MrBlack

@Jas10 get the "twitter.co" link from the share option and it works

Agreed. Basically those officials should be permanently relieved of their duty. They cant cope with the pressure of key decisions. Or are corrupt in ways that mean they shouldn't be used.

If we sell him, we're signing Acuna. If we sign Acuna, we're selling him. Be interesting to see which happens first. It's effectively a trade with money on top, and I'd argue Acuna fits our style of playing better so it's a double win for us if it happens. Digne just doesn't have the energy to match Moreno, and with our right back situation the way it is, it's much easier for us to have an attacking left back that provides us width, and a defensive right back, which is a role Konsa can fill.

I agree, I think he did know something at one point, but doesn't seem to anymore. Just helping someone else embed the post. Also, I'd be less than impressed if we signed Johnson...worse than Jack Harrison, and I don't rate him either.

When I did that, it copied the link using the twitter address. Then when I type a return it auto converts the link to an embedded tweet/x.

The above relates to Brennan Johnson. Same as before.. just click the three linked dots (share) and select "copy link" then paste it here.

Based on the first game and seeing the impact Buendia (and Mings) injuries had, I think we need: RB/RCB - Foyth / someone similar - Cash just doesn't work in Emery's system, and I'm not sure he is great in any system really. Forward/SS - Zaniolo - the extra option up front that could also work alongside Diaby and Watkins. 10/Left Forward - someone like Buendia...someone that presses and tries to create. Olise would've been good, but looks like he's off to Chelsea. Someone in the vein of Lorenzo Pelligrini, but he's said he's not leaving Roma till he wins Serie A and said no to Newcastle last year anyway. This chap Alexis Flips has the right kind of stats, but he's only just moved to Atlanta. I can't think of who else in this mould we might find? LB - someone like Acuna, but a lot younger ideally.

The cynic in me thinks there are still 160 season tickets to the Terrace view left that they'd like to shift... and the time before our next game is rapidly running out. May well be true that we are looking for offensive reinforcements, but I wouldn't be shocked if they're only doing it to try and get a positive vibe out there specifically to shift tickets.

I think that's where relying on Archer and Duran is OK. They're both different from each other, and different from Watkins. There aren't going to be many scenarios we want to do that, but scenarios where we want to keep our shape and not run Ollie in to the ground are very likely. And not having to go back to square one if he's injured would really help us.

I'm not at all confident they'd step up. I think the Buendia injury highlighted this to me. The system we have only works if we are pressing high up the pitch. Watkins didn't seem to be on the boil for Newcastle which didn't help but losing Buendia we will always have less pressure up the pitch. I think McGinn is the most obvious replacement we have for the Buendia role in terms of presence, and could work using Emery's preferred tactics. BUt if we lose Watkins too we need a completely new way of playing. But which strikers out there compare to Watkins in terms of output and workrate? I'm not sure there are any?

Yes, I was talking through my logic for going the other way. There isn't really much in it for me. @gwi1890. The Kamara, Tielemans, Luiz experiment last game didn't seem to work well at all, although I think there were extenuating circumstances for that. Think we'll see it tried again when it's not in panic mode?

Hence why Ramos would be a good fit if we're looking for someone to improve on Cash...who clearly cannot communicate with the rest of our backline or hold his position. (I know he was fouled for their goal, but he shouldn't have been that deep anyway). I don't suspect he'd come here, and like I said I'd have rather we kept young, but if we want someone to give us options this season and work from the off he'd be a pretty smart pickup on a free... I think?

You stumbled on the issue we have with no Moreno. We don't have a (good) attacking wing back. Digne is better than Cash at it, but not good enough that we can then accommodate a very defensive right back, such as Konsa. But the same applies in revers, so putting Pau at left back and Cash at right back leaves us completely lacking in support from them further up the pitch. I'd argue its worse. Cash had a mare, so did konsa. So I see Konsa being moved to play right back (allowance for his great previous season). Cash dropped. Pau & Carlos in the middle. Digne on the left In midfield there isn't really anyone that played well at Newcastle, but we looked worse after changes were made. So I'd stick with the plan we had last time for the most part. Kamara and Luiz middle, McGinn on the left. But I'd bring Philogene in on the right in place of Bailey. Diaby and Watkins picks itself up top. Losing Mings is a tragedy, but making wholesale changes as a result won't help matters I don't think

Young would have been the better option and probably would have had a lower wage. But if we want to get someone Spanish speaking in to help with the defensive communication maybe. He'll also get plenty of suspensions so Cash would still get some game time.

Already been asked.. unanimous no

Thanks... I had a feeling that would be the case, but wanted to be sure.

If its based on him playing 10 or even 15 games it's probably fair enough.

I missed the last 20 pages...did anything happen today? Any news links?

Hee Chan has looked really good since coming on. He'd fix our left side ?

No, sorry, realise I made it say that way. I was just suggesting the hypothetical argument that those trying to justify it might use. I can't think of another reason they might say is valid, maybe they'll use the reformed character argument, but then that admits guilt of a crime he got away with so unlikely. I don't believe Mason and his woman have said what the truth is. But she withdrew her complaint and "new evidence came to light" according to the police so they didn't think he'd get found guilty off just the audio clip and bruise photos. No idea what that evidence was, don't think it was ever announced. Following that, Mason and the woman got back together and had a baby, so United could spin it very positively I'm sure if they wanted to. Only Mason and she will know the truth.

I think he was born in Judea, not Egypt. 2/10.

I did think the same. In terms of "this window's business" they are very much in profit for this year. Not quite that much as they've got their current player amortisation and salaries to factor in, which won't be a small number. The issue is they'll have to make those sales figures EVERY season if they keep wanting to spend £150m every window. Saudi Arabi joining the insane transfer fee market makes their game plan far more safe unfortunately

Yeah, that doesn't work.

Saw this top of the pile without the speculation tag. Nearly crapped myself. Didn't realise I'd opened the site up in other football....phew.

This is why the law fails domestic abuse victims. It doesn't try a case when the complainant withdraws their testimony (unless there is another witness). There could be any number of reasons why said victim withdrew their claims, and the perpetrator being innocent is only one of them. There's an argument they were role playing and she then made up the claims, which she later dropped when he agreed to whatever it was she wanted from him. Maybe they'd done that role play before and she liked it, but then thought it would be handy audio to record incase something arose in the future that threatened her relationship. The bruises she has showed suggest not, but it's possible. Theres an argument that she was genuinely being raped and has now been coerced into a life being his effective slave through whatever pressure or promises he's made to her. The law didn't make a judgement so everyone else has to make theirs. And I can see why united are picking the former view given the value of the asset on the pitch. Scumbag club does scumbag things. If he wasn't good they'd bin him in a second (although he also wouldn't have the salary which would make sacking him less financially impactful). It's a disgrace.