Think Lindelof will start ahead of Martinez for a couple of games but pretty much that side.

Beekers! has a chance, though he need to perform in the last pre-season games

comment by Robb ☀️ ‘It was hot in 1976!’ ☀️ (U22716)
posted 4 seconds ago
Think Lindelof will start ahead of Martinez for a couple of games but pretty much that side.
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Maybe. It will be interesting to see what happens with Varane. He’s by far our best CB when fit but so unreliable.

comment by Ji Sung Park's Cousin - Simp (U2958)
posted 31 seconds ago
Beekers! has a chance, though he need to perform in the last pre-season games
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I’m starting to lose faith. The Villa game really passed him by. In a good first half performance until the pitch became a mud bath he was the odd one out imo.

Front 4 looks good

The only players that have had other options tried ahead of them from that line up is Shaw (Malacia) and McT (Donny).

All the others are nailed on.

Malacia did nothing wrong in his full game, played very well, but Shaw has had a good pre season too.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 1 second ago
The only players that have had other options tried ahead of them from that line up is Shaw (Malacia) and McT (Donny).

All the others are nailed on.

Malacia did nothing wrong in his full game, played very well, but Shaw has had a good pre season too.
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Obviously Lindelof/Martinez too.

Eriksen instead of McT.

comment by FFS Mike. (U1170)
posted 2 minutes ago
The only players that have had other options tried ahead of them from that line up is Shaw (Malacia) and McT (Donny).

All the others are nailed on.

Malacia did nothing wrong in his full game, played very well, but Shaw has had a good pre season too.
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Malacia looks decent and a massive upgrade on Telles but as fashionable as it is to bash him an in form Shaw is arguably a top 5 left back in the world.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 14 seconds ago
Eriksen instead of McT.
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While I wouldn’t disagree, Eriksen won’t have much of a pre-season.

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 14 seconds ago
Eriksen instead of McT.
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While I wouldn’t disagree, Eriksen won’t have much of a pre-season.
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He will still be more mobile than McT.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 14 seconds ago
Eriksen instead of McT.
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While I wouldn’t disagree, Eriksen won’t have much of a pre-season.
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He will still be more mobile than McT.
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Probably. McTominay really does need to reduced to a squad player this season or we are going nowhere.

Seems about right.

Has there actually been any more details about Ronaldo’s time off for family reasons? Obviously it could be legit and having recently lost a child everyone greaves and processes grief differently but the cynic in me finds the timing a little suspect especially since he’s actively looking to move during this time off.

Or am I just a heartless baastard?

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 3 minutes ago
Seems about right.

Has there actually been any more details about Ronaldo’s time off for family reasons? Obviously it could be legit and having recently lost a child everyone greaves and processes grief differently but the cynic in me finds the timing a little suspect especially since he’s actively looking to move during this time off.

Or am I just a heartless baastard?
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I’ve heard that this time his mam is unwell. I don’t think there’s any reason not to believe it’s genuine.

comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 4 minutes ago
Seems about right.

Has there actually been any more details about Ronaldo’s time off for family reasons? Obviously it could be legit and having recently lost a child everyone greaves and processes grief differently but the cynic in me finds the timing a little suspect especially since he’s actively looking to move during this time off.

Or am I just a heartless baastard?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We can't really know, can we? Natural to be suspicious though when it seems the non-return to training caught the club by surprise and coincided with the revelation that he wants to leave. It makes sense from a comms point of view to endorse the 'personal reasons' narrative, as it does no one at the club any good to acknowledge that a player we might still rely on has got away with special treatment.

Fair enough? Genuine question but do players often get time off for similar circumstances? Obviously it’s nice to see a club care but at the same time I dont recall players getting indefinite leave off for these sorts of things.

I get the feeling that Ronaldo would want to be playing games and getting match fit even he did want out possibly even trying to make an impression on other clubs.

If his Mam is seriously you could understand why he does not want to be at the other side of the world.

If he’s getting full pay I’d argue against that though.

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 0 seconds ago
I get the feeling that Ronaldo would want to be playing games and getting match fit even he did want out possibly even trying to make an impression on other clubs.

If his Mam is seriously you could understand why he does not want to be at the other side of the world.

If he’s getting full pay I’d argue against that though.
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*ill

I’ve heard that this time his mam is unwell. I don’t think there’s any reason not to believe it’s genuine.

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I can't think of another example of someone skipping work for weeks because a parent is sick, except if they are taking an unpaid leave of absence. And if this were the case, it's hard to imagine that the club and player would suppress the reason. You could make a terse public statement to that effect without compromising the family's privacy.

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 0 seconds ago
I get the feeling that Ronaldo would want to be playing games and getting match fit even he did want out possibly even trying to make an impression on other clubs.

If his Mam is seriously you could understand why he does not want to be at the other side of the world.

If he’s getting full pay I’d argue against that though.
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*ill
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That's a valid point: I guess the long-haul flight could be a factor. We'll see if he's back at training tomorrow.

This is why I find the whole situation a bit suspect. Admittedly I’m a very cynically person.

I honestly don’t know what clubs Ronaldo expected to come running after his signature.

Obviously we don’t know the pay situation but he shouldn’t be getting paid imo.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 8 seconds ago
I honestly don’t know what clubs Ronaldo expected to come running after his signature.
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The problem is I think he still thinks he’s far better than he actually is. Still talk that if Atletico can offload Griezmann they would be interested.

Atleti seem like the only hope now but they have to move on some big wages to accommodate him. Strange that ronaldo seemingly has no problem joining them.