2018/19 Soccer Thread

I'm predicting the same top four as last year, in some other order, with City repeating . Chelsea are losing Hazard and Courtois, and didn't qualify for UCL this past season when they had them. Arsenal haven't added anyone. Obviously the new coaches are a big x-factor for both.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

I'm predicting the same top four as last year, in some other order, with City repeating . Chelsea are losing Hazard and Courtois, and didn't qualify for UCL this past season when they had them. Arsenal haven't added anyone. Obviously the new coaches are a big x-factor for both.

I don't think Hazard and Courtois will actually go. Or at least not at those prices.

The bigger factor is they just swapped managers which means tactics and have made 1 move to move their squad in that direction.

Also Arsenal added 5 players and more importantly a new manager that he wanted for his style.

Can argue about the quality but that's great traction if you are changing tactics. Not to mention they were all defensive players.

I think it's the same as last year with maybe Chelsea or Arsenal sneaking 4th if Spurs have a injury wobble.

I would definitely put Arsenal ahead of Chelsea currently though considering Sarri needs to make some moves while Emery already has and those players are already training.

I'm reading thar Courtois is a done deal just pending medical. The price for Hazard hasn't been agreed, according to the same source.

Also reading that Barca is targeting Willian.

Hey, they're rumors, it's the silly season, but Ronaldo and Alisson were rumors once, too.

Well unlike the rest of you I'm very much in favour of "Liverpool signing good players" themes to this transfer market (obviously!) and have breathed a huge sigh of relief that we got the Allison deal over the line - medical allowing of course. Still sounds like it's a possibility we're still in for Fekir too, although that I'm little more unsure about.

We have a very solid looking first 11 now, although our second 11 still looks fairly lightweight compared to others. A serious injury to at least one of the fab 3 would probably be the end of our competitive season I would fear.

Absolutely gutted for the Ox though. That must have taken some balls not to tell everyone just how serious his injury was but let's hope it's not a career defining injury. Time will tell I guess.

As for Roke - might be bad news now but good news in the long run. Sports Direct has seen a 70% fall in profits over the last year. Maybe the reason why Ashley hasn't given Rafa any money is that he hasn't got any. Might make him more likely to sell up though without so much price inflation.

*fist bumps fellow Liverpool contingent Sorbicol*

davet010 wrote:

Speaking of the south coast - what's Lemina like? Asking for a friend.

He's absolute sh*te mate. He certainly can't control midfield and move the ball forward with authority and make me think of a slightly less capable Pogba. Nosirree.

He was the one "big money" signing I think was actually worth the money, and likely more. He'd have been even better if we had actually let his ankle heal. It was bugging him most of last season.

juv3nal wrote:

*fist bumps fellow Liverpool contingent Sorbicol*

Worry not - Klippity will find a way to blow it. Plus he might actually be under some pressure now, what with having spent £400m and won precisely zero.

davet010 wrote:
juv3nal wrote:

*fist bumps fellow Liverpool contingent Sorbicol*

Worry not - Klippity will find a way to blow it. Plus he might actually be under some pressure now, what with having spent £400m and won precisely zero.

They are multiplying!

At least Liverpool's transfer business makes sense.

United on the other hand... Spending boats of money while Mourinho whinges about the squad and I couldn't even tell you what their strategy or tactics are.

Will be interesting tho as I agree with the spending will actually come pressure for results.

I can see Pep/City staying a head length above United/Liverpool while Mourinho descends into a war of words with Klopp.

davet010 wrote:
juv3nal wrote:

*fist bumps fellow Liverpool contingent Sorbicol*

Worry not - Klippity will find a way to blow it. Plus he might actually be under some pressure now, what with having spent £400m and won precisely zero.

He's taken us to a Champions League final after we hadn't been in it for quite a while. Something Pep hasn't done with any of his teams since Barcelona. Let's no quibble too much about it eh? Sure there will be pressure, but there is pressure on every manager in the Premier League, so it's not like he's had that much a free ride so far.

Sure he does need to learn how to actually win a final though. High hopes for this season I admit, on the other hand beating a team like City will not be easy.

I also hope United sink without trace. Not so much because they are United but more to see Mourwhino implode in impotent fury because his players have had enough of his sh*t.

Some pressure sure but what with the money from Coutinho and the extra money from the CL run the spend is not really as egregious as 400m sounds. Heck, we unloaded Jordan Ibe (who? yeah, exactly) for 15m iirc.

Sorbicol wrote:

Well unlike the rest of you I'm very much in favour of "Liverpool signing good players" themes to this transfer market (obviously!) and have breathed a huge sigh of relief that we got the Allison deal over the line - medical allowing of course. Still sounds like it's a possibility we're still in for Fekir too, although that I'm little more unsure about.

I am also in favor of Liverpool getting good players! Go Reds!

Malcolm to Everton would be a good move if the price is right but having to sell Lookman (who lit it up at Energy Drink Leipzig) to get Malcolm wouldn't be great. Lookman on the Left and Malcolm on the right would be pretty exciting wide attacking midfielders/forwards.

I know they stupidly blew all their money last summer on bad transfers but with all the TV money they should be able to have both players.

I think Malcolm would be a good addition (and agree we should be keeping Lookman regardless), but the word I'm hearing is that we're not in for him.

Still a lot of outbound to do, and hoping for a couple of inbounds before all is said and done, but think the World Cup and early transfer window close are going to make the upcoming season a rebuilding one for us.

Dimmer, in your time watching Everton, did they ever play Stones at DM ?

davet010 wrote:

Dimmer, in your time watching Everton, did they ever play Stones at DM ?

Not in any games I saw.

He might do well there (he's very good in possession), but I do wonder if he'd have the legs to cover the ground he'd need to.

I'm wondering if that's the new thinking for backing up Fernandinho. The other option, which might be tested on this American tour, is trying Claudio Gomes, an 18 year old who came on a free from PSG when his contract expired...he can't be signed until his 18th birthday (next Monday), as that cuts down on a lot of paperwork. He's been getting some good reviews, so let's see.

An 18 year-old backing up a 33 year-old (though Fernandinho's still badass) seems... not optimal to me.

Three weeks until the season kicks off. I had forgotten there are Friday night games this year which I am not a fan of because time zones. I assume want to be the one to set up the GWJ Premiership for fantasy EPL again Dave?

The ICC is already going on! I mean, it's a completely silly event, but I'm shocked it's already going.

Man City 0 Dortmund 1

City - Bravo, Eric Garcia, Denayer, Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz, Harrison, Foden, Brahim Diaz, Mahrez, Bolton, Nmecha

3-5-2, I think.

Dortmund a bit stronger, Gotze, Pulisic and a few more regulars.

Feel a bit sorry for anyone dropping $100 plus to watch some kids in City shirts run round, although it could probably have been predicted given that the WC only finished last week.

Oh, and a partial antidote to the 'Mahrez for £60m' headlines....

£50m for RICHARLISON ??

davet010 wrote:

Oh, and a partial antidote to the 'Mahrez for £60m' headlines....

£50m for RICHARLISON ??

I know it's not quite the same because they all happened before the £200 million Neymar transfer shifted the goal posts (again), but Liverpool have spent less on Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane (£97 million combined) than Everton have spent on both Sigurdsson and Richarlison (£100 million combined)

I think Richarlison's defensible, he might be very good, but at £50m that's awfully risky to me. It might actually work out, which the Sigurdsson deal never was going to, but when I see they're apparently going to be selling Lookman to Leipzig for less than £20m I can't help but think they should keep Lookman and spend £30m on another young wide attacker who doesn't have the Premier League Expierence™ premium on him.

Roke wrote:

I think Richarlison's defensible, he might be very good, but at £50m that's awfully risky to me. It might actually work out, which the Sigurdsson deal never was going to, but when I see they're apparently going to be selling Lookman to Leipzig for less than £20m I can't help but think they should keep Lookman and spend £30m on another young wide attacker who doesn't have the Premier League Expierence™ premium on him.

Problem with young and potential is theoretically any transfer price is justifiable.

We need a reverse inflation calculator. A in Wayne Rooney for 30m terms he's actually being sold for.

In Naples ? Need some supplies for the smallest room in the house ?

Don't worry, the locals have you covered.

IMAGE(https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/37643359_10156144517889821_5802971283318636544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=e8a3d58f4130958eae8e2f9a2ba72855&oe=5BE78060)

You can probably find worse in Florence.

Canadian Starlet Alphonso Davies moving to Bayern Munich for £12m. Training with Bayern's groups of players and I assume going out on loan at some point should be much better for his development than MLS and I'm glad he's already cap tied.

Roke wrote:

Canadian Starlet Alphonso Davies moving to Bayern Munich for £12m. Training with Bayern's groups of players and I assume going out on loan at some point should be much better for his development than MLS and I'm glad he's already cap tied.

Glad we don't have to play against him anymore, and glad he's getting away from Kei Kamara. Davies is a really impressive talent and I hope he can benefit from some good influences.

Sorbicol wrote:
davet010 wrote:

Oh, and a partial antidote to the 'Mahrez for £60m' headlines....

£50m for RICHARLISON ??

I know it's not quite the same because they all happened before the £200 million Neymar transfer shifted the goal posts (again), but Liverpool have spent less on Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane (£97 million combined) than Everton have spent on both Sigurdsson and Richarlison (£100 million combined)

50m for Richarlison is crazy, and I admitted at the time we were overpaying for Gylfi. I agree that this means we are almost-certainly selling Lookman, who I think decided under Big Sam that he was done playing for this club (which is too bad, as I think he has the potential to grow into a good players, as he showed at Leipzig).

There's still a little time in the window (and I know we can still sell to other countries after the PL window shuts), but we have a lot of business to get sorted still. If Richarlison is who Silva thinks we need, I'm glad he's being backed, but I have to wonder what the state of our scouting network is, if we're not finding players who would improve the squad without having to pay a Premier-League premium (plus whatever f*ck-you money Watford is adding on top of that).

For the record, I am not as impressed by Firmino as most, but Salah and Mane were definitely great signings for Liverpool - however, given you guys paid £32.5 million for Benteke and £35m for Andy Carroll (before the TV money, no less), maybe throwing stones about teams overpaying for players isn't the greatest idea?

Newcastle never spending any money means I can THROW ALL THE STONES!

19 days until the season starts.

I honestly think some of the teams are going to bumble to the end either overpaying to get things done or straight missing out.

Don't be Arsenal circa 2011.

31 August 2011: On the final day of the transfer window, Brazilian left back André Santos, German centre back Per Mertesacker, Israeli attacking midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Spanish central midfielder Mikel Arteta all join the club.

That was the same window Cesc and Nasri left.

Looking back at what else went on:
1 Sergio Agüero - Atlético Madrid to Manchester City - £38m

2 Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal to Barcelona - £35m

3 Samir Nasri - Arsenal to Manchester City - £25m

4 Juan Mata - Valencia to Chelsea - £23.5m

5 Stewart Downing - Aston Villa to Liverpool - £20m

6 David de Gea - Atlético Madrid to Manchester Utd - £18.3m

7 Romelu Lukaku - Anderlecht to Chelsea - £18m

8 Ashley Young - Aston Villa to Manchester United - £17m

9 Phil Jones - Blackburn to Manchester United - £16.5m

10 Jordan Henderson - Sunderland to Liverpool - £16m

More historic Italian clubs go bust ... while Juventus sign Cristiano Ronaldo

While Juventus and Real Madrid finessed the details of Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer, a distant funeral bell tolled for three historic Italian clubs – a scenario that accentuated the disparity between those at the top of Italian football and those a few rungs down the ladder. Ronaldo’s arrival has been hailed as a coup for the Italian game. Apparently he will raise the profile of Serie A to a level not seen since the 1990s and everyone will reap the benefits. But few fans outside Turin subscribe to this “trickle-down” theory.

The news that Bari and Cesena of Serie B, as well as AC Reggiana of Serie C, have all been denied licences for the upcoming season due to financial issues will hardly come as a surprise to anyone who follows Italian football. Since Fiorentina went bankrupt in 2002, 153 Italian clubs have refounded, merged with other clubs or disappeared altogether. Three clubs have dropped from Serie B to Serie D this summer due to financial problems even though none of them finished in the relegation zone.

One way or another, most of these clubs return. New legal entities are formed, new owners are found and the clubs begin again in the lower leagues. Some rise from the ashes and thrive. Napoli were refounded in 2004 and nearly won Serie A last season. Parma completed their comeback to the top flight in May, just three seasons after the third rebirth in their history. But the resurrection process can be long and painful for fans. This is a new experience for Bari, who were founded in 1908, and Cesena, who have been meandering through the professional leagues since 1940. That’s 188 years of football history signed away with a stroke of a pen.