Random Soccer Chatter
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ohiobucks1
more modric rumors ]
Chelsea will decide this week whether to make an improved offer for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, the Guardian reports.
"I don't like talking about players from other clubs, but that's something we'll look at during the week and we'll take it from there," the paper quotes Blues CEO Ron Gourlay as saying.
Chelsea has already had two offers for Modric rejected this summer. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has repeatedly insisted that he isn't for sale, even though Modric has reportedly submitted a formal transfer request. -
Laley23
ohiobucks1;847991 wrote: For Laley
Cesc Fabregas' long-expected transfer from Arsenal to his beloved Barcelona could be just days away, according to People.co.uk.
Barcelona president Sandro Rossell left the club's preseason U.S. tour and returned to Spain Sunday to continue negotiations in the hope that a deal can be concluded this week, the website says.
Barca latest offer is worth a reported $56 million. Word is that Fabregas has already agreed to a $5 million per season contract with with the club at which he began his career.
Halleluiah. They actually DO need him as well. With Bojan gone, their attacking depth is insanely low for a big club, even with the signing of Sanchez and the addition (mid-season last year) of Afelly. -
Laley23
NilesPacMan;847971 wrote:Laley,
I would have to agree with you with 9 out of your 11. My only definite changes would be Busquets for De Rossi and Eto'o for Rooney. The reasons for these would be that I prefer Busquets out of familiarity and that Eto'o is an absolute beast on the attacking end. Your formation is pretty well suited to the players that you use, and I like that you have Iniesta and Xavi backing up Messi. Messi is an absolute fantastic player with Barcelona, but without the creativeness of his two center mids, we've seen how that can affect him (See Copa America 2011). There are so many great midfielders you could use, but using the Xavi and Iniesta pair is the best choice you can make. Individually, they are both stellar players, but together, they make up the best midfielding pair in the world due the great chemistry they have built up.
Defense is very well-suited. Like you said, the only one that can really challenge Maicon is Alves, and Alves has been strong for the most part, but he had a disappointing Copa America. Maybe on the left side, I'd suggest Patrice Evra, as a possible replacement. No argument with Casillas here, hands down the best goalkeeper in the world.
The hardest for me here is to view this from an actual footballing perspective rather than looking at it from FIFA 11. I try to watch soccer whenever possible (No FSC for me, so I'm a little limited), but it's not always the case. However, I do play a lot of FIFA, and actually, my brother and I just had a fantasy draft picking the best players in the world back and forth. If this was FIFA, I'd probably take off Messi and put on Arjen Robben (I'm not that great with Messi). Also, I'd switch the midfield formation and take off Xavi and Iniesta, using Ibrahimovic as a center attacking mid and using Yaya Toure and Busquets as holding mids.
Just to throw other names out there you hadn't used... Van Persie (when healthy), Pepe Reina, Schweinsteiger, Ozil. All great players...
Solid points, and as I said I thought of Bussie at CDM as well. I tried not to go off of how they would play together and more on who I just thought was flat out better. Otherwise I easily have Alves and Busquets in there for the "Barca" thing. Busquets, Yaya (even though at City he isnt really a holding mid), De Rossi, and Alonso are the top 4 in my eyes.
I do LOVE me some Eto'o. My favorite player aside from Messi and Bojan. He actually does give Rooney a damn good run for his money. Ibra I would say also does, but he is so limited to the style (see Spain stint). Tevez led EPL in goals...but no. Milito had a strong year, but thats it, a year. Higuain? Forlan? Van Persie if he could stay healthy? Ribery on the wing (but just not near the level of Cristiano and Leo). Its 1am, Ill come back to this tomorrow lol. -
gorocks99
Jurgen presser: http://www.ussoccer.com/Klinsmann-Live-Press-Conference.aspx -
Automatik
I can't watch. Anything worth mentioning?
I'd like to see how he addresses the U17, U21 squads. He is running the show now right? -
gorocks99
Automatik;848162 wrote:I can't watch. Anything worth mentioning?
I'd like to see how he addresses the U17, U21 squads. He is running the show now right?
He just said the teams generally should reflect a mixture of culture - Latin, European - and that youth teams won't be exact replicas of the men's team, but there should be a broad understanding across teams - and academies - of how the teams should play.
Talked about instituting a proactive style of play, imposing your style on opponents, because it's more American. Possession game, keep the ball. -
Laley23
gorocks99;848166 wrote:He just said the teams generally should reflect a mixture of culture - Latin, European - and that youth teams won't be exact replicas of the men's team, but there should be a broad understanding across teams - and academies - of how the teams should play.
God that is so fucking refreshing to hear. Someone who understands how a program needs to be run. -
gorocks99
He finished by talking about how things need to change from the youth levels up, that's what will change the expectations of the program.
Yes, very refreshing. I can't wait to see where we go from here. -
Automatik
I'm interested to see how he deals with the younger players regarding the senior team.
I don't know if it was lack of faith from Bradley or just plain lack of skill, but it seems that he was rather hesitant to let some of the young players get time in meaningful games. To his defense he did see a lot more than any of us. I thought Adu playing was way overdue. I was always rather critical of him, but he definitely should have been playing more in the Gold Cup and the friendlies leading up to it. -
OSH
ohiobucks1;847202 wrote: Bellamy on his way out of City?
Celtic manager Neil Lennon is hoping to reacquire Welsh striker Craig Bellamy from Manchester City, according to the Daily Mail.
Lennon is expected to speak to City brass this weekend in Ireland, where both clubs are competing in the Dublin Super Cup, but money could be a stumbling block.
Bellamy, who briefly played for Celtic in 2005, spent last season on loan to Cardiff but could be on the move again after Man City signed Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.
Craig Bellamy is a guy who I'd love to see in the MLS.
I think he'd be a fan-favorite instantly. Could you imagine the nastiness he could bring to the MLS? Oh man, it'd be great! I've been saying this for 2 years now. Too bad it'll probably never happen. -
ohiobucks1
^^^^^^
+1
Holden progressing
Stuart Holden got great news for his birthday as he started running outside of a gym for the first time since having surgery on his right knee five months ago.
After announcing the good news on Twitter, the U.S. international midfielder had to write again later to clarify he still has some way to go before being able to resume full training.
"Seen a few articles saying I have resumed full training, is not true! Progressing in the right direction, u will be the first to know," Holden told his followers on Twitter.
According to ESPN Soccernet, Holden is ruled out for Bolton's first game of the season against newly promoted Queens Park Rangers on August 13 and he could be back around mid-September. -
ohiobucks1
Spector to Birmingham City
Jonathan Spector has signed a two-year contract with Birmingham with an option to extend it one more year.
Birmingham announced on its official website the signing of the American defender who joins after his contract with West Ham United ended.
With clear intentions of returning to the Premier League the season after getting relegated, Birmingham starts this season on Saturday with a visit to Derby County. Will Spector make his first appearance for Birmingham as soon as this weekend? -
ohiobucks1
More Tevez Drama
UPDATE: Despite Inter denying an interest in Carlos Tevez more than once, the Italian giants could still be looking for ways to get the homesick Argentine striker from Manchester City.
According to Metro.co.uk, Inter could offer Brazilian right-back Maicon as part of the deal to bring Tevez to the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.
Apparently Maicon is the only player of those who would have been included as part of the deal by Inter that would interest Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. The names of Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder have also been mentioned, but Mancini is reportedly not so keen on them. -
ohiobucks1
Barton OUT at Newcastle
Joey Barton is a very controversial character who was released by Newcastle United after repeated outburst the player had on Twitter.
After Barton and Newcastle agreed to part company, the player wrote on Twitter that he was going to make an important announcement, but was beaten by the club which released a statement to inform fans about the situation.
This situation alerted several teams which could be willing to take a risk and sign him.
According to Metro.co.uk, clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham could make a move for Barton now that he will cost them nothing. -
ohiobucks1
Man City to swap for Arsenal star?
Manchester City is reportedly still looking for new faces to add to an already big and expensive squad and Samir Nasri could be the next target for manager Roberto Mancini.
The Blues could be ready to bid $35 million in an offer that could come in the next 48 hours according to the Daily Mirror.
If that's the case, this could be a new chapter in a relationship that is getting a bit tense between Roberto Mancini and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after Manchester City brought Gael Clichy from the Gunners earlier in the summer.
To sign Nasri would make perfect sense for a City team that for all the stars it has, still lacks a bit of a creative spark coming from midfield. -
ohiobucks1
PSG trying to sign Man Utd forward?
Teams like Manchester City, Malaga and Paris Saint-Germain are the revolutionary new big spenders in world soccer and now PSG will try to sign Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.
Poised to secure the signing of Javier Pastore and having already spent millions in new players, the newly rich team from the French capital could offer as much as $30 million for the Bulgarian star says the Daily Mirror.
Berbatov is about to enter the last season on a contract he signed in 2009 with Manchester United and is yet to enter renewal talks. -
ohiobucks1
Sneijder to Man Utd NOT DEAD
Wesley Sneijder has moved a bit closer to Old Trafford after Inter has reportedly given Manchester United permission to discuss personal terms with the Dutch midfielder.
According to the Daily Mirror, Inter has accepted an offer for Sneijder and the only block there is right now is the player's demands not to take a pay cut by joining Manchester United.
Inter still expect Wesley Sneijder to play on Saturday's Italian Supercup final in Beijing against AC Milan, says ESPN Soccernet. -
killdeer
The most interesting thing is...despite rumor...
Likely Nasri stays put...
Sneijder stays put...
And Fabregas stays put... -
ohiobucks1
Does anyone like me?
Reports about the future of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli are as volatile as the player himself.
It all started a couple of days ago when Balotelli said he didn't like the city of Manchester. Alerted by this comment and aware of the fact that Balotelli has said in the past he is an AC Milan fan, the media started to speculate with a move back to Italy.
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, however, told newspaper Corriere dello Sport that the club is not interested at this moment.
"He is certainly a talented player, but we are full of strikers now," Galliani told the press in Beijing as AC Milan prepares to take on Inter on Saturday for the Italian Supercup. -
ohiobucks1
Arsenal Snub
Arsenal's weakest link in recent seasons has always been its defense and Phil Jagielka sounds like a player that could help in that aspect of the game.
However, according to the Daily Mirror, then England international defender will stay at Everton.
The report suggests Jagielka told his friends he has no intention to leave the club where he signed a four-year contract in March. -
ohiobucks1
Chelsea Snub
Despite rumors which linked him with a move to Chelsea, Alexandre Pato wants to stay at AC Milan.
"I have a contract with Milan until the summer of 2014 and I want to respect that," Pato told Corriere dello Sport as reported by ESPN Soccernet.
Those rumors of an interest from Chelsea with Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou being offered as part of the deal are now debunked by the Brazilian player himself. -
ohiobucks1
Liverpool targets enrique
Liverpool looks set to continue with its transfer market activity and now looks favorite to sign Spanish defender Jose Enrique.
A former Villarreal defender impressed last season at Newcastle and the club wanted to keep him, but he could go to Anfield for $8 million, says the Daily Mirror.
After Jose Enrique made negative comments about Newcastle's perceived lack of ambition, the club fined him and the situation got a bit tense. So now Newcastle could look into selling him and getting some money for the deal rather than risking Jose Enrique plays his final season under contract before leaving as a free agent. -
ohiobucks1
Lennon for Adebayor swap?
UPDATE: Emmanuel Adebayor continues to look for a possible destination to play this season and Tottenham might offer him a solution.
According to the Daily Mirror, Spurs could be willing to make a deal with Manchester City for a player swap sending Aaron Lennon in the opposite direction.
This could be good news for Arsenal fans because if Manchester City signs Lennon it will probably forget about making a bid to sign Samir Nasri. On the other hand, a former Gunner could be joining arch-rivals Spurs and add more spice to the North London derby.
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There is not a lot of time before the top European leagues get underway and Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor still doesn't know where he will be playing.
He is part of the squad at Manchester City but according to Sky Sports manager Roberto Mancini has other preferences ahead of him and will not stand in Adebayor's way if he can secure a move elsewhere.
The solution could come from Real Madrid where Adebayor spent half of last season on loan. According to Spanish newspaper As, Real Madrid could offer $7 million or a swap deal sending central defender Raul Albiol to Manchester City. -
killdeer
ohiobucks1;850824 wrote: Liverpool targets enrique
Liverpool looks set to continue with its transfer market activity and now looks favorite to sign Spanish defender Jose Enrique.
A former Villarreal defender impressed last season at Newcastle and the club wanted to keep him, but he could go to Anfield for $8 million, says the Daily Mirror.
After Jose Enrique made negative comments about Newcastle's perceived lack of ambition, the club fined him and the situation got a bit tense. So now Newcastle could look into selling him and getting some money for the deal rather than risking Jose Enrique plays his final season under contract before leaving as a free agent.
this would be a great move for Liverpool...
Jose Enrique is a very sturdy defender, and one that can be a scoring threat as he overlaps...
I would still like to see Arsenal make a move to strenthen defensively, especially in light of yet another late game let-down with the own goal against Red Bulls...that whole scenario seemed all too familiar after last year... -
Laley23
Barcelona are preparing a 39 million offer, Arsenal are wanted 45 million. I wonder if they will finally cave now that Barca have upped the ante to only 6 million shy.