There are now five teams who expect to finish in the top four, plus two hopefuls who will be putting in their best efforts to crash that party, too. Here's hoping for a top 4 of City, Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal. And here's hoping that Spurs get exactly what they deserve (nothing).
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Football Thread 2011/2012 | OT12 | All the clowns were offside...
- Thread starter PaulLFC
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Newcastle and Liverpool? Don't see that happening.
I wasn't being serious... I think it's too early to tell, as there are still two months left in the transfer window, but right now I'd guess the top 4 will stay the same, except Chelsea will be in in place of Tottenham. Probably City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal.
What are good sources for news? I'm really bad at this LOL
I use http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League
You can filter it for your club/country/league of interest.
:O This is great! Thanks!
Gareth Bale
Member
You can filter out the shit sites/blogs that come up in your feed as well. Newsnow is pretty good for that, although I think News International block it. But all you're really missing is The Times, and that's behind a paywall anyway.
Vivalaraza
Member
Got to say, tonight one thought is on my mind and it's 8 years too late, but all I can think is "wtf Fergie". After reading much of the filing and it once more being made abundantly clear that the Glazer take over is most likely the single worst thing that could have ever happened to MUFC and seeing the club embarrassed and openly admitting its in the shit the penny finally dropped for me on Fergie. First I was all, hmm, now Fergie has to deal with this, the Glazer's have screwed him and he has to clean it up. I've always known he wasn't perfect by any means but I don't think I can quite admire and respect the man the same way after he lied and lied and lied about the Glazers. And he didn't even have to back them, his silence would have been enough. But he cosied up and now look at the shit hole they've got us in. And Fergie is accountable himself.
Back then he had the chance to say something. That would have been the right thing to do. You could argue he has stayed on and held shit together and he has and you have to credit him for that as a great football a manger, but it wasn't the right thing to do. And if not then, when it did become clear we were being shit on, when the prices went up 60% and so many fans were driven away or when they told him he had no money to spend, that was a good chance too. Even David Beckham Mr Commercialism "this ones too big for you son" got there before him. But no, the way he's insulted the basic intelligence of the fans and not once stood up for them is a damn disgrace.
I bet he bans any journos who ask him just what the hell he's been talking about these last few years what with his "they're great owners" spiel. Say it now Fergie.
And David Gill can piss off and jump into a really deep hole somewhere. Muppet. Debt is the road to ruin my ass.
We're registered in a bloody tax haven now where Fergie's probably opened up his own Rosie47 where he deposits all the checks Jorge Mendes sends him. But at least he got his name on the North Stand huh.
I am disappoint. Ferguson is the greatest football manager there's ever been in my eyes, he's an absolute hero for us, but seriously he messed this up big big time and that is hard to take. He made his bed and I hope he's made to lie in it now, someone better grow some balls and ask him live on TV about his bullshit.
Back then he had the chance to say something. That would have been the right thing to do. You could argue he has stayed on and held shit together and he has and you have to credit him for that as a great football a manger, but it wasn't the right thing to do. And if not then, when it did become clear we were being shit on, when the prices went up 60% and so many fans were driven away or when they told him he had no money to spend, that was a good chance too. Even David Beckham Mr Commercialism "this ones too big for you son" got there before him. But no, the way he's insulted the basic intelligence of the fans and not once stood up for them is a damn disgrace.
I bet he bans any journos who ask him just what the hell he's been talking about these last few years what with his "they're great owners" spiel. Say it now Fergie.
And David Gill can piss off and jump into a really deep hole somewhere. Muppet. Debt is the road to ruin my ass.
We're registered in a bloody tax haven now where Fergie's probably opened up his own Rosie47 where he deposits all the checks Jorge Mendes sends him. But at least he got his name on the North Stand huh.
I am disappoint. Ferguson is the greatest football manager there's ever been in my eyes, he's an absolute hero for us, but seriously he messed this up big big time and that is hard to take. He made his bed and I hope he's made to lie in it now, someone better grow some balls and ask him live on TV about his bullshit.
Vivalaraza
Member
I probably am but it's damn annoying.
Awesome Animals
Member
Passion. That's all it is.
read somewhere that Lyon want 20M euros for him; not that expensive for a young keeper who could potentially be world class, especially if Levy haggles the price down (as we know he will). and Lyon's open to selling him as long as the deal (or an offer) is made before their pre-season begins (July 15). not sure if that's true or just bs posturing to speed up a deal with any potential suitors though.
the asking price is certainly high enough to scare away Wenger I think (though we were in for Pepe Reina at a similar price a couple years ago, though he eventually opted not to move); don't know how he'd scrounge up 20m in two weeks...
Hurts to be reminded of that. He wanted to move but the owners said they wouldn't let him since they wanted to sell the club and losing Pepe would make it less enticing to buyers. Embarrassing.
Think he'll have another stormer this season. Rodgers knows how to use a keeper.
Sigurdsson info from someone who's been pretty good with info thus far:
February 2023 in my FM Porto save.. a new 70k seater is being built! Estadio do Dragao will be no more after June 2024.
I sadly ran into my two main strikers asking to be sold due to the fact they "wanted a new challenge." Got $74 million for one (Arsenal, ha!) and $60 million with a 50% sell-on fee for the other (Chelsea... he was only 25, but an FCP youth product who had been with the club for 10 years). Had my keeper, Luis Guilherme, also ask to move on for a new challenge -- I got $50 million from him from Real. He's 30 so I was going to sell him soon anyway, although obviously he has still years of being a top keeper. Bought him for $2.9 million in 2011. Robertinho (regen) who went for $74 million was purchased for $5 million initially.
I sadly ran into my two main strikers asking to be sold due to the fact they "wanted a new challenge." Got $74 million for one (Arsenal, ha!) and $60 million with a 50% sell-on fee for the other (Chelsea... he was only 25, but an FCP youth product who had been with the club for 10 years). Had my keeper, Luis Guilherme, also ask to move on for a new challenge -- I got $50 million from him from Real. He's 30 so I was going to sell him soon anyway, although obviously he has still years of being a top keeper. Bought him for $2.9 million in 2011. Robertinho (regen) who went for $74 million was purchased for $5 million initially.
whatsinaname
Member
Was watching highlights of the final stretch of 14 games to decide La Liga 2006/07. I don't know if I will see such an exciting end to a season again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTKNIb0h-x0
Higuain <3
Ruud
Guti vs Sevilla
Iker vs Everyone
Robinho's 2 yellow cards for the same celebration
So many comebacks
So many extra time goals by substitutes (Capello!)
All 3 title contender teams drawing their matches on the same game day
Messi Hand of God (lol Messi doesn't cheat)
Raul Tamudo <3
League decided on head-to-head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTKNIb0h-x0
Higuain <3
Ruud
Guti vs Sevilla
Iker vs Everyone
Robinho's 2 yellow cards for the same celebration
So many comebacks
So many extra time goals by substitutes (Capello!)
All 3 title contender teams drawing their matches on the same game day
Messi Hand of God (lol Messi doesn't cheat)
Raul Tamudo <3
League decided on head-to-head
Gareth Bale
Member
I remember quite a bit of that, especially the last game against Mallorca. Reyes pretty much won them the title and then they pretty much told him to fuck off.
Tim the Wiz
Banned
Not the end of the world, Viva. United will survive, no matter the debt or ownership issues. The long-term infrastructure is sound: Old Trafford, global support, quality youth set-up, etc.
Fergie did what's in his nature. Either he blasts the Glazers and maybe loses control of the club, or he gets on with the job and treats it like a challenge. He's a control freak, so I'm not surprised.
Not disagreeing with your main post but being registered in a tax haven is not unusual at all, either in the UK or US. So I wouldnt say that means the owners are dodgy in any way.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/oct/11/ftse-100-subsidiaries-tax-havens
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09157.pdf
Well, what's somewhat important is that Evans' confidence in bringing the ball through continues to grow. Assuming that he will play quite a lot alongside Vidic.
Because he looked to have minimised that panic-stutter-followed-by-hospital-pass thing he had going.
It'll free us up quite a bit in terms of midfield attacking and distribution if we don't need someone dropping to carry the ball forward quite so much. Anderson, when he plays, does that shit all the time, and it's one of the things he's good at. It's one of the things Clev can handle, too. But we might be able to exert a pretty goddamn formidable amount of attacking pressure if we can keep our midfield up the pitch.
Because he looked to have minimised that panic-stutter-followed-by-hospital-pass thing he had going.
It'll free us up quite a bit in terms of midfield attacking and distribution if we don't need someone dropping to carry the ball forward quite so much. Anderson, when he plays, does that shit all the time, and it's one of the things he's good at. It's one of the things Clev can handle, too. But we might be able to exert a pretty goddamn formidable amount of attacking pressure if we can keep our midfield up the pitch.
Do you really see a future for Johnny Evans at United? To me he's like a poor man's Agger - a good passer of the ball, and adept at reading the game, but unlike Agger he's extremely poor in duels and tackling.
The only reason I could see United keeping Evans long term is if 1) he shows immense improvement or 2) they simply can't afford a better defender (not likely). Smalling and Jones are both streets ahead, IMO.
If we went for Lloris Wenger would get that price down to around 12mil pound. I see no need for him though when we have Szczesny. There is no doubt imo that Lloris is a better keeper at this stage but we need to invest in other areas and not our goal keeper. We need a back up keeper but Lloris doesn't fall into that category at all so yeah I am against an Arsenal move for him personally. I would rather us target a top class full back instead. Szczesny is fine and is improving given that he just completed his first full season in the league and has dodgy players in front of him.
I do mean it though that defensively we need to improve if we want to challenge for anything this season. Cant conceed 50 goals again....
As you say, very likely not ahead of Jones and Smalling. And we do have some reserve defenders who are not without promise - although it's daft to put too much stock in their potential.
He does have those limited Rio-ish virtues, though. Jones is a driving, relatively all-or-nothing runner. Smalling doesn't particularly know where he's really going on the occasion that he does hammer forward. Evans has that tincture of alertness about him when he goes.
Playing with Vidic might improve him. I don't quite know in general how we are going to rotate CBs this coming season. Allowing, of course, for injury hazard. Don't know how Rio will travel. Raf needs to play a fucking load of games, which sort of strains the regular approach of pushing the spare out to RB. Smalling should and probably will cover him if need be - Jones is a heart-attack at RB for me.
Jones might get a few more games as a defensive midfield sub.
New Atletico Madrid jersey. Not a fan of the blue band on the sleeves or red on the away.
Ugh. The blue looks really off.
Yeah. I think I agree with this. Never really thought of it like this. And I used to get frustrated at Ferdinand's distribution. But thinking about it, you only notice his mistakes, not when, I guess, he does it well, because his passes will be about distribution rather then goal making passes.
Hmm.
Tim the Wiz
Banned
I disagree pretty heavily. Evans showed his class in the run-in. He had a poor run of form for a season and a half before that, and I personally would have disavowed him after his performance in our abysmal CC loss to West Ham, but he's bounced back. Just shows you though, how fickle memories can be. Not so long ago, he was part of a record-breaking defensive unit alongside VDS and Vidic.
I also think Smalling is a better defender than Jones. But I suppose he's not barn-storming and lion-hearted enough to look the next England captain.
It's the only place he can get some real game time, honestly - barring another cavalcade of injuries. You have Rafael settling in, Vidic coming back, Rio playing more regularly again with forced international retirement to help, Evans having played his way into the first lieutenant role, and Smalling, as steady competition. Midfield is the likely destination for most of his rotation.
Baconsaurus Rex
Member
Great video. The goal at 3:30 was amazing! Ruud <3
Oui.
Mame Biram Diouf wedding snap
https://twitter.com/#!/Mariadiouf/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com/hoL5Tj05
Lucky fellah. Both of them I guess.
Smalling is a better defender than Jones, absolutely. But even still, I think Jones is a much better defender than Evans. Smalling and Jones, when they have good games, can potential be match savers/winners. A good game for Evans is one where he doesn't make a stupid error that leads to a goal 
I think Welbeck was on £15k last season, he may still be unless he has signed a new deal that I am unaware of.
Players will be get pissed off with that, there's Rooney on around £200k and he's on £15k. Still a insane amount of money but footballers don't look at it that way. I wonder what Hernandez and Berba are on?
I am pretty salty right now. We haven't signed anyone because we're poor and a bunch of Man United fans are crying about a debt that means absolutely nothing given their position in the world of football.
Would give my right arse cheek to be in Man United's shoes.
It means a lot to their position in the footballing world. The debts don't pay themselves, they have to either raise money to pay for them or make cut backs at the club to pay for them.
Oh I know all about dysfunctional wages!
Wayne Bridge - £90k a week.
Adebayor - £160k (I think it could be higher
) a week.Puma isn't much better. Espanyol away:
I think this looks cool to be honest. Would possibly change opinion after seeing the players wearing it.
I think Fergie was satisfied that the two largest shareholders who wanted him sacked over a racehorse dispute no longer had any influence at the club. I don't think it would have helped if Fergie spoke out about the Glazers, we benefited greatly from being a plc and being taken over by someone the fans or Fergie may not like was always a possibility. Fergie is in the employment of the Glazers, it wouldn't be look great for the club if he started speaking out against them.
Good bit of business.
teehee
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