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2008-09 Football Thread

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I think Arshavin is one of those players that just had a good tournament and thats it. I don't think he is anything special, if he was he would of been snapped up years ago. He's 28 now isn't he?

I'm glad Barça's interest has waned, still I wish they would have signed someone better than Hleb as Arshavin's 'replacement'.

According to reports in Spain Robinho is VERY close to signing for Chelsea.
 
I agree that Russia's performance in Euro 2008 has inflated Arshavin's value, and that any team that buys him will not be able to get their money back by selling him a few years down the road.

But he's still young enough to be at the peak of his game and for a Spurs side that desperately need to replace Keane and Berbatov he might just be the answer - especially since they are already getting Pavlyuchenko . They would be buying a prefabricated strike partnership.

EDIT: Continuing the "Unsettled Players" theme, key United defender Vidic has come out and complained about the English weather and lifestyle. I particularly like this part:

Throughout the week they all work so hard. They only talk to people at lunch break. Then in the evening they come home and watch the telly, so they can get up early for work the next day.
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How the **** does that affect his life? He's making 100 times as much as most of those poor sods to play football. :rolleyes:

Mind you, I find the Spanish climate very attractive as well, and the Mediterraneans certainly know how to enjoy life...though I find them maddening to work with, because they certainly do not espouse the American-style work ethic.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Well, a few upsets today in the Carling Cup. It was a close game and the winner was a penalty at that, so I think the Tigers can hold their heads high.
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We actually saved a penalty too, in injury time. Still, I'm not going to lose too much sleep over it. Swansea are a capable enough side and with eleven changes to our starting line up we can't be massively surprised that we came unstuck. On the plus side, Liam Cooper sounded to have had an impressive debut and – at the other end of the age scale – Deano bagged a goal in his first appearance of the campaign.

Lets be honest though, the cups aren't our priority – league survival is, and we'll be looking to return to winning ways when Wigan visit the KC this Saturday. Teh shirt™ will be there, it wasn't at Swansea – that's all you need to know. :p
 
Liverpool scrape a win in the Champions League. They still look 3-4 players short (something that appears to be said every year!) so I guess another frustrating season for the scallies.

I know Rafa has the backing of the Cop, but they need to win something big soon and they can't live on that Champions League victory, they need to be in the mix for the Premier League come April.

On another note watched a bit of the Forrest - Sunderland Carling Cup game. Earnshaw looked good for Forrest (great free-kick) but yet he only scored 2 goals last season in the Premier League (OK he was a Derby) but that really highlighted the gulf in class from the Premiership to Championship level.
 
R.Youden said:
Liverpool scrape a win in the Champions League. They still look 3-4 players short...
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They're going to be another player short for a spell, too – Gerrard is off in for a groin operation that's expected to have him out for about a fortnight.

His time off will cover the international break though, so the impact on Liverpool should be kept to a minimum. He'll miss England's first two World Cup qualifiers however, as well as his club's match against Aston Villa. Benitez will no doubt be keeping his fingers crossed that his captain is ready to return against Manchester United on 13th September.
 
I'm pretty worried about the Reds, gentlemen...it seems that nothing has changed since last season. With Gerrard out, players like Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Benayoun and Plessis will need to pick it up in the midfield, and Keane and Torres will need to start scoring goals.

Gerrard being out is bad news for both Liverpool and England of course. Here's what England should look like for their next match, if I were Capello...Lampard gives way to Gerrard when the latter is healthy.

James*
Brown* Terry Ferdinand A.Cole
Bentley** Barry Lampard Downing*
Rooney
Walcott​

*Not yet convinced on these. Keeper is still up for grabs IMHO, right back is a big question mark. Downing/J. Cole are maybe interchangeable...
** You know it'll be Becks, but I'm beginning to wonder if England will stay in a rut as long as he is using up a slot a younger player could be occupying.
 
Sorry, but Stuart Downing in the worst player I've ever seen in an England shirt. Ever. Also not much of a fan of David Bentley, thought he seemed to have a good pre-season for Spurs.

As for Liverpool... Can you believe that? I went to bed before extra time and sorry, but it's a travesty they got through.

Well done Standard.
 
Markleshark said:
Sorry, but Stuart Downing in the worst player I've ever seen in an England shirt. Ever.
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You must be too young to remember Carlton Palmer. ;)

carlton-palmer.jpg
 
Markleshark said:
Sorry, but Stuart Downing in the worst player I've ever seen in an England shirt. Ever. Also not much of a fan of David Bentley, thought he seemed to have a good pre-season for Spurs.
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I haven't seen too much of him to be fair, but he looked useful in the Czech republic game. I'd probably go with J. Cole to start I suppose.

Markleshark said:
As for Liverpool... Can you believe that? I went to bed before extra time and sorry, but it's a travesty they got through.

Well done Standard.
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Liverpool were crap. We will never challenge for the league until we start winning games like this 3 or 4-0. I'm hoping that we will pick it up as the season progresses.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
You must be too young to remember Carlton Palmer. ;)

View attachment 132205
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Or Phil Neville!:eek:

Seriously - Stewart Downing is hardly as bad as he's painted. Most of the games he comes on in we're doing badly. He's still probably the best natural left winger in the league (Ronaldo being right footed:p, Giggs a wee bit past his best), as shown by the interest in him shown by Aston Villa, Spurs, Everton and Liverpool at various points throughout the past few seasons.
 
Jaffa Cake said:
To be fair, he's not alone in not looking especially brilliant in an England shirt...
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Exactly.TBH I can't remember the last time I saw a virtuoso performance from Stevie G in an England shirt; a player whom I think pulls Liverpool up into the CL spots all by his own.
 
Just out of curiosity markleshark, what does your England midfield look like?

MOFS said:
Exactly.TBH I can't remember the last time I saw a virtuoso performance from Stevie G in an England shirt; a player whom I think pulls Liverpool up into the CL spots all by his own.
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I thought he was one of the bright spots in the Czech Republic game, though he still roamed too much.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
Just out of curiosity markleshark, what does your England midfield look like?



I thought he was one of the bright spots in the Czech Republic game, though he still roamed too much.
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Well ... um ... i didn't see that one.:eek:

My midfield is pretty much like yours Lord Blackadder, tho' involves playing a 4-5-1...

James

Richards-Terry-Ferdinand-A Cole

Bentley-Hargreaves-Gerrard-Downing

J Cole

Owen​

I have to say I love Rooney, but its difficult watching him play for England sometimes. I love his enthousiasm, but he does search for the ball too much from time to time, meaning we end up playing 4-5-1 essentially with him anyway. Joe Cole does his best work in the centre of the pitch.
 
I should have included Richards, but I though he was still hurt - but he just may be the answer for the right back question. I'd certainly take him over Wes Brown.

I also agree that Rooney is tremendously talented but roams too much - a 4-4-2 is impossible to play with Rooney on the pitch. I left out Owen because he's always hurt, but you can't argue with his scoring record for England. The other problem with Rooney is that all you need to do is step in his toe a few times and he'll get himself sent off or his game will deflate. He needs mental toughness.
 
I'd go more or less along with MOFS line up – assuming all are fit – although I'd have J. Cole on the left. I'd change the front two though, for Rooney and one of Walcott and Agbonlahor who are both well overdue being given a fair chance to try and prove their worth at international level.
 
Lord Blackadder said:
I should have included Richards, but I though he was still hurt - but he just may be the answer for the right back question. I'd certainly take him over Wes Brown.

I also agree that Rooney is tremendously talented but roams too much - a 4-4-2 is impossible to play with Rooney on the pitch. I left out Owen because he's always hurt, but you can't argue with his scoring record for England. The other problem with Rooney is that all you need to do is step in his toe a few times and he'll get himself sent off or his game will deflate. He needs mental toughness.
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I think Richards is injured - I just put a "if everyone is available"-team down - fat chance of that happening.:rolleyes: I think Brown is too immobile and too much of a centre back - I'd have Luke Young as backup tbh.

The worrying thing for me is that NO English goalies and only TWO strikers (Rooney and Walcoot) play regular Champions League footie. For me this highlights the problems within the system.
 
Carlton Palmer, now there was a player. ;)

Sorry, did someone just try to tell me Stuart Downing is better than Ryan Giggs? Possibly the best footballer to ever grace these isles. Get a grip.

My England midfield would most likely be.

Bentley or Ashley Young - Owen Hargreaves - Steven Gerrard - Joe Cole.

Joe Cole every day of the week on the left. I'd most certainly leave Downing at home.
 
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