Pre season in a tournament year is always crap coz most of the first team players are on holiday until like 2 weeks before the season starts. I think Pogba should be back on Monday.

At least some of the kids are giving a good account of themselves, that Elanga looks a right sort. Dunno why we didn’t just get rid of Mata and give this kid a chance in his place

Another net spend article. Every time I see an adult talk about net spend I die a little inside.

You’re stupid to think Billy is an actual adult

Touché.

These still crack me up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBkyth_KT3E

Arsenal are wumming me with their choice of midfield targets.

They're now said to be looking at Bruno Guimaraes after a failed attempt to sign Locatelli.

I think they tried to sign him around the time he went to Lyon.

Could be worse, they are wumming their fans with their other targets.

We need attacking players, specifically in midfield. They're gonna leave us short again

It’s hard to judge your attacking players under Artitler (whoever made that up is class ).

You’ve looked so negative as a team, but some of those players just don’t look good enough to get Arsenal where they should be.

When Saka is your best performing attacker, and as much as I like him he’s not as good or consistent as the best attackers in the league, you’ve got problems.

I made that up ffs then everybody else used it to w me because I was trying to be positive about things

It's our midfield man. Nobody to dribble forwards or play quick incisive passes. We were playing decent stuff under Arteta with him, but the relationship broke down after lockdown was over.

It's why I've been worried about our transfer window. The only attacking midfielder we've really been linked with is maddison and I don't even rate him that highly. I'm hoping we can get aouar somehow.

*with ozil that is

I don’t think you’ve ever really played decent stuff under him, to be honest.

Midfield is a problem, I agree. But so many your attackers have just not shown good enough form, particularly Auba.

I said before, though. I think it’s been a bit of a perfect storm, you’ll not be as bad this season, even with the same players.

Those Bundesliga defences at it again tonight I see.

Oh no wait.....

Liverpool ship 4 gols too a East German team ffs

what an extraordinary player Romario was

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HS1B_2jzCo

Brazil don’t make strikers like him nowadays. In fact, they don’t even make strikers like Luis Fabiano anymore.

£100m for Grealish.

I said all along I thought you'd need nine figures to sign Grealish this summer. I really like him but that's a hell of a lot of money. I'm sure his wages will increase to at least £200,000 a week as well, which is apparently what Villa are willing to offer him to stay, extraordinary for a club like that but they really seem like they mean business now.

I wonder if the people on our board clamouring for him over Sancho would still sign him instead knowing what City have offered. We don't even know if their offer will be accepted yet either.

I guess it means they’ve given up on signing Kane now.

They probably still will, so many are just daft and think we can justify that outlay to rotate him with Rashford and Bruno - or more laughably play him as an attacking mid with Bruno - and ignore the right wing again.

I mentioned on Forza’s article that City are the only club that can really justify this sort of money for Grealish. And much of that is down to Pep being able to play him and KDB in midfield together (as apparently that’s where Pep wants to play him).

I think he might struggle with the tactical demands at City to begin with, much like Mahrez. But if he takes to that he could end up being unbelievable for them.

https://twitter.com/realmadriden/status/1421138652143489025

More Super League stuff

We have the duty to address the very serious issues facing football: UEFA has established itself as the sole regulator, exclusive operator, and unique owner of rights of European football competitions. This monopolistic position, in conflict of interest, is damaging football and its competitive balance. As shown by ample evidence, financial controls are inadequate, and they have been improperly enforced. Clubs participating in European competitions have the right to govern their own competitions.
———


The lack or self awareness from Perez is truly astounding.

If it is one or the other, I'm surprised they wouldn't go for Kane. I'd be less worried about City with Grealish than I would Kane, which is still very worried.

Yeah I could see him taking time to get used to the demands if he is going to play in midfield.

As shown by ample evidence, financial controls are inadequate

-------------------------------------------

Der Spiegel has leaked David Alaba's contract with Real Madrid. The Austrian will earn over €115m over the length of his 5-year contract (€19.47m fixed wages/year). Alaba got a signing on fee of €17.7m as a free agent. Zahavi got €5.2m as a commission - Alaba's family €6.3m