Football 16-17

[eFestivals]

2 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Xhaka should fit in nicely, another dirty player for Wenger to manage... 

wenger buys another midfielder when it's players for the other part of the pitch he needs seems a rather familiar story.

[TheGayTent]

5 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

wenger buys another midfielder when it's players for the other part of the pitch he needs seems a rather familiar story.

I think they do need a midfielder - no idea whether Xhaka is the answer mind. 

[Gucci Piggy]

1 hour ago, TheGayTent said:

Klopp, and him having a pre-season, and no Europe to affect their league campaign. 

Yeah I just meant excitement that seems to be appearing on the back of yesterday's match. I understand why people are excited about their chances in general.

40 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

wenger buys another midfielder when it's players for the other part of the pitch he needs seems a rather familiar story.

 

34 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

I think they do need a midfielder - no idea whether Xhaka is the answer mind. 

Yeah they needed a CM, especially after losing Arteta and Flamini this Summer (obviously neither had important roles by the end but they added depth).

Xhaka is a deep lying playmaker like Arteta was, but with added defensive capabilities. When, for example, Ramsey plays alongside Coquelin, he has to drop deep because Coquelin doesn't have the technical ability to dictate play from deep. Now if he plays alongside Xhaka instead, he'll be free to stay higher up the pitch and perform a similar role to that which he played the other year when he was the best player in the league (not that I expect him to reach those same heights).

It also gives them the option of deploying a more solid CM pairing of Xhaka and Coquelin in games where their defence will be tested more.

However, having said all this, it was probably less important than signing a CB, striker and winger.

[Gucci Piggy]

48 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

for about 20 minutes yesterday they got their shit properly together, in a similar way to how they managed at times last season and which - if they kept it up for more of the game, and cut out their many defensive flaws - suggests they could be a VERY decent team.

Personally i'm not really expecting the improvements but you never know I guess .... but I talked about the game yesterday being exciting, and not about top skills.

That's fair, I guess. But for half of the game they were very poor. I can see inconsistency being their downfall again this season.

[eFestivals]

6 minutes ago, Will-2609 said:

But for half of the game they were very poor. I can see inconsistency being their downfall again this season.

oh, they were dreadful in the first half - tho Arsenal looked much like a team just back from holiday too. None of the teams over the weekend really looked like they'd landed yet.

And yep, I can't see their frailties at the back getting sorted anytime soon, tho I'm half-hopeful that they might find a bit more consistency at the front than they managed for much of last season, cos when they're good they're really good (but they're not that often enough).

[TheGayTent]

Bolasie deal confirmed. Really don't get that one. 

[eFestivals]

6 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

Bolasie deal confirmed. Really don't get that one. 

supposedly they're coming for Andy Carrol with the money.

 

[TheGayTent]

15 minutes ago, eFestivals said:

supposedly they're coming for Andy Carrol with the money.

 

Yeah I'd heard that. 

I think we'd be willing to sell if the price was met...but only if a better alternative is in place. Which will be the bigger stumbling block I reckon. 

[The Nal]

Thought they were going for Benteke no?

Edited August 15, 2016 by The Nal

[TheGayTent]

7 minutes ago, The Nal said:

Thought they were going for Benteke no?

I get the impression Benteke isn't keen. 

[eFestivals]

16 minutes ago, TheGayTent said:

I get the impression Benteke isn't keen. 

I'm not entirely sure that's right. I defo read something a month or so back that suggested he'd take it to get regular games if he was out of Klopp's plans.

I've read stuff several times saying that Liverpool are insisting on getting the money they paid for him, and have knocked back slightly lower offers on that basis (including from Palace), so perhaps that's it?

[Hugh Jass]

We're after Benteke by all accounts, not sure if we'll land him but it would be a hell of a statement.

Bolasie is a strange one, I can't be the only one who thinks he has only ever looked consistently good for about half a season? (Under Pulis ironically). £25-30m for him is madness.

[mjsell]

I really like Bolasie, big strong fast and skillful - just needs to add end product. There's not many wingers in the league that full backs would rather not play against. Money seems par to me. 

[TheGayTent]

3 minutes ago, mjsell said:

I really like Bolasie, big strong fast and skillful - just needs to add end product. There's not many wingers in the league that full backs would rather not play against. Money seems par to me. 

"Just needs to add end product"

Thats a pretty big issue to my mind!

He's 27 too, hardly a kid that's likely to come on in leaps and bounds. 

[TheGayTent]

Re Benteke, presumably he still has a decent length left on his contract - if so, Liverpool can play hardball on his fee if they're so inclined. 

[ThomThomDrum]

God that music for Goal of the Season brought me right back! Case of the warm fuzzies right there. (Lightning Seeds wasnt it?)

Terrible news about Atkinson. Awful thing to happen. 

[Gucci Piggy]

Yeah the price for Bolasie is awful. Costing more than Mkhitaryan and Mané (who was slightly overpriced himself)?

[Hugh Jass]

Costa proves once more that he is the filthiest c**t in football. Shouldn't have been on the pitch to score.

[TheGayTent]

Every year we go there and get shocking decisions. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. 

[pink_triangle]

Will be interesting to see where Hart ends up. He is a good "English style" keeper, but I think foreign coaches may look for someone with a different skill set. He also appears to be regressing as a player, when he should be moving towards his peak.

[TheGayTent]

Tottenham as a replacement for Lloris would be my guess. 

[TheGayTent]

Record signing out for 4 months. 

Well at least Carroll never gets injured 

[DareToDibble]

I read somewhere that the 2 favourites for Hart's signature are Everton, replacement for Howard and... Liverpool, which I find odd. Granted Karius has been ruled out for a few months with a broken hand but having Karius, Mignolet and Hart seems a bit excessive to me.

I do agree with the point above that foreign managers wouldn't really want Hart. They seem to like the more technical keepers.

[The Nal]

3 minutes ago, DareToDibble said:

I read somewhere that the 2 favourites for Hart's signature are Everton, replacement for Howard and... Liverpool, which I find odd. Granted Karius has been ruled out for a few months with a broken hand but having Karius, Mignolet and Hart seems a bit excessive to me.

I do agree with the point above that foreign managers wouldn't really want Hart. They seem to like the more technical keepers.

Hes not really one of those modern goalies who can play ball so his options are limited. 

[kaosmark2]

Based on the Euros and last season he's not one of those keepers who can position himself for set pieces either.