Football 2011-2012

[Benj]

Its still an indication though surely? People are playing for the place for the coming season.

Edited August 1, 2011 by Benj

[The Nal]

Indeed, these Arsenal players could even be playing for their careers (at a Champions league level club anway)

[pink_triangle]

Its still an indication though surely? People are playing for the place for the coming season.

I know. But Sheffield Utds youth team went there last week and only lost 3-2. 14 nil is an absolute disaster.

[Benj]

I dont think its much of an indication at all friendlies are paid at a pace far slower than the premiership, defedners tackle far less and a lot softer. The effort levels are also far less with the main priority to build up match fitness and not get any injuries. I have seen wrexham play loads of premiership/top championship sides and look like they are of similar ability. I have regularly heard about squads with amazing preseasons and terrible seasons and vice versa. I dont think managers pay much attention to the games at all in terms of selection for upcoming league games.

[pink_triangle]

Indeed, these Arsenal players could even be playing for their careers (at a Champions league level club anway)

[Benj]

For all the stick these arsenal defenders got, there were only 3 clubs whos defenders conceded less goals last season and that was with vermalen who is arguably their best defender out most of the season. I have no doubts they need to strengthen but I dont think they are as bad at the back as some make out. I certainly dont think liverpool and spurs (who both conceded more last season)are significantly stronger at the back.

[pink_triangle]

I think the key to that stat is who are the 3 clubs?

Yes, the 3 above them

[The Nal]

Joe Cole off to QPR apparently. They've silly money now don't they? They'll throw a shitload of cash at him to do f**k all.

[Benj]

Those clubs however have probably spent the most money on defedners and paid them the most money. Arsenal are trying to bridge the gap but not willing to pay over the odds which is fair enough. However nobody expects the top 3 to drop out of the top 4, most people seem to think that arsenal will be competing with liverpool and spurs for 4th place yet very few seem to be discussing the defesnive weaknesses of these 2 squads who both conceded more last season.

[The Nal]

"Newcastle United can confirm that Joey Barton has been placed on the transfer list today (Monday). The player has been advised that he can leave the club on a free transfer."

"@Joey7Barton Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata."

Could be a great signing for a number of clubs. Everton or Arsenal spring to mind.

Edited August 1, 2011 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

Im not talking about falling out of the top 4, Im talking about going for the title.

If that is no longer Arsenal's ambition then I would be absolutely fukcing fuming if I was a fan. If they have no money to invest, then fair enough, if its Wenger following some kind of frugal policy, when there is perhaps money there to genuinely strenthen, then they have a right to be mad

[chappiepunk]

"Newcastle United can confirm that Joey Barton has been placed on the transfer list today (Monday). The player has been advised that he can leave the club on a free transfer."

"@Joey7Barton Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata."

Could be a great signing for a number of clubs. Everton or Arsenal spring to mind.

[Benj]

Sky Sports have Everton down as favorites to sign him. Would be a great signing for them, he could do a good job for almost every premiership team.

[pink_triangle]

I very much doubt he'd move back to merseyside

Plus, Ii's an area we don't really need to strengthen, I can't see Moyes wasting the little funds he may have on him, when there are higher priorities

[Jaybles]

Am hoping there is actually something in the Sneijder news today. The story has been floating around so long with so many ups and downs i don't know what to believe.

I do think he would make an amazing addition to our squad though!

[Benj]

I think in a way moyes success as a manager counts against him when it comes to getting money to spend. He achieves such amazing results with the budget he is given, you can see why a board would think just keep things the same and finish 6th or 7th every season.

[The Nal]

Am hoping there is actually something in the Sneijder news today. The story has been floating around so long with so many ups and downs i don't know what to believe.

I do think he would make an amazing addition to our squad though!

[pink_triangle]

I think they'd give him money to spend if they had any!

Moyes has had a lot more to spend than people think, 37 million on 3 players alone over 3 seasons not so long back, its only the last couple of seasons where the cash has run out and he's not had a pot to piss in

[Badlands]

I dont think Arsenal would touch him, man utd were rumoured last week which would also shock me. I think the likes of man utd, arsenal and liverpool care too much about their reputation to take the risk on someone who would be a squad player at best. I also think everton would be reluctant rightly or wrongly to take a player whos brother is imprisoned for murdering someone from merseyside.

[pink_triangle]

He was cracking last season but that's after 3 seasons of injuries, underperformance and jail.

[Badlands]

I think teams are looking too much into last season, maybe barton just had a good year. Football is full of teams who have bought a player on the back of 1 year and then quickly worked out that they year or 2 before were a much better representation of the players ability. Nobody was saying the likes of arsenal should be buying barton a year ago. I would be wary about reading too much into last season which was an odd season where a lot of the players who didnt go to the world cup seemed to benefit from the rest compared to those who did.

[pink_triangle]

Nah, he was a good player at City though he suffered from injuries there as well.

[The Nal]

Man Utd - Ravel Morrison

Liverpool - Gypsy Carroll

Arsenal - Remains to be seen what happens to Alex Song

Anyone who gets Joey Barton will be getting a classy player albeit one with little pace. However as thats not part of his game it means he may still have the best years ahead of him.

There's a lot of outrage up here but imho he's not done himself any favours. He was cracking last season but that's after 3 seasons of injuries, underperformance and jail. He still owes us. He's been very clever with the way he's engineered this as well, I'm not buying for one minute the tweets playing up to the fans.

It's a f**king joke my football club!!

[ralph250]

How do the Toon Army feel about losing Carroll, Nolan and Barton? With strong rumours of Gutierrez, Best, Routledge, Smith, Gutierrez, Perch, LuaLua and Xisco to follow?

With Marveaux the only player in?

Whats the f**k is going on up there?

Edited August 2, 2011 by ralph250

[ralph250]

Barton's a decent player. Wouldn't personally want him at United and would be surprised at Arsenal. Yes, he has a bit of bite, but if Wengers looking to bring in an experienced player for the dressing room, I can think of better options. I don't think he's the kind of influence they need.