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[Jack cw]

TIme to shut up United fans!

I really liked the Nike Arsenal kits. This one here looks like its done on some PES editor on PS2 :/

 

[Walshy]

if by the end of this window we have signed Matic, Salah, Zouma and Shaw I will be very happy with our business! Even if Zouma and Shaw are loaned out till the end of the season!

Chelsea will have an amazing team in a few years if you sign Zouma + Shaw and let your younger players develop (you are doing this with the loans, I guess).

Courtois, Van Ginkel, Salah, both of the Hazards, Lukaku plus Shaw and Zouma. I'm sure Chelsea have a few gems coming through their academy as well or players non-fans out on loan wouldn't know about as well.

 

[omgkitty]

I really liked the Nike Arsenal kits. This one here looks like its done on some PES editor on PS2 :/

Yes it does. This was from a while ago though, so hopefully it's changed. I'm going to assume we won't officially see any Arsenal players in Puma jerseys until after the Nike deal expires?

 

[Jack cw]

News is that Mr. Kroos and Bayern contract negotiations have stalled.

I think Kroos wants 10 million and neither United nor Bayern are willing to pay that. I think that in the end Kroos will extend as United would be a downgrade and he is a starter in Bayern.

 

[K1LLER7]

Imagine we kept Pogba too

:'(

 

[Mr Cola]

Mourinho is getting in Arsenes head, I love it

 

[Salazar]

I think Kroos wants 10 million and neither United nor Bayern are willing to pay that. I think that in the end Kroos will extend as United would be a downgrade and he is a starter in Bayern.

But PL is upgrade.

I mean, it's proper league football.

 

[Elchele]

I think Kroos wants 10 million and neither United nor Bayern are willing to pay that. I think that in the end Kroos will extend as United would be a downgrade and he is a starter in Bayern.

I read it is €8M.
Kroos won't leave at all, I'm not even worried about it. It is just a matter of 'how much' and 'when', rather than if he will renew or not.

He's the only player who has played all the matches under Guardiola, he's our key player. Basically the new Xavi

 

[Jburton]

I think Kroos wants 10 million and neither United nor Bayern are willing to pay that. I think that in the end Kroos will extend as United would be a downgrade and he is a starter in Bayern.

10 million what? ...... a year?


Works out at about 205,000 a week, tell me why are Utd not prepared to pay that?

Rooney is about to get a deal worth over 300,000 a week.

 

[3Sixty]

Daily Mirror: Chelsea will slug it out with Man United in a bid to land Southampton's Luke Shaw this week. Possible £25m+ bidding war

well

 

[Elchele]

But PL is upgrade.

I mean, it's proper league football.

"football", you can't call football what most teams play in PL

 

[Jack cw]

But PL is upgrade.

I mean, it's proper league football.

True about the league, but not about the club, sal.

I read it is €8M.
Kroos won't leave at all, I'm not even worried about it. It is just a matter of 'how much' and 'when', rather than if he will renew or not.

He's the only player who has played all the matches under Guardiola, he's our key player.

I'm pretty sure that someone close to Bayern said he wants to join the club around Lahm, Ribery and Schweinsteiger and based on the interest of United I think thats what will happen.

 

[3Sixty]

Southampton FC ‏@SouthamptonFC 1m

MP on @LukeShaw3: “@SouthamptonFC has no interest in selling him – not at this moment or in the summer. We have no intention.” #saintsfc


Suck it Chavs and Mancs.

 

[Feorax]

Garuda Indonesia deal announced for our training kits.

This must be how United fans felt in the summer.

 

[omgkitty]

Gazidis & Puma ceo Bjoern Gulden on stage. Contract reportedly £150m, 5yrs - biggest kit supplier deal in Europe #afc

 

[KidA Seven]

Imagine we kept Pogba too

:'(

It would mean winning trophies at the Etihad.

New United Nike deal will smash that.

 

[Plasma]

Does the Puma deal mean Arsene will finally get a new coat?

 

[qindarka]

Anyway, I was upset over the Mata deal and was perhaps a little too harsh on him here and on Mumble.

Think I've accepted it now. Wish him well.

 

[Mr Cola]

Does the Puma deal mean Arsene will finally get a new coat?

Means he can rig the fixture congestion again next year #mourinho

 

[omgkitty]

David Ornstein ‏@bbcsport_david

Gazidis: "Arsene will be extending (his contract) with us and at right time we will make that announcement." #afc #bbcsportsday

.

 

[Clegg]

£150m over 5 years. Is that all? Thought they'd get more than that.

Fully expect Nike or whoever to pay United £50m per season.

 

[Jburton]

Does the Puma deal mean Arsene will finally get a new coat?

One that goes all the way up to cover his mouth, need something to cover up that moaning face hole of his.

 

[kharma45]

New United Nike deal will smash that.

We get more than that at present iirc, it's around £35m per season.

£150m over 5 years. Is that all? Thought they'd get more than that.

Fully expect Nike or whoever to pay United £50m per season.

Yeah it's not that great a deal.

 

[Yen]

Garuda Indonesia deal announced for our training kits.

This must be how United fans felt in the summer.

Yes!!! This definitely makes up for not signing Costa, Mikhtargaryan, Willian or Salah!

 

[Jburton]

£150m over 5 years. Is that all? Thought they'd get more than that.

Fully expect Nike or whoever to pay United £50m per season.

Yeah it sounds small to me as well.

 

[Clegg]

Must be near time for Woody to get back to his real job.

Official salted snacks partner here we come.

 

[LanceVance]

I heard rumours Nike were going to give United £50m - £60m a year for the next five years.

Then again massive clubs get the big bucks, smaller teams like Arsenal will always have to settle for lesser sponsorship deals

 

[Jburton]

I heard rumours Nike were going to give United £50m - £60m a year for the next five years.

Then again massive clubs get the big bucks, smaller teams like Arsenal will always have to settle for lesser sponsorship deals

Oh my lol.

 

[Milchmonster]

Is this really coincidence? Last season 3 Dortmund players had bone fractures in their faces. This season two CL ruptures, and ruptures of other ligaments with 2 other players. A sign of stress and fatigue?

How is it stress or fatigue when Kuba does an unlucky movement and kills his knee? Same for Subotic or the face fractures.

I hear that in the media all the time but it's not true. Actually, it's funny because the players that play too much, or let's say play the most, like Reus, Lewy, Großkreutz are not injured at all.

 

[Clegg]

We get more than that at present iirc, it's around £35m per season.



Yeah it's not that great a deal.

It's a good deal for Arsenal as it represents a big increase in cash available for them.

But when you consider that United make a similar amount of money each season from a deal signed back in 2000, you begin to think that Arsenal haven't haven't fully sussed out this thing out yet.

It's still a big deal even in European terms, but I'd have expected that with the rapid commercialisation of football, and with Arsenal being a huge club, they'd have gotten more for this sponsorship.

 

[Jack cw]

How is it stress or fatigue when Kuba does an unlucky movement and kills his knee? Same for Subotic or the face fractures.

I hear that in the media all the time but it's not true. Actually, it's funny because the players that play too much, or let's say play the most, like Reus, Lewy, Großkreutz are not injured at all.

That would be sad if the 4 starting players left would be out too. But this is something strange for nearly 2 years now. And there is still that mystery around Gündogans injury. I dont want to blame Dortmund or Klopp but the amount of those severe injuries is frightening.

 

[Walshy]

Really good article on Liverpool's transfers from Tony Barrett on the Times' website today:

Liverpool must strengthen their squad to keep hold of Luis Suárez
Tony Barrett January 27 2014 12:01PM

Luis Suárez’s birthday didn’t get off to the best possible start. The first day of his 28th year began on Friday with the kind of disappointing news he has become increasingly used to as Liverpool missed out on Mohamed Salah (pictured), the fourth major signing to slip through their fingers since last summer.

Like Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Willian and Diego Costa, Salah was scouted, discussed extensively by Liverpool’s transfer committee, targeted, pursued and then signed by someone else (albeit in the case of Costa, he signed for Atletico Madrid, the club he was already with). That recurring theme has inevitably raised questions about Liverpool’s transfer strategy as they struggle to attract players who, if not of Suarez’s standard, would certainly offer the striker the best chance of fulfilling his Champions League dream.

The reality for Liverpool is that, regardless of the new contract he signed before Christmas, if they can’t offer Suárez the elite platform that he craves and deserves then someone else will. There is even an argument that when the wondrous season the Uruguayan is enjoying comes to an end in May, John W. Henry should thank Suárez for his superhuman efforts and personally drive him to his destination of choice if Liverpool have once again fallen short.

Aside from the nonsense about being plagued by paparazzi and feeling unable to remain in the Premier League because he felt hounded, Suárez had another, much more compelling and reasonable reason for agitating for a move away from Liverpool last summer. As he confided to friends, one of his greatest concerns was that Liverpool did not have the necessary quality and strength in depth to challenge for a place in the top four.

A combination of his own extraordinary form, the attacking playing style that has been implemented by Brendan Rodgers and the shortcomings of others, most notably Manchester United, means that Liverpool do have an opportunity to achieve that objective. In the eyes of the bookmakers, they are favourites to finish fourth ahead of United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton. With arguably the most favourable remaining fixtures of all of the competitors for that crucially important spot they are entitled to fancy their chances.

That Liverpool are so well placed is remarkable considering that of the eight players they did manage to sign last summer, only three — Simon Mignolet, Kolo Touré and Mamadou Sakho — have made any kind of impact on their first team so far this season. Four of the remaining five — Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Victor Moses and Tiago Ilori (the latter now on loan to Granada) — have started eleven Premier League games between them. Injuries to others, meanwhile, mean that Aly Cissokho, signed as cover according to Rodgers, is in the side by default rather than design.

If Rodgers’s team selections can be taken as a guide to his own feelings, the Liverpool manager sees only Mignolet and Sakho as first team regulars. Hence the reason why on two occasions this season, Rodgers has publicly admitted that after “improving the squad” Liverpool now need to “improve the team.” It is also why he has reverted to using press conferences to reveal how short he is on numbers.

“Our squad is very thin at the moment, we’ve got 17 players,” Rodgers said before Liverpool played Chelsea in late December. “We only have 15 players that have been training and we will call on some of the younger players to come into the squad,” he said prior to their FA Cup tie away to Bournemouth at the weekend. The squad is “thin” he said again afterwards. Given that earlier this month, during a mounting injury crisis, Rodgers stated that “if we can keep everyone fit we have a great chance [of finishing in the top four]” there is no need to read between the lines: he is making it clear that Liverpool could fall short of their target due to the lack of quality and depth that Suárez feared.

Largely as a result of frustration, Rodgers was more outspoken after missing out on Willian last August, saying that while he understood “the climate of where the club is at, we need to push on to get the best players we possibly can if we’re going to have any chance of progressing.” He then added: “If you’re going to climb the league, you have to have quality. There are still a number of days left in the window and we will do everything we possibly can to get the players in.”

In those remaining days, Liverpool added Sakho (currently out injured), Moses (out of favour regardless of his goal at Bournemouth) and Ilori (out on loan).

Earlier in the season, before the wear and tear of the campaign began to take its toll and Suárez was taking opponents apart almost single-handedly, the relative weakness of Liverpool’s squad did not reveal itself apart from the odd occasion when injuries restricted Rodgers’ options. But no sooner did the frequency of games and quality of opposition pick up and their shortcomings have become increasingly apparent.

Brad Smith, a teenager of rich promise but still finding his way in the first team scene, came on as substitute at Chelsea; Touré and Cissokho, brought in as cover, have struggled when injuries to others resulted in them having to play more regularly; Alberto and Moses were dragged off at half-time against Oldham Athletic; and now an injury to Lucas has left a Dunkin’ Donuts sized hole in Liverpool’s midfield that will not be filled until the Brazilian returns in about five weeks’ time.

If there is consolation to missing out on Salah it is that it provides Liverpool an opportunity to reassess their priorities and determine whether or not their January transfer budget could be used to strengthen those areas of the team that need it most. The two full back positions and central midfield required bolstering even before Lucas and Glen Johnson went lame and they now have less than a week to make the moves that could define their season.

Liverpool could always stick with what they have in the knowledge that it has taken them this far and in the hope that it will continue to be sufficient. Positioned in fourth place with 16 games remaining and having established themselves as the division’s second highest scorers behind Manchester City, there is much to admire about the way Liverpool have gone about their football so far. There is also an argument that having ascended into fourth place, the current group of players deserves the opportunity to try and remain there.

There are also warning signs, though — weaknesses in the squad that are yet to be addressed and a reliance on the brilliance of Suárez continuing for the duration of the campaign. Everton, Tottenham and a Manchester United side reinforced by the mercurial Juan Mata will all look to take advantage of any slips should Liverpool falter. There are no guarantees that Liverpool will finish fourth even if they do make signings this month but the feeling that Suárez and Rodgers held last summer that further recruitment was necessary is growing at the same time that the opportunity for it is starting to diminish.

Whether or not they make moves, the bottom line for Liverpool is that should they fall short in the race for fourth because of a lack of quality they can have no complaints if Suárez ends up celebrating his next birthday at a club that can give him the gift of Champions League football.

 

[Jburton]

That would be sad if the 4 starting players left would be out too. But this is something strange for nearly 2 years now. And there is still that mystery around Gündogans injury. I dont want to blame Dortmund or Klopp but the amount of those severe injuries is frightening.

Supposedly Gundogan has Spondylolisthesis, which can not be cured, possible career ending condition.

 

[Elchele]

From the Gears of War thread:

MS probably paid over the odds for it considering the current predicament they are in. Console equivalent of Man Utd at the current transfer window.

:lol

 

[Jack cw]

Supposedly Gundogan has Spondylolisthesis, which can not be cured, possible career ending condition.

There is talk about that but no one really knows if its that bad. I hope not as he is extremely talented but Milch could surely shed some light to this.

 

[Jburton]

There is talk about that but no one really knows if its that bad. I hope not as he is extremely talented but Milch could surly bring some light to this.

I certainly hope not either.

 

[Milchmonster]

That would be sad if the 4 starting players left would be out too. But this is something strange for nearly 2 years now. And there is still that mystery around Gündogans injury. I dont want to blame Dortmund or Klopp but the amount of those severe injuries is frightening.

Kagawa - broke his foot playing for Japan
Götze - that strange injury Robben had
Gündogan - fucked up back playing for Germany
Subotic and Kuba - knee fucked after an unfortunate move

Sure, all in all it looks terrible, but not sure what we could have done about any of these injuries.

 

[Meier]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k_uVL5VMKs

I watched 30-40 seconds and an account named Van Persie Gooner Comps had multiple clips of him for Man U. Smh.

 

[Mr Cola]

Really good article on Liverpool's transfers from Tony Barrett on the Times' website today:

I have missed the Pool United rivalry, it is truly on this season, never thought id be excited about this year after the last 5 months but god damnit im giddy, bring on the race for fourth!

 

[Feorax]

@JimBoardman: SSN "understand" #LFC have made a late bid to re-sign Thomas Ince.

Well, that's something.

Still the wrong area of the fucking pitch, but could be a good signing long term.

Dat English front 3 (and Suarez).

 

[dc89]

LONDON (AP) - Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis says manager Arsene Wenger will be staying at the club beyond the end of the season.

The Frenchman has been in charge of the London club since 1996, but had yet to publicly commit to a new deal.

Gazidis says ''Arsene will be extending with us,'' adding that the details will be announced at a later date.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2014/soccer/wires/01/27/2050.ap.soc.arsenal.wenger.0078/index.html

 

[Milchmonster]

There is talk about that but no one really knows if its that bad. I hope not as he is extremely talented but Milch could surely shed some light to this.

Well there is no proper information, mostly rumors. We only know for sure that he had a paralyzed foot at some point but can play football again, although he still has some pain.

We'll see about it in the next few months, if he joins Real, he's probably semi-okay or Real just doesn't care about spending a shit load on a nearly crippled player. If he stays, his back is fucked big time and BVB and Gündogan try to get as much out of him as possible. Which in both cases might be another 8 years or two matches.

 

[Jack cw]

Kagawa - broke his foot playing for Japan
Götze - that strange injury Robben had
Gündogan - fucked up back playing for Germany
Subotic and Kuba - knee fucked after an unfortunate move

Sure, all in all it looks terrible, but not sure what we could have done about any of these injuries.

Well then its just bad luck I guess. Still shitty because I rather see Dortmund compete with bayern than Neverkusen. You think Dortmund is going to buy someone in winter either for the wing or defence?

Well there is no proper information, mostly rumors. We only know for sure that he had a paralyzed foot at some point but can play football again, although he still has some pain.

We'll see about it in the next few months, if he joins Real, he's probably semi-okay or Real just doesn't care about spending a shit load on a nearly crippled player. If he stays, his back is fucked big time and BVB and Gündogan try to get as much out of him as possible. Which in both cases might be another 8 years or two matches.

Haha, Real had a history of this. Another Kaka probably if he leaves to Madrid.

 

[Walshy]

Well, that's something.

Still the wrong area of the fucking pitch, but could be a good signing long term.

Dat English front 3 (and Suarez).

Would like that signing - he'd improve the squad. Also as he's out of contract in the summer we could get him for fairly cheap.

 

[Milchmonster]

Well then its just bad luck I guess. Still shitty because I rather see Dortmund compete with bayern than Neverkusen. You think Dortmund is going to buy someone in winter either for the wing or defence?

Zorc said we're looking at a creative winger or something after Kuba's injury. No idea, maybe we can get Hoppenheim to sell is Volland lol

Spoiler

Free Shinji

 

[bud]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2014/soccer/wires/01/27/2050.ap.soc.arsenal.wenger.0078/index.html

 

[TeddyBoy]

Well, that's something.

Still the wrong area of the fucking pitch, but could be a good signing long term.

Dat English front 3 (and Suarez).

Would be pretty cheap and knows a few of the players from the academy, would be a decent buy.

 

[Jack cw]

Zorc said we're looking at a creative winger or something after Kuba's injury. No idea, maybe we can get Hoppenheim to sell is Volland lol

Spoiler

Free Shinji

Would be a great actually as he could play in CL.

 

[Elchele]

Zorc said we're looking at a creative winger or something after Kuba's injury. No idea, maybe we can get Hoppenheim to sell is Volland lol

Spoiler

Free Shinji

Firmino innit

Hoffenheim really are un fixable, hope they get relegated

 

[Feorax]

Would like that signing - he'd improve the squad. Also as he's out of contract in the summer we could get him for fairly cheap.

Would be pretty cheap and knows a few of the players from the academy, would be a decent buy.

Yup. Also, if he leaves in the summer to someone else, and is out of contract, we lose out on a sell on fee.