Most expensive starting XI in PL history?

Yes, you've nailed it.

comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 57 seconds ago
Most expensive starting XI in PL history?

Yes, you've nailed it.
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Worry about UCL pal. We have a league title to win.

Win what? The League Cup?

Must hurt you Boris? To see us sign the players we want without hassle, whereas City can’t afford the ones you want: Kane and Grealish.

We can win the title.

comment by The God Fowler (U2538)
posted 6 seconds ago
Win what? The League Cup?
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Number 21

Impossible to say. I’d say these signings put us on a par man for man with City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

So now it’s down to which manager can get the best out of his group. Personally, I still don’t think Ole has what it takes to outperform Klopp, Pep AND Tuchel over a 38 game season.

comment by Culér (U9489)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 57 seconds ago
Most expensive starting XI in PL history?

Yes, you've nailed it.
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God, Boris is the most boring poster on the boards.
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As I said on a different thread, I think the title now pretty much comes down to the City game at OT. I expect us to win at their place again, so a draw at home (or even a better defeat than theirs at the Etihad) should see us over the line.

Those are a bunch of players Culer. Villarreal beat us in the EL final. A team. Not a bunch of players. Adjust your thinking to be better at understanding football or get the hell off of my website

I mean, there's still weaknesses there compared to other sides.

AWB doesn't do enough going forward as a modern FB, Fernandes and Rashford have been in poor form for a while now and McT wouldn't get near the first 11 for Liverpool, City or Chelsea.

comment by Luke McCowan (U1734)
posted 1 minute ago
Those are a bunch of players Culer. Villarreal beat us in the EL final. A team. Not a bunch of players. Adjust your thinking to be better at understanding football or get the hell off of my website
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Aggressive Scotchman

Yes culer. It does. It wins it.

But what is it?

comment by Ole-dirty-baztard - You want ole in, ole out, ... (U19119)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yes culer. It does. It wins it.

But what is it?
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More penalties than last season?

comment by (K̇ash) I'm the Mané - Free Palestine 🇵🇸 (U1108)
posted 6 seconds ago
comment by Ole-dirty-baztard - You want ole in, ole out, ... (U19119)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yes culer. It does. It wins it.

But what is it?
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More penalties than last season?
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Hi billy

comment by TBag. (U11806)
posted 3 minutes ago
I mean, there's still weaknesses there compared to other sides.

AWB doesn't do enough going forward as a modern FB, Fernandes and Rashford have been in poor form for a while now and McT wouldn't get near the first 11 for Liverpool, City or Chelsea.
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Feel like you could just as easily say the same about Mane and Firmino whilst also saying that Trent isn't up to it defensively and could be a liability. You can then chuck in that Konate is a crock and we've yet to see how VVD will be after his injury, whilst also recalling he was part of the team that let Villa smash 7 past them.

Football doesn't work like this though really, it's just so generic and basic. It'll be tight between the 4 teams, if it isn't then it's likely resulting in one or more managers being sacked. In terms of quality though, they are all pretty close.

There are 4 teams that have far better squads than the rest of league and United are among them.

When it comes to best starting 11's though,City,Chelsea and Liverpool in that order are ahead of United.When it comes to managers then it's City,Liverpool,Chelsea,Leicester,Everton and West Ham all ahead of United,in that order.

comment by TheFoxOutsideTheBox (U20459)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by TBag. (U11806)
posted 3 minutes ago
I mean, there's still weaknesses there compared to other sides.

AWB doesn't do enough going forward as a modern FB, Fernandes and Rashford have been in poor form for a while now and McT wouldn't get near the first 11 for Liverpool, City or Chelsea.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Feel like you could just as easily say the same about Mane and Firmino whilst also saying that Trent isn't up to it defensively and could be a liability. You can then chuck in that Konate is a crock and we've yet to see how VVD will be after his injury, whilst also recalling he was part of the team that let Villa smash 7 past them.

Football doesn't work like this though really, it's just so generic and basic. It'll be tight between the 4 teams, if it isn't then it's likely resulting in one or more managers being sacked. In terms of quality though, they are all pretty close.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True, but Liverpool as an example have been building this system for years so Firmino's lack of goals is something Jota, Mane & Salah make up for, similarly with TAA being covered defensively.

I don't think Ole has the experience of building a cohesive unit like that, although the players he's signing seem to show he has an idea of the profile of players they need to cover weaknesses.

I don't mean to be reductive of Utds team, there's a load of talent in there, I just think there's still more weak spots than the rest of the top 4, but we shall see.

comment by Culér (U9489)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by The God Fowler (U2538)
posted 6 seconds ago
Win what? The League Cup?
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Number 21
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You've only won five league cups so far. A long way to go before 21

comment by Colemanballs-جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي (U22246)
posted 55 seconds ago
There are 4 teams that have far better squads than the rest of league and United are among them.

When it comes to best starting 11's though,City,Chelsea and Liverpool in that order are ahead of United.When it comes to managers then it's City,Liverpool,Chelsea,Leicester,Everton and West Ham all ahead of United,in that order.
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We may well do but given how football plays out, you don't necessarily need the best starting 11 or the strongest squad on paper.

People will have said the same last year, you just don't know what will happen during a season. Liverpool could well be a powerhouse again but they could also have VVD not be quite the player he was and Konate continue to struggle with injury. If Mane has the same output and Salah struggles a bit then suddenly they could well be back to chasing the others.

the 11's argument only works in the context of their team

liverpools midfield playing for pep would be hilarious as an example but they do their job for Klopp very efficiently

comment by TheFoxOutsideTheBox (U20459)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Colemanballs-جيش الدفاع الإسرائيلي (U22246)
posted 55 seconds ago
There are 4 teams that have far better squads than the rest of league and United are among them.

When it comes to best starting 11's though,City,Chelsea and Liverpool in that order are ahead of United.When it comes to managers then it's City,Liverpool,Chelsea,Leicester,Everton and West Ham all ahead of United,in that order.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We may well do but given how football plays out, you don't necessarily need the best starting 11 or the strongest squad on paper.

People will have said the same last year, you just don't know what will happen during a season. Liverpool could well be a powerhouse again but they could also have VVD not be quite the player he was and Konate continue to struggle with injury. If Mane has the same output and Salah struggles a bit then suddenly they could well be back to chasing the others.
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If it came down to a tight title race between the 4 main clubs,then I'd look at United being the least likely to win,simply down to the managers.

As 4th favourties you can get decent odds at the bookies Culer. Get on it!

In fact bet your house. Please.

comment by TBag. (U11806)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by TheFoxOutsideTheBox (U20459)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by TBag. (U11806)
posted 3 minutes ago
I mean, there's still weaknesses there compared to other sides.

AWB doesn't do enough going forward as a modern FB, Fernandes and Rashford have been in poor form for a while now and McT wouldn't get near the first 11 for Liverpool, City or Chelsea.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Feel like you could just as easily say the same about Mane and Firmino whilst also saying that Trent isn't up to it defensively and could be a liability. You can then chuck in that Konate is a crock and we've yet to see how VVD will be after his injury, whilst also recalling he was part of the team that let Villa smash 7 past them.

Football doesn't work like this though really, it's just so generic and basic. It'll be tight between the 4 teams, if it isn't then it's likely resulting in one or more managers being sacked. In terms of quality though, they are all pretty close.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True, but Liverpool as an example have been building this system for years so Firmino's lack of goals is something Jota, Mane & Salah make up for, similarly with TAA being covered defensively.

I don't think Ole has the experience of building a cohesive unit like that, although the players he's signing seem to show he has an idea of the profile of players they need to cover weaknesses.

I don't mean to be reductive of Utds team, there's a load of talent in there, I just think there's still more weak spots than the rest of the top 4, but we shall see.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah fair enough, I imagine each fan of the top 4 clubs will be able to make their own argument for being in with a shout. We will generally over rate our own players and under rate the players of other teams.

All I can really say with confidence is that it will be a closer league than previous. Or at least it should be. Any number of things could happen that could see Chelsea finish third and Liverpool win it or Chelsea win it and Liverpool finish third.

I just don't want us to be France or Scotland. I don't want to be able to call next year's winner with supreme confidence.

I think Ole is vastly under rated as a man manager. He's not as tactically adept as Pep - despite his tactics meaning we've bested City multiple times since he took over - but he seems to be bringing in coaches and building a team that can handle that. People forget Fergus on wasn't a master tactician, he had people who helped there. I don't expect rival fans to really care for that though, half of our own don't.

The tide is turning and there is now a growing consensus amongst our fans that we will win it.

The title may just have become ours now we have Varane. It gives us a better first XI than Chelsea, LFC and City.