Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:08 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

You should see the crap England, Spain and plenty other countries come up with when they qualify for the world cup. Small time?

Yes, it's small time. It's the stuff of a small club, you usually get souvenirs for winning things or for truly memorable things, qualifying for the tournament and leaving little impact on it does not constitute memorial watches.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:08 pm  

I thought Boateng is very close to joining Bayern?

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:47 pm  

McClennan wrote:

I got laughed at a couple of years ago for saying that Torres was a one season wonder and now look at him. Looks like I was right all along

I'm not here to defend him but you're wrong. Torres had 2 magnificent seasons at Liverpool and scored any type of goal you wanted. Strong, could score with either foot and a decent header of the ball as well. He'll get back to that level as well at some point but whether that's at Chelsea is another matter. He was poor at the WC due to injury and he is a real confidence player.

He's playing like he is because he hasn't settled at Chelsea, he's not fitting in with his fellow attackers and he's realised he left the revolution about 2 months too early.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:49 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

I've mentioned before, Spain are creative but not in a sense that plays to Torres' strengths; one of the reasons he wanted to go to Chelsea - and not other clubs outside of England - was because the English game suits him. International football is much closer to the football played on the continent than it is over here: it's much more tactical, it's less direct and it generally plays out as one dominant side possession-wise and one side counter-attacking. As we seen with Torres during his time at Liverpool, he is generally limited in the ways to get the best out of him: he likes quick, direct passing that is preferably slide rule, he likes to lead the line on his own and generally look to exploit both channels, he doesn't like to hold it up too much, he doesn't create too much and he generally tries to stay out of build up play, but he's generally a willing runner who can break the offside trap and hold off defenders in 50/50 situations. For Spain, they generally employ a possession-first mentality, which resulted in them moving Villa to the left because he wasn't getting enough of the ball. Xavi and Iniesta, for all their ability, will mostly choose to keep the ball over the risky through ball, hence the reason Fabregas has had success for Spain when coming in - he's generally more direct and changes the play more often when Spain need it.

I wouldn't say Torres is a one-season-wonder, either, have a look at his scoring ratio and it's always been good; however, at Liverpool he did suffer consistent injuries, whilst our side's overall decline didn't help, either. He will come good for Chelsea, I've no doubt about that, but they need to get their heads around how to use him. He isn't Drogba, he isn't Anelka, he's a very unique player that needs to be built around. If it's done well, he'll be a top 5 striker worldwide, if he's just stuck in there and expected to play in a way that's alien to him, with players around him that are oblivious to his strengths, then Chelsea may as well get rid of him now, as he'll be of absolutely no use to them.

Only just read this. Very well put mate.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:49 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I think Boateng, Kolarov and Balotelli all equally fit Mario's description of having had "a sh*t season", with Dzeko up there on a pro rata basis.

But I think all 4 will be better judged next year. Boateng, Kolarov, and Balotelli all had truncated pre seasons and then immediately picked up moderately serious injuries. Dzeko has been the classic January transfer window signing. They've been off the pace this season but all showed flashes of ability.

Boateng's probably done enough to show that he'll never be a top full back (the surprise being that he did so well for Germany in the World Cup) but I wouldnt be surprised if he eventually turned into a world class centre back. I hope he doesnt go back to Germany.

That's the disappointment for me, watching him at the World Cup, I thought that he was excellent. Saying that, I was chuffed to bits having watched Ballack literally run games for Germany that he'd signed for Chelsea and he was barring the odd game, very ordinary.

That Koscielny at Arsenal, he has to be one of the worst signings too, he's been woeful from start to finish.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 1:54 pm  

Player of the season Tevez

Manager of the season Dalglish....from Jan onwards. Ferguson overall

Goal of the season Rooney v City....personal favourite was Kuyt's first against United

Match of the season Liverpool 3 United 1

Signing of the season Hernandez/Suarez. Can't pick it. Maybe Hernandez because of the price

Flop of the season Torres

Gripe of the season Poor refereeing and stubborness not to introudce goal line technology

Pundit of the season Paul Merson as always.

Innovations needed for next season As above

League of the season Championship. The emergence of QPR under the under rated Warnock. Looking forward to having him back in the Premiership along with p!sshead Delia. Hopefully get the first Welsh team in the Prem as well.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 2:00 pm  

Sthelens RLFC wrote:

Player of the season Tevez

Manager of the season Dalglish....from Jan onwards. Ferguson overall

Goal of the season Rooney v City....personal favourite was Kuyt's first against United

Match of the season Liverpool 3 United 1

Signing of the season Hernandez/Suarez. Can't pick it. Maybe Hernandez because of the price

Flop of the season Torres

Gripe of the season Poor refereeing and stubborness not to introudce goal line technology

Pundit of the season Paul Merson as always.

Innovations needed for next season As above

League of the season Championship. The emergence of QPR under the under rated Warnock. Looking forward to having him back in the Premiership along with p!sshead Delia. Hopefully get the first Welsh team in the Prem as well.

I'll assume a couple are on a WUM basis(Dalglish & Suarez) I could bite massivelly but just had my lunch.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 2:17 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

I think Boateng, Kolarov and Balotelli all equally fit Mario's description of having had "a sh*t season", with Dzeko up there on a pro rata basis.

But I think all 4 will be better judged next year. Boateng, Kolarov, and Balotelli all had truncated pre seasons and then immediately picked up moderately serious injuries. Dzeko has been the classic January transfer window signing. They've been off the pace this season but all showed flashes of ability.

Boateng's probably done enough to show that he'll never be a top full back (the surprise being that he did so well for Germany in the World Cup) but I wouldnt be surprised if he eventually turned into a world class centre back. I hope he doesnt go back to Germany.

Boateng and Kolarov have both been a waste of time (for the money City have spent), from what I've seen of them.
Boateng has looked, at best, average. Wouldn't care if he went to Bayern

I'm sick of hearing Kolarov has got a great boot on him, he's there to defend. DO IT, please. Again not bothered if he left. Anyway, i'd much sooner have Zabaletta and Richards.

Balotelli STILL remains a mystery. Needs to keep his head down. I'm sure his quality will come through.

Dzecko. Looked interested last night (first time since his debut). Needs a good pre-season.

Tevez, needs to have his wife bathed in asses milk, on the hour every hour, in a luxury European hotel, so she can be closer to Tevez (at least on the same continent). Last night proved how vital he is.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 2:47 pm  

Nikaed wrote:

I'll assume a couple are on a WUM basis(Dalglish & Suarez) I could bite massivelly but just had my lunch.

You can assume what you want pal. Over the half season Dalglish has been here he's rivalled all the other clubs pointswise with a massive injury list. Suarez has been absolutely awesome and arguably been our best player since Jan. The potential on him is massive.

You seem to have missed the fact that I picked Ferguson over the whole season and Hernandez due to the price you paid.

Anyway, congratulations to United on their 19th title. It would be a very bitter pill to swallow if I didn't have so much to look forward to this summer and the coming season. That's not to say we'll win anything but if January onwards is anything to go by with a fully fit squad and a few new additions it'll be very interesting to see where we end up.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed May 18, 2011 2:54 pm  

Player of the season - Kompany
Manager of the season -Ferguson, unfortunately
Goal of the season -Hernandez v Stoke
Match of the season -Newcastle v Arsenal
Signing of the season -Hernandez
Flop of the season -Torres/Dzeko
Gripe of the season -Cheating referees and Neil Warnock winning promotion
Pundit of the season -Chris Kamara obviously
Innovations needed for next season - Goalline technology and off-the-field sagas to be sorted before the end of the season, so teams get appropriate punishments
League of the season - League One