Beautiful Game 12/13 Thread (Major EPL slant)

[fsquid]

I just thought we should start a new thread since the transfer window is open and friendlies are starting to happen.

Major news this morning is that Rangers were relegated all the way to Scottish Division Three (4th tier). There they will face the likes of Annan Athletic, Clyde, and the amateur side of Queen's Park.

[fsquid]

Right after that news, John Terry found not guilty of racial abuse.

[RobVarak]

Just read the opinion, which is superficially hilarious and legally interesting...to my American-trained eyes at least. Even in a world without a First Amendment, speech-based prosecutions are damned slippery things.

Big win for the F.A., who clearly had no interest in running JT through the same witch hunt that they used to skewer Luis Suarez Oily Foreigner.

[10spro]

Apparently S. Berlusconi forgot to tell T. Silva and Z. Ibrahimovic that they were sold to PSG. Zlatan doesn't think so...just yet.

[Macca00]

Hasn't really been mentioned in the previous football thread but I think United got themselves a hell of a player in Kagawa and for a great price too. I think he's going to be awesome for them.

Apparently Brendan Rodgers wants rid of Andy Carroll which I think is madness for two reasons;

i. We'll take an absolute bath with regards the money we'd lose - I couldn't see anyone paying more than 10 million for him.
ii. I think he has potential, not 35 million pounds worth of potential, but potential enough to be a very good player. I also think he's a lot better with the ball at his feet than having it lumped up in the air to him so I don't see why he couldn't fit into a passing style.

Would love us to sign Clint Dempsey. Would also love us to shoot Stewart Downing into space.

Lost Maxi to Newell's Old Boys. Thought he was a great player and another pricey Benitez signing...cost us zero pounds. Will be missed.

[JRod]

Think Andy Carrol's ticked up after EURO. Newcastle learned how to feed him the ball. I don't know why Liverpool can't.

In the new Man City world, it's going to be a fun season seeing:

Where Liverpool ends up.
Can Sir Alex take on Man City. I think they are close but need big name quality.
Arsenal only has Wenger left.

Watch Newcastle blow last year's season and fight off regulation.

[RobVarak]

Hasn't really been mentioned in the previous football thread but I think United got themselves a hell of a player in Kagawa and for a great price too. I think he's going to be awesome for them.

Apparently Brendan Rodgers wants rid of Andy Carroll which I think is madness for two reasons;

i. We'll take an absolute bath with regards the money we'd lose - I couldn't see anyone paying more than 10 million for him.
ii. I think he has potential, not 35 million pounds worth of potential, but potential enough to be a very good player. I also think he's a lot better with the ball at his feet than having it lumped up in the air to him so I don't see why he couldn't fit into a passing style.

Would love us to sign Clint Dempsey. Would also love us to shoot Stewart Downing into space.

Lost Maxi to Newell's Old Boys. Thought he was a great player and another pricey Benitez signing...cost us zero pounds. Will be missed.

Totally agree on Kagawa. Good player.

Jimmy and I were discussing Carroll on XBL last night (and by "discussing" I mean Jimmy calling me a knobhead). I agree with your reasons, but I don't know if that means LFC shouldn't sell him...if that makes any sense.

He's better on the ball than most people think and we will take a bath on the fee. But the question that needs to be asked is whether he will give us full value as a member of the squad given the system that Rodgers is implementing. I think he won't. He may be a $10m player in one squad, but a $6.5 player in another, if you take my meaning.

If LFC are playing the ball out of the back, it minimizes his amazing aerial battle winning %. If we're playing the formation he played at Swansea, it means no real true wingers, but rather narrower outside players playing the ball to feet. Could he contribute as a target man and goal scorer in this system? Yes. Would he be be producing efficiently in this system? Almost certainly not. You're not getting full value out of him for his wage.

So why not deal him now, as he's getting a bit of a once-over after the Euros and a good finish to last season rather than later after he's been showcased in a system that doesn't play to his strengths?

Last rumor that I saw was Demspey + 9m pounds for Carroll, which I think would be a great move. Borini, Suarez and Dempsey up front would be a dream for the Rodgers system.

[Jimmydeicide]

I agree Macca hes only 23 and just finding out what hes all about really , im guessing if we keep him hell be there longer than Rogers will be so by that time if hes not Maxi rodriguezed hell be raring to go when Rogers gets fired.

I dont think he played well enough for enough teams to have him on their radar , so id like to keep him great upside and a player can adapt to a system surely.

I dont know the name of Swansea's striker but he was big and surely no better than Carroll so i dont see why not.

But a Downing and Carroll package i would entertain , anything to get rid of that guy.

[pk500]

Think Andy Carrol's ticked up after EURO. Newcastle learned how to feed him the ball. I don't know why Liverpool can't.

The current Newcastle team wouldn't or couldn't do it, as Pardew cleared out traditional lump-and-run midfielders like Nolan and Barton for more skilled guys like Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Tiote.

[Macca00]

Russia made Fabio Cappello their manager. Probably only picked him because Hodgson wasn't available.

[10spro]

Think Andy Carrol's ticked up after EURO. Newcastle learned how to feed him the ball. I don't know why Liverpool can't.

The current Newcastle team wouldn't or couldn't do it, as Pardew cleared out traditional lump-and-run midfielders like Nolan and Barton for more skilled guys like Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Tiote.

Don't be surprised to see him back, especially if Liverpool can swing a full deal instead of a loan.

[RobVarak]

Russia made Fabio Cappello their manager. Probably only picked him because Hodgson wasn't available.

Can't believe 'arry missed on that job. That's the job he was born to take, baby!

[fsquid]

Sheffield Wednesday looking to loan one Joey Barton for the season. Wow.

[Feanor]

The FPL is open for business again, and the prices seems a bit more reasonable this year.

http://fantasy.premierleague.com/

[fsquid]

Tim Cahill to the Red Bulls (New York).

[Feanor]

Big win for the F.A., who clearly had no interest in running JT through the same witch hunt that they used to skewer Luis Suarez Oily Foreigner.

I guess the FA have deemed Terry to be a honorary oily foreigner.

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatu ... ry-charged

[RobVarak]

Big win for the F.A., who clearly had no interest in running JT through the same witch hunt that they used to skewer Luis Suarez Oily Foreigner.

I guess the FA have deemed Terry to be a honorary oily foreigner.

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatu ... ry-charged

Let's see how they handle it though.

As an astute observer tweeted earlier:

oh you beauty ‏@natefc
Place your bets. John Terry will be suspended for a) 0 matches b) 0 matches c) 0 matches or d) 0 matches, and he'll be knighted.

[Macca00]

Van Persie gone to United.

[fanatic]

Just curious...where do you guys go online for EPL analysis? Thanks! I'm suspecting there's more out there than the ESPN/BBC columns I'm reading.

[pk500]

Just curious...where do you guys go online for EPL analysis? Thanks! I'm suspecting there's more out there than the ESPN/BBC columns I'm reading.

guardian.co.uk
epltalk.com
zonalmarking.net
Men in Blazers podcast at Grantland.com
Football Weekly podcast at guardian.co.uk

[miget33]

The new all soccer network BeInsports will be on Direct TV sports package(in HD) and looks like on Dish as well(SD only)

The network will be the home to la liga, ligue on, serie a, the npower championship.

Channel 620 for Direct TV, 408 for Dish

[fsquid]

Someone tell me what value Jermaine Jones adds please?

[fsquid]

Holy f***, we just won in Mexico!!!!!!!!!

[Zeppo]

Well that was unexpected. Incredible.

[wco81]

Holy f***, we just won in Mexico!!!!!!!!!

Germany?