The Official 2015/16 Football/Soccer Thread

northside7 wrote: »

water ur seeds wrote: »

Gooner wrote: »

water ur seeds wrote: »

Gooner wrote: »

is united the biggest draw in England anymore? I mean they're commercially the biggest club in England but every year they get used by a player for a better deal and get beaten to transfers...since Alex left they're no better than arsenal, Chelsea or city...those clubs can beat united to any player

Its only because we didnt want activate the release clause, Ed was over there agreeing personal terms this weekend, United thought we could get him cheaper as no one else was willing to buy him... Then Abramovich got his cheque book out and gave Barca what they wanted... Simple, United tried to be clever and got burnt...

dont ignore all the players who use you guys every summer...Ramos the latest...just don't think united is irresistible anymore...players can make the money and compete at the other teams

Players like Ramos use us because we are the biggest club in the world, they wouldnt use Arsenal because clubs like Real and Barca know Arsenal a) wouldnt pay the big money for him and b) you wouldnt pay the wages...

Can you prove the bold? I don't even think you guys are the most popular EPL club in the world.

The money would be dropped but the wages are another story. I'd actually rather the club not pay a player £200k a week if they're not worth it.

PEDRO joined Chelsea after getting fed up waiting for Manchester United to rubber-stamp the deal.

The former Barcelona ace had all but agreed to join United and was simply waiting to sign off on the paperwork.

But last night there was claim and counter-claim about just how the Spanish international, 28, ended up at Stamford Bridge instead.

United sources were adamant that boss Louis van Gaal pulled the plug — leaving Pedro with no alternative but to join the Blues.

Barcelona insiders, however, insist that Old Trafford chief executive Ed Woodward haggled over how the star’s £21million fee would be paid for nearly a MONTH.

Red Devils fans yesterday slaughtered their club’s top brass on social media for letting slip a proven world-class performer — available for a knock-down fee — and desperate to sign.

But United’s confirmed position was that Dutch boss LVG had a change of heart and did not want Pedro any more.

They also insist Woodward flew back from Barcelona empty-handed on Monday because he told them he would have to get the final OK from Van Gaal.

Which of course begs the question, why did Woodward fly out to the Catalan capital if Van Gaal had not given the green light to sign the player?

Woodward had gone to Barcelona on two occasions, three weeks apart, to try to seal a deal.

Was that WITHOUT the manager’s approval? And now consider this: Pedro’s buy-out clause was a prohibitive £105m until March.

It was revised downwards to allow the ace to find another club this summer, as he was behind Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in boss Luis Enrique’s pecking order.

Pedro has been such a loyal and outstanding servant to Barcelona — coming through the reserve teams to win the Champions League three times and La Liga five times — that the club decided to grant him his wish to get regular first-team football elsewhere.

So they made him available at a bargain price.

If Barca’s version of events is to be believed United’s hierarchy must answer this simple question: Why did Woodward go to Barcelona TWICE without LVG’s blessing?

And why did a club that wasted £59.7m on Angel Di Maria (and took a £15.7m hit when he joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer) plus around £20m on Radamel Falcao (£7m rent to Monaco plus nearly £13m in gross wages) want to shave just £3.5m off a £21m Pedro deal? If United’s version is true, then why did LVG suddenly have a change of heart?

It just does not make much sense. SunSport understands that when Woodward left Barcelona empty-handed on Monday, the two clubs agreed one thing.

That United would have to present one final offer in the following 72 hours, meaning by yesterday.

That gave Chelsea enough time to nip in and hijack the deal.

Barca insiders yesterday said Pedro was fuming after the Spanish Super Cup second-leg 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Pedro thought the 5-1 aggregate loss could be his last game for the European champions — and could not believe United were dragging their feet over such a relatively small amount.

He simply could not understand why United did not just pay his get-out clause to close the deal.

Pedro wanted to join United after speaking with LVG.

But, instead, he has gone to a team where competition for places will be incredibly fierce.

water ur seeds wrote: »

Gooner wrote: »

ok united are still number 1...but your best player wants out and every summer some player strings you along...yea you bought some players but only by overpaying for them....

something is not adding up

Rooneys our best player??? No chance... Anyways he wanted out one summer, lets not exaggerate...