The TT Football Club

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Diame has a 3.5 million buy out clause and Ba 7.5, they'd be good January transfers.

They would, neither of them would pass a medical though I wouldn't of thought. They're a risk of sorts, but would be great for Arsenal. Steel and strength in midfield, a striker who can replace van Persie's goals better than anyone they have at the moment.
 

Dave M

Hall of Fame
Talk about frustrating... just a few minutes really away from winning and then get sucker punched - twice. :cry: Ah well, I can't say Everton didn't deserve it actually.

Didn't see the City Utd game. A deserved win for the reds was it?

I think i feel your pain!
Man u were prob a bit better but I was sitting next to a utd fan who was very animated today!
Can't believe all 3 of their goals were scored by hammers academy players.:shock:
 
They would, neither of them would pass a medical though I wouldn't of thought. They're a risk of sorts, but would be great for Arsenal. Steel and strength in midfield, a striker who can replace van Persie's goals better than anyone they have at the moment.

Wasn't Chelsea linked with Ba as well? He'd provide depth upfront and competition for Torres.
 

PED

Legend
Glad to see Wenger having a say in the outcome of the Manchester derby.

RvP (ex Arsenal)'s free kick takes a wicked deflection off the boot of Samir Nasri, another Emirates product.

I'd rather have City stumble instead of Utd. With Mancini, they're much more fragile mentally down the stretch and that's better for ars, spurs and chelsea fans.

Fergie's boys rarely choke at the end.
 

PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
Glad to see Wenger having a say in the outcome of the Manchester derby.

RvP (ex Arsenal)'s free kick takes a wicked deflection off the boot of Samir Nasri, another Emirates product.

And with the free kick resulting from Clichy needlessly giving the ball away on the edge of the City area.

Re City being more likely to slip up down the stretch - I don't think what either of the Manchester clubs are doing is anything to do with us unfortunately. :cry:

In spite of our terrible results / form / play, the fact that we're only two points behind Everton / Spurs in 4th / 5th is really a positive. To have been as atrocious as we have been and not have been made to pay for it by the pretenders for 4th place leaves Arsenal with a bit of optimism.
 

Ross K

Legend
And with the free kick resulting from Clichy needlessly giving the ball away on the edge of the City area.

Re City being more likely to slip up down the stretch - I don't think what either of the Manchester clubs are doing is anything to do with us unfortunately. :cry:

In spite of our terrible results / form / play, the fact that we're only two points behind Everton / Spurs in 4th / 5th is really a positive. To have been as atrocious as we have been and not have been made to pay for it by the pretenders for 4th place leaves Arsenal with a bit of optimism.

I also think the red half of Merseyside might come into things... call me insane but I just have a sneaking suspicion Liverpool are starting to get going under Rodgers.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
I also think the red half of Merseyside might come into things... call me insane but I just have a sneaking suspicion Liverpool are starting to get going under Rodgers.

I do too, top 4 this year might be a bit of a stretch though. The way things are going with everyone dropping points regularly, it could be possible.
 

Ross K

Legend
Just a bit of fun...

Who might be your top foreign PL players of all time?

I'll kick it off... Cantona, Bergkamp and Zola.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Just a bit of fun...

Who might be your top foreign PL players of all time?

I'll kick it off... Cantona, Bergkamp and Zola.

Good choices! I'd add Henry, Drogba, Hasselbaink, Pires, Viera, Makelele, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and Schmeichel.

I see Romeu is out for the season after a nasty knee injury, Mikel and Ramires are going to be pretty busy for the next 7 months!
 

NickC

Professional
Good choices! I'd add Henry, Drogba, Hasselbaink, Pires, Viera, Makelele, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and Schmeichel.

I see Romeu is out for the season after a nasty knee injury, Mikel and Ramires are going to be pretty busy for the next 7 months!

Does that mean we're going to ship him back to the Nou Camp now, becuse that two-year option is up?
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Does that mean we're going to ship him back to the Nou Camp now, becuse that two-year option is up?

I don't think that's how it works with this one, we signed him outright for €5 Million, so he's a Chelsea player. Barcelona had the option to buy him back last year for €10 Million, or €15 Million next summer. I don't think he has shown enough for them to do that, now he won't kick a ball again before the summer, it seems even more unlikely.
 

Ross K

Legend
Good choices! I'd add Henry, Drogba, Hasselbaink, Pires, Viera, Makelele, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and Schmeichel.

I see Romeu is out for the season after a nasty knee injury, Mikel and Ramires are going to be pretty busy for the next 7 months!

Yes, Henry was just sensational. Also have to say the same for Viera. Of 'the Invincibles' though, my personal fav is Dennis Berkamp... stunning touch, highly skillful, consistent, could always find the back of the net, and hard and niggly without quite entering into Roy Keane mode...what a player!8)
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Yes, Henry was just sensational. Also have to say the same for Viera. Of 'the Invincibles' though, my personal fav is Dennis Berkamp... stunning touch, highly skillful, consistent, could always find the back of the net, and hard and niggly without quite entering into Roy Keane mode...what a player!8)

Oh I agree, Bergkamp and Zola are my favourites. I don't think they scored a bad goal between them! :)

I remember Bergkamp scored a hat-trick against Leicester, you couldn't wish to see 3 better goals. Zola's flick between the legs, direct from a corner was probably my favourite of his, although he made Schmeichel look silly only a few months into his first season.. I remember Ferguson calling him a "clever little so-and-so", pretty sweet to rub it in to the school full of Man Utd fans the day after, most of which hadn't even heard of Chelsea at the time! :)
 

PED

Legend
Good choices! I'd add Henry, Drogba, Hasselbaink, Pires, Viera, Makelele, van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo and Schmeichel.

Great choices, Ruud was superb on his day and was a regular in my fantasy side back then.

Henry is the one for me though, I am biased though.

Fena, your new avatar keeps throwing me off :)

Nani to Arsenal? Not sure how I feel about that.
 
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SempreSami

Hall of Fame
Yes, Henry was just sensational. Also have to say the same for Viera. Of 'the Invincibles' though, my personal fav is Dennis Berkamp... stunning touch, highly skillful, consistent, could always find the back of the net, and hard and niggly without quite entering into Roy Keane mode...what a player!8)

Bergkamp was just as capable of putting in dirty tackles as he was trapping a ball exquisitely.
 

PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
Bergkamp was just as capable of putting in dirty tackles as he was trapping a ball exquisitely.

Whereas Gervinho, Walcott, Arshavin et al hardly have a b*ll*ck between them, and they certainly aren't rock 'ard!

Someone in our team needs to step up and 'do a Keown' on a contemporary van Nistelrooy (van Persie at the Emirates springs to mind) and teach the younger players that beyond their years of one touch passing training you need to play on the edge physically to win this league.
 

BauerAlmeida

Hall of Fame
Just a bit of fun...

Who might be your top foreign PL players of all time?

I'll kick it off... Cantona, Bergkamp and Zola.


I don't off all time, but from 2000 onwards I would say Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Ljugnberg, Van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Drogba, Cech and Aguero. I'm probably forgeting someone important though.
 

NickC

Professional
Xabi Alonso?

How about Essien? Makalele? And yeah Alonso at Liverpool was dynamite, and when he had Masch alongside him they were awesome.

And someone should mention Liverpool Torres before Aguero. Aguero is great but at Liverpool Torres was amazing.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
I see the Falcao rumours are starting up again, same with Walcott. Why are all the top teams chasing him? He wants to play central, I can't see him getting into the team at any of his prefered destinations.

Will be interesting to see Paulinho in the finals on Sunday, with Mikel going off for the African Cup of Nations and Romeu out for the season, he could be a great option.
 

Dave M

Hall of Fame
Just a bit of fun...

Who might be your top foreign PL players of all time?

I'll kick it off... Cantona, Bergkamp and Zola.
Paolo DiCanio.
anyway choosing the best that's no fun, what about the worst, not just in terms of cost but attitude, ability to play a full game etc.
Marco Boogers, Florin Radiciou, Paolo Futre (fantastic ability but so past it it was untrue) Dumitrescu,(they were all from one Redknapp spending spree-i feel or QPR) Ali Dia (southampton lad said he was Weahs; cousin IIRC)
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
The best thing to come out of today? Listening to Piazon express his disappointment in his team mates. We just didn't want to be there, it was dire, going through the motions would of been a step up from that crap.

If they all had the attitude of Luiz, Ramires and Piazon today, it's hard to imagine not getting the win.
 

NickC

Professional
The best thing to come out of today? Listening to Piazon express his disappointment in his team mates. We just didn't want to be there, it was dire, going through the motions would of been a step up from that crap.

If they all had the attitude of Luiz, Ramires and Piazon today, it's hard to imagine not getting the win.

Yeah the Brazilian contingent took it quite seriously. The rest of the team? Not so much. Torres in particular was dogshit.
 

Breaker

Legend
Yeah the Brazilian contingent took it quite seriously. The rest of the team? Not so much. Torres in particular was dogshit.

A step up from his usual form then.

Tell you what we can do a straight swap Torres for Balotelli, at least your games will be entertaining then :)
 

Ross K

Legend
Paolo DiCanio.
anyway choosing the best that's no fun, what about the worst, not just in terms of cost but attitude, ability to play a full game etc.
Marco Boogers, Florin Radiciou, Paolo Futre (fantastic ability but so past it it was untrue) Dumitrescu,(they were all from one Redknapp spending spree-i feel or QPR) Ali Dia (southampton lad said he was Weahs; cousin IIRC)

Haha, great 'worst ever PL foreign players' :) ... yes, West Ham/Redknapp have a pretty dire record.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
A step up from his usual form then.

Tell you what we can do a straight swap Torres for Balotelli, at least your games will be entertaining then :)

I don't get why Mancini goes down the tough love route with him. Some players you have to make them feel loved and let them do their own thing, Di Canio, Cantona etc..

Prandelli did it in the Euro's and we saw it was good for him. Mancini seems to be looking for things to lay into him over. With characters like Balotelli, that's like a red rag to a bull.
 

PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
Yeah - I don't understand why the European team doesn't put more effort into winning the Club World Cup, especially if you are a team who has just won the European Cup for the first time in your history and thus have never won this title. Surely most clubs would want the title of 'World Club Champion' in their history, and most players to have it on their resume, even if most of the competition within the tournament is not considered to be the most prestigious.

Tim Vickery is always talking about how it is considered a huge deal in Brazil and South America, being a focal point of the entire club season, as it is seen as an opportunity to confound expectations and beat the moneyed European giant.

Obviously it's a distraction from the toil of a domestic season, but how many of the Chelsea squad have that title to their name, which can only be obtained by the best-of-the-best in a given year?

Also, it would have provided the Chelsea fans with a new twist on their "we know what we are..." chant now that they've been knocked out of the CL.
 

NickC

Professional
Yeah - I don't understand why the European team doesn't put more effort into winning the Club World Cup, especially if you are a team who has just won the European Cup for the first time in your history and thus have never won this title. Surely most clubs would want the title of 'World Club Champion' in their history, and most players to have it on their resume, even if most of the competition within the tournament is not considered to be the most prestigious.

Tim Vickery is always talking about how it is considered a huge deal in Brazil and South America, being a focal point of the entire club season, as it is seen as an opportunity to confound expectations and beat the moneyed European giant.

Obviously it's a distraction from the toil of a domestic season, but how many of the Chelsea squad have that title to their name, which can only be obtained by the best-of-the-best in a given year?

Also, it would have provided the Chelsea fans with a new twist on their "we know what we are..." chant now that they've been knocked out of the CL.

I think Rafa sent the team out to loose, last time he was at that stage he was with Inter, he won the match, he called for money to spend in his post-match presser and was sacked a day later. He didn't want history to repeat itself.
 

PED

Legend
Ross, here we come, only two points back

Everton should def drop points with the Fro out for 3 games: Christmas comes early.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Yeah - I don't understand why the European team doesn't put more effort into winning the Club World Cup, especially if you are a team who has just won the European Cup for the first time in your history and thus have never won this title. Surely most clubs would want the title of 'World Club Champion' in their history, and most players to have it on their resume, even if most of the competition within the tournament is not considered to be the most prestigious.

Tim Vickery is always talking about how it is considered a huge deal in Brazil and South America, being a focal point of the entire club season, as it is seen as an opportunity to confound expectations and beat the moneyed European giant.

Obviously it's a distraction from the toil of a domestic season, but how many of the Chelsea squad have that title to their name, which can only be obtained by the best-of-the-best in a given year?

Also, it would have provided the Chelsea fans with a new twist on their "we know what we are..." chant now that they've been knocked out of the CL.

Chelsea TV are showing the 1970 FA Cup final against Leeds, both games. If I didn't have work, watching those again would make for a good 4 hours :)

Hopefully the players take tomorrow's game more seriously than they did on Sunday, putting in a poor performance against one of our most hated rivals won't go down well.
 

Ross K

Legend
Ross, here we come, only two points back

Everton should def drop points with the Fro out for 3 games: Christmas comes early.

Yes, you're definitely still in the hunt and it's all to play for with a number of sides. Anyhow, I've learnt through bitter experience (last season being maybe the worst example of this I can remember :evil:), to never underestimate Wenger and Arsenal.

On a wider note about my lot, if only...

IF ONLY Levy could make a very good signing or two this upcoming transfer window, it could make all the difference. Last season we were in a similar boat and he went to bolster our attack with the goal scoring demon and fit as a fiddle five-times World Player of the Year nominee that is... Louis Saha... (Okay, the nominee stuff is not quite true LOL)... Plus, who can forget Levy's other massive winter transfer window signing - the defensive colossus and titan that is... Ryan Nelson? :grin:

If Levy is truly ambitious, the money need to spent on the likes of a Moutinho, Ericson, Willian, etc, and not these cut-price aging PL players whose time has been and gone.
 

Dave M

Hall of Fame
Very good choices. Tevez has saved one side from relegation and won the PL with two others.

That is such paper made up nonsense, he got 7 goals at the end of a season that he just didnt do much in the previous 26 games of.The Tevez saved them was only started because A) he scored at the end of the season (If he'd of gotten them in Aug and SEpt then not scored again would anyone of claimed he saved them?) and B) SEan BEan and Mccabe the Sheff Utd chairman who claimed it was our fualt they went down.
If we hadn't of had them (Tevez and mascharano) plonled into the side into an attempt to appease another shady buyer from joining the owners then we'd of had a side that played well togther like the year before not one that got all jealous divided and didn't talk to each other at all.
I still don't mind Tevez but that agent Jorabcahin there is something about his dealings.........
 

crosscourt

Professional
That is such paper made up nonsense, he got 7 goals at the end of a season that he just didnt do much in the previous 26 games of.The Tevez saved them was only started because A) he scored at the end of the season (If he'd of gotten them in Aug and SEpt then not scored again would anyone of claimed he saved them?) and B) SEan BEan and Mccabe the Sheff Utd chairman who claimed it was our fualt they went down.
If we hadn't of had them (Tevez and mascharano) plonled into the side into an attempt to appease another shady buyer from joining the owners then we'd of had a side that played well togther like the year before not one that got all jealous divided and didn't talk to each other at all.
I still don't mind Tevez but that agent Jorabcahin there is something about his dealings.........

Not sure that I follow all this but I think Tevez was the difference between West Ham staying up and going down that season. It wasn't the goals alone that I was thinking of, more his all round play. My feeling is that Tevez is an underrated player. Not as flashy as Ronaldo at United, nor as flashy as Aguero at City, but what an influence he has on the game. He would be one of the first names in my PL XI -- current or past.
 

Dave M

Hall of Fame
Not sure that I follow all this but I think Tevez was the difference between West Ham staying up and going down that season. It wasn't the goals alone that I was thinking of, more his all round play. My feeling is that Tevez is an underrated player. Not as flashy as Ronaldo at United, nor as flashy as Aguero at City, but what an influence he has on the game. He would be one of the first names in my PL XI -- current or past.

I fully agree he does add something different and aids the city side no end.I (and any hammers fans i know) would welcome him back any time as he is a class player who likes to have the ball and looks like something will happen when he has it. However, we had a Tevez and mascherano who spoke no English, had a manager who was ordered to play them both as soon as they arrived when neither had done a pre season because of Masch' strike t get a move and Tevez being on holiday. The formation the hammers had done so well with previously and in pre season was ditched to accomodate two unfit players, it is said that the others resented this so wouldn't pass the ball to them etc.(childish)
I meant, we would of been better off without them from the start, we wouldn't of needed the wins in the last few matches without all the upheaval.
Ignoring the fact that Masch asked for a move not long after arriving then when their agent didn't buy the club for his people (a very good thing) they were both being touted everywher.Masch went to 'pool in Jan and Tevez only really started playing well when it was apparant that the big 4 in England were not convinced they wanted to offer him a contract as he'd done nothing by Feb.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Arsenal to go on a spending spree in January? Would be fun to see Ba there.

I'm sure Arsenal will spend, i've been hearing about Ba and El Shaarawy. Newcastle are supposed to be close to getting Remy, which suggests Ba is on his way.

I don't think Sturridge will play for Chelsea again, he should move to Liverpool for £12 Million in the opening days of the window, i'd of thought.

Ramires and Lampard the only two midfielders in the squad, until Mikel gets back from Africa and his ban, with Torres the only striker. The cupboard really is bare.
 

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
So I saw Twitter was blowing up earlier, some Spanish TV station had said Falcao was talking to Chelsea all day and it was pretty much a done deal.

I didn't really think much of it at the time, these crazy stories come out all the time before transfer windows open. Sky Bet now have him at 1/1 to join Chelsea before the end of January though. AS, one of the big papers in Spain have talked about it too, saying he will be in London to look around the facilities and the city next week.

No wonder we're trying to get Sturridge sold to Liverpool as soon as possible!
 

crosscourt

Professional
I see that Tom Ince may move to Liverpool. It is reported as "his father's club". I find that strange. Paul Ince played for West ham, United, Inter Milan and then Liverpool at the end of his career. Saying that Liverpool was Paul Ince's club is like calling Dennis Law "the former Manchester City player".

cc
 
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PureAlph4

Semi-Pro
I see that Tom Ince may move to Liverpool. It is reported as "his father's club". I find that starnge. Paul Ince played for West ham, United, Inter Milan and then Liverpool at the end of his career. Saying that Liverpool was Paul Ince's club is like calling Dennis Law "the former Manchester City player".

cc

Same thing with Sol Campbell in his recent (pretty pointless) interview with the BBC. He referred to Arsenal possessively: 'we,' 'us', 'our' etc. It's funny that you often won't hear that from 'legends' who spent the bulk of their career at a club, but will do from others who spent just a few years. Obviously he cut all ties with Spurs in making the move, so perhaps he feels a tighter bond to the rival club he moved to.

For me, and probably for many, Paul Ince was a United player, but having said that I came in with the Premier League so I have no awareness of his career before that.

With Wilshere, Ramsey, The Ox, Gibbs and Jenkinson all signing long-term deals, it'll be interesting to see whether Wenger's belief in the notion that a group of players that have been nurtured by a club will commit to that club is well founded. It obviously didn't work with the foreign youngsters, and now he puts his faith in the British kids. It may help a little, but the key thing is still making the club competitive again if you want to keep and sign players.
 

Rafter4ever

New User
didn't Blackpool buy him from Liverpool?

ian ayre let him go for free and now decided to buy him back for a reportely 4-6 mil :evil:

forget a new striker, john henry needs to take a serious look at our front office, clean house and bring in someone that can evaluate talent and negotiate, our transfers these last few years (with a few exceptions) were just awful
 

NickC

Professional
ian ayre let him go for free and now decided to buy him back for a reportely 4-6 mil :evil:

forget a new striker, john henry needs to take a serious look at our front office, clean house and bring in someone that can evaluate talent and negotiate, our transfers these last few years (with a few exceptions) were just awful

This.

Liverpool have wasted a ton of money on bad players for a very long time now, and I can only hope Mr. Henry is serious about reversing that course. It seems that for every Suarez, Alonso, Masch, or Torres, there's about 40 million pounds spent on players that just suck.
 
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