Football/Soccer Discussion Thread

[Nuke]

I don't think it's a good thing that O'Shea is going, he has been a good utility man and a good squad player for years.

Gibson could still come good but it's becoming increasingly unlikely so why not?

Brown never really came back from that major injury and I'd rather he left to give Evans, Smalling and now Jones a chance.

[Dannу]

Manchester United look busy in the transfer market this Summer. It is about time they invest in their team, even if it has to cost them. This also should be the case for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is too cheap. He's been getting very young players to his team, without any experience whatsoever in major European competitions. It isn't bad, per se, but it's highly improbable for a team with an average age of 22.8 to really compete for any competition. Wenger always claims of a relatively small and stringent transfer budget; he's been qualifying for Champions League for years and being 2nd or 3rd in the Premier League. So, his claims are utterly spurious. He's been investing way too much in his youth system. Again, this is good for the future, but not enough for now.


United need a couple of midfielders to replace the aging Giggs and retired Scholes. And, more importantly, a goalkeeper. I haven't been following the transfer news much, but did De Gea sign any agreement with United? I also just saw something interesting, and hilarious.

[jackblaze]

Originally Posted by Nuke

I don't think it's a good thing that O'Shea is going, he has been a good utility man and a good squad player for years.

Gibson could still come good but it's becoming increasingly unlikely so why not?

Brown never really came back from that major injury and I'd rather he left to give Evans, Smalling and now Jones a chance.

Oshea: Decent utility player but there are much better players like him out there seeing him on the field sometimes disappoints me since as a player he is so standard. Not a great crosser when at full back and not a great tackler.

Gibson: Could be a good player but not great its the same situation with Oshea. Gibson is very standard with every aspect of his football and the best quality he has is his long shot. I've been following the Man U youth team and there are many better young players in the youth system.

Brown: Injury really messed him up enough said.

Originally Posted by Dannу

United need a couple of midfielders to replace the aging Giggs and retired Scholes. And, more importantly, a goalkeeper. I haven't been following the transfer news much, but did De Gea sign any agreement with United? I also just saw something interesting, and hilarious.

The Kuszczak thing was really funny and yeah I thing we did sign De Gea but its not showing up on the website so I dont know

[Nuke]

De gea isn't on at the moment, his agent said he wanted to decide his future after the u21s champ.

The thing about O'shea is he is willing to be a squad player.

The Henderson and Jones transfers have really brought the age old discussion of overpriced English players back. I'm personally starting to think the big clubs just panic and try to force a good English player.

[Chimchar 9]

I can't wait until the season begins! It feels like it's been gone forever. xD

I also can't wait for all the south coast derbys in the championship, it's going to be a cracker! COYS! (:

[Went]

I just watched the La Liga Promotion Final between Granada and Elche... it was one of the most entertaining games I have watched this season. Granada will be joining Betis and Rayo Vallecano in the First Division entries next year.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Went

I just watched the La Liga Promotion Final between Granada and Elche... it was one of the most entertaining games I have watched this season. Granada will be joining Betis and Rayo Vallecano in the First Division entries next year.

I'm surprised to say I have never heard of them.

I'm quite surprised Betis were even in the Segunda as I was of the opinion that they were a fairly strong side.

EDIT: Having just looked on their wikipedia page I see Granada have a hell lot of Udinese players because of an agreement between the two clubs. Isn't there any limit on the number of players you can loan in Spain?

It seems slightly unfair that they've gone up with what is basically Udinese's B side.

[imevil]

I like the USA (obvouslly) and i like argentina cause of Messi.
I also like Liverpool as a club team

[Nuke]

Another reasonably large transfer today, Ashley Young making a £17m move to the greatest team of all, Man United of course. I struggle to see how we'll handle three great wingers though.

Villas-Boas has been announced as the new manager of Chelsea too. He's part English and has previously worked there as a scout so I could see it working.

[Captain Fabio]

I don't really see why we need Young. Sure, he is a good player, but we need central midfielders! :/

[jackblaze]

I think the only signing Man U needed this summer was a good creative central midfielder. We have 5 good forwards /2 young centerhalfs and 2 experienced ones/ 2 good defensive midfielders/ 2 good wingers. Ashley is a good signing if something happens to Nani or Valencia we are going to need backup or maybe Ashley will be a starter and either Nani or Valencia as backups. But SAF is a great manager so he knows what he is doing

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Captain Fabio

I don't really see why we need Young. Sure, he is a good player, but we need central midfielders! :/

Originally Posted by jackblaze

I think the only signing Man U needed this summer was a good creative central midfielder. We have 5 good forwards /2 young centerhalfs and 2 experienced ones/ 2 good defensive midfielders/ 2 good wingers. Ashley is a good signing if something happens to Nani or Valencia we are going to need backup or maybe Ashley will be a starter and either Nani or Valencia as backups. But SAF is a great manager so he knows what he is doing

I think its fair to say we need a goalkeeper as well because Kuszczak and Lindegaard aren't good enough for the no.1 shirt. (Also worth keeping in mind Kuszczak has said he'll leave at the end of this month when his contract is up)

As long as we get a centre mid then I'm fine with splashing the cash on Young and Jones, in fact I enjoy it, I love transfers. It also gets rid of the opinion that Glazers are simply draining money and not putting any in.

[Chimchar 9]

When do you feel Sir Alex Ferguson will retire from management?

[Captain Fabio]

Originally Posted by Chimchar 9

When do you feel Sir Alex Ferguson will retire from management?

I think he said 3 years from now...

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Captain Fabio

I think he said 3 years from now...

It's hard to believe him anymore, he first said he would in 2002.

I think he'll keep going until his health stops him.

[Chimchar 9]

I suppose I could wait another 3 years. Because once he goes Man Utd will be nothing like they are now. Also, we could get revenge on them in the F.A cup, as they luckily beat us this season.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Chimchar 9

I suppose I could wait another 3 years. Because once he goes Man Utd will be nothing like they are now. Also, we could get revenge on them in the F.A cup, as they luckily beat us this season.

Admittedly we probably won't get someone to fill his shoes for a long while but, we won't suddenly drop immediately.

When he knows he is going, he'll assemble a team capable of staying at the top for a few years and after that a club as big as united should sustain themselves as a top side. We were successful before fergie and we'll be successful after him too.

[jackblaze]

And we have to remember that the best manager in the world(Jose Mourinho) said that he always wanted too come to Man U so there is always the possibility of him being our next manager.

[Went]

I'm sure that the folks at the Liverpool forum would consider that "a match made in hell" XD

But seriously, I don't see Mou staying anywhere for too long, and that's the reason I don't really see him fit for the Premier League, despite his Chelsea experience.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by jackblaze

And we have to remember that the best manager in the world(Jose Mourinho) said that he always wanted too come to Man U so there is always the possibility of him being our next manager.

Odd to see a united fan of the opinion that there's a manager better than fergie.

Originally Posted by Went

I'm sure that the folks at the Liverpool forum would consider that "a match made in hell" XD

But seriously, I don't see Mou staying anywhere for too long, and that's the reason I don't really see him fit for the Premier League, despite his Chelsea experience.

I think mourinho was fairly loyal to chelsea but after the fall out with abramovic he had to go.

[Went]

Also, I have to link to this. One of the most beautiful goals I have seen in a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy5cN...tailpage#t=64s

[Pave Low]

Wow, Thiago's goal was truly something. I expect him to become a more-well known player sometime in his future.

[Nuke]

Not seeing it, it wasn't even a particularly good team move. Just a brilliant ball to the scorer.

Originally Posted by Nuke

I'm surprised to say I have never heard of them.

I'm quite surprised Betis were even in the Segunda as I was of the opinion that they were a fairly strong side.

EDIT: Having just looked on their wikipedia page I see Granada have a hell lot of Udinese players because of an agreement between the two clubs. Isn't there any limit on the number of players you can loan in Spain?

It seems slightly unfair that they've gone up with what is basically Udinese's B side.

Any opinion on this went?

[jackblaze]

Originally Posted by Went

Also, I have to link to this. One of the most beautiful goals I have seen in a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy5cN...tailpage#t=64s

Its too bad he wont go very far especially if stays at Barca, which he really wants to do.

[Went]

Originally Posted by Nuke

Any opinion on this went?

Apparently there isn't, otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to play. If they share owners, and both teams get benefited, it's hard to find a way to stop it... otherwise, they could make a further agreement and just make easily breakable contracts, or add special clauses so the players could change teams just as easily :\


Also, River Plate, the most successful Argentinian team, will play in the Serie B next year after losing 3-1 in the relegation playoff. A big time shocker.

@jackblazer: why do you think he won't go too far?