2022-23 PL season.

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Liverpool won the Community Shield 3-1 over Manchester City at the King Power Stadium.
TAA opened the scoring.
Julian Alvarez scored on his City debut.
Salah scored a penalty after Dias handball.
Darwin Nunez scored late on, also ok debut.

Seems like the media really have to hype up Liverpool for some reason…

Debut to forget for Erling Haaland, largely anonymous. And missed a sitter from 6 yards out late on. Hit the crossbar in fact.

Wild over the top celebrations over a pre season match…genuinely baffling scenes.

I'd have some reservations about spending that much on a 30 year old who's spent his entire career cleaning up behind two of the best ball retention players in the world. Also kinda wary Madrid are happy to let him walk after playing nearly 50 games for them last year, like Di Maria.

That said United are desperate for anyone to raise the bar both on and off the pitch, and if they were particularly competent they wouldn't be in this mess to begin with

Casemiro supposedly wasn’t too happy when Florentino Perez told him that Tchouaméni was too expensive to sit on bench.

Casemiro is exactly the type of player United need, but they're giving him a four-year deal and a hike in wages, so they're going to be lumbered with him when he's past his best. Just shows United never learn, in part due to their desperation.

Yeah I mean United can shoulder the wages in the end, it's that they're now having to do this after being battered twice by midtable teams, because they wasted most of the summer on a midfielder who never wanted to come. And they still need another midfielder and multiple forwards after that (along with shifting Ronaldo).

Who is actually in charge at United. Should've given De Jong a hard deadline months ago and moved on

Is it me or is there no real sense of leadership but more an attitude of 'I can't be arsed, still getting paid'?

Didn't your CEO turn up at a pub and say the bad eggs had been shipped out

Seems like either the Glazers are trying to bulk up the squad ahead of the sale. Or panic buying to dampen down the fan fury.
Manchester United reported bid €80m for Antony from Ajax - rejected. How on earth are players from the Dutch league worth so much…
Still rumours of Frenkie de Jong as well…

The Glazers aren't selling. You'd have to double the price of Chelsea to even get their attention.

Riggs wrote:Utd lost because the defence simply wasn't good enough. Once again, Harry didn't help. Ofcourse luck was involved but taking your chances is what Brighton did. Utd should've thrashed them something aweful but they didn't, their loss.

Moron.

Most hilarious transfer story of the summer - Chelsea want to sign Harry Maguire, possibly as part of a swap deal with Pulisic.

Duty281 wrote:Most hilarious transfer story of the summer - Chelsea want to sign Harry Maguire, possibly as part of a swap deal with Pulisic.

I might sound totally mad but this could work out for both parties imo.
Maguire probably would be better in a 3 man defence especially when it’s with K2 and Thiago Silva.
Pulisic would be a decent signing for EtH. He’s pretty versatile.

Harry's a good player, but has to be played in a system or pairing that makes up for his lack of pace. 80m probably not, but he doesn't choose his own transfer fee. Wouldn't be the first player to improve in a more coherent setup than United.

Pulisic is a bit so so to me. Came with a lot of hype but never established himself more as an impact sub

GSC wrote:The Glazers aren't selling. You'd have to double the price of Chelsea to even get their attention.

Not sure if you're being serious or not but that is miles away from the value of the club. The Glazers might be unpopular but they are not idiots.

What did Chelsea go for? $4.25bn? There isn't anyone on this planet that is paying $8.5bn minimum for Manchester United. That is just a nonsense number.

I said on the previous page, their equity stake can only be $1bn or $1.5bn at the upper end. I could work it out if I was bothered but it is somewhere in that region. There is not a chance they are looking for a mark up to $8.5bn. No one would pay it. The business and sporting operation simply isn't worth that. There are some very rich people around but they generally get rich by being smart. Paying massively over the odds for a highly leveraged business isn't smart. The Glazers might want $100bn for it, but they won't be stupid enough to think someone will pay it.

Even if the value of their equity and the fixed cost loans and interest are accounted for, the club is probably worth South of what Chelsea went for. That is just the economics. What you can't factor in is the potential and the brand. That is where the Glazers will get their return on their equity, by leveraging the potential and using the Chelsea number as a bit part of that leverage strategy. The Chelsea number gives them a bottom line selling figure. They will be looking for more than that as Utd is a massive global brand in excess of anything Chelsea can match. I would say something like $5bn to $6bn is probably what they are looking for. They will definitely sell. You don't offer a leveraged business up for minority sale after 17 years of sole ownership unless you're looking at the exit but they need someone to pay the money and take on that leverage. It will happen but not at $8.5bn.

The unofficial price is £5bn/$6bn it’s been quoted by many of the football experts.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

GSC wrote:The Glazers aren't selling. You'd have to double the price of Chelsea to even get their attention.

Not sure if you're being serious or not but that is miles away from the value of the club. The Glazers might be unpopular but they are not idiots.

What did Chelsea go for? $4.25bn? There isn't anyone on this planet that is paying $8.5bn minimum for Manchester United. That is just a nonsense number.

I said on the previous page, their equity stake can only be $1bn or $1.5bn at the upper end. I could work it out if I was bothered but it is somewhere in that region. There is not a chance they are looking for a mark up to $8.5bn. No one would pay it. The business and sporting operation simply isn't worth that. There are some very rich people around but they generally get rich by being smart. Paying massively over the odds for a highly leveraged business isn't smart. The Glazers might want $100bn for it, but they won't be stupid enough to think someone will pay it.

Even if the value of their equity and the fixed cost loans and interest are accounted for, the club is probably worth South of what Chelsea went for. That is just the economics. What you can't factor in is the potential and the brand. That is where the Glazers will get their return on their equity, by leveraging the potential and using the Chelsea number as a bit part of that leverage strategy. The Chelsea number gives them a bottom line selling figure. They will be looking for more than that as Utd is a massive global brand in excess of anything Chelsea can match. I would say something like $5bn to $6bn is probably what they are looking for. They will definitely sell. You don't offer a leveraged business up for minority sale after 17 years of sole ownership unless you're looking at the exit but they need someone to pay the money and take on that leverage. It will happen but not at $8.5bn.

I find this interesting, the business side/aspect to sport.

It's as much I just don't think they're interesting in selling. You'd have to come up with a fantasy number

Arsenal looking really good at the moment, and with the soft fixture list they have they can keep the run going for a little while yet. Tottenham have also had a good start, without playing especially decent. Ordinarily that bodes well, but Tottenham being Tottenham they'll lose when their performances improve. Rodgers is in real trouble at Leicester.

Glazers have supposedly increased the summer war chest to £300m. Still got the fascination with Frenkie de Jong as well…

Jeff Navarro wrote:Glazers have supposedly increased the summer war chest to £300m. Still got the fascination with Frenkie de Jong as well…

It feels to me like one last hurrah, they know they'll be selling imminently so trying to drive up the price with some marquee signings.

Soul Requiem wrote:

Jeff Navarro wrote:Glazers have supposedly increased the summer war chest to £300m. Still got the fascination with Frenkie de Jong as well…[/quote

It feels to me like one last hurrah, they know they'll be selling imminently so trying to drive up the price with some marquee signings.

Elon Musk’s market manipulation supposedly boosted share price by 17%!

So Klopp been speaking again. Seems to be having some issues with Agbonlahar
And secondly suggesting Liverpool should be awarded a default if fans cause Monday’s game at Old Trafford to be cancelled…

There could be an upset coming, check out Leeds vs Chelsea.

Odd game. I generally like Mendy as a keeper, but he does make too many howlers for a top four PL goalkeeper. Then Leeds' second came from a FK that shouldn't have been awarded. And Chelsea really aren't a team designed to chase games, they lack a quality striker.

See Brighton are beating West Ham away. Gets Brighton into the top four spots, and West Ham are 0 from 9.

Ajax's Antony looking like he's the next one in at Manchester United. Various sources suggesting a deal that will reach €100m. Staggering fee if it turns out true.
They paid €85m for Sancho last summer to play off the RW, now they're spending even more for another RW...

Duty281 wrote:Odd game. I generally like Mendy as a keeper, but he does make too many howlers for a top four PL goalkeeper. Then Leeds' second came from a FK that shouldn't have been awarded. And Chelsea really aren't a team designed to chase games, they lack a quality striker.

See Brighton are beating West Ham away. Gets Brighton into the top four spots, and West Ham are 0 from 9.

I'm aware I could be speaking prematurely but if things keep going like they are, we could see the likes of Leeds, BHA & Brentford getting into the top 5 and potentially finishing very high on the table.
Yes, we are only 3 games in.....but who knows what can happen.

Easy there! Brighton could finish top 5. It would be a surprise, but stranger things have happened. But the other two should all drop down to the bottom half of the table in God's good time.

Jeff Navarro wrote:They paid €85m for Sancho last summer to play off the RW, now they're spending even more for another RW...

It's the 'buy someone to show you're doing something' strategy that's brought them (and plenty of others) so much success for the past decade

Newcastle leading Manchester City 3-1 in the ‘Oil Derby’.
Pope made a worldie at 2-1 might be the moment of the match.

Newcastle 3-3 Manchester City thrilling game as the Magpies went toe to toe with the champions.

Duty281 wrote:Odd game. I generally like Mendy as a keeper, but he does make too many howlers for a top four PL goalkeeper. Then Leeds' second came from a FK that shouldn't have been awarded. And Chelsea really aren't a team designed to chase games, they lack a quality striker.

See Brighton are beating West Ham away. Gets Brighton into the top four spots, and West Ham are 0 from 9.

For a team that had a spine of Cech, Terry, Lampard (Makelele/Ballack/Essien), Drogba for 8-10 years this current iteration is depressingly, incredibly soft.

Three games in and Kante and Kova are both already injured (no surprise) and Jorginho moves so slowly he is going backwards. Gallagher and RLC are not players who can play in a two.

Kante at this point you're probably just gonna have to manage his minutes to ensure he plays the big games. Probably burned himself out at this point given his style.

Decent point at Goodison, disappointed not to hold out but draw was a fair result. Bench strength was night and day from the Newcastle game when we had youth players and players who didn't make the grade when we were a championship side.

Spurs, then City away probably stops the good times for a bit

Everton might need to do a fair bit of work in the next week or so. Gordon looked good but if you could invest that 50m in a forward with more goal threat

GSC wrote:Decent point at Goodison, disappointed not to hold out but draw was a fair result. Bench strength was night and day from the Newcastle game when we had youth players and players who didn't make the grade when we were a championship side.

Spurs, then City away probably stops the good times for a bit

Everton might need to do a fair bit of work in the next week or so. Gordon looked good but if you could invest that 50m in a forward with more goal threat

Gordon is decent, but not a £50m player. I am torn in keeping our academy players as much as possible, but that £50m could go a long way in other areas, particularly a goalscorer like you said.

Being linked to Toney this morning, who I would bite your hand off for atm

Good to see Newcastle taking the game to City yesterday, not just rolling over. I saw a bit of PSG-Lille yesterday, and Lille barely put any effort in as PSG's superstars cruised to something like a 7-1 win. Always feel it's such a waste of talent, the likes of Mbappe/Messi/Neymar/Hakimi etc. playing in such a dead league.

Trippier's FK goal will firm up Southgate's choice to play him as part of a back five when England come up against a heavyweight nation in Qatar, but the red for Trippier shouldn't have been overturned. It was a bad use of VAR and put the referee in a difficult position. I disagree heavily with VAR telling the referee to go and look at the pitchside monitor in any circumstance, it smacks of humiliating the referee rather than being beneficial.

United-Liverpool tonight. Could get ugly on and off the pitch. Liverpool fired up to get their first win of the season could put several past a useless United team.

Utd v Liverpool?

I think Liverpool fancy their chances considering the current form of Utd.
Things could get heated.

Duty281 wrote:I disagree heavily with VAR telling the referee to go and look at the pitchside monitor in any circumstance, it smacks of humiliating the referee rather than being beneficial.

The problem there is that, for whatever reason, refs seem to think being called to the monitor means they have to change their decision. Could really use a few going over and standing by their call on the pitch to establish that it's an option.

Liverpool should win by a few. Backs to the wall and 0 expectations might work for United though.

Loving the odds on Liverpool tonight. 8/11 that they win, 17/10 that they win by two goals or more, 4/1 that they win by three or more, 11/1 they win by four or more, 28/1 they win by five or more, and 80/1 they win by six or more.

GSC wrote:Kante at this point you're probably just gonna have to manage his minutes to ensure he plays the big games. Probably burned himself out at this point given his style.

Kante and Jorginho are both out of contract next summer too. Giving both of them new deals is a huge risk - I’d be trying to move one (Jorginho preferably) on this summer. Otherwise you end up in the same situation as they did this summer with their defence.

Probably my old man yells at clouds moment but I still don't get Jorginho

Looks like Chelsea are getting Aubameyang. Decent signing but very much a short-term one. Around £18m? Not too bad.

GSC wrote:Probably my old man yells at clouds moment but I still don't get Jorginho

He has his qualities, but for a side with the financial resources or Chelsea I do not believe that they can’t find a DM who can pass a ball and be athletic.

Auba? Just another striker to not create anything for.

EtH makes four changes as Ronaldo, Maguire, Shaw and Fred are dropped. No recognised striker.

Malacia, McTomminay, Elanga and Varane all start

Jadon Sancho puts MUFC ahead 1-0

Marcus Rashford makes its 2-0. MUFC pace merchants up top ripping Liverpool apart

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool. EtH era up and running as United dominated largely against their great rivals.
EtH decision to go with Rashford, Sancho and Elanga was the master stroke.
Their defence was brilliant for 80 minutes, they faded down the last 10 minutes. Varane showed he class.

No future at Old Trafford for CR7 or Maguire.

United putting together a performance when everyone rips into them for a week.

Liverpool take over as crisis club

The one time I back Liverpool...

Good aggression from United which set the tone, then they took their chances. Had moments of fortune as well - Fernandes nearly smashed it into his own net or, perhaps worse, off Martinez's arm, when they were 1-0 up. United's defence looked miles better with Maguire safely on the bench, now Ten Hag just needs to keep him there and introduce Casemiro in place of McTominay. Rashford's goal may re-ignite his Manchester United career, his first goal since January. VAR on those marginal offsides is a joke, it's just guesswork where you draw the line when the angle isn't straight, and guesswork as to which frame is decided as the moment the ball was passed. So I'm pleased it was given as it was not ruled offside on the field.

The one bad thing about this result for United, potentially, is it dampens the Glazer Out movement.

Liverpool in an early crisis. I thought they would struggle this season, but I don't think anyone thought they'd be winless after 3. Their lack of depth has already been exposed by injuries, their midfield was lightweight tonight, and it could get worse in this very congested season. Trent is an utter liability at the back and I think most are beginning to realise how overrated he is.

Ten Hag played a blinder, with his selection, although some changes like Maguire and Ronaldo not starting were obvious. Klopp on the other hand, needs to look away from players like Milner, even with injuries. Nobody else with top four ambitions would play him.

It’s almost as if Klopp is trying to force through a midfield signing with his selections thus far, despite his constant interviews saying the answer is within his squad.

The way Trent is playing, it’ll be interesting to see how much game time Ramsey will get once fit.