The Football Thread 2019/20: Barcelona will have 2-8 till next season to avenge this embarrassment

[Photek]

Solskjaer was full of big talk about his players not being good enough and preparing for a summer clear-out. He's now just offered Juan Mata a new contract. Haha!

They need Potch ASAP.

[Blue Eyes]

Solskjaer was full of big talk about his players not being good enough and preparing for a summer clear-out. He's now just offered Juan Mata a new contract. Haha!

They need Potch ASAP.

Potch doesn't need them, that's for sure.

[<]:^D]

Mata is a good squad player - bring him on when a team are defending a lead and camped in their half.

[Herdanos]

If Phil Jones is worth a contract extension then so is Juan Mata...

[Jamo3103]

As long as Woodward is calling the shots at United then it's not really going to matter who's in charge.

Mata is past his best and should have been moved on. He's seemingly a nice bloke and a good role model for young players but there should be no room for sentiment and big clubs that actually operate like big clubs would have got shut.

It comes down to simple Glazernomics, cheaper to renew the deadwood than to actually go out and significantly reinvest - hence Jones, Smalling, Young and now Mata extending their contracts. It's also exactly why we'll be lucky to finish Top 6 next season.

[BOR]

It’s been a joke with United’s structure of transfers. We really need Director of Football who knows in and out.

Don’t forget the transfer window shut early before the season start.

[Preezy]

He might not fit the current United style of play, but he's such a great professional and downright superb human being that I just can't moan about Mata getting a new deal. He genuinely cares and wants to be a positive influence, so hes got my vote. Should be captain, really, he puts more effort in than the rest of those strawberry floating wastrel banana splits.

[Photek]

You’re part of the problem Preezy.

In contrast, Milner who has 1 more year left, might get a 1 year extension and he’s been far better than mata has been for Manu, great human or not.

Sturridge is loved at Liverpool but we let him walk.

[SandyCoin]

You’re part of the problem Preezy.

In contrast, Milner who has 1 more year left, might get a 1 year extension and he’s been far better than mata has been for Manu, great human or not.

Sturridge is loved at Liverpool but we let him walk.

Is Milner Liverpool's most experienced player? I think United need at least some old wise heads in the dressing room as at present it's mostly just a bunch of dumb kids who don't know what they're doing. Oh, and Lingard who apparently is about 30 but still plays like a teenager learning their trade .

Personally I would have got rid of Mata, but there are far worse players than him in the squad right now. Sadly.

[Dowbocop]

Hasn't Mata spent most of the past few seasons out of favour under Mourinho? I still think he's got 10-15 goals/assists in him next season if he's more valued in a team that's functioning better. Probably closer to ten in fairness...

[Photek]

Milner, Hendo and Lallana are 3 of Liverpool's most experienced players, Millie and Hendo have been major contributors to the last couple of seasons and Injury has left Lallana out of favour but, again he's going to stay for his 1 year and he'll be let go because he wants to try and get into the first team and will play in the smaller cup games.

I just think the contract extensions of Young, Smalling, Jones and Mata has the feeling of a bunch of mates that enjoy hanging out. Throw in the potential of want away Pogba into that dressing room and apparent massive wages Rashford is on and I just don't think it's a good mix.

[shadow202]

I wouldn't be sad to see Lallana leave this season for a small fee and maybe give Grujic a shot in his place instead.

[Photek]

I wouldn't be sad to see Lallana leave this season for a small fee and maybe give Grujic a shot in his place instead.

3 German clubs are interested in Grujic, looking like £25m, he hasn’t worked out, he holds onto the ball far too long and doesn’t suit Klopp’s style, he slows down counterattacks, take the money I reckon.

[Psychic]

When was the last time you saw Grujic play? I've not seen much of him playing for Hertha but it's all been good and everyone who's talked about his spell there has spoken highly of him.

Looking at the depth in the squad in central midfield, I figure he might struggle to get meaningful minutes so he'd be better off out on loan for another season. Next summer you'll probably have Milner and Lallana leaving which would give him a better chance to play. Depends how highly the club rate him though, I guess.

[Photek]

A year ago I think but on the several times he played he didn't seem to be any different in each game...I don't think he will get near the current team as you said but he didn't impress in any of his appearances, like at all.

[Mini E]

strawberry floating VAR

Also - that referee in the Scotland/Argentina game. strawberry float me. I don't even support Scotland and that's a joke. IS A JOKE. IS A JOKE.

Scotland threw that away for sure, but the penalty to Argentina was awarded at 86:39. By the time it had been VAR'd, taken and missed, VAR'd again, retaken and scored - it was 93:50 (no open play in this time). Four minutes of added time were originally shown, and the referee blows for full time at 95:01

What an absolute shit-show that was.

[PaperMacheMario]

Honestly, VAR is utterly killing the game. Combined with this new rule about the keeper having to have at least one foot on the line for penalties (how is that different from before anyway?); the fact that it’s being implemented so unreasonably strictly and seemingly with priority over existing rules (infringing in the box before a pen); the fact that is slows the game down to a crawl, with fans and viewers half in the dark; the fact is takes all of the emotion out of goals, leading fans to be cautious to celebrate too much in case the goal/non-goal is reversed; the fact that it isn’t being used for what it was intended for and what it should actually be for (clear and obvious errors); the fact that everything looks more intentional in slow motion.

It’s all so tiresome, boring, relentless and pedantic and it’s only been around for a couple of years. I was kind of looking forward to it coming in initially, now I’m dreading it.

[Mini E]

I'm so utterly pissed off at the overall incompetence of what I just watched

[PaperMacheMario]

Same, absolute shambles.

[BOR]

I don’t know how reliable Duncan Castles is but he mentioned United have agreed a fee for Wan Bissaka.