2015/16 Soccer Thread

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Yes guys and gals, it's that time of the year again !

West Ham's impending Europa League game tonight marks the start of another season. No doubt there will be a lot more twists and turns, and drama, between now and the end of the season.

So let's get to it !

IMAGE(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JZF04jDl9Fo/TDwajFUngsI/AAAAAAAAAaA/CorOgRFGUPY/s1600/RefereePierluigiCollina.png)

Woooooo!

Can we really say it's West Ham playing though? Does it really count if they send the U18 team?

Hah! Palace get 2.5 mil for Clyne going to Liverpool! Pretty sweet deal.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/footb...

What's the best way of keeping track of the various tournaments and things going on before, during, and after the season? This past season, I found that I was frequently unaware of something that was going on.

Wembley wrote:

What's the best way of keeping track of the various tournaments and things going on before, during, and after the season? This past season, I found that I was frequently unaware of something that was going on.

Hmm. Podcasts might work although they might be too time consuming. I'd probably suggest Twitter + follow a handful of writers who follow the leagues/competitions you're interested in. For the Champions League and Premier League you don't even need to get that specific.

Guardian football weekly is probably the best podcast going but it's EPL centric... Cause well that's the best league ;p

Time commitment you're looking at 50*2 on Monday and Thursday so not too intensive either.

Interesting transfer season so far. Liverpool are doing allot of work but it's reminiscent of last year. Lots of signings but not sure if it makes sense or if the players are actually going to pan out under Rogers.

City look a tad gun shy after last year, Chelsea probably don't have to do much and United look suffocated by the DeGea situation.

We're a month away tho. Maybe after the Copa finishes this weekend the market will thaw.

So Podolski and likely Van Persie are heading off to Turkey. Getting those two off the wage bill is probably a good thing for Man Utd and Arsenal, although it looks like Man Utd could use a striker now.

Had a thought while Argentina are completely dysfunctional yet again:

It's funny how much of the "Messi isn't the greatest ever" narrative hinges entirely on the national team he decided to play for. He could have played for Spain and if he did he probably has 2 Euros and a World Cup. Instead he ends up having to carry poorly managed Argentina on his back and can only almost do it.

That's not to say there isn't an argument to be made he isn't the best ever, but using entirely team achievements to make the point is ridiculous.

Uh. That's the first I've ever heard of that.
Either way, I thought Argentina were doing well in this year's Copa America and apparently the winner will be decided in penalties.

(20 minutes later)
... And Argentina lost with some lousy penalties kicks.

Wembley wrote:

What's the best way of keeping track of the various tournaments and things going on before, during, and after the season? This past season, I found that I was frequently unaware of something that was going on.

Oooh, that's tough. Basically, you just have to cultivate the right kind of sources. If you're English language-only, you're gonna get a TON of EPL coverage, some stuff from Spain, Germany and France, and from there it just gets TOUGH to follow. But if you're following the biggest leagues and the Champions League, most of the larger sources (BBC, ESPN, Guardian, FourFourTwo, et cetera) oughtta have you covered.

Wembley wrote:

What's the best way of keeping track of the various tournaments and things going on before, during, and after the season? This past season, I found that I was frequently unaware of something that was going on.

Soccerway is a really good website for this!

Can United just write the damn check already so they can have Schneiderlin and Saints can move on from this nonsense?

Also, the Alderweireld saga is getting pretty laughable. So he was on loan from Athletico Madrid last year. Loved me some Toby. There was a 6.8m purchase clause. That's a no-brainer. BUT, there was also a 1.5m "buy-out-the-purchase-clause" clause that Athletico can exercise (who comes up with this sh*t?). Now, AM plans on selling to the highest bidder, who seems to be the Soccer Chickens. Supposedly Toby was in London for a medical today. *BUT* -- current scuttlebutt is that Athletico never actually paid the buyout money, so now Southampton is talking about going to court and UEFA to enforce the 6.8m purchase clause. Sigh.

Would have been nice to have that 10m from selling Clyne, but giving 2.5 to CP for sell-on, then handing a rumored 6m to Dani Osvaldo in "please go away you piece of sh*t" money ... sigh.

I created a thread for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup:

https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

After a flurry of moves, Everton have quieted down a bit. Well, it was a flurry for Everton at least. They still need at least one defender, and a playmaker. Really hoping they can grab something so don't struggle from the sheer lack of options at every position.

Also, can't wait for the season to start back up again. What's the point of weekends without football?

Wait, Everton bought anyone apart from Defoleu?

Dave, why are you letting Dzeko go? He was an amazing sub for you. Even at 20 million asking price this is a big mistake.
But i guess i can answer myself and say that brining in Bony was a mistake, but now you don't have a choice.

Atletico Madrid with some nice business in the transfer market, selling Turan to Barcelona for an insane fee an then spending most of it on Luciano Vietto.

There are rumours that a Canadian professional soccer league will be announced next week and I'm ambivalent about it even though it apparently has backing from the Canadian Football League (that's American-style football but with a larger field, extra player, and three downs instead of four). It would be a nice thing to have from a player development standpoint but it's always going to be minor league with the MLS horse having bolted. So we finally get a pro league and it's upside is to be comparable to the Malaysian Super League, big deal.

A Women's league makes so much more sense to me. The costs would be similar (if not lower), it would be one of the best women's leagues in the world, women's sports are growing massively in North America but there aren't many spectating options out there while the men's market is fairly saturated (and with Canadian MLS sides hanging over the men's head), and talented Canadians have opportunities in MLS, NASL, or overseas that aren't there for most women. It seems about as risky to me as a men's league but with more upside.

Atletico are absolutely raking it in this summer. Mandzukic, Turan, Miranda and Alderweireld (eventually!) all out for quite a bit of money each. Looks like they're revamping the squad with Vietto and Martinez in already, they'll need to act fast in case that transfer ban catches up with them.

UCRC wrote:

Wait, Everton bought anyone apart from Defoleu?

Dave, why are you letting Dzeko go? He was an amazing sub for you. Even at 20 million asking price this is a big mistake.
But i guess i can answer myself and say that brining in Bony was a mistake, but now you don't have a choice.

Amazing sub in 2013/14 perhaps, but his performances last year were significantly below par - I think there were a significant number of games where he got the lowest rating on the pitch. 4 goals in 22 league games is not a ratio which will encourage management to retain your services.

Too many of his performances last season were of the "I can't be arsed" variety. Well, if you can't be arsed mate, off you go. Unfortunately, I'm not sure City will get £20m for him, but we'll see.

UCRC wrote:

Wait, Everton bought anyone apart from Defoleu?

They signed Cleverly on a free, exercised the option to buy Henan (Belgium prospect they loaned from olympiacos) and they got Garbutt signed to a 5 year deal, which was fantastic news.

I did just hear they have put a bid in on Ospina, which would be a fantastic deal. But I have to think quite a few teams are interested, so I am not holding my breath.

Supposedly Leicester City has signed the first American coach in the Premier League: Predrag Radosavljević, aka Preki:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/...

This is a bit of a surprise to everyone in American soccer/football other than Preki, as he's been coaching a 3rd division (actually sort of co-second division, but that's a whole other thing) team in Sacramento. Admittedly, he's been doing a pretty good job with them, but most people would have had him as the sixth best American coach available at the very most. And we're not a nation known for our tactical aptitude.

Signs that you are getting old.

1. You don't think it was that long ago since you saw Preki play.
2. You look at the article - and he's 52.

Casillas signed with Porto. Real Madrid is going to pay part of his salary.
Drogba and Llorente are also being mentioned.

How is Charlie Austin worth so little money while Harry Kane is valued at 40 million? Seriously, I want to know.

I was going to say "Preki was awful at Toronto FC" but it's Toronto FC, pretty much every coach has been awful there.

slazev wrote:

Casillas signed with Porto. Real Madrid is going to pay part of his salary.
Drogba and Llorente are also being mentioned.

Is Porto chasing old guys a little odd? Granted, if it's only wages on short-term deals it can make sense to help make the present squad a bit better.

UCRC wrote:

How is Charlie Austin worth so little money while Harry Kane is valued at 40 million? Seriously, I want to know.

Austin only having one year left on his contract probably has a lot to do with it. Plus QPR in the Championship probably puts them in a weaker bargaining position.

I enjoyed this piece on the youth systems at the two big Manchester clubs: http://www.espnfc.com/club/mancheste...

Okay, that explains it in business terms. It makes less sense when you see Kane linked with big clubs while Austin is destined for Palace/Leicester at best, even though the two players are of similar skill to me.

BTW, Payet to West Ham is the best piece of business so far. Cabaye and Shaquiri will make the rest of the top three if they happen.

Jowner, who do we want to see at Arsenal, assuming we have the budget for one big transfer?

UCRC wrote:

Okay, that explains it in business terms. It makes less sense when you see Kane linked with big clubs while Austin is destined for Palace/Leicester at best, even though the two players are of similar skill to me.

BTW, Payet to West Ham is the best piece of business so far. Cabaye and Shaquiri will make the rest of the top three if they happen.

Jowner, who do we want to see at Arsenal, assuming we have the budget for one big transfer?

All signs show Cabaye to palace, if they can grab Austin too, that would make for a very interesting upset.

Roke wrote:
slazev wrote:

Casillas signed with Porto. Real Madrid is going to pay part of his salary.
Drogba and Llorente are also being mentioned.

Is Porto chasing old guys a little odd? Granted, if it's only wages on short-term deals it can make sense to help make the present squad a bit better.

I almost made a joke of Porto trying to imitate a MLS team, but it's not about age, it's about being Spanish (except Drogba, of course, but this doesn't seem likely to happen). Their coach just loves them Spanish players.

Goodbye to Bryan Ruiz, hello to another season in the Championship.

But! Our first friendly is in just 9 days, against...

/checks schedule

.....Crawley Town.

Gonna be another loooooooooooooooooooooong season.

Prederick wrote:

Goodbye to Bryan Ruiz, hello to another season in the Championship.

But! Our first friendly is in just 9 days, against...

/checks schedule

.....Crawley Town.

Gonna be another loooooooooooooooooooooong season.

How are things looking for Fullham in the Championship this year? I assume they didn't throw buckets of money at Scott McCormack again.

Canadian goalkeeper* with a brace in Canada's 5-2 win over Ecuador in the opening match of the women's tournament at the Pan Am Games.

So, Sterling to City, £49m.. Ooft. Glad it's not my money.

omni wrote:

So, Sterling to City, £49m.. Ooft. Glad it's not my money.

I saw something that said it's the 24th-highest inflation-adjusted fee in Premier League history, 2nd-highest for an under-21 player (with Rooney taking the cake there).

With FFP relaxed and the TV deal I think it makes sense for City. Not a bargain by any means, but I can't think of player younger than 21 who's better than Sterling right now. He'll help them with part of their quota for UEFA competitions too although not in the club home-grown sense. When you consider Lucas Moura moved to PSG for £44m in 2013 I don't think it's an outrageous fee.

I think City would have been better off waiting until next summer and have Sterling buy out his contract through Article 17 and paying him a massive sign-on fee. If Liverpool/Fenway Sports Group hadn't leaked contract rejection details and Sterling pushing for a move I think that's how it would have happened but things got toxic. By going now Sterling foregoes the massive payout to mitigate injury risk and get his big weekly wage now.

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