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2009-10 Football Thread The Second Half
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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I can't say i'm surprised by the Fabregas thing, i always had a feeling. You could see it in his face after some matches during the season. I can't blame him or anyone else who leaves either.
Wenger will have a job on his hands though because if/when Cesc leaves...others will follow.
The way i see it, he is the glue currently holding that squad together.
Wenger will have a job on his hands though because if/when Cesc leaves...others will follow.
The way i see it, he is the glue currently holding that squad together.
Arsenal is supposedly in the hunt for Yoann Gourcuff as a replacement for Fabregas. Unfortunately, their main competition for his signature appears to be Citeh and their mega-billions.
Add Gourcuff and Yaya Toure and Arsenal is looking pretty good IMO. If Chamakh is still coming over as has been long rumored, all the better. They just need find a real goalkeeper.
Will be interesting to see what moves Chelsea and Man Utd end up making.
Add Gourcuff and Yaya Toure and Arsenal is looking pretty good IMO. If Chamakh is still coming over as has been long rumored, all the better. They just need find a real goalkeeper.
Will be interesting to see what moves Chelsea and Man Utd end up making.
.. just like when Viera left everyone did... and when Henry left everyone did... yawn.
Fabregas has told Wenger today that he wants to leave
Yeah this is pretty bizarre.. the quotes are fine, but this strikes me as made up.
I think there is some fire to this smoke, but I don't think it's as conclusive "he's gone" as the press seem to be making it out. 50/50.
I agree, 50/50. I would not at all be shocked if he left, but I can see him staying at Arsenal as well, especially if Arsene stengthens the squad substantially over the summer.
Both are old squads that must be strengthened in my opinion to avoid doing a Liverpool and seeing a drop in the quality of play over the next couple seasons. United need a center back and a striker most urgently, and should probably start looking for a goalkeeper.
Chelsea have a bank behind them, but are United willing and able to spend the money necessary to keep up with City and Chelski? In the short term I think so, but if it's a straight financial battle City and Chelse are set to be top dogs in England for years to come.
Avram Grant to West Ham? The Hammers go from the likeable Zola to the dour Grant.
Both are old squads that must be strengthened in my opinion to avoid doing a Liverpool and seeing a drop in the quality of play over the next couple seasons. United need a center back and a striker most urgently, and should probably start looking for a goalkeeper.
Chelsea have a bank behind them, but are United willing and able to spend the money necessary to keep up with City and Chelski? In the short term I think so, but if it's a straight financial battle City and Chelse are set to be top dogs in England for years to come.
Avram Grant to West Ham? The Hammers go from the likeable Zola to the dour Grant.
How many of the invincibles are left?
I'm not saying everyone will up and leave once the skipper makes his move but others will inevitable start to question...
I read that. I think it would be a good move for him and for West Ham.
What does how many of the invincibles are left have to do with anything? They were 6 years ago - do you think 30+ years old Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Viera, Toure, Gilberto, Lehmann are what this Arsenal squad is missing? I don't. Unfortunately players don't stay at the top of their games forever, and of course the invincibles had to move on...
I'm saying the skipper has left twice now already in recent years.. Viera, and Henry. Everyone said the others would leave, we wouldn't finish top 4, we would fall apart... and so on. I think Arsene's proved when he lets someone leave, he knows what he has to do to plug that gap. Indeed, it was Viera leaving that let Fabregas become the player he is today...
Has he really plugged those holes though...He hasn't really found a Viera-type leader since he left. Fabregas is a good captain but he's no Viera in terms of leadership.
People did leave and yes there's an argument for aging and Arsene's infamous one year contract renewals when you're approaching 30 but i'd also argue that some didn't see trophies in their future as an additional reason, which is also why Fabregas is leaving lets face it.
That said i know i'm being overly pessimistic but i just think the ratio of lost players to the ones gained hasn't really been well balanced thus far but we'll see.
People did leave and yes there's an argument for aging and Arsene's infamous one year contract renewals when you're approaching 30 but i'd also argue that some didn't see trophies in their future as an additional reason, which is also why Fabregas is leaving lets face it.
That said i know i'm being overly pessimistic but i just think the ratio of lost players to the ones gained hasn't really been well balanced thus far but we'll see.
Agreed. Chelsea is a little longer in the tooth I think. Ballack prob won't be around...they will move for Torres and/or Aguero I think...I think Mourinho still has some pull on his former players and this could affect Chelsea's squad.
ManU of course needs a partner for Rooney...Berba is as good as done...they did sign Mexican youngster Javier "Chicharito" (Little Pea) Hernandez but he's a work in progress...
-J.-
I'll be furious if Torres moves to another Premier League team. Not sure where else he would go though - if he goes back to Spain would he want to play for Barca? Would they want him? He's not really the kind of player I'd expect to see in Italy.
I just hope he stays.
Welcome to my world. I reckon our first team's average age will be dropping considerably next season.
So, anyway then. Cesc Fabregas.
There's been the speculation for a considerable amount of time of course. Some of it may be simply down to out of context quotes intended to shift papers and encourage website hits, some of it will come from the pledges to capture his signature by the key movers in the Barcelona presidential race. For his part, Fabregas has publicly admitted that he wants to return to Barcelona at some point but equally he's not put a time scale on that, nor has he said he wants a move this summer, at least not publicly.
What we can be certain of is that Barca want him, he wants to go there at some point, but Arsenal naturally want to retain his services. Someone clearly is going to end up unhappy.
I've read the stories today about him having 'showdown' talks with Mr Wenger, and that he wants the situation resolved prior to the World Cup. I don't know the truth in them in all honesty, but it may very well be that he wants to start next season as a Barcelona player. Equally, he may be using the situation to try and wrangle improved terms out of Arsenal. He wouldn't be the first club captain to get himself a greatly improved contract when a suitor comes knocking, John Terry could perhaps provide him with some advice on this matter.
If there is truth behind the stories though, Mr Wenger is going to have some very awkward choices to make. If he lets him go he's losing an undoubtedly world class player to a major European rival and it's not just his playing abilities that will be missed. This Arsenal team has lacked leadership in the recent past I really think Gallas showed himself to be a poor captain but Fabregas has shown that he has what it takes to be a proper leader, a quality that you really can't train into a player. Replacing him will be a task in itself, especially given that Arsenal need reinforcing in plenty of other areas.
But let's say Arsenal hold firm and keep him. They then have a player whose heart clearly isn't at the club and no matter what team or player we're talking about, that's not a good situation. Furthermore, he's club captain does he keep that role even though he's made it clear he doesn't want to be there? Or does Mr Wenger give the armband to another player, basically publicly demonstrating that he doesn't trust Fabregas to lead the team any more?
My feeling is that if any player's head has been turned and the potential buyer is prepared to pay a price you consider acceptable, you take the money and invest it in new player(s) who actually want to be there. We may see soon if it's a philosophy Mr Wenger shares.
Fabregas is the kind of player you build an entire squad around; a gifted playmaker who is also a leader on the pitch. But if his head is turned, you are building on a foundation of sand.
If he wants to go, Wenger really has no choice but to sell. And if that is the case, the sooner they are shot of him the better, so they can reinvest the transfer money in new players. The biggest loss to Arsenal will be the captaincy. They need a leader, and Fabregas is that leader. The leadership will be harder to replace than the talent.
It's not like they haven't been contenders the last few years. If this is Wenger's idea of 'building', then almost any team would be happy with that. Considering their relatively lower budgets compared to United and Chelsea, I'd say they've done pretty well. Whether Wenger sells Fabregas or convinces him to say, I hate to say that I think Arsenal will be fine.
Thats sounds plausible. Apparently there is a desire to offload Ibrahimovic as his style doesnt quite suit the front line at Barça. He ended up slowing everything down and the team scored much less when he was playing. (Very much like Berbatov). I also think they paid WAY too much for him (£68m in total).
Its interesting now as David Villa has pretty much signed and should be presented on Friday at Barça. So a Ibra Cesc swap wouldnt be a big shock.
If Mourinho goes to Real (and its looking very likely) as Pelegrini looks like getting the boot today then there is a rumor that Lampard would be on his way to Real.
Tabloid tittle tattle that Barca are after the boy Rooney, too. They're all going over there!
You can keep your Spanish mitts off City's young stars while you're at it!
You can keep your Spanish mitts off City's young stars while you're at it!
Villa to Barça confirmed - Woohoo!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8691888.stm
To be presented on Friday (like I said a while back)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8691888.stm
To be presented on Friday (like I said a while back)
MacBoobsPro,
Is Euro 40 million cheap for Villa? Any room for Torres?
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Fabregas, and because it's the Summer I'll add Rooney; depends how the clubs use the money. If Arsenal get a top keeper, good forward, midfield hardman, and are even/have change?
Cheers,
OW
Is Euro 40 million cheap for Villa? Any room for Torres?
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Fabregas, and because it's the Summer I'll add Rooney; depends how the clubs use the money. If Arsenal get a top keeper, good forward, midfield hardman, and are even/have change?
Cheers,
OW
Its about right I think for Villa (he's 28). Now they have Villa they won't be going for Torres. I heard Chelsea were after Torres.
Barça still have Ibrahimovic whom I believe they are trying to offload but he's on 180k a week and the only club mental enough to pay anything like that is Man City so I think Barça will be stuck with him. Not that hes bad, he scored 21 goals but when he plays at Barça the team scores less goals.
Next signings for Barça will be a left winger and a centre back.
I dont think Rooney will be going anywhere for a long time unless Man U really implode, and thats not likely.
No chance IMHO...Madrid players don't go to Barca...they can however go from ATLM to RealM...mexican super striker Hugo Sanchez did this in the 80s...
-J.-
Theres been a few Madrid players go to Barça over the years. Luis Enrique being the last one I recall.
Barça to Madrid there was Figo, Thiago Motta (now at Inter) and also Ronaldo (Brazil) went in a round about way.
Atletico and Real players rarely switch because of the rivalry. Torres to Real seems less likely than Torres to Barça based on this logic.
Sure but those are foreigners...El Nino is a "Madrileno" by birth...he could play for either team...not for the Catalan giants though...
-J.-
-J.-
Sure but those are foreigners...El Nino is a "Madrileno" by birth...he could play for either team...not for the Catalan giants though...
-J.-
Good point.
Well, Benitez is not going to Juventus, and anyway he's just been quoted as wanting to finish his contract (not that that means anything - David Villa was insisting he wasn't going anywhere just a day or two ago). Just when I was getting used to the idea of him leaving too...
I hope Hicks and Gillette get the heck out of there this summer, the leeches. That should be priority #1.
That makes sense - if anything it sounds like Torres may prefer to play elsewhere for now, and possibly go back to Athletico to finish out his career, rather than sign for one of the Big Two in Spain?
I just hope he stays at Liverpool and avoids injury at the WC. If Chelsea gets him they will earn my undying hatred.
I hope Hicks and Gillette get the heck out of there this summer, the leeches. That should be priority #1.
Sure but those are foreigners...El Nino is a "Madrileno" by birth...he could play for either team...not for the Catalan giants though...
That makes sense - if anything it sounds like Torres may prefer to play elsewhere for now, and possibly go back to Athletico to finish out his career, rather than sign for one of the Big Two in Spain?
I just hope he stays at Liverpool and avoids injury at the WC. If Chelsea gets him they will earn my undying hatred.
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