2010-2011 Football Thread

[Lord Blackadder]

Fabio Capello has ended David Beckham's England career.

From the perspective of an MLS supporter, it's great news - Beckham's prioritizing of his England career proved to be a major distraction and heavily overshadowed his appearances in MLS. Now he will hopefully pay more attention to his Galaxy committments.

From an English perspective I suppose it's a mixed event. Beckham is the most famous English footballer ever to play the game - certainly the most famous player of the modern era. Other players might be seen as bigger in England in their own time, but Becks achieved global fame in the footballing world - and beyond. On the other hand, the debate about how much of that fame results from on-the-pitch work vs brand marketing rages endlessly, and his media presence was occasionally nauseating.

Then again, maybe Capello will backtrack on this enforced retirement just as he did with Beckham at Real.

EDIT: The English press seem to be attacking Capello fairly heartily for the way he ended Beckham's career.

 

[Fizzoid]

Well, 2 things from the Beckham/Capello comments.
Capello said he was 'probably' too old. To me, that could also read that if his new 'younger' players were injured or whatever, Beckham could get a place in the squad. Unlikely, but...
However, reports suggest Beckham didn't know that his England career was potentially finished (I'm sure he must have thought about it though), so finding out via a TV interview is somewhat harsh for England's most capped player

 

[Jaffa Cake]

However, reports suggest Beckham didn't know that his England career was potentially finished (I'm sure he must have thought about it though), so finding out via a TV interview is somewhat harsh for England's most capped player

That's the key thing for me – telling a player something like this via the media is generally considered bad form...

EDIT: Splendid – Mr Postman has just delivered our tickets or Doncaster Rovers away. Amazing scenes in the Cake house.

AND EDIT SOME MORE: Here's a surprising bit of news... Steve Coppell has resigned from Bristol City, a mere four months into the job and after just two competitive matches at the Ashton Gate helm. Cripes.

 

[oscillatewildly]

That's the key thing for me – telling a player something like this via the media is generally considered bad form...

EDIT: Splendid – Mr Postman has just delivered our tickets or Doncaster Rovers away. Amazing scenes in the Cake house.

AND EDIT SOME MORE: Here's a surprising bit of news... Steve Coppell has resigned from Bristol City, a mere four months into the job and after just two competitive matches at the Ashton Gate helm. Cripes.

David James will be happy. Once someone has had enough, there is no point them staying on - unless it is to collect the salary whilst looking for another job He has quit football management, not just Bristol City, so he's pretty fed up with it all. One of my original favourites along with Buchan and Albiston - left back like me

In other news - clueless papers are convinced Manchester United have signed Pele after his player profile was found on their official website.

Cheers,
OW

 

[AAPLaday]

EDIT: The English press seem to be attacking Capello fairly heartily for the way he ended Beckham's career.

I guess they still angry about the whole losing to Germany thing

 

[aloofman]

I guess they still angry about the whole losing to Germany thing

One would think they'd be used to it by now. It's the Globetrotters vs. the Generals at this point.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Lots of criticism of Capello in the English media of late. Some of it justified perhaps. People question his man-management (citing the handling of the Beckham retirement, the Terry mutiny, and the Brown and Robinson retirements), his tactics (too much 4-4-2?), failure to use young players (I would debate that), poor English (is it that bad, and is it really THAT big of a deal?), and his apparent admissions of ignorance concerning the reasons for England's continued underperformance. I suppose it's easy to go after Johnny Foreigner when the team is underperforming, but somehow they failed in the WC. How much of that is Capello's fault is not totally clear to me. What makes England's egomanaical primadonnas any worse than, say, Spain's egomanaical primadonnas?

I say Sack Capello and bring in Maradona. Oh, that would be lovely!

One of my original favourites along with Buchan and Albiston - left back like me

Drat, that means you and I would be competing for a starting spot for the Macrumors XI, since I'm a left footed defender myself. I'm not big or fast, but am a heart-on-sleeve player that sacrifices his body for the team. Kind of a handsome, American version of Carlos Puyol. With shorter hair.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Drat, that means you and I would be competing for a starting spot for the Macrumors XI, since I'm a left footed defender myself.

Both of you need to watch out, there are a clutch of promising youngsters in the MacRumors Academy who are looking to stake a claim for a first team place. You'll know when you're retired, I'll announce it publicly.

What makes England's egomanaical primadonnas any worse than, say, Spain's egomanaical primadonnas?

Spain's egomanaical primadonnas are very good, but they know it. England's egomanaical primadonnas aren't very good, but don't know it.

Anyway your Lordship – Liverpool have 'swooped' for Juventus' Christian Poulsen. Hodgson knows him well – he managed him in Poulden's native Denmark – and he's clearly a potential replacement for Mascherano.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Both of you need to watch out, there are a clutch of promising youngsters in the MacRumors Academy who are looking to stake a claim for a first team place. You'll know when you're retired, I'll announce it publicly.

I hope you' ll offer me a farewell match at least.

Spain's egomanaical primadonnas are very good, but they know it. England's egomanaical primadonnas aren't very good, but don't know it.

Indeed. It was probably only the stiffest of upper lips that prevented a France-style revolution of shoulder-shrugging and ID-badge throwing.

Looking at the national team from the position of a foreigner, I'm convinced that the English media, and at least some England fans, have the footballing equivalent of a deathwish when it comes to the fortunes of the national squad. They'd rather fail and have something to complain about than actually support the team and hope they win something. The massive hype seems merely calculated to accentuate the depth of the failures. The fact that nobody has much respect for the FA might have something to do with it as well of course.

Anyway your Lordship – Liverpool have 'swooped' for Juventus' Christian Poulsen. Hodgson knows him well – he managed him in Poulden's native Denmark – and he's clearly a potential replacement for Mascherano.

He's no youngster, but Mascherano is intent on going so we are in need of a defensive midfielder to rack up the yellows, and Poulsen looks set to fit the bill. He's been playing in Italy though, so I expect him to be better than Masch was at sneakily getting away with fouls though.

 

[Fuzzy14]

Looking at the national team from the position of a foreigner, I'm convinced that the English media, and at least some England fans, have the footballing equivalent of a deathwish when it comes to the fortunes of the national squad. They'd rather fail and have something to complain about than actually support the team and hope they win something.

It's a British thing. And queuing. Can't beat a good moan and a queue.

Interesting that Rangers hope to sign James Beattie, and Celtic are looking at taking Craig Bellamy back to Parkhead.

 

[Fizzoid]

He's been playing in Italy though, so I expect him to be better than Masch was at sneakily getting away with fouls though.

Yeah, as you'll see from 50 seconds in Masch wasn't exactly subtle. Although, even when he missed with the first elbow, he showed enough skill to spin round for another go

 

[swiftaw]

Time for predictions everyone. Answer the following:

English Premier League Champions
Second, Third, and Fourth in the English Premier League
The three teams to be relegated from the English Premier League
Scottish Premier League Champions
Champions League Winners
The first manager in the English Premier League to be sacked
The leading goalscorer in the English Premier League
The next currently uncapped player to play for England
Final points total for the champions of the English Premier League
Final points total for Blackpool
Three teams promoted from the English Championship to the English Premier League

Here's my guesses:

English Premier League Champions
Man U
Second, Third, and Fourth in the English Premier League
Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City
The three teams to be relegated from the English Premier League
Blackpool, West Brom, Blackburn
Scottish Premier League Champions
Rangers
Champions League Winners
Real Madrid
The first manager in the English Premier League to be sacked
Newcastle's Chris Hughton
The leading goalscorer in the English Premier League
Anelka
The next currently uncapped player to play for England
Jack Rodwell
Final points total for the champions of the English Premier League
84
Final points total for Blackpool
16
Three teams promoted from the English Championship to the English Premier League
Nottingham Forest, Leicester, Middlesborough

 

[Nieval]

Cool, I'll be the first to bite.

English Premier League Champions
Man Utd
Second, Third, and Fourth in the English Premier League
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool
The three teams to be relegated from the English Premier League
Blackpool, West Brom, Wolves
Scottish Premier League Champions
Rangers
Champions League Winners
Real Madrid
The first manager in the English Premier League to be sacked
Chris Hughton (Not sacked per say, but relieved of his duty and demoted to Assistant)
The leading goalscorer in the English Premier League
Rooney
The next currently uncapped player to play for England
Gary Cahill
Final points total for the champions of the English Premier League
82
Final points total for Blackpool
28

Pretty conservative me thinks.

 

[Fuzzy14]

English Premier League Champions Man U
Second, Third, and Fourth in the English Premier League Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City
The three teams to be relegated from the English Premier League Blackpool, Stoke, Newcastle
Scottish Premier League Champions Rangers
Champions League Winners Barcalona
The first manager in the English Premier League to be sacked Chris Hughton
The leading goalscorer in the English Premier League Didier Yves Drogba Tébily
The next currently uncapped player to play for England I haven't got a clue. Couldn't name one.
Final points total for the champions of the English Premier League 80
Final points total for Blackpool 30
Three teams promoted from the English Championship to the English Premier League Hull City, Middlesbrough, Cardiff

 

[swiftaw]

So, as most of you know, the premier league has some new squad rules this year. Each team must name a squad of 25 players, of which at least 8 must be 'home-grown'. Anyone not named to the squad cannot play, with the exception of anyone under 21.

What's weird is that this 25 man squad only has to be named by September 1, so what happens to the games before that? Could someone play this weekend and then not be named to the 25 come Sept 1?

Also, according to the BBC 4 teams (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Wigan) do not have 8 home-grown players so unless they sign some I wonder what they are going to do.

If I had my way, I would have the first transfer window close before the first game of the season, not a few weeks after, that would solve alot of issues. A team would know that once the season's starts their squad will be intact until at least January 1.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Up until September 1st — and while the January transfer window is open too, I think — it's basically play who you want I suppose.

I'm surprised that some clubs don't have the required number of homegrown players, for one I thought Arsenal were perfectly fine in this regard. Would there actually be anything to stop a club registering an under-21 who had completed the three domestic years as part of their 25 to make up the number?

I'll ponder my predictions meanwhile, and post them up later.

 

[swiftaw]

I'm surprised that some clubs don't have the required number of homegrown players, for one I thought Arsenal were perfectly fine in this regard. Would there actually be anything to stop a club registering an under-21 who had completed the three domestic years as part of their 25 to make up the number?

I'm guessing that's what'll happen. Out of interest, here are the four teams who have less than 8 senior (over 21) home-grown players:

Arsenal (7): Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Denilson, Johan Djourou, Cesc Fabregas, Vito Mannone, Alex Song.

Chelsea (5): Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Mancienne, John Terry, Ross Turnbull.

Liverpool (4): Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson.

Wigan (6): Emmerson Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Chris Kirkland, Charles N'Zogbia, Mike Pollitt, Ben Watson.

Also, several teams have too many senior players:
Man City 29
Wolves 28
Bolton 27
Fulham 26
Stoke 25
Sunderland 24
Tottenham 24
Blackburn 23
Man Utd 23
West Ham 23
West Brom 22
Birmingham 21
Everton 21
Liverpool 21
Wigan 21
Aston Villa 20
Chelsea 20
Newcastle 20
Arsenal 19
Blackpool 18

The above numbers do not include transfers from the past day or so, so if/when Man City sign Milner thy'll be up to 30.

 

[leomac08]

Fabio Capello has ended David Beckham's England career.

From the perspective of an MLS supporter, it's great news - Beckham's prioritizing of his England career proved to be a major distraction and heavily overshadowed his appearances in MLS. Now he will hopefully pay more attention to his Galaxy committments.

From an English perspective I suppose it's a mixed event. Beckham is the most famous English footballer ever to play the game - certainly the most famous player of the modern era. Other players might be seen as bigger in England in their own time, but Becks achieved global fame in the footballing world - and beyond. On the other hand, the debate about how much of that fame results from on-the-pitch work vs brand marketing rages endlessly, and his media presence was occasionally nauseating.

Then again, maybe Capello will backtrack on this enforced retirement just as he did with Beckham at Real.

Maybe this will keep him playing for the team for a while. He only has 1 1/2 years left on his contract.

Maybe this will keep him playing with the galaxy for good, he only has 1 1/2 years left on his contract.

EDIT: The English press seem to be attacking Capello fairly heartily for the way he ended Beckham's career.

As much as i am a hardcore LA Galaxy fan and gone to so many games, i have never seen the man play! sadly!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Liverpool (4): Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson.

I was looking at this the other day...what the heck are we going to do? Maybe Sotirios Kyrgiakos has a grandmother in Yorkshire or something....

As much as i am a hardcore LA Galaxy fan and gone to so many games, i have never seen the man play! sadly!

You're not alone. I think less people have seen Beckham play in the MLS than have seen Harry Kewell score for Liverpool.

When Beckham came to Columbus in 2008 the game had been sold out for months; the Galaxy limped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of my boys. Hopefully his retirement means he'll actually focus on playing for the only team he has a contract with now.

 

[swiftaw]

I was looking at this the other day...what the heck are we going to do? Maybe Sotirios Kyrgiakos has a grandmother in Yorkshire or something....

Home-grown status has nothing to do with nationality. A player is labeled as home-grown if they have spent at least 36 months prior to turning 21 with team(s) in either England or Wales.

Liverpool will probably name 4 of their under-21s in their 25 to give them the 8 home-grown players they need.

Edit: Note for all of you in the US, foxsoccer.tv is offering a free trial for the next two weeks so you can watch many premier league and championship games online for free. After that it is $14.95 a month.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Home-grown status has nothing to do with nationality. A player is labeled as home-grown if they have spent at least 36 months prior to turning 21 with team(s) in either England or Wales.

Indeed – so unless Sotirios Kyrgiakos spent three years lodging in Yorkshire with Nana Kyrgiakos while he was at a domestic club's academy, he's not counted as 'homegrown'.

Probably the most cited example of a foreign player who classes as 'homegrown' is Cesc Fabregas, who despite being a Spanish citizen (and international, of course) qualifies due to the time he spent at Arsenal prior to turning 21. On the other hand, Owen Hargreaves – who has over 40 caps for England – isn't classed as 'homegrown' because he spent his formative years in Canada and Germany.

A similar rule is in place this season for clubs in the Football League, the key difference being that we have to have ten homegrown senior squad members rather than the Premier League's eight. From a Hull City point of view we're fine – we currently have 19 players aged 21 or over, of whom by my reckoning 14 are considered homegrown. That 14 includes three Irish internationals and an Australian one too.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Looks like you picked up Slovenia's captain on a free, Jaffa. I think that sounds like a good deal.

Home-grown status has nothing to do with nationality. A player is labeled as home-grown if they have spent at least 36 months prior to turning 21 with team(s) in either England or Wales.

Ah. I haven't been paying attention then... I thought that English or Welsh citizens automatically counted as homegrown.

Edit: Note for all of you in the US, foxsoccer.tv is offering a free trial for the next two weeks so you can watch many premier league and championship games online for free. After that it is $14.95 a month.

Thanks for the heads-up someone told me about this and I forgot...I'm going to sign up and see how it looks.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Looks like you picked up Slovenia's captain on a free, Jaffa. I think that sounds like a good deal.

Not a bad acquisition, certainly on a free transfer – we could still do with a proven striker or two though. We seem to be looking at us favouring a 4-5-1 with the personnel we have, which given the attacking abilities of some of our midfielders isn't a bad thing.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Apparently Mario Balotelli has finally signed for Man City....he should provide the league with plenty of tabloid fodder over the course of the season.

Arsene Wenger on the new squad rule:

The home-grown rule is all artificial. From 1966 to 1996 this country won absolutely nothing, and there was not one foreign player [in the English league]. How has it changed? It is absolutely a joke.

They will create more rules like this, and it's all rubbish. We now have a situation where you have the richest people in the world who are investing in football in this country and now they only think, 'How can we keep foreign players out?' If that's the case, why accept the foreign owners in the first place? You cannot say to the richest man in India, 'Come here and be a part of this, but you can do so only with English players.' They want to be part of the best league in the world, so why pull the quality down?

An interesting point...what do y'all think?

 

[oscillatewildly]

Apparently Mario Balotelli has finally signed for Man City....he should provide the league with plenty of tabloid fodder over the course of the season.

Arsene Wenger on the new squad rule:



An interesting point...what do y'all think?

Ask Chris Waddle? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8767443.stm

1974, 1978 and 1994 - how many foreign players?

Time spent training with the ball? Reserve teams playing in the 'lower' divisions? How do the successful countries do it?

Re the MacRumors XI, I will try the utility player route

Cheers,
OW