Football 2013-2014

[pink_triangle]

I have to say I had never noticed Mignolet until last season when he started getting hyped a little more, I guess with a keeper if you don't notice them they are probably doing something right. Iants difficult to know how he will get on, Friedel was a great keeper who failed at anfield, Im sure Westerweld was decent at some times as well. I think when it comes to keepers ability wise the premiership keepers are pretty close. A lot is down to confidence and if a new keeper makes mistakes early on with a new club, it is difficult to turn it around.

[RobertProsineckisLighter]

Begovic is definitely a talent, I think a lot of good keepers had poor seasons last year, but the comparison was more in terms of young keepers with similar Prem experience. I guess Guzan could go into that, but he's not been playing in the Prem for nearly as long as the other 3. I just reckon Liverpool didn't have many options so Sunderland ramped the price up a bit.

The deals and transfers at your place were insane, I just don't understand how they could be in place like that. How much of the lingering troubles remain? Obviously a lot of high-wage players have now gone, and I guess a fair whack of the owed transfer fees?

[minute5072]

Anyone been to the Emirates cup before? Down in London that weekend and 29 quid for two games of football seems a good deal!

[kaosmark2]

Anyone been to the Emirates cup before? Down in London that weekend and 29 quid for two games of football seems a good deal!

[minute5072]

Sorry no.

How did Abeid get on at yours in the 2nd half of last season?

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Anyone been to the Emirates cup before? Down in London that weekend and 29 quid for two games of football seems a good deal!

[kaosmark2]

Did really well. You could see the difference in quality between him and our other players. Very composed very skilful. Made a huge difference in helping us qualify for Europe. Would love to have him back but wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with Lomas at Millwall

[minute5072]

Yeah I have. I may be wrong, but they're not full games are they? I went years ago, I think Inter Milan, and maybe Porto played, and one other obviously.

[minute5072]

Good to hear. I'm not sure if the plan is to send him out on loan again or give him a chance to break into the first team. Supposedly we're selling Perch, which would put him and Bigirimana as 5th + 6th choice CMs with us potentially playing 3 at once, so he might get games. He looked really good in friendlies when we first signed him but then didn't do anything until he went up to yours.

[kaosmark2]

Apparently you have released him although can't see any official confirmation. Would be better for us if he stayed with you and we could get him on loan, as I think we'd struggle to match a fraction of his current wage

[TheGayTent]

my preference would probably be him being loaned out to a Championship club until January instead.

[kaosmark2]

Why not just wait til August

[TheGayTent]

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Now the English fixtures are out and the initial excitement has slightly worn off I'm getting excited (sad I know) about the other European leagues fixtures.

Bundesliga and Eredivise fixtures are out and I've already identified a few possible weekends for our next European football adventure. One in particular in March looks superb - it could be possible to see 4 games in 4 days, taking in home games at Ajax, PSV, and 2 from Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, or Cologne. That'd be seeing games on Thurs through Sunday. Will be fantastic if we can pull it off - just got to wait on Bundesliga to sort out it's TV fixtures. But I'll also wait on Serie A and La Liga before deciding. Unfortunately they don't appear to be coming out until mid July.

Edited June 25, 2013 by TheGayTent

[kaosmark2]

Ancelloti to Real Madrid.

[pink_triangle]

Ancelloti to Real Madrid.

[kaosmark2]

A sensible choice, after the Jose era, the one thing Real Madrid need is stability and a safe pair of hands.

I think Tevez to Juventus is a good move for all sides. Juventus need a top class forward and a city need to freshen things up a little.

[TheGayTent]

A sensible choice, after the Jose era, the one thing Real Madrid need is stability and a safe pair of hands.

I think Tevez to Juventus is a good move for all sides. Juventus need a top class forward and a city need to freshen things up a little.

[pink_triangle]

Agreed. I think it'll be interesting to see how things work out though, and it makes a statement about how PSG still aren't big players yet.

Yeah, I agree there as well, although City really need to sign 2 strikers now, with at least one being top class, and if they can't afford Cavani, who's left?

[pink_triangle]

Utter lunacy for Ancelotti to have been sacked by Chelsea.

£10m for a player with a record of 1 in 2? Don't see how that can be described as anything other than a bad deal for City and a great one for Juventus. Although I guess City can afford the loss and have a big earner off the wage bill.

[kaosmark2]

Im not sure its a sign that they aren't big players or just the biggest players in town have come knocking. I doubt any of the English or Italian clubs could have persuaded him to leave and there are some pretty big players in these countries.

As for City theres levendowski, but I have a feeling he will run his contract down. I wonder if they are thinking about going with just 1 up front next season and therefore don't think they can accommodate aguero and another superstar fighting for one place.

[pink_triangle]

And I don't think Aguero/Dzeko is enough. What happens if Aguero gets an injury? What happens if it's late and they need to throw on another attacking option? I don't think any team can get away with just one striker of their level and one squad striker. 2+1 if you play 1 up front, 3+1 if you change between 1 and 2 up front, and 4+youth if you play 2 up front. It's much easier to absorb injuries at any other place in your squad than up front, it's why successful teams always seem to have an abundance of strikers - Man U being the best example.

[kaosmark2]

I agree Aguero/dzeko isnt enough, my point is that maybe they wont be looking for a superstar forward to supplement the 2 of them but maybe someone the next level down eg similar to dzekos level. Man have plenty of forwards but Hernandez and Wellbeck are not at the level where they feel agrieved if they are on the bench in the bigger games. Man Utd have had 1 season with 2 big name forwards and already the second one wants to leave.

I wonder if city are going to look to give one of their younger players a chance as the 4th striker. Guidetti is a funny one, one of the top scorers in holland in 2011/2012 and they left him in the reserves last season which seems a bit of a waste.

[pink_triangle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23065970

I know lower league clubs are In financial trouble but I think selling match time in a competitive game is maybe a step to far. I would have thought most wealthy fans would be willing to just donate the money.

[pink_triangle]

I think Paulinho to Spurs is going to be a good signing, I have been impressed with what I have seen of him for Brazil. I imagine this could mean the end of Parker and Huddlestone. If Spurs can keep Bale and find a decent forward they could be stronger next season.

[kaosmark2]

I think Paulinho to Spurs is going to be a good signing, I have been impressed with what I have seen of him for Brazil. I imagine this could mean the end of Parker and Huddlestone. If Spurs can keep Bale and find a decent forward they could be stronger next season.