Premier League 2023/24

[METALMAN]

I think when you look at West Ham over the last … I dunno … their entire history, they’re not going to be leaping into more consistent European competition anytime soon. They were massively outperforming their usual level under Moyes. It’s not like he was holding them back and “being what West Ham have been the last few years” is as good as it gets for them.

[Lineker]

 

[Szumi]

6 hours ago, gunnar hendershow said:

If your goal is to be what West Ham have basically been the last few years then you can stick with Moyes for awhile longer. If you want to try taking a leap into more consistent European contention you have to try something else.

Lopetegui is probably not that something else. 

They just won the Conference League last season, and the Europa League Semifinals the year before that, and eliminated in the QF this season to the team that is one match away from beating Benfica's record unbeaten streak. Plus he almost took the team to Champions League qualification in 20-21.

I won't be surprised at all when this blows up in West Ham's face.

[gunnar hendershow]

13 minutes ago, Szumi said:

They just won the Conference League last season, and the Europa League Semifinals the year before that, and eliminated in the QF this season to the team that is one match away from beating Benfica's record unbeaten streak. Plus he almost took the team to Champions League qualification in 20-21.

I won't be surprised at all when this blows up in West Ham's face.

Oh no, that was largely my poorly worded point. West Ham has hit a relative peak with Moyes but they want/need more.

[Twist]

You love to see it.

Man Utd looked like a team already relegated there. Shocking. Can't see how ten Hag stays.

[Bobfoc]

5-0 down on aggregate to Crystal Palace this season can't be good.

[gunnar hendershow]

That's the death knell loss for Ten Hag.

[DavidMarrio]

I could see Ten Hag staying when the new structure is in place but there needs to be a clear out in the summer. Might be in their best interest to miss out on Europe completely. 

Sure he has one year left. It may be a last chance and you're gone. Cause he has somehow got that shower of shite to a 4th place finish, a league cup win and a FA Cup final. I do think he's partly to blame but not fully to blame. 

Be interesting how Brexit Jim handles things cause he's apparently already caused a stir with the no more working from home and thats just office staff he's meant to have pissed off

[The Lusophone]

There's very few people currently playing for the club I'd definitely keep but the problems United face are both that there's very little value in the squad, and not being in Europe will hurt the club's ability to attract players. But y'know, that's their own fault, based on how poorly they've run the club. 

I was discussing this on a discord this morning, and basically came to the conclusion that out of the current squad I'd really only try to keep:

Spoiler

GK: Onana, Bayindir - there's really no point addressing this area and continuing to throw money at a problem that feels unsolvable until United decide how they want to play.
Fullbacks: Diogo Dalot (and possibly Brandon Williams if you think he can provide valuable cover) - United's two left backs have played 12 league games between this season and all of that is Luke Shaw. They're too unreliable and should get rid. AWB should go to, he hasn't added enough to his game to justify still being there - it's telling that Lindelof is favoured at right back more than he is.
CB: Lisandro Martinez - he's also struggled with injuries but this is just as much to do with how garbage ETH's defensive scheming is as it is anything inherent with Lisandro. Everyone else can go and someone should've gone by now. Maybe keep Evans if you think he provides something useful in coverage and as a mentor.
Midfield: Mason Mount (because there's probably not a market for him), Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes (unless a super offer comes in for him from somewhere, you need to fund this rebuild from somewhere) - everyone else is old, broken or has seemingly been on their way out for the last couple of seasons. Maybe keep McTominay based on his clutch-ness this season but don't feel like you have to.
Forwards: Garnacho, Diallo, Hojlund - Martial should've gone several seasons ago, Rashford should go for the good of his own career, PSG would be perfect for him, he loves playing in Paris. Pellestri was signed to make Cavani happy, he hasn't kicked on since Cavani left, there's value for him in Spain probably. Antony should go if you can find a place for him (jail?). Sancho could stay but I would explore a move for him. Obviously Greenwood should be fired into the sun/sold.

That's a massive clear out that likely wouldn't happen over a single window, but probably should. Even then, United probably don't get great value for most of them (bar a theoretical Bruno or Rashford transfer). So United would have to be much smarter than they've been previously. One player they should bring in is Tosin Adarabioyo, who is out of contract at Fulham in the summer iirc. He's big, not bad on the ball and from Manchester, which matters for some people. Similarly, Danny Welbeck's an option - he has more goals this season at 33 than Antony, Martial and Sancho combined and is home grown, if that still matters.

I don't know how attractive a not-in-Europe rebuilding Man Utd will be to certain players, but if they can manage it, Bologna (4th in Serie A) have a couple of players that could very much improve them - Lewis Ferguson is a current international for Scotland with more than 200 professional league games under his belt in midfield at just 24 and has been impressive for them. Joshua Zirkzee isn't the player he was predicted to be when he first broke through at Bayern but he'd be a good facilitator-style forward who could link up play well. Whether they'd come from the successful Bologna to whatever it is United will be in the summer is a big question, especially as I imagine other teams will also be looking at these players.

[Gazz]

Alternatively, you should spunk £85m on someone who has a lot of Instagram followers. Think of the merchandising opportunities.

[gunnar hendershow]

A not-in-Europe United will be as attractive as an in-Europe Bologna solely because of the differences in wages the clubs can likely afford.

[METALMAN]

I love Bologna. Easily the best city in Italy. If they were to want me to play for them I’d be willing to give it serious consideration.

[DavidMarrio]

16 hours ago, METALMAN said:

I love Bologna. Easily the best city in Italy. If they were to want me to play for them I’d be willing to give it serious consideration.

Gutted we didn't get a chance to go to Bologna when me and Heather went on our honeymoon to do a tour of Italy. Was thinking to go their after Verona (beautiful city in its own right) but money constraints meant we couldn't.

Thiago Motta has done a fantastic job with the club. Always got a soft spot for Italian football cause of Football Italia and early Championship Managers

[Szumi]

4 hours ago, DavidMarrio said:

Gutted we didn't get a chance to go to Bologna when me and Heather went on our honeymoon to do a tour of Italy. Was thinking to go their after Verona (beautiful city in its own right) but money constraints meant we couldn't.

Thiago Motta has done a fantastic job with the club. Always got a soft spot for Italian football cause of Football Italia and early Championship Managers

Luckily fo Bologna, Juve are the club that want Motta the most. However, Max Allegri is on way too high of a salary for Juve to be able to afford sacking him, and Allegri is way too arrogant to step down on his own. 

[stokeriño]

It's that time of year when I am reminded of the alarming number of expensive players Chelsea have failed to properly get rid of.

Kepa and Lukaku, still technically here. But good news! Ziyech is making his Galatasaray loan permanent, apparently.

[Lineker]

24 minutes ago, stokeriño said:

It's that time of year when I am reminded of the alarming number of expensive players Chelsea have failed to properly get rid of.

Kepa and Lukaku, still technically here. But good news! Ziyech is making his Galatasaray loan permanent, apparently.

Tanguy Ndombele says hello.

[METALMAN]

Maybe next season will be when Baba Rahman comes back from loan and breaks into the Chelsea team 

[stokeriño]

19 minutes ago, METALMAN said:

Maybe next season will be when Baba Rahman comes back from loan and breaks into the Chelsea team 

Hey now, we definitely sold him last year. Don't scare me like that.

[Lineker]

 

[Szumi]

Insert "the bands back together again" "the boys are back" lines here!