The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[Lord Blackadder]

Man Utd have unloaded Fabio da Silva and loaned out Zaha and Macheda - non-news I suppose since Moyes wasn't interested in any of them.

EPL clubs loan out a lot of young players - experience at a level higher than reserve football/think the player isn't good enough...;not sure about mainland Europe. Also, TV money and pressure don't help - funds to try to buy instant success.

How cost effective is growing your own talent? Making your own Iniesta or Xavi is surely cheaper than buying one. It's like making whiskey though, it needs time and can't be rushed. I suppose that is the problem.

 

[daneoni]

^
...that and once the Whiskey matures it will likely decide to go to a Barcelona or Real Madrid or worse a direct rival like United or City thus leaving you hanging. So whats the point really. That said, it has it rewards sometimes, just not often enough.

On another transfer note, Leeds have just completed a permanent transfer...they sacked Brian McDermott.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

This surely must be the worst day in Brian McDermott's life. (Football Ramble podcast in-joke)

When it comes to selling to a direct rival, it's down to pure greed. Why else would you do it? I suppose the only valid excuse would be that the player wants to go, your rival wants to buy, he'll go on a free in the next window anyway and there are no other takers. But that is hardly the usual scenario.

We should spare a word for Newcastle - surely they are having the worst transfer window in the league? Off goes Cabaye and nobody comes in. Ashley and Kinnear = dream team.

 

[daneoni]

Berbatov to Monaco seems to be done. Good retirement plan move that. Easier football and tax-free money. Perfect fit.

EDIT: Sticking with Fulham, Senderos out to Valencia, Heitinger in. Fulham really busy this window.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

This surely must be the worst day in Brian McDermott's life. (Football Ramble podcast in-joke)

Some clubs try to build a siege mentality. That's happening literally tonight at Leeds, where supporters have descended on Elland Road and are stopping the taxi carrying owner-in-waiting Massimo Cellino from leaving.

Add to that captain and top scorer Ross McCormack phoning in to Sky Sports News earlier tonight and essentially issuing a 'come and get me' statement, and it's fair to say that things at Yorkshire's worst Riding's top club aren't exactly a bowl of cherries at the moment.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Indeed Mr. Cake, I think the term "crisis" may be marching confidently towards Elland road.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine...the deal for Konoplyanka is said to have finally collapsed.

The media will play it up as a big failure to bring anybody in, and I still think Liverpool need another defender, but I would not call this a bad transfer window for Liverpool. Not signing any players is better than overpaying for mediocre players. It will be interesting to see what Dnipro wanted, what Liverpool wanted to pay and what he finally goes for in the summer.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Indeed Mr. Cake, I think the term "crisis" may be marching confidently towards Elland road.

And do you know what? I genuinely feel sorry for Leeds fans. No, really. This situation is only going to get worse for them.

They're just another club to add to the list of those getting proper screwed at the moment. If anyone has the manual, see if football has a reset switch or something because at the moment it's well and truly broken.

 

[daneoni]

Seems the blame for the Kono situation lies firmly with Dnipro who were stalling and being shady.

People are already labelling Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle as failures of the window.

United, Chelsea and Fulham the 'winners'

 

[Lord Blackadder]

And do you know what? I genuinely feel sorry for Leeds fans. No, really. This situation is only going to get worse for them.

I agree. The fans are always the losers. Occasionally the players or staff also get screwed. But the owners and board members rarely suffer for their incompetence.

There is a lot wrong with football at the moment. So much that it scares me to think about it - swashbuckling capitalist owners, root-and-branch corruption at FIFA, bloodsucking agents and lawyers, 3rd party owners, racism, homophobia, hooliganism, lack of support for the youth/amateur game....

Seems the blame for the Kono situation lies firmly with Dnipro who were stalling and being shady.

People are already labelling Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle as failures of the window.

United, Chelsea and Fulham the 'winners'

Yes, that's the popular line. But Mata alone can't begin to solve Man Utd's problems, and Fulham are going to get relegated unless they turn things around big time. Chelsea are Chelsea - they have the depth and have spent so much money in the recent past that they only have themselves to blame if they fail to finish top.

Arsenal and Liverpool both look thin compared to the top two giants, but both clubs have first XIs that may be good enough in the end - and neither seems willing to get hosed in the transfer market with panic buys, which is a good thing. A signing or two would have been nice, but is not strictly necessary. Arsenal do look short up top, and Liverpool still need a defender and probably a midfielder. But I don't think either needed to panic in this window. Konoplyanka would never have been the difference between finishing 4th and 5th.

Poor Newcastle are definitely the losers here though. They relied on Cabaye and now he's gone without even a shadow of a replacement.

 

[oscillatewildly]

...

EDIT: Sticking with Fulham, Senderos out to Valencia, Heitinger in. Fulham really busy this window.

First thought when I saw it in the list of transfers - WTF are they* thinking.

* Valencia

 

[Lord Blackadder]

First thought when I saw it in the list of transfers - WTF are they* thinking.

* Valencia

That was an odd one. I keep forgetting he's only 28, he seems to have been around forever.

What is the deal with Nani? He signed a new contract at the start of the season I think, but he has played little. Are Man Utd shopping him around? Or is he (or rather his agent) trying to engineer a move?

 

[daneoni]

Lol. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. Oh dear oh dear...

 

[cambookpro]

Feel really sorry for Brian McDermott. Perhaps unfairly sacked at Reading - a victim of his own success.

Now unceremoniously sacked at Leeds. Poor bloke.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Apart from Sunderland's thumping of Newcastle, things are tight in all matches...lots of ex-Liverpool or loan players scoring today, Borini, Bellamy, Adam, assists for Carroll...

EDIT: Never mind, Fulham are getting pummeled by Southampton. They are just in free fall at the moment.

Lol. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. Oh dear oh dear...

The latest I heard is that the injury is not serious. Still, it's worrying. They brought him in as injury cover, so if he's hurt it sort of defeats the purpose.

Feel really sorry for Brian McDermott. Perhaps unfairly sacked at Reading - a victim of his own success.

Now unceremoniously sacked at Leeds. Poor bloke.

Rumors that the board is trying to get him back - probably not true, but it seems Leeds are in complete turmoil off the pitch - though they are winning handily today.

 

[daneoni]

...and United get undone on a cold, wet and windy evening at Stoke. Barca also beaten by Valencia.

Meanwhile more info on Kallstrom...

"New Arsenal signing Kim Kallstom is set for a spell on the sidelines with a back injury that was discovered in the medical before he signed on loan from Spartak Moscow.

"The 31-year-old Sweden midfielder sustained the problem on Tuesday while playing football on a beach during Spartak's pre-season tour in Abu Dhabi.

"He informed Arsenal of discomfort upon arriving at the club on Friday but, despite an MRI scan showing no damage, a CT scan found an issue with his back.

"The Arsenal medical team provided manager Arsene Wenger with the prognosis, but it was decided Kallstrom would still join and undergo his rehabilitation with the Gunners.

"He is expected to miss at least Arsenal's next six games, in which they face Crystal Palace, Liverpool twice, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Sunderland.

"Kallstrom did not train with his new team-mates on Friday or Saturday and will briefly return to Sweden and Russia before moving to London and beginning a course of treatment.

"The former Lyon player, Arsenal's only signing in the January transfer window, joined on loan until the end of the season to provide cover for injured midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, plus the suspended Mathieu Flamini."

What was Wenger thinking!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Man Utd absolutely laid siege to Stoke's goal over the last 15 minutes (though they had a couple of dodgy moment sin defense) plus they had 7 minutes of stoppage. Some hair-raising goalmouth scrambles but they just couldn't get the ball in the net. Young wasted a glorious opportunity with his weak header. Cleverly's miss looked very bad but there were a lot of bodies lying around when he shot.

The thing is, the key passes into the box were all being made by Rooney and Hernandez, when they are the guys who should be in the box to receive them. Rooney was playing very deep.

You don't have to go back to the 19th century to see physical, defensive, time-wasting football. Just go to Stoke!

Back in 2009, this same kind of Stoke football cost Liverpool a title. Are we sure Pulis is really gone?

What was Wenger thinking!

Wow, that sounds crazy. I can't believe they bought him knowing he had a problem. Now he will be useless just when they need him.

 

[daneoni]

^
If true, then that suggests Wenger only signed Kallstrom to appease the backlash from not signing Draxler and that is just unconscionable.

In other news, Brian McDermott has NOT been sacked?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

The saga at Leeds just gets weirder and weirder.

I do really struggle to see why Arsenal signed Kallstrom. If they signed him just to appease the fans it has backfired spectacularly.

I hope Liverpool can get a win tomorrow, Everton's win keeps them right on Liverpool's heels. With United and Spurs both dropping points, it's one of those moments you must take advantage of if you hope to achieve anything.

 

[daneoni]

If the story about Kallstrom is true then Wenger will have fans breathing down his neck again. Even more so if we fail to get anything this season.

Liverpool and Arsenal need to win tomorrow. Since Everton are breathing down Pool's neck, and one or both of City and Chelsea will drop points on Monday. Really hate that we're playing against another Pulis team though.

Yuck. Oh well, at least we're at home.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

With that win over Man Utd, Stoke move up to 11th on 25 points. However if Stoke lose their next match and West Ham, now in 18th, win, West ham will jump to 11th - ahead of Stoke on goal difference.

The bottom half of the table is very tight right now. The relegation battle could really get exciting, any of the bottom 10-11 teams could still go down.

 

[daneoni]

3 mini leagues going on.

Relegation battle between 10th-20th. 8pt difference

4th place finish between 4th-7th. 6pt difference

And Title chase between 1st-3rd. 3pt difference

 

[Lord Blackadder]

^

For once, every club has something major to gain or lose this season.

 

[Silencio]

Nani has been injured most of this season. He is out another month (or two) at the moment. What little time he has played, he has been ineffective.

I'm usually not one to call for blood, but Moyes has got to go. He is not up to the job, period. I'm now hoping United tanks the rest of the season and finishes so far down the table, there can be no looking past the weakness of the management and the squad, even by the myopic Glazers.

We need a 21st century manager in 2014-2015. Jürgen Klopp, bitte sehr.

 

[daneoni]

Seems Shalke were the ones who 'blocked' the Draxler move.

£37m for a 20yr old. Especially considering you're buying mostly on potential rather than proven value.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Definitely an opportunity missed for Liverpool. Kolo Toure bears a large share of the responsibility for some sloppy defending. West Brom got their equalizer, shut up shop and that's that. They defended well, though they started fouling often at the end.