2016/2017 THE Premier League Thread

[cam_wmh]

Rooney had so many balls die off his feet today.

If they're gonna have one of him or Zlatan in #10, I'd prefer Zlatan with Rashford or Martial up top.

[cam_wmh]

Also liked Schneiderlin giving Valencia the armband. I get that Mourinho said that Zlatan is next in line after Rooney & Carrick, but imho Valencia has been the unheralded workhorse of recent. Plus his tenure, and been raining assists of late.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

If they're gonna have one of him or Zlatan in #10, I'd prefer Zlatan with Rashford or Martial up top.

without catering to Rooney there's lots of options actually.

- 4-2-3-1 with three of Martial, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lingard and Mata behind Ibra ... lots of movement
- two strikers up top, either Martial or Rashford together with Ibra
- three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 ... Schneiderlin-Pogba-Herrera IMO gives you everything you need in a three-man midfield

just have to finally get past the "Rooney always plays" BS.

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I get that Mourinho said that Zlatan is next in line after Rooney & Carrick

has he? I must have missed that. IMO Smalling, Valencia and De Gea should be next in line.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

has he? I must have missed that. IMO Smalling, Valencia and De Gea should be next in line.

Um...how familiar are you with Ibra? He has something of an.....ego?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Bagor

And what does #3 even mean?

I don't think we're going to see many instances of a team paying £100 million for a player they had only 4 years ago. I get that the fans don't care since it's not their money, and nor should they, but it's pretty funny and is essentially a reverse loan, he was allowed to leave for free, perfect his game elsewhere, and the club eventually had to pay a staggering sum to bring him back.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I don't think we're going to see many instances of a team paying £100 million for a player they had only 4 years ago. I get that the fans don't care since it's not their money, and nor should they, but it's pretty funny and is essentially a reverse loan, he was allowed to leave for free, perfect his game elsewhere, and the club eventually had to pay a staggering sum to bring him back.

And whose fault was that?

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davies

I don't think we're going to see many instances of a team paying £100 million for a player they had only 4 years ago. I get that the fans don't care since it's not their money, and nor should they, but it's pretty funny and is essentially a reverse loan, he was allowed to leave for free, perfect his game elsewhere, and the club eventually had to pay a staggering sum to bring him back.

I'm aware of the story.

But that still has no bearing on your claim that

This will always be the most expensive signing ever even if someone technically sells for more

No it won't. It makes zero sense.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

without catering to Rooney there's lots of options actually.

- 4-2-3-1 with three of Martial, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lingard and Mata behind Ibra ... lots of movement
- two strikers up top, either Martial or Rashford together with Ibra
- three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 ... Schneiderlin-Pogba-Herrera IMO gives you everything you need in a three-man midfield

just have to finally get past the "Rooney always plays" BS.


has he? I must have missed that. IMO Smalling, Valencia and De Gea should be next in line.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...united-8566901

Yep, the front 6 has tons of options but thats not what I meant. I was suggesting in today's game, Rashford up top and Rooney ride the pine.

Rooney has to stop being the focal point, and allow himself to be complimentary.

[devo22]

well played, Manchester Airport ... well played

Manchester Airport ✔ ‏@manairport
An important passenger has just touched down at the airport. Can anyone guess who it might be?

Rob Dawson ✔ @RobDawsonMEN
There's going to be a riot when it turns out to be Louis van Gaal. @manairport

Manchester Airport ✔ ‏@manairport
@RobDawsonMEN Can confirm the plane did not travel sideways

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by devo22

well played, Manchester Airport ... well played

Manchester Airport ✔ ‏@manairport
An important passenger has just touched down at the airport. Can anyone guess who it might be?

Rob Dawson ✔ @RobDawsonMEN
There's going to be a riot when it turns out to be Louis van Gaal. @manairport

Manchester Airport ✔ ‏@manairport
@RobDawsonMEN Can confirm the plane did not travel sideways

Funnily enough it is going to still be Jose's main job to get them to stop playing that way. Game in Sweden, Testimonial and the Shield still way too much going sideways and backwards. Attack!

[devo22]

Manchester City have signed John Stones for £50m. Meanwhile Everton are replacing him with Ashley Williams for about £12m.

I worry for Swansea. They have now lost Ayew and Williams in a span of less than 24 hours. Wonder if Sigurdsson is already regretting the contract extension.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Man City trying to get a lockdown on that overpriced English player market. Maybe Sterling and Stones turn out to be great, but there's no way they go for their fees if they were Irish for instance.

[cam_wmh]

Let me get this straight, Clay.

Are you suggesting an English club overpaid for an English player?

[devo22]

preposterous. That never happens.

[Senator Clay Davis]

If they didn't already have an English keeper they'd probably throw £40 million at Fraser Forster.

[devo22]

ity have now invested more than United this summer ... over £160m already. Would you rather have

Mourinho on the bench plus Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Mkhitaryan and Bailly
or
Guardiola on the bench plus Stones, Sane, Gündogan, Nolito, Gabriel Jesus, Rulli, Moreno and Zinchenko

honest question. Pretty fascinating to see them rebuild their teams at the same time with a ####load of money at their hands. Seems like Guardiola is more focused on young players and the future ... Jesus, Moreno and Rulli are all going out on loan immediately, Stones and Sane are very young. Mourinho going more for immediate success, although Pogba and Bailly are still only 23 and 22 themselves.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Well you pretty much nailed it. If I'm looking at next year only United clearly did better. 5 years from now, City will probably have done better if Pep can develop the players. Either way they should be 2 of the top 4 teams battling it out this season, so should be fun derby's when they play, especially since Jose can always go Jose.

[Locke]

Seems like Pep is thinking more long-term while Mou is thinking 'smash and grab.'

[d_phaneuf]

for this season, that's a great bit of business by Everton getting Williams for 12m

better squad today than yesterday

[Senator Clay Davis]

Everton also signed Bolasie for what could be up to £30 million. Koeman feeling like a baller now after all that time with penny pinching at Southampton.