Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

Pretty boring fifth round draw I must say. Was really hoping Spurs and Chelsea might meet

[thetime]

Pretty boring fifth round draw I must say. Was really hoping Spurs and Chelsea might meet

[kaosmark2]

who gives a damn about mickey mouse competitions.

[thetime]

Optimistic about your chances of winning the Europa League?

[kaosmark2]

Nope, will be one of them rare years where there will be nothing added in the trophy cabinet this season.

[eFestivals]

As I said, Liverpool should beat Utd on Saturday - and they did.

But more by luck than skill, cos neither team was really ever in the game. Liverpool shaded it because Utd rarely saw the net they needed to put the ball in to, but only one player stood out for me in that match - Raphael. Liverpool didn't get any joy past him for the whole match, he was fantastic.

And Arsenal got more than a bit lucky yesterday, at 0-2 down I thought they were dead and buried. All match they couldn't beat the Villa defence, and at half-time I said they'd only score via Villa errors - which is precisely what happened. What's happened to the Arsenal that was always able to cut any defence apart?

[The Nal]

As I said, Liverpool should beat Utd on Saturday - and they did.

But more by luck than skill, cos neither team was really ever in the game. Liverpool shaded it because Utd rarely saw the net they needed to put the ball in to, but only one player stood out for me in that match - Raphael. Liverpool didn't get any joy past him for the whole match, he was fantastic.

[eFestivals]

Seems to be a case of shoot and De Gea and it goes in though.

Yep. That's not changed from the beginning of the season.

Nicely taken by Kuyt tho. Walcott should have been watching for a tip for yesterday, but obviously wasn't.

I read a piece in a paper late last week or over the weekend where Walcott was saying him and Chamberlain are different players - Chamberlain a winger, and Walcott a self-proclaimed striker. Oh yeah Theo? Isn't it about time you started proving that then?

All the same I still like Theo and reckon he's more than decent as a winger, one of the better ones in the country, and that he gets harshly criticised - cos he delivers better crosses overall than other wingers who don't get anything like the same flack.

But he ain't no striker. For a start, most of the time he doesn't have the bottle to shoot when he's in a great position. And when he does shoot it's too often like that shot yesterday.

[The Nal]

But he ain't no striker. For a start, most of the time he doesn't have the bottle to shoot when he's in a great position. And when he does shoot it's too often like that shot yesterday.

[eFestivals]

Some 'interesting' Andy Carroll rumours over the weekend.

The first was that they offered City a straight swap for Tevez. Sounds like fair value to me that one.

The next is that they're trying to do a swap deal with Newc for Ba. Ashley being Ashley I'm sure he'd let Ba go because it's all pure profit, but Ashley isn't mug enough to let him go too cheaply and certainly not for just Carroll in return.

Meanwhile, Carroll was interviewed over the weekend and says he's fitting in well at Liverpool.

And today there's rumours of Liverpool trying to take Tevez on loan - which I'm sure won't work because City want to sell. But if I were Liverpool I'd buy him at £25M and keep him until the summer and then sell him on, even if they get only £20M for him then. The £10M or so it would cost to him for the next few months would be more than covered by having Chumps League footie next season.

[The Nal]

Also looks like Mourinho is defo leaving Real in June to go back to England.

Hmmmm.......

[jump]

^ Wouldn't it depend of Tevez's wages tho. He's on £140k at the moment and I think that is major reason why teams are have been re-thinking about signing him after taking an intrest aswell as a big signing on fee he may want.

[The Nal]

^ Wouldn't it depend of Tevez's wages tho. He's on £140k at the moment and I think that is major reason why teams are have been re-thinking about signing him after taking an intrest aswell as a big signing on fee he may want.

[jump]

Thought it was 200k?

Edited January 30, 2012 by jump

[eFestivals]

Also looks like Mourinho is defo leaving Real in June to go back to England.

Hmmmm.......

there was something I read somewhere over the last few days which said that if Mancini doesn't win the title this year he's gone.

I can't see which other club he'd go to, aside from perhaps back to Chelsea - but I don't think Abramovich would eat that much humble pie.

[eFestivals]

Thought it was 200k?

Adebayor is on £225k, and Tevez's contract says he has to always be City's highest paid player.

[jump]

there was something I read somewhere over the last few days which said that if Mancini doesn't win the title this year he's gone.

I can't see which other club he'd go to, aside from perhaps back to Chelsea - but I don't think Abramovich would eat that much humble pie.

[The Nal]

there was something I read somewhere over the last few days which said that if Mancini doesn't win the title this year he's gone.

I can't see which other club he'd go to, aside from perhaps back to Chelsea - but I don't think Abramovich would eat that much humble pie.

[Steve P]

We got so lucky yesterday. So many problems with ths squad at the moment, the biggest being the lack of fullbacks. The number of goals we've conceded that began in wide positions in the last couple of months is frightening. Glad to see Sagna almost back, but on the other side we're no nearer. The delay in Wilshere's comback is worrying too, just no real creativity at the moment.

Is this the most boring transfer window of all time?

[eFestivals]

Me neither. Mourinho has said he wants to come back to England "for good". He wont be guaranteed long term at Chelski or Citeh.

I'm pretty certain he wants the Utd job.

I'm pretty certain he does too.

But unless the Utd boardroom has been on the stupid pills, they'd be mad beyond belief to give it to him. I just can't see them giving the job to someone who believes himself bigger than any club.

Yeah that's what I thought, Silva/Toure on megabucks too. No way Pool will cough up those kind of wages. They wouldn't even pay him half.

In normal circumstances I'd agree. But the rumours over the weekend suggest that Liverpool are prepared to pay him those wages.

And I can see how there's be great value to Liverpool in paying them too. Tevez should be more than enough to get Liverpool into the top four as things stand, and that's worth more than Tevez would cost (wages included).

Having said that, I really hope that nothing comes of these rumours or any other Tevez rumours. I'd much prefer to see Tevez rot out his contract on City's books - not for the effect on City but for the effect on Tevez.

[thetime]

Fergie to step aside this summer for mourinho?

[eFestivals]

We got so lucky yesterday. So many problems with ths squad at the moment, the biggest being the lack of fullbacks. The number of goals we've conceded that began in wide positions in the last couple of months is frightening. Glad to see Sagna almost back, but on the other side we're no nearer. The delay in Wilshere's comback is worrying too, just no real creativity at the moment.

Is this the most boring transfer window of all time?

After yesterday I'd say the bigger problem is centre backs that go walkabout. Even before Villa had the ball I said to my missus that Arsenal were going to be in trouble from them hanging around Villa's box once the advantage from the corner had been lost - and 10 seconds later the ball was in Arsenal's net.

And the lack of creativity was a HUGE problem yesterday. Arsenal had nothing to get past Villa's defence, nothing at all. It took mistakes from Villa for Arsenal to get the win.

What happened to the team that could play great passing football? o:

[pink_triangle]

And today there's rumours of Liverpool trying to take Tevez on loan - which I'm sure won't work because City want to sell. But if I were Liverpool I'd buy him at £25M and keep him until the summer and then sell him on, even if they get only £20M for him then. The £10M or so it would cost to him for the next few months would be more than covered by having Chumps League footie next season.

[strummer77]

I'm fairly certain the Carroll swap thing is rubbish but I believe we may have tried to get him on loan.

Would be a bit annoying if we're suddenly trying to ship Carroll after he finally has a good game He's been fairly dire but he was one of the best out there at the weekend, really put in a shift. If he wanted it that much all the time he could be a real handfull.

[kaosmark2]

there was something I read somewhere over the last few days which said that if Mancini doesn't win the title this year he's gone.

I can't see which other club he'd go to, aside from perhaps back to Chelsea - but I don't think Abramovich would eat that much humble pie.