The Footie Thread

[Lord Tyrion]

@Tashyboy there are no tournaments this summer, will your lads get a good rest or are there things happening that I don't know about? As has been said, you look flat this year and a good few players would do well to get a good holiday and a rest, mentally as well as physically. Get that 2-3% of sharpness back and you will be a different team next season. (oh, if you want Branthwaite for £120m we might take your phone call )

 

[Orikoru]

The age the guys are at, who or what team do you compare them to? They have been at the top of there game for years and years and not just playing for City but international. Rodri stated they were expected to play to much football and then he is injured.
Citys team at the weekend was the second youngest starting 11 Pep has started yet it had KDB and Ederson in.
Rodri who was player of the year has been a massive miss but the defence predominantly centre half’s have been hammered. Who was the natural player to drop in for Rodri. Stones who has spent most of the season injured.
So let’s say for arguements sake you are right. We have had only one injury and the team is not old. Why are City rammel this season. It’s not loss of form. The energy has gone from that team. Most of the senior players contracts either finish the end of This season, 26 or 27. It makes sense to let them go now.

Players of today are athletes. In my youth retirement age of pros was probably 33-34, but nowadays you have players at the top level still at 35-36. Granted they are playing more matches than ever now, but I still felt calling them 'ageing' at 30-31 was pushing it somewhat. And it's not like City can't afford to have two top players for every position in the team - that's been one of their biggest advantages over the years.

I think maybe the last two years' recruitment hasn't quite been as good as it was previously, so they've been left a little bit lacking. Doku for example just looks a bit of a speed merchant, rather than a player of Mahrez's ability and creativity. Have discussed it before as well, but no viable alternative to Rodri in the squad at all. Cancelo I thought was world class for a while, but who was his replacement? Rico Lewis?

Aside from that, it's just so difficult to sustain a period of domination anyway, football is cyclical. Even in United's heyday they had seasons where they dropped off and finished 3rd - which is probably where you'll end up. A few (better) reinforcements and renewed energy - and get Rodri back - probably be competing again next season. Could just be a blip brought on by the 115 charges looming and missing Rodri. People love a kneejerk reaction in football, but City aren't finished are they?

 

[Swango1980]

@Tashyboy there are no tournaments this summer, will your lads get a good rest or are there things happening that I don't know about? As has been said, you look flat this year and a good few players would do well to get a good holiday and a rest, mentally as well as physically. Get that 2-3% of sharpness back and you will be a different team next season. (oh, if you want Branthwaite for £120m we might take your phone call )

I reckon the youth squad will be away at the FIFA World Club Cup

 

[Tashyboy]

@Tashyboy there are no tournaments this summer, will your lads get a good rest or are there things happening that I don't know about? As has been said, you look flat this year and a good few players would do well to get a good holiday and a rest, mentally as well as physically. Get that 2-3% of sharpness back and you will be a different team next season. (oh, if you want Branthwaite for £120m we might take your phone call )

If anything it’s probably the worst summer of all. The world club championships are in June and July, so every player will be away. I would of like to see KDB there for one last swaree.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I reckon the youth squad will be away at the FIFA World Club Cup

Not the big boys though.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If anything it’s probably the worst summer of all. The world club championships are in June and July, so every player will be away. I would of like to see KDB there for one last swaree.

Absolute Mickey Mouse tournament as well. Pick all of the players you are going to sell in the summer, tell the others to have a break

 

[Tashyboy]

Absolute Mickey Mouse tournament as well. Pick all of the players you are going to sell in the summer, tell the others to have a break

Ave a feeling we will go for it just for being the only team in the championship in the finals.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

The game is full of players in their 30’s still playing to a high level - we have two of them , and they have been and continue to play at the very highest level even in their mid 30’s

If someone 29/30 has lost their energy maybe it’s a motivation issue as opposed to a physical issues

Someone 29/30 should still be playing in their prime

Teams do need refreshing regularly but city have spent £100mil each summer bringing in new faces over the last 4 years

Even Pep hasn’t been himself this year and has seemed flat a lot of times

I think that is pprobably down to him and his Mrs seperating.
Overall though, I think Pep has done exactly what Klopp did and was critisised for and that is being too loyal to players and not refreshing the squad when he should have done.
Now its a case of is Pep going to rebuild for his next group of years or is he going to start rebuilding for the next manager?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Absolute Mickey Mouse tournament as well. Pick all of the players you are going to sell in the summer, tell the others to have a break

It’s joke of a tournament and typical of the issues between FIFA and UEFA

But lots of money for the clubs

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I think that is pprobably down to him and his Mrs seperating.
Overall though, I think Pep has done exactly what Klopp did and was critisised for and that is being too loyal to players and not refreshing the squad when he should have done.
Now its a case of is Pep going to rebuild for his next group of years or is he going to start rebuilding for the next manager?

Seems that him and his wife have been living separately for the last 5 years since she moved back to Barcelona

The football they play is very intense and it’s prob a mental thing as they have been right at the highest level for 4/5 years and it’s why Klopp left - it’s stressful and it’s better to walk away before it gets too much

I expected this to be Pep’s last season and then take a break like Klopp

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Seems that him and his wife have been living separately for the last 5 years since she moved back to Barcelona

The football they play is very intense and it’s prob a mental thing as they have been right at the highest level for 4/5 years and it’s why Klopp left - it’s stressful and it’s better to walk away before it gets too much

I expected this to be Pep’s last season and then take a break like Klopp

They may have been, but from what I read earlier this season the seperation is much more serious and not just a convenience thing for their respective jobs.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Let them eat fruit: Manchester United close staff canteen in latest cost-cutting

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to close the staff canteen at Old Trafford and replace the free lunches currently on offer with fruit

www.theguardian.com

What ?!!

 

[Orikoru]

Let them eat fruit: Manchester United close staff canteen in latest cost-cutting

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to close the staff canteen at Old Trafford and replace the free lunches currently on offer with fruit

www.theguardian.com

What ?!!

These stories are so daft, you would think they were about to go into administration.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Man Utd redundancies: Up to 200 staff to be made redundant

After 250 members of staff were made redundant last year, Manchester United announce up to 200 more redundancies to "return the club to profitability".

www.bbc.co.uk

They can afford to pay £300k a week for a has been to warm the bench but not keep the staff of the club?
I think the Glazers are playing a blinder here, and I cannot believe Ratcliffe is that blind to it all.

 

[Swango1980]

Man Utd redundancies: Up to 200 staff to be made redundant

After 250 members of staff were made redundant last year, Manchester United announce up to 200 more redundancies to "return the club to profitability".

www.bbc.co.uk

They can afford to pay £300k a week for a has been to warm the bench but not keep the staff of the club?
I think the Glazers are playing a blinder here, and I cannot believe Ratcliffe is that blind to it all.

I don't think they can. They just can't get rid of him

 

[Slime]

Defensively we've had one injury after another and seldom a settled centre back pairing. We looked a bit better with Stones back and now he, and Akanji, are out long term. Plus the current loss of Haaland - not sure how long for. Oscar Bobb. Grealish has been in and out with niggles.

Not excuses, facts. I agree with Tashy about the ageing squad. We're talking players who have spent 5 years at the very top of their game, playing lots of games, lots of high pressure games. Not sure those in their 30's can sustain that.

Sounds like United for the last season and a half.
Crap happens, it's just extra debilitating when they are players who play the same position.

 

[AmandaJR]

Sounds like United for the last season and a half.
Crap happens, it's just extra debilitating when they are players who play the same position.

100%. The teams that are light on injuries are going to do well. It's just how it is. We can blame success and a heavy workload though

Sorry - couldn't resist!

 

[AmandaJR]

https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Injuries have played a key part in many teams over the years , always tough when you lose big key players

Some teams have a bit more strength in depth than others and can cope a bit better with injuries

 

[Bunkermagnet]

So if injuries are a concern, why the complaining when the PLP teams play a team with more younger or squad players in dueing the early rounds of cup comps?
Isn't that just trying to manage their squad?