Season 2017/2018
 

A brand new thread for the summer transfer sales and the new season which before you know it will be upon us.

The new fixture list will be released on the 14th of June.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foot...-a3563446.html

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Good grief £30 million.:shocked:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40258852

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Thats only the Premier League.

The rest of the football league fixtures are a week later on 21st June.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Yes l have just noticed that :dunce: as two of my teams Portsmouth and Plymouth are looking forward to their fixtures in D1 after just being promoted.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Wang Jianlin leaked as being the head of the group behind Newcastle takeover bid.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

''Goal after goal after goal from Harry Kane''

Never forget Euro 2016 - Corner after corner from Harry Kane

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Another England goalie that does not look much cop.:(

Defensive midfielder Eric Dier.:nono:

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gonna be very bad for my team :(:(:(

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Don't worry it will all turn out alright in the end.;)

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Goalkeeper? I thought Stones was worth £50 million? He got destroyed there. Awful England defending, what's new.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

A strong decent keeper palms the ball out to the side of him which he did not as he pushed the ball straight out to the French players.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Of which not a single England defender was there to mark their man.

Should you really be sending someone off in a Friendly after already awarding the penalty. I thought the rule was relaxed even for competition football anyway.

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Yes l quite agree as the sending off was laughable IMO.

We don't have great defensive characters like we did in the past.:(

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John Stones has had an absolute stinker, mortified this lad is supposedly worth £50 million?

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He needs someone to teach him the basic art of how to defend.:(:td:

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John Stones is getting massive flak now all over, Gareth Southgate's tactics have been atrocious.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

England back to their normal losing ways ..........

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I'd usually concur, but that setup tonight was absolutely abysmal, I have no idea what Southgate is trying but that was horrible to watch. Then again, this is Southgate we're talking about, as stated earlier, it shows the current lack of ambition around England when only he would take the job.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

A third rate manager as he has done nothing in the game as manager before his appointment.

---------- Post added at 05:17 ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 ----------

Tactically it was more akin to Sunday league football tactics as he had no clue at all.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Two games, five goals leaked. Says it all.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Fixture list announced. Don't see the point in posting them yet until Sky publish their version. :rolleyes:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

l suspect your fantasy league team defended better then this lot.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Fulham reject £20 million bid from Newcastle for Tom Cairney.

This is ridiculous, Morata too at £65 million? What? :confused:

There was literally little point in raising the amount of TV money because transfer fee's are only inflating with them.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Utterly pathetic the amounts of money being bid for average players now.:td::(

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Tempted to say "what a prick" but I can think of several players it might be put to good use on.:D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-40283286

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

What is Julian's thoughts on Southampton's manager being sacked?.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Florian Lejeune set to be Newcastle's second signing.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Two more Chinese groups and a US group enter the fray regarding the sale of Newcastle United.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

I he any good? or is he going to be another one of these famous Geordie flops.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

I have complete faith in Rafa Benitez to spend £150m where he see's fit.

Vincent Aboubakar next on the list it appears at £10m

It's expected any takeover the club will run onwards towards January before it'd be completed, so expect no shockwaves in this window but it looks set that Newcastle are the next club in line to join the filthy rich clan. I'd have thought West Ham would have been an appeal to a takeover like this though, they have the stadium now, they have a better location too.

It did all make sense though, it's no wonder Ashley's willing to throw the clubs finances at the upcoming windows, because it won't be his problem much longer.

Edit: Well it just gets more interesting as it goes, Newcastle United announce deals with Sina Weibo, WeChat and Dongqiudi. Social Media firms I think.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Matz Sels set to join Anderlecht on loan a year after signing for Newcastle.

Tammy Abraham set to join Swansea, reasons behind him moving to Newcastle ending in collapse are supposedly a change in the deal and Chelsea refusing to an option to buy.

Florian Lejune will undergo a medical in the coming days and will be confirmed as the window opens I presume.

Lastly, the takeover talks keep continuing, The Telegraph handily pointing out that Newcastle are on the verge of being awoken and should the Chinese plough money into the club it could see Newcastle become a global powerhouse.

Someone needs to wake me up, Benitez, an actual transfer budget with proper money in it! Chinese takeovers on the horizon. This has to be a cruel dream.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

And we are set to pay £40 million for a Chelski flop.:shocked:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Makes you think, just what do young players have to do to get a contract these days. He was excellent in the last match of the season and had a decent year in the reserves.:(

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Fe...er-united.aspx

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Sky Sports News HQ‏Verified account @SkySportsNewsHQ 9m9 minutes ago
More
BREAKING: @SouthamptonFC have named Mauricio Pellegrino as their new manager on three-year contract. #ssnhq

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Depressing ain't it?:(

---------- Post added at 21:04 ---------- Previous post was at 21:03 ----------

l wonder what the devotees will think of that..

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

To be fair to United I have just found out that Josh Harrop was offered a further contract at OT but turned it down for the chance of regular first team football at Preston.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

You cannot blame him for that as would you have done the same if you was in his position?.

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Not sure I would have jumped ship at the age of only 21 and having just played my first ever 1st team game.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Football in many ways ain't like it used to be Jim.

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But the dives are getting better...:)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/...ly-awful-dive/

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Good grief that's pretty bad.:td:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Further leaks of the Garcia report show Qatar essentially bought the World Cup despite what the journalist claims.

10-year-old daughter of a Fifa official received a £1.6 million payment for absolutely no reason from the Qatari group
Three Fifa executive members were flown to a party in Rio in a private jet belonging to the Qatari federation before the vote for 2018 and 2022 hosting rights.
The Aspire Academy in Qatar was implicated "in a decisive manner" in "the manipulation of Fifa members who had the right to vote".

None of this was detailed in the report that 'cleared' Qatar strangely enough.

Corrupt then, Corrupt now, tear it down. They had time to fix this and just went about continuing FIFA the way it's been run for the past two decades.

Everyone involved in the bidding process bar Russia and Qatar should be re-reimbursed in full by FIFA.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Sadly Adzii you . l and many others thought this at the time and nowt has changed sadly as yes both countries should have been stripped of being awarded it but alas that is never going to happen sadly as corruption still lives in the deep apparatus of FIFA and one suspects that is unlikely to change.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

England v Germany semi final U21s goes to penalties, who's your money on?

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

No contest Jim given previous history.;)

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And the final pen was missed by one of the most experienced players in the side.

TBH Germany much the better side over first 90 minutes.

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Yep no excuses as usual Jim.

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BBC are at it again. :erm:

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Fact don't you just love them.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

So its official now JT joins Villa on a 1 year deal

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Hopefully his on the field leadership can rub off on some of the misfits , malcontents and under performers.

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Oh dear. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40475647 :)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

l think that tells you sadly where Scottish football is currently.

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Also worth noting that a Mr Ashley pulled his plug on Rangers just recently. They really should have allowed him to take over. He could've easily bankrolled them a title to get back on track.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

What are the rules owning two clubs though?.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

TBH this Luxembourg side are no mugs, ranked just below four giants of the game in the Principality. :D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40501433

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

l thought you was going to say your own club for a moment there.;):D

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Receiving further reports that Newcastle have indeed had a £35 million bid for Bas Dost of Sporting rejected and Sporting are negotiating for a free close to £50 million.

The original source appears to be in Portugal but i have a hard time believing any of it. I know Newcastle wanted to make a statement but I think it's fairly evident that they'll be targeting players both domestic and in particular the Spanish top division. Of course Portugal are just next door but I still find it hard to believe the club that launched an audacious bid for Alexandre Lacazette over a season ago are willing to throw double that at Bas Dost.

In financial terms it's a deal that could wipe out a third of Newcastle's summer budget.

I also struggle to believe Sporting would dismiss £35 million in straight cash just like that. (Newcastle United refuse to do installment deals and pay up front - club policy)

2/10 for me. I'll eat my words of course if Bas Dost appears on Tyneside for £40 million but it just isn't Benitez. Conflicting reports suggest he's about to launch a £28 million bid for Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal which seems far more reasonable.

I don't think there will be massive spends at Newcastle until Benitez gets the players he wants rid of, out of the way first, freeing up sizable wage funds which allows for better deals all round of course.

After writing all of this I remember Mo Salah went to Liverpool for near £40 million. So yeah, well played to Liverpool who just inflated the value of above average foreign players to a premium.

This new found money now has no impact in the transfer market regarding the top 5 leagues in Europe. You could of course argue that's natural and expected but I didn't at all expect the supposed Glory of it all to be done with in a single season. Which brings me to my next problem. As we move onto £20 million being the normal cost for average players, the teams that had the spending power will have to go after other incentives to attract the above average, such as offering £80,000 a week until that of course also becomes normal practice and the average wage rises across the board.

So you want a player right and you enquire or submit an offer and they go yeah alright what to do you have in mind, you both know he's worth about £25 million by previous standards. You submit £20 million because you're stingy and the guy turns around and oggles that pile.of cash you're now sitting on and says £60 million or gtfo. You then have to settle for a deal on £40 million but note he's still pulled your pants down and had you. The more this happens, the more previous standards will become a relic and this will become the normal window.

This is just shock at how quick it's actually developing. We've seen it before. Alan Shearer's £15m transfer was termed as ludicrous. Ronaldo and £80 million was ludicrous but deals for Bale and Pogba are quickly showing that the elite will be going for those prices and Ronaldo level fee's are no longer exclusive to a Ronaldo or a Messi. So what does the next Ronaldo level player sell for? £200 million?

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

A good article Adzii apart from prices for average foreign players were already well inflated before Salah came to Liverpool as the other top premier league clubs will tell you as foreign clubs know the premiership is awash with money and will set their transfer prices accordingly as that is the market rate for even average foreign players as personally l would love to see more young players given a chance by then that is another discussion for another time.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Lukaku deal came a bit out of the blue ( haha from Everton and not to Chelski ) so really out of the blue. :)

Heard a few rumours, hopefully Wayne can be put out to pasture at Goodison shortly as well.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

So Sir Jim seems happy for once.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Liverpool was more satire than anything.

Man United have supposedly had a £75m deal for Lukaku accepted. 5 shy of Ronaldo to Madrid. So that's where we're at with money now. Mid and lower table clubs have had what you could consider a war chest for a season or two before it's quickly caught up and the money they have is merely a bigger figure with lower value all together now.

Lukaku I'd have expected near £50 million going back over. So if you throw in the market inflation you're going to deal at £75 million.

It's worth noting again that the value holds up way better outside of the transfer market and clubs should be looking at setting aside portions of money to improve other things ranging from away tickets being subsidised, stadium improvements and investments in their own academies.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

I'm always happy, it's only a game in spite what Bill Shankly said.:cool:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Agreed Den, the academies seem to be almost irrelevant these days.
As for Liverpool, they scare me every time they try to do business, wondering how they will manage to shoot themselves in the foot. However personally I think Salah will prove to be a good buy and if JK can pull a rabbit out of the hat to get VVD and Keita then I'll be very pleased (not to mention flabbergasted)..

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

l know.:)

---------- Post added at 14:10 ---------- Previous post was at 14:09 ----------

Yep l certainly agree with those sentiments.:tu:

---------- Post added at 14:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

:):)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Everton sources still denying a deal has been done.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

They would.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

They think its all over but alas it might not be..

https://www.theguardian.com/football...rton-agree-fee

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

RIP Bradley as you were so brave.:(

http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...le-with-cancer

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

devastating news RIP Bradley always be remembered

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Chelsea launch £75m Lukaku bid.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Doomed to failure as our wise sage Jim will tell us when he recovers from another night on the town.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Apparently Chelski are jibbing at the events fees,

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Adama Traore in talks with Newcastle after being ready to sign for Chelsea 2 weeks ago apparently. Not sure where he fits in with Hazard and Willian?

Expecting a swap deal Karl Darlow + cash for Traore, makes sense. What doesn't make sense is this isn't a priority position for us to by buying in. Atsu made a permanent move and we have Ritchie. I'd expect Atsu to be an impact sub in such a case.

Sporting quote £52 million for Bas Dost. Newcastle have made it clear they won't be going any higher than £40 million. Is a worrying figure for me regardless. I'd call this one a dud now. If anything I'd tip Everton for that signing as it stands.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Well they will have a few coppers to spare soon. ;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Well they will spend a little bit of that on your elderly old boy.:)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

No chance, he will go on a free with a multi million pay out from United in his pocket, United will more than likely pay some of his much reduced wages at Everton, still cheaper than paying him until the end of his contract.

Have a good holiday BTW Den. :cool:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Lukaku deal now confirmed on Uniteds web site subject to medical and terms, after the Essien and Obi Mikel episodes it is nice to put one on Chelski no matter how the move eventually pans out.:)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

I wonder how much Everton are asking for this young prospect?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40602174

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

A few coppers perhaps.;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Jacob Murphy set to sign for Newcastle. £12m

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

A bit of bad planning, one of my nieces is getting married in November in Stafford. The same day that Man Utd are at home to Newcastle so I will be unable to be at OT that day.

The whole family spent some time living in the North East and one of her brothers became a Toon fan and remains one to this day even though he now lives down in Cornwall. Hopefully I will have occasion to give him some stick on the day. :D

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Never a dull affair between Newcastle and Man United. Although I tend to be on the receiving end of the disappointing result more frequently.

Sheyi Ojo seems to be the signing after Jacob Murphy. Which would leave the club with 5 wingers. Incoming rotation policy...

Also worth noting Tim Krul was essentially transfer listed and Newcastle continue to pursue Pepe Reina (Under bid from Man City) and other keeper targets after presumably failing to sign Joe Hart (Unsure if the interest was real) who has now moved to West Ham. I think the actual favourite at this point and most likely signing is Kiko Casilla of Madrid.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Yep, usually good entertainment when Newcastle visit. I have told my niece that I will be wearing my United beanie hat and scarf throughout the wedding.:)

I did set a precedent at my own daughters wedding a couple of years ago. ;)

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Newcastle sign Javier Manquillo ahead of Sevilla. Seems to be another depth addition.

I swear you could only register 25 players. Benitez must know something I don't regarding a potential clean out of players here.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Is he worth it?.

---------- Post added at 19:52 ---------- Previous post was at 19:51 ----------

He was rubbish at our club.:td:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Hammer of the Scots.:cool:

Scottish defence very poor but some well taken goals all the same.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40662983

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Knew about this a few days ago but thought it was just blowing smoke. Seems it's actually happening. Neymar to PSG for £195 million.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Mindboggling..:shocked:

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

Seems Jack Wilshere will be subject to £20m bids from West Ham, Swansea and Newcastle. I'd imagine West Ham would be the favourite choice of the three.

Mitrovic has been transfer listed by Newcastle and a price is set at £16 million. Comes after Newcastle officially start their striker search and hope to smash their transfer record whilst still having too many players around the first team setup. I like Mitrovic, the guy just needs time, has the physicality of Ibrahimovic, has decent finishing but is just devoid of confidence, the guys still only 22 though. He'll run absolutely rampant at a European club. If Lyon take him it'll be a great signing for them. At the end of the day though, Benitez is a world class manager who has defined playing styles suited to players he identifies and already has st his disposal. The point being is Mitrovic doesn't fit that style.

Players like Ayoze Perez are far more favourable for Benitez. Players with flair and finesse. It makes sense Benitez would want a striker that could work better with Perez.

Re: Football Season 2017/2018
 

£20 million for a wasted talent who is never fit...

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Off topic but what has happened to the cricket thread, why has it been closed.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Read the sticky thread.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Nemanja Matic pictured in United training gear ahead of move.

Transfer story: http://www.skysports.com/football/ne...-nemanja-matic

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Quite surprised they are letting him move to United personally.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Not even sure they need him, the young Brazilian Pereira has looked very good in all the pre season games so far. Although he is more of an attacking midfielder than Matic TBH.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It is a surprise, he's one of if not the best holding midfielder in the league, his stats are phenomenal. Bit like Mata's before he was shoved out by Mourinho at Chelsea despite being the best Attacking mid in the league at the time. Given his position and his movement, you'll easily get 5 years out of him. It's a solid signing and along with Lukaku it makes a statement of intent on United's part.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Given Carricks age I suppose it makes sense to buy Matic and will give Pogba more freedom. The squad is just a little bloated ATM.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

In other news

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well its official now but as I suspected his stats have declined in recent seasons, so much so that Herrara and even carthorse Fellaini have better records from last season. :shocked:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40781406