Erling Haaland

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Why do they employ Agents at all?
They‘re utterly pointless. Didn’t Scholes just use an accountant and Keane a Lawyer with contracts?
Get rid of the Agent and they aren’t leeching huge sums of money off them either.

how many big money moves did Scholes make? Keane made a big money move in 1993 - that’s nearly 30 years ago. Keane also threatened to leave, Bayern if I remember correctly, and got a bumper contract. Different process, same type of result

unsurprisingly things move on...

90% of £200k per week is better than 100% of £150k per week. Easy to see the value of agents to players.

 

[RUCK4444]

I think it's certain characters which are drawn to him. Mainly the "billy big bollocks" type, which Raiola's attitude reflects. Haaland very much is this type of player.

I rate Haaland as a player but, to me, I find him really dislikeable, plus he has the most punchable face I've ever seen.

Totally agree - on the bolded I posted almost identical sentence months back

He seems a total arrogant fecker and definitely the most punchable face in recent memory. It’s like a big putty filled garbage pale kid (remember that weird film, don’t google it, it will give you nightmares, but he’s one of them.)

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

He did apparently offer Pogba to them.

exactly. Money talks.

Not possibly getting the best striker the next 5 years which could make us into real title challengers because of who his agent is sounds like a sensible decision :/

You have to deal with agents. It’s possible not to, and is just a reality of buying top players. Footballers are a scarce resource, can’t cut your nose off despite your face.

 

[George the Cat]

how many big money moves did Scholes make? Keane made a big money move in 1993 - that’s nearly 30 years ago. Keane also threatened to leave, Bayern if I remember correctly, and got a bumper contract. Different process, same type of result

unsurprisingly things move on...

90% of £200k per week is better than 100% of £150k per week. Easy to see the value of agents to players.

That’s nonsense. So you’re saying if Harland moved he’d get 50k a week less simply because he didnt have an Agent? Utter bullshit. They’re leeches of no value whatsoever.

 

[cyberman]

world class player wants world class agent, and Haaland knows he usually gets exactly what the player wants.

lots of bluster gets said, but I don’t seriously think he wouldn’t do a deal with City.

I dunno. The hate isnt one way.


I’m surprised because I am a dog. He wants his players to come to here. So, no. No way.

Thats a Pep quote. It just doesnt line up for me.

 

[Adam-Utd]

If people think Haaland won't come here because of his Dad, Pep and Raiola hate eachother probably even more.

 

[pocco]

Not possibly getting the best striker the next 5 years which could make us into real title challengers because of who his agent is sounds like a sensible decision :/

I don't see it that way. If we want strikers, there are other options. Plus we have Greenwood, who I think would also look impressive playing CF every week in Bundesliga.

Besides, Haaland alone won't make us title challengers.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

That’s nonsense. So you’re saying if Harland moved he’d get 50k a week less simply because he didnt have an Agent? Utter bullshit. They’re leeches of no value whatsoever.

yes. not actual figures obviously, as they were indicative.

you don’t think agents have pushed up player wages?

You are being extremely naive. If there was no value to a player, then why do 99% of players have an agent? Because they like giving money away?

agents/ finders fees/ referrals are a part of everyday business practices. They have expertise that players simply do not have. Including market knowledge and negotiation of salary packages.

 

[Svartzonker]

People on here saying that Ole worked with him at Molde and is Norwegian- this makes no difference.

With all due respect: you don’t know that. I agree with the first part of your message.

 

[groovyalbert]

So are you just speculating that it's hit United badly and we can no longer compete in a post covid market then?

Based on what James Cooper reported yesterday, and the way in which we are structured/run financially, yes - I think it's safe to assume Utd have been hit worse than the likes of City and Chelsea.

Not saying we can't compete as we're still a very attractive option, but financially we're less capable of matching these clubs than we were pre-Covid.

FFP - or the lack of - has given license to both City and Chelsea to operate more freely, and we will feel the impact of loss of match day revenue (£4.5m per game for Utd) and lack of CL latter-stage fees more readily.

We've had to take out a loan to cover our running costs recently, and were struggling to match the fees being demanded by the likes of Sancho a year ago. I don't see how we'll suddenly be in a position to do so this summer after another year of economic depravity, especially when our rivals are able to match higher price valuations for the best players around.

Last summer Chelsea massively exploited the gaps in the market, and I expect them and City to do so again this time around.

The Glazers could decide to take a gamble and do something similar, but everything about how they're rebuilding/got stung by offering ridiculous fees and wages in the past to utter garbage would indicate to me that they won't this time around.

 

[lefty_jakobz]

Doubt hes going anywhere this year, and most likely will end up in La Liga next year probably RM.

 

[romufc]

Based on what James Cooper reported yesterday, and the way in which we are structured/run financially, yes - I think it's safe to assume Utd have been hit worse than the likes of City and Chelsea.

Not saying we can't compete as we're still a very attractive option, but financially we're less capable of matching these clubs than we were pre-Covid.

FFP - or the lack of - has given license to both City and Chelsea to operate more freely, and we will feel the impact of loss of match day revenue (£4.5m per game for Utd) and lack of CL latter-stage fees more readily.

We've had to take out a loan to cover our running costs recently, and were struggling to match the fees being demanded by the likes of Sancho a year ago. I don't see how we'll suddenly be in a position to do so this summer after another year of economic depravity, especially when our rivals are able to match higher price valuations for the best players around.

Last summer Chelsea massively exploited the gaps in the market, and I expect them and City to do so again this time around.

The Glazers could decide to take a gamble and do something similar, but everything about how they're rebuilding/got stung by offering ridiculous fees and wages in the past to utter garbage would indicate to me that they won't this time around.

This is the biggest difference on how the clubs are run.

Chelsea / City owners crave success, they will invest in the playing squad from their pockets.

Manutd rely on profit / turnover to spend money which makes it hard to compete in a covid environment.

I can see Chelsea / City spending £100/150m and United only affording a £70m transfer window.

At the end of the day, that might be the difference in winning the league or battling top 4 unfortunately.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

After the drama his agent caused, I don't know how people can still want him here.

 

[Infra-red]

If people think Haaland won't come here because of his Dad, Pep and Raiola hate eachother probably even more.

None of that will matter.

The reason he is unlikely to come here is because of the competition for the player - we'd be up against clubs with greater financial resources, places where the player stands a realistic chance of challenging for the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.

 

[hungrywing]

We failed to get him and Bellingham over the line and they both chose BVB.

Absolute incompetence from us.

Our owners are the Glazers
Our CEO is Ed Woodward

Get used to this for decades.

Remember

Rio is the best CB in a generation, young, with years ahead of him.

We sign him

Rooney is a generational teenager

We sign him

Ronaldo, a (at the time) slightly under the radar talent who ends up being one of the best ever

We sign him

Nowadays we get the likes of Daniel James, Fred and Martial and that’s what we are going to be stuck with

It's disheartening that this thread isn't overflowing with posts pointing this out.

Even sadder that there are posts about 'pay whatever it takes' and 'get him no matter the cost' etc etc.

We could have gotten him for 18m scarcely a year ago. Even sadder yet being the derp-derp-but-the-release-clause-derp-derp-a-derp-ery that went on back then.

Many posters explained how to deal with that - also, if Woodward weren't in charge, the release clause issue would not have existed in the first place.

From time to time we see posters making fun of the Chevrolet guy who got sacked for making our sponsorship deal.

The irony being that we have someone far far worse at our club. Wake the f*ck up, sheeple.

 

[theklr]

We could have gotten him for 18m scarcely a year ago. Even sadder yet being the derp-derp-but-the-release-clause-derp-derp-a-derp-ery that went on back then.

Many posters explained how to deal with that - also, if Woodward weren't in charge, the release clause issue would not have existed in the first place.

The release clause issue might be true, but it is so annoying that many of you are stating it as a fact that we could have had him if we wanted too. It might be the truth, but noone really knows for sure except the few people directly.

All the reliable norwegian sources close to his family and Haaland himself said that he would choose the club that was best for his development, and that they in the end felt that Dortmund was that club, just like Bellingham did.

I mean the guy chose RB Salzburg over Juventus the last time around.

Even Raiola just said that they thought the other clubs involved was too big a step back then.

 

[croadyman]

Still unsure about whether I want him.
I mean, he's a fecking great player but the team is going to face a lot of the same problems it did with Lukaku.
I think we need a more all rounder and a player great with his back to goal. Haaland wants to play on the last line.
This team does not create nearly enough to support that kind of striker.
Prime Benzema would have been a great option to have.

The not creating enough issue definitely seems to get lost on some people but it's clear as day

 

[croadyman]

For anyone who thinks there's even the slightest chance of Haaland coming here, you need to have your head checked. That's regardless of Aguero leaving City or not.

We simply don't have the cash to be in for the biggest signings right now. It's clear that the pandemic has hit some clubs harder than others, and of the "big" clubs, we're probably one of hardest hit.

Only City or Chelsea will be able to get him if he's to come to the Premier League. We've literally just had to take out a loan to off-set our expenses. And if Ole was as big a pull as some hope, he'd have joined a few years ago.

Yeah not a prayer of signing of him and if last summer COVID hit our finances then this summer it has decimated them

 

[Dave Smith]

City it is.

 

[Harry190]

Raiola is basically the Harvey Weinstein of football, pre-downfall.

 

[Dr. Dwayne]

Raiola is basically the Harvey Weinstein of football, pre-downfall.

Great. Now I can't unsee Raiola welcoming Ed Woodward into his hotel room wearing an open bathrobe.

 

[red_de_pologne]

don't think he's moving anywhere this summer. City actually have a strategy, they don't spend more than ~60 mil on one player, I hope he doesn't want to go to Chelsea, it makes more sense for him to wait a year and have a pick of any top club in Europe once the clause kicks in.

 

[hungrywing]

Raiola is basically the Harvey Weinstein of football, pre-downfall.

When it comes to Woodblurp, the implied metaphor here is actually very very very very accurate.

Great. Now I can't unsee Raiola welcoming Ed Woodward into his hotel room wearing an open bathrobe.

This is more apt than one might realize.

 

[croadyman]

It’s incredible how this jumped up fecking idiot can talk about clubs like this and footballers still feel the need to employ him.

I’ve said it a million times, any player with half a brain doesn’t need these leaches.

If clubs got together and collectively agreed to exclude doing business with Raiola he would be fecked overnight. That’s what they should do. It would only take 3 or 4 top sides to ban him and the majority of big name players would avoid him.

Would love to think that could become a reality but with the quality of his clients it looks highly unlikely

 

[croadyman]

What i see is, we will buy Sancho and Erling will stay with BVB for another year. City and Pep will probably buy another striker from La Liga as Aguero’s replacement. It’ll be between us, Real and likely Chelsea at a push (if Werner flops) in 2022 for Haaland

Still think the Sancho boat sailed last summer but really hope I am totally wrong on that one, however IF it was still possible then we really need to do it before the Euros where his price would fly up with a good tournament

 

[Matriac]

Two matches without goals on the national team now. Do not want.

Three matches without goals on the national team now. Do not want.

 

[RUCK4444]

Would love to think that could become a reality but with the quality of his clients it looks highly unlikely

Yeah but the moment you limit players options, particularly big clubs like United and others who pay some of the biggest wages around, you watch this leaches b@llox shrink...

 

[red thru&thru]

Amazing to see the hate in here for Raiola.

 

[Matriac]

Amazing to see the hate in here for Raiola.

To me it just feels like there's a lot of insecure people on here.
In this day and age with so many clubs who can offer premium salary, there's very few players who will proclaim undying love to a club anymore.

How many "normal" people stay working at the same company for more than 5 years these days?

An agent will create ruckus cause that's his job. And as a club you'd be encouraged to keep him/the player happy to limit PR drama. But you also won't give them everything they ask for. So you accept some BS articles, cause the only ones who read them all are the super hardcore fans.

The club has handled Raiola decently, Ole has handled him expertedly. Raiola would love to bring any of his clients here. Cause he and them gets paid real well.

 

[Ali Dia]

The only thing that’ll stop us signing Haaland is the fee. It has nothing to do with who his agent is or what his personality is like. It’s all down to money.

 

[Redlyn]

"Maybe I was too careful” – Raiola offers insight into Haaland’s transfer decision

"Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule.

Maybe I was too careful when I said, ‘Oh no, let’s move to Dortmund instead of I-don’t-know-where".

Raiola basically said Dortmund is a stepping stone. Their fans are going to love that.

 

[copen1945]

"Maybe I was too careful” – Raiola offers insight into Haaland’s transfer decision

"Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule.

Maybe I was too careful when I said, ‘Oh no, let’s move to Dortmund instead of I-don’t-know-where".

Raiola basically said Dortmund is a stepping stone. Their fans are going to love that.

Haaland isn't staying at Dortmund. Hopefully, the finances are in order, so that United can move on this transfer.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

"Maybe I was too careful” – Raiola offers insight into Haaland’s transfer decision

"Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule.

Maybe I was too careful when I said, ‘Oh no, let’s move to Dortmund instead of I-don’t-know-where".

Raiola basically said Dortmund is a stepping stone. Their fans are going to love that.

In which they are.

 

[Redlyn]

In which they are.

Of which, you mean. True, but no big club wants to actually hear that.

 

[Pow]

"Maybe I was too careful” – Raiola offers insight into Haaland’s transfer decision

"Haaland is in front of his own development. He is ahead of his own schedule.

Maybe I was too careful when I said, ‘Oh no, let’s move to Dortmund instead of I-don’t-know-where".

Raiola basically said Dortmund is a stepping stone. Their fans are going to love that.

Hes already outgrown them.

 

[JoeyJoJoJrShabadoo]

Amazing to see the hate in here for Raiola.

Hes a gobshite

 

[tjb]

I think he's class, but I don't think he's worth the fee that would be demanded. Teams win championships, not individual players, and as of right now, Mbappe may be the only 100m plus player that has actually been worth the transfer. Even Neymar, who is a top3 player in the world, isn't worth the move based on output.

I'm also weary because of the bundesliga and the famous high lines teams play there. He may be looking better than he actually is, in the same way that Pogba did in Serie A. For the money and how many players we could spend on, his asking price will be too steep.

 

[FatTails]

Some of the attitude and entitlement in this thread is weird, to say the least. Good for Dortmund.

If the megarich clubs are shit at developing their own talent, scouting talent early in its development, or taking risks on young transfers that need to be developed, then they should be paying a premium when clubs like Dortmund are taking on more of the risk and the development.

We are under no obligation to buy here and we can simply wait till next year when his release clause kicks in. Although you’d have to factor in higher wages then (if he has another great year), probably a big signing bonus, and a nice bonus to his agent as a sweetener if we are hoping to pip other clubs to his signature.

 

[passing-wind]

I think he's class, but I don't think he's worth the fee that would be demanded. Teams win championships, not individual players, and as of right now, Mbappe may be the only 100m plus player that has actually been worth the transfer. Even Neymar, who is a top3 player in the world, isn't worth the move based on output.

I'm also weary because of the bundesliga and the famous high lines teams play there. He may be looking better than he actually is, in the same way that Pogba did in Serie A. For the money and how many players we could spend on, his asking price will be too steep.

I'm also of this same point. Haaland is a good watch but as it stands he's just a clinical finisher. This is perfectly plausible but the arguments of the next Messi / Ronaldo it's just typical of fan sensationalism. Haaland's hype is more prevalent now as he excels in an area strikers are typically lacking in present day football. His next move will indicate to what extent he's to be considered the next breakthrough or a higher rated prospect.

We have seen an immediate history of Dortmund players looking fantastic, coming to the team and struggling. Haaland is very promising but many are going over the top, it's ridiculous.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Amazing to see the hate in here for Raiola.

Yeah I don't know why United fans don't adore him.