2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[Locke]

Aw, thats too bad. Losing at Goodison was one of the things that Moyes did best.

[d_phaneuf]

Klopp says not leaving

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Klopp says not leaving

I saw that.

"Manchester United is a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans," he told the newspaper, "but my commitment to Borussia Dortmund and the people is not breakable."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...ussia-dortmund

Klopp is still in love with Dortmund.

[cam_wmh]

Van Gaal seems so angry. And what's he done lately? ie; past 10 years.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Van Gaal seems so angry. And what's he done lately? ie; past 10 years.

He got fired by Bayern Munich?

[cam_wmh]

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ford-race.html

Telegraph is usually pretty good and a few of their writers have been pushing Carlo on twitter too

I think with no Klopp that's the homerun for United, and with Real Madrid more trigger happy at firing managers than Chelsea the last few years he might think it a good time to jump ship

[devo22]

1. Klopp
2. Ancelotti
3. Van Gaal

That'd be my shortlist. Klopp is obviously a pipe dream ... not gonna happen. Would be pretty happy with Ancelotti but I doubt that Real will let him leave. So van Gaal ... a bit torn on him and the fact that he could only start after the WC worries me, but he'd be the best one available I guess. Simeone doesn't speak English and I'm sure he'll stay at Atletico. Don't see any other candidates ... doubt someone like Pocchettino would already be up to the challenge.

Right now, Giggs is joined by Scholes, Butt and P Neville ... awesome! Pretty sure OT will be buzzing on Saturday.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

1. Klopp
2. Ancelotti
3. Van Gaal

That'd be my shortlist. Klopp is obviously a pipe dream ... not gonna happen. Would be pretty happy with Ancelotti but I doubt that Real will let him leave. So van Gaal ... a bit torn on him and the fact that he could only start after the WC worries me, but he'd be the best one available I guess. Simeone doesn't speak English and I'm sure he'll stay at Atletico. Don't see any other candidates ... doubt someone like Pocchettino would already be up to the challenge.

Right now, Giggs is joined by Scholes, Butt and P Neville ... awesome! Pretty sure OT will be buzzing on Saturday.

Gary Neville to join after W.C too. I think he's the best of all the English lot.

(he's not pulling his punches aimed at the Glazier's over Moyes firing, so that won't do him any favours)

[devo22]

Manchester United are convinced a £30m deal to buy Luke Shaw on a £100,000 a-week salary is virtually complete in what is viewed as a major coup over Chelsea, with the sacked David Moyes largely responsible for convincing the 18-year-old Southampton left-back to spurn the club he supports.

The prospective transfer would make Shaw the highest paid teenager in English football history and provides a boost for United in the wake of Moyes's departure as the club embark on finding his replacement before a summer in which they are intent on spending up to £150m on rebuilding the squad.

The £100,000 a-week, five-year contract, on offer to Shaw is far greater than Chelsea are willing to pay and they have decided to pull out.

[...]

Chelsea were considered favourites to land Shaw, a lifelong Chelsea supporter whose parents live near the club's Cobham training centre in Surrey. Yet the terms plus the lure of becoming Patrice Evra's instant successor at left-back has boosted confidence at Old Trafford that Shaw will join.

Evra, 33 next month, was considering leaving in the close season but the Frenchman is now minded to stay. Shaw has been informed of this and that Evra would be happy to act as his mentor.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...er-david-moyes

yes please. Would normally call a story like that one BS, but Jamie Jackson seems to be one of the club's favourites to leak info this season. Could easily see them wanting to leak a positive story or two to deflect from the manager topic. The price is nuts, but if he stays for ~10 years like Ferdinand and Rooney have, it's not that bad. Would be great to have both Shaw and Evra next season.

[Locke]

The League Managers Association has branded Manchester United “unprofessional” for their treatment of David Moyes in the day before his sacking and accused them of betraying their historic values of loyalty and honesty in their handling of his exit.

Moyes was dismissed on Tuesday and the LMA said the 50-year-old first heard about his departure through media reports on Monday, rather than from the club.

And LMA chief executive Richard Bevan has criticised United in a strongly-worded denouncement of their conduct.

Bevan said in a statement: “The LMA is very disappointed with the nature of David's departure from Manchester United and to read extensive reports in the press, confirming David's sacking, before David himself had been spoken to officially by the club.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/17...-moyes?cc=5901

[devo22]

yeah ... from what I've read, United really weren't outstanding in all of this. Should have been handled a lot better.

[d_phaneuf]

it was obvious there was a gag order when every media outlet tweeted the story at the exact same time tuesday morning

club should have let him know

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by devo22

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...er-david-moyes

yes please. Would normally call a story like that one BS, but Jamie Jackson seems to be one of the club's favourites to leak info this season. Could easily see them wanting to leak a positive story or two to deflect from the manager topic. The price is nuts, but if he stays for ~10 years like Ferdinand and Rooney have, it's not that bad. Would be great to have both Shaw and Evra next season.

30 mil, 100,000 a week? That's outrageous.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

30 mil, 100,000 a week? That's outrageous.

It's really not. United spent that on Rio once before and it paid off.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

It's really not. United spent that on Rio once before and it paid off.

It's a big risk. That kind of money could get a left back that is already top class. It also heaps a ton of pressure on Shaw, who is not yet the finished article. Are there any 18 year olds anywhere across the big leagues in Europe making anywhere near that?

[d_phaneuf]

I'd say after Baines, Shaw might have all ready been the 2nd best LB in the league this season

it's also such a weak position that locking one up at 18 for 30m is a good investment if he's there for 10+ years

like for example someone like Januzaj is worth nowhere near that because the amount of 18-20 year old wonderkids as attacking midfielders is as high as any position, there are maybe 4-5 Fullbacks in that age group that to have world class potential

[The Big Chill]

30 million I can understand. It's high, but at least somewhat justifiable. 100,000 a week is insane. That's more then Evra, who has been top quality for years.

[Locke]

I dont get it. I cant say that I've really watched or read enough to judge whether Luke Shaw is really worth all that. I understand that they want England's LB of the future locked up forever but still, £30M and £100K/wk?

It sounds to me as though its less 'them having faith in him' and more 'we want him and the only way to get him is with money.'

What does that make John Flanagan worth...?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It's a big risk. That kind of money could get a left back that is already top class.

which one? It's not a very deep market ... top LBs don't grow on trees. Bayern have Alaba locked up long-term, he's not going anywhere. They already tried to sign Baines and failed, and by now, he's simply too old already (since they're looking for a long-term solution) ... same goes for Filipe Luis. Marcelo and Alba are not going anywhere either. So who's left? They could move for Coentrao, but he's had quite a few injuries lately, or someone like Ricardo Rodriguez and maybe save a few bucks in comparison to Shaw, but I'd rather have the kid who's already played 2 full PL seasons at fricking 18 years old. In fact, there's only one other LB that has impressed me that much at that age over the last 10 years, and that's Alaba. It'd be ridiculous money for sure, but hey, they once signed Young to 120k per week. The other two big money moves for young English players certainly paid off (Ferdinand and Rooney), so I wouldn't be against the risk. They'd have a key position locked up for many years ... a position that has troubled us for quite some time. Evra was a godsend and made Heinze expendable, but he has become slow and a defensive liability. He definitely shouldn't play nearly as much as he does thanks to no competition. Büttner isn't more than a mediocre squad player and Moyes got rid of Fabio. Shaw would be a huge improvement immediately and he'll only get better.

I agree it's ridiculous money, but I think he could be worth the risk. Probably need those wages to convince him since it's known that he grew up being a Chelsea supporter.