It really doesn’t. Some of you lot are mental.
Frenkie de Jong | The last muppeting lap
- Thread starter davidmichael
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Fecking hell. Nutter. Doesn’t feel like that at all, although a failure with De Jong would clearly be at ETH’s door regardless.
Poor sods haven’t even been given one window before being labelled clowns.
What the F did you do to get that tagline?
(as surely you didn't choose it yourself?)What the heck are you talking about?! Why would the club want the fans to turn on the manager before we’ve even kicked a competitive ball under him??
Chelsea have been agreeing bids and getting the red light from players. Some of the traffic lights have even been broken.
The club has said absolutely feck all. Pull yourself together Mr Melt.
Not signing Frenkie wouldn't be a failure. He clearly doesn't want to come and there is no harm in trying to convince him.
What would be a failure is not pursuing any alternatives due to some rubbish about how De Jong is such a unique player stylistically. He isn't the only player in football who is a good passer, operates between the lines and starts deep, whilst being good on the ball. The available options may not be as good as he is but managers don't always get what they want, that's the whole point of backup options.
It would just be rubbish being fed to justify limiting further spending.
What would be a failure is not pursuing any alternatives due to some rubbish about how De Jong is such a unique player stylistically. He isn't the only player in football who is a good passer, operates between the lines and starts deep, whilst being good on the ball. The available options may not be as good as he is but managers don't always get what they want, that's the whole point of backup options.
It would just be rubbish being fed to justify limiting further spending.
"I can not succeed unless you pay whatever you need to secure de Jong, if you don't buy him - whatever the cost - I will fail regardless of the quality of players I receive."
You're hired!
Not buying it in the slightest.
brilliantWhy on earth would ETH push this though? How does that make any sense to you?
Nobody plays like de Jong does. He’s the only guy in the world who plays like that
It's been reported from the outset that Frenkie is a massive target for ETH, I just don't think anyone expected it to drag on so long.
What? I never said the failure would fall at ETH's feet?
Unlike most in here seemingly, I actually don't think ETH is at fault for this De Jong debacle much at all tbh. I highly doubt he is as involved in the process as suggested. He probably told the board he wants him and is updated on the progress at certain intervals.
To clarify - the blame would fall on the new recruitment team and board if we were to continue with this idea that De Jong is the only midfielder on planet Earth competent enough to improve us
Im a big fan of the thread title changes.
Not sure you know, I think United had a feeling it might, but i think they also thought that Barca were that desperate to get him out they'd pay what he was owed and ship him on.
They clearly must know something we don't if they're so calm about the matter, because there a lot of rumours and speculation flying about and United seem to not be paying any attention to them.
Why is our manager saying “we want the right players (clearly taking about FDJ), if we can’t, we’ll develop.
Why is he pushing that? Makes zero sense.
if United don’t want to spend what the feck are they doing offering 80 million for this guy whilst the manager pushes the point that he only wants the “right players” and the guys are actually going over to Barcelona to try and force it even more by offering more.
How does that make any sense in your world of a club trying not to spend money?
All that means to me is that he is looking for a specific type of footballer to fill that position, not that Frenkie should be the only option, even though he is clearly his preferred option
And @Womp if you don’t think ETH is driving our transfer strategy this summer then just look at the fecking players we’ve brought in and targeted man
Head in the sand?
Head in the sand?
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When did I say he isn't driving our transfer strategy? I simply said, I don't think he's as involved in the process as people suggest outside of informing recruitment of his preferred targets. He's the head coach, not head of recruitment. I just don't share the opinion that he's sitting around in his office all day calling targets, as opposed to you know, coaching the team and getting regular updates from the recruitment teamAnd @Womp if you don’t think ETH is driving our transfer strategy this summer then just look at the fecking players we’ve brought in and targeted man
Head in the sand?
I'm quite confident if recruitment was to inform him there was no chance to sign FDJ, he wouldn't be opposed to considering alternative options as believe it or not, our absolutely rubbish midfield can be improved by more than just Frenkie.
That being said, if you want to convince yourself he is sitting around, desperately clinging to the possibility that Frenkie might change his mind like some creepy ex, sure, I guess we can agree to disagree
Feck off Frenkie.
Just practicing for if he doesn't sign.
Just practicing for if he doesn't sign.
You’re saying that he’s not as involved in the transfer and also saying that the club are just using this as an excuse not to spend more money.
Yet it’s crystal clear that Ten Hag is driving every part of our recruitment targeting this summer, so if he wants another midfielder, he would be telling those guys to get him, just like he’s told them to search and target every fecking player this summer that he’s coach previously or knows extremely well.
Timber (reported)
Malacia (Netherlands)
Martinez (Netherlands)
Eriksen (trained with ETH at Ajax)
Anthony (reported)
FDJ
But sure, he’s barely involved and isn’t the guy pushing Frenkie and fecking wait wait wait for Frenkie at all. It’s all Murtough.
Absolute tosh. The manager has specific desires this Summer and FDJ is clearly his top target, and the manager is clearly the one saying “wait, wait for him as long as required”.
They've seen us bid and get feck all back for having it agreed so they've prioritised making sure the player actually wants to join them instead?
Outstanding
I edited my initial response to further clarify my point. I never suggested he isn't assigning his preferred targets, I don't know where you got that idea from. All I'm saying is, I very much doubt he is as involved in the process of the recruitment, outside of suggesting targets. Once again, he may be waiting for ETH: by all accounts, his decision is still very much in the air but going back to my original point: if FDJ doesn't end up joining, if you think ETH will refuse to sign any further players, then we very clearly disagree. He's made a whole career out of adapting his style to his players. Frenkie isn't the only good midfielder on planet Earth. Our midfield is arguably the weakest part of our squad, which is also arguably the most important part of the pitch. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to consider any players who can improve what we have.
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Seems to contradict Tuchel's comments
Seems to me that it is more evidence that the reason for all the delay isn't due to de Jong not being willing to leave, and that reports about issues with compensation from Barca on deferred wages are accurate and that it is the actual reason this is taking forever.
I think once Ten Hag gets the final clarification on Frenkie, he will either have the player or immediately instruct the recruitment team to move on to the next name on his list.
I also am absolutely convinced looking at our transfer activity, that he is running the show, and that he will be the one that says when they should move on from Frenkie, no-one else.
I don’t for a second believe that the club will say “no mate we want to save money now, that’s been our plan all along, and good on you for towing the party line and telling the fans you wanted to develop someone, that’s helped us out massively in this bullshitting phase.”
We agree on this point. Where we seem to disagree imo though, is if we continue with these reports that Frenkie is the only player that would improve us, assuming we can't sign Frenkie. I just think it's an easy cop out. Flashbacks to 'no value in the market'
Not if the driving force behind it is the new owner and not the manager. The caf complains about it as naseum for United signings but then turns a blind eye when it occurs elsewhere.
I just think you’ve been a bit daft on this one.
The manager clearly desperately wants this player, I doubt the club give a feck if it’s him, In fact if what you’re saying was true then they would likely be the ones telling the manager it’s not happening and it’s time to move on to a second alternative because he would be much fecking cheaper.
Remember the manager said in his own interview that we are ready when that player becomes available. He is clearly the one driving the wait.
I don’t for a second think he believes the player is the only one that can improve us, but he does believe that he is the most guaranteed player to improve as massively in that area, and that he will not move on to a second choice until he has no option.
I wonder if Chelsea just want him to stop us getting top four even though they have no real need of him. That would make a certain amount of sense.
That makes zero sense
For example @Womp, If the club really don’t want to spend money, as you’re trying to make out, surely it would make sense for Murtough to tell the manager that the De Jong transfer is not happening and focus on getting someone like Tielemans for 35m, thus saving a massive amount on wages and 45 million in transfer fee.
I just don’t see how what you’re saying makes any sense.
I just don’t see how what you’re saying makes any sense.
Has the premier league really got to a point where you sign players to stop other clubs becoming successful? A good 85m!
Some people are on the brink. I bet some are sat on the edge of bridges.
I think Chelsea "want" him mainly because Barcelona have offered him to them, doesn't really look like he was a priority signing for Chelsea
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