The (Un) Official Football thread

[Matty_the_Emo_Slayer]

Living within our means? You're forgeting United have a gross revenue of over half a billion a year. £87m is a drop in the ocean for us. We can afford to be flippant with transfers, though I admit the club's made far too many mistakes in the transfer window in recent years and that's something that's being cracked down on. See the buy-back clause in Memphis Depay's contract at Lyon for example- we'll never have to pay over the odds to get our own player back again. The last of Van Gaal's flops like Darmian and Shaw will be jettisoned this Summer too and I can't see Jose making any stupid purchases like he did.

Also if you don't think Pogba is worth £89m go watch his last performance against City. He is almost there, he just needs a little more consistency week to week and a definitive role with our tactical set-up.

And last of all, stop using the word "success" in the same sentence as Tottenham Hotspurs. When you win something and actually join the big boys, then you can use it.

[Haldamir319]

World Cup squad is being announced today, I believe. Already reported that Hart and Wilshere are out of the squad (which I am happy about).

I am actually quietly looking forward to this WC. I don't think we'll win, but I think we have a team / system that has the potential to beat anyone on the day.

[Gandalf the Red]

Allardyce sacked.

Rumours were already flying about Moyes returning and now Moyes has left West Ham....

[houston4044]

And United buying trophies? Not a chance.

£87m is a drop in the ocean for us. We can afford to be flippant with transfers,

Glad to see you say it yourself

I am actually quietly looking forward to this WC. I don't think we'll win, but I think we have a team / system that has the potential to beat anyone on the day.

Wish I had your level of optimism, when it comes to tournaments proper we have a knack for going to pot.

Allardyce sacked.

Rumours were already flying about Moyes returning and now Moyes has left West Ham....

I don't get the hate for either Moyes or Allardyce by their now ex-teams' fans, they both succeeded in hitting their targets; yeah it wasn't attractive football but they kept both teams away from relegation which would of been the priority by the time they were brought in. It wasn't like either were going to be long term managers.

[kurrupo]

I don't get the hate for either Moyes or Allardyce by their now ex-teams' fans, they both succeeded in hitting their targets; yeah it wasn't attractive football but they kept both teams away from relegation which would of been the priority by the time they were brought in. It wasn't like either were going to be long term managers.

It's something I didn't understand either until having to suffer 2 seasons of Pulis at West brom. At first you accept the rubbish football because it gets results, but lose a few games on the bounce and it really starts eating away at you. Slowly Pulis was destroying my love for football, I genuinely stopped looking forward to games and most of the time wished I was at home doing something else. I said at the time I'd rather be relegated than have to watch any more of it, and I still stand by that even after relegation.

It's something that you can't really properly 'get' until you watch that brand of football week in, week out, whilst parting with your hard earned money for the privilege. Wouldn't wish it on any team to be honest

[houston4044]

True, I would resent paying to watch that kind of football myself but I'm still kind of torn. As a fire fighting job to salvage a season to start afresh the next I guess I would accept it, it's better to start anew in the same league than have to rejiggle the whole set up for a season (at least) in the championship and get promoted back to square one. But I guess my whole argument rests on the assumption that the successor starts playing more attractive football in the long term.

Speaking of West Brom, good to see them giving Moore the job permanently, he did well in the short space of time he was given, just unfortunate he came too late in the season to make a great escape possible

[kurrupo]

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from. Don't get me wrong, when pulis first took over 2 seasons back I thought it was correct appointment in the short term to steady the ship. Our biggest problem was keeping him past the end of the 16/17 season after not winning a game for 3 months. I'm really happy with Moore bring appointed though, we need some fresh ideas from a young manager instead of constantly sticking with the 'experienced' old guard

[houston4044]

Well that was a boring cup final, picked up a bit in the second half but wasn't the most entertaining game.

Also, Lambert sacked from Stoke

[Tet]

[Haldamir319]

Final World Cup warm up game for England tonight. Looks like we are playing Butland in goal and giving Alexander-Arnold his debut. I'll be interested to see how we do - Costa Rica are no mugs these days.

[houston4044]

Drew Serbia at my workplace's sweepstakes, don't even think I'll get my stake back by making it out of the group stage

[Black Wizard]

Gearing up for the World Cup.

[houston4044]

Gearing up for the World Cup.

Apparently if you're part of the Spanish team that involves sacking your manager at the last minute...

New manager bounce going into the WC, seems the premier league is more influential than we thought.

[houston4044]

Saudi Arabia remind me of someone whose never played FIFA before but is trying to learn the controls. Would make Wenger proud though, they only once tried to actually shoot and spent the rest of the time trying to pass it into the goal

[Haldamir319]

I was amazed at the Saudi's lack of attacking movement. It was like they were used to just passing it around until a defender makes a mistake.

Fair play to Russia though, they might have been the lowest ranked team in the comp (lol, Fifa rankings), but they played a solid game and were clinical in front of goal.