The European Club Soccer Off-Season Thread

[d_phaneuf]

the Ba to Arsenal stuff doesn't make a lot of sense to me

if Giroud gets injured needs a rest why not give Walcott a chance up there?

I guess I just don't rate Ba that much, I think he's above average but I don't see an upgrade over even the self proclaimed best player in the world that sits on Arsenal's bench

[cam_wmh]

Omg! Did Chelsea just sell their best player?

[Matty81]

Ba has scored consistently everywhere but Chelsea... at 1.5 million for a season he's inexpensive, proven cover. Even if these two moves go through Arsenal still need to sign another defender, they don't have enough depth back there for the leagues, cups and champions league.

[d_phaneuf]

Tony Barrett ‏@TonyBarretTimes 2m
The reason for Marouane Fellaini being at Finch Farm this evening? He was handing in a transfer request to Roberto Martinez.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Ba has scored consistently everywhere but Chelsea... at 1.5 million for a season he's inexpensive, proven cover. Even if these two moves go through Arsenal still need to sign another defender, they don't have enough depth back there for the leagues, cups and champions league.

Hardly a sample after the turmoil of a 1/2 season under fat waiter.

Good bit of business by Arsene if he goes.

[d_phaneuf]

Belgian media saying Lukaku to Everton on loan

[d_phaneuf]

this Ozil thing is taking a lot longer than it should have.....

[d_phaneuf]

Lukaku chooses West Brom instead of Everton

[Bagor]

MEN reporting that the Herrera deal is off for "bureaucratic reasons"

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....al-off-5830827

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Bagor

MEN reporting that the Herrera deal is off for "bureaucratic reasons"

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....al-off-5830827

yeah seems like that:

Tom McDermott @FootballMcD
AS reporting that the deal for Herrera is off and that #mufc have walked away from the deal.



WTF? Send 3 guys to the Spanish league HQ to pay the clause and walk away from the deal an hour before the deadline? Are you ####ing KIDDING ME?!?

embarrassing and pathetic stuff from United in this window. Woodward OUT!!!!!!!!

[d_phaneuf]

the bureaucratic is supposedly something like 7m in taxes having to be paid that they didn't either know about or think they would be charged

[devo22]

who cares about 6 or 7m when you're already prepared to pay 30m ... as reported earlier, Herrera himself agreed to take a pay cut of 1m per year on a 5-year-contract to help make it happen. Feeling bad for the kid.

[d_phaneuf]

Telegraph Sport ‏@TelegraphSport 2m
Ander Herrera deal has collapsed. 'Unauthorised representatives of #mufc'; were present at the Spanish League HQ, so says @GuillemBalague

amateur hour

[devo22]

... what the actual hell ... Fergie's gone and we've become the laughing stock of the football world within a couple months. Unbelievable.

[d_phaneuf]

Andy Mitten ‏@AndyMitten 4m
Underhand dealings on Herrera deal tonight. Spoken to some seriously pissed off people who've been working on it. It's a mess.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

amateur hour

What does that even mean? The individuals were posing as representative or didn't have the proper credentials to act on behalf of the club?

But yeah agreed, amateur hour indeed.

Originally Posted by devo22

... what the actual hell ... Fergie's gone and we've become the laughing stock of the football world within a couple months. Unbelievable.

It's Gill that was missed today. Woodward appears to be incompetent. Fellaini shouldn't even be going down to the wire.

Reports that Herrera is devastated.

[d_phaneuf]

Ozil confirmed

[d_phaneuf]

now Lukaku is going back to Everton.... (Chelsea prefer them over West Brom)

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Bagor

What does that even mean? The individuals were posing as representative or didn't have the proper credentials to act on behalf of the club?

it's embarrassing either way. If it's the first, then surely United could have stopped it - I mean, it was everywhere on the news that there were United reps in Spain. Surely they could have said "nope, not true!" publicly ... and if it's the second, it's just another reason to hop on the "Fire Woodward" train. That seriously can't happen at a professional club that big.

Originally Posted by Bagor

Reports that Herrera is devastated.

I really don't get it. They're chasing players who have no intention of signing with United all summer, and then finally, there's a guy that really wants to come and they #### it up at the last minute ... pathetic. Imagine how he must feel.

This summer has been nothing but a farce. Pretty sure they'll find a way to #### up the Fellaini deal too.

[d_phaneuf]

Daniel Taylor ‏@DTguardian 2m
Everything was in place - shirt number, announcement etc - but not the money (which seems wrong way round to me). #herrera #mufc

Daniel Taylor ‏@DTguardian 4m
Explanation from #MUFC is that they thought Herrera's buyout was the wrong valuation and couldn't get it down.

so they didn't have the right number?

it it like a gameshow at the Spanish FA and you only get 3 guesses to hand in the cheque?