Oh please yes, then could he pop over to WHL and do something special there.
Have i mentioned i'm not keen on Bale?:|
The TT Football Club
- Thread starter Ross K
- Start date
Have i mentioned i'm not keen on Bale?:|
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I find it funny, most people who support other teams like to call Chelsea fans fickle, glory hunters, no morals etc.. Benitez is someone who has bashed our club, and our fans when he was at Liverpool. Chelsea and Liverpool hate each other from the rivalry over the last decade, of which Benitez was a huge part of.
Now we're criticised for not forgiving him and backing him? Hmm, something doesn't seem right there. If there is one thing about Chelsea fans, we never forget. Over the last 20 or so years we've been through alot, on the verge of going bankrupt to winning the Champions League in under a decade for instance. There have been some amazing moments, and some horrible ones. The crap ones are important to remember as they are part of our history and make the good times even more special, aswell as putting them into perspective.
To conveniently forget the things Benitez said and did during his time at one of our biggest and most hated rivals would be worse, in my opinion. Benitez is a Liverpool man for life, his family still live there, his kids talk with a scouse accent etc.. That's great
we respect that about him, just like we respect what he achieved at Liverpool and the way he gave everything to them and went to war for them. Every fan wants that, like we had with Mourinho and Di Matteo. I genuinely hope Benitez goes on and does great things in his next role, possibly Real Madrid where he has some history, but Chelsea was the wrong move on every possible level.I'm not surprised that the Chelsea fans are still angry. In the hypothetical case that Fergie had come over to Arsenal when we were huge rivals, I would never have accepted him and would have wanted the Glaswegian thug out at the first opportunity. I can't imagine what the Spuds lot thought when George Graham turned up at the Lane!
I think it depends on context though. I wouldn't be averse to Mourinho's presence at Arsenal, because I don't think we were ever in a bitter, acrimonious struggle with Chelsea during his reign (Drogba just beat us up every time, and that was that), as Liverpool often were (mainly in the CL). If Benitez came to Arsenal, I wouldn't want him out because he was ex-Liverpool (although I do detest the club); it would be because I don't think he is good enough / the right fit for our club.
Rafael Honigstein made an interest point, though, that on top of all this, Benitez is the first scapegoat figure at Chelsea in the Abramovich era. He acts as a figurehead towards whom the fans can express any bottled up dissatisfaction they feel towards the club (sacking of previous managers, treatment of certain players, ticket prices etc etc). They wouldn't do it towards the owner because he finances the club (look at the open threats the Cardiff owner has made about dumping the club if the fans protest), and they wouldn't do it to a manager they believe in because they want to support the team, but in this case everyone knows there is a 6 month window where any fans with pent up frustration can openly express it.
I think it depends on context though. I wouldn't be averse to Mourinho's presence at Arsenal, because I don't think we were ever in a bitter, acrimonious struggle with Chelsea during his reign (Drogba just beat us up every time, and that was that), as Liverpool often were (mainly in the CL). If Benitez came to Arsenal, I wouldn't want him out because he was ex-Liverpool (although I do detest the club); it would be because I don't think he is good enough / the right fit for our club.
Rafael Honigstein made an interest point, though, that on top of all this, Benitez is the first scapegoat figure at Chelsea in the Abramovich era. He acts as a figurehead towards whom the fans can express any bottled up dissatisfaction they feel towards the club (sacking of previous managers, treatment of certain players, ticket prices etc etc). They wouldn't do it towards the owner because he finances the club (look at the open threats the Cardiff owner has made about dumping the club if the fans protest), and they wouldn't do it to a manager they believe in because they want to support the team, but in this case everyone knows there is a 6 month window where any fans with pent up frustration can openly express it.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Great points, especially about George Graham and Spurs! Benitez played a big part in where Liverpool are today, both the good things and the bad. The club is part of him and always will be, to have him try and manage a club who he went head to head with, both on and off the pitch during his time there, it just doesn't work.
You have to feel sorry for him in some ways, with the team he has. There basically isn't a midfield, against Man City at the weekend it was quite sad to watch really. Rodwell has hardly kicked a ball this season, but he came in and had such an easy time of things. We all know the midfield is where it all happens, these days more than ever. The lack of investment in there over the last 5 years is the biggest problem, not the manager.
Abramovich is expecting whoever the manager is to be challenging for the title and at least making the top 4, but we've seen with several managers over the last 2 seasons that we are struggling to get to that level. Even in the Europa League we don't really look out of place, which is pretty gutting.
Spot on there... I bitterly HATED the fact Graham was given the Spurs manager job.
We presume that Rafa was mainly brought in as it was thought he, better than anyone, could draw out some good form from Torres. But above and beyond that, from both Rafa's POV and Roman/CFC's, given past histories and affiliations etc, it patently should not have been allowed to happen.
My cousin is a Spurs fan and had similar feelings to you on that one Ross, I presumed rafa was hired to keep Torres happy but what is said above makes sense,i figured it was a short contract to see how they did togther but i guess it's more likely it was only ever a temp deal (from cfc POV ) to get them to the end of the season when they thought they'd have more manegerial options.
CFC fans here, given the players at their disposal, do you think RDM would of done any better?
I think Rafa is right here. The club's supporters (albeit a small minority) have been directing tons of negative energy towards him, which does nothing besides distract the team and hamper their development. This is nothing to speak of their results, which aside from 3 or so matches has been sh*t. But the players probably have felt the negative energy directed towards their boss and the results of which have shown. The energy that would have been going towards encouraging the team has been turned into negative vibes that has sent a bad feeling throughout the camp.
With all that being said, Chelsea were stupid to hire him in the first place, but i do like the fact that he saw that David Luiz isn't supposed to be a center back, and is instead miles better playing next to another defensive midfielder which suits his technical ability, pace, energy, and shooting.
With all that being said, Chelsea were stupid to hire him in the first place, but i do like the fact that he saw that David Luiz isn't supposed to be a center back, and is instead miles better playing next to another defensive midfielder which suits his technical ability, pace, energy, and shooting.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I think he probably would. Benitez came in and was supposed to get the most out of Torres and also tighten up the defence. With the midfield we have and the fact Torres had clearly lost it, it was never going to happen. Di Matteo was playing to our strengths, which is the 3 young creative players and defending higher up the pitch through pressing teams, we saw it against Spurs and Arsenal away that with the way the squad is set up, it was the only way to go.
The fundamental flaw is the squad isn't good enough, but at least Di Matteo was making use of our strengths, as opposed to Benitez who is highlighting our weaknesses.
BlackSilver
Semi-Pro
I thought Dortmund did fairly well in the second half altough Bayern still had
the better scoring chances.
Napoli just dominated the entire second half against Juventus who seemed glad just to defend andget the tie
PED
Legend
Plus one for the Barca fail.
Really can't believe some of the calls they get as opposed to Real. I thought there was a sniper in the stands the way some of the barca boys went over.
Having said that, pepe goes down fairly easily too
Don't really see how Real could afford to let Ronaldo go.....
The squad I think is plenty good enough, and will get much better next term when De Brunye, Lukaku and Lucas Piazon come back from their loans. Torres is the only one in the team who truly isn't up to snuff, and he should look to move on.
It wasn't Barca's best XI though.
With that being said Tito has some serious thinking to do in the offseason, their tactical approach needs an overhaul whilst still being able to play a possession-based attacking game and a pressing defensive set-up. There seems to be some serious deadweight in the team, and that deadweight won't be sold because said deadweight is Catalan. I'd ditch Busquets (not good enough in fact nowhere near it), Pedro (nowhere near good enough), lessen the role Puyol has on the pitch (but not in the dressing room) and a few others. Sanchez is good and deserves to stay but Cesc was such a poor purchase, even if for the long run. They should drop money this summer on a new backline and a few midfielders. I'd also drop Villa if it mean I could get a cool striker/winger like Suarez.
I'd sign Suarez, Eriksson, Subotic, Hummels, David Luiz and maybe Gundogan. Spend 120 million after selling off a few lesser squad members, due to the experience and relative youthfulness of some of Barcelona's lesser players, I figure I'd be able to recoup 25-30 million.
If they can drop 35 million on Cesc without hesitation who hasn't improved the team's play on the pitch, than 120 on 5 or 6 players who would do so instantly would be a good investment.
Plus one for the Barca fail.
Really can't believe some of the calls they get as opposed to Real. I thought there was a sniper in the stands the way some of the barca boys went over.
Having said that, pepe goes down fairly easily too
Don't really see how Real could afford to let Ronaldo go.....
The ref was poor for both sides, he should have awarded a penalty for Barcelona in stoppage time as there was clear intent to foul the attacker.
Can't think of how Real could afford to let Ronnie go? I can give you 60-70 million reasons why.
A new coach would be thrilled to have such a budget and squad even if Ronaldo wasn't there.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I'm pretty realistic
we finished 6th in the League last year, which is usually the best way to judge how good a team really is, over the course of a whole season. Since then we have got rid of Meireles and Essien from the midfield, and Drogba from up top.The creative, luxury players that came in were very much needed. The already sparse striker and central midfield area became even weaker, quite an achievement really!
In football today you have to improve your squad each season just to maintain where you finished last year, to weaken it in 2 key areas is suicide. The football we have played has reflected it for most of the season. Seeing decent, but not world class players like Milner and Rodwell tear the middle of our team apart was something i've come to begrudgingly accept before each game these days. All we really saw of Hazard and Mata in that game was them tracking back to help Ivanovic and Cole. Having talented people who unlock things is great, not having the team who can get the ball for them to do their thing? It doesn't work.
That's why I say Di Matteo was the right man over Benitez, he knew the midfield wasn't there to make the most of the forward players. Instead he asked the team to press as high up the pitch as possible. At least winning the ball back in the opponents half gave them half a chance, them receiving it in the left back position isn't much use.
PED
Legend
Re Ronaldo, other than PSG, who can afford 60 mil, don't think UTD would pay any where near that price. Come to think of it, Roman might.
I'll be glad when this barca generation is through, boring as hell. It's like Murray and djoker in a final, I can appreciate what sheer difficulty of what they are doing but not want to watch it
I'll be glad when this barca generation is through, boring as hell. It's like Murray and djoker in a final, I can appreciate what sheer difficulty of what they are doing but not want to watch it
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I'm pretty realistic
The creative, luxury players that came in were very much needed. The already sparse striker and central midfield area became even weaker, quite an achievement really!
In football today you have to improve your squad each season just to maintain where you finished last year, to weaken it in 2 key areas is suicide. The football we have played has reflected it for most of the season. Seeing decent, but not world class players like Milner and Rodwell tear the middle of our team apart was something i've come to begrudgingly accept before each game these days. All we really saw of Hazard and Mata in that game was them tracking back to help Ivanovic and Cole. Having talented people who unlock things is great, not having the team who can get the ball for them to do their thing? It doesn't work.
Ess is back next season! He was kickass this preseason, I still don't know why we lent him out. He is doing quite well in Spain, played pretty well today. I think he'll do well when he returns to the club, we need his steel and energy in the center of the park, even though he'll never be the Essien of 2004 or 2005 anymore. Perhaps we can get a decent defensive midfielder in the close season who can shore things up. Like I said earlier, I like the look of Luiz playing as one of two defensive midfielders, perhaps if we get defensive minded midfielder we can play a 3-1-3-3 of sorts, with a flat back three, a defensive midfielder who doesn't really go forward, 3 rotating midfielders and 3 attackers - 2 wingers or wide men when needed or a more central battering ram of Ba, Lukaku and Hazard. Who would you want to come to the club?
I won't be although I do find their slow play somewhat boring. They changed football and that side has left a massive stamp on football's history. And for the better, I'd say. Every now and then a team manages to change how football is played going forward - before this team, it was a lot more physical and not very technical. Now we see and have seen what can happen when a team and generation focuses on passing and technical ability. Boring or not, there's a lot to learn from them and use it going into the future. For example, it won't just be Messi who is remembered for generations to come, this team also gave us Xavi who is brilliant. Iniesta is no slouch either!
It's been 5 years since that core of players burst into form. Can you say that they've changed football? I think so. The question is....what's next? And where will it come from?
Really looking forward to Man U V Real. Utd at home are a tough team to overcome, but if I was a betting man I'd have my money on the Spaniards.
Furthermore, fascinating to see what Mourinho does at the end of the season.
Surely Real and him are finito (could even be more likely should RM win the CL.) I think PSG may have a real shout here. I thought the Utd job was the one he craved - so would he scupper that by going to City? Does he really want to go back to Chelsea? Is Roman going to want him back?
Whatever, I suspect the CL is what really motivates him more than anything, and it will highly absorbing seeing him pit his wits against Ferguson.
Furthermore, fascinating to see what Mourinho does at the end of the season.
Surely Real and him are finito (could even be more likely should RM win the CL.) I think PSG may have a real shout here. I thought the Utd job was the one he craved - so would he scupper that by going to City? Does he really want to go back to Chelsea? Is Roman going to want him back?
Whatever, I suspect the CL is what really motivates him more than anything, and it will highly absorbing seeing him pit his wits against Ferguson.
I'm pretty realistic
The creative, luxury players that came in were very much needed. The already sparse striker and central midfield area became even weaker, quite an achievement really!
In football today you have to improve your squad each season just to maintain where you finished last year, to weaken it in 2 key areas is suicide. The football we have played has reflected it for most of the season. Seeing decent, but not world class players like Milner and Rodwell tear the middle of our team apart was something i've come to begrudgingly accept before each game these days. All we really saw of Hazard and Mata in that game was them tracking back to help Ivanovic and Cole. Having talented people who unlock things is great, not having the team who can get the ball for them to do their thing? It doesn't work.
That's why I say Di Matteo was the right man over Benitez, he knew the midfield wasn't there to make the most of the forward players. Instead he asked the team to press as high up the pitch as possible. At least winning the ball back in the opponents half gave them half a chance, them receiving it in the left back position isn't much use.
Fena these are all good points. Chelsea are 3rd on the table & if they concentrate on getting 3 points & dominating the weaker teams & finishing strong it won't matter who the manager is!
I know it is relative but you could have had 6!
Ivanovic was pushing up, Oscar had chances all the time. Lampard was backing up & holding things up. Great to see & hope that it ends well.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Fena these are all good points. Chelsea are 3rd on the table & if they concentrate on getting 3 points & dominating the weaker teams & finishing strong it won't matter who the manager is!
I know it is relative but you could have had 6!
Ivanovic was pushing up, Oscar had chances all the time. Lampard was backing up & holding things up. Great to see & hope that it ends well.
Yeah, the slip ups against the teams lower in the table are what has cost us so far. Losing at home to QPR, having Reading and Southampton come back to draw after being 2-0 up is never a good sign! Win those games and we would have a nice gap, possibly even be second. Now I know how Arsenal fans have felt over the past few years
that's usually where they get into trouble.We did look pretty good yesterday, Foster was great in goal. I'm still amazed how Oscar didn't get on the score sheet, a combination of great saves and last ditch blocks robbed him a few times. It's good to see West Brom still fighting hard like that though, they have been safe from relegation for awhile now so you could forgive them for starting to coast the last dozen games.
norbac
Legend
Metersacker on a high line instead of Koscielny just calls for disaster.
Pear gets a goal, should get a hat trick now.
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Poor Arsenal!
Wenger should go to the boardroom or become director of football or director of the youth academy. His time as the manager is up, they need new blood.
My day just got a whole lot better...
But with the likes of CFC and the reds on the horizon, there's no time for any complacency. We just have to keep this momentum going.
Great result though. This is always my worst fixture of the season and there was so much riding on this one, so, yep, fantastic...
But with the likes of CFC and the reds on the horizon, there's no time for any complacency. We just have to keep this momentum going.
Great result though. This is always my worst fixture of the season and there was so much riding on this one, so, yep, fantastic...
Yeah, the slip ups against the teams lower in the table are what has cost us so far. Losing at home to QPR, having Reading and Southampton come back to draw after being 2-0 up is never a good sign! Win those games and we would have a nice gap, possibly even be second. Now I know how Arsenal fans have felt over the past few years
We did look pretty good yesterday, Foster was great in goal. I'm still amazed how Oscar didn't get on the score sheet, a combination of great saves and last ditch blocks robbed him a few times. It's good to see West Brom still fighting hard like that though, they have been safe from relegation for awhile now so you could forgive them for starting to coast the last dozen games.
Doesn't matter now what went before just keep taking the 3 points!:twisted:
The Ars are struggling a bit again aren't they?
Wenger is doing what he can (as always) with what he has got. Per was injured, lost form & confidence. He gets exposed if it gets too fast, his turning circle is bigger than Most! He needs a quicker centre back alongside him to cover if he over or undercommits, he has to go early.
Merts has made some howlers but the guy can play(just not today).
Baggies are just good people, a bit rough maybe but gutsy & stoic. Huge generalisation, I know.
But they have had a tough history.
I've met some great fans & wish them well.
They had a good start but will be trying hard to pinch points were they can...
no coasting.
norbac
Legend
Subbing out Jenkinson, playing Ramsey at right back, once again not starting Podolski....just horrific tactics by Wenger.
You kind of have to scratch your head and wonder what the hell he's thinking, don't you?
The key to stopping such an attacking team like Spurs is to press the crap out of them and play a really high line and above all else, KEEP THE BALL! Arsenal were poor today but that should not take away from the fact that Wenger's tactics were shocking. I can only wonder what his intentions were when putting out the XI he did and when he made his substitutions.
Was he drunk?!?!
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Great win for Spurs, do you have your sights set on Man City and second now then?
Doesn't matter now what went before just keep taking the 3 points!:twisted:
The Ars are struggling a bit again aren't they?
Wenger is doing what he can (as always) with what he has got. Per was injured, lost form & confidence. He gets exposed if it gets too fast, his turning circle is bigger than Most! He needs a quicker centre back alongside him to cover if he over or undercommits, he has to go early.
Merts has made some howlers but the guy can play(just not today).
Baggies are just good people, a bit rough maybe but gutsy & stoic. Huge generalisation, I know.
But they have had a tough history.
I've met some great fans & wish them well.
They had a good start but will be trying hard to pinch points were they can...
no coasting.
West Brom have some great fans, indeed. I live within 20ish minutes of West Brom, Wolves, Birmingham, Villa, Stoke, Port Vale etc.. The battle of the fans to be top dog in this area is always entertaining, especially as a neutral!
West Brom deserve to be where they are and their fans are certainly enjoying reminding everyone about it
I've not seen much of Essien in Spain, I catch the highlights but La Liga doesn't really interest me too much, good to hear he's doing well though! Who would I want to come? Well, in my opinion we are 3-4 years behind most teams in midfield, Ramires came 3 years ago and he was the last one in. It depends which way the club wanted to go, you don't have to spend big to fix it either. We just need players who play the way we need to, for the good of the team. Scouts should have a dozen young potential signings to address the need.
As an example teams like Southampton and Swansea are having great success and playing brilliant football, players like Schneiderlin and Ki are key to that and it shows you don't need to spend vast sums of money to transform the philosophy of the team.
I like Ramires, he is great at alot of things. His running and energy is something fans love to see. Whenever he plays though the two phrases you can guarentee to hear from the commentator are "unlucky there, he just showed too much of the ball to the defender" when dribbling, and "heavy first touch". Cech rolls the ball out to him to set things up and it bounces off him, he doesn't really have a first touch or passing ability. We shouldn't be expecting him to do these things, he has a different set of skills.
Great win for Spurs, do you have your sights set on Man City and second now then?
Not out of the question but to finish 2nd is unlikely. Also can't see Villa springing an unhappy surprise on City.
What was good to see yesterday was that AVB seems to have achieved a few basic essentials... great team spirit; fans like him now; and he's definitely tightened us up a bit tactically and made us more solid.
crosscourt
Professional
I think you have a good manager in AvB. Things didn't go well at Chelsea but you wonder if there is anyone for whom they won't go badly now. One attribute of AvB's seems to be to not want to do everything at once. I don't think that makes him popular with Abramovich.
Did he spend much money last summer? My impression is that he didn't spend a lot. One big test will be if he spends more this summer to try to get his side from Champions League qualifier spots to contenders at home and in Europe. I know this wont be a popular suggestion but if I were him I would look at Tevez.
I have been wrong about two things recently. Pochetino has done better than I feared at Southampton, though I still feel sorry for Adkins. And Kagawa has started to make an impact for United.
Did he spend much money last summer? My impression is that he didn't spend a lot. One big test will be if he spends more this summer to try to get his side from Champions League qualifier spots to contenders at home and in Europe. I know this wont be a popular suggestion but if I were him I would look at Tevez.
I have been wrong about two things recently. Pochetino has done better than I feared at Southampton, though I still feel sorry for Adkins. And Kagawa has started to make an impact for United.
Great win for Spurs, do you have your sights set on Man City and second now then?
West Brom have some great fans, indeed. I live within 20ish minutes of West Brom, Wolves, Birmingham, Villa, Stoke, Port Vale etc.. The battle of the fans to be top dog in this area is always entertaining, especially as a neutral!
West Brom deserve to be where they are and their fans are certainly enjoying reminding everyone about it
I've not seen much of Essien in Spain, I catch the highlights but La Liga doesn't really interest me too much, good to hear he's doing well though! Who would I want to come? Well, in my opinion we are 3-4 years behind most teams in midfield, Ramires came 3 years ago and he was the last one in. It depends which way the club wanted to go, you don't have to spend big to fix it either. We just need players who play the way we need to, for the good of the team. Scouts should have a dozen young potential signings to address the need.
As an example teams like Southampton and Swansea are having great success and playing brilliant football, players like Schneiderlin and Ki are key to that and it shows you don't need to spend vast sums of money to transform the philosophy of the team.
I like Ramires, he is great at alot of things. His running and energy is something fans love to see. Whenever he plays though the two phrases you can guarentee to hear from the commentator are "unlucky there, he just showed too much of the ball to the defender" when dribbling, and "heavy first touch". Cech rolls the ball out to him to set things up and it bounces off him, he doesn't really have a first touch or passing ability. We shouldn't be expecting him to do these things, he has a different set of skills.
Thought Spurs were good again. Certainly Bale has a golden touch: 10 goals in 8 games? Strikers are running out of the slot, giving him room.
Spurs defence was solid in first 25mins when they had to be . Ars. was tested so many times & eventually found out. It was embarassing defending, they got found wanting but Vermaelen, Merts didn't work.
West Brom vs Wolves, Blues vs Villa, Stoke vs Port Vale.
Might not happen for a while in the Midlands.
Villa have been shaky since O'Neill left, Wolves are reeling after bulleting McCarthy who I thought kept them honest.
Wolves 3 big sell-offs have made it really hard to stay in the Championship.
Pulis is still working & pushing at Stoke.
No idea with Port Vale?
Feel sorry for Dean Saunders at Wolves trying to fix the mess!
The problems of Chelsea are worlds away: they have class players & if defends work as unit i.e. together they can bridge to midfield.
Can't see why you can't finish top 3: problem is there is a traffic jam at the top.Spurs have momentum but these next 6 matches are tough for them.
Man. U is the exception
Breaker
Legend
Dembele/Dempsey/Vertonghen/Ade/Lloris though selling Modric and Van der Vaart pretty much offset that cost..good spending imo especially the Dembele signing, he's a brilliant player.
Holtby was another good one, could see him bringing someone from Porto like Jackson Martinez or Rodriguez and making them even better, they're not far from being title contenders if they can keep Bale.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Porto were very much against selling players to him when he left for Chelsea, maybe they will of softened the stance a bit. They drove a hard bargain over Moutinho the last few windows with him, but they seem to do that with everyone.
I'm not sure if Martinez and Rodriguez fit in with the price structure thought, we were linked with Martinez in January and the price quoted was very high, same for Rodriguez. I believe they want nearly £40 Million for him from Man Utd, maybe they could use the Bale money to get him as a replacement? It might be a bit of a risk though.
PED
Legend
Good sales IMO, over-rated and bad attitude in respectively. Modric did well on this past Saturday though. Not worth anywhere near what Real paid for him.
Dembele is the one who seems to put it all in place, great buy. We would never buy someone like him. We'd train him up young, bring him to stardom and then sell him on so he could destroy us later...lol
Oh and I forgot, we would put the proceeds into some cr@p player who only scores on 15% of his shots....cough.....Giroud or can't be bothered to defend (Poldi)
Spurs would be crazy to let Bale go.
AVB is doing a great job-I'd love to have him at Arsenal.
Spurs are playing so well (nice one Ross) but look at the goal production from Bale since December and they are screwed without him. Just like we were with RvP but with his pace and size, Bale can take over a game in a way that RvP can't even though RvP's overall skill is probably higher.
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crosscourt
Professional
Ok -- I had forgotten quite how much business he had done. Lloris is a very good gk. Whenever I see him he makes some fantastic saves. And he seems to have a good relationship with the defenders. Too often these days gks and the back four don't seem to communicate very well.
^^ Yes, Spurs did some business but, as mentioned, Modders and VdVaart were sold. Basically we are a big spending club compared to someone like, say, Everton, but not quite in the Chelsea or City league of shelling out.
On a related topic, I was talking to Arsenal mates yesterday who who speaking in withering language about the myth of Wenger's prudent financial record and name-checking the likes of Santos being on 60K, and Arshavin 90K, and others being on massive huge wages and virtually never playing. The conversation also took in how, Cazorla aside, Wenger seems to have a worrying more recent record of picking up great talents and somehow lessoning their game (Arshavin, Podolski, Arteta, for example.)
On a related topic, I was talking to Arsenal mates yesterday who who speaking in withering language about the myth of Wenger's prudent financial record and name-checking the likes of Santos being on 60K, and Arshavin 90K, and others being on massive huge wages and virtually never playing. The conversation also took in how, Cazorla aside, Wenger seems to have a worrying more recent record of picking up great talents and somehow lessoning their game (Arshavin, Podolski, Arteta, for example.)
PED
Legend
Excellent points, Santos, not our best buy
Not sure on Arshavin, he's a bit lazy TBH but was the belle of the ball at the 08 Euros and the talent is/was there.
I think Arteta has been a big add for us and I really notice him when he's injured and our quality drops off. He's not the player he was at Everton but that's likely age talking.
Why not try Poldi through the middle, he's def got an eye for goal and he also wouldn't have to defend.
I think Cazorla is quite good but a bit below the level of the other pocket Spaniards like Silva and Matta.
Arsenal's wage bill is huge. Of course nowhere near the City / Chelsea level, but much closer to that of United than Spurs.
The difficulty though in making direct comparisons between the numbers released in clubs' accounts is that there is no uniform standard, so everyone is reporting their staff costs in different ways. Arsenal's 'staff costs' are now up towards £150m, whereas Spurs were around £90m for 11/12, but Arsenal's costs include the wages of all staff at the club, pension payments etc, whereas some clubs don't consolidate all these costs into one figure. Arsenal's first team 'wage bill' is probably around £100m (after the new contracts for the British lads).
I think the main criticism of Wenger (coupled with his complete neglect of defence) is that he has mismanaged the wage bill. Looking across Europe at the very strong clubs (excluding Real, Barca, City, Chelsea, PSG, with whom we will never be able to compete financially), our wage bill is on a par to most of these. Yet we have no real star players anymore, and probably a third of the wage bill is being occupied by overpaid bad buys who can't be moved on as noone else would dream of paying those wages (Chamakh £60k, Santos £60k, Denilson £60k, Djourou £50k, Bendtner £50k, Squillaci £50k, Fabianski £50k, Park £50k). Most of these players are out on loan with Arsenal still subsidising almost all of their wages, and yet no other clubs want to buy them after the loans; the contracts just end up being run down and then they leave for nothing (Arshavin, Fabianski, Squillaci this summer). The only surplus player I can remember us being able to flog in recent times is Carlos Vela for £4m.
And the end result of having a third of the wage bill as dead money due to Wenger's egalitarian wage structure is that when we are in the market to improve the squad we are only realistically after players in the 60-80k bracket.
Another point that a mate of mine made during the NL derby this weekend is that players almost exclusively used to improve when they joined Arsenal, whereas it seems now that players now (particularly defenders) join Arsenal and at best stagnate, but more commonly decline.
The difficulty though in making direct comparisons between the numbers released in clubs' accounts is that there is no uniform standard, so everyone is reporting their staff costs in different ways. Arsenal's 'staff costs' are now up towards £150m, whereas Spurs were around £90m for 11/12, but Arsenal's costs include the wages of all staff at the club, pension payments etc, whereas some clubs don't consolidate all these costs into one figure. Arsenal's first team 'wage bill' is probably around £100m (after the new contracts for the British lads).
I think the main criticism of Wenger (coupled with his complete neglect of defence) is that he has mismanaged the wage bill. Looking across Europe at the very strong clubs (excluding Real, Barca, City, Chelsea, PSG, with whom we will never be able to compete financially), our wage bill is on a par to most of these. Yet we have no real star players anymore, and probably a third of the wage bill is being occupied by overpaid bad buys who can't be moved on as noone else would dream of paying those wages (Chamakh £60k, Santos £60k, Denilson £60k, Djourou £50k, Bendtner £50k, Squillaci £50k, Fabianski £50k, Park £50k). Most of these players are out on loan with Arsenal still subsidising almost all of their wages, and yet no other clubs want to buy them after the loans; the contracts just end up being run down and then they leave for nothing (Arshavin, Fabianski, Squillaci this summer). The only surplus player I can remember us being able to flog in recent times is Carlos Vela for £4m.
And the end result of having a third of the wage bill as dead money due to Wenger's egalitarian wage structure is that when we are in the market to improve the squad we are only realistically after players in the 60-80k bracket.
Another point that a mate of mine made during the NL derby this weekend is that players almost exclusively used to improve when they joined Arsenal, whereas it seems now that players now (particularly defenders) join Arsenal and at best stagnate, but more commonly decline.
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forzamilan90
Legend
high kung fu kick to the body not a red? Granted it wasn't as brutal as De Jong vs Alonso in 2010 World Cup Final (which didn't get red), but this was foolish to do.
That was the most impressive Man U performance I've seen for ages in that 1st half ... Wellbeck, Rafael, Giggs, and the ill-fated Nani were superb, I thought (and incidentally, it was a display fully vindicating the decision to drop Rooney IMO)... and then that spanner of a ref went and did what he did. I've got to say, I've never been too wild about Man U TBH, however, I feel slightly sorry for them and their fans tonight.
All that said, the RM keeper was immense, and Modric's goal was a peach.
Oh, and what about Mourinho saying on TV that the best side lost and RM didn't serve to go through? His whole demeanour tonight was oddly lacking in the usual antagonistic vibe the world is accustomed to seeing. Does make you wonder how much he'd like to be Fergie's successor.
All that said, the RM keeper was immense, and Modric's goal was a peach.
Oh, and what about Mourinho saying on TV that the best side lost and RM didn't serve to go through? His whole demeanour tonight was oddly lacking in the usual antagonistic vibe the world is accustomed to seeing. Does make you wonder how much he'd like to be Fergie's successor.
Great post. And those players/earnings you list is jaw-droppingly shocking. :shock:
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Casillas syndrome: everyone goes on about saves when the ball's going straight at them.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/law_12_fouls_misconduct_en_47379.pdf
Go to the bit about careless and reckless play, then tell me that Nani bringing his foot up to control the ball which he's watching all the way, merits excessive force.
forzamilan90
Legend
show me whatever rules you want, the replay don't make it right. Ref see the dude going up and taking out the player with a kick...what you going to do? Give yellow? Yellow cards are handed out like candy to kids nowadays, small contact gets yellow card by many refs nowadays, yet this tackle over here not worth a red? I'm not gonna say this was excessive force (or the worst tackle/kick I've seen), but most definitely this high kick could injury the opponent, and to me that's foolish and reckless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJCs-vbmAM
p.s. are you a United fan? if so...i'll stop right here
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
Might as well make going up for every ball a bookable offence then. Nani was looking to bring the ball down and Arbeloa turned it into a 50/50.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
I think you can bring Hart into that category! Although he prefers to make the slightly taxing saves, appear world class. The phrase "one for the camera's" could of been invented for him
As for the result tonight and what went on, Man Utd were unlucky, no doubt. It happens unfortunately, they get more than their fair share of decisions going for them though (the Torres sending off and Hernandez winner being off side springs to mind!).
Sometimes it's your day, sometimes it isn't.
forzamilan90
Legend
If Nani didn't make contact, or it didn't turn out to appear as it did it wouldn't have been red...obvs Arbeloa made the most of it as well which players do nowadays, but to me as a neutral observer it's a red card, with definite contact, potential danger, risky play, and if I was the ref I would have done the same.
SempreSami
Hall of Fame
By your definition then it's careless, which by the rules set out by FIFA is at worst a yellow card.
Cesc Fabregas
Legend
I love how people have fallen for Mourinho's fake modesty. He nearly cost his team with the Pepe Ozil sub as well, let United back into the game.
