Arena "The Beautiful Game" - The Official JCC Football (Soccer) Thread.

He trained with the Ajax squad after leaving Inter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60130359

So he knows the style of play & ETH was very impressed with him during that time.
Ajax decided against signing him due to his health, now he's proven with Brentford he can can still play in the PL and have an impact so he's worth utilizing as a free transfer

 

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...he-galtier-manager-mauricio-pochettino-sacked



I'm mostly just amused that it took so long.

 

Can’t help but notice they’re all about 29 and based in North London… for no particular reason.

 

Dybala to United on a free being rumoured. Actually would be a good signing for them IF he can adapt to the premier league

Still no update on De Jong (Who is an improvement but isn't actually the player you need)

Still no sign of getting the CDM you do need and Neves continues to be ignored.

Heavy and loosely credible rumours that he could actually be the accused as he's supposed to be abroad training at the moment and, well, isn't (apparently).

 

As does Tielemans, who is a good CM with PL experience and would cost less than De Jong who doesn't want to come to the club

Priority now unfortunately will have to be a striker, which wasn't part of the plan since it was assumed CR7 would stay

 

and there’s TAA.



Also, not a fan of the PL bending the rules to help Everton. It’s grossly unfair to the few teams that finished below them last season. I’m fairly sure Everton fans would be fuming if it was the other way around.

 

Robertson has been an amazing signing for Liverpool... One of the best left backs in the world and was bought from a relegated side.

He's absolute proof that even relegated teams can have great players in them and that one great player can't lift a team out of abject mediocrity.

8m I think you got him for. Absolute bargain.

Gone Mobile

 

It shows what good scouting does, alongside good coaching

Don't have to drop a lot of money on big name already proven talent, just recognise what is there and develop that. I expect Carvalho from Fulham will be similar, another player other teams would have overlooked.
It's why I find it odd that the media often mock signings by saying "who else was after this player anyway?" as if that means they're no good.
Already seen it used for the Eriksen signing & other players teams are after from the Dutch & Portuguese leagues

 

Raphael Honingstein reporting that Bayern doesn’t think Barcelona will exist in 2 years time

absolutely mental if it happens

 

That was a joke:


Laporta thinks they have the right instruments lined up so they can actually turn a profit this year, which, you know, good luck.

 

They apparently still owe De Jong a lot of money, more than €10mil in deferred wages which they can't afford to pay him.
That seems to be what's holding up the transfer to United

 

Sounds like Martinez deal to United is basically done.

FDJ being pushed out by Barca, Torres apparently has been given his shirt number and he's been told if he doesn't leave he won't go on the pre-season tour

 

Yeah, looks like you'll get your man and if you do he'll be a great signing if he's in the right frame of mind considering he doesn't want to leave Barca.

The way Barca are treating him though shows just how scummy a club they are

 

Not sure what's holding up the Eriksen unveiling/joining the pre-season tour, his signing was confirmed a while ago

FDJ still needs someone to play alongside in the midfield.
DMs like Laimer & Sangare are available for around £30mil, shouldn't be difficult to get.

Martinez looks like a good CB, but it's hard to know how much he'll play since Ten Hag stated Maguire will still be Captain and Varane when fit should be a guaranteed starter

 

The financial mismanagement in that club is astounding. Almost as astounding as how they're able to get away with it.




Gone Mobile

 

At this point it’s not even worth thinking about for us non-members, it just causes headaches.

 

I know its a friendly and means absolutely nothing in the long term scheme of things but lol



Already being compared to Andy Carroll (which is very harsh)



EDIT

Heavy rumours of James Maddison to Spurs doing the rounds.
Conte is building a good team there

 

Comparing him to Andy Carroll because they both have pony tails isn’t harsh, it’s moronic.

 

De Jong is now going on the Barcelona tour.

I feel like United need to walk away from this deal, he won't leave unless Barca pay him what he's owed which they won't and it'll be August before they return.

Use the money to buy more midfielders instead of waiting around until the end of the summer window for one player.
Otherwise this will end up being a Moyes level failure in terms of preparation

We could have got Laimer or Neves by now instead of wasting time on the FDJ farce, then had time to look for a RB & try to get Antony (who might now end up at Liverpool)