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Sep 2, 2017, 09:32 PM
#4061
My thoughts on the Reds:
The Coutinho thing means little to me. It was a pissing contest between two clubs with aggressive and cynical fanbases. Liverpool won and Barcelona looked silly twice in the same window.
On the pitch, he is more talented than he is necessary. There both Firmino and Mane are more important to how we want to play. My impression is that Klopp would have let him go (remember his "it's not up to me. I have bosses" conference?) but FSG decided to flex muscles. He'll now either come back and get his head down for a year or he'll be bombed out. Up to him. Klopp won't let him taint the mood in the dressing room.
The bottom line is that he's still there, his profile (read: value) has been boosted and Liverpool have been seen to see off a football superpower.
Centre-back is the area that we are weakest but not necessarily the area where we most needed cover. Last year's title-charge went of the rails because of a lack of attacking depth. Our defending was crap even when we were top of the league.
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Sep 2, 2017, 10:38 PM
#4062

Originally Posted by
Raza
So, which managers spend the most? Who uses money to cover up a lack of management skills? The answers may not surprise you even a little bit:
And who would have spent more, given the opportunity?
We know that the numbers are largely meaningless in a hyper-inflated market.
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Sep 3, 2017, 03:23 AM
#4063
£1.4bn in summer business, give or take. The net spend is very interesting, though by any metric the top two are burning though cash at an unbelievable rate. Five clubs with a net profit, including Tottenham and Arsenal.
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Sep 3, 2017, 05:01 PM
#4064

Originally Posted by
OTGabe
£1.4bn in summer business, give or take. The net spend is very interesting, though by any metric the top two are burning though cash at an unbelievable rate. Five clubs with a net profit, including Tottenham and Arsenal.

i love to City at the top of any chart
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Likes
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Sep 3, 2017, 11:35 PM
#4065
France 0 Luxembourg 0
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Sep 4, 2017, 07:39 AM
#4066

Originally Posted by
tribe125
France 0 Luxembourg 0

Did not see that coming.
Now even worse that Sweden messed up and lost to Bulgaria on Friday. Would've been top of the group otherwise.. Still looking quite good and can afford to lose to the Dutch with 2 goals and still be second (if we beat Luxembourg and the Netherlands beats Belarus next round)
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Sep 5, 2017, 01:24 AM
#4067
I believe the US is in a must win situation tomorrow.
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Sep 7, 2017, 02:02 PM
#4068
Great news. Transfer window for PL teams will now close before the first match.
https://www.theguardian.com/football...e-start-season
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Sep 7, 2017, 02:45 PM
#4069

Originally Posted by
OTGabe
Um....that's horrible news. That's one of the worst things that can happen to English football. Other leagues won't have to respect it. Which means a player can force a transfer through for a whole MONTH after the season starts, leaving the teams unable to replace him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Unless all the major leagues follow suit, this could be disastrous for English clubs.
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Sep 7, 2017, 03:23 PM
#4070

Originally Posted by
Raza
Um....that's horrible news. That's one of the worst things that can happen to English football. Other leagues won't have to respect it. Which means a player can force a transfer through for a whole MONTH after the season starts, leaving the teams unable to replace him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Unless all the major leagues follow suit, this could be disastrous for English clubs.
Disagree. It might be difficult in the short term but will be a good decision in the end. One of the major leagues had to start it, and UEFA is in support so I think this will spread across Europe over time. I'm in support of clubs focusing on the games instead of silly season, as well as putting an end to the ridulous 'injuries' which have players sitting out for a month of the season while they agitate for a transfer. Just because PL clubs are allowed to sell doesn't mean they have to sell, as we saw with the Coutinho situation (which the current rules didn't stop from happening). Don't let players "force a transfer through" and it's not a problem. It may be a bit awkward while the contracts catch up, but clubs can put a billion pound transfer clause in there if needed. If the concern is that your club's board will get greedy and take the money for a player they can't replace, then it's a club problem, not a rules problem.
Really we're only talking about a handful of European clubs who come do most of the raiding anyway, now that the PL is so awash in money. Apart from the top clubs in the other big leagues, most are not going to come to the PL to pick up overpriced squad players, no matter what the window is.