...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[TheSantader25]

6 minutes ago, Lonely-Martin said:

I am curious as to what teams don't have the opportunity in the Prem?

Wolves is far more honorable side as an example. They can't spend that big but they sure as hell deserve the spot more based on their resources. They show heart. Unlike these 4 teams that are getting things on a silver platter a yet they don't preform. 

 

Outside the Prem we have leagues like Eredvisie that even the champion has to play in the playoffs. I would definitely prefer a club like Ajax to qualify directly instead of these 4 teams. 

Edited May 4, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Lonely-Martin]

2 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

Wolves is far more honorable side as an example. They can't spend that big but they sure as hell deserve the spot more based on their resources. They show heart. Unlike these 4 teams that are getting things on a silver platter a yet they don't preform. 

 

Outside the Prem we have leagues like Eredvisie that even the champion has to play in the playoffs. I would definitely prefer a club like Ajax to qualify directly instead of these 4 teams. 

Being a Barca fan, I expected that, lol. Cruyff would love that final (could be poor spelling of the legends name). But I do agree that the champions of Europe's leagues should be straight in UCL, not a playoff. That's always been a complaint of mine too. It's not right that a team can finish 3rd and auto-qualify here/elsewhere while champions have to hop through hoops in other leagues. 100% agree with you on that one but that's UEFA being biased, probably money, like some league's giving the big teams more of the TV money. Political bollocks like that, that I was hoping would leave with the Blatter era. (In regards of Euro qualifying at least).

 

As for Wolves being deserving. I disagree. All due respect to them as they've been great to watch at times, (especially lately) but they've thrown away many points against teams far lower than them this season. The teams above are on a bad run for sure but over the season they've all been better and had the points banked. That's just how it goes, nothing given when a team like Wolves can come up and challenge well.

 

To see all the four top 4 challengers drop points shows no-one's been given anything, they're being challenged as the teams beating them earned their wins by simply being better on the day. (Teams during transition for many too - Spurs stadium, United, Arsenal and Chelsea with new management and such). Plus keep in mind that whoever comes 2nd is going to be on a huge, rare, haul of points. 97 and 2nd. Unlucky but impressive.

 

Saying it's been handed to the 4 teams chasing UCL while a teams like Wolves Watford or Everton is getting credit for getting points from, and outplaying teams, is undermining too I feel as they work hard for a win against a top premier league team. That's the beauty of the prem, anything can happen, and it makes for good competition and entertainment here. We can spend a £100m and go down, lol.

 

No-one in our league deserves anything on merit, and that's why Liverpool get so much stick, they're probably the one team that feels they 'should be' all the time. (Sorry for the ramble).

[Guest]

1 hour ago, TheSantader25 said:

Outside the Prem we have leagues like Eredvisie that even the champion has to play in the playoffs. I would definitely prefer a club like Ajax to qualify directly instead of these 4 teams. 

The fact that the 4 biggest championships now bring always 4 teams IMO isn't that fair, I mean 16 teams out of 32 come from just 4 nations!

2 years ago in Serie A just 2 teams could reach directly the UCL gruop stage, the 3rd classified had to play the last round of the play-offs. In the PL, Bundesliga and LaLiga 3 teams could qualify immediately + the 4th played the last play-offs round, but that's fair considering that those 3 are the biggest championships in Europe.

The fact that the Dutch Champions have to play the 3rd round of play-offs is hilarious, but the same could be said for other championships with a lot of "European history" (Hungary, for example)... But prepare yourselves, from 2024 things are getting even worser, and the fault is of our chairman: the UEFA version of the Super League is coming!

 

1 minute ago, Lonely-Martin said:

As for Wolves being deserving. I disagree. All due respect to them as they've been great to watch at times, (especially lately) but they've thrown away many points against teams far lower than them this season. The teams above are on a bad run for sure but over the season they've all been better and had the points banked. That's just how it goes, nothing given when a team like Wolves can come up and challenge well.

 

To see all the four top 4 challengers drop points shows no-one's been given anything, they're being challenged as the teams beating them earned their wins by simply being better on the day. (Teams during transition for many too - Spurs stadium, United, Arsenal and Chelsea with new management and such). Plus keep in mind that whoever comes 2nd is going to be on a huge, rare, haul of points. 97 and 2nd. Unlucky but impressive.

 

Saying it's been handed to the 4 teams chasing UCL while a teams like Wolves Watford or Everton is getting credit for getting points from, and outplaying teams, is undermining too I feel as they work hard for a win against a top premier league team. That's the beauty of the prem, anything can happen, and it makes for good competition and entertainment here. We can spend a £100m and go down, lol.

 

No-one in our league deserves anything on merit, and that's why Liverpool get so much stick, they're probably the one team that feels they 'should be' all the time. (Sorry for the ramble).

As a Wolves fan I agree with you. This season we've thrown away so many points against small clubs, a team that managed to lose twice against Huddersfield (that won 3 times) doesn't deserve the UCL... Let's say that we played Robin Hood this season, we stole points from the rich for giving them to the poors 

Jokes aside, this was our first season in the Prem since a long time and of course sometimes we showed the inexperience of a neo-promoted team, yes maybe if we beated more low-mid teams we could have competed for the UCL, but honestly I'm happy for what we've done. From what I heard the last neo-promoted team that managed to finish in the top 7 was Ipswich Town (5th) in 2000/2001, replicating (more or less) the same thing after almost 20 years with today's standards in football is a remarkable result!

One step at the time, maybe the UCL will arrive one day... Or maybe we could embrace the Championship again, like you said (hopefully not, it isn't that easy to find streamings for those matches... And let's not talk about streamings of League 1 matches, orrible memories). 

[Lonely-Martin]

@Wolver_321. Definitely one step at a time. I feel you've got a great manager there too and if you build on this, could be a good time ahead indeed to be a wolves fan.

 

But any team that roll Arsenal over 3-0 is good in my book, lol.

[Laker23]

f*cking hell Liverpool are jammy. Big game for City on Monday, still going with my prediction that Leicester will get something from that game, sadly.

 

Liverpool's near impossible chances in the second leg got worse with Salah leaving on a stretcher. Not sure if it was a concussion, but it didn't look good for him.

[TheSantader25]

Wolves are good against top teams. They'd fit in the champions league. I think Spurs deserve a spot because they haven't spent and had loads of injuries. They had a good run for a while as well but they should definitely improve their squad next season. But Chelsea, Arsenal, United? Shambolic throughout the entire season. They don't deserve a direct UCL qualification . Give their spot to f*cking Ajax. 

 

Liverpool barely escaped a bottlejob. They'll remember this goal if City drop points. Both Salah and Firmino might miss the Tuesday match. I can't say I'm that happy. I always want my team to beat the opponents when they are at their full strength. Winning like this doesn't feel good enough. 

Edited May 4, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

9 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

But Chelsea, Arsenal, United? Shambolic throughout the entire season. They don't deserve a direct UCL qualification . Give their spot to f*cking Ajax. 

One of those teams got to the CL quarters only to be knocked out by the favourites. The other two are in great positions to both qualify for the EL final. Spurs are still well in contention for a place in the CL final. Domestically they're struggling lately, but Arsenal, Chelsea and United all have brand new managers. Spurs (and United) have also been hit hard by injuries.

 

So you can take that sh*te opinion and throw it out the window lol.

[Laker23]

Wolves would get murdered in the Champions League, I don't care how good they've been against the top teams this season. I love them and really happy they seem to have got a European place but they're so far away from being ready to be in the CL.

 

Salah appears to be better than initially feared. If it's not a concussion I'd certainly expect him to play against Wolves on the last day.

 

Can barely give a sh*t about our game tomorrow. We'll probably slaughter Hudds and Cardiff to give casual fans false hope that we don't need a massive overhaul in the summer.

Edited May 4, 2019 by Laker23

[TheSantader25]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

One of those teams got to the CL quarters only to be knocked out by the favourites. The other two are in great positions to both qualify for the EL final. Spurs are still well in contention for a place in the CL final. Domestically they're struggling lately, but Arsenal, Chelsea and United all have brand new managers. Spurs (and United) have also been hit hard by injuries.

 

So you can take that sh*te opinion and throw it out the window lol.

It's the league performance that makes you qualify for the champions league. I don't care what these teams are doing in the European competition. These teams are playing in the champions league this season because of their performance last year. UCL is a very different competition and you can't judge a team's sh*tty performance because of it. Remember Di Matteo's Chelsea? sh*tty league performance in 2012. But they won the UCL. 

 

A Team might become third in the World Cup and end up not qualifying for it the next time.(Holland). But becoming third in the last world cup doesn't mean they are good enough to automatically get to the next one lol. They need to qualify. One of Chelsea/Arsenal/United will still get to the UCL. But is it really fair that they can get there by losing most of their last games like they don't even give a f*ck while the Eredvisie champions have to play in the f*cking play offs? f*ck off UEFA. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

1 hour ago, TheSantader25 said:

I don't care what these teams are doing in the European competition.

Well you should as it's European performance that decides how many spots CL a league gets and who gets automatic qualification. I know they recently changed it so La Liga and the PL (and I think Serie A?) both have 4 automatic qualification spots now which is a but uhhh but both countries have had four CL spots for yonks because teams from both countries performed in Europe consistently for years and years.

 

1 hour ago, TheSantader25 said:

But is it really fair that they can get there by losing most of their last games like they don't even give a f*ck while the Eredvisie champions have to play in the f*cking play offs? f*ck off UEFA. 

The Premier League season is 38 games over 10 months and like all leagues teams finish where they deserve to finish because unlike cups luck won't decide your league season. The fact that some of the teams competing for top 4 are all going through a spell of bad form at the same time is a weird coincidence that's all, and like I said some of them have reasons for why they're not quite firing on all cylinders.

 

You're blaming the PL and it's teams for something that has absolutely nothing to do with them. The solution to the Eredivisie problem is either to get it's self about Russian in the co-effecients or for UEFA to add more teams to the CL, which they'll probably do for more money at some point but it's gonna be bloody awful for the competition.

 

I mean you're singling out the Premier League here when Serie A is even worse domestically and in European competitions. La Liga too has usually had a token 4th team roll into CL every year and get knocked out in the groups. Meanwhile the PL had all four teams in the CL QF's and three in the SF's this year lmao.

Edited May 5, 2019 by Jason

[TheSantader25]

@Jason

Sure. It's not just about the prem. Other than Serie A, PL and Laliga, Bundesliga also has 4 straight teams for the UCL now. This was a retarded move by UEFA. Serie A and Bundesliga don't deserve 4 spots. They should have two direct spots and the 3rd to play at playoffs. While Laliga and Prem deserve 3 direct spots and a playoff for the 4th team. Just like it was before. This new sh*tty system gives these 4 leagues 16/32 direct group stage qualifications. Atrocious. The solution for eredvisie is to have a direct spot. Instead they should cut down the number of direct spots in these 4 leagues. The qualification system we had in the past couple of years was good they've ruined it now. 

 

On the side note, I heard somewhere that if a Dutch team gets to the quarter finals they get a direct spot for their league next year. Well Ajax did it. Let's see if they change their qualification format. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Guest]

4 hours ago, Jason said:

Well you should as it's European performance that decides how many spots CL a league gets and who gets automatic qualification. I know they recently changed it so La Liga and the PL (and I think Serie A?) both have 4 automatic qualification spots now which is a but uhhh but both countries have had four CL spots for yonks because teams from both countries performed in Europe consistently for years and years.

Yep, Serie A and Bundesliga have 4 spots too. Basically the top 4 championships always bring directly 4 teams in the UCL group stage. At the moment I think Serie A (or Bundesliga) is 4th in the UEFA Ranking, Ligue 1 is probably 5th but it's too far away... And with "just" 2 teams + 1 that plays the play-offs, I don't see how France can reduce the gap with Germany and Italy.

 

3 hours ago, TheSantader25 said:

@Jason

Sure. It's not just about the prem. Other than Serie A, PL and Laliga, Bundesliga also has 4 straight teams for the UCL now. This was a retarded move by UEFA. Serie A and Bundesliga don't deserve 4 spots. They should have two direct spots and the 3rd to play at playoffs. While Laliga and Prem deserve 3 direct spots and a playoff for the 4th team. Just like it was before. This new sh*tty system gives these 4 leagues 16/32 direct group stage qualifications. Atrocious. The solution for eredvisie is to have a direct spot. Instead they should cut down the number of direct spots in these 4 leagues. The qualification system we had in the past couple of years was good they've ruined it now. 

 

On the side note, I heard somewhere that if a Dutch team gets to the quarter finals they get a direct spot for their league next year. Well Ajax did it. Let's see if they change their qualification format. 

I prefer the old system too, LaLiga and the Premier League are the 2 most competitive championships of Europe at the moment so they deserve to bring a maximum of 4 teams. Serie A and Bundesliga don' deserve at all to bring 4 teams, it's quite hilarious to think that a team like Atalanta could possibly compete in the UCL... I mean, I'd be the first to hope to see them in the UCL, but I'm sure that they won't be able to compete: teams like Barca or Man City would murder Atalanta!

For Eredivisie at the moment the only thing that could change is their ranking place, Ajax is carrying the Ducth championship so soon they should receive a promotion by UEFA. When this will happen Idk, but I'm quite sure that their position in the ranking will improve.

[Eutyphro]

Matic is just a massive sluggish useless player. He used to be an absolute beast at Chelsea, but he's useless now. Should be sold. No disrespect to him as a person though. He seems a great guy, and used to play great. United should go all out for Fornals, especially if Pogba leaves to Madrid. If Herrera and Pogba leave, and they don't find anyone technical for midfield, they're going to be dogsh*t next season, and max 6th.

[TheSantader25]

Only Mou knows how to use Matic properly. Jeez. United can't even beat Huddersfield. The question is, why should top players come to united now? Players come to top clubs to 1. Play with other big players 2. Win trophies 3. Learn from charismatic big managers. 4. Play in the champions league.

United have none of that now. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Eutyphro]

It doesn't have anything to do with Mou. Matic has become extremely slow due to age. He used to be quite dynamic for such a large dude, but now he's just a massive snail that plays predictable passes.
 

1 minute ago, TheSantader25 said:

 why should top players come to united now?

Because United has a squad that could be a good squad with some additions. And because players like Donny van de Beek, who is a good player, could expect a lot of gametime at United. Furthermore, United is a rich club, they can pay some serious wages.

[Jason]

Matic was playing fine when Ole first arrived, the whole team was, they all played for Ole and they got him the job. Then they've all given up apart from Scott McTominay, who's f*cking brilliant.

 

As for the types of players we can attract well we haven't struggled to attract top players without CL football in the past so I don't think we're going to be scraping the barrel. It could even be a blessing in disguise, players who really just want CL football might choose to reject us while players who really want to play for United might join us.

[TheSantader25]

I think you could still have a chance to sign some people if Mou was around. He might not be as good as he was but top managers can attract top players. A thing that I can't see Solskjaer do. Other than that I don't see any "really" top players apart from Pogba and De Gea in United right now. Which both have been quite sh*te for some reason. One is linked with PSG and the other with Madrid. The only way right now is paying big fat wages. 

 

Van De Beek can easily be a starter in Arsenal, Chelsea,Tottenham or even Liverpool. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Lonely-Martin]

I think if United lose Pogba, they'll come sniffing for Erikson too, lol. His contract is only for next season and unless we start paying better wages, that'll be an issue for my Spurs. They'll probably chuck us $25m for Alderwerald too as that's the clause for extending his a year, though he's not been on song like previous seasons but he's been wanting out for a while now.

 

Saw us linked with Van de Beek though too. Can't see it unless, again, we pay well (and make UCL of course). This coming window could be huge for Spurs I think. Lose too many and the others invest large like they can, it's gonna be tough. The only one I'm not worried about is Kane as even if he did go, that's gonna cost someone huge, lol.

[Jason]

I can see Eriksen moving to Spain my self. I think Spurs will get a good fee for him (something around £100m) and do what they did with the Bale money and reinvest it back into the squad.

 

Ideally we should be keeping Pogba, we've lost Fellaini and probably Herrera in the span of 6 months, we can't lose a third midfielder in that same span of time. That being said as I've said before if we got a good player + cash offer I'd take it if the player was good and fits into the team.

 

We really shouldn't be going out and spending £100m on a single player IMO, we really, really need to spend wisely and buy some good players for good prices, that's what City, Spurs and Liverpool have been doing. Sure the market these days has inflated the prices across the board, but you can still get top players for 30-40m you just have to spot them. The issue is that something in our scouting system is rotten, it came out that our scouting system was a f*cking mess when LVG/Mou (forgot who) took over and it remains to be seen if it's improved since.

[TheSantader25]

32 minutes ago, Jason said:

We really shouldn't be going out and spending £100m on a single player IMO, we really, really need to spend wisely and buy some good players for good prices, that's what City, Spurs and Liverpool have been doing. Sure the market these days has inflated the prices across the board, but you can still get top players for 30-40m you just have to spot them. The issue is that something in our scouting system is rotten, it came out that our scouting system was a f*cking mess when LVG/Mou (forgot who) took over and it remains to be seen if it's improved since.

Would you consider Rakitic? I have a feeling we are gonna sell him in Summer. I don't want us though. Hopefully he stays for another season. I think we can sell him for 60-70 million. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

14 minutes ago, TheSantader25 said:

Would you consider Rakitic? I have a feeling we are gonna sell him in Summer. I don't want us though. Hopefully he stays for another season. I think we can sell him for 60-70 million. 

The answer to our problems isn't spending £50m+ on a 31 year old central midfielder, but if he was available for much less than that I'd absolutely take him.

 

United's transfer policy has always been to buy the best youth talent out there and develop them into world class talents, occasionally we'd buy a ready made star but it wasn't often. We've lost our way with that since Fergie left and we need to get back to it. Build a team over a number of years, not overnight. That's what we always did but once we lost our top status the club shat it's self and went mad.

[TheSantader25]

2 minutes ago, Jason said:

The answer to our problems isn't spending £50m+ on a 31 year old central midfielder, but if he was available for much less than that I'd absolutely take him.

 

United's transfer policy has always been to buy the best youth talent out there and develop them into world class talents, occasionally we'd buy a ready made star but it wasn't often. We've lost our way with that since Fergie left and we need to get back to it. Build a team over a number of years, not overnight. That's what we always did but once we lost our top status the club shat it's self and went mad.

Well that's the scouting problem. Fergie had brilliant eye for young talent. 

[Jason]

1 minute ago, TheSantader25 said:

Well that's the scouting problem. Fergie had brilliant eye for young talent. 

He did, but it meant our scouting system was a sh*tshow, it was basically Fergie and his mates. I think it was Mourinho when it came out, might've been LVG, but eitherway when one of them joined they pretty much aired their disbelief at how bad our scouting system was.

[TheSantader25]

that's it. Spurs and Chelsea qualify for the champions league and now we play the waiting game. Come on Leicester. Beat City. Let's have a dramatic end to the season. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Jason]

inb4 Arsenal win the EL and qualify.

 

Also, if Watford beat City in the FA Cup final our season starts on the 25th of July because we'll have to qualify for the EL.

 

From what I've seen the general reaction to that from United fans is that we all still want Watford to win, not to find some entertainment at City losing but because this team needs a kick up the arse.

[TheSantader25]

Nah Chelsea now have the upper hand in Europa League cause there's less pressure on them. They are definitely gonna be more of a pain in the ass to play in the Super Cup though for whoever wins the UCL so maybe an Arsenal win won't be bad after all. 

Edited May 5, 2019 by TheSantader25

[Laker23]

Would absolutely love Chelsea to beat Arsenal in the final, would be such a laugh. Surprised Arsenal are even so close to the final, their away form is so abysmal I thought they would have choked that as well by now.

 

Final day is gonna be less exciting than usual, despite City/Pool. Used to love seeing 3 or 4 teams all with a chance of staving off relegation, but everything has been finalised apart from the champions.

[Jason]

Actually kinda want Arsenal to win if I'm honest. Got no hatred for Arsenal these days and 5 English teams in the CL again would be fun. Think that might mean an extra team would grab Arsenal's EL place as well?

[Lonely-Martin]

Thank you Mr. Hughton, you sly devil.

[Laker23]

Thank god for that, felt Leicester would get something all week.

 

Hopefully Dunk and Duffy don't put on a masterclass on Sunday.