comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by KingKenny (U1961)
posted 13 minutes ago
So City and Liverpool were hitting record numbers for a couple of years on the trot but they will both have dropped below United and Chelsea due to a couple of signings? Can't see it.

I still put City and Liverpool 1 and 2 with City the stronger of the 2.
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Didn't à couple of signings do it for you?
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No. A couple elevated us yes but there was a pattern and method to our signings since Klopp came in. We aren't half as good if you take TAA and Robertson out so to suggest it is all VVD and Alison is reductive.

And if they did do that for us it was because that was what we needed most. I think it's fair to say United need a CDM most. As far as I can see Ronaldo just means one of your already good players just plays less.

No but then what you need from your midfield is completely different to ours. Kante wouldn’t suit the role we ask for from Rodri, particularly as we aren’t playing with an out an out striker, so it’s not really a comparable.

Like I said, I wasn’t particularly talking about your results. I don’t think your performances are good enough to sustain a title challenge unless there’s a couple more fundamental changes either in personnel in certain areas or coaching.

You lost the same amount of games as us last season btw, not less. I get the point though.

It's an incredibly strong set of teams. I don't think I've ever seen it so strong really. The depth at the clubs (bar maybe Liverpool) is pretty crazy. Though I don't say that as a dog at Liverpool, I think them and city are the teams with the better systems, Klopp is an excellent manager and if he can keep his team going, they will be in with a shout for sure.

I have no idea who will win it or what order the 4 will finish in, all are capable to slightly varying degrees but I wouldn't eat my hat at any one of those 4 sides winning the league. At this point I just hope that with a few games to go, at least 3 of them are in it, preferably all 4.

Other leagues must be looking at the Prem more than ever and thinking whaaaaaat? I also wouldn't be shocked at all if 3 of the CL semi final teams were from England.

Should be great fun. Unless you're Norwich, I suspect they will get slapped up by the aforementioned teams at least a few times this year.

The problem we have often faced is that with just one or two genuine match winners we have been at times easy to shut down in big games. Double man marking job on Bruno usually is enough to stifle us.

Now we have Ronaldo, Cavani, Rashford, Sancho, Greenwood and Bruno etc. It's very hard to know who to pick up and who not to.

And if Pogba can for the first time in his Utd career keep his head on the game and team then likes of Ronaldo and Greenwood etc could get hat fulls of goals as Pogba can pick out any pass he wants to when he feels like it.

It feels like we could have a special season to me. The squad is super talented.

comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 2 minutes ago
You lost the same amount of games as us last season btw, not less. I get the point though.
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I stand corrected. But then we've added three world class players to that. You've added the one.

Definitely going to be more of a race this time. We could genuinely go into Easter with 4 teams going for the league. Wouldn't surprise me.

I don’t think it’s even needed doubling up though. It’s more problems with your transitions.

Agree that you’ve got a better squad though.

But Ronaldo is the only new one out of that list. And he's nowhere near as mobile as he used to be so there's an argument that he's easier to defend against in your system (but he's obviously incredible so maybe not).

I've heard the Pogba thing million times. Chances are he'll be the same as ever.

You have got a talented team but no more than the other 3 and you've probably got the biggest bit of dross in your starting 11 in Fred and mctominay.

For us, it was as much about keeping certain players. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Torres have a very good season, tends to take a season under Pep for players to fully get the way he wants them to play.

I stand corrected. But then we've added three world class players to that. You've added the one.

…..

Sancho is not world class so quit with the hyperbole. And Ronaldo is coming to the end of his career playing in a much harder league than he has bee used to for over a decade.

City for me will be title favorites. Chelsea could run them close. If we can get within six points of the title I will be surprised. The money of October will be a good guide.

Liverpool really haven't been active at all. Signed a decent CB who doesn't even look like is going to be first choice. Very bizarre. Their squad depth is going to be tested to its limits again. Don't think Klopp will be pleased at all behind closed doors. Trouble will be brewing.
Prediction: 4th



Ha ha ha I forget sometimes why I don't bother with this place much anymore. This reminds me.

Op has a user name of Glazers out and says "truly incredible window" ffs ha haha

comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 10 seconds ago
Op has a user name of Glazers out and says "truly incredible window" ffs ha haha
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The OP is one our biggest idiots to be fair. The self awareness doesn’t exist.

I just don't fancy Liverpool to stay the course personally. Think this could be the end of the long goodbye from Klopp too. Great manager but I think secretly he is fuming at FSG. Absolutely seething.



Ffs ha ha ha it gets better

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 44 seconds ago
comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 10 seconds ago
Op has a user name of Glazers out and says "truly incredible window" ffs ha haha
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The OP is one our biggest idiots to be fair. The self awareness doesn’t exist.
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He really is a bit dim

People always going on about world class players. There are not that many world class players about. I look at the Chelsea squad and I would say the only player we have anywhere near world class is Kante. I think we have some top quality players but only one world class.

I would suggest the same for most of the squads in the top 4 - there are some fabulous players but just a handful of world class players between all 4 teams - people who do it game after game, season after season.

comment by Eric_Draven (U20260)
posted 2 minutes ago
People always going on about world class players. There are not that many world class players about. I look at the Chelsea squad and I would say the only player we have anywhere near world class is Kante. I think we have some top quality players but only one world class.

I would suggest the same for most of the squads in the top 4 - there are some fabulous players but just a handful of world class players between all 4 teams - people who do it game after game, season after season.
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I generally find it a tiresome argument that often results in two people talking at or past each other.

If your output is consistently in the top few % in the world, call it what you want, it's bloody good.

Might be selling yourself a bit short maybe Eric. I fancy Havertz will be at his peak. But I take your point about how the term is thrown around these days - there is no way anyone can say Sancho is WC yet!

As a Liverpool fan id have to say we have Salah and VVD who cannot be argued with at all. TAA and Alison having a fair shout too.

I can see something like Man Utd 87 points, Man City 85 points, Chelsea 83 points and Tottenham 70 points.

comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 14 seconds ago
I can see something like Man Utd 87 points, Man City 85 points, Chelsea 83 points and Tottenham 70 points.
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Someone is being hopeful!

I'd say Trent is. I think he's class, I imagine most managers would have him in their squad.

I'm a touch more loose with my definition to be honest though. For me, if you're in the top 10/15 in your posituon in the world, you're world class. I think Robertson is. There can be degrees within that class, I'd say both Lukaku and Lewandowski are world class. It doesn't mean I rate them at exactly the same level.

For example, Whether you think Ronaldo is now or not, you can't argue he was at at least one point. If you go to that point, him being world class doesn't mean someone like Hazard wasn't, even though there is a level between the two in terms of overall ability.

I think people are a bit too precious with the term and I'm not really sure what it achieves other than some imaginary binary ranking system that tends to differ between people anyway and that ultimately adds very little of value to the conversation.

comment by Eric_Draven (U20260)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 14 seconds ago
I can see something like Man Utd 87 points, Man City 85 points, Chelsea 83 points and Tottenham 70 points.
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Someone is being hopeful!
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Ah but what is football, if not hope?

You think Sunderland fans continued going to the stadium, even when they didn't win for an entire calendar year because of some educated, critically analysed confidence they were going to win?

You can get smashed 9 nil and you still turn up the next week and hope. Tis why it's the beautiful game.

In which case Ronaldo has to be world class (and he is) given that he outscored Lukaku in the same league last season in a team that finished 4th. I think people are seriously underestimating Ronaldo and his impact on the entire squad. Wasn't it only a few months ago he ran 60 metres in not far off a world record time? He may be 36 but compared to "normal" players he might as well be 30.

comment by TheFoxOutsideTheBox (U20459)
posted 33 seconds ago
I'd say Trent is. I think he's class, I imagine most managers would have him in their squad.

I'm a touch more loose with my definition to be honest though. For me, if you're in the top 10/15 in your posituon in the world, you're world class. I think Robertson is. There can be degrees within that class, I'd say both Lukaku and Lewandowski are world class. It doesn't mean I rate them at exactly the same level.

For example, Whether you think Ronaldo is now or not, you can't argue he was at at least one point. If you go to that point, him being world class doesn't mean someone like Hazard wasn't, even though there is a level between the two in terms of overall ability.

I think people are a bit too precious with the term and I'm not really sure what it achieves other than some imaginary binary ranking system that tends to differ between people anyway and that ultimately adds very little of value to the conversation.
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You see, in my opinion, of all of those you mention, Lewandowski and Ronaldo are the only ones who are/were world class. I think that TAA could get there - he has potential.

I don't think world class players are actually necessary. Look at Azpilicueta, he's getting on a bit now, but he's a top pro and gives everything for the team and a couple of years back was probably the best performing full back in the league - but he's never been world class. It doesn't mean he wouldn't get into my team (and most teams) every day of the week.

Lukaku the missing piece? On Saturday he was just missing.