In regard to Rio director of football - it's patently obvious that United needs someone capable in that position to execute a plan. I'm not at all sure that Rio is qualified, however he does seem to be quite knowledgeable and with good insight as a pundit. And he has a hard on for de Ligt so that's a plus. So I'm not sure at all if he will 'fix' things or at least right the ship. TBH, I liked Moyes hire as he seemed groomed to take over for SAF. He was a miserable failure. I LOVED the Mourinho hire as his strong personality seemed the right person to lead a bunch of prima donna's and highly paid soccer players and while he brought some trophies, he seemed to stifle any creativity, fun and positive advancement in his my way or the highway attitude. Now I'm pretty down on Ole as he has never shown an inclination to be able to capably manage a side, let alone a massive side, so I'll probably be wrong again and United will flourish and start playing attacking/dominant football.
Real Madrid gotta move Bale and James for sure, but I think they are in the same position that United are in with Sanchez. No one wants them and pay them both market transfer fees and exorbitant salaries, so RM gonna have to take a discount for sure. Bale is so utterly unreliable with his injury history, it's a fools play to take him on. When he plays, he's great. But more often than not, he's got a hamstring issue. James is a bit more interesting as he seeming did well in limited time at Bayern. He didn't score much but he setup loads of goals/chances. Think I read he setup the most clear chances on goal per 90 of any player in Bundesliga. But Bayern didn't want him, Real don't have a place for him, not sure wtf is gonna take him on.
If I were to bet, I'd say Hazard goes to Real Madrid, but I don't think they will get both Pogba and Erickson too. I tend to think Pogba moves on, maybe to Juve. I'm not 100% positive Erickson moves on, I'd say he is most likely to stay with his current squad.
United gonna lose so many players because they didn't make CL play. Some good riddance, but some gonna sting. They are taking 25% wage cuts and losing out on bonuses. FFS if you can't get motivated to finish top 4, and let's face it, it was well within their grasp with 10 to go, they shit the bed to avoid a 25% pay cut, wtf they going to be doing this year? I'll tell you what, I'm older than them, but 25 year old Dylanphan woulda been one pissed off MF'er if I had to come to work the following year at 75% of my current pay. Don't care if already making astronomical money, that's a kick to the balls right there.
With the EPL now sporting a top 6, it really makes transfers more daunting to move there in my eyes and heres why
Bundesliga was great last year, but for all intents and purposes, it's a top 2 league. BM and Dortmund and everyone else. Teams will make runs here and there (Hoffenheim, RB, last year Frankfurt, Gladbach), but at the end of the year, best players are going to move on and it will be wide open again. Jovic already gone, T. Hazard - and I mean the year before Hoffenheim lost top guys, next year probably Haller, watch Rebic leave, and so on. So if you're a top player, you go to BM or Dortmund you're like 100% to get to CL play.
La Liga, same shit, but maybe with Atletico Madrid as a viable #3. Barca is going to be absolutely the nuts next year. They had a bunch of injuries this year, but already got de jong and looks like de light, I have no doubt they are going to be #1 team in the world by a wide margin. Again, you're a top name, you go to RM, Barca, AM, you're like 95% + to get to CL play every year.
EPL, well fuck, Man City is clearly deepest squad, and after that, you can make a case for 5 teams EVERY year to finish 2-6. And now, Newcastle may be coming into the mix with a new owner? So if you're a top name, you go to Arsenal lets say and HOPE you make CL one year? Maybe, but better get paid.
I guess Serie A facees similar challenges as EPL, as you have Juventus and then 5-6 teams that seeming can rotate each year (Roma, Napoli, Inter, Milan, - hell Atalanta came in 3rd last year, and Lazio is usually in the mix too), but you're playing in front of empty stadiums there so EPL is probably a better option for most.
One name that really has fallen to the wayside is Neymar. No idea what is going to happen to him.
