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The 2014-2015 Football Thread
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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It was a tight match, but given that the match was at OT the onus was on Man Utd to attack. They carved out a couple chances but Southampton continue to be excellent in defense and at the end of the day they converted there best chance, leaving Man Utd to pump hopeful long balls to Fellaini.
Southampton's story this season has been pretty amazing. IF they can avoid injury problems you have to say that a CL spot is no longer an impossible dream. But the points spread is pretty small all the way down to Liverpool.
Could be a real fight for 3rd & 4th spots.
Southampton's story this season has been pretty amazing. IF they can avoid injury problems you have to say that a CL spot is no longer an impossible dream. But the points spread is pretty small all the way down to Liverpool.
Could be a real fight for 3rd & 4th spots.
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What are peoples opinions on former huge names in England, Spain, and other european countries (kaka, gerrard, etc) coming to MLS once they reach a certain age (mid 30s)? Doesn't that sort of cheapen what MLS stands for? Sure it isn't EPL or La Liga, but just getting big names past their prime seems so desperate and hollow.
Well you have to build a brand first before you get to be picky. MLS is still relatively unknown by anyone outside the US. The way to change that and get people into stadiums is to get sporting stars associated with your club thus drawing their fans/followers in too.
On another note. Bony looks set for the Etihad. Is that the end of the road for Dzeko or Jovetic then.
On another note. Bony looks set for the Etihad. Is that the end of the road for Dzeko or Jovetic then.
To answer your question in a word: no. MLS started from scratch in 1996. Given where they were then, the league has come a long way and while people in Europe might call it a retirement league the standard of play continues to improve, as does the player pool.
I think MLS is well on its way to carving out a niche as, maybe not a top league, but a second-tier league with unique qualities that set it apart from Ligue 1, the Dutch Eredivisie, the Championship or other good but not "top" leagues. Like leagues in South America, it's hard to compare directly to Europe, but there is clearly a lot of talent and potential.
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It would have helped if they got a shot on goal first. The result shouldn't be a surprise. ManUtd haven't really played well fire a variety of reasons and it caught up with them today.
Not that we didn't know already (due to the Ivory Coast FF already telling us) but Man City have signed Bony
Will he be paired up front with Aguero or simply warm the bench?
Will we see Jovetic or Dzeko move on?
Will he be paired up front with Aguero or simply warm the bench?
Will we see Jovetic or Dzeko move on?
I'm surpassed more clubs weren't trying to get Bony. He wasn't cheap but he is a proven scorer.
Rafa Benitez wanted to sign Jovetic almost ten years ago. I can't remember what the asking price was but I do remember him scoring against Liverpool in the CL.
Rafa Benitez wanted to sign Jovetic almost ten years ago. I can't remember what the asking price was but I do remember him scoring against Liverpool in the CL.
I believe Liverpool and Arsenal were and a couple of European clubs as well, but once talk of Man City and £28m started being mentioned, I suspect it priced everyone else out of the equation
The market for players is greatly inflated by the prices Chelsea/Man City/PSG/Real Madrid/Barca/Man Utd/Anzhi Makhachkala have been willing to pay for marquee players.
£20m doesn't really buy much any more. Heck, £40m doesn't even guarantee a great player. Messi's buyout clause is €250m or thereabouts, which would be totally mind-blowing... but if it weren't for FFP there would be a couple clubs willing to pay it.
FFP is still kind of a joke, but it is having a visible effect on the richest clubs. It doesn't do enough to help the bulk of middling and smaller clubs though, and it won't have any effect on who wins all the trophies.
Arsenal arguably have enough attacking talent - though only a couple out-and-out strikers.
Liverpool badly need two strikers. Origi will be coming in but I expect nothing from him, at least in the short term. It's stupid that Liverpool paid Lille £10m for him, loaned him straight back to Lille, and now they have to pay another £3m to cut the loan deal short. That's £13m for an essentially unproven player.
Balotelli clearly has the talent - it was a calculated risk that didn't pay off but I can accept the logic. Rogers may not have wanted him but given the current market Liverpool had few good moves.
Well, Arsenal have midfielders that can score, but as you say, no real out and out scorers, only Giroud.
Sonogo(al) has now gone out on loan after failing to impress and Joel Campbell can't buy a game so there was talk of Arsenal bringing someone in.
Sonogo(al) has now gone out on loan after failing to impress and Joel Campbell can't buy a game so there was talk of Arsenal bringing someone in.
^ True, but with Sanchez tearing up the league they are fine as long as he stays healthy.
The funny thing about the Origi deal is that Lambert seems to be the first striker Rogers is willing to sell. Personally I'd sell Borini first, followed by Balotelli.
The funny thing about the Origi deal is that Lambert seems to be the first striker Rogers is willing to sell. Personally I'd sell Borini first, followed by Balotelli.
Arsenal needs to pick up Januzaj on loan the the second half of season. I liked his play in 13/14 season with moderate paced offense like arsenal has. I don't think he has been played because MU current offense is very fast paced and he can't keep up.
Imo a good fit for the spot jack Wilshire left on injury.
Glad to see ozil back. Big fan here. Make or break time. He was very mediocre this season before the "injury". If he doesn't perform I foresee a trade at the end of the season.
Imo a good fit for the spot jack Wilshire left on injury.
Glad to see ozil back. Big fan here. Make or break time. He was very mediocre this season before the "injury". If he doesn't perform I foresee a trade at the end of the season.
I wonder if LvG would really consider selling him - foolish, in my opinion. Send Falcao/RVP off to the glue factory first.
Ozil is probably still worth a lot of money, and could be sold at a smaller loss this summer than if they keep hold of him too long. On the other hand, he is a great player and if he can get going for Arsenal he'll be quite valuable.
Problem is Cazorla just hit the big 30, whilst Ozil is still young at 26. Plus if you sell Ozil you may lose the pulling power to bring in a Sanchez or a Cavani.
If Wenger had bought Fabregas then it'd make more sense.
As long as Ozil is fit Wenger will play him. He's his priced possession along with Sanchez.
If Wenger had bought Fabregas then it'd make more sense.
As long as Ozil is fit Wenger will play him. He's his priced possession along with Sanchez.
Speaking of old players, Sunderland are paying new signing Jermain Defoe, 32, £70,000 a week (plus a transfer fee as well, I'm sure?). They brought him in from Toronto FC, with Jozy Altidore going the other way.
Defoe will probably score more goals than Altidore, but I'm not sure he's worth the expense.
No unusual results today, though Chelsea battered Swansea.
Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored for Liverpool today. I doubt I'll ever type that again. Aston Villa were completely toothless, both sides wasted many chances but Liverpool just had a touch more class in the final third.
Borini demonstrated why he's not good enough to me. He showed a good work rate and his finish for his goal was excellent - but he wasted several more chances by dallying on the ball or making bad decisions.
Sterling aso made a bad choice to try chipping Guzan when he was one on one. It would have been 4-2 if both teams had finishers on the pitch.
Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored for Liverpool today. I doubt I'll ever type that again. Aston Villa were completely toothless, both sides wasted many chances but Liverpool just had a touch more class in the final third.
Borini demonstrated why he's not good enough to me. He showed a good work rate and his finish for his goal was excellent - but he wasted several more chances by dallying on the ball or making bad decisions.
Sterling aso made a bad choice to try chipping Guzan when he was one on one. It would have been 4-2 if both teams had finishers on the pitch.
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Massive win for Arsenal. Tactically spot on and clinical when needed. No one (including me) gave them a prayer but they pulled it off. You wonder why they don't do it more often.
Cazorla single-handedly keeping Ozil out of the starting line-up with another BIG performance today.
Is that the title gone for City then. Next league becomes even more massive for both teams. But more for City. Lose and it 8pts behind. Win and its reduced to 2pts.
Cazorla single-handedly keeping Ozil out of the starting line-up with another BIG performance today.
Is that the title gone for City then. Next league becomes even more massive for both teams. But more for City. Lose and it 8pts behind. Win and its reduced to 2pts.
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