Not as good as Jol, but much better than either Curbishley or Sven. I expect a bid for Bellamy in the near future. Andy Johnson is still out, and they need more strikers.
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2010-2011 Football Thread
- Thread starter Lord Blackadder
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Not as good as Jol, but much better than either Curbishley or Sven. I expect a bid for Bellamy in the near future. Andy Johnson is still out, and they need more strikers.
Manchester City are going to have to do some serious squad trimming ahead of the new season and the squad rule, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Hughes try to pick up one of his old charges for his new club. A bid for Bellamy seems a given.
It's official then – Bo's gone.
An 'undisclosed', but around the £1.5m mark is what most are saying.
I remember his debut all those years ago very clearly – a 1-0 home loss against Mansfied Town – although to be honest it was more the fact that I was worried I'd die of hypothermia more than any Myhill-related heroics.
I've not batted an eyelid about the departures to date this summer – they were to be expected after all, and the players who have left were the ones one would expect – but I'm proper gutted at this news. He was one of The Four™.
An 'undisclosed', but around the £1.5m mark is what most are saying.
I remember his debut all those years ago very clearly – a 1-0 home loss against Mansfied Town – although to be honest it was more the fact that I was worried I'd die of hypothermia more than any Myhill-related heroics.
I've not batted an eyelid about the departures to date this summer – they were to be expected after all, and the players who have left were the ones one would expect – but I'm proper gutted at this news. He was one of The Four™.
We're left with two – Matt Duke and youngster Mark Oxley. Given that young Mark is barely 20 and his entire first team experience to date consists of three or four loan appearances at Grimsby, if our senior custodian picks up an injury we could find ourselves with a problem.
I think the Hughes appointment is a good one - definitely better than Sven, although Jol would have been the best.
Bellamy would be a good acquisition. There's a lot of talk about Ireland being let go as well (haven't read the news lately, so I may be out of date), and he had a great season last year. My guess is that many of the players let go by Man City will find another club in England.
Disappointed to see Man U defeat the All-Stars so comprehensively with a scratch squad though. They are an annoyingly skilled team, the Red Devils.
As for the recent MLS talk, I don't think that the promotion/relegation system will ever be done in the US, the owners would never agree to a system where poor performances on the pitch could drop their revenue drastically by being relegated. However, I do think we should try to build a good second division, something like the USL could have been if it had grown more. As it stands, we already have had one or two USL teams become MLS teams (Vancouver being the latest).
I also don't think that a "Team America" in the Prem will ever work. The Premier League is an English league, or at least a European one. I'd rather focus energy on developing individual players in Europe and growing our league at home. Besides, you don;t need a whole team of Americans to garner American support. Fulham has lots of American fans because of four players or so. I'd rather see ESPN dump money into MLS and televising more European football than trying to build a Team America in Europe...
Bellamy would be a good acquisition. There's a lot of talk about Ireland being let go as well (haven't read the news lately, so I may be out of date), and he had a great season last year. My guess is that many of the players let go by Man City will find another club in England.
Disappointed to see Man U defeat the All-Stars so comprehensively with a scratch squad though. They are an annoyingly skilled team, the Red Devils.
As for the recent MLS talk, I don't think that the promotion/relegation system will ever be done in the US, the owners would never agree to a system where poor performances on the pitch could drop their revenue drastically by being relegated. However, I do think we should try to build a good second division, something like the USL could have been if it had grown more. As it stands, we already have had one or two USL teams become MLS teams (Vancouver being the latest).
I also don't think that a "Team America" in the Prem will ever work. The Premier League is an English league, or at least a European one. I'd rather focus energy on developing individual players in Europe and growing our league at home. Besides, you don;t need a whole team of Americans to garner American support. Fulham has lots of American fans because of four players or so. I'd rather see ESPN dump money into MLS and televising more European football than trying to build a Team America in Europe...
Mönchengladbach's 110 year anniversary game vs. Liverpool: 1-0
sure only a test game but: the best liverpool chance being a header missing the goal by 2 meters in the 87th minute is nothing to write home
now it's time for the Schalke-Bayern game of today with bayern showing up with 13 players in total (half of them amateurs) ... gonna be interesting if their amateurs can win against schalke in full squad strenght
sure only a test game but: the best liverpool chance being a header missing the goal by 2 meters in the 87th minute is nothing to write home
now it's time for the Schalke-Bayern game of today with bayern showing up with 13 players in total (half of them amateurs) ... gonna be interesting if their amateurs can win against schalke in full squad strenght
It seems Liverpool are considering a Chinese takeover bid:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8876510.stm
I presume anything has to be better than Hicks & Gillett? Liverpool certainly need some direction and a few good signings. 4th place is going to be a bigger battle this year, although I can see Arsenal struggling a little bit. I think both 3rd and 4th will be a little more open this year
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8876510.stm
I presume anything has to be better than Hicks & Gillett? Liverpool certainly need some direction and a few good signings. 4th place is going to be a bigger battle this year, although I can see Arsenal struggling a little bit. I think both 3rd and 4th will be a little more open this year
Good to see Hull with a good performance on Saturday, came from a long way back to finish 2nd in the table (of the Womens British Open golf malarky). link
Nothing much happening up here (when I'm up there). Some European footie has already kicked up for some Scottish teams, and our international squad have a odd-timed friendly next week against Sweeden. Tabloids having a field day over Rangers attempting to sign the pun-friendly named Georgie Welcome. Looks like Celtic didn't get David James.
linkNothing much happening up here (when I'm up there). Some European footie has already kicked up for some Scottish teams, and our international squad have a odd-timed friendly next week against Sweeden. Tabloids having a field day over Rangers attempting to sign the pun-friendly named Georgie Welcome. Looks like Celtic didn't get David James.
Yeah, guess he fancied a bigger club
Must say though, I thought he'd have found a Premiership club.
In other keeper related news, Joe Hart is making noises about him not being able to get enough first team appearances. He has a point, otherwise he'll be like that Man U keeper, whats-his-name...
Yeah, guess he fancied a bigger club
Must say though, I thought he'd have found a Premiership club.
In other keeper related news, Joe Hart is making noises about him not being able to get enough first team appearances. He has a point, otherwise he'll be like that Man U keeper, whats-his-name...
Taibi?
Come on you reds...
I can never quite decide how Arsenal are going to do. Wenger finally seems willing to buy in some players to sort out the problem areas of his team that everyone's been telling him about for years, but will they make enough of a difference?
Of the title contenders, I just feel Chelsea are strongest at the moment. But we'll see.
One of the transfer rumour sites was suggesting we might be looking at getting him on loan following Myhill's transfer – that won't be happening.
Hmm. The local BBC radio station reported earlier that we may be on the brink of going into administration after the Premier League has (allegedly) said that they're going to withhold our next parachute payment, which was going to be paid to us over the next week or two.
This has prompted the chairman to go public this evening a very rare occurrence indeed in the local newspaper to deny that there's any substance behind the rumours.
Hmm.
This has prompted the chairman to go public this evening a very rare occurrence indeed in the local newspaper to deny that there's any substance behind the rumours.
Hmm.
Speaking of financial issues, just how screwed is Portsmouth? They seem set for a freefall: starting the season with a scratch squad, no money for transfers and blocked from transfering anyway, possbily headed into administration...relegation from the Championship sounds like a real possiblity.
I am very curious to see how Liverpool start the season. We still have a good squad, but we will have to fight very hard to finish in the top four. I am a bit ambivalent about the Kenny Huang takeover bid - I want to see the backs of Hicks and Gillette, but I know nothing of Huang other than the fact that he partially owns my local NBA team. We do need to gfet rid of Hicks and Gillette though.
I have faith in Hodgson. If the owners are behind him I belive he can make Liverpool a contender again. The announcement that Torres is staying is a boost, though the boy is currently knackered. Maybe Hodgson and his team will prove better at managing El Niño's health than Benitez?
EDIT: I should mention that I have been proven totally wrong about Torres going if Benitez left. Rarely have I ever been more happy to be wrong.
The rise of Tottenham and Man City in particular (and Liverpool's slump) have set the stage for a real dogfight in the Greatest League in the World™ this year. I do belive that Arsenal are by no means safe either.
If you throw in Everton and Villa as having outside chances to make a run for top four spots, it looks like positions 1-8 are up for grabs. United look weaker than they've been in years.
Chelsea are an old squad though I expect them to be contenders again. But I keep waiting for the season to come when their aging key players are finally past it....we can't all be like Rigobert Song and play into old age (there is NO way that man is 34...he looks more like 50.)
EDIT 2: the latest rumors have Jozy Altidore joininig Turkish club Besiktas.
Jaffa Cake said:
I am very curious to see how Liverpool start the season. We still have a good squad, but we will have to fight very hard to finish in the top four. I am a bit ambivalent about the Kenny Huang takeover bid - I want to see the backs of Hicks and Gillette, but I know nothing of Huang other than the fact that he partially owns my local NBA team. We do need to gfet rid of Hicks and Gillette though.
I have faith in Hodgson. If the owners are behind him I belive he can make Liverpool a contender again. The announcement that Torres is staying is a boost, though the boy is currently knackered. Maybe Hodgson and his team will prove better at managing El Niño's health than Benitez?
EDIT: I should mention that I have been proven totally wrong about Torres going if Benitez left. Rarely have I ever been more happy to be wrong.
Jaffa Cake said:
The rise of Tottenham and Man City in particular (and Liverpool's slump) have set the stage for a real dogfight in the Greatest League in the World™ this year. I do belive that Arsenal are by no means safe either.
If you throw in Everton and Villa as having outside chances to make a run for top four spots, it looks like positions 1-8 are up for grabs. United look weaker than they've been in years.
Chelsea are an old squad though I expect them to be contenders again. But I keep waiting for the season to come when their aging key players are finally past it....we can't all be like Rigobert Song and play into old age (there is NO way that man is 34...he looks more like 50.)
EDIT 2: the latest rumors have Jozy Altidore joininig Turkish club Besiktas.
We're 'maximising revenue' by having both a back of shirt sponsor next season, as well as a logo on our shorts. Bloody hell.
Hmm. Europa League football for young Jozy. I hope it goes well for him if it comes off.
We're 'maximising revenue' by having both a back of shirt sponsor next season, as well as a logo on our shorts. Bloody hell.
Yikes. Commercialization at its worst. Still, it's better than further financial horrors I suppose.
I must say I am disappointed he never broke into Villareal's first team, at least as a substitute. But as long as he's getting playing time there's always the chance he'll have a breakout season.
We may well find out today they're due in court later and have warned that they could potentially be going out of business if the decision doesn't go their way.
Whether that's the case or it's just an attempt to garner a bit of sympathy in court I don't know, but if we hear a bell tolling on the south coast later it might not be the pillock with the top hat who's responsible...
Looks like Mr. Portsmouth Football Club has cause to celebrate, as the court has ruled against HMRC. Pompey's CVA can now apparently be implemented.
I'm not sure this is a good thing though, because it does seem to me that Portsmouth is cheating the taxman. If a private citizen got into the same type of trouble, I can't help but think that HMRC would have raked them over the coals. But because it's a football club the rules seem not to fully apply.
Apparently Kenny Huang's bid for Liverpool is being financed by the Chinese government....brings a new meaning to "The Reds"". I must say I hope Hicks and Gillette fail to make a big profit on the sale.
Oh, and one more thing - The Guardian mentioned today that, despite new rules demanding that Football League clubs disclose their owners on their websites, Leeds United has posted this incomprehensible screed that fails to disclose who owns the club. It's so bizzarre, and my question is why the deception?
I believe that HMRC are going to be appealing the decision, which is possibly the only time you'll ever see the words 'HMRC' and 'appealing' used in the same sentence.
Now, I'm not expert in legalities and whatever, but it looks like they're basically saying exactly who the clubs owner is – Leeds City Holdings Limited – but they're glossing over who actually owns that company. A bit of sleight of hand there, and it is indeed intriguing as to why exactly they can't be more transparent...
Exactly...they are disclosing which business entities own the club, but that isn't answering the question of what person(s) owns the club.
I noticed that Leeds are careful to mention that Patrick Murrin and Peter Boatman hold "management shares [on behalf of]" Ken Bates - and point out that these individuals have passed the league's (farcically emasculated) "fit and proper" test.
But the actual owners are not those men, but the five shareholders of Leeds City Holdings Limited. Four are individuals and are not named. The fifth is a corporation based in the carribean and owned by a Swiss corporation who manages the shares on behalf of three trusts, owned by persons unknown.
In other words, Leeds have just told everyone that at least 7 people, who they refuse to name, own Leeds....
Things like this, along with FIFA's money-grubbing at the WC, incline me to belive that the whole system of FAs is rotten, or at best permissive of corruption.
I daresay that ownership statement is more the norm than the exception. For example, allthough everybody thinks David Murray owns Rangers, the club is actually owned by a holding company called Rangers Holdings Ltd or something similar. That holding company will be owned by one or several of Murray's companies which in turn are all wraped up by Murray's holding company, which he's the majority shareholder of. It's all for tax purposes (I noted one of Leeds holding companies was registered in Nevis & St Kitts.) I think the FA are wanting to go back to the days of having a figurehead at the top of the company who is responsible for everything, but these days it costs so much to own a club it has to be diluted, and not everybody wants to be revealed as being a majority shareholder for plenty of legitimate reasons.
You can find who owns what here.
You can find who owns what here.
So, Cesc remains a Gunner... this season. He's probably gone after that, one would think, eh?
Liverpool's wins over Rabotnicki proved nothing, though we at least didn't play badly. N'Gog is still a patchy finisher, even though he seems to position himself well. Cole got good reviews without doing anything spectacular (Gerrard should have let him take the penalty, it would have been a great PR move and a confidence boost for Cole).
I don't expect to beat Arsenal in our opening match but I still hold out hopes that, with a little luck, we can claw our way back into the Champions League.
Liverpool's wins over Rabotnicki proved nothing, though we at least didn't play badly. N'Gog is still a patchy finisher, even though he seems to position himself well. Cole got good reviews without doing anything spectacular (Gerrard should have let him take the penalty, it would have been a great PR move and a confidence boost for Cole).
I don't expect to beat Arsenal in our opening match but I still hold out hopes that, with a little luck, we can claw our way back into the Champions League.
Norwich vs Watford is on the telly now, meaning that the 2010-11 season is now officially under way.
This can only be a good thing.
This can only be a good thing.
Speaking of which, too bad Watford released USA defender Jay DeMerit...as far as I know he's still without a club.
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