3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Well done to United. They got their man then. If this leads to conte leaving then what is next for us? 

Do you genuinely believe that Conte would walk just because of 1 striker?  Do we really know that this was his one and only identified target?

I think to suggest that is a bit dramatic.

No doubt they'll be some sh*tty United chant about Lukaku that they'll sing every time they play us.

 

Well done to United. They got their man then. If this leads to conte leaving then what is next for us? 

I mean it's over right? Cancel the stadium upgrades, sell the first team, drop down a couple tiers and bring in the youth and transfer the squad to MLS.

17 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

No doubt they'll be some sh*tty United chant about Lukaku that they'll sing every time they play us.

 

to be fair to them we have our sh*tty chant about Willian

30 minutes ago, MoJames said:

 

I mean it's over right? Cancel the stadium upgrades, sell the first team, drop down a couple tiers and bring in the youth and transfer the squad to MLS.

 

Lol no not that extreme just if there is any truth about conte being that unhappy just curious who the club would turn to. 

18 minutes ago, magichat said:

to be fair to them we have our sh*tty chant about Willian

I know but...that's different because...I got nothing. 

5 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

Not sure that is entirely true. Michy did little wrong when he was on the pitch and he'll only get better. We paid 33m for him last summer remember. 

Llorente is also a proven goalscorer in three leagues. He's big, a great focal point with his back to goal and would do a job.

We could also look to spend the money from a Lukaku deal to secure a quality wide forward to assist with the goal scoring James etc.

Michy isn't good enough to lead the line for the club and his transfer price is not considered outrageous in today's market. 

Llrorente is a back-up striker at best.  Him leading the line in the CL is a frightening thought - for us.

If the Board isn't going to spend big money for Lukaku, why would they want to do so for any other position?  Replacing Costa is the top priority for the club.  As I said before, the Board or Marina doesn't want to spend more than 40 million pounds for any player.  They have two months to prove me wrong.

27 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

I know but...that's different because...I got nothing. 

to be fair, we haven't paid for Lukaku's medical

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well done to United. They got their man then. If this leads to conte leaving then what is next for us? 

Roy Hodgson?

And for strikers, our board would do well with Defoe and Heskey.

3 hours ago, lchk said:

Michy isn't good enough to lead the line for the club and his transfer price is not considered outrageous in today's market. 

Llrorente is a back-up striker at best.  Him leading the line in the CL is a frightening thought - for us.

If the Board isn't going to spend big money for Lukaku, why would they want to do so for any other position?  Replacing Costa is the top priority for the club.  As I said before, the Board or Marina doesn't want to spend more than 40 million pounds for any player.  They have two months to prove me wrong.

But thats the hand we are dealt. 

The only striker we were really linked with was Lukaku, also the board seems to be in a world where they want the best talent for 30mil pounds (eg: hazard, costa, cesc). Times have changed and the market has changed. 

I dont see the board paying 88mil for belotti or 63mil for PEA when they were unwilling to pay 75mil for their number one target. Lets hope we get a decent LWB back up, a nice upgrade on RWB (probably Danilo) along with keeping Matic and NAT, so that we have a strong back bone to our defence and mid. 

BTW, the worst transfer of the season might turn out to be selling Traore.

7 minutes ago, didierforever said:

Roy Hodgson?

And for strikers, our board would do well with Defoe and Heskey.

You need to add - they are all cheap.  Beats even Arsenal in the net profit transfer column.

1 minute ago, didierforever said:

But thats the hand we are dealt. 

The only striker we were really linked with was Lukaku, also the board seems to be in a world where they want the best talent for 30mil pounds (eg: hazard, costa, cesc). Times have changed and the market has changed. 

I dont see the board paying 88mil for belotti or 63mil for PEA when they were unwilling to pay 75mil for their number one target. Lets hope we get a decent LWB back up, a nice upgrade on RWB (probably Danilo) along with keeping Matic and NAT, so that we have a strong back bone to our defence and mid. 

BTW, the worst transfer of the season might turn out to be selling Traore.

Of course and as I stated previously, the Board isn't willing to spend more than 40 million pounds on any single player.  I thought they might relent for such a major position as centre-forward but it seems that replacing Costa like-for-like is less important than having the best transfer net savings in the league. 

Also, don't expect upgrades for other positions.  I doubt Sandro will happen and there are zero links on a RWB purchase.   

Not sure about Traore - he doesn't strike me as being consistent enough.

All in all, the scenario you painted will certainly result in Conte not signing a contract extension and probably walk before next summer.  In this case, the Board should temper their expectations and be happy with a Top 4 trophy like the Arse and not pressure the manager (Conte & successors) to deliver real trophies. 

The spending will be further crimped when the building of the new stadium begins.

But hey, there could be a surprise where Sandro and Bellotti or Morata is signed over the next 50+ days.  I won't be holding my breath on that.

 

10 minutes ago, didierforever said:

But thats the hand we are dealt. 

The only striker we were really linked with was Lukaku, also the board seems to be in a world where they want the best talent for 30mil pounds (eg: hazard, costa, cesc). Times have changed and the market has changed. 

I dont see the board paying 88mil for belotti or 63mil for PEA when they were unwilling to pay 75mil for their number one target. Lets hope we get a decent LWB back up, a nice upgrade on RWB (probably Danilo) along with keeping Matic and NAT, so that we have a strong back bone to our defence and mid. 

BTW, the worst transfer of the season might turn out to be selling Traore.

Which is weird because they made a 75m bid for Pogba 2 years ago when such bids weren't even common.

They're definitely going to have to pay between 63m(PEA) and 88m(Belotti) to get a quality striker so they have no choice. 

Chalobah will be sold to Watford with a buy back clause. You just watch.

Just realized Lukaku is basically holidaying same country that United are flying out to in a couple of days with Pogba. That makes a lot of sense now I think about it. 

4 hours ago, TomCFC85 said:

No doubt they'll be some sh*tty United chant about Lukaku that they'll sing every time they play us.

 

Who gives a f**k? I honestly won't. f**k them surrey boys and their 'glorious' team from the North.

36 minutes ago, MissouriBlue said:

Just realized Lukaku is basically holidaying same country that United are flying out to in a couple of days with Pogba. That makes a lot of sense now I think about it. 

He's vacationing with Pogba. Pogba is always inviting his friends to Utd. I didn't believe it at first but now..

Edited July 7, 20179 yr by Deino

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

Roy Hodgson?

And for strikers, our board would do well with Defoe and Heskey.

We need height, bring in crouch!!

stories are tough to stay on top of here.  I thought Conte was mad at the board for lumbering him with Lukaku, but now he's mad that they've let his main target slip?
One thing that is interesting is the agent that is involved was the one that also brought Mikitrian, Pogba, and Zlatan to Utd, so he know's where he can cash checks.
Also, Lukaku was meant to be back with Everton, but is staying in LA where United are set to play next in a friendly against the Galaxy.  Putting 2 and 2 together here nad maybe coming up with 7, the press are sure that this is indication that Rom will have his medical in LA with United, and be announced this weekend.
I don't know how i feel about this, tbh.  I think that Rom has potential to be great if he worked on his hold up play and his effort.  But will that ever come, and is that the sort of effort that Conte wants in his forwards? 75 millions is an insane amount, but it's the going rate.

Think the first time the rumours dropped about Conte not being happy could've been when personal terms were actually agreed with Lukaku. Have to admit if Lukaku signs for United then it leaves Chelsea with a small problem of finding a striker who can hit the ground running. Top 4/6 is too tight to wait for a striker to bed in for a season. But I think there's probably a surprise striker lined up by Chelsea.

I am very pleased that we didnt pay 75 million for Lukaku.

But would you very pleased when he make United Champions ?
Every top team need striker like Lukaku and Kane, not like Morata. Striker need to give you goals, need to score.

Costa won us so many games in the first half of the season against small team, that bring you the trophy in the end of the campaing.

Big matches are important, but we was the team that lose least points against the smallest team, that what brings us the title last year.

And for that you need striker who score regularly against such small teams. Morata is not such type of striker, that`s why he won`t be good fit for us.

In the past we have great wingers and midfielder, who scored a lot of goals. Now we don`t have. You can barely expect goals from Matic/Kante, even Kante/Bakayoko.

In the past Lampard, Balack, Essien, has scored plenty of goals for us, and we wasn`t so dependent on the striker itself.

Right now we are, so you need a striker, who will give you atleast 20 PL goals, and probably 25-30 total.

Lukaku is also good against big teams, since he came to England he scored a lot of goals against Big teams, to be fair - 19.

Thats against Totteham, United, City, Arsenal and US. Show me Strikers that scored more.

Lukaku was the best choice for us, without a doubt.

 

Having his Utd medical today in LA. This one is over. Next contestant please.

1 minute ago, brakeit said:

But would you very pleased when he make United Champions ?
Every top team need striker like Lukaku and Kane, not like Morata. Striker need to give you goals, need to score.

Costa won us so many games in the first half of the season against small team, that bring you the trophy in the end of the campaing.

Big matches are important, but we was the team that lose least points against the smallest team, that what brings us the title last year.

And for that you need striker who score regularly against such small teams. Morata is not such type of striker, that`s why he won`t be good fit for us.

In the past we have great wingers and midfielder, who scored a lot of goals. Now we don`t have. You can barely expect goals from Matic/Kante, even Kante/Bakayoko.

In the past Lampard, Balack, Essien, has scored plenty of goals for us, and we wasn`t so dependent on the striker itself.

Right now we are, so you need a striker, who will give you atleast 20 PL goals, and probably 25-30 total.

Lukaku is also good against big teams, since he came to England he scored a lot of goals against Big teams, to be fair - 19.

Thats against Totteham, United, City, Arsenal and US. Show me Strikers that scored more.

Lukaku was the best choice for us, without a doubt.

 

 

Arent you the one that said we should never pay over 60 mill and just wait Everton out? Seems the Board took Your advise, why arent you pleased?

I was against to give 100mln. for him. I was for 60-70 plus addons. And United took him for 75.

If he was Conte number 1 target, they should give the money. 75mln. in today market for top striker who is only 24 and improve year after year is nothing.

 

It is strange though that it's ended up like this. He said ages ago he knew where he was going, and Utd have only just recently made an offer, having tried to get other players, so presumably before, he thought he was coming to us, and the board have just dillied and dallied over the price and lost him.

8 minutes ago, Zeta said:

It is strange though that it's ended up like this. He said ages ago he knew where he was going, and Utd have only just recently made an offer, having tried to get other players, so presumably before, he thought he was coming to us, and the board have just dillied and dallied over the price and lost him.

I'd love to think lukaku would actually come out and say what he knew, not what he now knows?