On August 19 2013 03:45 Zeo wrote: Spanish football is in deep shit people... Every team that is not Real Madrid or Barcelona has been weakened over the summer, most of the best players that don't play in the top two are gone... And we can all pinpoint the moment it all went downhill.
Its the same Levante back line as last year, they just werent at the races today .
I wouldnt worry to much about Spanish football, this happens every year. from a league performance perspective its the same shit with the top 2 being far and away better, from a mid level European competition perspective you will still see Spanish teams there and there abouts in your Europa leagues ..
the disconcerting part ofcourse is the financial aspect in general, which is just as much down to the countries state of affairs as it is the leagues..
PSG: 39 shots, 17 on target, 1 goal Ajaccio: 1 shot, 1 on target, 1 goal
The stats make it look bad for PSG but actually it was a brilliant performance from Ajaccio's keeper, Ochoa. Many reflex saves, on the line, in the air, in the feet... He did it all. Also Thiago Silva hit the post twice, and twice a defender saved the ball on the line.
The PSG goal was a beautiful strike from Cavani, his first goal for PSG! yay
On August 19 2013 05:07 Twisted wrote: A thought that just occured to me. In the PL (and Arsenal in particular) teams/fans etc. are not satisfied, or downright pessimistic when they don't sign a few big names in the transfer window.
In the Netherlands the top teams are extremely happy when they can actually keep their players and maybe one fresh face haha. Such a big contrast. I guess this counts for the Portugese giants as well.
Yeah, honestly, no one really talks about that, but I think it's pretty important. The team didn't lose a key player. To me, that's more important than making big signings.
A few years ago, Wenger said something like "In England everyone thinks that the only way to improve a team is to buy new players, but no one ever talks about improving the ones you already have."
I think that's why you don't see Arsenal spending big money on new players, even though they could, because Wenger thinks the current group of players are good enough compete for trophies. And honestly, I agree, Arsenal's first team can compete with anyone in Europe. The problem is the lack of depth, and after the first team, it's basically kids, and players who aren't good enough to play for the team (like all those players who were sold this summer).
But maybe that's one of the reasons why we haven't seen a big transfer; it would look silly to break your record transfer fee and wage structure for someone who is cover for your first team!
Obviously that doesn't excuse the lack of signings, but that may explain why nothing has really happened yet.
And Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain maybe have torn a knee ligament in yesterday's game. It really can't get much worse than this.
On August 19 2013 09:08 mavignon wrote: The PSG goal was a beautiful strike from Cavani, his first goal for PSG! yay
On August 19 2013 05:07 Twisted wrote: A thought that just occured to me. In the PL (and Arsenal in particular) teams/fans etc. are not satisfied, or downright pessimistic when they don't sign a few big names in the transfer window.
In the Netherlands the top teams are extremely happy when they can actually keep their players and maybe one fresh face haha. Such a big contrast. I guess this counts for the Portugese giants as well.
Yeah, honestly, no one really talks about that, but I think it's pretty important. The team didn't lose a key player. To me, that's more important than making big signings.
A few years ago, Wenger said something like "In England everyone thinks that the only way to improve a team is to buy new players, but no one ever talks about improving the ones you already have."
I think that's why you don't see Arsenal spending big money on new players, even though they could, because Wenger thinks the current group of players are good enough compete for trophies. And honestly, I agree, Arsenal's first team can compete with anyone in Europe. The problem is the lack of depth, and after the first team, it's basically kids, and players who aren't good enough to play for the team (like all those players who were sold this summer).
But maybe that's one of the reasons why we haven't seen a big transfer; it would look silly to break your record transfer fee and wage structure for someone who is cover for your first team!.
I agree with everything you said here, but there's a problem with that Wenger quote.
How many times in the last few years have we seen a completely abject Arsenal team performance? It seems that the team has almost no instructions on how to play the game at either end of the field and it takes a brilliant individual performance to swing even an 'easy' game our way. I watched Dortmund play today vs Eintracht Braunschweig and I thought that their overall play was incredible. They passed the ball quickly, constantly trying to find a way through the defense, and then pressed and defended as a team when they lost the ball.
This current Arsenal team has no style whatsoever. When they have the ball the passing tends to be far too slow and indirect, the forward players don't look to work together and penetrate the defense, and when opponents attack the fowards and midfielders don't do enough defensive work. We surely have the worst ratio of possession to shots in Europe and the highest percentage of passes by our centre backs. Sometimes they do play well and blow teams out of the water, but not often enough.
Hard work at the training ground could fix all of these problems, but does Wenger have it in him to act the hard man and instill a level of discipline on the team? I personally doubt it.
On August 19 2013 09:08 mavignon wrote: PSG - Ajaccio
PSG: 39 shots, 17 on target, 1 goal Ajaccio: 1 shot, 1 on target, 1 goal
The stats make it look bad for PSG but actually it was a brilliant performance from Ajaccio's keeper, Ochoa. Many reflex saves, on the line, in the air, in the feet... He did it all. Also Thiago Silva hit the post twice, and twice a defender saved the ball on the line.
Everton have rejected £28m joint bid from Manchester United for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines
Arsenal want to sign £25m-rated forward Michu from Swansea
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has hinted he will continue his pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney until the transfer window closes on September 2
Monaco boss Claudio Ranieri has moved swiftly to quash media speculation that Radamel Falcao is about to be transferred from the club.
Southampton have signed striker Pablo Osvaldo from Roma. The 27-year-old Italy international has agreed a four-year deal at the club
The lawyer of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, Bebiano Gomes has told RTP that Chelsea have yet to express an interest in the 18-year-old, but has revealed that Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray are all keen
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero has joined Ligue 1 side Monaco on a season-long loan from Sampdoria
Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has been told he can move on for regular first team football
The odds on Everton signing Gareth Barry have plummeted from 40/1 to 1/3 following a run of bets last night
Reports in the German media claim Werder Bremen striker Marko Arnautovic has rejected a move to Celtic
Newcastle have been told they must bid £8m if they want to sign 20-year-old Lille midfielder Florian Thauvin
Fulham are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over midfielder Clement Chantome who has been told he can leave the French champions
Stoke City watched Rennes forward Melvut Erding in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Nice
The Times are reporting that Norwich have made an approach for Brescia striker Andrea Caracciolo
FC Copenhagen have announced the signing of Fanendo Adi from Slovakian club AS Trencin
The lawyer of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, Bebiano Gomes has told RTP that Chelsea have yet to express an interest in the 18-year-old, but has revealed that Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray are all keen
I've been hearing a lot of interest for Bruma , any Portuguese care to comment on how good he is?
On August 19 2013 20:56 Sated wrote: I'm beginning to feel that teams are trying to get inflated prices out of us because they think that Moyes is under pressure to make signings...
Come on £26million for Baines and Fellaini in todays market? That is more than a steal and would be the best piece of business in world football bare none (Maybe not but still...)
On August 19 2013 20:56 Sated wrote: I'm beginning to feel that teams are trying to get inflated prices out of us because they think that Moyes is under pressure to make signings...
Come on £26million for Baines and Fellaini in todays market? That is more than a steal and would be the best piece of business in world football bare none (Maybe not but still...)
It is a little low, but I wouldn't call it a steal. Baines is obviously English, so he's going to cost more than he is actually worth no matter what happens =P
Bahaha ;P Well Fellaini had a £23 million release clause that expired July 1st. Baines would not be sold for anything less than £15 million when Moyes was commentating on him last summer or in January i forget which one.
So i thought a good bit would of been like £35 million. Maybe even start at £33-35 atleast.
On August 19 2013 20:56 Sated wrote: I'm beginning to feel that teams are trying to get inflated prices out of us because they think that Moyes is under pressure to make signings...
Yeah but Moyes could have bought fellaini with the buyout clause!!! What nonsense is this!!!
The lawyer of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, Bebiano Gomes has told RTP that Chelsea have yet to express an interest in the 18-year-old, but has revealed that Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray are all keen
I've been hearing a lot of interest for Bruma , any Portuguese care to comment on how good he is?
People already talked about him a few years ago when he was still even more young, saying he would be next Ronaldo or Nani when he was older. Last year he did great in Sporting B and with the first team having a very complicated season, he was called and played 13 games, at the age of 18.
He is someone that has a lot of potential, while being already a pretty decent of a player for his age; he also did great in the world cup under-20, scoring 5 goals in 4 games with a couple of assists.
His biggest strengths are definitely his speed and skills, which ofc makes him really strong in 1 on 1.
Arsenal should seriously splash the cash and not be stingy misers if they wanna get anybody. They've been so fucking timid and dipping their toes too much. Serves them right if they can't get anyone.
Arsenal's way of life (as posted on some other forum):
1. Announce that the club won't spend cash and play with win-hungry youngsters the whole season. 2. Lose many games early season and desperately start looking for new signings before the window closes. 3. Sign average-skill players as all better guys already moved to other big clubs. 4. Fight heroically for #4 spot in PL.
BTW, that Bruma guy has incredible pace and great one-on-ones; not sure about tactics and defensive play though.
The lawyer of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, Bebiano Gomes has told RTP that Chelsea have yet to express an interest in the 18-year-old, but has revealed that Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Galatasaray are all keen
I've been hearing a lot of interest for Bruma , any Portuguese care to comment on how good he is?
People already talked about him a few years ago when he was still even more young, saying he would be next Ronaldo or Nani when he was older. Last year he did great in Sporting B and with the first team having a very complicated season, he was called and played 13 games, at the age of 18.
He is someone that has a lot of potential, while being already a pretty decent of a player for his age; he also did great in the world cup under-20, scoring 5 goals in 4 games with a couple of assists.
His biggest strengths are definitely his speed and skills, which ofc makes him really strong in 1 on 1.
Thanks for the info! That's quite the achievement for a player that young, sounds like he could be a big thing. I'll keep an eye on him and hope he doesn't join PSV
On August 19 2013 22:08 wingpawn wrote: Arsenal's way of life (as posted on some other forum):
1. Announce that the club won't spend cash and play with win-hungry youngsters the whole season. 2. Lose many games early season and desperately start looking for new signings before the window closes. 3. Sign average-skill players as all better guys already moved to other big clubs. 4. Fight heroically for #4 spot in PL.
BTW, that Bruma guy has incredible pace and great one-on-ones; not sure about tactics and defensive play though.
EPT
