2019/2020 English Premier League

[Senator Clay Davis]

What says that I think they are? What says two of Wolves or Leicester or Everton won't be top six? United and Arsenal and Chelsea all have big issues I guess is what I'm saying, and they could all struggle. Outside the top three it's more open than it has been in a while.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

What says two of Wolves or Leicester or Everton won't be top six?

A huge gap.

You're focusing on the teams above struggling, which they have already done AND maintained a comfortable gap.

Given that. What makes you think the three you speak of can close that gap?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Bagor

A huge gap.

You're focusing on the teams above struggling, which they have already done AND maintained a comfortable gap.

Given that. What makes you think the three you speak of can close that gap?

My $50 prop at 40/1 mostly.

[d_phaneuf]

Knew dybala was too good to be true

However, it's all worth it to see the gasket conte is gonna blow when he not only doesnt get the guy he wants, lukaku, but loses him to juve at the same time

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22;7173442[B

]well I fully agree with the "you can't just throw money at the problem" argument, obviously. But United definitely needs strengthening, that's not even a question to me[/B]. This squad is better than they showed last year, but it's not good enough to challenge either. If they want Solskjaer to succeed, he needs to get support by getting the players he wants. And let's face it, Woodward has had so many misses at the manager position that he absolutely needs Solskjaer to be somewhat successful. He's also a club legend, he can't just be thrown under the bus like Mourinho.

Bringing in a CB and a midfielder is absolutely necessary. It's a shame that they've left things so late yet again, but here we are.

This is very true, but the money is still an important element.

United is a big club and as such they have to pay a premium for players. Sometimes you have to splash cash, but it has to be within the context of a plan and a vision for the club as well as finding a few diamonds in the rough and getting players to improve in their roles.

[Barnet Flame]

[devo22]

Maguire to United is a done deal, according to Percy/Telegraph.

85m ... ffs. Well done, Leicester. Played the long game and gambled on United being desperate enough ... and it paid off.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Maguire to United is a done deal, according to Percy/Telegraph.

85m ... ffs. Well done, Leicester. Played the long game and gambled on United being desperate enough ... and it paid off.

Wasnt Mourinho hard in after Maguire as well?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

Wasnt Mourinho hard in after Maguire as well?

he was poor Jose. I'd love to hear his honest thoughts on this.

oh well, it's a lot of dough but still happy they got him eventually. Having a solid and settled back four will do wonders ... replacing Smalling/Young with Maguire/Wan-Bissaka is massive.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

he was poor Jose. I'd love to hear his honest thoughts on this.

oh well, it's a lot of dough but still happy they got him eventually. Having a solid and settled back four will do wonders ... replacing Smalling/Young with Maguire/Wan-Bissaka is massive.

Oh....I'm sure he'll be letting us all know shortly.

Yes, yes, we've all seen Jurgen's road-map of what one solid CB can do to strengthen an entire back 4.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Yikes, if that's the price for Maguire, I'm worried Arsenal won't be signing a CB.
Not if the market has been set at that absurd.
We will have to outscore our way into the top 4 somehow.

[devo22]

CB prices had soared even before Maguire. Villa paid 20m for Tyrone Mings or something ridiculous like that. Brighton have just bought a Championship CB (Adam Webster) for 22m, and Leicesters targets to replace Maguire are all in the 40-50m range (Dunk, Tarkowski). Arsenal themselves have paid 27m for a CB that they loaned back for another year (Saliba). The CB market was pretty quiet for a long time until Liverpool re-set the market with van Dijk, it's just a new reality that these players cost a lot. Internationally too. Bayern paid 72m for Lucas Hernandez for some reason.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Yikes, if that's the price for Maguire, I'm worried Arsenal won't be signing a CB.
Not if the market has been set at that absurd.
We will have to outscore our way into the top 4 somehow.

I'm sure we could cut you a deal for Jones

[Slava]

Originally Posted by devo22

CB prices had soared even before Maguire. Villa paid 20m for Tyrone Mings or something ridiculous like that. Brighton have just bought a Championship CB (Adam Webster) for 22m, and Leicesters targets to replace Maguire are all in the 40-50m range (Dunk, Tarkowski). Arsenal themselves have paid 27m for a CB that they loaned back for another year (Saliba). The CB market was pretty quiet for a long time until Liverpool re-set the market with van Dijk, it's just a new reality that these players cost a lot. Internationally too. Bayern paid 72m for Lucas Hernandez for some reason.

It's weird though. I mean Alderweireld had that much publicized £25m release on his contract and no one triggered it. I know he's older than these guys, but he's still really good and reliable. Maybe his contract demands are insane or something, but I'd pay that kind of money for Toby before I threw similar dollars at Mings or those others. And yet, rumour is Napoli was trying to buy him for under that £25m. It's just so bizarre.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Bagor

I'm sure we could cut you a deal for Jones

Swap for Mustafi?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

CB prices had soared even before Maguire. Villa paid 20m for Tyrone Mings or something ridiculous like that. Brighton have just bought a Championship CB (Adam Webster) for 22m, and Leicesters targets to replace Maguire are all in the 40-50m range (Dunk, Tarkowski). Arsenal themselves have paid 27m for a CB that they loaned back for another year (Saliba). The CB market was pretty quiet for a long time until Liverpool re-set the market with van Dijk, it's just a new reality that these players cost a lot. Internationally too. Bayern paid 72m for Lucas Hernandez for some reason.

Van Dijk re-set the market with Liverpool.

Proven World Class CB, CL Winner, PFA Player of the Year winner and Shortlist Nominee for FIFA Best Men's Player of the year alongside Messi and Ronaldo. A defender. Its been a long time since a defender has been in that kind of company.

If another CB isnt going to be in any of those conversations then its reasonable to believe that they're kind of expensive.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Yikes, if that's the price for Maguire, I'm worried Arsenal won't be signing a CB.
Not if the market has been set at that absurd.
We will have to outscore our way into the top 4 somehow.

Phil Jones might be available....but then you'd have to outscore his own-goals as well which just exacerbates the problem...

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Locke

Phil Jones might be available....but then you'd have to outscore his own-goals as well which just exacerbates the problem...

Hold up sunshine.

Jones deserve much flack. Two own goals? Inconsequential career wise, really.

Contrast with Jamie Carragher. He had two OWN goals in A SINGLE game, vs United. How’d it impact his career? He was moved from centre back, to right back. Permanently.

Then he proceeded to score on himself FIVE more times.

Could’ve made a 20 goal scorer out of him, by keeping him in the middle.

[cam_wmh]

Also, before anyone checks, let me confirm for you.

Yes, in his Merseyside testimonial derby, he DID score for both sides.

True United hero, him.

[vennegoor of hesselink]

I can't believe Maguire went for more than De Ligt