This is the sort of statement signing we desperately need! Not some over the hill former galactico; we need a world class player that everyone admires and is developing into their prime years! Other stars will take note and want to join the 'project' too! I'm thinking the likes of Sancho, Felix etc! Fingers crossed!!!!
Matthijs de Ligt / signs for Juventus, lowering their average age to 56
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
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Are centre backs ever "catalyst transfers"?
Genuine question, as forwards seem to be the ones who genuinely change the direction of top clubs.
If we've had scouts looking at this dude for years why are we only trying to get him now if he's a once in a generation talent? My arse. Either we've not had scouts looking at him or our scouts are shite and about as useful as the average fan since we're only looking at him now.
Van dijk did literally this only a year ago
Dunno about catalyst, but Rio was the first signing (i.e. non homegrown player) that would go on to be a part of the 2008 side.
I don't think I need a crystal ball to say a 19 year old player has his whole career ahead of him. It's just the truth, unless he dies or quits football for medical or personal reasons, all of which are very unlikely.
Well thanks for being rude but the scout was Derek Langley who was at the club 16 years, far from a mid level scout. He talked about talking to Woodward and identifying de Jong and de ligt and the club not acting on it. The same scout brought the likes of chong to the club. He called Woodward up and told him he didn't believe in the competency of the staff at club as they didn't listen to his recommendations. He also recommended upamencano to the club.
He's improved them immeasurably. Still not won anything yet and it's hardly Cantona-esque. Good call though.
I think it's harder for CBs to be catalyst transfers because it usually takes some time for them to mature and become leaders in the pitch and the dressing room. But think about Sergio Ramos. He took his time to develop but in his prime he was integral in helping his team win four Champions League trophies.
In a team with dire need of fresh blood, solid defending, and leadership, hell yes MdL would be a catalyst.
You could argue Van Dijk has been for Liverpool.
It willRise above it my man, our faith will be rewarded
Let’s hope that continues, got a feeling this excuse won’t last tomorrow though!
Which one?
Every other scout in the world is shit too then. In the last year De Ligt has gone from ‘prospect’ to ‘real deal.’ Instead of spunking a big fee on a possibility, we will be spunking a massive fee on a dead cert.
You could, but I'm not going to, as it totally contradicts my post!
See, he's a great example of how a top CB can complement what's already there but I still wouldn't describe him as a catalyst. A massive improvement? Yes. A catalyst? Not really. He's not changed the trajectory of the club. Klopp is the catalyst.
And yes, I will regret this post within the next 26 hours.
Circle of Life because not the Life of Brian.
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Some of you doubters are bloody miserable, come aboard the hype train! We're signing Matthijs fecking de Ligt!!!
Well he’d definitely be a ‘catalyst’ for change. Would make a major statement in the market and perhaps make other transfer targets view us as a lot more attractive. At least I think that’s what the poster meant - and he’d be right. Still think it’s unlikely to happen but we are absolutely right to give it our best shot imo.
He could be a catalyst for our rebuild not our immediate successs. In the sense that I dont think he is a pushover and he would help us attract others at a time when are not looking the safest destination. However he would just be a piece of the puzzle because we still have lots to build. We need loads of changes. 4 or 5 quality additions. New tactics. New mentality.
I mean we use to have Van De Sar, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Rooney, Roni, Tevez..... there is no player as good as any of those in any position apart from perhaps DDG but I personally dont remember Van De Sar going thru the poor spell David is currently having. So no we dont fundamentally shift things by acquiring a 19 year old defender but he could certainly be one of the key pieces. Long way to go.
And what if he wasn't ready for a move then?
This is a big factor, which I think is being overlooked.
Imagine if a woman chose you over some handsome movie star. The other women would be very intrigued and curious about what makes you so attractive.
It's not different with football and players
I’m slightly confident. But if De Ligt was as straight forward and no nonsense in his personality as we want on the pitch, wouldn’t he just come out and say what’s going on?
I know his contract might suffer with negotiations etc but the type of player we are hoping for, surely he would just let us know - no nonsense?
That is assuming contact negotiations take this long and he is told not to announce where he is going.
God I know nothing
I know his contract might suffer with negotiations etc but the type of player we are hoping for, surely he would just let us know - no nonsense?
That is assuming contact negotiations take this long and he is told not to announce where he is going.
God I know nothing
I know the feeling. My girlfriend's friends are intrigued, and my girlfriend is questioning her decision.This is a big factor, which I think is being overlooked.
Imagine if a woman chose you over some handsome movie star. The other women would be very intrigued and curious about what makes you so attractive.
It's not different with football and players
Man of mystery.
He’ll go to city. Maguire a smokescreen
It's all hypothetical, so it's a moot point really.
We said this with di Maria, Pogba and Sanchez. There's no single catalyst until the club is well managed on and off the pitch.
We might've said it with Pogba, because we've been desperate for a quality midfielder since Keane/Scholes, but we didnt say it with the other two, mostly because we weren't planning on building the team around them anyways.
Oddschecker odds have changed today.
Barca gone from 8/15 to evens.
We've gone from 3/1 to 2/1.
News or bets?
Barca gone from 8/15 to evens.
We've gone from 3/1 to 2/1.
News or bets?
Pretty sure everyone was up in the air about getting a potential ballon d'Or and a world class player in Di Maria.
Bets I would say
He'd be one super confident player to come to us with a view to moving to Barcelona in a few years!
No guarantees in this game. Although the Woodward wad would no doubt help.
No guarantees in this game. Although the Woodward wad would no doubt help.
Of course everyone was excited since it was a marquee transfer, but i also remember alot of people including myself wondering how we were going to use him. His best days was being a winger, but we were desperate for a central midfielder. Anyways I get the caution some people still have about big money transfers, but its hard to see how this kid can be a bust. He's top tier talent for sure, with the heart and determination to go with it.
Ofcourse he is a talent but I'd worry more about the club fecking up his development than him impacting the club.
He is obviously a cracking young player and has leadership abilities too and we desperately need a good centre back as we havent had one since Rio/Vidic......BUT, people are going a bit overboard about the effect he has on our side signing him, as we need several such signings, this is where I totally agree with you. We really need a signing like this early in the window as a catalyst short term for this window.
Lets be honest, as big a club as we are, we arent really an exciting proposition at this moment football wise for top players and no matter how good he becomes, signing the likes of Daniel James isnt something to excite other players but if we were to sign a couple of players like a Felix or DeLigt, it shows real ambition and could make the difference in other deals
News or bets? This your first transfer window?
Squeaky bum time for Balague?
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