What annoys me is the constant nickel and diming. Either we miss out because we won't pay another couple of mill, or we spend £5-10m at a time on dross like Florian Lejeune, Jacob Murphy, Joselu, this Japanese lad, instead of saying here's £25m go and get yourself a striker Rafa old pal. It's totally false economy and getting us nowhere.

We're on quite a bit. What are you basing that on? The Arsenal protests last season were still televised.

Arsenal was a third empty for one game. I'm talking about consistently having an empty stadium

Also, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, fucking hell.

Have Gazza perform Fog On The Tyne outside the stadium every game.

Moot_Geeza wrote:

Man U transfer talk, apologies all.  It is left back chat though.  With Blind gone I'd like to keep hold of Rojo.  I don't rate him but also don't fancy a scenario where either Young or Shaw is injured and we're relying on the other one to stay fit.  At least Rojo can play there.  Jones can go.  It's probably too early to say the same about Lindelof but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it if we sold him instead.  Assuming there is a new CB addition I'd like them to start with Bailly, with Smalling/Rojo/Jones or Lindelof/Tuanzebe as back-up/rotation/league cup options.

It would be great if we could get the two additions mourinho wanted. i still think aiderwield will end up a utd player. Next summer he can leave for £25mil, i can see spurs taking £40mil from utd on final day of the window.

Not so optimistic about the RW. Mourinho seems at odds with the club. He wants Perisic or Willian who are both 29yrs, cost a premium price and have no sell-onvalue of note. Personally id prefer we went for christian pulisic or leon bailey. Exciting young wingers. Or we gave chong first team opportunities. Unfortunately its not mourinho's m.o.

Lastly hope we keep martial and he gets game time.

Dinostar77 wrote:

Man U transfer talk, apologies all.  It is left back chat though.  With Blind gone I'd like to keep hold of Rojo.  I don't rate him but also don't fancy a scenario where either Young or Shaw is injured and we're relying on the other one to stay fit.  At least Rojo can play there.  Jones can go.  It's probably too early to say the same about Lindelof but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it if we sold him instead.  Assuming there is a new CB addition I'd like them to start with Bailly, with Smalling/Rojo/Jones or Lindelof/Tuanzebe as back-up/rotation/league cup options.

It would be great if we could get the two additions mourinho wanted. i still think aiderwield will end up a utd player. Next summer he can leave for £25mil, i can see spurs taking £40mil from utd on final day of the window. Not so optimistic about the RW. Mourinho seems at odds with the club. He wants Perisic or Willian who are both 29yrs, cost a premium price and have no sell-onvalue of note. Personally id prefer we went for christian pulisic or leon bailey. Exciting young wingers. Or we gave chong first team opportunities. Unfortunately its not mourinho's m.o. Lastly hope we keep martial and he gets game time.

The Willian thing is picking up steam again this evening.  Matic played near enough every game last season and we finished 11 points better off.  Would be madness for them to give Mourinho another player he's desperate for, but Chelsea are an odd team to gauge so who knows.  Maybe we'll genuinely see another of those mythical swap deals, with Martial going the other way.  It'd feel like getting mugged, but a) Willian is a very good player in a position where we're lacking an obvious starter, and b) Martial won't be allowed to do it for Mourinho.  So why not, I guess - why keep a sports car in the garage when you could be driving another kind of car that might fit this analogy.  Chelsea playing with Martial up top won't finish higher than a United with Willian playing RM, imo.  Martial's one of my favourite players for a while, but he hasn't taken plenty of the chances he's been given and Jose doesn't rate him.  I also don't think his future is as a no.9, he needs to focus on improving on the left side of a front three.  Even though I think the sky's the limit if he really wants it, there's no point in hoping for that under Jose because it won't happen.

First pre-season game of the year at Reading. The stadium is so lacking in character. Kinda befitting of their team so far.

Think about chucking £35m at Lascelles

Blindfolded.

Who can you sign for £150k a year?

Anyone got a streaming link for the Man U Liverpool friendly please?

I've built my whole evening around this and First Row Sports appears to be dead.  I'm not even properly pissed yet, been pacing myself perfectly.

Heh

WorKid wrote:

That's Mitro on his way. Undervalued at £20m if you ask me especially as he's off to a relegation rival.

Still, at least Rafa has another £150k or so in his transfer kitty now.

He's not worth £20m to be fair, although it's being reported that we've agreed £22m rising to £27m. Which is mad money.

Lejeune has done his cruiciate ligament too. Used to be a season ender but I'm not sure how long it takes nowadays, operation required so it'll be a while before he's back. Hope Clarke steps up in his stead.

Some goal by Shaqiri.

Yeah yeah, I know... preseason friendly etc, but great technique all the same.