So mibees Strachan passing him over wasn’t quite as piss annoying as it seemed to be as an observer then. McArthur can do a perfectly good impression of running around to no great effect himself.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
January 2018 transfer window thread
Collapse
X
-
I have read over the last few days that spending so much money on Coutinho at this time of the year is madness.
The main reason given is that he is ineligible for the Champions league.
However from a footballing perspective it makes plenty of sense.
Barcelona have a healthy lead in La Liga over Real Madrid meaning that they can slowly blood Coutinho into the team without the pressure to win every game. In the league, they can put him on for the final 20 minutes when 2-0 up against Athletico/Real/Valencia and start in the turkey shoot matches against the smaller teams.
This would leave the other attacking players the chance to rest and save their energies for the CL.
I guess the plan is that by the end of the season Coutinho would be fully integrated into the Barcelona style of play without the added pressure of putting in MOTM performances every week to justify his huge transfer fee. If Barca do not win the CL, Coutinho cannot be blamed, if they win, he will get some shine (although no medal) as his arrival will take the pressure of Messi/Saurez/Iniesta in the league thus alowing them to concentrate on the CL. If Barca do not win the CL, it will further justify why Coutinho was purchased to fill in the missing gap required to beat the eventual winner.
Comment
-
Does his office provide Mr. Anderson with access to sharp implements? If so, they need to be taken away.
TG makes the sporting case for the Coutinho move very well. There was also a significant political component, as Bartomeu had essentially promised the deal in order to calm incipient dissent with his management.
The open question is just how affordable it will prove for the club, which depends entirely on which set of estimated figures one uses and how much credence one gives to persistent reports that the reported cost was partially borne by Nike and the player (or Nike through the player).
Comment
-
- Jan 2015
- 9700
- Wrexham... ish
- R. + R. McReynold's Travelling Circus, The Jurgen Klopp Farewell Tour XI, Page's Boys
- Ginger Nut
-
Given that it was Nike that announced the transfer, i think we can safely assume that it happened primarily because there's a world cup coming up, and nike want to have one of their stable of stars, from the country with the biggest national shirt contract, playing for a team that has their biggest club shirt contract.
There was a lad on garcia's podcast talking about the massive wave of indifference washing over Barcelona at this transfer, which I took primarily as evidence of their toxic self regard, and lack of interest in the wider world. This is a good player. He's really fucking expensive. He's by far the most expensive player they've ever signed, and 6,000 people turned up to his unveiling. They have no role lined up for him in their team, and valverde said the other week that he already has better players than coutinho. this Idea that you would use a £140 million player as cover for andres iniesta is a sign of a football club that has lost its mind.
Then you had the hilarious charade that these clubs go through when they sign an incredibly expensive player and pay him a fucking mind blowing amount of money. there is the need to pass this off as though this move happened because of the buying club's unique status as a global institution. Coutinho was so keen to make this move happen that he paid some of his own fee. (I think essentially this translates as the club cut back on their insane future wage offer a bit, in order to pay the fucking massive transfer fee) if these clubs were such a draw, they wouldn't have to triple their signings wages to make it happen.
And the wages? what the fuck is going on with with barcelona's wages? two years ago their wages to turnover was a bum squeakingly high 70%. and they've renewed a lot of contracts since then. There are a lot of players making an extraordinary amount of money, and not least of all messi has finally decided how much of the neymar transfer fee they should give him. €600 k a week, plus at least as much again in massive bonuses. including loyalty bonuses rarely seen outside of the boardrooms of Wall street. messi is no fool. If messi is flogging cock pills in his seventies, it will only be because he needs to put food on the table for his family, and to protect them from rising oceans by building a large island out of gold coins and rubies. I wonder at what point is he going to become a bigger drain on the catalan economy than the spanish progressive tax system.
Marca are suggesting that their wage to turnover ratio is now closer to 84% which starts to push them in 2006 AC milan territory/ Aston Villa terrtory, and they're going to have to sell players to avoid registering massive losses. the thing is, the recent history of spanish football over the last 20 years is that clubs like Barcelona and real madrid would sooner destroy every other club in the world than suffer any consequences themselves, so I suppose the inevitable consequence of this is a european super league in the next couple of years, just so Barcelona can balance their books.
Comment
-
- Aug 2008
- 25427
- The zero meridian
- Swansea, Gaziantepspor and the Zeugma Franchise
- Bahlsen Choco Leibniz Dark
Arda Turan heads back to Turkey, which isn't a surprise, but it's not to his club and the club be supports, Galatasaray, but you the party team of the Sultan, Başakşehirspor. Fuck him.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Kevin S View PostAlex Pritchard, Norwich to Huddersfield, about £11m. A talented player, should help them create chances.
Comment
-
I'm intrigued by the news that Rodrigo Battaglia has apparently been good enough in Europe for West Brom and West Ham to both want to spend £20 million on him. I mean I know those two teams aren't exactly at the forefront of playing liquid football right now, but he's played for three different clubs here in Argentina and was very pedestrian for Huracán (his first club) and then outright dreadful for the other two (Rosario Central and Racing). I was somewhat surprised the other day to google him and discover he's still only 26 years old.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Reginald ChristIt'll get them supporters in Chile and further weaken a potential rival? This is one of only two clubs in the world for whom money is no object so it's not as if they have to worry about wasting any.
Comment
-
Originally posted by hobbes View PostBrannagan's a cracking player, Nef. I'm a bit gutted he never quite made it at Anfield.
Comment
-
The Norwich clear out continues. Russell Martin goes on loan to Glasgow Rangers, Yanic Wildschut is already on loan to Cardiff, and Cameron Jerome is set to sign for Derby. None of them have figured for a while and fallen out of favour, but Jerome's departure leaves us with an out of sorts Nelson Oliveira as our only current striker (plus Carlton Morris who is on loan at Shrewsbury).
In return we have signed (on loan) teenager Marcus Edwards from Spurs. Reports suggest he is extremely talented, but has fallen away somewhat in the last twelve months.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Sean of the Shed View PostMourinho is supposedly trying to entice Sanchez away from Man City to sign for Man United. The Arsenal exodus continues, with Coquelin signing for Valencia for £12m and Everton negotiating for Walcott.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/amp/news/m...mpression=true
Comment
-
Originally posted by Crusoe View PostLooks like a busy window for us. We're rumoured to be finalising a takeover or new investment this week, subject to FA approval.
In the meantime, eight out:
Jack Byrne, Kean Bryan, Eoin Doyle, Ben Wilson, Jack Ruddy loans ended. Queensy Menig loan ended early. Peter Clarke (club captain) packed off, very slowly, to Bradford on loan. Ollie Banks likely to be released to Tranmere after his dad's hissy fit at him being recalled from loan. And more likely to follow.
And four in, subject to registration restrictions (relating to the takeover or FFP, we're not sure):
Zeus de la Paz (Curacaon goalkeeper - our second Curacaon international)
Patrick McEleney (one of the best players in Ireland, apparently)
Ben Pringle (on loan)
Kundai Benyu (winger on loan from Celtic)
Comment
-
According to David Ornstein treated as a guru by Arsenal fans the Sánchez Mkhitaryan deal is done
„ Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan agrees move to Arsenal in a deal that will see Gunners forward Alexis Sanchez go opposite way. It’s a straight swap, no money involved. Paperwork complete, Mkhitaryan will undergo a medical over the next 2 days“ meanwhile Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is closer to leaving Dortmund for Arsenal -apparently he was playing 5 a side with his mates „while his team-mates were playing away at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga.“
Comment
Comment