Award-winning INSC Magazine’s “The Great Debate” embarked upon its much-awaited inaugural episode coinciding with the opening week of the 2018-2019 Premier League Season.
INSC Magazine CEO/Editor-In-Chief Robert Cobb, FOX Sports Radio and FourFourTwo contributor Dean Perretta, Ryan Osborne and Dan McManus all weighed in with candid views and thoughts on the biggest trending news, rumors and controversy surrounding the transfer window.
Uniquely candid, insightful, transparent, confrontational, uncompromising and thoughtful. INSC Magazine’s “The Great Debate” fully delivers with authority and with no filter.
Alisher Usmanov accepts £1.8 billion bid from Stan Kroenke to Buy Arsenal:
Robert Cobb (Editor-In-Chief): The reason why Kroneke is so disliked is that he is seen as a rich American who is out of touch with one of the most storied sides in all of English football.
Dean Perretta: Kroenke’s rapport and relationship with Arsenal fans is very much non-existent. John W. Henry (Liverpool F.C owner) on the other hand is a prime example of a well-respected American owner in the English game – very astute, influential, very passionate, ambitious and greatly respectful of Liverpool’s rich heritage and its great fans. To be honest, interference and a distinct lack of involvement are two poisonous signs for a club owner. Kroenke dutifully ticks the box for the latter – a lack of involvement and presence, especially when it comes to attending games at the Emirates Stadium. In fairness, it is not the ideal chapter to start the Emery era, especially given that it’ll create further negativity and toxicity amongst the ever-opinionated and passionate Gunners fans – the same passionate fans who called for Wenger’s exit last season.
Ryan Osborne: Over the past season, fans have stated their displeasure at Kroenke and his dealings. Now he’s set to take full control, it has all the ingredients for the club to go backwards rather than forwards.
Dan McManus: I’ve never been a big fan of Kroenke. Not because of any personal problems I have with him, but I know Arsenal supporters don’t like him. If the supporters of the team he owns hate him, it must say something about what he is doing. There is the caveat to that, which says that Arsenal fans are not always the most level headed of people when it comes to the way their club is running. Having said this, what I have read coming from the supporters of the club and the official statement put out by the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust leads me to think that this may not be a good thing.
Paul Pogba Delivers Transfer Ultimatum to Manchester United as French Maestro Eyes Barça Switch:
Robert Cobb (Editor-In-Chief): Clearly, a change of scenery may do Pogba some good as he is underachieving at Old Trafford.
Dean Perretta: Pogba has made it abundantly clear in no uncertain terms that he longs to leave Old Trafford, plain and simple. This has been relayed to United teammates from Pogba personally. Ultimately, the Frenchman’s relationship, or lack thereof with José Mourinho, has effectively deteriorated even further over the past few months to the point of no return, which has been very well-documented in recent memory. Pogba is now holding United ransom for even more money. You would expect more for a man of his class and caliber, both on and off the pitch. The World Cup winner has often underwhelmed in a United shirt time and time again. United fans know talent when they see it, but even they cannot be very happy with the way how this situation has played out. It’s a slap in the face to a great club such as Manchester United.
Ryan Osborne: Given Mourinho’s track record with his handling of top players, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pogba moves on. Barcelona are a big team but I feel that if Pogba moves on, Manchester United may not recover.
Dan McManus: I think this one is simple. There are two things that this means. The first is that Pogba and his agent (mostly his agent) saw the wages that were given to (Alexis) Sánchez when he signed in January and feel that Paul deserves more money. This could very much be a ploy to get new contract negotiations in the works or push existing ones along. On the other hand, it could be that Pogba doesn’t want to play for Mourinho. This wouldn’t surprise me at all, if we’re being honest. José (Mourinho) has refused to play a midfield three, which is widely known to be the system that Pogba works the best in and the highly regimented style of play does not fit Pogba’s creativity and need for freedom. Contrary to popular belief, I do not think it is because of José making Pogba play defensively (Pogba didn’t mind it at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018), just how rigimented and strict the system is does not allow for Pogba to express himself.
Colombia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup star Yerry Mina joins Everton from FC Barcelona After Transfer Deliberation:
Robert Cobb (Editor-In-Chief): Its the transfer window…what would it be without some drama? And that’s what this all is!
Dean Perretta: Arguably, the Yerry Mina transfer situation was a true classic case of domestic clubs signing players off the back of a major tournament. Mina played four games in the FIFA World Cup and was not in favor at FC Barcelona last season; playing just six times in La Liga in 2017-2018. Yes, he scored three goals at FIFA World Cup 2018 and was among one of the best defenders throughout the tournament in hindsight. However, the FIFA World Cup was Mina’s window to advertise his ability and increase his stock in the transfer market. The question now is whether Yerry Mina can sustain his outstanding FIFA World Cup 2018 form throughout the coming season, week in and week out at Everton. The international game is different to the domestic game on many levels.
Ryan Osborne: After watching him (Mina) at the World Cup, he looks a good player and would’ve been a great asset for any team who signed him.
Dan McManus: Hindsight is a twenty-twenty here, but I think Everton is the right move for him (Mina). The style of play that Everton play in defense (high line) is similar to the system we saw Mina shine in during the World Cup. He gets to walk into a starting position and play against some of the best players in the world. I think this move is beneficial for both Everton and Mina’s development.
Eden Hazard Remains with Chelsea After Much Speculation of Potentially Leaving Stamford Bridge:
Robert Cobb (Editor-In-Chief): It’s big for the Blues that they managed to hold onto (Eden) Hazard. If Hazard left, then Chelsea would’ve been in big trouble.
Dean Perretta: Thibaut Courtois’ move to Real Madrid could potentially influence Hazard to move in the near future, notably given their personal friendship and bond. In May, Hazard previously stated that he would remain at Stamford Bridge if Courtois also stayed in west London. A fair amount has changed at Chelsea since May, notably with the arrival of Sarri. Conversely, Sarri provided full assurances to Chelsea fans that Hazard would be staying. With Hazard now remaining at the Bridge, it provides a massive confidence boost for the Blues heading into the new season. In the positive sense, Hazard needs to be much more selfish on the field if Chelsea want to succeed. The Belgian is often way too unselfish to be regarded in the Ballon d’Or winning class.
Ryan Osborne: It’s been previously known that Courtois wouldn’t leave without Hazard, but with the latest developments involving Courtois, keeping Hazard is the best piece of transfer window activity that Sarri and Chelsea have done.
Dan McManus: I thought Hazard would stay. Mostly because I did not think there is any interest from teams that would have the ability to pay for him or that he would want to go to. Hazard has the keys to this Chelsea team, its his team. I do not think he will be able to find that type of thing anywhere else. Sarri needs wingers like Hazard to make Sarriball work. My guess is that Sarri met with Hazard and told him how essential he was to the system and team and that made him stay. The only other option was that Sarri was making this public because Hazard really did want to leave and Sarri was using quotes in the press to try and bully him into staying.
Liverpool Spend £260m on New Players During Summer – Is José Mourinho Right To Call Jurgen Klopp A Hypocrite Based on Liverpool’s Big Spending?
Robert Cobb (Editor-In-Chief): It’s rare that I’ll even side with José on anything, but he makes a valid point in calling out Klopp as a hypocrite with the recent spending spree that has been going on at Anfield.
Dean Perretta: Over the course of the past two seasons, Mourinho has spent endlessly to rebuild a team in his image and desire at Manchester United. However, as ever-confrontational and very petulant as Mourinho may be, there is a real sense of justification in his words. The large expectations for Liverpool to win the Premier League or UEFA Champions League this season has intensified and intense pressure is on Klopp from the board, fans and media alike. Liverpool’s frailties have been addressed in the transfer window by virtue of letting money talk. Unfortunately, Klopp has yet to win anything at Liverpool, whereas Mourinho has won the UEFA Europa League and the EFL Cup during his time so far at United. Hypocritical, yes, but Klopp’s spending has been of great necessity more than anything this summer.
Ryan Osborne: I agree with Mourinho. Around £66.8m for Allison and £75m for Van Dijk isn’t justifiable, so Mourinho is right to call Klopp a hypocrite.
Dan McManus: Do I think that Liverpool paid too much money for some of the players they bought this year? Yes, I do. Do I think people are right to call Klopp a hypocrite? Yes, I do. The man said “I want to do it differently. I would even do it differently if I could spend that money.” But, he didn’t do it differently. But, do I think that José (Mourinho) can say anything to Klopp about spending? I do not. There is nothing either Pep (Guardiola) or José (Mourinho) who can say about other managers spending money. Its that simple.