At the pub I used to watch games, I used to hear some people say such and such are a "cup team". With as many FA cups we have won, I haven't really heard that said about us. Maybe the term was used derisively. I am not sure. Maybe were called a cup team but I haven't personally heard other fans say that about us. I've heard it said of Sperz, even Chelsea (before Roman).

Solksjaer signs new deal with Man U
Penalties all competitions since Solskjaer was appointed

49 Man Utd
34 Chelsea
34 Man City
24 Leicester
20 Spurs
20 Liverpool
17 Arsenal

Arsenal playing Millwall in a behind closed door friendly today

Getting friendly behind closed doors ...

You ?

Amazing stat, Rich. Back when the Nevilles were getting a stern talking to for their GBH on Reyes, and Van Nistelrooy's stud-rake on Cole and kidney-punch of Freddie was being ignored by the ref, and Solskjaer's 'I've-been-hit!!!' routine when brushed by Sol was met with the obvious punishment, it was a given that United would be awarded between 15 and 30 more penalties than anyone else in the space of a couple of seasons. But how does it still happen even now, when United aren't part-owned by Sky Sports? If I was a Chelsea, City, Liverpool or Spurs fan, I'd be livid.

Arsenal beat Millwall 4-1 at London Colney this afternoon, goals from Chambers, Lacazette, Pépé & Balogun

Sky have just said the 2nd bid for Ramsdale was actually 18 million plus add ons not 30.

As well as the excitement of possible new signings I think we should look at those players who have managed to have a proper rest and full pre season, as uneffected by covid as possible. Partey Pépé and Aubameyang for example.
Players on other teams had mentioned the importance of this as well, I saw Mané say something like this is the first summer since he joined liverpool that he’s actually had a proper summer break.

We didn’t have that many players at the euros so hopefully we can get a quick start

What Sky say sounds more realistic about Ramsdale. In my view people get far too taken in by the offers or fees quoted in unreliable transfer gossip. As I’ve said, £50m for Ben White? Yeah, right; pull the other one. There was more chance of one of Baldrick’s cunning plans in Blackadder being a logical idea. If he ends up joining Arsenal, it’ll officially be stated as for an undisclosed fee. Whatever the fee is, I reckon it’ll be a damn site less than £50m.

Fergie still hovering at games.

The suggestion is the cash offer is 18 and there will be a third and final bid which you would have to assume will probably be 20-23 plus a few add on depending on performance. Honestly is that really that bad for the England back up keeper to provide cover for Leno?

Arsenal fans have been losing the plot on the internet about it for several weeks I seriously hope the player hasn’t read any of the *%^@ written about him by Arsenal fans on the internet

Incidentally I don’t know much about Ramsdale but I did watch one game when he played for Bournemouth early on and he had a proper thou shall not pass performance and saved everything and I mean absolutely everything that came at him including several impressive stops. I walked away thinking he would end up at a big club and definitely involved with England

Early, I know but hoping we get better defensively on crosses and such.

...and not a fan of the style of the numbers but I will have to live with it.

Arsenal have signed highly-rated 18-year-old striker Mika Biereth.

He finished last season with 21 goals in 21 games for Fulham U18 (+ 13 assists).

Considering Biereth is only supposed to be 18, he looks old enough to be drawing his state pension. Okay, that’s a lighthearted exaggeration but I still think he comfortably (meaning by a few years) looks well into his twenties.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/theathleti ... eth/%3Famp

[quote="AmericanGooner"]This would have made a decent documentary. One of the good things about not being English (and there are too many to name.

From a bloody bell end yank

What a knob

At this rate you’ll soon be blocked by our friend from across the Atlantic. Like many of us.

That pub AG refers to is the "Cock 'n Bull ' in Santa Monica in Cali, as is mentioned a few times on here.

Is that a real pub or an implication that’s what he talks a load of?

Thank you for posting this. One good post out of thirty thousand ain’t bad.

We're going to win the league! But seriously, its always exciting getting young fresh talent.

My first impression was he must be a very experienced coach which had joined Arteta's back room staff.

Man U lost 4-2 to QPR yesterday, not seen it blown up and out of all proportion in the media.

Not sure you can gauge much from that compilation! A bloke and his dog walked past the camera at one stage

Suggestion is Roma have walked away from the Xhaka deal because they don’t want to meet the 20 million euro asking price even if its total peanuts. This will obviously mean Xhaka is a brilliant player to some on here

We will have to give him away in the end

Newcastle have offered 17 million plus 3 million in add ons for willock plus a 1.5 million loan fee for AMN for a season.

Not sure what to think about that. Doesn’t feel good enough

It is the actual name of the pub. AG has posted a photo of it awhile back. You make a good point though.

Nowhere near enough. We can’t be the only club who doesn’t get to charge the English premium

It’s gotta be 25 for Willock hasn’t it really. The club should dig its heels in otherwise or get him to sign a new contract then loan him out again.

Problem is we are so desperate to offload players we aren’t in a position of bargaining strength

It depends on the player. We are under no pressure to sell him. He is a young talented homegrown player. Contrast with Xhaka or Lacazette. Much older and far more likely to move outside the PL so potentially lower fee.

I was about to say more 'bull' than 'cock', but actually Terry makes a good point.

The trouble is the only way to “get him to sign a new contract then loan him out again” is presumably by paying Willock a massive amount. If we do, then to loan him out again we’ll have to pay much of his salary while he’s playing for another club. We’ve been in that scenario before.

Willock’s current contract expires in two years, 2023. That means now is arguably the right time to sell without giving him a huge rise to extend it. As you say in your second paragraph, “we aren’t in a position of bargaining strength”. As a general rule, players have much if not most of the power these days.

Many fans will, like you, have doubts about the reported Newcastle offer for him, if the figures are anything close to the truth. But if we don’t accept their offer, as outlined above we either:

(1) have to pay him so much he’ll renew his contract. And if that’s to send him out on loan again, presumably have much of his salary while playing for someone else around our necks.

(2) Or, with two years remaining on his contract, if we send him out on loan without signing a new contract with us, when he returns from his loan he’ll be a year from a free transfer. That really is the territory of letting him go for peanuts next summer.

(3) It’s a difficult one. But accepting Newcastle’s current offer could be a serious third option.

Goalscoring central midfielders are incredibly rare and everybody wants one. Just ask Chelsea how much difference Lampard made to them season after season.

The problem we have is that we don't yet know whether Willock's goalscoring streak last season was simply a purple patch or indicative of the kind of career he will have. There is no doubt he consistently gets himself into goalscoring positions so there is a chance he could evolve into a player who regularly bangs in 10+ goals a season.

If we sell Willock for £17m we are probably giving Newcastle a player with little downside and massive upside if he continues the way he did for them last season. English as well.

From what I saw of Willock's goalscoring run and general play at Newcastle last year it was a team set to play perfectly to his strengths and not ask him to do much that he's not so good at. Newcastle counter attacked very well at the back end of the season so it allowed Willock as a 'free' central midfielder with license to join the counter and arrive late in the box. Newcastle don't dominate possession and look for their most advanced central mid to link play and probe with creative passes.

As much as we need goals from midfield I'm not convinced Willock is our answer to that. I think we need to push for the sale this summer.

Lots of reports saying Ben White is done, will be official by Wednesday.

I read somewhere White was getting back from his holiday on 26th July, so today. If that was the case, it sounds logical that the deal will be confirmed by Wednesday.