2013/14 Soccer Thread

Ugh... I thought Garay being sold to Zenit by 6 million was cheap, but now Benfica cleared up that was the total selling price so it's only going to receive 2.5 million.
Might as well give him away for free.

I'm still confused by the Board's motivation for this, mate. Do they think that the younger players left behind are good enough to get European qualification anyway in the Portuguese league, or are the club's finances in such a poor state that they are needing to get any saleable players out of the door ?

I honestly don't know.

Despite having some good young players, with a lot of potential, playing for the B team, the coach isn't known for betting on these often. Fábio Coentrão was one of the exceptions. They did just buy a young Brazillian center defender and they're also recalling a lot of players that were lent to other clubs.

The team did buy a lot and didn't sell much at the beginning of last year's season, because they were gunning for the national championship that had been lost the previous 3 years (the last 2 by poor stupidity and bad luck). They managed to win almost everything (failed the Europa League).
During the year, they sold 3 players for an amount of, more or less, 70 million, so it doesn't seem to be money problems. Maybe Garay really wanted to leave, maybe they agreed to something else with Zenit, maybe it's some sort of scamming. The only thing I'm certain of is that he was sold at a fire sale price.

Arsenal are being linked with Khedira and Schneiderlin.

I know its not an exact like for like comparison but if Cesc goes on to have an amazing season for Chelsea and Arsenal end up signing one of the previous 2 I think fans will be seriously annoyed.

Not even just Arsenal fans. If Cesc slots in to make the Chelsea midfield really click City/United/Liverpool etc fans should also be annoyed that Arsenal had the option but somehow convinced themselves that Khedira is actually what we needed.

I am already angry.

jowner wrote:

Arsenal are being linked with Khedira and Schneiderlin.

I know its not an exact like for like comparison but if Cesc goes on to have an amazing season for Chelsea and Arsenal end up signing one of the previous 2 I think fans will be seriously annoyed.

Not even just Arsenal fans. If Cesc slots in to make the Chelsea midfield really click City/United/Liverpool etc fans should also be annoyed that Arsenal had the option but somehow convinced themselves that Khedira is actually what we needed.

I don't think that Cesc would have been an everyday starter in a Silva - Nasri - Aguero set up. But Khedira and Schneiderlin are just - meh. One possibility raised by the local press is that with Fernando joining, this could have Fernandinho moving forward into a more attacking role, as he has been used by Brazil.

In other news, Torino have apparently 'warned City off' their forward, Cerci. I can't imagine them wanting to sell him, as their other striker Immobile has already gone to Dortmund, but this does strike me more of playing to their own fans than reality.

davet010 wrote:
jowner wrote:

Arsenal are being linked with Khedira and Schneiderlin.

I know its not an exact like for like comparison but if Cesc goes on to have an amazing season for Chelsea and Arsenal end up signing one of the previous 2 I think fans will be seriously annoyed.

Not even just Arsenal fans. If Cesc slots in to make the Chelsea midfield really click City/United/Liverpool etc fans should also be annoyed that Arsenal had the option but somehow convinced themselves that Khedira is actually what we needed.

I don't think that Cesc would have been an everyday starter in a Silva - Nasri - Aguero set up. But Khedira and Schneiderlin are just - meh. One possibility raised by the local press is that with Fernando joining, this could have Fernandinho moving forward into a more attacking role, as he has been used by Brazil.

In other news, Torino have apparently 'warned City off' their forward, Cerci. I can't imagine them wanting to sell him, as their other striker Immobile has already gone to Dortmund, but this does strike me more of playing to their own fans than reality.

He wouldn't make much sense for City but I mean its going to be a long season for all of us if he slots into a deep lying play maker role for Chelsea and it works.

I don't see him playing along the top 3 attacking midfielders. That's Oscar/Willian/Schurler/Hazard territory IMO.

I see Mourinho trying to turn him into his Alonso/Xavi. Makes sense as that's more of a footballing smarts position than physical dominance. Line Matic/Mikel/Ramirez to do the heavy stuff and I'm already terrified. Their 1 striker away then from being a damn impressive side.

That said with Arteta already showing he's out of his depth makes you wonder why Cesc wouldn't fit in. It leaves Arsenal still short an obvious muscle man in midfield but Kehdira and Schneiderlin are not exactly that either.

Moving on from that before UCRC cries...

How good is Toni Kroos? He's either getting a fat new contract or he's changing clubs this summer. Problem is I'm not entirely sure how good he is. The way Bayern and Germany play you know guys like him and Mueller are doing something right but it seems like they touch the ball so little in comparison its hard to admire their spatial awareness.

Kroos is an excellent player, and got a great deal of football left in him. I think he's got a great more to his game and to offer to a club than, say, Schweinsteiger at this point in time. Definitely wouldn't mind City picking him up, particularly if Yaya (or his agent) keep playing silly sods.

Of course, if he signs for them, then he's overrated.

In other news, Paul Pogba. Wonder if Juventus would take Yaya in a straight swap ?

Every time I hear his name, I shed a single tear.

Half a tear surely ? Not sure Arsene would spring for a full one

Who is this Mustafi guy who starts for Germany tonight? Never heard of him.

edit: Interestingly, my initial reaction to reading the team sheets was "oh, they probably didn't buy the German team license so it's all fake names". This is almost as bad as the dreams where I start dreaming that I can quick save and quick load the dream.

Hehehe

He's some dude who plays for Dortmund, played about 15 games last season. Obviously better than that big carthorse they had in the group stages (Howedes),but not by much. I think they'd be better off shoving Lahm back there.

25m for Lallana? Works for me. I guess he adds more quality to that team but at that price it you would assume it really puts a dent in their transfer funds.

Then again they are making moves. By August 1st I might be wishing Arsenal had paid 25m for some English player.

What, in the area that it wasn't needed in ? They need defenders and a striker to replace Bitey, not another player for a crowded midfield.

Speaking of Bitey, obviously the rules about tapping up players under contract to other teams doesn't apply to Bar$a.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/footbal...

Nice also to see that they are completely ignoring the ban on transfers which is under appeal after last year's Naymar deal, which stinks only slightly less than 10 year old pickled herring, as they complete the deal for Ivan Rakitic.

Now I know why it's so hard for Woodtard to even find midfielders.

They're all being sucked up out of the market by Chelsea and Liverpool.

UCRC wrote:

:P

Who is this Mustafi guy who starts for Germany tonight? Never heard of him.

edit: Interestingly, my initial reaction to reading the team sheets was "oh, they probably didn't buy the German team license so it's all fake names". This is almost as bad as the dreams where I start dreaming that I can quick save and quick load the dream.

He actually spent some time in the Everton youth system. I was shocked to remember his name when he was named in the final German 23.

Really ? So you think Lallana would be the answer to your prayers ? Or just another player sporting a HOMEGROWN MASSIVE PRICE INFLATION price tag ?

United have already got enough of those (Smalling, Jones, Rooney, Shaw). And I'd rather have Herrara than the Llama.

I wasn't really referring to ladida to be specific, but the crowd of midfielders just chilling at liverpool, and started thinking about how Chelsea is a bit bloated in that department too. Very bloated.

ps. What's wrong with you? Why don't you know our Smalling is NOT a midfield. And Jones sometimes plays there but he was always stronger in the CB position for us. And Shrek is Shrek. He doesn't fit into any position really, well except Striker. If he managed to not eat a donut the day before.

pps. Wtf is Shaw? ;p

ppps. /sigh.

pppps. Well we do have an ever aging Carrick. He's hardly overrated. And during his peak, I'd argue he was one of the most underrated players in England.

ppppps. We're getting Herrera. For sho.

I was referring to the massive overprice British player tag with Smalling and Jones, not their position. And Herrara has already signed - I think I mentioned that I think his price has been underreported, due to him having to buy out part of his own Bilbao contract.

In terms of midfield, United have also got Nick Powell coming back from his year long loan spell at Wigan. I'm sure he'll get a look over the summer.

I just meant midfielders mang. Just midfielders.

Herrera is gonna be much more expensive than what is being quoted around.

Which means woodchuck is gonna f*ck it up in all likelihood.

Hmmmm Powell... yeah... i am sure he'll be the answer to all our woes. =/

Well in midfield United will have Fellaini, Herrera, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Powell, Mata, Januzaj, Kagawa, Cleverly and anyone I might have forgotten. That's probably close to £150m of expenditure before the WC even finishes.

davet010 wrote:

Well in midfield United will have Fellaini, Herrera, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Powell, Mata, Januzaj, Kagawa, Cleverly and anyone I might have forgotten. That's probably close to £150m of expenditure before the WC even finishes.

Not counting wingers, I am thinking players to either marshal the center of the field or connect the play to make us effective enough to negate the lack of a marshal.

Mata- I forgot about him, I missed a lot of the latter half of our last season. I don't think we ever fully unlocked his potential as much as we could have. IF we finalize Herrera we have a pretty decent pairing in midfield.

Kagawa- I'd be surprisd to see him stay this season. I don't think we ever saw this man at his full capacity. I hope we do. But I think both him and the club have about one year's worth of patient left at best.
Carrick- 2-3 years left at best, and is already starting to look like he's creeping past his best years. Though I put him near the top, just because his age wouldn't constrain what he contributes to the club as much.

Herrera- Not finalized yet. Won't hold my breath knowing Woodprick

Januzaj- Hardly finished material, both physically and in ability. Also more winger/forward than midfielder
Cleverly- "WIP"
Powell- WIP. I will remove the quotation marks, but he's still not there quite yet.

Anderson- Pretty much failed prospect at this point
Fellaini- Need I say more beyond the name? Mediocre in the marshaling role at best. Kind of worse at everything else... except maybe heading.
Fletcher- Looks 3-4 years older than he is due to the 'extended' sick leave. Has really yet to shown his old consistent form, which along with his ability to marshal the field was what made him so great for us. I haven't seen either from him since his return, nevermind both, and I don't expect that to change. I can wish.

If you break it down, it really doesn't look that great for us.

Would be awesome to see a bunch of these players sold off, especially the ones toward the bottom, and just give our 'up and comers' more chances, but I don't know if Van Gaal has enough time for that kind of work. So I can only hope we unload one or two and pick up at least one more beyond Herrera.

We're not nearly as bad up front with Rooney/ Persie/ Chicharito/ Welbeck available to us.

With Vidic gone however, our next urgent acquisition would have to be in defence, or keep our fingers crossed that Jones/Smalling pairing finally matures and REALLLLLY clicks together.

A defender and a rock in midfield would be really ideal. Though maybe our need for that kind of midfielder could be less needed, simply due to less emphasis on and effectiveness from our wings each season.

I just dont know. But I do know we need to not just bulk up our midfield but replace and let go a decent amount.

Herrara was photographed by the Manchester Evening News at United, so I'm thinking it might be a done deal.

IMAGE(http://i3.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article7333706.ece/alternates/s615/JS40397990.jpg)

Awwwww

I need to be a better supporter.

It's kind of sad I m getting my United updates from you.

Anyway, thanks Davet.

It is sad that I knew it was there

This should keep you up to date with God's Own City.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/

In other news, anyone else totally expecting Bar$a to go with a 'Alexis Sanchez plus £30m' bid for Bitey ?

Yep. And it's a good deal, I like Sanchez.

UCRC wrote:

Yep. And it's a good deal, I like Sanchez.

Its a bad deal for Barca!

jowner wrote:
UCRC wrote:

Yep. And it's a good deal, I like Sanchez.

Its a bad deal for Barca!

Which is the only kind of deal that Barca does. Replacing Fabregas with Rakitić for no good reason, repeatedly refusing to buy any defenders (well, apart from Chygrynsky and converting Song...) etc. etc.

Is Rakitic supposed to replace Xavi?