The Association Football Thread

#1,077
#1,077
More podunkness, but I went to another MLS Timbers game the other night. Had a blast, witnessed a hooligan fight about five feet from me.

Timbers Army was insane again as usual. Two thousand strong hammered drunk, armed with smoke bombs, flares, approximately five hundred flags "No Pity" scarves and a real live-action chainsaw.

Portland beat the previously MLS-unbeaten, untied RSL 1-0.
 
#1,078
#1,078
DarthVisor said:
Haha well, Arsenal should be at the top of the table, honestly. We're fortunate to be there for the time being.

I'd like to see them lock up another solid goalie. I wish I could recall the names I've seen thrown out there. Another back wouldn't hurt, of course. I haven't seen anything to indicate that they will drop a big name onto the roster, but then again, I'm not on the Board (believe it or not ha).

What about Arsenal? I know Wenger isn't thrilled about Wilshere playing in that international league this summer, if he gets selected.
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I believe Man U has all but locked up a move for David De Gea. That is unless they decide to move for Manuel Neuer but I don't see that as very likely. Wesley Sneijder is being talked about as the big signing this summer to replace Scholes. I think you guess might have a pretty good future in those guys if they move for them.

I am reluctant to say that Arsenal might not move for anyone at all... However, I hope that Wenger grabs Cahill. There has also been talks about Fabregas moving to Barcelona if they are willing to bid for him. So, if they take him from our hands we should move for a solid LW player and let Nasri handle the middle. Also, I have faith in Ramsey being the long term Cesc replacement so we will see.

I have a good feeling about where we end up in the table next year. I think with or without Cesc we have just as good a chance as anyone. If they bring in Cahill and TV is healthy our back-line will be extremely solid giving Szczesny the time to grow.
 
#1,079
#1,079
I'm starting to think Barca is not going to make a move for Cesc this summer. We have much more serious needs and Thiago will be full time with the first team rotating with Iniesta and Xavi.
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#1,080
#1,080
volball625 said:
I'm starting to think Barca is not going to make a move for Cesc this summer. We have much more serious needs and Thiago will be full time with the first team rotating with Iniesta and Xavi.
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That's what I would think too, but you never know with their spending. They might decide one less talent on another team is one more step toward the champions league title. hah
 
#1,081
#1,081
If you believe all the media hoopla, we only have 40 million to spend. All of that would go towards Cesc which would be stupid. I think we are going to have a movement towards the youth because almost all of or recent transfers have been horrible and embarrassing (Ibra).
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#1,082
#1,082
TylerD said:
I believe Man U has all but locked up a move for David De Gea. That is unless they decide to move for Manuel Neuer but I don't see that as very likely. Wesley Sneijder is being talked about as the big signing this summer to replace Scholes. I think you guess might have a pretty good future in those guys if they move for them.

I am reluctant to say that Arsenal might not move for anyone at all... However, I hope that Wenger grabs Cahill. There has also been talks about Fabregas moving to Barcelona if they are willing to bid for him. So, if they take him from our hands we should move for a solid LW player and let Nasri handle the middle. Also, I have faith in Ramsey being the long term Cesc replacement so we will see.

I have a good feeling about where we end up in the table next year. I think with or without Cesc we have just as good a chance as anyone. If they bring in Cahill and TV is healthy our back-line will be extremely solid giving Szczesny the time to grow.
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Manuel Neuer is ours, dammit!
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#1,084
#1,084
volball625 said:
If you believe all the media hoopla, we only have 40 million to spend. All of that would go towards Cesc which would be stupid. I think we are going to have a movement towards the youth because almost all of or recent transfers have been horrible and embarrassing (Ibra).
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I was confused with making the Mascherano move and the Affelay move, but I don't really know.. Whatever works.

You would have thought they would increase the talent of their backline, but I guess offense is the best defense.
 
#1,085
#1,085
TylerD said:
I was confused with making the Mascherano move and the Affelay move, but I don't really know.. Whatever works.

You would have thought they would increase the talent of their backline, but I guess offense is the best defense.
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We basically traded Yaya Toure for Mascherano. We needed some muscle in the midfield and it has turned out great as Masch has been a rock for us lately on the back line. Affelay was only 3 million and has been a decent sub for late in games. It would be great for him to really improve, but I'm not really expecting it.

We actually have a pretty good back line, but it has been destroyed by injuries in the past month. Our captain, Puyol, has been hurt the last three months. Abidal, who has been our best defender this year, had surgery to remove a tumor on his liver. Maxwell injured himself two weeks ago. And Adriano, after playing his best football so far, gets injured for the rest of the season. That's three LBs and two CBs (Abidal played LB/CB this season).
 
#1,086
#1,086
volball625 said:
We basically traded Yaya Toure for Mascherano. We needed some muscle in the midfield and it has turned out great as Masch has been a rock for us lately on the back line. Affelay was only 3 million and has been a decent sub for late in games. It would be great for him to really improve, but I'm not really expecting it.

We actually have a pretty good back line, but it has been destroyed by injuries in the past month. Our captain, Puyol, has been hurt the last three months. Abidal, who has been our best defender this year, had surgery to remove a tumor on his liver. Maxwell injured himself two weeks ago. And
Adriano, after playing his best football so far, gets injured for the rest of the season. That's three LBs and two CBs (Abidal played LB/CB this season).
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I didn't mean to imply the starting 4 weren't strong, but more along the lines of replacements. If anyone goes down you guys were really stretching to replace then by putting whoever back there. They need to find the puyol replacement because he is getting up there in age. A move for subotic wouldn't really surprise me.
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#1,087
#1,087
TylerD said:
I didn't mean to imply the starting 4 weren't strong, but more along the lines of replacements. If anyone goes down you guys were really stretching to replace then by putting whoever back there. They need to find the puyol replacement because he is getting up there in age. A move for subotic wouldn't really surprise me.
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If I honestly had my pick, we get either Alexis Sanchez or Guiseppe Rossi and a good CB like Hummels (report out today that we are interested). Subotic would be AMAZING, but i doubt it happens.

I never take much out of these reports though after reading one article regarding the likelihood of Iniesta moving to Manchester City.
 
#1,088
#1,088
TylerD said:
I believe Man U has all but locked up a move for David De Gea. That is unless they decide to move for Manuel Neuer but I don't see that as very likely. Wesley Sneijder is being talked about as the big signing this summer to replace Scholes. I think you guess might have a pretty good future in those guys if they move for them.

I am reluctant to say that Arsenal might not move for anyone at all... However, I hope that Wenger grabs Cahill. There has also been talks about Fabregas moving to Barcelona if they are willing to bid for him. So, if they take him from our hands we should move for a solid LW player and let Nasri handle the middle. Also, I have faith in Ramsey being the long term Cesc replacement so we will see.

I have a good feeling about where we end up in the table next year. I think with or without Cesc we have just as good a chance as anyone. If they bring in Cahill and TV is healthy our back-line will be extremely solid giving Szczesny the time to grow.
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The acquisition of any of those guys would be great. I'd say Neuer will land with Bayern Munich, but I'd be happy to have him in Manchester.

I imagine the Gunners will be at the top of the table next season along with United, Chelsea, and possibly City. The title race should be a great one to watch for sure. I'm excited to see how JW develops for you guys. I've been really impressed with him.
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#1,091
#1,091
Neuer has said that Schalke 04 will take care of business tomorrow. I tend to disagree. Whoever secures the aggregate win will have their hands full with Barcelona. What a great club, and what great form.
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#1,093
#1,093
banman360 said:
Real did what they needed to do at the Camp Nou. Sucks
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Mourinho played such a risky game with these legs. He obviously played for getting the draw away along with away goal while hoping to draw 0-0 at home. That has to be rough as a Madrid fan since the club as such a history of attacking football only to field three defensive mids in their own stadium
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#1,094
#1,094
Mourinho took a team to the final 4 that hadnt been past the group of 16 since 2004. ill trust his decision making.

30 fouls called against Real in this one. lol
 
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#1,095
#1,095
banman360 said:
Mourinho took a team to the final 4 that hadnt been past the group of 16 since 2004. ill trust his decision making.

30 fouls called against Real in this one. lol
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Sounds about right.

In hindsight, I think Mourinho got it wrong in his first leg tactics. Trying to dirty up the game against Barca has definitely resulted in players getting sent off on a consistent basis. That definitely was the difference in the first leg as Pepe getting sent off completely changed the game. IMO, I think they were pretty lucky not to have someone sent off today as well. The ref clearly tried to keep the cards in his pocket.
 
#1,096
#1,096
volball625 said:
Sounds about right.

In hindsight, I think Mourinho got it wrong in his first leg tactics. Trying to dirty up the game against Barca has definitely resulted in players getting sent off on a consistent basis. That definitely was the difference in the first leg as Pepe getting sent off completely changed the game. IMO, I think they were pretty lucky not to have someone sent off today as well. The ref clearly tried to keep the cards in his pocket.
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For a team as good as Barca the tactics were all Real could do to slow down the passing attack. The difference in the two games was the entire team wasn't pleading to the ref after every foul for a card in the second one, as they got what they wanted in the first leg.
 
#1,097
#1,097
banman360 said:
For a team as good as Barca the tactics were all Real could do to slow down the passing attack. The difference in the two games was the entire team wasn't pleading to the ref after every foul for a card in the second one, as they got what they wanted in the first leg.
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That's fine. I think the team that wanted to play football and the better team over both legs advanced.
 
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