Football 2010-2011

[ralph250]

Yeah good tactics from Fergie. He never said he wasnt interested in him, just that he hadnt bid for him.

See what Robben said yesterday?

Edited July 11, 2010 by ralph250

[The Nal]

Regards Fergie tactics, not saying he did make a bid, but don't see how an admission of making a bid would benefit him or the club in any way if still in the market this summer. Us admitting we put in a £30m bid, is a surefire way for other target's clubs to up their prices. Equally nice to save face and say we weren't rejected, and if your targets aren't available and your stuck with what you've got (and doubt Fergie would panic buy), then don't want to dent current player confidence by admitting you were looking to replace them. Admitting a bid doesn't benefit anything I don't think.

Only the Daily Star, but direct quotes from Robben.

[The Nal]

Liverpool building a squad to win the league next season!

And Mascherano handing in a transfer request in the next 48 hours apparently.

No sign of anyone "snapping up" Berbatov though.

But this is genius!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_U7VBPVtqw

Edited July 12, 2010 by The Nal

[Alcatraz]

Whats the betting Man City up their bid after Torres' pull up last night?

[The Nal]

Whats the betting Man City up their bid after Torres' pull up last night?

Edited July 12, 2010 by The Nal

[Alcatraz]

Any Liverpool fans out there actually think selling him is a good idea? Hes turning into the new Michael Owen. Hamstring tear after hamstring tear shortens the muscle and you lose speed and a lot of acceleration, which is a big part of his game. Already hes a lot slower than he was when they bought him. Looks like another incomplete season ahead for him too.

Very sad actually. Awful seeing great players injured.

Edit: Think it was actually his groin last night but theyre all connected.

[Cardboard Box City]

World Cup over. Back to the grindstone.

Ipswich on August 7th, looking forward to it already.

[Steve P]

He just never seems to get the chance to rehab. If they don't sell him, Liverpool really have to shut him down, let him have a shot at strengthening that hamstring, then bring him back. If Hodgson has sense which most people seem to think so, he'll take it easy with Torres

[The Nal]

It will be a tough call, but I think he'll be rushed back.

Edited July 12, 2010 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

Its a difficult one to know what to do with torres. If they bring him back to late they could be out of touch, bring him back too early and he could be injured again. Man city finished above liverpool last year and its hard for me to see how liverpool can bridge the gap if city are buying david silva and liverpool are buying scharner. I wouldnt be surprised if they finished above spurs though. With liverpool short of money, part of me wonders about them doing the unthinkable and cashing in on stevie g. Could probably get 3 good players with that money.

[Alcatraz]

When does his contract run out?

[The Nal]

When does his contract run out?

[TheGayTent]

Neil,

With regard to JC post a few pages back - IMO he should play at the tip of the diamond - as an attacking central midfielder.

[The Nal]

Balotellis agent confirms Manchester interest.

[eFestivals]

I agree in theory but what do they do until he's fit to return? The rest of the forwards in the Liverpool squad just aren't good enough to cover for Torres if he's out long term and they don't have the money to sign anyone decent (unless they're going to sell a lot of players).

They've signed a striker (I forget his name, and know nowt about him) from Standard Liege on a freebie - it was a deal done by Rafa, tho Rafa going didn't change anything with the signing.

Given that Standard have been a decent team in the last few years, I'm presuming that he's a better player than the likes of Ngog.

[eFestivals]

Neil,

With regard to JC post a few pages back - IMO he should play at the tip of the diamond - as an attacking central midfielder.

A great plan

But if Cole was played there in that position, would he actually play in that position? Or would he do what he always does, and think he's the striker that will knock in more goals than the strikers (while failing to knock in more goals)?

[eFestivals]

Balotellis agent confirms Manchester interest.

I'm guessing that that's the same interest that Utd had in Schnider last week - none at all.

I'm guessing that it's the same old bollocks from agents, trying to engineer a player a move that the player or clubs aren't much interested in. After all, most agents only earn a decent wedge from having a player move clubs.

But if it is genuine interest, then it's a fair bet that Berba and Carrick are out of there (not that Utd fans would be crying). Utd don't have the money lying around.

[ralph250]

Utd don't have the money lying around.

[eFestivals]

Any input on my pretty long post regards this. (post 170, last page).

What, the supposed £95M in the bank account you mention?

Well, before anything else, around £25M of that is needed to cover summer wages. So it's less than £65M really, when those wages and other basic monthly costs are taken into account.

Given that lots of money from TV rights and Prem prize money comes in at the end of the season and is then needed over the next year to keep a money-losing club in business (cos money all clubs generate internally is far short of running costs), is it really money that's available to spend on players? Nope, not unless it's to be immediately re-couped by selling other players.

If you go back to the early nineties when Utd were no less skint than Arsenal were for a year or three recently, Fergie pretty much stopped buying while claiming he had cash and started praising the kids, saying he didn't have to buy. Given that Fergie is now doing the exact same thing, why does anyone think that situation is different to Utd being skint?

Especially now that most of just how poor they are and how much their options are limited by their (non-existent) standard borrowing options has been fully exposed, along with the Glazers being skint (something that you declined to believe for a long time, but which the bond issue disclosures made VERY clear).

The Glazers have taken a punt on asset values recovering before re-payment day. While it can only be guessed at right now, using the basis of Japan's economy from the 90's as the basis, it's looking like the most stupid gamble ever - and the claims of a £1.5Bn bid are clearly bollox, they'd have cashed in immediately precisely because it looks such a stupid gamble.

[eFestivals]

Haha the tramp has denied making bids for Sneijder.

Is The Nal calling Fergie a know-nothing liar for saying that?

[ralph250]

What, the supposed £95M in the bank account you mention?

Edited July 12, 2010 by ralph250

[ralph250]

Given that lots of money from TV rights and Prem prize money comes in at the end of the season and is then needed over the next year to keep a money-losing club in business (cos money all clubs generate internally is far short of running costs), is it really money that's available to spend on players? Nope, not unless it's to be immediately re-couped by selling other players.

Edited July 12, 2010 by ralph250

[Wooderson]

Is The Nal calling Fergie a know-nothing liar for saying that?

[The Nal]

Is The Nal calling Fergie a know-nothing liar for saying that?

[Langdale Wolf]

Shall we set up a Man Utd-specific thread this season?