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      Ten Hag needs Cristiano Ronaldo, who is desperate to leave Man Utd and missed out the team-building on pre-season tour

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      THE SPIRIT in the Manchester United camp out in Bangkok and Australia pointed to a new positive start for the club.While Erik ten Hag made the point that such tours had their downside, in terms of travel etc.. he felt the two-and-a-half weeks together would help the players bond again.
      Ronaldo is desperate to leave Man UtdCredit: Rex
      Ten Hag got off to a losing start as Man Utd bossCredit: Rex
      He could sense how down everyone was after the end to last season and wanted to put a smile back on faces.
      The new boss looked to have achieved that.
      The social media postings of players having fun and indeed the performances looked like the dark clouds had been cast away.
      Questions about Ronaldo would always come up, but he wasn’t with them and Ten Hag was enjoying working with the players he had.
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      Then they returned and it all blew up again and the work done in pre-season looks to have been washed away.
      Ronaldo, 37, is such a huge figure at the club that his mood seems to permeate through the camp.
      He is clearly not in a good one.
      Having missed the tour his first action came in an Old Trafford friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
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      He missed an early chance then there was a bizarre passage of play when James Garner passed the ball to him on half way and Ronaldo passed it straight back.
      He did that four times in all before, Garner by now being closed down passed the ball sideways to someone else.
      Ronaldo and the manager would have words during that half when in a break of play he called the players to his technical area.
      Ronaldo’s reaction to the instructions he was being given was to put his hands out to his sides and seemingly protest.
      It was not a good look and he was hooked at half-time then left the stadium before the end of the game.
      For a manager who had been preaching ‘togetherness’ throughout the tour, this was ‘unacceptable’.
      At the training ground his brooding figure is getting some players down.
      A lot of the younger ones who were excited at his arrival, often feel kowtowed by his presence.
      The immediate problem is that United do not have a recognised fit striker without him.
      Anthony Martial missed the first game with a hamstring problem and while he had a good pre-season it remains to be seen whether that will translate itself into the Premier League.
      Their inexplicable and short lived pursuit of former Stoke and West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic from Bologna was abandoned when a £7.6million offer was rejected.
      They weren’t going to pay any more and the outcry from supporters also had a say in their u-turn.
      Ten Hag tried to play Christian Eriksen as a false nine against Brighton and it simply did not work.
      When Ronaldo did come on United looked better, but not much.
      While there were cheers when he entered the field of play there were boos as well.
      The group that waited above the tunnel when Ronaldo walked off at the end gestured as if to say ‘just go’.
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      The problem is Ten Hag may have little choice but to play him in the next game against Brentford.
      Hopes resting on someone who won’t even want to be there – how does a club the size of Manchester United get into such a mess? More

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      Dean Henderson’s trophy cabinet will never be as full as Cristiano Ronaldo’s… but he’ll always have bigger balls

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      IF HALF the shots Dean Henderson faces are as fierce as those he aimed at Manchester United, he’s in for the busiest season of his life.Ahead of starting on-loan life at Nottingham Forest, keeper Henderson gave United both barrels at what he labelled their criminal treatment of him.
      Dean Henderson’s Man Utd career is seemingly over after his outburst
      It wasn’t so much a case of burning his bridges at Old Trafford as taking a ton of gelignite to them — and it’s safe to say his days in Manchester are done.
      Henderson has been around long enough to realise what the fallout would be and the social media cesspit was soon spewing bile in his direction.
      Nothing but a spoilt brat, said some. Pathetic, said others. Should keep quiet and grow a backbone, in the eyes of one more high-profile ‘expert’.
      All of whom seem to have forgotten Henderson had every right to believe those at United who told him he’d be first-choice keeper last season.
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      After all, he’d ended the previous one in that position. And if fate hadn’t conspired against him, he would have been, too.
      Maybe people are unaware that David de Gea would have been sold last summer had United found a buyer.
      Plenty of fans would have welcomed it, too, after a season in direct contrast to last year. De Gea had, by anyone’s standards, been poor.
      The perfect example of how fickle this game can be. As fickle as those now having a pop at Henderson for speaking both his mind and the truth.
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      Whether they agree with him or not, he should be applauded for having the balls to do so. He’s certainly in a minority when it comes to that.
      You don’t have to look too far in the Old Trafford dressing room to highlight the point. Cristiano Ronaldo, anyone?
      For the past month Ronaldo has been drip-feeding anyone prepared to listen about how he wants out of United. Or rather his ‘team’ has been doing his bidding.
      Not a word from the man himself, of course. Leaving him the option of saying how it was all media speak, should — as seems likely — he’s still at United next month.
      When that happens, ask yourself why, if it’s all bs, he hasn’t already come out and said so. He’s certainly not shy of a post or two.
      Henderson — whatever your view on his outburst — has the guts to admit he was p***ed off. Ronaldo hasn’t.Phil Thomas
      Like the one ahead of last Sunday’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano modestly announcing “the king plays”. Or the post-match one insisting he was “happy to be back”.
      Incidentally, to long-term United fans, that royal moniker applies to two people — Denis Law and, to a lesser extent, Eric Cantona, but that’s another issue.
      Yet “happy to be back?” Believe that and you’ll believe United are going to win another treble this season. It’s probably more likely than Ronaldo jumping for joy at staying put.
      The point being, Henderson — whatever your view on his outburst — has the guts to admit he was p***ed off. Ronaldo hasn’t.
      Instead, he has used agents, middlemen and PR flunkies to do the snide stuff and try to engineer a move. Like so many footballers before him.
      Publicly they’ll tell the world how happy they are, yet all the while they’re trying to get away. And don’t for one minute think that doesn’t go on. Believe me, it’s commonplace.
      Maybe Henderson could have been a little more tactful in his choice of words and, given his time again, he probably would tweak the odd one.
      Cristiano Ronaldo is plotting his Man Utd exit
      But the sentiment would remain the same. There would be no double-speak, no confusion, no doubting his feelings, that is for certain.
      Just a footballer being open, frank and candid about what he really thinks. There aren’t too many of them around, believe me.
      The next time the keyboard warriors are kicking off at a manager or player trying to pull the wool over their eyes and feeding them bulls**t, they should remember that.
      Henderson’s trophy cabinet will never be as big as Ronaldo’s if he plays until he’s 50.
      But in terms of refreshing honesty, he’ll always have bigger balls.

      BBC WIN… THEN LOSE
      THE BBC did a magnificent job with its coverage of the Lionesses’ Euro triumph.
      And the Beeb now appears to have made itself the head promoter and profiler of women’s football.
      But while being able to watch the heroics of Leah Williamson and Co on free-to-air TV was a huge help, there is an almighty irony behind it all.
      It’s surely a question of when, rather than if, the likes of Sky, BT and others get involved. In which case, the BBC will swiftly become the poor relations of any bidding war.

      EIL WATCH IT
      Eilish McColgan of Scotland celebrates winning the gold medalCredit: Bobby Gavin
      THE  Commonwealth  Games  has  something of a school sports day feel about it.
      Too many top athletes have chosen not to compete and there have been too many late withdrawals to argue otherwise.
      But on Wednesday night it was responsible for one of the greatest moments you’ll see in any sport.
      The atmosphere when Eilish McColgan won the 10,000m was ear-splitting.
      And also two fingers to those who can’t see beyond London in terms of the perfect base for the nation’s athletics.

      DOME TRUTHS
      Julian Alvarez with fellow Man City new boy Erling HaalandCredit: Reuters
      AS Erik ten Hag starts his debut season in charge at Manchester United, and Pep Guardiola his seventh at City, one less-than-obvious fact has come to light.
      It is the first time in half a century — since the days of Wilf McGuinness/Sir Matt Busby at Old Trafford and Joe Mercer at Maine Road — that there has been no need for a managerial comb in Manchester!
      The move of Erling Haaland to Manchester City for £51.4million is widely accepted as a bargain in these times of ridiculously inflated fees.
      In which case, paying less than a third of that for Argentine striker Julian Alvarez is daylight robbery, if his competitive bow in the Community Shield is anything to go by. More

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      Harry Redknapp: Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be a problem if he stays at Man Utd… he will still be their BEST trainer

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      WE all know one player doesn’t make a team but they can certainly go a long way to breaking it.So the last thing Erik ten Hag needed when he walked into Manchester United was Cristiano Ronaldo trying to get out.
      Cristiano Ronaldo will still be the best trainer at the club if he stays at Man UtdCredit: Getty
      Erik ten Hag is having to deal with the wantaway strikerCredit: Reuters
      I know from experience how damaging it can be to the dressing room when one of your senior men is unhappy.
      But if Ronaldo stays — and I don’t see clubs falling over themselves to sign him — don’t expect any problems with what United will get from him.
      He’ll still train better than anyone else and he’ll still be the first in and last out, because that’s just what he has always done.
      And whenever he plays, he will never give anything but his best — it’s what makes him the great player he is.
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      Behind the scenes, I’m sure Ten Hag is hoping someone comes up with an offer to suit everyone but I can’t see it.
      Ronaldo was probably thinking Bayern Munich, a Spanish side or a big Champions League team would want him.
      But there’s nowhere for him to go as far as I can see.
      So unless something pops up out of the blue, he’ll be sticking around — and the manager will have him involved.
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      If that’s the case, Ronaldo won’t cause the upset others might.
      Don’t forget, only Mo Salah and Son Heung-min got more goals last season, so he’ll still have a big role.
      But there are plenty of others at the club who have to step up this season.
      The good thing for Ten Hag is they can’t be any worse than last time.
      They’ve signed Lisandro Martinez and although he’s small for a centre-back, you can get away with it if you’re quick and read the game as well as him.
      Although if they can’t get Frenkie de Jong over the line, don’t be surprised to see Martinez in a defensive midfield role.
      I must admit, I thought a deal for De Jong would have been long done by now.
      A Dutch manager signing a Dutch player who’s got a Dutch agent… it looked nailed on.
      He’ll still train better than anyone else and he’ll still be the first in and last out, because that’s just what he has always done.Harry Redknapp on Cristiano Ronaldo
      The one thing for sure is United will be better than last season… they could hardly be worse.
      I also think, though, the top four is beyond them again, for all I expect them to improve.
      In my book, the top six will be the same as last time, with one big exception — I can see Liverpool pipping Manchester City to the title.
      City have certainly got the real deal in Erling Haaland, who’s got pace, power, strength and is a great finisher.
      He’s going to take some stopping and there were times last season when they did lack a goalscorer.
      Harry Redknapp backs Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool to pip Man City to the titleCredit: Alamy
      But Liverpool have a decent boy as well in Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz is a top player and Salah has signed a new deal.
      There was only a point between these two last season and I can see it being just as close.
      But as someone who likes a bet, I have to say Liverpool are the best value.
      I do think this is the year City win the Champions League — and that could actually be the deciding factor in the title race.
      It’s the one trophy to elude Pep Guardiola at the Etihad and if he rotates players later in the season, he won’t be resting any of his big guns in Europe, that’s for sure.
      In my book, the top six will be the same as last time, with one big exception — I can see Liverpool pipping Manchester City to the title.Harry Redknapp
      Liverpool obviously want to win it as well but, given the choice, I think winning the Premier League in front of their own fans, rather than an empty stadium like in 2020, would be their pick.
      I’m sure Jurgen Klopp has dreamt of what it would be like to lift the trophy at a packed Anfield. Well, this season I reckon he’ll find out.
      Behind the big two, Spurs have made a couple of great signings in Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma — although I can’t see where Richarlison fits in — and I fancy them for third.
      And things look a lot more optimistic for Chelsea than a few months ago.
      Raheem Sterling is in and Kalidou Koulibaly is a fantastic defender. They’re my tip for fourth.
      Then it’s Arsenal — who have also bought well and will improve — and United fighting for the two places beyond them and daylight back to the rest.
      I’m just delighted the Premier League is back — that’s my weekends sorted again for nine months!

      SCOTTIE’S DONE A HELL OF A JOB
      Scott Parker has got a job on his hands if he wants to keep Bournemouth in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
      I’VE got my season ticket for Bournemouth and will be there for every home game — but it could be a very long season for them.
      If Scott Parker keeps the Cherries up, it will be a much, much bigger achievement than getting them up.
      Scottie’s not had loads to spend and while he had the best squad in the Championship, it’s also one that’s not good enough for the Premier League.
      They signed Marcus Tavernier from Middlesbrough but need much more than the couple of other free transfers who came in on top of him.
      They’ve got a proper Prem striker in Dominic Solanke but it comes down to the service he’ll get. I’d love them to survive but it’s going to be hard.
      It’s the same for Fulham, despite a nice result against Liverpool.
      Again, getting the service to Aleksandar Mitrovic will be key or they could struggle.
      But I can see Nottingham Forest, the other promoted side, doing the same as Brentford last time and staying up quite easily.
      Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson are great signings.
      The other relegation place could end up being between Southampton, who really need a goalscorer, and Brentford.
      Everton have it all on, too, and if Frank Lampard gets them halfway up the table he’ll have worked a miracle, because he took over a bang average group.
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      Of the others, lots of people will be keen to see how Newcastle go. But although they’ve got untold riches, they’re clearly taking it step by step.
      It’s only a matter of time before they challenge for the top six and above but, for now at least, that looks beyond them. More

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      Troy Deeney: With Haaland and Nunez, Man City and Liverpool are so good it’s a joke… the others won’t get close

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      THE likes of Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland will definitely get their ‘Welcome to England’ moment.That could be anything from a culture shock to the amount of coverage they receive after missing chances.
      Darwin Nunez impressed Troy Deeney with his goal, and celebration, in the Community ShieldCredit: Getty
      Signings of Erling Haaland and Nunez will make it another two-horse title raceCredit: Getty
      It may even be someone like Haaland playing at Anfield in a Manchester City shirt for the first time, or getting a good old-school whack from a defender.
      They will both enjoy the physicality. They are both big human beings. Seeing Nunez whip his top off in the Community Shield I thought: ‘He’ll be OK’.
      But those 90s Vinnie Jones or Nicky Butt types who go to swipe at a new player are long gone. There are still enforcers out there but they won’t go out to harm someone.
      And with Burnley out of the picture, Nunez and Haaland won’t even have the famous midweek trip to Turf Moor under the lights to seriously test their mettle.
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      I’d expect Nunez and Liverpool to have a nicer start away at Fulham but the back of Haaland’s head might get introduced to the elbow of West Ham’s Craig Dawson when City go to the London Stadium.
      Knowing Dawson the way I do, that will be the first thing he will try, whether that is the first header where he can say ‘This is my game’. And don’t get me wrong, there will still be managers telling players ‘Give him a kick first five minutes and see what he does’.
      Haaland has been around long enough to know he is going to get kicked.
      The days of a player coming in as an unknown are also a rarity. A lot of us know German football, we know Haaland already, and the same with Nunez and the Portuguese league.
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      But I don’t think he is going to get lifted or smashed like back in the day. Someone like Declan Rice will instead say: ‘All the talk is about you. Let me show you what I can do with the ball’.
      We won’t be surprised by how good they are, it will just be about how quickly they can get up to speed with the tempo.
      No matter which way you dice it, the Premier League is a much quicker game.
      Once they do, we will then see their unquestionable quality. We will never sit here and debate whether they are decent strikers, because they are world class.
      The back of Haaland’s head might get introduced to the elbow of West Ham’s Craig Dawson when City go to the London Stadium.Troy Deeney
      It is too simple to suggest whoever scores more out of Nunez and Haaland will see their side win the league.
      Haaland will certainly give City what they have been missing in the six-yard box, that’s where he will come alive, but there are so many goals around him through Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne.
      Nunez will score goals but so will Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino.
      Troy Deeney thinks Haaland and Nunez will set the Premier League alightCredit: The Sun
      I am intrigued to see how much City will miss Raheem Sterling’s pace and whether they find it trickier to now get to the by-line.
      Regardless, it is a joke how good these two teams are. Pick your poison.
      The question isn’t whether they will score but who will score. And whoever comes out on top in their head-to-heads will be the team that wins the title.
      This season, there are so many different types of sides in the top flight, especially from the promoted lot.
      I am really worried for Manchester United.Troy Deeney
      Fulham and Bournemouth both play nice football.
      Nottingham Forest will still be hostile at the City Ground but, again, they are a good footballing side under boss Steve Cooper. I can’t see any of them hoofing balls up top for a big man or landing big elbows in the face.
      As for the best of the rest at the top, Tottenham are leading the way after getting their business done early in the summer.
      Arsenal are just ahead of Chelsea after lots of turnover on and off the pitch.
      I am really worried for Manchester United.
      I can’t see that vision, they are yet to have brought in a marquee signing and alongside that is the Cristiano Ronaldo mess.
      Newcastle will be interesting to watch, with a wonderful manager and still riding the crest of the wave from last season. I reckon they grab a top ten spot, competing with Leicester and Wolves.
      I do worry for Everton. I don’t know what they’re trying to do but Brighton are also a bit of a concern and could be in trouble, as well as Brentford with their second-season syndrome.

      RACISM HASN’T STOPPED
      I MUST say I’m disappointed by the decision to limit the taking of the knee to certain Premier League games.
      I can understand the sentiment from the players and they say it will still be brought back before certain games or key moments.
      My counter argument to that would be, is there anything that’s moved on? Has there been any progression yet? Not in my eyes.
      Nothing has changed. Have there been any other rules put in place by the FA that has resulted from taking the knee?
      No, so why stop? It clearly needs more time.
      I would love to sit down with those at the FA or the Premier League and ask to see what has actually been done or what is going to be done now we are getting rid of this.
      By taking the knee, we put racism in football out in the open — but now we are just stopping.
      Has racism now stopped? I don’t think so. I just don’t get it.
      I am really disappointed. But, you have to respect what the players have decided. More

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      Karren Brady: Once the delirium of England’s Euros win fades the women’s game has serious work to do to reap the rewards

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      HAVING grown tired of men promising us “it’s coming home” for the last 56 years, women just went out and brought it home themselves.And they did it only four years into existence as a fully-professional sport.
      England’s Lionesses thrilled the nation with their Euro 2022 winCredit: Getty
      Karren Brady says the WSL must reap the benefitsCredit: PR Handout – Free to use
      They threw themselves into celebrations in ways I have never seen from men.
      In total abandonment, they danced, jigged, sang, laughed and hugged in a feast of excitement at becoming European winners.
      Oh, what a night!
      I know only too well male players would be dancing if they won a Euros or World Cup final.
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      I’d join in with them 100 per cent. But many men are almost frightened of letting themselves go in the uninhibited way Sarina Wiegman’s players did.
      Can you imagine England men’s squad interrupting their manager’s press conference with a chorus line skipping in behind him?
      Now the delirium is over, the smiles or satisfaction remain — but there is serious work to be done.
      The FA fitfully began to release the power inherent in girls in footie boots with formation of the all-professional Women’s Super League four years ago.
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      It was a masterstroke or even a mistress-stroke!
      The question for the WSL clubs is, should the FA remain in control of the benefits of huge success, or is it time for a new direction?
      I don’t know of a single WSL club who does not agree it is time for a new direction.
      The FA sold the TV rights to the WSL games for £7.3million but decided to only give a third of the money to WSL clubs.
      Having sold the sponsorship rights to the WSL to Barclays for £30m, again they decided only £500,000 of the money raised should actually go to the WSL clubs.
      So is it any wonder we lose more than £1m a season running our women’s side. Some clubs in the WSL lose £4m a season — and none break even.
      I am convinced if the Premier League were in charge, we would be reasonably self-sufficient and sustainable much sooner, as well as better run and better promoted.
      Women can do it. Some 30 years ago when I became a novice MD of Birmingham City, the appointment was laughed at.
      I don’t know of a single WSL club who does not agree it is time for a new direction.Karren Brady
      I was insulted and sworn at but at least there was no such thing as social media then. No doubt, I would have been trolled to death.
      Yet women have survived demeaning treatment since time began and, here in football, there was a progressive cause to be fought.
      The WSL established itself by working with the FA along the lines of the Premier League. Attendances have been generally small — but growing — and the clubs survived on annual sums dwarfed by the monthly earnings of a single male star.
      Still, they learned televised games, publicity and sponsorship are key, and the contract to show every match of the European Championship was pivotal.
      That the BBC were brilliant helped.
      And what a royal reward they were handed — 17.4m viewers watched the final with Germany, the biggest audience of the year, overjoyed to witness a true football nut make the presentations.
      It has been clear for years Prince William is that nut — and one who would never confuse West Ham with Aston Villa. Pity he fell for the wrong club!
      Among the Wembley capacity crowd kids jumped and jiggled, women whooped, possibly women whose sole link once was to grumble at the money her husband spent on a season ticket.
      Yes, football unearthed a new audience. It will take time for this to be fully translated into crowds at big stadiums and more girls playing our game at school. But it will, I believe, happen quite soon
      Women have an advantage with the public.
      They love glamour, chat and publicity and I doubt they will ever be zombified by control-freak managers and greedy agents.
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      We have much more to give the game, too.
      Beth Mead’s volley on the turn and Alessia Russo’s backheel provide a strange talking point over the groceries — but revolution, once rolling, takes some stopping. More

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      Mark Irwin: There is only going to be one winner in Cristiano Ronaldo’s tussle with Man Utd and it won’t be Erik ten Hag

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      ARSENAL technical director Edu rattled every financial director in football when he claimed that paying unwanted players to leave is “an investment”.That’s quite some economic policy from a club which has delivered more golden handshakes than King Midas in recent months.
      Wantaway Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo is sure to be the only winner from his transfer sagaCredit: Getty
      Among the beneficiaries of Arsenal’s generosity have been Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac and Sokratis – £150million of signings enjoying a kiss-off for outstaying their welcome.
      Yet the grim reality is that rewarding failure is the lesser of two evils for all those clubs who have married at haste and been forced to repent at leisure.
      Practically every team in the Premier League has had their fingers burned by a big-money signing who has dramatically failed to live up to expectations.
      Danny Drinkwater, Eric Bailly, Tanguy Ndombele, Nicolas Pepe, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cenk Tosun, Felipe Anderson, Dennis Praet, Ross Barkley, Christian Benteke… and they’re just the tip of the scrapheap.
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      But trying to offload those underachievers has become practically impossible now that the bottom has all but dropped out of the transfer market.
      European clubs who were once happy to sign our cast-offs at a reduced price now expect to get them on loan with a vague promise of maybe paying a nominal fee some time in the distant future.
      Or, better still, for absolutely nothing.
      Yet even then many players are happy to sit on the sidelines wringing every last penny from their contracts.
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      So the only way to get rid of these “killers” is to take a leaf out of the Edu playbook and pay them to clear off.
      Barcelona have tried to buck that trend by flogging Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United or Chelsea for £70m while withholding the £14.5m the player is owed in deferred wages.
      But that bullying approach is doomed to failure because, one way or the other, De Jong is going to get his money before he agrees to leave.
      For in this game of football poker, it’s the players who now hold all the aces.
      Which brings us neatly onto Cristiano Ronaldo, currently throwing a hissy-fit because he doesn’t want to slum it in the Europa League with Man Utd.
      The problem is, he still has a year of his £480,000-a-week contract to run and United don’t appear to have been inundated with offers.
      New boss Erik ten Hag insists the 37-year-old GOAT still figures in his plans despite missing the pre-season tour and storming off after being hooked in a reserve game.
      Which leaves United caught between a rock and a hard place.
      One the one hand there is the risk of undermining Ten Hag’s authority by allowing Ronaldo to cash in on his petulance with another lucrative moment.
      But the alternative is being lumbered with a sulking prima donna overshadowing everything the new manager is trying to achieve.
      Either way, there is only going to be one winner. And it won’t be United.
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      GAME TRULY PEATYFUL
      ADAM PEATY well and truly let the cat out of the bag when he shrugged off defeat in the 100 metres breaststroke, with words to the effect of: “I’m not bothered, it’s the Commonwealth Games.”
      Cue horrified faces in the BBC studios, where they have been desperately trying to convince us we’ve been watching elite sport for the past week or so.
      Fair play to the likes of Michael Johnson and Sir Chris Hoy for keeping a straight face as they assess the efforts of a Samoan sprinter or a track cyclist from Tuvalu.
      But even their best efforts cannot disguise the fact “the Commies” are the track-and-field equivalent of the Europa Conference League.
      Which is why missing out at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre was never going to devastate serial Olympic champion Peaty.
      FRANK YOU
      EVERTON fan Paul Stratton achieved a lifetime dream when he scored a penalty in front of their Gwladys Street End.
      The “portly” 44-year-old took the kick after replacing Dele Alli late in the pre-season win against Dynamo Kyiv.
      It was a reward for his work delivering supplies to victims of the war in Ukraine.
      A fine gesture by Toffees boss Frank Lampard — marred only by the realisation that Stratton was his best player!
      PC BROKE
      THE highbrow world of chess does not usually make SunSport pages but I could not ignore the recent match in Moscow between a computer and a seven-year-old child prodigy.
      According to reports, the match had to be abandoned when the boy picked up a piece to make a move and the robot responded by reaching across the board and crushing his finger.
      Apparently it is known as the Vinnie Jones defence.
      CAR CRASH
      CHAIRMAN Bruce Carnegie-Brown got a suspended six-month ban by the MCC for inadvertently upsetting the blazer brigade.
      The Lord’s boss failed to cover his microphone when he joked about tardy members “taking an age to empty their colostomy bags”.
      Considering it can take 22 years and cost up to £80,000 to become a full member, it seems just about everyone is taking the p*** at the Home of Cricket. More

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      Ten Hag would be tearing his hair out if he had any as Ronaldo and De Jong transfer sagas dampen pre-season positivity

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      PERTH must seem a very, very long way away now for Erik ten Hag.Leaving Australia on the back of three wins and a draw in pre-season there was a real air of positivity at Manchester United.
      Erik ten Hag’s positive pre-season with Man Utd has been overshadowed by off-field dramaCredit: Getty
      Back home it seems problems and anxiety are mounting as Ten Hag faces his first Premier League press conference on Friday ahead of the visit to Brighton.
      Not long ago United were having a good summer in the transfer market having landed Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia.
      Now things have stalled. The saga surrounding much-needed midfielder Frenkie de Jong is already entering its third series with still nobody sure of the ending.
      Ten Hag made it clear they had to add to their forwards to be competitive, but nobody has arrived.
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      Without additions he was hoping a front three of Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford would kick start their season.
      Now a hamstring strain for Martial threatens that.
      And of course the Cristiano Ronaldo problem hangs over the club like a dark cloud.
      He wants out, United say no, and if he could Ten Hag would be tearing his hair out about this unwanted distraction.
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      His name dominated their final pre-season game after playing an underwhelming first 45 minutes against Rayo Vallecano before leaving the ground before full-time.
      He was big on preaching team unity over the other side of the world and everyone was buying into it.
      So Ten Hag was not happy at his early exit and has made that very clear.
      Ronaldo had already had a disagreement with the new boss in a break in play that was not a good look.
      The constant criticism from former greats that proved so sapping last season has started already.
      Gary Neville has called their ongoing failure to land De Jong as an “embarrassment”.
      GARY SLAMS CHASE
      Neville added: “The old failings seems to be there, in terms of not being able to get anything over the line.”
      The protests that marked the final few games of last season with marches to the ground are starting again with another one planned for this Sunday.
      It’s incredible to think that this time a year ago United were going into the new season having finished as runners-up in the previous campaign.
      They had finally landed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane was on his way and little did anyone know about the excitement that would greet Ronaldo’s return.
      Their league season opened up with four wins and a draw and a belief was growing that for the first time since 2013 they could challenge for the title again.
      Fast forward 12 months to a show called The Debate on the club’s own TV channel, MUTV.
      STUCK IN FIRST GEAR
      It didn’t make the cut due to time but two former players, Ben Thornley and David May, and two journalists including myself were asked for their top-four predictions.
      Everyone had United in fourth and the majority covered themselves by saying that even that would be after a fight with Chelsea and Arsenal with Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham in everyone’s top three. Few would argue with that.
      Indeed fourth right now would be a “snap your arm off” scenario – as would eight points from the opening four game: Brighton at home, Brentford away, Liverpool at home and Southampton away.
      There is still time in the transfer window and no lack of willing on the part of football director John Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold to get deals done.
      They have worked tirelessly to find a way to solve the De Jong problem as the player holds out for wages owed to him by Barcelona.
      Talks are ongoing with RB Salzburg over 19-year-old highly-rated striker Benjamin Sesko.
      There is also a real will in the fan base for Ten Hag to succeed.
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      His no-nonsense style has already gone down well.
      But the question of whether he has the tools to mend the faltering Red machine remains. More

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      Man Utd to play Everton on October 9 in bizarre Sunday 7pm kick-off TV slot to give more time after Europa League clash

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      EVERTON and Manchester United fans are probably wondering why their Premier League match at Goodison on October 9 has been rescheduled for 7pm on a Sunday.It was chosen as a TV game — but is later than normal because United will be playing in the Europa League on the Thursday night.
      Everton vs Manchester United will now be played on a Saturday at 7pmCredit: Reuters
      And this unusual kick-off time gives them a few more hours to prepare.
      This falls in line with the Premier League guidelines that any Champions League team playing away on a Wednesday night will no longer have a Saturday lunchtime kick-off for a BT Sport match.
      The situation has previously been an issue for Jurgen Klopp — but you can be guaranteed the Liverpool manager will find something else to moan about.

      GREAT SCOTT
      ALEX SCOTT has become a popular TV pundit and presenter for the BBC.
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      Her programme The Future of Women’s Football — which explores the explosion of the game in this country — is a decent watch.
      And, with her career on the upward curve, she proved to be too expensive for Uefa when approached to host a three-hour launch for Euro 2022 at Old Trafford.
      Uefa declined to shell out “a substantial sum” for her to front the event in a stadium suite for media and dignitaries.
      There was also frustration at the BBC that Scott, and other well-known pundits, were not featuring enough on the broadcaster’s TV and radio news channels during the group stage to help plug the tournament.
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      Meanwhile, the BBC gets plenty of stick in athletics for having cheerleaders involved in their coverage.
      Yet during games, former keeper Rachel Brown-Finnis was seen in the media areas wearing an England shirt.

      ON THE BOX
      ARSENAL will be in the spotlight when Amazon Prime launches its latest All or Nothing documentary tomorrow.
      Club legend Thierry Henry has given his opinions.
      But some of the first team are unhappy about that, believing he has been too critical over the last season or so.
      According to Patrice Evra, Henry once refused to watch them on TV because Granit Xhaka was captain.

      BEER WE GO
      SPURS, West Ham, Norwich and Blackburn all headed north of the border for pre-season friendlies in Scotland.
      Many supporters found it is impossible to buy a beer before matches.
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      Incredibly, the last time you could purchase alcohol at a game in any of the four Scottish divisions was in . . . 1980.
      And you thought English fans could not be trusted to behave. More