Football 2010-2011

[strummer77]

Stats etc. He probably had more assists last season than Roy Keane had in his entire career etc.

You're right though, he has talent, no doubt. But how many midfielders do you have now? Especially if you sign the rumoured ones?

Gerrard

Henderson

Adam

Aquilani

Spearing

Poulsen

Merieles

Downing

Lucas

Kuyt

Shelvey

[Benj]

Stats etc. He probably had more assists last season than Roy Keane had in his entire career etc.

You're right though, he has talent, no doubt. But how many midfielders do you have now? Especially if you sign the rumoured ones?

Gerrard

Henderson

Adam

Aquilani

Spearing

Poulsen

Merieles

Downing

Lucas

Kuyt

Shelvey

[The Nal]

Come on, can't we just pretend Poulsen never existed?

[pink_triangle]

Clichy in talks with city. Im in 2 minds about this,I think the rumoured price is good for someone of clichys experience. However I have never been convinced by clichy as a defender.

[pink_triangle]

Stats etc. He probably had more assists last season than Roy Keane had in his entire career etc.

You're right though, he has talent, no doubt. But how many midfielders do you have now? Especially if you sign the rumoured ones?

Gerrard

Henderson

Adam

Aquilani

Spearing

Poulsen

Merieles

Downing

Lucas

Kuyt

Shelvey

[Steve P]

Clichy in talks with city. Im in 2 minds about this,I think the rumoured price is good for someone of clichys experience. However I have never been convinced by clichy as a defender.

[ralph250]

When he's on his game he's a cracking player, but he makes too many mistakes for a top level player, cost us at least 5 goals last season. Certainly not the player i'd be most gutted to lose. Going to be a very interesting close season for us now, if Nasri and Cesc do go I just hope we spend the cash!

[ralph250]

I know its a contreversial opinion but if I was liverpool I would try and get city to go after gerrard. I think liverpool have run him into the ground and he will never reach the levels of a couple of years ago. A good club knows the right time to sell a player, while they still have a decent resale value and reinvest in someone who will soon be better, however it would take a very brave manager to send stevie g on his way.

[pink_triangle]

Said before - and think there's a fair chance he won't reach the level he did - but there's not a huge amount of leadership in that Liverpool squad bar Gerrard and 33 yr old Carragher. Kuyt to a degree and Lucas may grow into it I guess, but with them presumably looking to bring a load of youth through (Kelly, Flanagan etc, even Carroll and Henderson both young) then I can see sense in retaining Gerrard to help in that sense.

[Steve P]

Think Wenger has to! can't raise season ticket prices 6.5% then sell those three without reinvesting. You'd need another new stadium after the riots!

Know she's sold up but presume still has strong contacts ...

Would still be slightly surprised if United got Nasri; originally thought it was agent talk for new contract but it's gone on a little while now, and City supposedly monitoring now aswell.

Think the main thing with Arsenal is that if Wenger does lose Fabregas, Nasri and Clichy this summer then presuming he stays, the supporters (those that still have some faith in him) have to get over the "we'll give him one more year to deliver a trophy otherwise I want him out too!!!" thinking.

When adding that Bendtner and Denilson have requested to leave, then thats 5 players to replace there before even addressing other areas that Wenger's presumably looking to strengthen (CB) or other players Wenger might wish to move on (is Almunia really going to get another year? Squillaci was pretty poor, Rosicky not really the player he was etc). Could be needing to replace 7-8 players which is a huge ask in one summer if so, especially if then expected for them to gel and win a trophy first year of asking.

Knockon effect of finishing 4th aswell as arguably have to delay incoming transfer activity until qualification secured. Tough to sign players on new fancy dan contracts and budget the club's transfer outlay and wagebill at Champions League level if risk of not qualifying. Budget already going to be hit by only getting 10% of the CL Television market pool, as opposed to 20% had they held onto 3rd.

Any thoughts on whether this summer could mean Arsenal may adjust their wage policy aswell? Very reminscent of 2008 (Flamini, Hleb etc), pay top dollar for their youth but struggle to retain the top earners. Can understand the savings if can make in transfer fees if attract top youngsters at young age, but also tough to move on the youngsters that don't work out. Surprised Bentdner and Denilson not been moved on yet since it was about a month ago they said they wanted to leave, but then both are supposedly on £50,000 per week currently, which is prohibiting to match for a fair amount of clubs.

Less incentive to improve aswell to realise higher wages if not much difference between earners within the squad; possibly breeds a "I've made it" culture.

[strummer77]

Im not sure how much leadership he can do from the physio room. I feel with gerrard its as much about fitness as form. Liverpool have run him into the ground like they did with torres

Edited July 1, 2011 by strummer77

[pink_triangle]

Clichy to city confirmed, Im not convinced but he is definitely a step up from wayne bridge. A lot of people are saying arsenal will be fine selling these players, as long as they reinvest all the money. I have no doubt arsenal could afford the fees for some high value player but trouble is a lot of these players will be outside their wage structure.

[Greeny_Musicchild]

Forest have resigned Andy Reid.

Link

Apparently he's lost a lot of weight. Hopefully he's lost a lot of weight. We've needed a left footer since he left the first time. If no one expects him to run I think he's a great signing at Championship level. I'd still like to see McLaren make a few more signings, we need a left back.

[The Nal]

Something familiar about what Tevez came out with this evening.......

[onemangang]

Something familiar about what Tevez came out with this evening.......

Edited July 4, 2011 by onemangang

[eFestivals]

Something familiar about what Tevez came out with this evening.......

Yeah, I saw that.

I guess the difference in distance between Manc and Argentina is much bigger than the distance between Milan and Argentina.

I reckon Tevez has been hanging out with Robbie Savage and his dodgy maps.

Edited July 5, 2011 by eFestivals

[ralph250]

and they wouldn't swap eto from him either witch in my view is ridiculous.

[eFestivals]

No-one wants to pay £35m + huge wages for a player that a year down the line is going to start kicking up a fuss.

Fergie* did. Hughes** did. And some other mug will too.

(* OK, he didn't pay that amount to buy Tevez, but he paid something around equivalent in 'rent')

(** it was Hughes, wasn't it? And not Mancini? I forget).

Edited July 5, 2011 by eFestivals

[jump]

Fergie* did. Hughes** did. And some other mug will too.

(* OK, he didn't pay that amount to buy Tevez, but he paid something around equivalent in 'rent')

(** it was Hughes, wasn't it? And not Mancini? I forget).

Edited July 5, 2011 by jump

[eFestivals]

*Another thought, didn't Tevez say he left Man U because they kept making delays with making him a permanent signing and I do take that with a pinch of salt*

I'm pretty sure there was something like that - he's clearly a player who believes that everything about him should have any manager tying him to a long contract as quickly as he can.

Which, in light of how quick he is to say he wants to go elsewhere, just gets to show what a moron he is. Cos while I thought at the time that Fergie dropped a bollock by not signing him up straight away (this was before Tevez had shown the wider public what a prat he is), it's probably the case that Fergie saw Tevez for what he is long before we did.

[ralph250]

Fergie* did. Hughes** did. And some other mug will too.

(* OK, he didn't pay that amount to buy Tevez, but he paid something around equivalent in 'rent')

[ralph250]

He'll definitely spend, but it's how much. The board has to realease everything we get from transfers and more besides if we want to stay competitive. I don't see us changing our wage policy, Nasri has had a £120k a week contract on the table for a year now and hasn't signed. If that's not enough then he's welcome to go IMO. Like so many others i'm becoming increasingly dissolusioned with the money that players are paid. If the only way to keep top players is to pay the kind of insane wages that the likes of Rooney and Tevez are earning, then I don't want them at the club. I'd rather we dropped out of the top 4 than shell out crazy ammounts on players who's only loyalty is to their wage packet. I know that's the case with almost every player these days, but i've had enough really.

Cesc is obviously a different case. He's given us 8 years of brilliant service and will remain a real hero to me. He's carried himself with real dignity throughout the last few close seasons, and i'll wish him every success in the future. With Nasri though my feelings will be very different. He's had a cracking 4 months at the start of the season, but before that and certainly since, has been average at best. His agent has been leaking stuff for months now, and i'm fed up of it. If he's not interested in becoming the focal point of the side then good riddance.

Edited July 5, 2011 by ralph250

[eFestivals]

Not really. Fergie paid around £9-10m for a 2 year loan.

I was being kind to fergie.

The 'rent' means that Tevez cost Utd more than if they'd have bought him*, cos if they'd have bought him they'd have got that money back when selling him on.

(* I do realise that it wasn't really an option at the time for Fergie to buy).

[ralph250]

I was being kind to fergie.

The 'rent' means that Tevez cost Utd more than if they'd have bought him*, cos if they'd have bought him they'd have got that money back when selling him on.

(* I do realise that it wasn't really an option at the time for Fergie to buy).

[ralph250]

Mentioning Hargreaves

Guessing the search for a new club isn't going well. Posted 18 youtube videos of him training, presumably to try and prove his fitness.

Depressing stuff and good luck to him.

http://www.youtube.com/user/owenhargreavescb#p/a/u/1/7jtCnhqTjEo