2010-2011 Football Thread

[Fuzzy14]

Are Ipswich not making a contribution? Otherwise that's a pretty good deal for them. Can you send a couple of guys north of the border for us?

 

[Fizzoid]

Are Ipswich not making a contribution? Otherwise that's a pretty good deal for them.

I believe they're paying for his medical bills, so clearly a good deal for Hull

 

[awmazz]

The whole of the ball over the whole of the line - excellent work by the Sevilla defender:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r8w7r8pHVmE#

Some person in the comments says it's a goal if it touches the net. I've never heard of that myself.

PS. Mourinho wants back in the Premier League. I'm guessing his ideal choice would be Man Utd, but that would require Fergie retiring. So will he take over Man City or will Roman take him back?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The weakened squad rule thingy strikes again. This is most simply the height of idiocy. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Only an organization as useless and laughable as the FA (or FIFA) could come up with and enforce a rule like this. Not only is it an idiotic rule, it's being inconsistently enforced.

And Kenny's new reign at Anfield remains undefeated. Torres continues to fire now, albeit disallowed goal, but see, even when Liverpool can't score, they still win under Dalglish.

In the interest of fairness, I'd say that the same run of results under Hodgson would be deemed not good enough by the Kop.

It is true that the mood of the club seems to have improved under Dalglish, and he has managed a pair of clean sheets (albiet against average opposition), but I'm still not revising my grim prospects for Liverpool - this season is still a writeoff, the best we are likely to achieve is to finish in the Europa League spots and then regroup in the summer. A Europa League championship is not out of the question, but pretty unlikely.

No great loss – unless you count the supposed £30,000+ a week he's still going to be costing us.

Oof, as Fuzzy said, I hope Ipswitch are picking up at least some of the wages.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Oof, as Fuzzy said, I hope Ipswitch are picking up at least some of the wages.

He's on a basic £45,000 a week with us, and apparently Ipswich are paying 40% of that. A higher percentage would be nice obviously, but according to Pearson (Adam) the funds that we're saving (about £20,000 I reckon) 'more than pays for' the wages of new signing Tijani Belaid, and those of on-loan Stewart and Evans – an indication of how imbalanced Bullard's wages actually are within our squad.

 

[takao]

The weakened squad rule thingy strikes again. This is most simply the height of idiocy. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Only an organization as useless and laughable as the FA (or FIFA) could come up with and enforce a rule like this. Not only is it an idiotic rule, it's being inconsistently enforced.

idiotic but on the serious side the FA should really consider trying to reduce their amount of games and perhaps teams in the EPL
the middle of the table is too crowded anyway: 18 teams would be plenty enough
you get less of such "resting players" incidents when there are simply less games
are there still the two cups played btw ? or did they finally stop that nonsense

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Do you think he's going to sit tight and see out his contract? He probably won't make this much money ever again, he's become the poor man's Owen Hargreaves.

idiotic but on the serious side the FA should really consider trying to reduce their amount of games and perhaps teams in the EPL
the middle of the table is too crowded anyway: 18 teams would be plenty enough
you get less of such "resting players" incidents when there are simply less games
are there still the two cups played btw ? or did they finally stop that nonsense

Premier League teams do play a LOT of games. They still have both the FA and League (Carling) Cups, European action for some teams, the league itself, and friendlies.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

I hope Blackpool appeal – the players they fielded were all approved by the Premier League as part of Holloway's squad (as part of the new 25-man squad rule), so I reckon he's perfectly entitled to play who he wants from that list of players.

And didn't Arsenal make eight changes a month or so after Holloway's ten? How much is their fine, then?

Do you think he's going to sit tight and see out his contract?

Bullard's contract expires, I believe, in June 2013 so hopefully he won't be sitting it out...

 

[daneoni]

£40m bid for Torres rejected

 

[awmazz]

Meanwhile over in Qatar, an Asian Cup update:

Japan 2:2 Sth Korea (Japan wins penalties 3-0)
Australia 6:0 Uzbekistan

Suck on that, Mr Park, nemesis of Arsenal defenders, go back to Old Trafford with your third/fourth place medal. What a result for a semi-final. Australia were already up 3-0 so it was game over on 66 minutes when the Uzbeks had a defender sent off for a flying two-footed studs-first tackle.

So Japan vs Australia in the final to decide Asian Champions. This is Australia's biggest ever match I think. First time to actually win some serious silverware. Japan always seems to have the edge over us though in past encounters, maybe not this time!

In the interest of fairness, I'd say that the same run of results under Hodgson would be deemed not good enough by the Kop.

It is true that the mood of the club seems to have improved under Dalglish, and he has managed a pair of clean sheets (albiet against average opposition), but I'm still not revising my grim prospects for Liverpool - this season is still a writeoff, the best we are likely to achieve is to finish in the Europa League spots and then regroup in the summer. A Europa League championship is not out of the question, but pretty unlikely.

I'd say they were happy at the time back then. At least restored faith in Hodgson as it pulled Liverpool from second last back up to 9th. Especially as it was three wins on the trot ending with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea. Torres scoring twice in that win too. But that's where the magic ended and Liverpool became mired in mid-table and drifting back down again.

Lookit Liverpool's position and change in direction since Kenny's been in charge. The magic's back and his name is King Kenny.

See if he can keep it up. They should beat Stoke next week to keep their climb going after losing to them under Hodgson. But the big test will be the visit to Stamford Bridge next weekend (Suarez to score a brace on his debut and Torres one to win 3-1. ). A win there and you should re-ignite the fire of hope for a CL spot considering this is a low points season compared to previous ones.

 

[Fizzoid]

I hope Blackpool appeal – the players they fielded were all approved by the Premier League as part of Holloway's squad (as part of the new 25-man squad rule), so I reckon he's perfectly entitled to play who he wants from that list of players.

And didn't Arsenal make eight changes a month or so after Holloway's ten? How much is their fine, then?

I guess 8's fine, 10 isn't

Wonder if Holloway is going to keep his word and resign then? I expect not. Makes a complete mockery of the 25 player squad rule really.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

It may just be me, but has anyone else noted a slight shift in the media view of Holloway over the past few weeks? I think the novelty might be wearing off a little...

 

[Fizzoid]

It's always the case. He's gone from comic genius to raving looney before

 

[XIII]

The whole of the ball over the whole of the line - excellent work by the Sevilla defender:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=r8w7r8pHVmE#

Some person in the comments says it's a goal if it touches the net. I've never heard of that myself.

PS. Mourinho wants back in the Premier League. I'm guessing his ideal choice would be Man Utd, but that would require Fergie retiring. So will he take over Man City or will Roman take him back?

Nice block on the line. It's hard to think of a situation where the whole of the ball wouldn't be across the line if it had touched the net. I guess I see the logic - touching the net would slow the path of the ball down.. so it may well have crossed the line fully if it wasn't for the net? Maybe I'm overcomplicating it! But I certainly haven't heard the net "rule" before.

I hope Blackpool appeal – the players they fielded were all approved by the Premier League as part of Holloway's squad (as part of the new 25-man squad rule), so I reckon he's perfectly entitled to play who he wants from that list of players.

And didn't Arsenal make eight changes a month or so after Holloway's ten? How much is their fine, then?

Regardless of whether we did it or not, it's clearly a complete joke to fine Blackpool - they have a 25 man squad to use. Absolutely bizarre.

 

[awmazz]

So the handball king to Liverpool is a done deal. 23 million squid. Looking at Suarez' stats, he'll be pretty prolific if he can adapt to the prem league. That's really Kenny's signature - signing a prolific striker. My prediction of him scoring against Chelsea next week may come true!

With Suarez and Torres paired up front and Gerrard behind them, Liverpool's a whole different kettle of fish.

PS. I've resisted the temptation to say Kenny's also signed a goal-line defender in Suarez as well... oh, no I haven't!

Edit - oop, looks like I spoke too soon, Torres has apparently asked Liverpool to consider Chelsea's offer. What sort of replacement players could you get for £35 million, but with only two days left to look? Abramovich may even go up to the £50 million in the get out clause in Torres' contract so Liverpool can't stop him even if they wanted to. That's just an obscene amount of money to be throwing around on a hobby.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Edit - oop, looks like I spoke too soon, Torres has apparently asked Liverpool to consider Chelsea's offer. What sort of replacement players could you get for £35 million, but with only two days left to look? Abramovich may even go up to the £50 million in the get out clause in Torres' contract so Liverpool can't stop him even if they wanted to. That's just an obscene amount of money to be throwing around on a hobby.

Torres wanting to leave is a huge blow, but not unexpected. We can probably get more money for him now than in the summer, but losing him now, just as he's showing some form, puts us in a very dangerous position. Suarez is untried in the Premier League, and our only other striker is N'Gog.

I was just beginnning to hate Chelsea less these days, and then they go and steal Torres. It will be such a slap in the face to see him in blue. I always hoped if he left he'd go to another league.

If he goes, and we DO get 40 million or more, we ought to wait till the summer to spend it, when prices are lower - then go for a top-shelf striker or midfielder.

 

[Silencio]

Suck on that, Mr Park, nemesis of Arsenal defenders, go back to Old Trafford with your third/fourth place medal.

He'll just have to console himself with yet another Premier League winner's medal this year.

Buying Suarez was a good piece of business for Liverpool, and the £23 million price tag ain't too bad. I'll be curious to see how Dalglish deploys Gerrard, Torres, and Suarez up front together, this being contingent on whether Torres is even around after the transfer window closes.

I will be curious to see how Suarez adjusts to the Premiership. It's definitely a tougher and more physical place to play than the Eredivisie.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I will be curious to see how Suarez adjusts to the Premiership. It's definitely a tougher and more physical place to play than the Eredivisie.

Hopefully better than his strike partner for Uruguay. What was that, 10 goals in 60-odd appearances for Fergie's lot?

Perhaps Torres will be somewhat mollified by Suarez' appearance. I'd perfer he stay, but if Chelsea are really offering 40 million it would be foolish to refuse. No player is bigger than the club, not even Torres.

 

[daneoni]

I think Torres should leave, not to Chelsea but back to Spain. I just get the feeling he no longer belongs in the current/new generation Liverpool squad and consequently doesn't seem happy overall. *shrug*

That said his departure would be a massive blow to the scousers. On the flip side if they manage to keep him and Suarez doesn't disappoint then that would be quite a potent strike force.

His transfer request was rejected btw

 

[Lord Blackadder]

If a player really wants to leave, he has to go. Early indications seem to be that Liverpool are going to fight it - they do have a contract - but even if we keep him till the summer I'd have to think this season will be Torres' last in Liverpool.

He is a great striker, I hate to lose him but I won't blame him if he goes. I wonder what effect that will have on Reina though, we don't have a replacement for him.

 

[takao]

I'd perfer he stay, but if Chelsea are really offering 40 million it would be foolish to refuse. No player is bigger than the club, not even Torres.

40 million pound should be a no brainer.. if a just think at some of the ridiclous low transfer sums during last summer

there are very likely countless strikers and other football players in the 5-10 million price range which at the moment could help liverpool a lot more than torres

 

[awmazz]

The reports are saying thst Torres handed in his written transfer request a few hours after they signed Suarez. Sort of like, okay you've got a new striker now I can go. And he had a £50 million get-out clause written into his contract last summer so Chelsea can take him whenever they want if they are prepared to up their bid by another £10-15 million. That's a shedload of money, so it depends how much Abramovich is still prepared to throw it around like lolly water.

From a mercenary point of view Torres is probably being offered double his £110,000 a week salary if he goes to Chelsea. Who wouldn't think about leaving for that sort of money?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Japan are the champions of Asia. Sounds like a close game but Kewell wasted a couple opportunities to score. Australia now have at least one serious regional rival in Japan.

40 million pound should be a no brainer.. if a just think at some of the ridiclous low transfer sums during last summer

there are very likely countless strikers and other football players in the 5-10 million price range which at the moment could help liverpool a lot more than torres

Liverpool have refused the initial bid, but the deadline is looming, so it will be interesting to see what Chelsea brings as an improved bid. I say let him go if they really do offer 40-50 million.

It would be nice to see Torres and Suarez playing together though, we haven't had a proper strike pair in a looooong time.

 

[takao]

Liverpool have refused the initial bid, but the deadline is looming, so it will be interesting to see what Chelsea brings as an improved bid. I say let him go if they really do offer 40-50 million.

It would be nice to see Torres and Suarez playing together though, we haven't had a proper strike pair in a looooong time.

torres + suarez is tempting but i think torres with his non form since 2 years, uninspiring games, constant injuries .. he just isn't a consistant performer and 40-50 million pounds seem to be a fair deal there

after all 40 million pounds are still what ? 47 more million euroes ? that is a lot of cash .. christ, Özil was 15 million euro
i think there are countless of very talented strikers in not so popular leagues in the 5 million region which could prove a very talented striker partner for Suarez ... _if_ playing with 2 strikers up front makes actually any sense for Liverpool.. i doubt a 4-4-2 is helping them much with 4-2-3-1 becoming more and more popular

meanwhile Ryan Babel seems to have arrived at hoffenheim rather well: in the game against Schalke he was a constant danger during the typical Hoffenheim counterattacks and had 3-4 sitters which were only prevented by a Neuer catching pretty much everything

 

[Silencio]

Now I'm seeing reports of Chelsea offering £50 million + Sturridge for Torres, but Liverpool wants the £50 million + Anelka instead. If true, crazy stuff. If I were running 'Pool I'd want the known commodity as well. Don't know that I've been all that impressed with what little I've seen of Sturridge so far; at a glance I think Danny Welbeck has more potential.

Dear Fergie: just a reminder that you are manager of Manchester United. Manchester United does not play a diamond midfield. Please don't try that again, even against a League 1 opponent. Next time you might really be made to pay for it.