06 Jun 2025 15:00:07
Sport 1 have just reported that Bayern Munich met Antonys agent to explore a deal, before they decide to submit a bid for him. Agent also talking to Leverkusen who have already made an offer to the player. Maybe the agent adding a false BM rumour to push for better terms for lederhosen but personally I couldn't care less if its true or not as long as we get a decent chunk back quickly for him.
06 Jun 2025 20:43:32
Careful Captain Obvious, you run the risk of being called out by the sarcastic w##k##s on here if you post a rumour.
06 Jun 2025 20:54:35
To be fair Bayern did consider signing him before we did. Although they thought he was worth no more than 35m at the time. So I wouldn't be surprised if they at least explored the idea again.
06 Jun 2025 21:41:05
The irony is, if he wasn’t already ours, after his last few months we’d probably be looking at him! :D.
07 Jun 2025 11:04:42
Spenno, he clearly isn't as bad a player as he was with us.
Maybe he didn't suit the EPL, maybe the spotlight at United was too much, maybe the club wasn't set up to give him the platform he needed to thrive, maybe the transfer fee (which was always way too much) was too big of a millstone around his neck, or maybe he just couldn't settle in England.
There are a multitude of possible reasons for why he flopped, and in reality it's probably a bit of all of them.
If we can move him on without taking a loss then that is best for all involved. I'd also wish him the best with the rest of his career and hope he does well elsewhere. I don't think his failure at United was for a lack of effort.
I think he suits a league that is not as physically demanding. He's quick enough, but not blindingly fast. In other leagues that is fine for a wide player, but in the EPL you are up against full backs who are very quick, if you aren't faster than them then you won't be able to get away from them. Likewise he's not a weak player, but he isn't a physically strong player either. Meaning that he not only can't get away from players, but that most of them are physically stronger than him and overpower him.
In the EPL you need to have at least one outstanding trait to thrive. You either need to be faster than 99% of players, or physically stronger than most players. If you don't have one of those physical abilities then you need to be in the top 2 or 3% of players in terms of technical ability/ tactical intelligence of the game.
In the EPL there are many players at teams that will finish between 15th and 8th who would be first choice in most other leagues for any team finishing 3rd or 4th in the league. The financial might of the EPL means that even the team that are considered not good, are still significantly better than most other sides around Europe. The EPL also attracts the best managers from across Europe, managers like Emery at Villa, Silva at Fulham, Nuno at Forest, Frank at Brentford and Glasner at Palace would all easily walk into UCL teams in all other leagues across Europe.
It's the toughest league in Europe, probably the world to be successful in. Not all players coming into the league will succeed, and you absolutely have to have some outstanding traits/ skills/ abilities if you are to be able to compete in this league. Antony just doesn't have any, good at many things, but not outstanding at anything.
If he goes to Bayern I think he'll do well there, playing for the dominant side, surrounded with great players, in a less physically demanding league that tends to have a lot of transition style football and space for attackers. Whether Bayern firm up interest and behaviour willing to pay what we need remains to be seen.
07 Jun 2025 22:17:03
It's funny how those teams in a less physically demanding league seen to be able to beat the English teams more often than not when winning the Champions League.
08 Jun 2025 06:25:18
Salford, European games are played at a different pace and officiated to a different standard.
For example you can't even jump next to a keeper and challenge for an aerial ball in European games without being penalised. Or lift your foot above knee height.
EPL teams cannot play the same way in Europe as they do in the EPL.
08 Jun 2025 06:50:22
Technical ability….