23/24 International Club Football Thread

[Winsor_Pilates]

United with nothing on the board after 2 matches is pretty poor.
Arsenal loss today poor too, but the group standings aren't too bad.

[Locke]

Bayern hauled that one out of the fire. My man Muller! What a play!

[Bagor]

United deserve everything they get.

A summer where Rice and Bellingham were available and they go for Mount.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Mount is not good, but there was a 0% chance for United to get Bellingham. They might have had a small chance at Rice had they been willing to severely overpay in transfer fee/wages, but even then probably not.

[Bagor]

There was more than a 0% chance of they were willing to pay. Same as Rice. That sort of talent doesn't become available often let alone twice in one off season.

So what is the if they overpay? Might as well do it for legitimate talent when it becomes available.

But they cheaped out in favour of mediocre quantity over quality.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Bellingham wasn't available to them, he wanted Madrid and Madrid only. Same with Rice, by all accounts he only wanted Arsenal. The better move was to simply not pay the money for Mount and target other options, instead they overpaid for mediocrity. It's funny cause you can't even say they cheaped out, in my view (and a lot of other people's) they overpaid for Mount.

[Bagor]

No. They both initially hadn't committed to one club only. That's bs.

Maybe he was Madrid only AFTER they came in and ponied up the cash and agreed personal terms with them. Liverpool was in the mix for Bellingham until they took themselves off the market and Rice was fair game.

They were both there for the taking. Sure might have taken a bit more coin than everyone else but they were there.

[Senator Clay Davis]

"Dreaming is free" so you are welcomed to do so. Meanwhile, in the real world, envisioning a scenario where Bellingham would pass on Liverpool, Man City and Madrid to join United is pretty hilarious, especially after he already passed on United to go to Dortmund previously. And why do you think Liverpool took themselves out of the market? Because he wanted Madrid. I get that it sucks United's pull is at an all-time low, but it is what it is.

[Bagor]

Sweet Jebus.

You make stuff up. Initially. Bellingham had not committed to Madrid only. Rice had not committed to Arsenal only.

Liverpool took themselves off the market due to lack of funds.

And stop with stupid arguments where a kid passed to go to a team with guaranteed first team football as a predictor of future actions. That's just a stupid argument.

My point is simple. United didn't have the ambition or were prepared to throw out the coin to chase them down.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Lack of funds lol. They bid how much for Caicedo, a clearly worse player? They had the money, he just did not want to go there, if he told them he wanted to go there he would be there. He had the ability to join the biggest club in the world, why wouldn't he? Short of offering double the wages (minimum), there was no scenario he chooses United over Madrid. Again it sucks you have to settle for the Mounts of the world, but it is what it is.

[Bagor]

Yes. Yes. Because he chose Dortmund over United initially. Lol. What a dumb take.

There is always a scenario. Money. Lots of it. Players will forego top clubs for lesser clubs for it.

And Rice? Let me guess. On your planet. Since last year he was set on Arsenal only.

No. It doesn't suck that we HAVE to settle for the Mounts. It sucks that through lack of ambition they CHOSE to settle for the Mounts. It's a reflection of their standards and ambition.

[Senator Clay Davis]

By all accounts ten Hag pushed for Mount, as he did Antony, as he did Onana. And hasn't chasing players who come to United for money above all else kind of been a disaster? Pogba, Sancho, Sanchez etc...maybe chasing guys who actually want to be there for not just money isn't the worst idea? But I get it, you're extremely enraged by the state of the club, it's all good.

[Bagor]

They need to start working on doing a bit of due diligence on the mental toughness/resilience of their targets. Their behaviour. Attitude.

Unbelievable that they're willing to invest 100s of millions of pounds and don't appear to factor this in.

You could see by Bellinghams interviews that he was grounded. By his attitude that he was a winner.. By his lifestyle that he was still being guided by his parents. Same with Rice. All business. High work rate. Minimal drama.

Rice and Bellingham are nowhere near the same category as Pogba Sanchez Martial because.... desire and work ethic.

Anyways.. My point is lack of ambition of the club.

[Senator Clay Davis]

PSG getting cooked by Newcastle, funny ####.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I realize he’s insanely good but Mbappé seems to take a lot of nights off. Looks like he has zero interest in playing Newcastle. Lots of poor touches

[Locke]

Newcastle taking PSG to school!

Sorry Qataris, this is how they do it in Saudi!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Speaking of ambition, Mbappe has none if he stays there past this season.

[nik-]

What if his ambition is to make colossal amounts of money?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Then Riyadh awaits.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Is Jude Bellingham the top player on the planet right now? My word what a baller

Incredible lately

Saw a video about how Ancelotti is using him like he did Kaka in Milan when he was at his best

Excited for gareth southgate to throw that all the way and have him sit deep next summer so jordan Henderson cant attack the box