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Post by jokker on May 11, 2022 10:24:40 GMT
His agent said a few weeks back that the plan is for him to go to Real after 2 or 3 seasons with Man City. Providing he doesn't get injured I would say that Man City will recoup everything they've paid, and will pay, for him. subject to the small print about his release clause in the new contract; it probably says if Real makes an offer he is free to leave.
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Post by liathroid on May 11, 2022 10:30:26 GMT
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Post by stokie223 on May 11, 2022 11:00:44 GMT
They are going to be ridiculous next year - and if they fail to win the Champions League then I would view that as a massive failure as their squad will be the best in the world by some distance. They're a phenomenal team to watch already and in signing Håland you'd imagine they will dominate further as him and Mbappé seem to be the next Messi/Ronaldo, but I can't help think it's getting ridiculous now. Pep is a great manager and his teams have always played eye-catching football, but is their success really earned?! It's Football Manager stuff to just have a constant conveyor belt of new signings at £50m+ Grealish - £100m - doesn't markedly improve them. Mostly on the bench. 1/639 attacking midfielders Mahrez - £62m - fantastic player so possibly exempt but far from guaranteed starter and rumours that he's unhappy at amount of rotation Mendy - £53m - for a start he was fucking useless - and, well, you know the rest... Stones - £50m - took him c. 5 years to really get into the team on a regular basis, but now seems behind Dias and Laporte in the pecking order Aké - £40m - not a bad player but a colossal waste of money for what is essentially a backup player Mangala - £40m - atrocious I'm sure there are many, many more you could add to this list - conversely there are many world class players they've signed to fit their system, but this constant haemorrhaging of money, throwing cash at the problems until something sticks, just makes the club feel like a pretty soulless organisation, rather than being a proper football club that the fans can be proud of. They're far from the only ones, but easily the worst culprits IMO. They feel more like a corporate organisation - a toy or plaything for a multi billionaire built off the back of oil money. They are good for winning the league, but bringing in a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties doesn't make them favourites to win the Champions League, not by a long shot. Nor does it make them the best team; just a bunch of names in the squad doesn't mean they have the right team. A bit like Stoke, really. Considering they reached the final last year, and probably should have beaten Chelsea - then reached the semi-final this year (again, probably should have got past Real if you look at the two legs) without a recognised striker, then I would undoubtedly say they were one of the favourites wo win it next year, even without EH. They're one of the elite teams. They've now added what I, and I'm sure many others, would agree was the missing piece of the puzzle. I wouldn't say their squad has any weaknesses now - so it absolutely is one of the best teams around. I'm not sure how a team that's been in the top 4 teams in Europe for the last two years now adding probably the most sought after player in world football does anything other than make them favourites personally. "a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties" - one that's putting up Messi/Ronaldo numbers and has scored 27 goals in 25 European matches at 21 years old...
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Post by lordb on May 11, 2022 11:08:21 GMT
They are good for winning the league, but bringing in a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties doesn't make them favourites to win the Champions League, not by a long shot. Nor does it make them the best team; just a bunch of names in the squad doesn't mean they have the right team. A bit like Stoke, really. Considering they reached the final last year, and probably should have beaten Chelsea - then reached the semi-final this year (again, probably should have got past Real if you look at the two legs) without a recognised striker, then I would undoubtedly say they were one of the favourites wo win it next year, even without EH. They're one of the elite teams. They've now added what I, and I'm sure many others, would agree was the missing piece of the puzzle. I wouldn't say their squad has any weaknesses now - so it absolutely is one of the best teams around. I'm not sure how a team that's been in the top 4 teams in Europe for the last two years now adding probably the most sought after player in world football does anything other than make them favourites personally. "a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties" - one that's putting up Messi/Ronaldo numbers and has scored 27 goals in 25 European matches at 21 years old... astonishing to me the ignorance in that statement He's essentially the best striker in the world right now, potentially he could end up being the best ever if has luck with injuries (I think Ronaldo {not Cristiano} would have been had it not been for his injuries)
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Post by stokie223 on May 11, 2022 11:32:33 GMT
Considering they reached the final last year, and probably should have beaten Chelsea - then reached the semi-final this year (again, probably should have got past Real if you look at the two legs) without a recognised striker, then I would undoubtedly say they were one of the favourites wo win it next year, even without EH. They're one of the elite teams. They've now added what I, and I'm sure many others, would agree was the missing piece of the puzzle. I wouldn't say their squad has any weaknesses now - so it absolutely is one of the best teams around. I'm not sure how a team that's been in the top 4 teams in Europe for the last two years now adding probably the most sought after player in world football does anything other than make them favourites personally. "a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties" - one that's putting up Messi/Ronaldo numbers and has scored 27 goals in 25 European matches at 21 years old... astonishing to me the ignorance in that statement He's essentially the best striker in the world right now, potentially he could end up being the best ever if has luck with injuries (I think Ronaldo {not Cristiano} would have been had it not been for his injuries) I think the scepticism can come from his age and the fact that he's plying his trade in another country but anyone that's watched him play a few times will know he is seriously a freak. As you say - ignorance. Agree re: Ronaldo. For me, the best out-and-out striker to have played the game and I think if he'd taken his own fitness seriously, and had better luck with injuries, that would be indisputable. For EH to be hitting the numbers he is at 21-years-old is genuinely frightening. Scores all kinds of goals, fast, physical. I think he will go on to be a great.
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Post by flea79 on May 11, 2022 12:09:52 GMT
astonishing to me the ignorance in that statement He's essentially the best striker in the world right now, potentially he could end up being the best ever if has luck with injuries (I think Ronaldo {not Cristiano} would have been had it not been for his injuries) I think the scepticism can come from his age and the fact that he's plying his trade in another country but anyone that's watched him play a few times will know he is seriously a freak. As you say - ignorance. Agree re: Ronaldo. For me, the best out-and-out striker to have played the game and I think if he'd taken his own fitness seriously, and had better luck with injuries, that would be indisputable. For EH to be hitting the numbers he is at 21-years-old is genuinely frightening. Scores all kinds of goals, fast, physical. I think he will go on to be a great. i would say from looking at his goal highlights from the bbc yesterday he does seem to thrive on having space and time on the ball, obviously in the prem he wont get that as much, dont get me wrong some goals were forced by his strength and speed it will be interesting to say the least especially when it seems that have paid round 60 million for him and chelsea paid nearly 100 million for Lukaku (who by the way has the highest cumulative transfer fees in history)
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Post by stokie223 on May 11, 2022 13:00:02 GMT
I think the scepticism can come from his age and the fact that he's plying his trade in another country but anyone that's watched him play a few times will know he is seriously a freak. As you say - ignorance. Agree re: Ronaldo. For me, the best out-and-out striker to have played the game and I think if he'd taken his own fitness seriously, and had better luck with injuries, that would be indisputable. For EH to be hitting the numbers he is at 21-years-old is genuinely frightening. Scores all kinds of goals, fast, physical. I think he will go on to be a great. i would say from looking at his goal highlights from the bbc yesterday he does seem to thrive on having space and time on the ball, obviously in the prem he wont get that as much, dont get me wrong some goals were forced by his strength and speed it will be interesting to say the least especially when it seems that have paid round 60 million for him and chelsea paid nearly 100 million for Lukaku (who by the way has the highest cumulative transfer fees in history) Sure, but I think he's deceptively quick. Scored plenty against big teams in the Champions League (best mins/goal ratio in the history of the competition... over 3 years though so sample size is limited in comparison) and against Bayern in the Bundesliga. I first noticed him after he scored a hat-trick for Salzburg in the CL a few years back and have watched sporadically since then, he is some player and he does score a range of goals. Whether he'll hit the ground running straight away remains to be seen, but he's got all the assets you'd want from a striker - although him/Citeh will possibly have to adapt somewhat. I'd put him above Mbappe personally, and lightyears ahead of Lukaku, so I think £60m will be a snip.
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Post by jokker on May 11, 2022 14:08:49 GMT
They are good for winning the league, but bringing in a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties doesn't make them favourites to win the Champions League, not by a long shot. Nor does it make them the best team; just a bunch of names in the squad doesn't mean they have the right team. A bit like Stoke, really. Considering they reached the final last year, and probably should have beaten Chelsea - then reached the semi-final this year (again, probably should have got past Real if you look at the two legs) without a recognised striker, then I would undoubtedly say they were one of the favourites wo win it next year, even without EH. They're one of the elite teams. They've now added what I, and I'm sure many others, would agree was the missing piece of the puzzle. I wouldn't say their squad has any weaknesses now - so it absolutely is one of the best teams around. I'm not sure how a team that's been in the top 4 teams in Europe for the last two years now adding probably the most sought after player in world football does anything other than make them favourites personally. "a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties" - one that's putting up Messi/Ronaldo numbers and has scored 27 goals in 25 European matches at 21 years old... I meant just what I said and it is factual. He has limited experience of playing Champions League semifinals and finals - so he doesn't have what Citeh is lacking in that regard. A decent young striker can score 27 goals in the early group stages/2nd round ties. But until Haaland has done at a higher level than that, he's not the answer to Citeh's essential problem, which is putting away the multitude of chances they create without scoring. He might become a better Citeh type striker once Pep has finished his deconstruction of the lad. But by then he could be Madrid-bound...
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Post by stokie223 on May 11, 2022 15:20:07 GMT
Considering they reached the final last year, and probably should have beaten Chelsea - then reached the semi-final this year (again, probably should have got past Real if you look at the two legs) without a recognised striker, then I would undoubtedly say they were one of the favourites wo win it next year, even without EH. They're one of the elite teams. They've now added what I, and I'm sure many others, would agree was the missing piece of the puzzle. I wouldn't say their squad has any weaknesses now - so it absolutely is one of the best teams around. I'm not sure how a team that's been in the top 4 teams in Europe for the last two years now adding probably the most sought after player in world football does anything other than make them favourites personally. "a kid with limited experience of playing major European cup ties" - one that's putting up Messi/Ronaldo numbers and has scored 27 goals in 25 European matches at 21 years old... I meant just what I said and it is factual. He has limited experience of playing Champions League semifinals and finals - so he doesn't have what Citeh is lacking in that regard. A decent young striker can score 27 goals in the early group stages/2nd round ties. But until Haaland has done at a higher level than that, he's not the answer to Citeh's essential problem, which is putting away the multitude of chances they create without scoring. He might become a better Citeh type striker once Pep has finished his deconstruction of the lad. But by then he could be Madrid-bound... That wasn't what you said. You said he was limited with 'major European cup ties', not 'semi-finals and finals'. Surely all CL games constitute as the former? I think it's difficult for me to agree with your dismissal of his achievements given that the number of 'decent young strikers' that have scored that many you could count on one hand. Only around 30 people in the history of the competition have scored that, or more, over their full careers... He's pretty much scored against everyone he's come up against, so again not sure how you could come to that conclusion personally. 15 in 17 in a very average Norwegian side. His record, at every level he's played at so far in his career, is frightening.
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Post by jokker on May 11, 2022 17:01:12 GMT
I meant just what I said and it is factual. He has limited experience of playing Champions League semifinals and finals - so he doesn't have what Citeh is lacking in that regard. A decent young striker can score 27 goals in the early group stages/2nd round ties. But until Haaland has done at a higher level than that, he's not the answer to Citeh's essential problem, which is putting away the multitude of chances they create without scoring. He might become a better Citeh type striker once Pep has finished his deconstruction of the lad. But by then he could be Madrid-bound... That wasn't what you said. You said he was limited with 'major European cup ties', not 'semi-finals and finals'. Surely all CL games constitute as the former? I think it's difficult for me to agree with your dismissal of his achievements given that the number of 'decent young strikers' that have scored that many you could count on one hand. Only around 30 people in the history of the competition have scored that, or more, over their full careers... He's pretty much scored against everyone he's come up against, so again not sure how you could come to that conclusion personally. 15 in 17 in a very average Norwegian side. His record, at every level he's played at so far in his career, is frightening. No they don't. I just expanded my statement for your benefit. Big mistake, ha ha. I don't consider the CL group stage as major ties. Major ties are when the big teams finally meet each other in the final stages. Real Madrid this esason lost in the group stage at home to FC Sheriff, but they still survived to now reach the final. That's hardly a major game, just a poor performance by Real. Any number of unexciting group games could be listed. Once in a while two big teams mmet each other at that level, but they usually qualify for the the final stages anyway. Given your pedantic reading of what I say, it was on reflection a misguided way of describing Haaland's record so far. But I stand by what I say about him. He hasn't proved himself at the top levels of European football...yet. He may do so over the next 15 years of his career or Pep might destroy him, as he's done with other strikers. Time will tell.
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Post by heworksardtho on May 13, 2022 16:18:29 GMT
Release clause of £128 million which can be activated part way through his 5 year deal
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Post by middleoftheboothen on May 13, 2022 17:02:58 GMT
Release clause of £128 million which can be activated part way through his 5 year deal So if we all chip in on here and get some bucket collections going on we can buy the fucker to partner Browny up front and win the league, the fa cup and the champions league in just two years 😁👍 sorted.
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Post by Staffsoatcake on May 15, 2022 13:56:17 GMT
See Everton could have had him a few years ago for £60,000. but didn't bother their arses.
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