The Official 15/16 UEFA Champion's League and International Club News Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

it's BS on many levels.

1) Sport1 isn't a paper, it's a German TV channel
2) Bayern will obviously not sell another player to United
3) Rummenigge already denied that United made the bid and said the reports were nonsense

Wow. Okay then. I'm just trying to catch up on what I missed while I was on vacation.

[cam_wmh]

Looks to be a 4-2-3-1, with Young as a winger, but Mata/Rooney/Memphis kinda move around amongst the other 3 attacking positions.

I salivate at Schwein & Carrick beside each other.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I salivate at Schwein & Carrick beside each other.

but seriously, I'm not all that optimistic because van Gaal is again making things a lot harder than necessary. Over the last couple games I always told myself "it's only preseason" and maybe he's experimenting, but hey, if your manager makes the same stupid decisions in every preseason game, then he's probably keen to do the same things in the league.

• Blind as CB? Really? Just because he's left-footed?! Meanwhile, the best CB (Smalling) is sitting on the bench for some reason
• Ander Herrera is back on the bench. Words can't express how infuriating that is to me
• Memphis has always been an attacking winger, yet van Gaal makes him play as some weird striker/no 10 hybrid

Van Gaal is way too stubborn and always thinks he's smarter than everybody else. He stumbled upon the best XI by accident last season and I fully expect it to happen again. How many points will United lose this season before he pulls his head out of his ass?

----------------------Romero

Darmian-------Smalling-------Jones------------Shaw

--------Schweinsteiger------Schneiderlin

------------------Ander Herrera

-----Mata-----------------------------Memphis

----------------------Rooney

contrary to van Gaals thinking, this isn't exactly rocket science. United have bought very well this summer so far and under normal circumstances I'd say the squad is good enough to challenge for the title, but a great transfer window means nothing when your manager is stubbornly overthinking everything.

Real positives from the preseason though: Darmian looks class and Shaw has improved his fitness dramatically. Looks like United will finally have a great set of full-backs who can attack but are solid defensively. Also Andreas Pereira impressed, hopefully he'll get some chances this season. Great talent.

[cam_wmh]

My god, do we need a world class CB! That second goal was on Jones.

I like Young over Mata.

de Gea looked like his head was elsewhere a couple times - especially that giveaway to Ibra on the top of the box.

[devo22]

Di Maria to PSG is as good as done.

James Ducker ✔ @DuckerTheTimes
Di Maria to PSG close to being done now. Not sure yet when PSG will announce. Fee around £44.1m #mufc

[Locke]

Mourinho and Benitez have spiced things up by adding Rafa's wife into the mix!

Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez said he "only speaks about football" as he refused to respond to comments from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

On Tuesday, his wife Montserrat Seara joked her husband had to deal with the "messes" Mourinho left at his former clubs.

Benitez spent spells in charge of Inter Milan and Chelsea before moving to Real, and his wife told La Region: "Real Madrid are the third of Jose Mourinho's old teams Rafa has coached. We tidy up his messes."

But early on Wednesday, Mourinho hit back telling reporters in Washington: "The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan, where in six months he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.

"And for her to think about me and to speak about me, I think she needs to occupy her time -- and if she takes care of her husband's diet, she will have less time to speak about me."

http://www.espnfc.com/chelsea/story/...urinho-remarks

[atb]

I know this might not be the right thread, but couldn't find one for MLS

Drogba being introduced by the Montreal Impact shortly: http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/video/live-...-drogba~253917

Pretty big welcome at the airport: http://globalnews.ca/news/2138261/di...y-with-impact/

[polak]

The day that MLS teams can sign these stars at their peak, that'll be epic.

[d_phaneuf]

love Jose

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by polak

The day that MLS teams can sign these stars at their peak, that'll be epic.

The MLS is definitely not one of the top 5 leagues in the world, but it is still very high level. Just a matter of time before they are taken seriously by the stuck-up Europeans.

Players and agents follow the money. And America has money.

[Locke]

Bayern vs. Real Madrid today, anyone know if its on TV anywhere?

[Locke]

Looks like Bayern fielding the stronger lineup tonight but I have a feeling they're going to have a hard time with Real.

And it doesnt look like its televised which sucks.

[Locke]

Lewy at the death! Its always nice to beat Real Madrid.

[d_phaneuf]

Lewy's goal vs Milan yesterday was am absolute thumper

[cam_wmh]

Di Maria sale is official

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by polak

The day that MLS teams can sign these stars at their peak, that'll be epic.

Dos Santos signing in LA this week is a big deal. Player in his prime for a decent team (Mexico) going to MLS.

Brazilians should smarten up and go to MLS instead of Ukraine. Careers just being destroyed there.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Dos Santos signing in LA this week is a big deal. Player in his prime for a decent team (Mexico) going to MLS.

Brazilians should smarten up and go to MLS instead of Ukraine. Careers just being destroyed there.

The Dos Santos that couldn't cut it at numerous clubs in Europe?

Layovers in the Ukraine can provide something that the MLS will never be able to provide, the possibility of obtaining a EU Passport. Throw in the possibility of CL football and it continues to look promising.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Addick

The Dos Santos that couldn't cut it at numerous clubs in Europe?

yep. Had one decent season at Villareal, but pretty much failed everywhere else. If that's a marquee signing for the MLS, then I don't have much hope for them. Turkey seems to be a much more desirable destination right now.

[Locke]

Yeah, Dos Santos is a weird one. He was an upcoming star but he just couldnt hack it in the bigs but he almost always stars for Mexico.

And while I agree that foregoing MLS for Ukraine, or rather foregoing anything for Ukraine, is a sad metric in and of itself, there are some benefits.

EU passport and possible CL play which likely comes with bonuses having already been mentioned but also they have an ample supply of borscht, if thats your thing.

Playing in the Ukraine you also have the opportunity to shortly be playing in Russia depending on the outcome of a few minor border skirmishes here and there.

Then theres the taxes! I mean, I'm sure players are obligated to pay taxes of some variety I just dont believe its all that strictly enforced and some clubs pay their players in ex-Soviet arms and ammunition which tends to come in handy depending on the outcomes of the aforementioned minor border skirmishes.

[devo22]

another benefit is that playing well for Shakhtar Donezk in the CL/EL can get you a move to a top club.

Douglas Costa to Bayern Munich
Willian to Chelsea
Fernandinho to Manchester City
Henrik Mkhitaryan to Dortmund