fox_up_north

Well this thread took a turn... On Bale - I think his three destinations really are PSG, United or China. Real really can't seem to shift him though. It's a bit sad really as he seems a nice guy but perhaps his transfer to Real was too soon.

Sad fact is unless he takes a massive wage cut - which his agent probably won't allow - his only options are huge European clubs or silly China money. He's coming up to 30 and his injury record is against him. It's all been a bit of an odd waste of a career. Yes, he's won 3 Champions Leagues but has he been happy doing it? Real fans seem to hate him.

It's a real shame what happened and the fax machine nonsense didn't help. I still think a loan to buy / transfer is for the best. Seems a genuine bloke and taken the whole debacle well but some things just don't work out.

The joy I get out of seeing many salty and annoyed United fans cannot be put into words. I worked with a lad once who was a United fan who misheard me when I said I support led Leicester City he thought I meant Man City. Some of the things he used to say to me were just terrible, like Yaya Toure getting ebola. That kind of disgusting behaviour has absolutely put me off some sections of their fanbase. At least their Chinese fans are respectful.

In the right hands...say...Benitez... it's not a terrible team and one that can avoid relegation. In other, more clumsy hands...

I do thing we should be cautiously optimistic. There are just so many unknown / random factors this season. Wolves, Everton and West Ham can all make a good case for top 8. Then you have a Man U and Arsenal in free fall but with still enough firepower to do well. Chelsea are a complete unknown at this point and could finish anywhere from 4th to 8th. Either way - Liverpool and Man City must be looking at the league and wondering where the next challenge will come from.

It is incredible how that Hull team didn't stay up given the quality of it

A weird 3-4-3 Brendan might be all over it

Tbf I don't begrudge him this move. Whether we like it or not - these are massive clubs. It pretty much cements him as England's first choice CB for the next 5 years. Plus the money will be ****ing ridiculous. The flip side is other players may start forcing moves TO us if they look and see former LCFC players go to huge clubs. Not ideal but until we get top 6 regularly you taks what you can get and having a reputation for fielding hungry young players who want to make the most of the opportunity in order to reach the top - probably not a bad one.

I'm 40 mins away over the Snake. No chance of a ticket for this one.

Eventually there comes a point where fans have to take some of the blame. It's a club to support - not a religion. If you don't feel you're getting your money's worth (and it IS expensive for most people) then don't go.

Good news. Nobodyshould ever be made to feel unable to support their team.

This could be similar to the Sanchez situation where City put in bids just to annoy United and drive up the price. It's getting quite late now and this has dragged. I'm starting to think he won't go.

Very true. I thought cups give you a bye straight to groups whereas 6th is qualifiers?

Nice in theory but we know how it could be abused. I do feel for Ajax though. Their team will be ripped apart this year and next.

Cup win. Always. I'm lucky to have seen two clubs I have ties to win cups (Leicester and Lincoln) and, no matter how doggo the quality of the game, you always remember it. 6th could mean away days in Azerbaijan, Norway and Israel.

The longer this drags on, the more I can see him either not going or going for silly money. The window shuts earlier this season so there'll be more effort from clubs to get deals sorted quickly. We're almost at July now, which leaves, what...5 weeks? No "major" deals have been done/ confirmed as yet (Everton's deal for Gomes was foregone conclusion given his loan). I think a lot of this window hinges on what happens with Neymar and Real Madrid, personally. They are going to spend big. Hazard is a bit of a non-event because it's been mooted for ages and Chelsea can't buy in so that money is going nowhere.

THIS is a real talking point. I can see why they'd call it navy blue. But it shimmers more. I'd call it "Royal Blue" or something. But we're not Reading. Plus - sky blue? Could a move to Coventry be on the cards?

This only works if we've got another CB lined up. Realistically this transfer has been mooted for, what, six months? I'd hope the club have had a contingency in place - 2-3 targets to replace him for that time. Brendan will have had his own idea of what kind of player he likes at CB. It is still fairly early in the window as well. If we can get him out, money in and another transfer on the go by mid July then it works. But no more outs.

Nothing makes me happy like an arrogant, bitter, Man United fan. We'll keep him then.

I think it's ridiculous some of the eligibility rules. It should be the country you were born in/ spent a significant amount of childhood and MAYBE your parents' country. This is the kind of nonsense Ireland pulled to get Declan Rice on their books before he saw sense and went with England - the country where him and his parents are from

Great position to be in. Two cash rich clubs (one of which could be staring down the barrel of FFP restrictions so needs to move now) vying for our player. Look at how much Arsenal got for Sanchez last season when both Manc clubs wanted him. Honestly I'd just have a straight auction with the reserve at £75 million and see what happens. The downside is that it could bugger our purchases of other players if they know we have a lot.

Have an original. Well that's something of a lie. I outgrew my original about 20 years ago so a few years ago I tracked one down on ebay that suits my more...."advanced" shape.

Christ no. I don't remember it as I was really young but was there for the Steve Walsh last minute. Been to Wembley for a cup final - EFL trophy - and it's a much better experience. Playoffs can go away.

Here's hoping Mahrez trolls him and we get deadline day pics of a forelorn Zaha sat around Luton airport