The College Dropout

PFM in charge.

They've had the shortest rest (or second) days during the festive period.

Full strength side. I don't think any of our players get into Leicester's side.

Can't defend at all. Puel gets a lot of stick but Leicester look the better-coached side. Ricardo Perreira is a very tidy player. Gone with a very workman like team today tactically.

The average salary is £26000ish, anybody who is earning that per week, can f*** off with the short career argument. You only need a year to earn more than the average person earns in a lifetime. Also they don't take their careers into their own hands, they have agents. Totally agree. They earn more than most of us will make in a lifetime in a couple of years. The tiniest, tiniest bit of financial common sense, not extensive wealth management, but basic common sense will see them right in retirement for the rest of their lives. No one is forcing players to waste their money on tasteless guilded turds and other bullshit. Any footballer who goes bankrupt deserves all they get. After all, nothing is stopping them from getting a proper job like the fans who fork out a fortune to pay their wages. Zero sympathy if they waste their money and have to get a job like the rest of us. Football is one of few professions where for some reason, trying to increase your income is frowned upon. I think it's perhaps jealousy and that people don't consider it a real job. If you saw a former Premier League footballer working a regular job you would probably get schadenfreude. Footballers' salaries aren't decided based on your own situation. You haven't done them any favours. You have a rate based on your industry and location. Brad Pitt has his. Footballers have theirs. Football is a billion-pound industry. The players, at the least, deserve to be as rich as possible. £26k in a year puts you in the top 1% of the world in terms of income. In a 2 parent household, it's enough to live on. I'm not going to sit here and deride you for wanting to earn more. And the agent works on behalf of the player. The player is the agents boss. The agent can be fired. Ultimately, players make the final decisions. Sure agents are hugely influential. Because for the vast majority, the weekly pay rate was somewhat relatable, but now even that's getting out of hand. We might begin to see pay by day soon enough tbh. Why is weekly more relatable? Monthly I would understand. Don't most people look at their income from a yearly perspective? Maybe he means in the sense that a weekly wage of £50k doesn't immediately look as obscene to the eye as £200k a month? Hence the weekly amount getting out of hand comment. I mean from the point of view that your average Joe can grasp what 20,25 or even 50k actually means. A year's worth of work, or x amount to spend a month on that wage after bills. What is 1m to someone who earns 30k a year? But now as weekly wages are going beyond 300k, I was making the point that maybe we'd see these amounts referenced as 40,45k a day. Disgusting any way its looked at tho tbh. Ok I understand it now. I don't understand what footballers' wages have to do with your own - but ok, I understand the point. Why is it disgusting? Man United turnover 650m euros per year. Their biggest earner makes about 25m per year. For 4 years before he's replaced with someone younger.

Forgot they also signed Wilshere. Their wage bill must be in the top 8.

Aye some derided the signing earlier but I think it's a decent one. Any team in that bracket below West Ham would love Nasri. Us included. You'd have to question his hunger though. A lot of players in his class are struggling a bit now and didn't fully live up to their potential. While being at an age where they should be close to the top of their game. Himself, Ben Arfa, Ben Arfa, Kompany, Fabregas, Alex Song.

In response to this though: That's completely ridiculous. We're talking about a game populated by drunk drivers, and rapists. Is Pogba more of a twat than Lee Hughes? I'd argue not like. Aye. I’ve quoted this post of a few times and similar in this vein. Kaka - nobody is being emotional, certainly not me. I’m able to have a discussion about uncomfortable stereotypes without needing people to assert ‘OMG IM NOT RAYCIST’. I believe confident black players seem to disproportionately rattle certain types of football fans. I’ve not stated why it rattles them. If I see examples on here I will continue to call it out. He scored a couple goals, does 2 dances and a silly celebration, a handshake = biggest twat ever, a right knob, everything he does is arrogant. So I bring it up as I believe it backs my point.

Aye football has its own quirks. Similar worked for Mourinho for a long time. But it’s just.... absolutely awful.

Ok thanks for the link. “When I got told I wasn’t good enough, I just said it was up to me to prove him wrong. As soon as I said that, he knew I had the right attitude because he said: ‘That’s the attitude I want to see from my players’. I don't have the words for this.

Again, never called anyone racist. So you can relax.

Where does it say that Pardew told him that? If it was Pardew it shows how little influence he had over transfers or anything. As Dummett was first choice by the time he left iirc. What a spineless prick.

People don't like his dancing, that's fine. But the comments made about him in this thread and by some, in general, is over the top. Then I think to myself, "why does this make you so annoyed? Why does it make you feel this way about this person?" "Pogba's a right fucking knob like." "Pogba is the biggest twat ever to play the game." "Everything he does is arrogant as fuck." In regards to Pogba himself. He's an exceptional talent and big character. It helps make him a bigger draw and whatever. But sport is a microcosm of life and society and I don't like what it says about society. And not even on a deep level. I just like seeing confident, fun and expressive people and sports folk - especially when its harmless.

That's another thing I dislike. The seeming disdain fans and other people in football have for "player power". Football is one of the few lines of work where someone taking their own careers into their hands is frowned upon. I think boycotting your team and refusing to play is totally unacceptable and disgusting. But I have no problem with players forcing moves behind the scenes while doing their job well on it. Football is a fickle game. A couple big injuries and you're earning power could drop drastically. I have no problem with players chasing a big paycheque as long as they give their all in training and on the field. If the players don't get it, some fat bastard in an office would get it instead.

Because for the vast majority, the weekly pay rate was somewhat relatable, but now even that's getting out of hand. We might begin to see pay by day soon enough tbh. Why is weekly more relatable? Monthly I would understand. Don't most people look at their income from a yearly perspective?

Messi’s really popular because he’s the best footballer ever. Ronaldo is palpably vain. Takes himself tremendously seriously. And in the pitch he’s on the verge of being selfish and self centred. There’s actual evidence for some of his negative characteristics. You’re doubling down on this humility thing which feeds into the arrogant trope. From what I can tell Pogba doesn’t take himself too seriously at all. He seems confident but also very light hearted, frequently joking with team mates. Getting them involved in his dances. Saw a clip where he looked to have a unique handshake with every team mate. You don’t see that jovial, light hearted and joking nature from your Ronaldos and Neymars. Whose arrogance can be too much - Neymar especially. Zlatan is way more arrogant. ‘Dare to Zlatan’ loool. Gets half the personal stick.

He's just dancing after scoring man like numerous other players do. He's a bit of a show off, but doesn't come across in a bad way at all. Just a silly dude really. Everything he does is arrogant as fuck. That stupid penalty run up as well. The penalty run up is terrible for sure. Unacceptable from anyone who does that Wouldn't say he was arrogant though. You can see he has a good rapport with his teammates, and celebrates them as much as he does himself. I've said this before but a lot of football fans can only like (other teams) black players if they're in the Kante mould. Pogba's a confident lad and likes to dance. For a lot of football fans this makes him a right fucking knob off rip. He seems a popular lad among all of his teammates at all of his clubs and the national side. Seems a leader among the French national team. He's only ever fallen out with Jose Mourinho. Not a violent or dirty player. But you know... too confident... too much dancing.... too black. Maybe a lot of those people are not racist, but just find “dancing” goal celebrations shit and irritating? I know i certainly do. I never said anyone was racist. Shit and irritating dancing = biggest twat ever to play the game. Ok fella. He's just dancing after scoring man like numerous other players do. He's a bit of a show off, but doesn't come across in a bad way at all. Just a silly dude really. Everything he does is arrogant as fuck. That stupid penalty run up as well. The penalty run up is terrible for sure. Unacceptable from anyone who does that Wouldn't say he was arrogant though. You can see he has a good rapport with his teammates, and celebrates them as much as he does himself. I've said this before but a lot of football fans can only like (other teams) black players if they're in the Kante mould. Pogba's a confident lad and likes to dance. For a lot of football fans this makes him a right fucking knob off rip. He seems a popular lad among all of his teammates at all of his clubs and the national side. Seems a leader among the French national team. He's only ever fallen out with Jose Mourinho. Not a violent or dirty player. But you know... too confident... too much dancing.... too black. I think what mostly tips people over the edge is the instagram persona, as he is very flashy. Once you start flaunting your wealth, most people are going to be sour about it. However, I don't think he is doing it in a mean spirited way. He's just a bit daft. Just copying the musicians/artists he no doubt admires. It's the one thing I would like to see him cut out myself, but like I said, he doesn't appear to be a jerk. It's sad to say but i'm on Instagram several times a day. Funnily enough, I don't follow Paul Pogba nor do I see his posts. I don't understand how people that don't follow him can care about his "instagram persona". If you don't follow him, you probably won't see it. I can't believe that statement to be true. He's not the President of the US, his social media doesn't make regular news often. If his social media upsets you, you're looking to be upset. For this post i've visited his Instagram. Didn't see any cars. Lots of haircut pictures. Lots of crap banter. 1 picture he's got a lot of Gucci on. And in a few, he's got a few chains around his neck. THE FLASH BASTARD. Where's this flaunting of wealth you speak of? Based on your comments I was expecting lots of pictures of watches, jewellery and flash cars and loud engines. He's one of the few characters in the PL and I respect that he's not afraid to be himself and express himself both on and off the pitch. In a sport with genuine knobs, a few of which have played for us and still play for us (Shelvey), he's simply not a problem.

Aye it's simple.

been saying for ages our game against them was very telling...they set up exactly how he wanted to play; his system, selection, tactics all executed to the best of their ability...come in 2-0 down he's forced to throw on attackers and let them play how they want to, they ripped us to shreds I think it’s proven now his tactics are not working in modern football at the top of a league bit like rafa to some extent imo, if mourinho had the exact players he wanted for his system and they were all mint he could still challenge probs what's impressive is what rafa's getting out of such shite, i'm not sure mourinho has that in him now tbh I don't think in the modern game you can win titles with those tactics. Even with great players at his disposal Rafa was probably a bit too cautious against weaker teams when he was at Liverpool. The current Liverpool side and City are winning so many games, even if they lose the odd one it will make no difference. Title winning sides don't want to do draws. Agreed. At a top league, Rafa won't get you 90 points. I think the most points he's got at a top league is when he finished second with Liverpool. His Valencia sides won the league with 70 something and low 80 points iirc. At the top of the game, Rafa is too cautious among other things imo. His time at the very top of the game is gone. His last two jobs before us didn't go great and the managers after him took it to another level. And Mourinho is the same I think but I think he'll get another elite club.

He's just dancing after scoring man like numerous other players do. He's a bit of a show off, but doesn't come across in a bad way at all. Just a silly dude really. Everything he does is arrogant as fuck. That stupid penalty run up as well. The penalty run up is terrible for sure. Unacceptable from anyone who does that Wouldn't say he was arrogant though. You can see he has a good rapport with his teammates, and celebrates them as much as he does himself. I've said this before but a lot of football fans can only like (other teams) black players if they're in the Kante mould. Pogba's a confident lad and likes to dance. For a lot of football fans this makes him a right fucking knob off rip. He seems a popular lad among all of his teammates at all of his clubs and the national side. Seems a leader among the French national team. He's only ever fallen out with Jose Mourinho. Not a violent or dirty player. But you know... too confident... too much dancing.... too black.

Very expensive. Doesn't get that many assists. 1.2m more than Auba, Sterling and fewer points earned than them. 1.5m more than Hazard and fewer points than him. Per match, Aguero is better valued too. So out of all the heavy hitters. He's the least value for money. He's still scoring. But at this rate, he'll not get the 29/30 goals he got last season and the season before. It's that rate of scoring which has informed his second highest-price but he's not on pace for that. Away from the statistics. He's playing deeper this season. He's getting fewer touches in the box and having fewer shots on goal overall.

I’ve gone from 6th in the NO league to 40 something. Pogba saved my week. 53 points. Considering wildcard to bring in Salah and Auba. Kane is terrible value for money. No touches in the box he can fuck off.

Yeap. As if people think Palace are an attacking team, so boring and defensive under Woy With more talented players Roy is super defensive and is never called out for it.

He's a businessman and as such, his business strategies always evolve. A lot of people have suggested this is the strategy. I actually disagree. I think his current approach is that Rafa is good enough to keep us up with the minimum amount of investment, so he'll put in the minimum amount. If we get relegated, we have the funds to come back up. If we stay up. He lets Rafa go. Brings in the next dickhead and gives him the money he should've given Rafa but will still hold back incase we get relegated anyway.

Really? Yep. Every time i allow myself begin to think that something might be happening, I ask myself why would he sell? I've never been able to answer it. There is no incentive for him to sell when his wealth and power increases all the time. I was being sarcastic. But i'm glad you wrote this for anyone that doesn't realise this yet.