The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - Part 5

[Poeman]

All that money spent and with Tevez out they have the stirke force of Adebayor, Balotelli & Roque Santa Cruz! Not great work in the transfer market. I think Aguero is a cut above those transfers mentioned earlier, basically the 1st tier behind Ronaldo & Messi.

The title race could be intriguing next season (though I wish for this every season & am usually disappointed). With Utd not getting Sneijder or Nasri they should stay in catching distance (with one of those I think they would be stronger favourites). Chelsea (Torres form could be crucial) & City with Aguero should mount realistic challenges. Liverpool I expect to do much better, maybe not win but finish much nearer the top than they have done recently. Like within 6 points. Arsenal I think need to improve (or get zero injuries all season) to keep pace with the others & if they don't buy effectively could be outside the top 4. Not sure what's happening with Spurs & their incoming/outgoing transfers but it should be exciting times in the top 6 with hopefully the leader and the composition of the top 4 changing from week to week.

As an Arsenal supporter, I can confidently say that Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea will all have better seasons then Arsenal.

 

[Iceman]

David Beckham's stint in MLS has gone by so fast, as his contract is expected to expire at the end of the year.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110...os-vice-chairman-terry-byrne-david-beckham-is

It's probably the best thing for him honestly. I can see some English club taking a chance on him but I doubt he'd want to go play for a Blackburn or some club like that.

So how would you rate his 5 or so years in MLS overall?

As an Arsenal supporter, I can confidently say that Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea will all have better seasons then Arsenal.

It's frustrating as I think they only need 2 strong players in central areas and they have the cash.

 

[Poeman]

So how would you rate his 5 or so years in MLS overall?

It's frustrating as I think they only need 2 strong players in central areas and they have the cash.

What about the defense?

Beckham also has had minimal impact here in terms of performance. His first year was great, then he got injured and he sort of fizzled out now.

Beckham helped bring some recognition, but thats about it.

 

[Darthphere]

So how would you rate his 5 or so years in MLS overall?

Poor. He's currently having a really good season and deserved his All Star selection IMO. Overall though, he's been injured and on loan way too much to have had any huge impact on the field. Off the field, he brought MLS to the forefront. It's because of him guys like Henry have come over.

 

[Van Petrol]

as an arsenal supporter, i can confidently say that manchester united, man city, chelsea will all have better seasons then arsenal.

Quoted for Truth.

 

[Van Petrol]

So how would you rate his 5 or so years in MLS overall?

It's frustrating as I think they only need 2 strong players in central areas and they have the cash.

We're going to need more than that once the 'apparent' exodus is complete.

 

[Darthphere]

I honestly can see Arsenal finishing 5th this season with Liverpool climbing back into the Champions League spots.

I actually think Liverpool take it this season and wouldn't be surprised to if they pull off a domestic treble.

 

[kit1982]

well noone really has the same impact as ronaldo!

i think Dzeko was huge in jan, lots of clubs wanted him etc.. and Adebayour was the star player of a club that were in a better place than city

True I remember Fergie being interested in Adebayor aswell, the big thing with Aguero is he's been labeled a wonderkid and like I said I think the fact Real wanted him aswell. It's sort of like how Chelsea had signed alot of big players, but everyone around europe was talking about them when they signed Ballack and Shevchenko. Like I said I can see what he means, but I can also see what you're saying.

In any case he's still the 2nd or 3rd best Argentine in England behind Luciano Becchio

Also Spidey how you looking forward to next season? Obviously there has been the Dalglish effect but I heard some 'pool fans starting to worry about how you ended the season and also the Hull result. I'm also interested in who will play in midfield next year, Gerrard's not the massive loss he once was but he is still captain and I'd be hard pressed to can name many better players from last year than Meriles and Lucas, but then theres Henderson and Adam to squeeze in. Kuyt was quality last year but with Downing, Carroll and Suarez where's he going to play? Really interesting times at your place.

 

[Darthphere]

It's mostly that depth and the fact that they are not playing in Europe that makes Liverpool the favorites next season in my eyes.

 

[spidey-dude]

I honestly can see Arsenal finishing 5th this season with Liverpool climbing back into the Champions League spots.

I actually think Liverpool take it this season and wouldn't be surprised to if they pull off a domestic treble.

I would be unbearable if this happens

kit, i think we will still be making 2 or 3 signings - i at this stage expect us to get scott dann in for £8mil or so, and a top left back too - and wouldnt be shocked if we got another striker

this is dependant on shifting, poulssen, cole, jovanovich and maybe aquilani though

if that happened i would fancy our chances - hull was a pre season and i never bear those in mind too much as indicators of whats to come, at the moment I am cautious but also think we could do well, im not really sure in other words

 

[Darthphere]

I would be unbearable if this happens

So no real change then.

 

[spidey-dude]

So no real change then.

haha, youve only had to put up with me while we have been performing average - just you wait

 

[Iceman]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28072011/58/champions-league-clubs-plan-breakaway-league.html

 

[Iceman]

As an Arsenal supporter, I can confidently say that Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea will all have better seasons then Arsenal.

As things stand, almost certainly.

What about the defense?

It depends on if they can keep their big players like Nasri & Fabregas & whether Vermaelen can stay injury free and get back to top form. For every one of those they lose they will need a player of at least equal ability as a replacement. So two is the absolute minimum if everyone stays, doesn't get injured all season and is in top form. The spine of the team is crucial and inclusive of their current squad they need to be able to put out two solid central defenders, a dominant midfield general and a 25 goal a season stirker who can hold the ball up.

Beckham also has had minimal impact here in terms of performance. His first year was great, then he got injured and he sort of fizzled out now.

Beckham helped bring some recognition, but thats about it.

Poor. He's currently having a really good season and deserved his All Star selection IMO. Overall though, he's been injured and on loan way too much to have had any huge impact on the field. Off the field, he brought MLS to the forefront. It's because of him guys like Henry have come over.

Understood. Bit of a shame he's not been able to do more on the field.

We're going to need more than that once the 'apparent' exodus is complete.

Oh if they all go without the biggest incoming pre-season transfer session in your history then you're pretty much out of the top 4.

I honestly can see Arsenal finishing 5th this season with Liverpool climbing back into the Champions League spots.

I actually think Liverpool take it this season and wouldn't be surprised to if they pull off a domestic treble.

Agreed on the 1st bit. I think Liverpool can challenge for the title (although I don't expect them to actually win) if they are near the top at the halfway mark. Would be extremely surprised if they (or any other Prem team) won a domestic treble. It's too close between too many teams & I think luck would need to be a huge factor.

 

[Poeman]

Liverpool has a real good shot if Carroll play up to his Newcastle in-form capabilities.

I think Sanchez will do his work well as he has been getting better and better by the day as a player

 

[Hunter Rider]

I'm not particularly urging for the new season to begin like I usually am, part of the reason is because for about the third summer in a row it doesn't feel like our squad has been improved enough to take us to that next level.

I do feel we've made some improvments in the signing of Young, Jones & De Gea & shifting Brown, O'Shea & hopefully Gibson.

However we've also lost Scholes, van der Sar & to a lesser extent Hargreaves... meaning we've not really improved that much at all.

It also feels like another summer in which an area that has been our weakest for a handful of seasons has still went unstrengthened. That being said I did read Sir Alex's comments that he doesn't expect to sign anyone else before the season begins because the type of player he wants or is looking for just isn't available on the market at present. I can appreciate that, he only wants the best players at the club & after seemingly failing to bring both Sneijder & Nasri who look set to stay at their clubs for another year, he doesn't want to go out & buy what would be his third, possibly even his forth choice player in said position.

Theres no point in signing a player if realistically they are going to offer no great improvment on what we already have. Sneijder &/or Nasri would have definatly been an improvment on Carrick, Anderson or Fletcher.. but a variety of the other names I'm seeing mentioned I personally don't feel would be a massive improvement on what we've already got.. at least instantly anyway.. and if we're gonna wait for them to develop with the team we might as well try that with players like Cleverly & Pogba who look like future players if they keep progressing..

The thing that gets me is we've spent £50M and our big game first 11 is no better. Now in fairness to De Gea, whoever we bought as a keeper was going to be a step down, but he's young enough to become great. Jones is a good long term buy but we didn't need him this season, and Young is a decent player but nothing special and we were already well stocked in the wide areas.

Now I agree that options for CM are tight but we should have been buying a CM long before Scholes legs dropped off, and we should have replaced Hargreaves as well. This summer Aturo Vidal went for £12M to Juve, he would have given us a Hargo replacement, then there are players like Sahin who went for £8M to Madrid, we weren't even at the races for him. I think Fergie got a shock when Wenger wouldn't sell him Nasri and when Modric declared his hard on for Chelsea, but it looks like Chelsea are about to buy Pastore as well, we were nowhere to be seen on that deal either.

So at this rate we go into this season with an average water carrier, an ill disciplined, often unfit and unreliable Brazilian, an ill jack of all trades master of none, and a 38 year old converted left winger as our 4 CM options.

 

[bapi]

"L'Equipe report Javier Pastore's €45m transfer from Palermo to Paris-St Germain will be formalized tonight."

Ohh, poor Chelsea... Should offer 40+ for Modric now. t:

 

[Van Petrol]

Everybody's getting a sugar daddy these days...

PSG and Malaga are making some good solid buys though.

 

[bapi]

Kun confirmed!!!

 

[bapi]

Everybody's getting a sugar daddy these days...

PSG and Malaga are making some good solid buys though.

Yeah. It's gonna be interesting to watch them this season.

 

[Iceman]

Kun confirmed!!!

Nice! That gets me a bit more excited about football this season.

"L'Equipe report Javier Pastore's €45m transfer from Palermo to Paris-St Germain will be formalized tonight."

Ohh, poor Chelsea... Should offer 40+ for Modric now. t:

Didn't know PSG had that kind of cash!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/28072011/58/champions-league-clubs-plan-breakaway-league.html

Anyone think there is much chance of this happening?

 

[Poeman]

Kun's value just sky rocketed in the upcoming fifa 12 ultimate team.

pace abusers will relish him in the BPL. Kids in the UK will want Kun to run wild

 

[kit1982]

"L'Equipe report Javier Pastore's €45m transfer from Palermo to Paris-St Germain will be formalized tonight."

Ohh, poor Chelsea... Should offer 40+ for Modric now. t:

Why in the world would you leave Italy for French football? I know PSG have got a ton of cash now but the French game is really poor at the moment, he'd have been better staying at Palermo.

 

[Van Petrol]

Didn't know PSG had that kind of cash!

They recently acquired foreign investment from the middle east.

 

[Van Petrol]

Kun's value just sky rocketed in the upcoming fifa 12 ultimate team.

pace abusers will relish him in the BPL. Kids in the UK will want Kun to run wild

Everyone is going to be either Barca, Real or City in online mode on Fifa 12.