Football The 2015/2016 Season Thread

[CorNokZ]

Was picking up a friend at the airport when Thomas Müller with his agent suddenly stood before me. They meet a couple of British speaking suits and were off. Managed to grab a picture of him. Müller to United or some other English club?

 

[Raven]

I like the collar. But why white shoulders and what the actual is going on with that stripe.

Quick release Velcro so they can swiftly remove the shirt and replace it with a hospital gown.

 

[caLLous]

I was going to say it splits the body up in to zones so they can identify injuries more quickly but yours is better.

 

[caLLous]

Bye bye LvG. Giggs going too apparently.

 

[DaGaffer]

Bye bye LvG. Giggs going too apparently.

Lot of talk about how LVG didn't know and aren't the United blazers terrible etc. but tbh, he knew the minute that third goal went in at West Ham the other week. 5th was never going to be good enough and an FA Cup is only a consolation prize.

Still dubious about Mou but given his reputation for turgid football is massively overstated (Inter, RM and second stint Chelsea all played attractive football under him except in key European games, but that was Fergie's approach as well), he has to have United playing something more interesting than the garbage we've been served the last two years. My biggest concern is it becomes entirely about him versus Pep, not what's going on on the pitch.

 

[Gwadien]

Was picking up a friend at the airport when Thomas Müller with his agent suddenly stood before me. They meet a couple of British speaking suits and were off. Managed to grab a picture of him. Müller to United or some other English club?

Leicester

 

[CorNokZ]

Mario Götze allegedly sacked his agent for suggesting he should move to Liverpool

lol

 

[caLLous]

Gah if only there was some sort of clue as to who United might be going for to replace Van Gaal.

 

[CorNokZ]

A friend of mine got two tickets for the Champions League Final on Saturday. Unfortunately he forgot he was getting married on the same day, the idiot... He bought the tickets more than half a year ago before the date for the wedding was set 100%. I promised to help him, since the event can't be moved, so does anyone feel like getting married on Saturday?

 

[Shagrat]

Rafael Benitez stays as Newcastle United manager

well that's bloody good news!

 

[Scouse]

I'm not surprised. He's a man of honour.

 

[caLLous]

Chelsea FC owns the Jose Mourinho trademark until 27 June 2023, thus preventing Man United from using the name for any commercial purposes.

 

[caLLous]

(the IPO site seems to be down, here's a Fail link)

 

[CorNokZ]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3257202739&feature=iv&src_vid=wB9RH-GwSOY&v=cuWw3vIe3n0

 

[CorNokZ]

View: https://twitter.com/BBCSporf/status/735907123721338882

 

[Moriath]

Good strike

 

[Lethul]

View: https://twitter.com/BBCSporf/status/735907123721338882

Haha awesome

 

[Embattle]

Here comes the Man U fans Jose love in after all the criticism when he was at Chelsea.

 

[DaGaffer]

Here comes the Man U fans Jose love in after all the criticism when he was at Chelsea.

I haven't heard any United fans give him an unequivocal welcome. I think most of us would be of the "misgivings but has to better than the stuff we've had from LVG" school. Problem for United is which other manager will put United back to the expected level, has winning CL experience and attracts top flight players? There are very few names in the frame and the only other obvious one is four and half miles away planning United's doom.

 

[Raven]

The game has changed, UTD aren't the biggest fish in the pond any more. He is the best they can do.

 

[caLLous]

 

[DaGaffer]

The game has changed, UTD aren't the biggest fish in the pond any more. He is the best they can do.

Except financially, they still are (in England anyway). Chelsea aren't the spenders they used to be (Abramovich is obviously starting to get bored) and even City aren't as wealthy as they look (The Emirates are watching the pennies more these days). United still generate a lot of cash and more importantly, from their own sources. So its not a case of "best they can do"; Guardiola could easily have gone to United if the timing was different.

 

[Bahumat]

When Ferguson was going to retire I said a few times that Mourinho would be a good person to take over, but he would wait for a couple of other managers first.

Ferguson set the bar insanely high, so whoever took over would always fail. Moyes was awful and as much as I was excited by LVG, it seems his style of football is the square to Man Utd's style (triangle).

Mourinho 'should' be able to get us back on track and improve our performance from the past few seasons, plus there are so many players who want to play for him, so he has that added pulling power.

Also you could argue he knew when Ferguson had his last season a few players would be leaving/retiring which would prove a mind fvck for whoever takes over.

 

[Raven]

Except financially, they still are (in England anyway). Chelsea aren't the spenders they used to be (Abramovich is obviously starting to get bored) and even City aren't as wealthy as they look (The Emirates are watching the pennies more these days). United still generate a lot of cash and more importantly, from their own sources. So its not a case of "best they can do"; Guardiola could easily have gone to United if the timing was different.

Of course he is best they could do, who else was there? Guardiola wouldn't have touched them with a barge pole as they are.

They need a huge rebuild before they even think about Europe, they have no squad to talk about, one or two up and coming players, shed loads of dead wood, that's it.
They need to spend a huge amount to become competitive again and with only the Thursday night cup and years of under performing they are going to struggle to get the right players.

Not only that but entertainment value, Maureen isn't exactly known for setting up an interesting team in recent years and he is coming into a team that needs a rebuild, rather than one already made for him as he has enjoyed at other clubs.

 

[Ormorof]

Back in the prem

 

[Marc]

The game has changed, UTD aren't the biggest fish in the pond any more. He is the best they can do.

Give over. They are still one of the biggest clubs in the world, certainly the biggest English Club by a country mile. Granted, they may struggle to attract the best players in the world, but so would chelsea, City and Arsenal and those 3 are in the champions league. Dont underestimate the pull that Mourinho and mendes have over players. Its paper talk, but the players that are rumoured to be going to United are absolutely what they need. Varane and John stones, with De Gea and Luke Shaw would be a formidable defense on paper, "if" stones and Shaw can re discover last years early form when both were unplayable. Add Carvalho in midfield which is pretty much a done deal and United have that player they have missed for a few years. I really do think United will kick on next year. Champions? Who knows but easily champions league qualifcation

 

[Moriath]

Back in the prem

Ready for relegation next year again

 

[Ormorof]

Ready for relegation next year again

Thats what they said about Leicester!

 

[caLLous]

Game on.

 

[Marc]

Quality first touch from the best player in the world