The TT Football Club

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

De Bruyne has been doing very well in Germany, hopefully he can come back and replace Marin in the squad next year. Goalkeeper (Courtois), defence (Ake, Chalobah, Kane) and attacking/wide midfield is taken care of for the future. I'd like to get Shaw (who is a Chelsea fan) to be Cole's long term replacement, a striker, and of course a couple of midfielders are needed as there aren't really any coming through.

Marin is still at Chelsea? I know it's his first season and all, but he's made like 2 appearances.

Hazard's 17 year old brother is already at the club, although I don't think a whole lot is really expected of him. I don't think anyone knows if the 10 year old is going to be good enough yet i've said before that I think Hazard will probably only be here for 2-3 years before moving to Spain (possible a Ronaldo replacement for Madrid?).

There's 4 Hazards, Thorgan is with Chelsea as well but out on loan, he's 19 though. There's one who is 17 and is at Lille and the youngest is somewhere in Belgium. I hope they'll all be at Chelsea soon enough and stay for a while, but if Eden is off to Madrid and brings his brothers with him, we need to milk Madrid for all we can. If they're willing to drop 80 on Ronaldo when he's 25, a 23 year old Hazard should fetch a similar fee. 70 million will do.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by PED

Anyone with thoughts on Rio and his on again/off again romance with Int'l football?

Is Jack Wilshire the new Michael Owen, always injured? Having said that,we've won two difficult games without him so maybe it's not a bad thing.

Just seems like the type of shambolic gaffe-prone behaviour that seems to happen with England rather a lot.

Rio obviously favours prolonging Man U career and keeping Fergie sweet. Hodgson/England royally messed up re announcing him before proper consultation with player himself had occurred.

My abiding thought is actually not to do with merits of RF's call-up etc, but rather, the depressing general thought that there seems to be little new young talent emerging under Hodgson really. I'm not saying the PL is awash with youthful English players of dazzling brilliance, but Lampard, Rooney, Defoe, Parker, Cole, Ferdinand, whoever; these players he's opted for up until now - I don't know...

Re Wilshire, let's prey he doesn't turn into the new Michael Owen. Such a class quality player. And he's young too.

[Feña14]

I agree about it being wrong to bring him back, only being able to play once a week is a real problem. It can't be good for the centre backs to play one game, when in the back of their mind they know they will be dropped for the next when Rio will come in. It's not healthy for the team.

I see Arsenal are linked with Cech this morning it will be interesting to see what happens if Arsenal back it up in the summer. With Courtois getting a big reputation in Spain these last two years, it seems like only a matter of time before he's number 1 at Chelsea.

It will probably be the last chance to get big money for Cech, as well as Abramovich being keen on moving the big personalities out. Could be one to keep an eye on.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Feña14

It will probably be the last chance to get big money for Cech, as well as Abramovich being keen on moving the big personalities out. Could be one to keep an eye on.

I'd rather have Valdes or Begovic, too much baggage with Cech.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Just seems like the type of shambolic gaffe-prone behaviour that seems to happen with England rather a lot.

Rio obviously favours prolonging Man U career and keeping Fergie sweet. Hodgson/England royally messed up re announcing him before proper consultation with player himself had occurred.

My abiding thought is actually not to do with merits of RF's call-up etc, but rather, the depressing general thought that there seems to be little new young talent emerging under Hodgson really. I'm not saying the PL is awash with youthful English players of dazzling brilliance, but Lampard, Rooney, Defoe, Parker, Cole, Ferdinand, whoever; these players he's opted for up until now - I don't know...

Re Wilshire, let's prey he doesn't turn into the new Michael Owen. Such a class quality player. And he's young too.

I don't know if you saw my post about Rio on the previous page?

Hodgson followed the correct procedure and all the players clubs were contacted the days before the squad were announced, and ManU didn't say anything about Rio's "training injury whatever". Rio is clearly not playing, just to get back at Hodgson for not picking him for the Euro's, it is pathetic.

In fact is Rio effectively the first ever English player to refuse to play for his country, after being picked? I know some players retire from international football, but he is not doing that, he is a disgrace. And don't forget these matches are important World Cup qualifiers, not just meaningless friendlies. Rio is playing really well at the moment, unlike at the beginning of the season, and would be important to have in the more difficult of the 2 qualifiers next week.

And this is coming from someone that supported him throughout the whole Terry thing last year!

[forthegame]

Calm down jimbo! No big deal. IIRC, SAF did mention all the stuff you're railing against. Injury, fitness, training regime etc.

As an outsider, I have no clue what's gone on behind the scenes.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by forthegame

Calm down jimbo! No big deal. IIRC, SAF did mention all the stuff you're railing against. Injury, fitness, training regime etc.

As an outsider, I have no clue what's gone on behind the scenes.

Haha, yes I calmed myself down by posting some Dunlop prototype racket photos in the rackets section

Thinking about it now though, I think Hodgson may have played it well here. He has picked Rio to see if he will play. He won't. So Hodgson has no reason to pick him anymore if he doesn't want to, as Rio himself is saying that he isn't fit enough for multiple matches in tournament football.

My only worry is Montenegro next week, as we could have done with Rio for that game, never mind.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

I don't know if you saw my post about Rio on the previous page?

Hodgson followed the correct procedure and all the players clubs were contacted the days before the squad were announced, and ManU didn't say anything about Rio's "training injury whatever". Rio is clearly not playing, just to get back at Hodgson for not picking him for the Euro's, it is pathetic.

In fact is Rio effectively the first ever English player to refuse to play for his country, after being picked? I know some players retire from international football, but he is not doing that, he is a disgrace. And don't forget these matches are important World Cup qualifiers, not just meaningless friendlies. Rio is playing really well at the moment, unlike at the beginning of the season, and would be important to have in the more difficult of the 2 qualifiers next week.

And this is coming from someone that supported him throughout the whole Terry thing last year!

If it's all just to get back at Roy, then that's totally lame. As I said before though, I'm more concerned that we're still playing all these old timers. I mean Ferdinand was brilliant in his day, world class... but that was like years and years ago.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Ross K

If it's all just to get back at Roy, then that's totally lame. As I said before though, I'm more concerned that we're still playing all these old timers. I mean Ferdinand was brilliant in his day, world class... but that was like years and years ago.

Yes Ross, I share your concern as well. I said after the last World Cup that we should never pick Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney again. They, for what ever reason have not preformed at Tournament level, they havn't played as a team, so from now on why not pick some different players.

As you say though, who are England going to pick instead?

(and in hindsight maybe pick Rooney again, but he has been terrible for England in the past, so maybe not. We need players that really want to play for England at the very least, otherwise we ain't gonna win anything in my opinion)

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Yes Ross, I share your concern as well. I said after the last World Cup that we should never pick Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney again. They, for what ever reason have not preformed at Tournament level, they havn't played as a team, so from now on why not pick some different players.

As you say though, who are England going to pick instead?

(and in hindsight maybe pick Rooney again, but he has been terrible for England in the past, so maybe not. We need players that really want to play for England at the very least, otherwise we ain't gonna win anything in my opinion)

+ 2 on that statement, Jim! Absolutely with you there mate! And you know one of my pet themes or whatever on this thread every Euros or World Cup is just how incredibly overrated and underwhelming Rooney is. He was nothing short of dire in the last WC.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by jimbo333

Yes Ross, I share your concern as well. I said after the last World Cup that we should never pick Terry, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney again. They, for what ever reason have not preformed at Tournament level, they havn't played as a team, so from now on why not pick some different players.

As you say though, who are England going to pick instead?

(and in hindsight maybe pick Rooney again, but he has been terrible for England in the past, so maybe not. We need players that really want to play for England at the very least, otherwise we ain't gonna win anything in my opinion)

I agree, it was time to bring some new players in. The only two I would of kept around would of been Lampard and Rooney. Terry and Ferdinand are great defenders, even today, but I feel we have a bit of depth there with Jones, Cahill, Smalling, Dawson, Jagielka, Caulker etc..

Midfield, we don't have a whole lot to fall back on. Wilshere is always injured, Cleverley isn't all that good. Gerrard hinted before the Euro's that he was considering International retirement after the tournament, he didn't, but it certainly sets alarm bells ringing knowing it's in his head. Lampard is arguably playing better than he ever has in his new role, I still think he has a part to play.

As for Rooney, whilst he hasn't been brilliant, we still need him Welbeck seems to be on the right track and Sturridge is improving, but those two are never going to be enough. We just have to keep picking Rooney and hope it works out I suppose.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I agree, it was time to bring some new players in.

As for Rooney, whilst he hasn't been brilliant, we still need him Welbeck seems to be on the right track and Sturridge is improving, but those two are never going to be enough. We just have to keep picking Rooney and hope it works out I suppose.

Good points. I agree, bring in the young guys at the back and someone will step up, they usually do. Caulker may be the one.

Not sure I agree re Rooney, other than 04 Euros, he's been sub par in the England shirt-we all keep waiting for him to step it up but not sure he's going to get it done. The desire doesn't seem to be there anymore. With someone like Ronaldo, he's burning to be the best, game in and game out.

I think Sturridge has improved quite a bit since he turned red in January but he's not the finished article yet.

Is Carrick in the squad? If he can get it done against Real, the international level should be NBD. (EDIT-Just saw they want to play him in defense instead of midfield, another great idea......)

[SempreSami]

I still don't think Sturridge could pass water.

[Ross K]

I wonder if England might actually actually come unstuck a bit against Montenegro... maybe it's just the way our rugby boys got pulverised by the taffs last Saturday that's still fresh in my mind - whatever, I'm none too confident of Hodgson and England.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by SempreSami

I still don't think Sturridge could pass water.

Maybe he can, maybe he can't. I'm yet to see him not try and beat 7 men everytime he gets the ball, if one day he decides to pass, we'll have an answer!

Originally Posted by PED

Good points. I agree, bring in the young guys at the back and someone will step up, they usually do. Caulker may be the one.

Not sure I agree re Rooney, other than 04 Euros, he's been sub par in the England shirt-we all keep waiting for him to step it up but not sure he's going to get it done. The desire doesn't seem to be there anymore. With someone like Ronaldo, he's burning to be the best, game in and game out.

I think Sturridge has improved quite a bit since he turned red in January but he's not the finished article yet.

Is Carrick in the squad? If he can get it done against Real, the international level should be NBD. (EDIT-Just saw they want to play him in defense instead of midfield, another great idea......)

I agree, Rooney hasn't been that good for England. As I said though, it's either him.. or Sturridge, Welbeck, Carroll. I'd take Rooney over those, however bad he's been

[Ross K]

What an a-hole that Ferdinand is. So he can fly across the world and commentate on the game (for a pretty sum), but can't actually play in it on account of his special recuperation regime... yeah, right.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Ross K

What an a-hole that Ferdinand is. So he can fly across the world and commentate on the game (for a pretty sum), but can't actually play in it on account of his special recuperation regime... yeah, right.

You've only just worked that one out?

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Ross K

What an a-hole that Ferdinand is. So he can fly across the world and commentate on the game (for a pretty sum), but can't actually play in it on account of his special recuperation regime... yeah, right.

Rio is full of s*it and should never play for England again. What a disgrace!

[Feña14]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...tamina-should-

Mata for Player of the Year!

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...tamina-should-

Mata for Player of the Year!

Don't forget this nugget!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE_bdgAeWHg


He's awesome.