Fútbol thread
So anything happening today, more transfer specualation.
City priced out of buying Jolene, i think not.
Dempsey to go to Everton, bad move he'll be overshadowed by Cahill and the like, why leave Fulham?
Pato to Chelsea, Carlo still in Milan to get this done.
And the Daily Mirror a full 6 days late in picking up on the massive story that Viera is coming to Birmingham city, 90k a week for him, never going to happen he's off to PSG.
Ecuadooooor!!
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Goodness me..
Dempsey to Everton is a strange one. He was superb in the Confederations Cup. Maybe Tim Howard's been pestering him.
yeah, i thought this during the competition
Will it be like when the world went crazy for Poborsky and then disappoints, summer competition form rarely translates to the following season (or am i just thinking or the bad examples?)
I think his form last season
would be a bigger motivation for potential suitors.
True
he was excellent for Fulham as well.
he's been brilliant
for the last two or three years. always scores plenty and works his socks off.
he'd be an improvement on osman i think.
Dunno about that...
but he's the kind of squad player that Everton really need if they want to challenge for things.
i really rate him. have for ages.
plus, i wouldn't be at all suprised if one of everton's bigger names moves on, and he'd be a decent replacement.
i could see arteta or cahill at united. wouldn't really want either. but i could imagine it happening.
Arteta would be ace for United...
that bit of creativity that United sometimes lack, especially if Carrick isn't playing. Also can cover all across midfield. Cahill would do a great job as well.
They could both easily make the step up to a top team IMO.
i think arteta could
cahill i'm less sure of. i just don't think he has that touch of class.
how old's arteta these days?
i'd rather have rodwell... and gosling for 56 million obviously.
cahill is never gonna leave everton.
he's one of those "<insert team here> till i die" type players.
Benzema to Real Madrid
Haven't seen the Dempsey story anywhere
in true KiK style, i'm going to go off on one about Benzema
All the papers (Save the Guardian) are reporting it as Man Utd being out bid, and rejected.
Lyon have discussed the whole process openly throughout and have made it clear they've only ever recieved one bid. Fergie might be a huge fan, but he clearly thinks he's overpriced and not the best option for the team.
I'd have loved to see him play for us, but there's a huge difference between the fans wanting someone and a club actually making any move to sign them.
I'm pretty sure Fergie'll have someone else in mind, at a much more sensible price.
It's usually the case that papers do stuff like that
On a similar note, I've just had a chuckle at The Sun's 'Kaka Chelsea SNUB' story; apparently Kaka said he'd decided many years ago to only ever leave AC Milan for Real Madrid. And seeing as Chelsea categorically never bid for him (telling they released a press release denying a bid for him but not for other players we've been linked with), Kaka has effectively SNUBBED every club in the world.
I think this summer...
any idea of sensible prices have gone out of the window...
exactly
and there aren't a huge number of players that aren't already at huge clubs, or could obviously make the step up.
youngsters with potential please.
That's pretty much all United need
Fergie's not stupid, he knew Ronaldo would most likely leave either this summer or next and he's been building his squad accordingly.
In Valencia and Park you have 2 solid performers - consistent 7/10 types - which is plenty against most teams. Nani probably needs to step up this year, but him and Tosic give you some decent back up/competition for places.
Rooney, Berbatov & Wellbeck up front, you probably need one more player here, but again it doesn't need to be a massive name.
That's assuming you're playing 2 up front of course, Anderson played just behind a lone striker for Porto and if he could sort out his shooting then that's definitely an option.
i'd expect big things from nani
he's genuinely excellent when confident and given a run in the side. berbatov and rooney will benefit hugely from his more traditional wingplay.
we've got macheda as well, (plus campbell and manucho) but i'd like to see another slightly more experienced option too. martins or even kenwyne jones would do me.
anderson's a class act - just again needs time in a fixed position with other players around him that fit with his game, rather than having to fit in to accomodate giggs or scholes.
Obvious comparison/comment
but Nani is very reminiscent of early Ronaldo - lots of skills and tricks, but no focus and little end product.
Ronaldo developed quicker, but then he was pretty much first choice so played a lot more games.
Nani definitely has the talent, but if he doesn't step up this season then I think a lot of United fans will lose patience.
nani suffers being compared with ronaldo
his game's very very different. he's a much more incisive passer of a ball when on form, and a better crosser. he plays some lovely through balls.
i think he's actually better at beating a player too, but tries it far too often. he doesn't have the power or pace of ronaldo though, so he'll never be as effective directly.
i hope nani gets a go now.
i really think he's good.
I think Nani
really needs to work on his decision-making. To me, he seems more direct than Ronaldo was when he first came, and puts in a lot more defensive work, but he's still just as exasperating. I think you're right in that he's a confidence player, and perhaps with him and Valencia playing consistenly on the wings and Rooney up top with Berbatov, things might work out quite nicely.
campbell is going to hull for six million isnt he?
can see us getting rid of Manucho too.
i'd take Martins as a third striker, knows where the net is. but then again so doe Macheda
he knows where the net is but just has a problem putting
the ball in there
not really
im sure his goals/shots on target or goals/shots ratio is much higher than Rooneys
and Keita to Galatasaray...
At this rate Lyon will soon have no players at all...
The Japanese takeover of Plymouth Argyle shall be confirmed today...
Press Conference at 11am which shall set out everything.
For a while now most fans have recognised the fact that this board have taken us as far as they can, I'll remember them fondly as they spearheaded our rise up the divisions and it's hard not to like a bunch of guys living the dream and running the football club they've supported all their lives. However we need further investment as well as fresah ideas from outside otherwise the danger is that we would stagnate and fall back down the divisions, if it means coming from a Japanese company then so be it.
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/argyle/DAWN-NEW-ERA-ARGYLE/article-1128370-detail/article.html
That article also alludes to the fact that us and Swansea are going after Danny haynes of Ipswich. He was another of those Ipswich players like Billy Clarke where big things were expected but somehow it hasn't quite worked out. It doesn't help that Ipswich bought quite a few players last season pushing him down the pecking order. Still he's only 21 and looked exciting when I have seen him so it wouldn't really be a bad buy IMO.
Oh and Emile Mpenza leaves after 10K a week and 2 goals...
and a million injuries. Not the greatest signing ever although he did look class in moments like the teelvised game against Cardiff.
I saw him score one of those goals as well, a 93rd min equaliser against Charlton, maybe I should make myself a t-shirt....
I've heard Plymouth are looking
at Nathan Tyson from us as well. Good League 1 player but struggled in the Championship last season. Bags of pace but little end product.
Natthan Tyson, Danny Haynes...
obviously Sturrock thinks we need a small, nippy striker! He'll be down the pecking order at Forest now with Mcgoldrick and Adebola there. It's kinda worrying that we seem to be looking at rejects from clubs around us but that's the Plymouth way...
Yeah I have to say
with us already having Earnshaw and Joe Garner plus McGoldrick and Adebola and apparently still in the market for Dexter Blackstock, Tyson's days look numbered Trentside.
Did Plymouth manage to sign up Gallagher?
He was excellent last season. (Based on occasionally watching the Championship on ITV)
Is Barrington Hayles still there?
Nah, he's out of our price range...
And Gallagher could be hot and cold although when he was on a bit of form he was ace. Blackburn are apperently asking a million for him and a lot of bigger Championship clubs are after him so no chance for us.
Sir Barrington of Hayles left us a while ago to join Holloway at Leicester, age was finally starting to catch up with him and Leicester gave us a lot of money for a 35 year old so it was all good. I have very fond memories of Hayles though, sometimes he was obviously the best player on the pitch. Also in his first season at us we never lost a game he scored in!
Halesowen Town threatened with suspension from football
if they don't pay their football debts in full by 10th July.
Folkestone Invicta could enter administration anytime now after failing to meet a deadline of June 29th to find new investment. Tax bill - £100k
Farseley Celtic avoided being wound up yesterday by entering administration on Tuesday night. Tax bill - £200k
how do clubs suddenly get tax bills?
do they just forget to take account of tax when budgeting?
pretty much...
the latter.
lawks
yep, not looking good for Halesowen
excluded from both cup competitions also.
Chairman not answering any questions and keeps changing the date of the AGM (now delayed 6 weeks from first expected)
Apparently 3 groups are interested in taking over the club.
It's pretty basic
that you can't hold an AGM without having your accounts done - doesn't bode well at all.
Salisbury City looking in trouble as well - Only four players, no money, apparently owe around £400k, chairman desperate to sell for just £1 but the only potential buyers've pulled out.
exactly
finacially fucked. not exactly helped by not being able to have a cup run either.
Peter Crouch transfer target for AC Milan
according to Italian TV show Studio Sport.
i think he should go. he's pretty similar to inzaghi - they'd love him.
plus, he'd get loads better at football. we should send every england player abroad.
That is an insult to fillipo Inzaghi
The only similarity they have is that they are both ugly. Peter Crouch could be one of the worst footballers of all time.
i'd say that about inzaghi tho.
i like crouch. but his defo a similar type player.
having said that,
i remember watching one game (think it was italy) and inzaghi was IMMENSE. i dont understand why wasnt like that in every game.
I like Crouch as a guy
but he is not very good.
Inzaghi's goalscoring record speaks for itself. He may not be very likeable but he does the business.
I don't see how they are similar players anyway. Full explination with diagrams please.
they play up front lol.
both have "surprising good feet for a big man"
both are goal hangers who should be much better in the air than they are. both are not that prolific (although obvs PIPPO has scored a few more i'll grant you that). both arent really "all action" or whatever.
Inzaghi isn't that tall at all!
Inzaghi is pretty prolific as well. Did you ever see him for Juventus? This is a silly argument which I insist you back down from.
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filippo_Inzaghi
Senior career1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1991–1995
1992–1993
1993–1994
1995–1996
1996–1997
1997–2001
2001– Piacenza
? Leffe (loan)
? Verona (loan)
Parma
Atalanta
Juventus
Milan 039 (15)
021 (13)
036 (13)
015 0(2)
033 (24)
122 (58)
165 (70)
National team2
1993–1996
1997–2007 Italy U-21
Italy 014 0(3)
057 (25)[1
That really didn't work
just look at his stats anyway on the wiki page.
amazing numbers dude.
what on earth do they mean
I'll sum it for you:
Inzaghi: 0.48 goals a game
Crouch: 0.33 goals a game
That's 1 in 2 as opposed to 1 in 3.
Inzaghi is infinitely better than Crouch.
Also:
Top goal scorers in the history of European competitions :
* 1. Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan) and Raul (Real Madrid) 66 goals
* 3. Gerd Müller 62 goals
* 4. Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan) 61 goals
* 5. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid) 60 goals
* 6. Eusebio and Henrik Larsson (Helsingborg) 56 goals
* 8. Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona) 55 goals
* 9. Alfredo Di Stefano (Real Madrid) 50 goals
* 10. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) 50 goals
<agrument about the amount of games nowdays>
etc. i'm not saying he's better or worse.
You said he was one of the worst players you've seen!
its like my dad says, "no dan, he's not shit, he's still brilliant at football.
he's just not as good as the other players on the pitch"
i still didnt say he's better or worse.
I think you need to have a long think
about how you compared one of the most prolific strikers of the last 15 years to a man who is famous for scoring against jamiaca and doing the robot dance.
his game.
i'm comapring his game. not his skill. not his goal ratio. not his celebrations.
but their game's the least comparable aspect!
lets carry on disagreeing for a while
Even by comparing his game you are wrong
as they are very different players.
Indeed
i'm not saying he's better or worse.
i'm not saying he's better or worse.
You said he was one of the worst players you've seen!
i didnt say he was better or worse.
Inzaghi is 5'11!
also..
Inzaghi became the first player to score two Champions League hat tricks (both with Juventus) when he netted a treble during a 4-4 group stage draw with Hamburg on 13 September 2000; his first was in a 4-1 victory over Dynamo Kyiv during the 1997-98 quarterfinals.
He scored his 62nd career European goal, and 33rd overall for Milan, in a 3-0 Champions League group stage win over Shakhtar Donetsk on 6 November 2007. This achievement put him level with Bayern Munich legend Gerd Müller on UEFA's all-time scoring list. [6] Inzaghi surpassed Müller after netting his 63rd career goal during Milan's final group stage match against Celtic on 4 December 2007. However, Raúl of Real Madrid scored a brace on 10 December 2008 in a game against Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League, which put Raúl ahead of Inzaghi in the goal count. [2]
"he was born offside"
i'm not knocking him, i'm just comparing his game to crouchs
wrongly
He's taller than me
look,
i really cant be fucked with this. they both have a similar "game" even if inzimahn scores a few more. ok?
besides. if milan get adebayor (who is also pretty similar) they wont want crouch.
But they don't have a similar game!
describe each of their "games" then
Ok
Inzaghi : The archetypal 'Fox in the box'. Will do fuck all for 88 minutes and then pop up with a couple of vital goals. See the 2007 CL Final vs liverpool.
Crouch: Gangly, awkward, 'Good feet for a big man' whop likes to drop off and link up play. Inevitably spoons chances from 5 yards out.
*does robot dance*
i love this argument
they're both rubbish
cheers
i was waiting for you to wade in.
hi.
^^ this
I suppose Freddie Sears is better than Inzaghi then?
'cheers'
Freddie Sears has been pretty disapointing after his debut
but hopefully the loan at Palace will give him some much needed experience.
Inzaghi is a Lineker type player, obviously you can't argue with the goal stats but he's just not my type of footballer.
Crouch whilst appearing to be a nice enough guy is a horrible footballer to watch.
If you can't argue
with Inzaghi's goal stats, then how can you say he is rubbish? Purely for his style of play?
exactly, purely for his style of play
whilst effective I consider him an anti-footballer
crouch isn't a goal hanger by any stretch of the imagination
^^^ this
he is a very poor link up player.
theres 2 types of foward.
ones who move around the entire half of the pitch finding space, laying balls off, playing through balls, winning the ball, scoring goals
and ones who play "up top".
You sound more and more like Ron Atkinson every day
yup
and croach is the first type, inzaghi the second
ok then.
i will go to the Shirebrook game
and report back.
FA Cup draw
1 Bridlington Town v Esh Winning
2 Spennymoor Town v Ashington
3 Seaham Red Star v Morpeth Town
4 Sunderland RCA v Ryton
5 Bedlington Terriers v Thackley
6 Hebburn Town v Eccleshill United
7 Jarrow Roofing Boldon CA v Armthorpe Welfare
8 Whickham v Chester-Le-Street Town
9 Scarborough Athletic v Guisborough Town
10 Selby Town v Leeds Carnegie
11 Consett v Billingham Town
12 Team Northumbria v Marske United
13 Hall Road Rangers v Bishop Auckland
14 Norton & Stockton Ancients v Pickering Town
15 Shildon v Northallerton Town
16 South Shields v Newcastle Benfield
17 Pontefract Collieries v Penrith
18 Stokesley v Crook Town
19 West Auckland Town v Brandon United
20 Whitley Bay v Dunston UTS
21 Billingham Synthonia v Birtley Town
22 Horden CW v Tow Law Town
23 West Allotment Celtic v Liversedge
24 Silsden v Colne
25 Congleton Town v Dinnington Town
26 Abbey Hey v Hallam
27 Chadderton v Atherton Collieries
28 Maltby Main v Rossington Main
29 Parkgate v St Helens Town
30 Holker Old Boys v Padiham
31 Bacup Borough v Atherton LR
32 Maine Road v Alsager Town
33 Squires Gate v Staveley MW
34 Ashton Athletic v Bootle
35 Runcorn Linnets v AFC Emley
36 Nostell MW v Oldham Town
37 Ramsbottom United v Cheadle Town
38 Flixton v Winsford United
39 Formby v Glossop North End
40 Meir KA v Tipton Town
41 Bewdley Town v Alvechurch
42 Cradley Town v Biddulph Victoria
43 Eccleshall v Tividale
44 Westfields v Bolehall Swifts
45 Stone Dominoes v Cadbury Athletic
46 Causeway United v Wellington
47 Studley v Pershore Town
48 Dudley Sports v Southam United
49 Coleshill Town v Bridgnorth Town
50 Pegasus Juniors v Ellesmere Rangers
51 Norton United v Newcastle Town
52 Dudley Town v Walsall Wood
53 Coventry Sphinx v Bromyard Town
54 Heath Hayes v Lye Town
55 Brocton v Shifnal Town
56 Castle Vale v Goodrich
57 Stratford Town v Pilkington XXX
58 AFC Wulfrunians v Boldmere St Michaels
59 Rocester v Wednesfield
60 Nuneaton Griff v Shawbury United
61 Highgate United v Malvern Town
62 Holwell Sports v Ellistown
63 Hinckley Downes v Boston Town
64 Borrowash Victoria v Greenwood Meadows
65 Barwell v Long Eaton United
66 Holbrook Miners Welfare v Heanor Town
67 Radford v Rainworth MW
68 Oadby Town v Kirby Muxloe
69 Bardon Hill Sports v Arnold Town
70 Coalville Town v Barrow Town
71 Bottesford Town v New Mills
72 Dunkirk v Winterton Rangers
73 Lincoln Moorlands Railway v St Andrews
74 Shirebrook Town v Holbeach United
75 Sleaford Town v Loughborough University
76 Gresley v Heather St Johns
77 Teversal v Bourne Town
78 Deeping Rangers v Friar Lane & Epworth
79 Gedling MW v Blackstones
80 Gedling Town v Barton Town Old Boys
81 Long Buckby v Hadleigh United
82 Cornard United v Gorleston
83 Yaxley v Rothwell Corinthians
84 Great Yarmouth Town v Raunds Town
85 Ely City v Wisbech Town
86 Whitton United v Daventry Town
87 Walsham Le Willows v Kirkley & Pakefield
88 St Ives Town v Daventry United
89 Needham Market v Felixstowe & Walton United
90 Wellingborough Town v Wroxham
91 Woodbridge Town v St Neots Town
92 Desborough Town v Newmarket Town
93 Diss Town v Cogenhoe United
94 Dereham Town v Leiston
95 Godmanchester Rovers v Haverhill Rovers
96 Stewarts & Lloyds v Norwich United
97 Northampton Spencer v March Town United
98 Stowmarket Town v Mildenhall Town
99 Clapton v Kingsbury London Tigers
100 St Margaretsbury v Hullbridge Sports
101 Thame United v Bedford
102 Wembley v Basildon United
103 Erith Town v Ampthill Town
104 Leverstock Green v Burnham Ramblers
105 Oxhey Jets v Brimsdown Rovers
106 Eton Manor v Stanway Rovers
107 Wootton Blue Cross v Sporting Bengal United
108 Hertford Town v Newport Pagnell Town
109 Flackwell Heath v Welwyn Garden City
110 Bicester Town v Dunstable Town
111 FC Clacton v London APSA
112 Tiptree United v Colney Heath
113 Buckingham Town v Hanwell Town
114 Broxbourne Borough V&E v Enfield 1893
115 Biggleswade United v Stotfold
116 Hillingdon Borough v Kentish Town
117 Hatfield Town v Southend Manor
118 London Colney v Harwich & Parkeston
119 Halstead Town v Wivenhoe Town
120 Potton United v Hoddesdon Town
121 North Greenford United v Cockfosters
122 Stansted v Royston Town
123 Chalfont St Peter v Toknygton Manor
124 Witham Town v Saffron Walden Town
125 Barkingside v Bowers & Pitsea
126 Crawley Green v Cranfield United
127 Langford v Aylesbury
128 Barking v Tring Athletic
129 Harefield United v Haringey Borough
130 Tunbridge Wells v Sevenoaks Town
131 Raynes Park Vale v Farnham Town
132 Hailsham Town v Lingfield
133 Worthing United v Badshot Lea
134 Hartley Wintney v Holmesdale
135 Wick v Frimley Green
136 Deal Town v Arundel
137 Littlehampton Town v Cobham
138 Southwick v Herne Bay
139 Chessington & Hook United v Chertsey Town
140 Egham Town v Ringmer
141 Whitehawk v Hythe Town
142 Banstead Athletic v Pagham
143 Camberley Town v East Preston
144 Oakwood v Lordswood
145 Croydon v Shoreham
146 East Grinstead Town v Feltham
147 Eastbourne United v Redhill
148 Erith & Belvedere v Sandhurst Town
149 Wealden v Epsom & Ewell
150 Cove v Bookham
151 Crowborough Athletic v Bedfont
152 Slade Green v Faversham Town
153 Binfield v Colliers Wood United
154 Peacehaven & Telscombe v Mile Oak
155 Lancing v Selsey
156 Dorking v Horley Town
157 Crawley Down v Westfield
158 Molesey v Sidley United
159 Guildford City v St Francis Rangers
160 Three Bridges v Chichester City United
161 Hassocks v Ash United
162 Wootton Bassett Town v Westbury United
163 New Milton Town v Cowes Sports
164 Petersfield Town v Brockenhurst
165 Ringwood Town v Christchurch
166 Downton v Calne Town
167 Milton United v Corsham Town
168 Bournemouth v Highworth Town
169 Fareham Town v Moneyfields
170 Hamble ASSC v Wantage Town
171 Romsey Town v Hayling United
172 Lydney Town v Totton & Eling
173 Alresford Town v Shaftesbury
174 Warminster Town v Amesbury Town
175 Bitton v Newport (IW)
176 Laverstock & Ford v Alton Town
177 Devizes Town v Shrivenham
178 Almondsbury Town v Longwell Green Sports
179 Marlow United v Hallen
180 Ardley United v Witney United
181 Kidlington v Abingdon Town
182 Winchester City v Bemerton Heath Harlequins
183 Brading Town v Fairford Town
184 Carterton v Bristol Manor Farm
185 Shortwood United v Blackfield & Langley
186 Reading Town v Melksham Town
187 Lymington Town v Harrow Hill
188 Wellington Town v Bideford
189 Launceston v Clevedon United
190 Bridport v Keynsham Town
191 Gillingham Town v Cullompton Rangers
192 Larkhall Athletic v Shepton Mallet
193 Radstock Town v Wimborne Town
194 Dawlish Town v Elmore
195 Barnstaple Town v Tavistock
196 Bishop Sutton v Bodmin Town
197 Willand Rovers v Street
198 Buckland Athletic v Hamworthy United
199 Saltash United v Chard Town
200 Portishead Town v Brislington
201 Ilfracombe Town v Falmouth Town
202 Sherborne Town v St Blazey
203 Poole Town v Welton Rovers
Big tie is:
105 Oxhey Jets v Brimsdown Rovers
I played against them when I was a kid, didn't know they had a senior team.
They probably didn't in the way you'd think of them having one
only joined the Spartan League this decade. Although they had a team in the Herts Senior League before that, it's a bit questionable whether that'd count as senior football in anything but name.
I used to play for Oxhey Jets
3 matches towards the end of 1993/4 season. They've got a good little set up there.
i played brimsdown rovers too!
the senior team. and they were in a very shit league. must have got loads better. or just stolen the name.
LOCAL DERBY
99 Clapton v Kingsbury London Tigers
also, i'm gonna be sticking up for AFC Emley against Runcorn Linnets
Barnstaple v Tavistock
A right Devonshire ding dong of a match.
lovely made up names in that list
Devizes Town v Shrivenham
Do you reckon Diss Town is a ghost town?
good work
i know 2 people from diss. factual info. however:
Deeping Rangers v Friar Lane & Epworth
lovely
I think
182 Winchester City v Bemerton Heath Harlequins
is the name of the secret headliners at indietracks.
...
123 Chalfont St Peter v Toknygton Manor
Tok-nig-ton. Tok-ning-tun. Ton-nyn-non.
Nope. Nada.
FAO: Sky sports News work experience kid
will you please start 'understanding' some ridiculous spurious rumours about Spurs trying to sign someone. I'm soooo bored.
Mark Hudson has moved to Cardiff from Charlton for a million
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5411574,00.html
The world has gone mad.
In another example of the world going mad...
Yet another team is preapred to pay good money for Greg Halford
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5411518,00.html
everyone reckons that Fergo won't buy any strikers now that Benzema's done one
and will use a forward 2 of Rooney and Berbatov. Tell me if if completely wrong, but last season didn't that pairing amass about 2 goals between them?
Also, that Benzema deal seemed to go through pretty fast. I just wish everyone else was that speedy
So far this transfer business is showing that not many of the worlds
great players want to come to the supposedly best league in the world
I think
Ronaldo and Kaka's moves to Spain, along with Messi already being there, means we are no longer the best league in the world.
when was the last time a 'superstar' player came to an English club?
I'd say Shevchenko
Didn't end well
I'd agree with that...
Ballack and Shevchenko signing for Chelsea are the two I'd go with. Perhaps Torres.
I still reckon English clubs will dominate the Champions League next season though. Purely because they seem to have a better team ethic than their continental counterparts at the moment.
My mate at my old job (spurs fan) bet one of our sales reps who was a Liverpool fan
That in their first season for their teams, Darren Bent would score more goals than Torres
ah I'd forgotten about him
he was in his twilight years though. Ballack is a good shout.
?
Ballack and Shevchenko are the same age. I'd say 27-30 is widely considered to be a footballer's peak, both were 29 (possibly 28and close to 29 with Ballack) when they arrived
perhaps but Shevchenko was considered pretty much finished
when he came and it appears they were right
'perhaps but Shevchenko was considered pretty much finished'
Don't think your right there, generally speaking.
Incidentally, I did win a bet with my Dad over Shevchenko by predicting he'd be shit, despite everyone else in the world creaming over him and the transfer
I thought Shevchenko
and Ballack were going to make Chelsea completely invincible.
Most people did
I just had a gut feeling Shevchenko wouldn't work out. Not 'cos I'm a footballing genius or owt, just 'cos it seemed to good to be true. And it was. Sadface.
He had just come off the back of another great season
he didn't turn crap until his feet hit the Heathrow tarmac.
Does it?
No English club has made an approach for any "world-class" players, City and Eto'o aside
Was this in response to me?
I was merely basing my argument on the fact that 1,2 and 3 in the world player of the year awards now play in Spain.
the last player to be awarded the world player of the year by FIFA
and then move to an English club was George Weah.
Nah, it was to Jack
All Ronaldo's/Kaka's move prove really is that both accepted moves to Real Madrid. There was no rival bid for either from an English side. Plus, in Ronaldo's case, he's already one the supposed 'bet' league in the world several times, may as well move on really...
I'm surprised Real have spent so much money on Benzema
Any money, really, after Huntelaar pretty much flopped. You'd think they'd only want a striker who had proved himself in one of the top 3 leagues, especially with Perez back on board.
Especially as Benzema
really didn't set the French League alight last season... I agree.
kind of agree
But form what I’ve seen Benzema is much better than Huntelaar
He looks a better all round player than Huntelaar
without doubt - he just had a bad season at Lyon in a relatively weak league last season.
He's going to be very good though, much better than Huntelaar
Also, don't forget Madrid's plan is that marketing and merchandising from the signings will go a long way to paying for them, as such they have to buy massive names, rather than maybe the best options.
Someone like Fabiano could have been signed for half the price and would probably do better, but doesn't have the same profile.
Plus he's a massive name across Europe and some of Africa (Algerian descent?) which helps their brand. Shame they didn't go for Adebayor, could have started a bidding war between them and milan
Fair point
especially with regards to the marketing and such like. He's not really proven outside France though is he? And as such £30million seems an awful lot of money.
He's not really a massive name
He's a 21-year-old striker who's just making his way in the game. I think the idea that he's a ready-made marketing opportunity is ridiculous.
As for his relative merits compared to Huntelaar - it's neither here nor there, really. It doesn't detract from the fact Real are spending £30 million on an unproven player to rectify the supposed mistake they made in spending £15 million on an unknown player only 6 months ago.
Personally, I think it's pride thing from Perez. He's missed out on Villa so he's gone straight out and spent £30 million on somebody else, just to show he can.
I agree with both the above that he's not worth £30m
I was just speculating as to why Madrid had spent that, aside from the standard 'they're mental' response. Perez is a lunatic, but it's all underpinned by a plan/theory, however ropey it might may be.
I would argue he is a massive name, especially in Europe & Northern Africa, in a commercial sense. He might have a long way to go on the pitch but commercially he's at the level of fronting Adidas campaigns, video games etc
Peter Crouch to Milan?!
Probably not but it makes for an amusing story http://ow.ly/gm4x
A guy at work is swearing that Michael Owen
is in talks with Man U.
Any substance to this?
Apprently TalkSport are saying he's "set to sign"
Mental.
this sounds like it actually might be happening.
so Ronaldo, Tevez, Benzema, Ribery and several others SNUB Big Red, so they go after an Ecuadorian winder from Wigan Athletic and scrap it out with Hull & Stoke for permantlely-injured Championship player Mickey Owen. LOL.
* winger
http://tinyurl.com/knxjzu
pssst
none of those snubbed united. ronaldo left because he'd already won everything, fergie never wanted tevez to stay and teh whole offering a contract thing was a pr excercis in the same way city's kaka bid was, and no bids were ever made for the other two.
can't be snubbed if you don't want them in the first place.
if they wanted a perma-crock they should have gone for RVN
football is funny.
probably another Larsson type purchase if true.
If they need a few beans they should just ask.
It's sad seeing a club people naively seem to think is 'THE BIGGEST IN TEH WORLD' having to sell off their best asset because they can't pay the bills. Naming rights for The Swamp will be next, just you watch.
Depending on the contract it's not entirely mental
No transfer fee so if you can get him to agree to a lowish basic and top it up with appearence/goal bonuses etc then shouldn't cost much. Being as he's desperate and United are much bigger than anyone else who's supposedly interested he'll probably sign whatever the terms.
If you can get him fit he could still bang in 10-15 goals in a side like United and he'll be invaluable for the likes of Wellbeck and Macheda to learn from in training.
If it doesn't work then they've not lost too much, if there's even a modicum of success then the press circle jerk over Fergie and call him a genius like when Henrik Larsson turned up and wasn't shit.
My thoughts exactly...
Ferguson's not going to be stupid enough to offer him a 4 year deal at £125k per week is he?
if he goes to united it'll be absolutely disgusting.
it will
and pointless for us as we already have two crocks in the 'first team'
Alonso's not going anywhere.
Juve have denied any interest, and Real aren't gonna meet the huge price tag Rafa will give him just after buying Benzema.
wrongplaceidiotwebsite
what about Monster Masch though
he certainly has the kind of injury record
United seem to find very attractive in new signings these days. But Christ, I fucking hope not.
I'd be very grateful if Ribery could either sign or definitely not sign for a club as soon as possible.
It's starting to look like the boring transfer saga of the Summer.
If Real Madrid sign Ribery, I suspect they're going to be a bit shit next season
Ronaldo, Ribery, Benzema, Sneijder and Robben fighting it out for two positions... and it's basically the same story in every attacking position with players of the same sort of level. It's the worst recipe for squad unrest since... well, since the last time they tried to do it.
they'll get rid of Robben whether he signs or not methinks
is it just me
or is Michael Owen actually quite shit nowadays?
I think he gets far too much stick
and I will actually laugh if United sign him and even more so if Hull City do.