Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2016 - Mod Note in OP, 13/9

TheDoc · 24-08-2016 2:12pm

I think it's unfair to lay down money only motivations for Schweinsteiger. While sure, it might be true, who knows, I think he has gone about it in a very non-confrontational manner in public, and hasn't done anything that would make me think he couldn't be turned too down the line.

His removal from international football, and even just a few months training with low pressure matches, might well do him the world of good to get back to fitness. And I doubt Joyce will be complaining, what a player to draft into your underage squad as an overage player, what an influence and character to have. So I'd imagine he will get plenty of gametime with the reserves/u21's whatever the **** its called these days.

If he does stay and get his fitness right and over the injuries, I'll be in no doubt he will get himself back into the squad selection.

I do think the entire situation is sad. He's a favorite player of mine for some time, I was over the moon when he joined us, he was the highlight of my OT visit (my first) last year, so from an emotional detached position I see why it is something Mourinho is doing and why he isn't included, but from a personal emotionally attached position, I've found it a bit unpalatable.

jaykay74 · 24-08-2016 2:13pm

Mitch Connor wrote: »

From the outside (and it is the only perspective we can speak from) I don't get how Mourinho could form any opinion on him given he banished him to the reserves first day back. Are you ok with Mourinho forming such final opinions before even working with the players at the club?

Whether it is correct from a footballing perspective I'm not sure, I haven't made that argument either way. I'm arguing against it reflecting on the manager/club as being poor form. I think the manager is entitled to the decision.

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Seemingly he is keen to sell Rojo, so obviously not a player he is keen on - but he hasn't been banished to the reserves - so why has Schweinsteiger been treated differently?

I guess in an ideal world from Mourinhos pov he would sell both maybe but that Rojo is needed currently for cover while Bastian is not.

yabadabado · 24-08-2016 2:21pm

astradave wrote: »

I'd actually expect Rojo to be gone.. Darmian, if he is happy to, can be back up for Shaw.

My thinking is Darmian won't want to be back up and the club will get a good fee for him.Valencia probably be more willing to be back up RB/RW .

I think Rojo may be sold on irregardless off what happens at the full back positions.If Fonte is signed then 1 or 2 CBs will move on.
Smalling,Bailly,Blind,Fonte be enough at CB with Rojo and Jones moved on?

jayo26 · 24-08-2016 2:28pm

Pro. F wrote: »

1 No, I don't think you're being smart. Two goals conceded from Payet frees in the 3-2 loss to West Ham at the end of last season. Both of them could have been defended with a brave header from Blind, but that is not his game.

And just looking for examples of goals where Daily missed a header is missing the point. You need to look at all the times he didn't even try to go for the header; look at all the times he could have prevented a corner, or relieved pressure with a header but didn't, because he didn't even try because he's so weak in the air; look at the marking assignments he's given on set pieces; look at Smalling having to try to move out of position to cover for Blind because he knows he won't do it himself.

Being a good CB is about a lot more than just not making obvious mistakes. Good CBs dominate their area when the ball comes near them in the air, Blind tries to leave that to others.

2 That's odd logic to me. I'd like to see the team look to improve when there is a position with an obvious weakness. And our defence had some serious problems last season.

3 Sample size.

4 You are just ignoring the counter argument I gave you. Here it is again:

The idea that a CB can just have a specialised job where they don't need to be strong in the air is completely wrong. How can Smalling or Bailly, or whoever, win all the headers that need to be won accross the width of the two CB channels? What happens when there's a ball in the air to be won, but it's 10 yards away from where Smalling/Bailly is, in Blind's area? Do they try to swap positions in advance of the ball arriving? That doesn't work and would drag the defence completely out of shape if they tried.

1,The two goals from westham you mention only one of them could be nailed on to attribute to blinds fault and yes he should of done better the other one was way above blind and valencia was the man that should of picked him up I think it was Sakho but even so that's 3 points over the course of the season.

2,Yeh if you go threw every defenders mistakes you can say what about this time and that but the point I'm making is blind formed a pretty successful partnership in the second best defence in the league and by and large he was excellent. We did not loose the league last year because of our defenders we lost it because of our inability to create and score goals so I wouldn't say our defence had serious problems.

3,The sample size is all we can base this season on so far and by the looks of it he has picked up where he left off.

4,I get what your saying in an ideal world world all our defenders would be all rounders but how many defenders are out there that can be top class in the air and good with there feet and good at one on one challenges and good at driving forward.

A partnership works when you recognise your partners weakness and make up for it Smalling did an good job of been the physical member of defence.

For example Steve Bruce was excellent passer of the ball and he was a rough and brave defender and excellent leader but pallister was a better defender he was more all round then Bruce but they knew the roles they played and they played it well together pallister often cleaned up after Bruce.

Masccherano for Barcelona can't head a ball either but he has helped them win a lot in defence because he can read a game so well.

Adamocovic · 24-08-2016 2:39pm

Some quotes from a Phil Jones interview today.

I've had ups and downs.It started off really well and winning the league in my second season was a dream, I've managed to play at a World Cup, been at a Euros, played over 100 games, overall not as many as I'd have liked but hopefully I can get many more games.

I didn't play much football last season so it's important for me to stay fit and give myself a bit of an edge at the start of the season, come back fit and strong. I've started seasons off and set this goal and that goal, and I want to do this and I want to do that.

I just want to play football this season and just enjoy it, play games and win things ultimately and hopefully we can do that.

Obviously a new manager comes in he has different inputs, different mentality, different training drills, sessions and so on, but so far it's been really good.

It's been enjoyable and there's a freshness about the place and I think as time progresses then we'll understand the way he wants to play, the way he wants people to play certain positions and we'll get to know him more and vice versa.

And hopefully we can all build a great partnership, a good team and have a successful season.

Source:http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-transfer-news-jones-11791908

Flint Fredstone · 24-08-2016 2:48pm

eagle eye wrote: »

Just reading the last couple of pages and two things I have to say.

Firstly the Smalling/Blind situation. Personally I don't rate Smalling as highly as some people. He is a good centre back but no more than that for me. He makes mistakes and Blind covered for him a few times when I watched them last season.

Bailly looks top notch and I think you want a football playing CB beside him and Blind certainly fits that mould. Blind looks every bit as good at CB as Mascherano does for Barca and that's saying something.

On the Schweinsteiger thing. I cannot believe that he is not even getting a chance at United. I'd have thought that he would be the perfect replacement(at the very least) for Pogba when he is rested or you want to take him off early in a game.

I honestly don't understand why Mourinho has decided he is not worth a place in the squad but that Rooney is. I was a huge fan of Wayne Rooney for years but imo he has gone past his sell by date and is only holding back that team. What happens when Mkhitaryan is fully fit? Does Rooney lose out and Martial go into the middle behind Ibra? I don't think Martial should lose out there anyways.

Mata loses out.

RobertKK · 24-08-2016 2:55pm

We will have plenty of games soon, so no one will really lose out.

We will be able to play save players for the PL games which is the number 1 aim, and have the players to progress in Europe and in the league cup.

Adamocovic · 24-08-2016 2:55pm

eagle eye wrote: »

On the Schweinsteiger thing. I cannot believe that he is not even getting a chance at United. I'd have thought that he would be the perfect replacement(at the very least) for Pogba when he is rested or you want to take him off early in a game.

I honestly don't understand why Mourinho has decided he is not worth a place in the squad but that Rooney is. I was a huge fan of Wayne Rooney for years but imo he has gone past his sell by date and is only holding back that team. What happens when Mkhitaryan is fully fit? Does Rooney lose out and Martial go into the middle behind Ibra? I don't think Martial should lose out there anyways.

I'm a fan of both Rooney and Schweinsteiger but the highlighted part here I don't really get. They are two completely different players, playing in different positions, who offer different things. Why even drag Rooney into a debate about Bastian?

I like many would love Scheweinsteiger to be given a chance to fight for his spot but it's clear that Mourinho doesn't see him as part of the team or having the characteristics he wants and isn't going to let him compete for a spot. As much as we might not like how it has been carried it is Mourinhos team he is forming so if he doesn't want a player in the squad he isn't obligated to put him in, regardless of how we feel. The midfield is stacked also at the moment so it makes sense that someone was going to lose out.

IamtheWalrus · 24-08-2016 2:56pm

Anyone else having schadenfreudian feelings over Hart at City?

Insect Overlord · 24-08-2016 2:58pm

IamtheWalrus wrote: »

Anyone else having schadenfreudian feelings over Hart at City?

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

IamtheWalrus · 24-08-2016 3:05pm

An File wrote: »

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

I watched an ITV interview with him and he said 'I'm Joe Hart, England's number 1 and I'm quite good'. It was done in one of ITV's cringe-inducing vignettes but still, it made me dislike him. Imagine Keane saying that.

TheDoc · 24-08-2016 3:11pm

An File wrote: »

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

I'm the opposite, also as a former keeper. I've little to no sympathy.

Hart is a decent to good goalkeeper, but that's about it. A team with Manchester City's ambitions can do much better and I'm sure that is really what is behind it, the distribution thing is just for me an excuse/screen.

For general PL standards he is bang average actually. If he was foreign he would get a lot more scrutiny then he does. In reality, he's actually probably on par if not slightly better then Mignolet. And look at how the reaction to the two differs. His character to be honest, and the way he goes on, I actually believe he thinks he is better then he actually is.

The issue is clearly focus and concentration. a high requirement in a top team when you are not going to be active frequently, so when you are called on you need to be alert.

If you look back through Hart's blunders (and my god so much video online of it) it's no surprise they come in games that either City and/or England generally dominate possession.

TheDoc · 24-08-2016 3:15pm

Mitch Connor wrote: »

he has been very active from the moment he signed for United - i don't think there is a change there.

His statement today does leave a sour taste in my mouth - not a fan of playing off the fans like that.

Worth remembering that his fanbase is much more then United. He still retains icon status in Munich and Germany as a whole.

I was a fan of his long before he came to Old Trafford. Like the way I am with Kroos now.

I wouldn't be wishy washy about sending a player "best wishes" through any format, but if Kroos went through some freeze out under Zidane, I'd probably be annoyed about it, even though I've no affinity with the club.

Adamocovic · 24-08-2016 3:21pm

An File wrote: »

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

I think because he has been very involved in the media with advertisements, interviews and tv shows haven't helped his popularity a lot either.

He's a good keeper but I understand City looking for a better one as they have the funds available and there are better options out there.

Thank god we have De Gea anyway, he has saved us so many points during his career.

A bit off topic but a bit of odd trivia about Joe Hart, is his first name is actually Charles , same as his fathers, but his parents apparently wanted to call him Charles but then wanted his name to be Joe so they decided his written name would be Charles and then call him Joe :pac::pac:
Even Charles Hart (;)) himself has said "it makes no sense"

yabadabado · 24-08-2016 3:40pm

An File wrote: »

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

I am delighted for him ,a loathsome character.He is a decent keeper and that is all imo being England No.1 has kept him at City way longer than is talent alone would have.

Pro. F · 24-08-2016 4:21pm

jayo26 wrote: »

1,The two goals from westham you mention only one of them could be nailed on to attribute to blinds fault and yes he should of done better the other one was way above blind and valencia was the man that should of picked him up I think it was Sakho but even so that's 3 points over the course of the season.

2,Yeh if you go threw every defenders mistakes you can say what about this time and that but the point I'm making is blind formed a pretty successful partnership in the second best defence in the league and by and large he was excellent. We did not loose the league last year because of our defenders we lost it because of our inability to create and score goals so I wouldn't say our defence had serious problems.

3,The sample size is all we can base this season on so far and by the looks of it he has picked up where he left off.

4,I get what your saying in an ideal world world all our defenders would be all rounders but how many defenders are out there that can be top class in the air and good with there feet and good at one on one challenges and good at driving forward.

A partnership works when you recognise your partners weakness and make up for it Smalling did an good job of been the physical member of defence.

5 For example Steve Bruce was excellent passer of the ball and he was a rough and brave defender and excellent leader but pallister was a better defender he was more all round then Bruce but they knew the roles they played and they played it well together pallister often cleaned up after Bruce.

6 Masccherano for Barcelona can't head a ball either but he has helped them win a lot in defence because he can read a game so well.

1 Yes Valencia was at fault for the first goal of those two also. But the ball wasn't way over Blind's head, he could have gotten to it. Making that type of difficult challenge is the type of thing that excellent CBs do. Failing like Valencia did is the type of thing that converted wingers do. Blind is not an excellent CB. He's a converted midfielder who has some good attributes but who is extremely weak in the air.

2 Our back four was nowhere near as good as you are making out. If you just read the bottom line of goals conceded then you might believe that, but you have to take into account the style of play (which completely inhibited the attack) and the quality of the goalkeeper. Our defence definitely had serious problems and it was easy to predict that whenever LVG tried to attack more we would concede too many goals.

3 There is more than enough evidence from last season to say that Blind is extemely weak in the air.

4 Not all CBs have to be Vidic in the air. Just being adequate compared to a normal PL centre-back would be a starting point. Then you can look at their overall traits and pick styles to make partnerships. Based on last season Blind is far from adequate in the air.

5 Steve Bruce and Garry Palister were both incomparably better in the air than Blind. And your description of the Pallister/Bruce partnership is lacking. Pallister was super fast, Bruce was super strong in the air. Both were excellent defenders and neither had any glaring weaknesses. Pallister was still good in the air and Bruce was still quick enough.

6 Mascherano is stronger in the air than Blind. More importantly, he plays in a team who press much higher, are much fitter (so can keep pressing) and have a much better attack (so tend to keep opposition teams more hemmed in). Mascherano would not be a good CB in a more normal team.

You still haven't answered the questions I asked:
How can Smalling or Bailly, or whoever, win all the headers that need to be won accross the width of the two CB channels? What happens when there's a ball in the air to be won, but it's 10 yards away from where Smalling/Bailly is, in Blind's area?
I think those types of questions show the flaw in this idea that a two man CB partnership can carry a CB that is weak in the air.

Lord TSC · 24-08-2016 4:41pm

Shall we have a laugh at todays latest "Who gets paid to write this stuff" transfer rumour?

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/24-08-2016/balotelli-spera-manchester-united-raiola-offre-mourinho-160902747507.shtml

Raiola offering Balotelli to United, hoping Jose can be the one to properly develop him.

Billy86 · 24-08-2016 4:43pm

Lord TSC wrote: »

Shall we have a laugh at todays latest "Who gets paid to write this stuff" transfer rumour?

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/24-08-2016/balotelli-spera-manchester-united-raiola-offre-mourinho-160902747507.shtml

Raiola offering Balotelli to United, hoping Jose can be the one to properly develop him.

No word of a lie, I am absolutely certain that if it came to having to use one of them, Will Keane would do a good deal better than Balotelli. That's not a shot on Will Keane at all, he's just not going to make the grade here but could have maybe a decent top flight career. Which is more than Balotelli will, he and Ravel Morrison are possibly the biggest wastes of talent of the last 10-15 years (not including players ravaged by injury, e.g. not their fault).

Rayne Wooney · 24-08-2016 4:44pm

An File wrote: »

I'm a goalkeeper myself so I have a bit of sympathy for him. The pressure of being "England's Number 1" must be a bitch with all the media scrutiny on every single little mistake.

Also, if City get a better keeper, they might stop dropping points. :pac:

Media scrutiny? If anything Joe Hart has gotten a free ride for years now. If you only read the papers you'd believe he was a top class goalkeeper but in reality he has been a mid table keeper for years and if he wasn't England number one he'd be well moved on from city by now.

Joe Hart is a prime example of what's wrong with the England team.

jackwigan · 24-08-2016 4:53pm

Lord TSC wrote: »

Not disagreeing about the fact he's entitled to his contract, but he seemingly wants to make this a very public dispute, starting with getting his friends in Germany to give out about United, and now posting constantly online before matches.

For me, "very professional" would be accepting that a new manager has come in and has no plans for him; at that point, either shut up and take your money, or shut up and go to another team. But when you decide to take the issue into the public medium, then professionalism starts to take a hit.

The reality is though that when a manager says "You're not in the first team plans", and you say "Fine, I'll just collect a paycheque in the u21s", don't expect much support from fans.

Except that's a made up quote.

Seems to me he has a lot of support from fans too.

Liam O · 24-08-2016 4:55pm

Fellaini drops in a lot to help with long balls for Blind I find and Blind steps back. You're giving too much importance to those stats you posted a couple of weeks back imo Pro F.

Lord TSC · 24-08-2016 4:58pm

jackwigan wrote: »

Except that's a made up quote.

Seems to me he has a lot of support from fans too.

I'm not actually claiming he said those words. Just saying thats the apparent attitude he has.

And I'm sure he does have a lot of support, because ultimately, a fanbase is full of individuals who will all have their own views on the situation. Doesn't change my opinion of the situation at all though.

Flint Fredstone · 24-08-2016 5:04pm

Lord TSC wrote: »

Raiola offering Balotelli to United, hoping Jose can be the one to properly develop him.

Didn't Jose already say he was unmanageable?

Insect Overlord · 24-08-2016 5:09pm

TheDoc wrote: »

For general PL standards he is bang average actually. If he was foreign he would get a lot more scrutiny then he does. In reality, he's actually probably on par if not slightly better then Mignolet. And look at how the reaction to the two differs. His character to be honest, and the way he goes on, I actually believe he thinks he is better then he actually is.

Adamocovic wrote: »

He's a good keeper but I understand City looking for a better one as they have the funds available and there are better options out there.

yabadabado wrote: »

I am delighted for him ,a loathsome character.He is a decent keeper and that is all imo being England No.1 has kept him at City way longer than is talent alone would have.

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Media scrutiny? If anything Joe Hart has gotten a free ride for years now. If you only read the papers you'd believe he was a top class goalkeeper but in reality he has been a mid table keeper for years and if he wasn't England number one he'd be well moved on from city by now.

Joe Hart is a prime example of what's wrong with the England team.

Ye could well be right! I took a break from reading this forum for a long while, and I never read the sports papers, so my opinion was only based on a very casual interest in what's been happening with City/England.

Pro. F · 24-08-2016 5:11pm

Liam O wrote: »

Fellaini drops in a lot to help with long balls for Blind I find and Blind steps back. You're giving too much importance to those stats you posted a couple of weeks back imo Pro F.

Needing a midfielder to drop back to do a centre-back's job for him is a big weakness.

The stats just prove the point that has always obvious from watching Blind. He is weak in the air for a centre-back.

brinty · 24-08-2016 5:20pm

Lord TSC wrote: »

Shall we have a laugh at todays latest "Who gets paid to write this stuff" transfer rumour?

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calciomercato/24-08-2016/balotelli-spera-manchester-united-raiola-offre-mourinho-160902747507.shtml

Raiola offering Balotelli to United, hoping Jose can be the one to properly develop him.

baaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Had to check my calendar to see if i'd lost eight months of my life and it was april fools...

Balotelli for waterboy

jayo26 · 24-08-2016 5:43pm

Pro. F wrote: »

You still haven't answered the questions I asked:
How can Smalling or Bailly, or whoever, win all the headers that need to be won accross the width of the two CB channels? What happens when there's a ball in the air to be won, but it's 10 yards away from where Smalling/Bailly is, in Blind's area?
I think those types of questions show the flaw in this idea that a two man CB partnership can carry a CB that is weak in the air.

I'm not going to keep going threw point for point infairness we disagree on the heading detail and you think we can't judge a good defence just by the amount of goals they concede that's fair enough strange but fair enough.

On the point of what we do if Smalling or bailly are not there to head a ball I'd say that blind is not totally inept at defending that situation he can still jump or stick to a player so that he hasn't a free header or an easy header. It goes back to the point that there is very little examples of him causing us to loose games because of his heading.

I have confidence that we will have another very successful season defensive wise with blind in the center back position. He is not the best all round defender in the league but we will have one of the best defences in the league.

jackwigan · 24-08-2016 5:57pm

Lord TSC wrote: »

I'm not actually claiming he said those words. Just saying thats the apparent attitude he has.

And I'm sure he does have a lot of support, because ultimately, a fanbase is full of individuals who will all have their own views on the situation. Doesn't change my opinion of the situation at all though.

No that's fair.

I was excited when he signed, I guess I was hoping for more of a chance to prove himself this season.

24-08-2016 6:00pm

I haven't made one comment all along on the Schweinsteiger situation, but...

Those of us who feel that he could be/have been treated slightly better since Mourinho's arrival, it's not that we don't respect or agree with the managers ability to pick and choose his own squad.

Me personally, I just find it a little strange that Jose didn't even take one look at Schweinsteiger in pre-season, just sent him straight to the reserves and seemed to have his mind made up well in advance that he wouldn't be using him. That's fine, new managers arrive at clubs and can have these decisions already made, I guess I just want to know 'Why Schweinsteiger?' Mourinho basically came in and said 'Nope, not interested in anything you have to offer and I won't be giving you so much as ten minutes in pre-season, there is nothing for you here'.

Now, even at that, respect to Mourinho. Decisiveness aside, many a player in the past would have loved to get that clarification from a manager during a transfer window so that they could seek football elsewhere rather than rot on the bench. Basti seems to be standing his ground though, like he is entitled to, and Jose the same, as he is also entitled to do.

I don't blame a player for wanting to hold onto his contract.
I don't blame a manager for deciding that a player is surplus to requirements. I'm just wondering why is this player Bastian Schweinsteiger.

All that said, I'd rather see Herrera, Fellaini and Morgan get minutes beside Pogba, just throwing in my thoughts on this Basti situation.

Do any of you watch a HBO show called Silicon Valley? Schweinsteiger basically got sent to the roof. He is our own version of Bighead.

beno619 · 24-08-2016 6:14pm

Is Bravo a significant upgrade on Joe Hart ?

Barca don't seem terribly bothered about loosing him.

Hopefully City are trading one above average keeper for another.

In other news De Gea is the highest rated PL player in FIFA 17 at 91 followed by Zlatan at 90.

Billy86 · 24-08-2016 7:12pm

Joe Hart's not as good as the media make out, but not as poor as some opposition fans make out. He's good, very good even... but not great. I don't think Bravo is great either, but Guardiola is a pretty stubborn manager when it comes to how he wants his teams to play, and Bravo seems to me to be a considerably better fit in this regards.

Nothing wrong with getting rid of Hart, but I do think this continues to speak to Guardiola putting too much emphasis on/pride in one particular style of play and just generally letting his ego dictate his actions more than practicality or pragmatism; he's a very good manager but it's something I utterly cannot stand in him. Then again City have other needs they would be better served addressing, so I'm not complaining.

I think we might have a very special guest in this thread in the very near future...

bucketybuck · 24-08-2016 7:33pm

stankratz wrote: »

I guess I just want to know 'Why Schweinsteiger?'

I just assume its because he is 32, showing signs of injury fatigue, plays a position we are pretty well stocked in and still has name recognition that might generate a good fee.

If Jose wanted to move anybody on it would probably be him, and if thats the case he probably would prefer it happened sooner rather than later. Hence the actions that make it very clear to the player that he isn't wanted and that it might be in his best interests to leave...

Or maybe Jose speaks to his good mate Pep every night and Pep told him a little secret about Bastian and now Jose hates him. Who knows.

24-08-2016 7:34pm

https://twitter.com/mubashir9995/status/768243145725317120

24-08-2016 7:37pm

Who doesnt love a good conspiracy theory.

Bastian played under Pep for 2 years, Jose hates Pep, Jose fears Bastian telling Pep his footballing secrets. Jose makes Bastian train with the un21s.

Now who else wants a go of my tin foil hat.

Billy86 · 24-08-2016 7:46pm

Deleted User wrote: »

https://twitter.com/mubashir9995/status/768243145725317120

Jaysus that's the face of idolisation if ever I've seen it!

Whatsisname · 24-08-2016 7:57pm

Billy86 wrote: »

Joe Hart's not as good as the media make out, but not as poor as some opposition fans make out. He's good, very good even... but not great. I don't think Bravo is great either, but Guardiola is a pretty stubborn manager when it comes to how he wants his teams to play, and Bravo seems to me to be a considerably better fit in this regards.

Nothing wrong with getting rid of Hart, but I do think this continues to speak to Guardiola putting too much emphasis on/pride in one particular style of play and just generally letting his ego dictate his actions more than practicality or pragmatism; he's a very good manager but it's something I utterly cannot stand in him. Then again City have other needs they would be better served addressing, so I'm not complaining.

I think we might have a very special guest in this thread in the very near future...

I'll throw up if that bollox starts getting spouted in here

Liam McPoyle · 24-08-2016 8:14pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

https://twitter.com/mubashir9995/status/768243145725317120

It can only be a good thing having someone of Zlatans stature around for the young attacking players.

Hopefully Memphis gets a shot.

The lad clearly has ability but his confidence looked completely shot last season.

Hopefully Jose will help get the best out of him.