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

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I'm just curious, last year I spent a decent amount of time living in Canada. As I was leaving he was announced as director of Football, I'm guessing from your post Darth he hasn't done the greatest job there?

Well lets put it this way, they're 3-11-9 with a -22 goal differential and they traded away they're best player. That team is a mess.

I'm unsure on Klinnsman, in '06 he was literally just a cheerleader for the country to get behind, Joachim Lowe even then was the brains of the operation. I thought the USA would've been better off getting someone in with a wealth of experience in getting blood out of a stone like Republic of Ireland did with Trappatoni. Just wondering where did it all go wrong for Bradley in our US fans eyes? During the last World Cup our media were waxing lyrical about the team spirit you guys had, whereas I've noticed alot of americans aren't fussed on him.

I'm not a Bradley hater at all but he just wasn't cutting it. A miracle goal against Algeria in extra time saved his job for another year, not much more I can say about that. I've said this before, we have high expectations but don't really have the tools to succeed. Bob Bradley took the US as far as he was able to, we needed someone new to inject some energy and life into the program. He's being given the same freedom he had in Germany. He's going to have a lot of say in our youth development as of right now, we have no U-20 manager.
 
Well lets put it this way, they're 3-11-9 with a -22 goal differential and they traded away they're best player. That team is a mess.



I'm not a Bradley hater at all but he just wasn't cutting it. A miracle goal against Algeria in extra time saved his job for another year, not much more I can say about that. I've said this before, we have high expectations but don't really have the tools to succeed. Bob Bradley took the US as far as he was able to, we needed someone new to inject some energy and life into the program. He's being given the same freedom he had in Germany. He's going to have a lot of say in our youth development as of right now, we have no U-20 manager.

This is sort of my thoughts, in Premier League terms the US national team is the equivalent of a Fulham but with the expectations of Spurs. Would a better manager have got more out of the team in South Africa? I always thought you were just unlucky to draw Ghana who were the fairytale team of the tournament. Obviously I haven't seen as much of them as you and my comments are based on little highlights.
Do you think Klinsmann will be given time? You've indicated that he's going to have a massive say in youth development, which could take years to see full fruition. If you guys had a similar World Cup in 2014 to 2010 would he keep his job? I guess it would be better to ask will the US fans see the Klinsmann name and expect immediate results?

Also De Rosario got traded??? WTF, he was literally the only decent player they had!
 
This is sort of my thoughts, in Premier League terms the US national team is the equivalent of a Fulham but with the expectations of Spurs. Would a better manager have got more out of the team in South Africa? I always thought you were just unlucky to draw Ghana who were the fairytale team of the tournament. Obviously I haven't seen as much of them as you and my comments are based on little highlights.
Do you think Klinsmann will be given time? You've indicated that he's going to have a massive say in youth development, which could take years to see full fruition. If you guys had a similar World Cup in 2014 to 2010 would he keep his job? I guess it would be better to ask will the US fans see the Klinsmann name and expect immediate results?

Also De Rosario got traded??? WTF, he was literally the only decent player they had!

If he takes us out of the group stage and maybe into the quarterfinals that would be a success in my book.

Your analogy is spot on. We expect to be better than what we are.

And yes, they traded De-Ro to the Red Bulls and then they traded him to DC.

About youth development, with so many younger players making the senior squads these days, it's not surprising to see someone who is playing in U-17 right now possibly being ready for the World Cup in 2014.
 
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If he takes us out of the group stage and maybe into the quarterfinals that would be a success in my book.

Your analogy is spot on. We expect to be better than what we are.

And yes, they traded De-Ro to the Red Bulls and then they traded him to DC.

He lasted 2 months at the Red Bulls, is he turning into the Randy Moss of the MLS?

Honestly hope he is a success for you, not sure exactly why but I've always had a soft spot for the US national team, Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna in particular when they were doing their stuff :up:
And in fairness whilst some may disagree it'll surely only benefit the sport when the US are a major force in it.
 
United can cope without Scholes, says Ferguson's midfield enforcer Carrick

"Midfield enforcer" :lmao: Roy Keane just cried a little, sweet Jesus our midfield is like a bad dream I can't wake up from. :(

So according to reports, we're looking to conclude deals for Mata and Jagielka within the next 48 hours. In other words, this means there is 0% chance of us signing either. :hehe:

Those two buys would put you in a stronger position to win the league, even if Fabregas goes IMO. The Mata deal seems closer to completion from what I've read, but Everton are broke, so eventually you should get Jagielka as well.
 


When you see City with players like this it would be foolish to write them off as contenders for the title this season.
 
United can cope without Scholes, says Ferguson's midfield enforcer Carrick

"Midfield enforcer" :lmao: Roy Keane just cried a little, sweet Jesus our midfield is like a bad dream I can't wake up from. :(

I know what you mean :csad:

What would you think of De Rossi as a candidate for United's midfield? I know he'll probably never leave Roma, as he's their "future captain", but I still dream of seeing him at United. He's a complete midfielder and while his development seems to have stalled for the past couple of years at Roma, I think a step-up to the next level with United would definitely see him get better. I still remember the wonder-goal he scored against United in that 7-1 rout 4 years ago. Couple him with a more creative midfielder in the mold of Modric or Sahin(another missed opportunity :doh:) and I think it would be an ideal combination in the center of the park.
 
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.

Well I'd disagree on Jones, with the sale of both Brown & O'Shea we were short on first team choices in defense. With Rio injured every other game & Vidic the most likely to collect suspensions, both Jones & Smalling should get a good amount of games & in terms of defenders, having him longer as understudies to what are arguably 2 of the best centre backs in the world will only benifit them long term. I feel Evans will now be Evra's backup.. hes also left footed which is a bonus, but isn't too confident on the ball.

I don't really fully understand the Young signing. I don't not want him, but he seems to me like a Michael Carrick of wingers. I'd have rather seen us invest the money spent on him in the middle & start the season with Park, Valencia, Nani & Obertan/Bebe alternating wide positions.

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.

Really in all honesty, the area in which we lost the Champions League final to Barcelona was the middle of the park. In every other area I feel we are as strong/versitle as Barcelona. However in the middle of the park with Xavi & Iniesta.. particularly Xavi, I feel the difference between the 2 teams in this area is great. I don't feel Vidal or Sahin would have made a difference. Someone like Modric, Sneijder or someone of that mould. A playmaker, someone who retains possession well & doesn't give the ball away recklessly. Those are the types of players we need... heck when Scholes came on in the final for the remaining 20 minutes or whatever, instantly we played much better because of Scholes's ability to take care of the ball & play good smart accurate passes.

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.

+ Cleverly who looks like a future England international. We've also got Pogba who is only 17, but I hope to see him given a go in the League Cup, he looks like a really good talent.

The best way to describe & Carrick/Fletcher is reliable. They are reliable, but not real quality. Anderson is erratic, constantly seems to have niggling injuries that hamper his progress. Giggs won't play as much this year I wouldn't think, he is useful, but at 38 it's time we started to weed him out of the team to prepare for his retirement.
 
On a plus note we beat Barcelona 2-1 today/tonight.

Niether side was at full strength though with a variety of first team players missing from both sides.
 
Michael Owens been on fire in the states, I wouldn't be suprised if in the next couple of years he's the next former superstar in the MLS.
 
Michael Owens been on fire in the states, I wouldn't be suprised if in the next couple of years he's the next former superstar in the MLS.

Indeed. SAF is going to have 5 strikers/forwards in his squad once the season begins in Rooney, Chicharito, Berbatov, Owen and Welbeck the only problem I see is, whose going to get them the ball from midfield at this point.

Honestly, I know SAF has said there will be no more signings but I think they need one more player in midfield. Lets assume that Nasri and Sneijder won't be signed this season, what other realistic option is out there for United?

Also, watching the Arsenal/Red Bulls game right now, Arsenal have a pretty good squad IMO without Nasri and Fabregas, they need to make a couple more signings IMO.
 
I'm watching City vs Inter at the moment and whilst it isn't a full strength Inter line up and a few of the players have had questionalbe attitudes towards the game City when in possession are looking a real side. They certainly look one of the sharper sides I've seen in pre season. David Silva is really breathtaking at times.
 
Watching these pre-season friendlies so far I have to say De Gea has not looked convincing IMO.
 
Watching these pre-season friendlies so far I have to say De Gea has not looked convincing IMO.

Can't really comment since I haven't seen any of the matches, but have kept up with the results. I still think Stekelenburg would've been a better, especially considering Roma are getting him for 6 million euros. He's a much more established keeper than De Gea. Then again, the latter is young and can only improve from now on.
 
I'm watching City vs Inter at the moment and whilst it isn't a full strength Inter line up and a few of the players have had questionalbe attitudes towards the game City when in possession are looking a real side. They certainly look one of the sharper sides I've seen in pre season. David Silva is really breathtaking at times.

David Silva was our best player last season... Yeah, I've got very good feeling about this year's pre-season. :bow:
 
"Mata's clause to sign player cheaper (20-23m euros) finished yesterday. Clubs agreed fee, player happy to go but money didnt arrive..."

Looks complicated for Arsenal now... :woot:
 
So Balotelli says he's unhappy in Manchester and misses his friends....so how long before we have a repeat of the Tevez saga?
 
I know what you mean :csad:

What would you think of De Rossi as a candidate for United's midfield? I know he'll probably never leave Roma, as he's their "future captain", but I still dream of seeing him at United. He's a complete midfielder and while his development seems to have stalled for the past couple of years at Roma, I think a step-up to the next level with United would definitely see him get better. I still remember the wonder-goal he scored against United in that 7-1 rout 4 years ago. Couple him with a more creative midfielder in the mold of Modric or Sahin(another missed opportunity :doh:) and I think it would be an ideal combination in the center of the park.

De Rossi is a questionable one for me, he certainly has attributes that would lift our midfield if he can re find form, but his general attitude towards the game has gotten worse over the last few seasons.


Tom Cleverley is this seasons Jack Wilshire.

Fantastic young player

He's a decent prospect but well below the technical level of Wilshire.

Well I'd disagree on Jones, with the sale of both Brown & O'Shea we were short on first team choices in defense. With Rio injured every other game & Vidic the most likely to collect suspensions, both Jones & Smalling should get a good amount of games & in terms of defenders, having him longer as understudies to what are arguably 2 of the best centre backs in the world will only benifit them long term. I feel Evans will now be Evra's backup.. hes also left footed which is a bonus, but isn't too confident on the ball.

The thing was we wouldn't have sold O'Shea if we hadn't bought Jones. I know we bought him a year early because Fergie had him earmarked and had to make a move because Arsenal and Liverpool were making serious bids. It does appear Evans will not be used mostly as a LB, but his lack of pace may see him struggle in that role.

I don't really fully understand the Young signing. I don't not want him, but he seems to me like a Michael Carrick of wingers. I'd have rather seen us invest the money spent on him in the middle & start the season with Park, Valencia, Nani & Obertan/Bebe alternating wide positions.
I think part of the Young buy is that he played a lot of last season in the #10 role for Villa, so he can cover the wings and Rooney, but that was why we were after Sanchez, so it feels like we got very much the second tier option as he's not in Sanchez class.


Really in all honesty, the area in which we lost the Champions League final to Barcelona was the middle of the park. In every other area I feel we are as strong/versitle as Barcelona. However in the middle of the park with Xavi & Iniesta.. particularly Xavi, I feel the difference between the 2 teams in this area is great. I don't feel Vidal or Sahin would have made a difference. Someone like Modric, Sneijder or someone of that mould. A playmaker, someone who retains possession well & doesn't give the ball away recklessly. Those are the types of players we need... heck when Scholes came on in the final for the remaining 20 minutes or whatever, instantly we played much better because of Scholes's ability to take care of the ball & play good smart accurate passes.
Sahin plays very much like a latter day Scholes/Pirlo, a deep lying playmaker who uses the ball well, of course Sneijder and Modric would also have imprved our chances. Vidal would have gave us agression and mobility in there instead of the weak Carrick and 37 year old Giggs.

+ Cleverly who looks like a future England international. We've also got Pogba who is only 17, but I hope to see him given a go in the League Cup, he looks like a really good talent.

The best way to describe & Carrick/Fletcher is reliable. They are reliable, but not real quality. Anderson is erratic, constantly seems to have niggling injuries that hamper his progress. Giggs won't play as much this year I wouldn't think, he is useful, but at 38 it's time we started to weed him out of the team to prepare for his retirement.
Cleverley has spent two seasons on loan and in both seasons he played on the wings. Now he played in CM on a couple of the US tour games but whether he can in the PL remains to be seen. Pogba has a lot of good buzz but probably needs a loan spell.

The thing is for most of last season Fletcher wasn't reliable and then was ill, and Carrick spent two seasons in a daze and still gets rattled too easily. Over the course of last season we struggled with teams like Villa, West Brom and Wolves in midfield, never mind Barcelona, I just can't believe Fergie will let another season go without addressing the situation.

Honestly, I know SAF has said there will be no more signings but I think they need one more player in midfield. Lets assume that Nasri and Sneijder won't be signed this season, what other realistic option is out there for United?

Ever Banega, he is who we should have been after in the first place IMO. Then there is the risky option of Ganso.
 
So Balotelli says he's unhappy in Manchester and misses his friends....so how long before we have a repeat of the Tevez saga?

But he did also say:

"I'm happy with the coach and within the team, but you can't have everything in life."

"I don't miss Milan, I miss Brescia, my home. I miss my family and my friends, but I think this experience in England will help me grow as an individual."

"I don't know if I will stay until the end of my contract," he added. "I'm here for now and then we'll see."


He'll be ok but it depends how long will Mancini stay at Eastlands. And Tevez can live in Manchester but his agent Kia is a w****. He'd like to see Tevez making 40mil. transfer every summer.
 
Now... this is sick:

"Skysports.com understands Arsenal, Tottenham and Stoke have made enquiries about Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton."


Plus Liverpool's 'phenomenal' pre-season... I really believe this season will be a 3-horse race (City, UTD and Chelsea).
 
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