Ross Barkley will go down as one of the biggest let downs in PL history. I remember watching him in a pre-season game as a 16(?) year old and to this day he's still the most impressive 16 year old I've seen in England. He has no technical or physical weakness but he clearly lack the attitude and application to fulfill his potential.
Summer Transfer Window 2020/21 - Rumours & Signings *please quote sources*
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The bit that surprises me is can you fit him and Grealish in the same team? He's just signed a new contract, so you'd assume not being sold, although you can't be too sure these days.
Barkley was the most impressive English teenager I've seen in a very long time, I expected us to be building a team around him. Probably the most impressive since I saw Jack Wilshere in preseason at 16, and then against against absolute peak/prime Barcelona in the Champions League at 19.
Barkley is almost the complete player - strong, good dribbler, two-footed, reasonable in the air, good shot, range of passing etc. In terms of potential right up there. I think Alli stole his thunder a bit in recent years.
Barkley was the most impressive English teenager I've seen in a very long time, I expected us to be building a team around him. Probably the most impressive since I saw Jack Wilshere in preseason at 16, and then against against absolute peak/prime Barcelona in the Champions League at 19.
Barkley is almost the complete player - strong, good dribbler, two-footed, reasonable in the air, good shot, range of passing etc. In terms of potential right up there. I think Alli stole his thunder a bit in recent years.
Attitude is generally what differentiates the top players from the rest. There are so many good players out there that just stagnate and never seem to kick on. Some players reach their ceiling but a lot of players simply stop applying themselves and improving. Money must have a huge amount to do with it.
Caporegime
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Maybe leaving London and playing in the midlands might help him. A lot of players lose it when they go to London.
Even Neville is getting annoyed now.
Every summer it's the same thing, we just make a low offer, wait until the final week, then fail to get the target or pay the asking price.
I think the fact we got top 4 means they aren't too fussed about strengthening the squad. I hope I'm wrong.
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We only got VDB thanks to VDS so absolutely nothing to do with United. I swear Fernandes only went through because fans smashed up Woodwards house!
If we do get Sancho and pay the full price it just means we could have had him since August 10th. We missed out on Reguilion to Spurs for Christ sake!
The fact we haven't even got rid of players yet is outstanding as well. Romero, Smalling, Phil Jones, Rojo, J Lingz, Andreas. Must be close to 500k per week on all of those.
But why do you need more players when you have all those? Smalling and Jones were the future of United's defence, remember?
Barkley's lack of progression started long before he left Everton tbf. He had a few spells where you thought he was going to become a serious player but from the back end of Martinez's time at Everton he just stood still as a player. I just think he lacked the drive and commitment to become a top class player.
You know a club has to want to sign those players for them to leave right? Who on earth would want anyone on that list? Romero possibly but who's taking Phil Jones lol
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Smalling and Romero could easily be offloaded, Rojo, Andreas and Lingard also although for peanuts. That lot would still net you 50 million and help take the sting off Sancho.
I do agree on Phil Jones though. His finishing against De-Gea has been exquisite over the years though.
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Smalling will go to Roma probably.
when did the PS4 and fortnite come out?
If it was as simply as you say then they'd be gone by now. It is very difficult for big sides to shift deadwood because the wages these players are on are well in excess of what sides that might be interested could or would pay them. This leaves clubs with a choice of paying the player off (which they won't want to do because it will set a precedent for future deals) or holding out for a West Ham of this world to do something crazy and offer Lingard a £100k per week contract. The latter is highly unlikely unless you've got a very desperate buyer that's flush with money.
Even with somebody like Smalling, where you have a buyer that can afford to sign him and take on his wages, the issue is Roma know Utd want to sell him and are going to squeeze Utd as much as possible to get him for the lowest possible fee. There's more players for sale than buyers right now so unless clubs are picky then it's a buyers market.
What I find strange is that you have to have such a high level of commitment for such a long time to even approach that level. I assume most players that reach that level haven't been doing it for the money for most of that period. Its fundamentally a really easy job as well. Its not a 9 to 5, you get a few months off over the summer every year. Paid ridiculous money. Only work for 15 or so years only to be set up for life.
I know that life isn't perfect and money doesn't make people happy but it baffles me how many players seem to just go through the motions when they hit a certain level.
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Why dont we just play smalling? He did well for Roma and is better than lindloff etc and isn't an injury waiting to happen like Eric Bailey.
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huh? Serie A makes him look better than he is
Pride. Someone probably told him he's done at utd and don't want to have to back track. Got to agree that I'd play him ahead of lindloff
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