Antony | Here we go! €100mill, contract until June 2027, option 'til 2028.

[Dave Smith]

Brilliant stuff. Reminds me of Nani the lad

Still not convinced he has the makings of a varsity athlete.

 

[croadyman]

FDJ. Our midfield would be elevated up there with the best in the league IMO, and controlling the midfield will transform us and give our attackers a better platform.

Yeah no brainer so why don't the club do whatever it takes in next two weeks to finally make it happen. We could have midfield to rival top two maybe even one of the best in Europe.

 

[Adnan]

I agree it does but I find frustrating that other clubs seem to be able to pay sensible money top talent. Diaz to Liverpool for example. Is this guy even that good?

Other clubs have a recruitment team backed up by a team of data scientists. Liverpool is one of those clubs and their approach to scouting and data analytics was put forward by their owners. The two teams who we've lost to this season (Brighton and Brentford) also adopt a similar approach by backing their scouting with advanced data analytics. And it's due to the owners at these clubs that they've adopted such a approach.

United have only recently got Dominic Jordan in as head of data science, who is the club's first data scientist on the football side of the club. That's about 10 years after Liverpool brought in Ian Graham to lead a team of 5/6 data scientists at the club. And the individual who brought Graham to the club was Damien Comolli who was the DoF at Liverpool at the time.

 

[Berbasbullet]

FDJ. Our midfield would be elevated up there with the best in the league IMO, and controlling the midfield will transform us and give our attackers a better platform.

Agreed I think we would suddenly have potentially the best midfield in the league. Would love the club to press on and get FDJ and then that end the summer spending

 

[Reyoji-Utd]

Also because he’s sh!t.

I know right, everybody is shite!!! Might as well stop trying and ask the league to relegate us already. That way, the Glazer might wanna tempt to sell the club too. Fek, might go ahead and stop watching and supporting already becaue it seems the players are all shite and we wont go anywhere.

 

[Kaizane]

Billionaire clubs are getting trounced in Europe though. Liverpool are managing a lot more with a lot less. So are Real Madrid. They buy and sell. Madrid bought Tchouameni for €100M and had no issue selling Casemiro to us for €80M. We only buy and never sell. And for all our "Buy! Buy! Buy!” we have absolutely nothing to show for it.

Paying a large fee for Antony would make a lot more sense if we had sold Rashford to PSG for €70M. We are doing the exact opposite instead. We are paying €100M for Antony while also massively devaluing the asset we already have in that position, so he will likely go for free or for peanuts. Because we can't possibly imagine selling MBE Saint Sigma Rashford. It makes absolutely no sense.

I agree that we are atrocious at leveraging the full value of players when selling but there is no intrinsic relationship between how much we pay for players and for how much we sell players, nor is there for any other club. The point still stands that 80-100m for someone like Anthony is about right for today's market at the top level, which is why I say I don't get why people moan about it. Your example Tchouameni is another example of the going rate for the best young talent. The fact we can't sell is irrelevant because we're still paying that much regardless.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I reckon this will get done. Ajax have gone completely quiet on their social media about Antony after plastering him in every post and reel until this week.

 

[2 man midfield]

With Antony being wide and crossing a lot, wouldn't it be best for Rashford to play the other wing? It's not like any of the midfielders are box presences and Sancho-Antony seems really lightweight at the opposing box.

I’m not sure there’s any scenario that means it’s best for Rashford to play on the other wing, unless it’s one that involves trying to make the left side utterly toothless.

 

[Borys]

It's more the circumstances. They have already lost a huge number of players for a lot of money this summer. The disruption caused by losing and having to replace Antony as well when they don't need the money means his price is higher right now than it would otherwise be.

His real value is somewhere between 40-60m but Ajax don't have to and don't want to sell many players in one window. Finding replacement this late in the summer is not a good idea.
If Chelsea sells Ziyech to Ajax for peanut , you bet they'll sell.

Cool, that explains a lot. Thanks

 

[BuzzKillington]

Brazilian Dan James and we’re about to drop €100m on him.

 

[devilish]

100m for Antony is crazy

 

[Superunknown]

There will inevitably be a point where the money becomes too tempting to resist. If they keep him this year, there's no guarantee that they'll be offered the same or more money next year, as you can never tell how things are going to go over the course of a season.

At the prices being mentioned, Ajax will cash in. I guess the bigger question is whether or not the price that we're willing to pay is worth it for the player we're getting. I really don't have a definitive answer on that and haven't made my mind up on the price or the player. The club seems to be persistent and wants him, so...you'd think that there is some sort of play with how we're going to make it work.

 

[GledTheRed]

Brazilian Dan James and we’re about to drop €100m on him.

Is he fcuk.

 

[Kill 'em all]

100m for Antony is crazy

Is £84m that crazy when Everton are rejecting £45m for Anthony Gordon and Cucurella goes to Chelsea for £62m?

 

[Rolaholic]

Brazilian Dan James and we’re about to drop €100m on him.

One's an actual footballer rather than a kick and run merchant

 

[BlackBen]

Brazilian Dan James and we’re about to drop €100m on him.

Well informed post. I guess you joined just to make this post.

 

[hellhunter]

Well informed post. I guess you joined just to make this post.

Nearly a year in the making, you can't fault his commitment

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Spending that much on a player rarely seems to work out.

All well and good saying fee's doesn't matter, but in all reality they absolutely do

 

[BlackBen]

Nearly a year in the making, you can't fault his commitment

I guess he’s desperately trying to live up to his username.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Is £84m that crazy when Everton are rejecting £45m for Anthony Gordon and Cucurella goes to Chelsea for £62m?

Yes.

Both of them are premier league proven and from clubs with a lot of dollah.

 

[devilish]

Is £84m that crazy when Everton are rejecting £45m for Anthony Gordon and Cucurella goes to Chelsea for £62m?

Oh look it seems that we're not the only stupid club in football and in dire need of a decent DOF.

 

[fezzerUTD]

I know right, everybody is shite!!! Might as well stop trying and ask the league to relegate us already. That way, the Glazer might wanna tempt to sell the club too. Fek, might go ahead and stop watching and supporting already becaue it seems the players are all shite and we wont go anywhere.

Best post I seen. Agree 100%

 

[BuzzKillington]

Well informed post. I guess you joined just to make this post.

Depends, if well informed is watching a ten minute YouTube compilation like 90% of the people in here then yes. Or did you personally go the extra mile and load up Championship Manager and have a look through his stats as well in the interests of being thorough.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Is £84m that crazy when Everton are rejecting £45m for Anthony Gordon and Cucurella goes to Chelsea for £62m?

Yes, because both of those amounts are also crazy.

 

[GingerDevil]

Meanwhile I would love to see McFred at the mighty Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, just sayin...

Why do we not give away the dead wood for free to get them off the books? Jones, Telles etc.

 

[Leftback99]

Impressed how much he's willing to push for move (De Jong take note). However given the option would people prefer

De Jong & alternative left footed RW

Antony & alternative playmaking CM

We won't be buying another midfielder.

 

[Kill 'em all]

Yes, because both of those amounts are also crazy.

The only issue is that when those kind of bids and transfers by premier league clubs start being considered as normal, it will undoubtedly create this kind of inflation and if enough clubs accept these kind of prices, they will be considered normal. It's all about supply and demand.

 

[Ish]

Maybe they will share the minutes. But I just don't see Antony would start many games over Raphinha, especially when they have so many talents on the WF role too. Don't forget Rodrygo is also highly rated and very impressive in CL last season.

And then we all know Brazil will start with Neymar and Vinicius in most game, not even a question. And so the remaining one spot will be compete between Jesus, Raphina, Antony, Rodrygo etc.

And here's the game when Brazil played them both on each half against same opponents (Paraguay early this year) for direct comparison. Although they have both impressed and scored, one can easily tell Raphinha is even more of a threats/better player than Antony from there.

Yeah only time will tell I guess and it will depend on their form going into the World Cup as well.

Yeah no brainer so why don't the club do whatever it takes in next two weeks to finally make it happen. We could have midfield to rival top two maybe even one of the best in Europe.

Agreed I think we would suddenly have potentially the best midfield in the league. Would love the club to press on and get FDJ and then that end the summer spending

Absolutely. I suppose there isn’t much else to do if FDJ insists on staying and Barca haven’t quite told him to feck off (not directly anyway). But he, with Casemiro and one of Bruno/Eriksen can rival anything the league (or even Europe!) has to offer. Hell, I’d even make do with Rashford/Garnacho on the wing for a season if it meant getting FDJ.

 

[ElCuddlos]

Still not convinced he has the makings of a varsity athlete.

This post did not get the recognition it deserves.

 

[zenith]

Should be a strong no to Anthony for anywhere close to 100 million. The league adaption risk is far too high.

Look at someone like Sancho, who was considered far more of a finished product but is still finding his feet here.

Signing Anthony for that much just reeks of desperation. It's horrible

 

[croadyman]

We won't be buying another midfielder.

Yeah which worries me because now we have the steel in midfield, however still lack that progressor and quick passer to receive it from Casemiro.

 

[croadyman]

Should be a strong no to Anthony for anywhere close to 100 million. The league adaption risk is far too high.

Look at someone like Sancho, who was considered far more of a finished product but is still finding his feet here.

Signing Anthony for that much just reeks of desperation. It's horrible

Yeah that's my exact concerns with this too

 

[Chief123]

His real value is somewhere between 40-60m but Ajax don't have to and don't want to sell many players in one window. Finding replacement this late in the summer is not a good idea.
If Chelsea sells Ziyech to Ajax for peanut , you bet they'll sell.

In what world is he worth as low as 40m? Have you actually seen the prices the most average players are going for?

Not a chance you get a talented forward for 40m in such a dry market.

Nottingham forest just signed a midfielder for £42m which most people have never heard or seen play even though he’s from a premier league team.

Antony is known around Europe for being a very talented young forward. He ain’t anywhere near 40m even if ajax were willing to sell.

 

[croadyman]

Yeah only time will tell I guess and it will depend on their form going into the World Cup as well.



Absolutely. I suppose there isn’t much else to do if FDJ insists on staying and Barca haven’t quite told him to feck off (not directly anyway). But he, with Casemiro and one of Bruno/Eriksen can rival anything the league (or even Europe!) has to offer. Hell, I’d even make do with Rashford/Garnacho on the wing for a season if it meant getting FDJ.

Yeah so would I as well

 

[Annihilate Now!]

The only issue is that when those kind of bids and transfers by premier league clubs start being considered as normal, it will undoubtedly create this kind of inflation and if enough clubs accept these kind of prices, they will be considered normal. It's all about supply and demand.

It's all sort of relative though... Even though fee's are inflating rapidly, it's still very much dependent on the player in question.

If Haaland had gone for £100m,if Mbappe goes for £150m i think everyone accepts that... When most players for four under £40m we all sort of accept that's where the market is, but when Forrest buy MGW for £35m people still think its a bit mental.

So yeah, higher fees become more acceptable over time, but it's still heavily player and reputation dependent

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

Should be a strong no to Anthony for anywhere close to 100 million. The league adaption risk is far too high.

Look at someone like Sancho, who was considered far more of a finished product but is still finding his feet here.

Signing Anthony for that much just reeks of desperation. It's horrible

We are desperate, no good pretending otherwise.

ETH wants him, and it'll be his reputation on the line if he's crap, so just pay the money, who cares, it's not like we'll see the benefit of not spending it.

Better this than pay £40 million for someone ETH doesn't really want.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Yes.

Both of them are premier league proven and from clubs with a lot of dollah.

None of them are CL proven though. Antony is capped for Brazil too.

 

[Telsim]

I agree that we are atrocious at leveraging the full value of players when selling but there is no intrinsic relationship between how much we pay for players and for how much we sell players, nor is there for any other club. The point still stands that 80-100m for someone like Anthony is about right for today's market at the top level, which is why I say I don't get why people moan about it. Your example Tchouameni is another example of the going rate for the best young talent. The fact we can't sell is irrelevant because we're still paying that much regardless.

I disagree with this. If we sell more and buy smart, we can buy more and buy better. The intrinsic value is continuity. Which is the strategy Madrid and now Liverpool are employing. It's a sustainable strategy and it significantly reduces risk. We can quickly replace players who don't cut it, keeping the team ever ready. Even if Tchouameni bombs Madrid will move him at an appropriate time for €40-€50M and then they can again buy a top talent, because they previously moved Casemiro for €80M. Now look at us. We buy Antony and don't sell Rashford. Rashford walks for free, Antony bombs, but we keep him, or sell him for peanuts. We are €150M down. But now other positions like DM, RB, GK also need replacement. So we are struggling to fill the gaps. While we fill some, others open. But we can't fill them all because we don't have enough cash. We are forced to buy stop-gaps, pay premium for second-raters, or pray that an academy player breaks through, which is a very low chance. A vicious cycle that will never lead to success.

For the amount of money we would spend this summer you could build almost an entire new team. Maybe a whole new team if you sell dross like Rashford, AWB, etc.

But this would require a large overarching club culture and strategy and we are the furthest from it.

 

[RedRonaldo]

Should be a strong no to Anthony for anywhere close to 100 million. The league adaption risk is far too high.

Look at someone like Sancho, who was considered far more of a finished product but is still finding his feet here.

Signing Anthony for that much just reeks of desperation. It's horrible

That's very true. No one would even entertain the possibility that Sancho would struggle for a year long and still unable to find his feet here. The transition from lesser league to PL is far more difficult than most would've expected I guess.

He is supposed to be one of the most exciting young talents back then, just behind Mbappe and Haaland. And someone not named Messi who is capable of scoring 20 goals 20 assists a season.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Brilliant stuff. Reminds me of Nani the lad

So so good, just a joy to watch.

He'd get OT off their feet every time he gets the ball which is what football is about really!