Transfer Tweets - 2018/19 | Remember if posting foreign language tweets to post in English too
- Thread starter Damien
- Start date
- Status
At Juve he had Vidal or Marchisio with him, but the 3rd CM was usually Pirlo. He will never be the most defensively responsible player anymore than Kevin De Bruyne will be, asking him to be that only stifles the strengths of his game.
When we bought him I thought the plan was to play him in a 3 man midfield as that is where he thrived for Juve when we decided to pay a world record for him. To me you don't pay that kind of money for a player then expect him to play a totally different role to the one that he stood out in that enticed you to a pay all that money for him in the first place, it would be like PSG buying Neymar and then expecting him to lead the line as the #9.
Fair enough. I was maybe deluded in thinking he could handle being in a midfield two. De Bruyne certainly can play in a midfield two and he does not lack any sort of dynamism, be it attacking or defending. For me there is no carte blanche for Pogba not doing the basics that every player has to, bar the absolute elite game changers Messi and Ronaldo who can conserve energy as much as they like. Plenty of times he's played in a midfield 3 for United and underwhelmed, especially when we've needed people to step up. I can't shake the feeling that I think it's a lack of maturity, an ego thing. Which is not to say that Mourinho couldn't manage him much better, I'm not trying to absolve him of all blame.
Any good? No idea who this lad is.
Are West Ham doing an Everton?
Stop with this short memory, Deschamps had a lot of issues when using Pogba, it took a lot of games and a really bad game in the World Cup to fix things up. Mourinho is not an angel but he is not the only problem. Paul needs to show more when it comes to United. That part is on him.
I hate WHU but they're doing great business this summer by their standards, starting with the manager himself. I reckon they'll be pushing for a top 8 finish this year and could even build on that the following season.
Looks like they’ve signed but not yet confirmed Felipe Anderson too. They’ve spent a fair amount this summer!
That makes no sense? He was never a complete midfielder. He was always a mezalla. He was supposed to do his defending higher up the pitch and exploit the half spaces. That's what he does best at United too. You force him into a role he's never played before and expect world class performances, and when you dont get them you say he's just a pussy?? Do you see how ineffective DeBruyne becomes when he's played in a midfield 2? (Not saying they compare in ability) And regards his professionalism, every manager absolutely sings his praises. The only ones complaining are people who've never worked with him. (Souness and Twitter pundits)
That being said there's a reason he's cherished they way he is in the French set up. And yes, he plays out of role there and more than carries out his defensive duties for the team.
Deschamps struggled with a lot of elements in the team. Which is understandable considering the massive overhaul they've had in just the last two years.
@Kaivalya
Just to be clear: I didn't expect world class performances from him in a midfield two or as a B2B, right off the bat. I expected this move to be a huge step in his development where he could become a leader in the team. You can say de Bruyne is ineffective in a midfield two, but I've only seen him be ineffective when he's marked out of the game (like he was against France, they did an excellent job on him). For me it's about taking responsibility, not just having a very set idea of what you are willing to do and that the world should adjust to that. If every player thought like that...
Midway through last season I gave up hope of him becoming that elite B2B player and I was also concerned that we would stifle his game by putting a ball-hungry Sanchez also on the left (there's a thread on that). It's not that I don't appreciate the things he does well and want to see that further enhanced. It's that I don't see him as a very driven team player who is up for the fight. I think he's capable of being more than what he currently is.
From a recent interview:
The 25-year-old is adamant he has always played his own way and has no plans to change his style, despite criticism that may come his way.
"I have always been like that. What I have won, I have won by being like that. I'm like that. It's my playing style. You're not going to criticise Messi when he walks on the pitch. He scores three goals and you're going to say: 'Ah, but he walks on the pitch?' No. People can't tell me how I have to play. No-one can tell me how I have to play. If I'm in this position today, it's by being like this. No one has told me how to be. It's my football, that's all. People either love it or not. Do I need that for people to love me? Do I need that for people to judge me differently? Or speak better of me?"
To me that reads like someone is perfectly unwilling to grow and learn by taking a manager's advice and instructions (and is under the assumption that he's playing at his optimum like Messi). Hence: lack of professionalism.
I'll stop derailing this thread now. Happy to keep moaning about this in a Pogba thread.
Just to be clear: I didn't expect world class performances from him in a midfield two or as a B2B, right off the bat. I expected this move to be a huge step in his development where he could become a leader in the team. You can say de Bruyne is ineffective in a midfield two, but I've only seen him be ineffective when he's marked out of the game (like he was against France, they did an excellent job on him). For me it's about taking responsibility, not just having a very set idea of what you are willing to do and that the world should adjust to that. If every player thought like that...
Midway through last season I gave up hope of him becoming that elite B2B player and I was also concerned that we would stifle his game by putting a ball-hungry Sanchez also on the left (there's a thread on that). It's not that I don't appreciate the things he does well and want to see that further enhanced. It's that I don't see him as a very driven team player who is up for the fight. I think he's capable of being more than what he currently is.
From a recent interview:
The 25-year-old is adamant he has always played his own way and has no plans to change his style, despite criticism that may come his way.
"I have always been like that. What I have won, I have won by being like that. I'm like that. It's my playing style. You're not going to criticise Messi when he walks on the pitch. He scores three goals and you're going to say: 'Ah, but he walks on the pitch?' No. People can't tell me how I have to play. No-one can tell me how I have to play. If I'm in this position today, it's by being like this. No one has told me how to be. It's my football, that's all. People either love it or not. Do I need that for people to love me? Do I need that for people to judge me differently? Or speak better of me?"
To me that reads like someone is perfectly unwilling to grow and learn by taking a manager's advice and instructions (and is under the assumption that he's playing at his optimum like Messi). Hence: lack of professionalism.
I'll stop derailing this thread now. Happy to keep moaning about this in a Pogba thread.
Madrid or Chelsea it is then.
Real Madrid it is then. If they don't let him go now, assuming they are in for him, he won't sign a new contract imo.
Big loss for Chelsea because that looks like a come and get me plea, not sure who they replace him with.
Someone who's happy without CL football.
"After 3 wonderful years and 3 years where I couldn't be arsed..."
Higuain
Hazards gone, no way back from a message like that. Going to be a very interesting final month of the transfer window.
Thought he was replacing Morata.
Chelsea fans seem to want Leon Bailey or Dembele. Can't really see them getting Dembele.
I wonder if we actually would sell them Martial. I hope not, but would really get this place even happier about our wonderful window.
Phil Jones probably like that tweet
If they lose Hazard they will struggle. Can't see them letting go, unless they get some huge fee that they can then themselves use to pay big for someone to not have CL for a year.
A few mentions of Martial on twitter in terms of players Chelsea fans want but that was before the quote from Hazard.
Weird twitter account: https://twitter.com/Martialesquecfc
Weird twitter account: https://twitter.com/Martialesquecfc
They should really use Musonda this season, see what the lad can do in the PL. If he can't perform, then sell him.
This quote is as good as saying I am not renewing. The only matter is whether Chelsea would sell, knowing he is not 100% committed to the cause & how an unmotivated Hazard perform like.
Edit: and Coutois hinted that he would only renew if Hazard does. So basically it 2 in 1 news. Courtois unlikely to extend.
Edit: and Coutois hinted that he would only renew if Hazard does. So basically it 2 in 1 news. Courtois unlikely to extend.
Last edited:
Pogba has some maturing to do I agree, but to me the clear issue is Mourinho as none of these issues came up under Allegri, Conte or Deschamps, I mean his stats defensively in this World Cup are very good and he's playing in a midfield 2, something that at United will never work as long as we pair him with slow, immobile players like Matic and Fellaini, to play him in a two you are gonna need a dynamic ground swallowing shuttler, much like how Chelsea just bought Jorginho and Kante will be vital to getting the best out of him just like his partnershp with Allan was important at Napoli, combination-wise we've not paired Pogba with midfielders that compliment him or that he compliments.
International for Paraguay, lots of games for Corinthians former club of Brazil manager Tite, also Porto was interested on him, he had a low release clause, 4 million euros, basically the question is if he can automatically adapt to a much more phisical style of football.
But if Porto was interested on him to replace Marcano some sort of quality has, don't know if he will hit the ground running.
Just got a notification saying Courtios agrees to Real Madrid move, announcement imminent - HLN
Sarri might be interested in bringing Napoli pupil ex Dries Mertens along with Jorginho. He's not Hazard level but could do a job and very affordable. Zaha wouldn't be a bad option for Chelsea either as Ousmane and Bailey will be crazy expensive.
That's quick...
Courtois: "All options open. Maybe I'll even stay at Chelsea."
Which game was that?
I'd love it if Hazard left Chelsea, unreal player.
Then will leave on free transfer. Looks like lose-lose situation for Chelsea unless he signs new contract like De Gea did.
Dave stays 
Yes, will weaken Chelsea massively which is a good sign!
This might be the first time in ages, they don't instantly hit back after a manager change.
- Status