and Wilson.
United at building, and I think this year is a good year because I think once this team gels and has a few additions they'll begin to challenge, this year again is a top 3-4 scrap, but technically speaking its a good squad, not world beaters but there are some true gems in the starting 11.
His weekly column with his predictions is laughable at best.
I feel bad for some footballers, they quit football and they literally do not know what to do after football. Some become pundits and terrible ones at that.
It's this narrow minded approach of "British football" being the best, when it's not.
Personally I see United this transfer window as similar to that in 2004-5 when the squad was "Building", you have some talented players in there like Depay, Martial (I reserve judgment at this stage, however I have no doubt he's a potentially great striker).
Looking at it now you have:
* DDG if he signs a new contract great, that's a great goalkeeper for the next decade, if not there are other players out there.
* Darmian - 25, could be a great servant to the club, technically excellent and will be a great RB for the Club.
* Shaw - 20, again excellent young player both fullback positions are potentially top-class.
* Schneiderlin - a great successor to Carrick (but Carricks main issue was he doesn't like to be aggressive into a tackle, Schneiderlin is perhaps more versatile).
* Schweinsteiger - a leader, and has a few years in him, will help inspire the young players and guide them, just as Keane, Scholes, Giggs would have done a decade ago.
* Herrera - A good perhaps underrated midfielder who is box to box with good technique and he's quicken the tempo of the game.
* Depay - a top class winger in a few years once given time to develop, but will probably get 15-20 goals this season.
* Januzaj - out on loan at Dortmund, will learn from the likes of Reus there and I think Germany will help him with his "tactical" side to his game a little bit more, and his decision making as Dortmund are a counter attacking team.
* Martial - potentially a top striker, the scouts obviously know what he is capable of.
Also earmark Pereira and Wilson.
United at building, and I think this year is a good year because I think once this team gels and has a few additions they'll begin to challenge, this year again is a top 3-4 scrap, but technically speaking its a good squad, not world beaters but there are some true gems in the starting 11.
I think when watching the season Atletico Madrid won La Liga we could all sit there and say, "Mourinho would be stupid not to bring back Courtois to Chelsea and make him the #1".
I personally don't believe "Cech has seen better days", I see it more as you have a brilliant young keeper who was just 21 when winning La Liga, yes he's not perfect but he's got the potential and for the future of the club you phase out the older player to bring in the youngster who is at the same level.
It's like United selling RVP this year, he's 32 you move them on to make room even if players have to settle in, timing is everything, Cech does have some mileage left in him but Arsenal really should have strengthened.
The fact is Arsenal bought Welbeck last year and still haven't got a suitable striker, if he was that good of a manager he should have gone all in for Pedro and moved Sanchez central and taken a risk. Sanchez is good enough to play there.
I find it staggering that you find it staggering. We sold/loaned Podolski and Szcezsny. You sold/loaned di Maria, Van Persie, Nani, Evans, Rafael, Lindegaard, Blackett, Januzaj.
It remains to be seen which club had a better window but it's certainly not clear cut either way.
It's funny to me that a lot of these people giving us lower grades reference the DDG situation.
Yes, we really fecked up there by not losing one of the best keepers in the world that we were adamant we didn't want to sell in the first place. Woodward must be hysterical about it all.
Yes, we really fecked up there by not losing one of the best keepers in the world that we were adamant we didn't want to sell in the first place. Woodward must be hysterical about it all.
I think this is the clue that Merson has done very little research!
Plus 15 B's just to avoid having to actually make a decision.
I skimmed the article. He's entertainment, not information.
So after labelling de Bruyne "pathetically overpriced" he's now come out and blasted Arsenal for not bidding £75m for Benzema. Out of all the pundits in football he really is the least intelligent.
yeah its absolutely crazy that a media outlet with Sky's reputation would let him do such a review. Its something you'd expect from Nuts magazine.
Why is no one else seemingly bothered by the A+ he awards Palace, which is partly based on Connor Wickham having 'been around'. He 'knows the Premier League'!
If he knows the Premier League as well as 'Merse' suggests, he'll know that he's one of the worst strikers in the league.
If he knows the Premier League as well as 'Merse' suggests, he'll know that he's one of the worst strikers in the league.
Off topic but this should fit in with the general sentiment of the thread...he's got Palace finishing 5th in his end of season predictions. The good news is we should just pip them into 4th. What a gigantic feckwit.
I'm sure Merse suffered head trauma at some point over the last 7/8 years, never fully recovered, and laughed it off with Le Tiss, Charlie Nicholas, Kammy and Jeff. It explains his present state.
He really isn't an idiot isn't he ?
But he's a drunk and a gambler. I know a fair few people like that who also think themselves as great pundits. Judgement skill is secondary.
even if said 19 year old goes to win the ballon d'or and scores 25+ in a season ? i'd happily pay them the extra 10m if he's good enough to get us titles.
My ratings
Bournemouth 6.5
Arsenal 4
Aston Villa 6.5
Chelsea 5.5
Crystal Palace 7
Everton 6.5
Leicester 7
Liverpool 6
Manchester City 8
Manchester United 7.5
Newcastle 6.5
Norwich 7
Southampton 6
Stoke 6.5
Sunderland 6
Swansea 6.5
Tottenham 5.5
Watford 7
West Bromwich 7.5
West Ham 7.5
Bournemouth 6.5
Arsenal 4
Aston Villa 6.5
Chelsea 5.5
Crystal Palace 7
Everton 6.5
Leicester 7
Liverpool 6
Manchester City 8
Manchester United 7.5
Newcastle 6.5
Norwich 7
Southampton 6
Stoke 6.5
Sunderland 6
Swansea 6.5
Tottenham 5.5
Watford 7
West Bromwich 7.5
West Ham 7.5