2008/09 Soccer Thread in Shock £50m Chelsea Switch! (And Other Ludicrousness)

Prederick wrote:

Wait until the season starts and they start accruing some stats.

No, no, no. No. Now you're telling me that I have to pick my squad instead of just copying yours XI? That isn't fun!

jowner wrote:

Wednesdays CL qualifiers are closing in but I don't think any of the games are on normal T.V going to have to hunt for feeds over the net.

I'll be watching Barcelona - Wisła Kraków. I guess I'm a masochist after all.

Lesson One about English football - don't believe the tabloids.

Some bullet points about the current situation.

- Hughes is staying, and he's issued an official statement to that effect.

- The true tale of Dr.T is simple. A deal has been brokered with the illegal military junta that sees him stay out of Thailand (hence avoiding mass protests) and he keeps whatever dosh he's already moved out, which is a fair whack. They make a token attempt at extradition which is rebuffed, he stays out, wife is released in a couple of weeks or so, job done. Anyone else believe that someone arraigned on 5 'very serious' charges would be allowed to travel abroad while on bail, and on a diplomatic passport ? Oh aye, happens all the time.

(This lot came from a City fan in Thailand, btw)

- Transfers on instalments ? You'd try harder to find a club that doesn't do that.

- The rest of the stuff printed in English newspapers, particularly the tabs, is largely crap. 'Johnson won't sign new contract' - shame he's got 3 years left on his current one. 'Ireland to be sold to Sunderland !' - good, he's a squad player at best and of dubious mental stability...Keane will pay £5m for him because he's also a fool.

8th this season - plenty of good young lads in the reserves to bring in, a £19m striker and maybe one or two more.

Anyone heard those ridiculous rumours about Henry making his way to MU? I was terrified for a moment, but it seems that Guardiola issued official statement saying that Henry isn't going anywhere.
I hope that this season does well for Thierry, I guess he's still my favourite player, even although he has all *those* seasons past him. I believe there's still some magic left. Also, people seem forget that even although he spent half of last season on bench or recovering from injuries he still was best Barca goalscorer netting 19 goals in their most crappy season during Rijkaard years.
Unfortunately his first chance to prove himself worthy will be tonight, playing versus club from the city I live in and I'm supporting since I was six ;]

UC, am I right in thinking that Groclin FC don't exist anymore ? Man City played them in the UEFA Cup a few years ago (and were knocked out by them), but I'm aure I read somewhere that they had gone out of existence.

davet010 wrote:

UC, am I right in thinking that Groclin FC don't exist anymore ? Man City played them in the UEFA Cup a few years ago (and were knocked out by them), but I'm aure I read somewhere that they had gone out of existence.

That was one heck of a game. And interesting story of a club which was established for workers of local factory of car accessories in small town Grodzisk. [i]In few years they rose to be one of best Polish football clubs but unfortunately for them their chairman decided to merge club with other one, originating from bigger city, because that's simply better for business.
Here's *that* goal

It's sad that Polish club football has been in such denial in past few years. Earlier this decade it seemed that we had strongest sides in Eastern Europe, I remember Wisła Kraków being very near to eliminating Barcelona in 2001/2002 (3-4 home, 0-1 away) and then winning 4-1 with both Schalke and Parma (which was big Italian club back there) in UEFA, just to lose on away goals with Lazio. Now most clubs are struggling with financing problems/sponsor deals and past corruption allegations case which saw some teams relegated. Hopefully with EURO 2012 coming to Poland the situation will improve.

As for Wisla Krakow they miss few key players, they didn't make transfer they wanted to and have to revert to players who wouldn't normally even make it into bench. That's enough to beat Beitar Jerusalem 5-0 in second round, but it isn't anywhere near Barca.

Newcastle's billionaire owner Mike Ashley has revealed that the club owe £27million for players bought before he took over last year. With the full details of the club's financial situation now emerging, Magpies' fans may point to the debt as the reason why the club have been reluctant to spend on new players this summer

Straight from the horses mouth. Kinda strange for a club that regularly sells out its 50k stadium to be in such poor financial state with such a poor squad to show for it.

As for Man City even if its not as bad as the tabloids are making it out to be Shinatwat is not the billionaire owner anymore. I'm really interested in their finances more then the drama. If they sell Corluka who is a quality player it will give us a good indication of what the finances are like. I have A.V, Everton, Spurs and Pompey ahead of them so around 9th I'd say unless it really hits the fan.

All football clubs are in debt - Man U's last balance sheet had them owing about $800m, for a start.

Corluka isn't in City's first choice back four (and he isn't going anywhere anyway, as they did not undertake the paperwork for the supposed deal.)

Villa - maybe, but the over-rated Martin O'Neill has by now worked out that he isn't in the mickey mouse SPL anymore, as he's spent at least as much as City and got nowhere.

Everton - this is the real story...Johnson gone, Moyes has no money to spend, Kenwright wants to bail out and their new stadium in Kirkby has been sent to a public inquiry, so a further 12 months away. They'll have trouble getting a new owner with an instant £400m millwheel like that around their shoulders.

Pompey - Might do alright so long as Redknapp senior continues to somehow keep one step ahead of the FA's illegal transfers inquiries. Again spent heavily, but they were abysmal on Sunday and some of their crew are reaching the end of their careers (Campbell etc)

Spurs - Now overtaken Newcastle in the 'most deluded fans in the Prem'. Spent about £150m in the last few years, with one spectacularly fortunate victory in the 3rd cup and a series of midtable finishes to shout about. If Berbatov goes, they'll have lost 40 goals a season, and hands up who thinks Bent will replace that. Defence is still poor, keeper unproven in the big leagues, still no midfield enforcer. I'll have a £10 bet with anyone that they won't finish in the top 6, let alone breach the top 4.

As for Ashley, all mouth and no trousers. His companies are losing money, and I seriously doubt that anyone who can stand with the other Geordie halfwits in a shirt with Alan Smith's name on the back knows how to spell football, let alone anything more than that.

davet010 wrote:

Corluka isn't in City's first choice back four (and he isn't going anywhere anyway, as they did not undertake the paperwork for the supposed deal.)

Oh crap, he's in my fantasy XI.

Dunne's suspended for the first 2 games of the season, and who knows who we might have sold by then

My predictions for the upcoming season I posted on another site.

Ok here we go.

1. Arsenal!
2. Chelsea
3. Man U
4. Liverpool
5. Aston Villa
6. Pompey!
7. Everton
8. Spurs
9. Sunderland
10.Man City
11.Westham
12.Newcastle
13.Middlesbrough
14.Blackburn
15.Fullham
16.Wigan
17.Hull! COME ON YOU TIGERS!
18.Bolton
19.West Brom
20.Stoke

One caveat. I really cant pick much between the top 4. I think it honestly is going to be the tighest season between them all for a very long time. Was 11 points from Man U to Liverpool last year I think it goes down to even 6 and the 1 and 2 teams might only settle it on GD.

Caught the Arsenal Twente game over the net and it was fairly dreadful average performance by the team but considering the age of the central midfield was 19 and 17 it was going to be a very interesting game. Gallas with the ugly goal showing he does have that something special just at the wrong end of the pitch for a defensive player and Ade with a tap in.

In the other games Liverpool played Alonso pretty much sealing his future at the club and Aston Villa played Barry which would rule him out for the group stage of the CL which makes that deal fairly dead for now and obviously coming back come January.

I leave Dave to comment on the Man City game if he wants but I think its interesting that last year Liverpools boardroom fiasco didn't help them on the pitch and this year Liverpool start slow and Man City with their own distractions start slow.

great, now tell me who should I put in my fantasy football XI as a defender ;]

I got Lescott, Richards, Laursen and Dossena in my league but I need to go back and double check the exact rules of the league. I like Lescott and Laursen allot especially for their teams and they can nick a goal the other two I have no clue how I ended up with them besides some madness of me trying to balance my team and them fitting the price.

nm I just changes Dossena for Bosingwa.

My entire team is GK: Friedel Defense: Lescott, Laursen, Richards, Bosingwa. Mid: Walcott, Lampard, Nasri, Utaka. Forwards: Tevez, Keane.

Nasri was Cesc but hes not starting this week so I switched them and will drop either Walcott or Nasri for Cesc once he comes back depending how its going.

I had Lescott already, along with Ashley Cole, Chimbonda and Corulka. I swapped Corulka with Dossena yesterday.
I also gone with Friedel as a keeper, but I have Carson on bench and I think that there will be a lot of switching between two of them. I believe that Scott might have as great season as Kuszczak had back in WBA years when he saved them from relegation.
In midfield I've gone with Barry as DM, Walcott and Downing as AMs. Normally I also would have Fabregas in there, but he starts on bench this weekend.
Three man attack is Santa Cruz, Berbatov and Adebayor (every one of them cheaper than Tevez, mind you)
Other bench players are Gardner and Boateng.

I hope that my whole squad is fit and will be featured in their respective first XI. Any thoughts?

EDIT: I'm going with Behrami instead of Downing. It's a bit of gamble, but I think that it's very talented player who fits West Ham style and he should get a bunch of points.
EDIT2: I think of getting rid of Santa Cruz in favor of Bent, who is much cheaper.

Here's my 1-20 (hey jowner, if you want in on the Guardian Fantasy Football league we're running, you have to send me your e-mail address).

1.) Chelsea
2.) Manchester United
3.) Liverpool
4.) Arsenal
5.) Tottenham
6.) Aston Villa
7.) Portsmouth
8.) Everton
9.) Wigan (Yes, Wigan)
10.) Man City
11.) West Ham
12.) Sunderland
13.) Newcastle
14.) Fulham
15.) West Brom
16.) Blackburn
17.) Hull
18.) Middlesbrough
19.) Bolton
20.) Stoke City

That's right, Boro, Bolton and Stoke to go down.

First game this season is on and Nasri has just become first goalscorer this season.

Hleb? who's thats. Wasn't convincing but 3 points is 3 points and a mark of a champion is getting the job done even on your bad days which Arsenal have done in their last 2 games. They just need to actually wake up.

Boro's season is going to depend on Afonso Alves consistency. Tuncay who I love (had him in a FM game once and he was just a god) just skinned the Spurs defense and setup Alves for a sitter and he wasted it. Between Aliadiere, Tuncay and Downing theres going to some pretty good service to him this season.

PS. I absolutely despise the coverage I get up here in Canada. The channel that has the Saturday 10est game insists on starting the game 2-3 minutes on delay so they can squeeze more commercials in. Result is I always end up knowing the score before it happens. Example last year I was watching an Arsenal game in a Pub and I knew the final score while stoppage time was going on because 2 T.V's over was on Setanta and were already doing post match scores. Just now I went to check the lineups of the Spurs/Boro game and I see Blackburn 1-0 22nd minute by accident while my T.V is still at the 20th)((!*@)(!#)($*)($@*)(#$*#@ $ drives me nuts

EDIT: UGH ffs now I know who won the 100m by accident@#^#@^@#^%@!#^%

edit 2: BORO!!!!!! 2-0! Mido back from the dead! I really wanted to put them higher this season but I thought they sold off too many grit players in midfield.

jowner wrote:

PS. I absolutely despise the coverage I get up here in Canada. The channel that has the Saturday 10est game insists on starting the game 2-3 minutes on delay so they can squeeze more commercials in. Result is I always end up knowing the score before it happens. Example last year I was watching an Arsenal game in a Pub and I knew the final score while stoppage time was going on because 2 T.V's over was on Setanta and were already doing post match scores. Just now I went to check the lineups of the Spurs/Boro game and I see Blackburn 1-0 22nd minute by accident while my T.V is still at the 20th)((!*@)(!#)($*)($@*)(#$*#@ $ drives me nuts :D

btw: What's the good post-weekend EPL show that I will find on torrents? I don't have time to watch more than one game every weekend and I doubt that there's anything decent out there on Polish Canal+ which broadcasts EPL in most of Europe countries.

PS. Oh, my Fantasy XI sucks bad.

Shouldn't we revive soccer games topic? There was one out there and with new PES news coming in couple of days (Leipzig), FM 2009 announcement (they always do it late summer), FM Live closing in and of course all-new FIFA coming with next-gen graphics to PC I believe we will have something to talk about.

I'll make a thread, just for you.

Prem

UCRC wrote:
jowner wrote:

PS. I absolutely despise the coverage I get up here in Canada. The channel that has the Saturday 10est game insists on starting the game 2-3 minutes on delay so they can squeeze more commercials in. Result is I always end up knowing the score before it happens. Example last year I was watching an Arsenal game in a Pub and I knew the final score while stoppage time was going on because 2 T.V's over was on Setanta and were already doing post match scores. Just now I went to check the lineups of the Spurs/Boro game and I see Blackburn 1-0 22nd minute by accident while my T.V is still at the 20th)((!*@)(!#)($*)($@*)(#$*#@ $ drives me nuts :D

btw: What's the good post-weekend EPL show that I will find on torrents? I don't have time to watch more than one game every weekend and I doubt that there's anything decent out there on Polish Canal+ which broadcasts EPL in most of Europe countries.

Theres a wrap up show every Sunday night but I forget the name as it doesn't air up here in Canada anymore. Pred might know what its exactly called but its usually really great as they do highlights of all the games and post match manager stuff if your into that. If you find it on torrents let me know as missing out on it last season really did suck.

Tevez goes home to Argentina because of family stuff and Man U end up drawing 1-1! how sweet it is even if hes on my fantasy team

Villa look amazing this year. They just need Barry to come out and just admit hes an idiot and he wants to stay and push for 4th. Youngs cross to Carew was pin point and Barrys to Agbonlahor was great too.

edit: Its called "Premier League review show" and looks like it makes it to torrents. It airs in NA at 5-6 pm on Fox Sports World not sure about when in England. Could probally expect it start showing up on torrents Monday morning Poland time.

UCRC wrote:

PS. Oh, my Fantasy XI sucks bad.

Says the man in the lead. Stupid Sol Campbell and Portsmouth being on the receiving end of a tonking.

Prederick wrote:

Sol Campbell

O.o
have your brains exploded, sir?
IMAGE(http://bi.gazeta.pl/im/8/5269/z5269318X.jpg)

(Don't worry, at least we both picked Berbatov)

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Also I think I was drinking.

Prederick wrote:

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Also I think I was drinking.

The same thing happened to Sol when he was buying his clothes.

We've got Argentina - Brazil tommorow in a semi-final. Second one is Nigeria - Belgium

Speaking of Breno in the other thread Argentina vs Brazil Olympics!

Some great FM players on show. Rafael Sobis! Breno! Angel Di Maria! Aguero! and Riquelme vs Ronaldinho! Ronnie is looking great AC is going to be a treat this year to watch. Hes skinning 2 guys at once in midfield, I don't think anyone has taken the ball off his feet yet. Oh yea Messi and Diego too!

edit: Well that got ugly and one sided in the 2nd half!

from espn.

Manchester City have reportedly moved to create a transfer kitty for new boss Mark Hughes by taking out a £30million loan secured against future television revenue.

With the bulk of owner Thaskin Shinawatra's £800million fortune frozen back home in Thailand as part of a criminal investigation, there had been suggestions that City could be forced to sell before they buy again, with £18million Brazilian striker Jo and defender Tal Ben Haim the only arrivals over the summer.

I thought that was the silliest news I could find for the day but of course in true fashion Newcastle refuses to be outdone!

Owner Mike Ashley is reported to be ready to offer the England international £140,000-a-week over three years.

21m pounds over 3 years! GENIUSES!

I've missed the game cause I was away and forgot about it. Was it entertaining enough to download and watch it? I'd like to see how kinds of Breno or Sobis play, cause I've never seen them in action.

If you have time to kill sure or love putting a FM player to a face. First half wasn't that bad even though it was 0-0. 2nd half was shambles. Aguero's two goals were just him getting to 6 yard box crosses in front of the defender and taping it away. Might of been Breno even he was able to out position. 3rd goal was just a PK Aguero earned by leaving his foot out on a clumsy defender. After that the fairly cheap red cards started coming out and the game was cooked.

"AAAAAADEBAYOR! Oh, hits the post!"
We're home.

That was not a weekend I expected.

Fulham 1-0 Arsenal.

Stoke 3-2 Aston Villa (Did anyone have Stoke scoring three times this season? I didn't.)

Tottenham 1-2 Sunderland (The Cisse Show returns to England)

Plus, Steven Gerrard reminding everyone that he's 25x better in a Liverpool shirt than in a England one.

Prederick wrote:

That was not a weekend I expected.

Fulham 1-0 Arsenal.

Stoke 3-2 Aston Villa (Did anyone have Stoke scoring three times this season? I didn't.)

Tottenham 1-2 Sunderland (The Cisse Show returns to England)

I'm so happy that I've dropped both Berbatov and Bent from my squad ;] And left Adebayor instead...

Excellent performance by Man City yesterday to demolish a frankly abysmal West Ham, 3-0 doesn't really reflect the difference between the 2 sides, as West Ham only had one shot on goal.

Nice to see Spurs in the mire already....typical of them to be blowing their own trumpet all off season about the players they are buying, lose both strikers and replace them with a battering ram who at £18m was possibly the most overpriced buy of last season. I hope they do end up blowing another £20m on Arshavin, as unless he turns out to be the best centre half ever, they will be losing 3-2 a heck of a lot.