The Football Thread - Season 2013/2014

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pooley said:
A 31 year old substitute newcomer is completely the wrong player to be on the plane.
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Again - I've no issue with your nod to youth but we need to ensure we have a plane to catch.

He's not a player we should overlooking for a competitive friendly against Scotland with the remaining qualification games.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Let's face it, Rooney has barely delivered a thing for England and there isn't exactly much other talent out there.
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Is that the same Rooney who has scored 36 goals for England. 6th in the all time top english goal scorers and only 13 goals behind top scorer Bobby Charlton. That Rooney?

Steve
 
steve_v said:
Is that the same Rooney who has scored 36 goals for England. 6th in the all time top english goal scorers and only 13 goals behind top scorer Bobby Charlton. That Rooney?

Steve
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Yeah...36 goals in 83 appearances. Not exactly setting the world alight with that ratio of goals per game considering he's our 'talisman'! But what really narks me is the difference in his performance levels for club and country. It's like watching two completely different people.

Sadly he remains the best we've got!
 
I'm so glad I don't follow international football. ;)
 
Any international team has to be a mixture of experience and youth, but you shouldn't overlook a wildcard who is in form though.:shake: I think too many times over the years people in form have lost out because the 'best' players get in the squad everytime, regardless of their form at the time and most of the times do nothing. If you just walk into the team, any team, where is the extra pressure to succeed that competition for your place brings? :shrug:

That said, any friendlies should be used to bring young players into the squad to gain experience. And once qualification for a competition has passed, you can start to experiment a bit more. If you don't actually qualify for a competition you can be a bit more radical with your experimentation. :shrug:

And is there any reason why you can have more players meet up during an international week over the number in the squad who actually have a chance of playing? :shrug:

I know Liverpool are trying to bring the youth players closer to the first team squad to interact more, as the way it is set up now, the youth players are at a different training facility and perhaps feel that the first team is out of reach. If they train with the first team occasionally, they can measure themselves and their progression. And if they prove themselves against the senior players in training, good luck to them. :thumbs: And when 16 and 17 year olds are getting near the first team, more interaction may bring some young players on sooner.

Do the England squad and Under 21, Under 18 and whatever squads interact together? :shrug: You'd certainly know when someone was ready for the full England team if a young player is bettering a senior play in training sessions.

That could cement notion that once you're a young international you automatically progress through the age ranges, and may exclude late developers. :thinking: Teddy Sheringham was 27 on his England debut and Ian Wright was 28.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Yeah...36 goals in 83 appearances. Not exactly setting the world alight with that ratio of goals per game considering he's our 'talisman'! But what really narks me is the difference in his performance levels for club and country. It's like watching two completely different people.

Sadly he remains the best we've got!
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7 goals in the least 7 games or something like that for England so of late it's been OK

His history at tournaments is pretty much everybody hoping he gets over an injury and then everybody knocking him for being poor despite having to play whilst not match fit or fully recovered.

His United form hasn't been much to shout about for a while - like a couple of years.
 
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akr said:
Remy is too good for the Championship, loan suits everyone, plus probably wants to try and get into French sqaud. If he stays fit (I believe since signing he has picked up an injury :D) he could be fantastic for the Geordies. In theory we get him back next year once we are back up :suspect:
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Totally agree, what a surprise he picked up another injury. If he can stay injury free for a season I reckon he would score 20+
 
dinners said:
Given our continued weak central midfield I think Fellaini would be a decent option even if he's not that 'marquee' sighning some people seem to crave.
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I watched him at The Emirates against Arsenal last season and he run everything. Creative, strong, good passer, he needs to be in a top 4 team, and the Champions League to come of age...
 
pooley said:
So if we can agree that Lambert isn't going to win the world cup for us, then what possible use can there be in using him?
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Wayne Rooney won't help us win the World Cup - no-one will as we are simply not good enough and there are a number of teams in a completely different league to us in terms of tactics and squad depth. This one or the next one.

pooley said:
I really don't have anything personal against him, but do you really think that the likes of Spain and Germany would be tinking the same way as you are? If he was the final icing on the cake of a team that could mount a serious challenge for the trophy then his age wouldn't be an issue, but he's not. At best he's an impact substitute in a team that might be good enough to get to the quarters if the draw goes in our favour.

I honestly can't see the benefit in taking him, and its attitudes like this that are one of the reasons we are no longer considered a threat by the established top nations
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I think it's nothing to do with 'attitudes like this'. We are simply not good enough and do not have enough players of sufficient quality. There are many reasons for that, but blooding young players who are not good enough at the expense of better older players serves no purpose. Supporters of all clubs teams, as with international teams, like to see youth team players promoted - but only if they are good enough.

I firmly believe if you are good enough you are in, regardless of age. Equally, as mentioned in another post, you can be dropped regardless of age or club you play for.

Is giving young players who are talented the opportunity to play at a more senior level a good idea - of course, but only if they have the prospect of playing at that level, not just a blanket they should play because they are young.

Anyway, let's toast last night's win and agree to disagree. :)
 
pooley said:
My only issue with '31' is I'll never see it again :thumbsdown:
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Same :(

As I don't support any particular team, my prep for the new season is looking back over previous season stats, re-bookmarking football365 and readying myself for some gambling.

As I always say 'I support whoever my money is on at the time' ;)

Last weekend I won €200+ on the first round of Championship games.

Nice.

It's going to go all downhill from here on then ... :D
 
Can I say it before Cambsno please. Running out of time as the season starts ob Saturday.



WENGER OUT!
 
Anyone else for TP Fantasy Football ?

Also, are we having a predictions thingymebob this year ?
 
The Greek said:
Can I say it before Cambsno please. Running out of time as the season starts ob Saturday.

WENGER OUT!
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Growing injury list too. At this rate we won't have a full bench from the senior squad!

I still think we'll see some money spent though, just a little later than ideal but that's the case for most teams in the premier league this year.
 
dinners said:
Anyone else for TP Fantasy Football ?

Also, are we having a predictions thingymebob this year ?
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Where's the linky?

I have to defend my title re predictions (although we were all pretty bad). ;)
 
Ok, so here were the rules from last year for the Premier League TP prediction table.

Scoring was as follows:

Correctly predicted in bottom 3 or top 6 - 1 point per team
Correctly predicted in exact place - 3 bonus points per team (does not have to be in bottom 3 or top 6).

All entries in by end of play next Friday 23rd August - I'll then collate into an XLS so I can update the scores easily each week. Will leave it a bit more open as some signings will be made after that date. Feel free to post here, or PM me if you do not wish to reveal your 1-20 in advance of the deadline.

I'd be grateful however you do it to keep to the conventional naming convention, unlike someone last year, as I post these into excel and have scores total by recognising the names, so renaming every team whilst humorous means I have to rename each one! :)

So all I need is your 1-20 in order of finishing places :)
 
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. Swansea
8. Everton
9. Southampton
10. West Ham United
11. Aston Villa
12. Newcastle United
13. Norwich City
14. Fulham
15. West Bromwich Albion
16. Stoke City
17. Sunderland
18. Cardiff City
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull City Tigers (I struggle to type that without laughing)

That was hard work. I probably won't even score 1 out of 20 in the right place!
 
1. Manchester City
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. Swansea
8. Everton
9. Southampton
10. West Ham United
11. West Bromwich Albion
12. Newcastle United
13. Aston Villa
14. Norwich City
15. Fulham
16. Sunderland
17. Stoke City
18. Cardiff City
19. Crystal Palace
20. Hull City Tigers

Doddle. Hand over my prize again now. ;)
 
Lots of similarities, Jamie. :)
 
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Totenham
6. Everton
7. Liverpool
8. Fulham
9. Swansea
10. Newcastle
11. Sunderland
12. Southampton
13. Aston Villa
14. Stoke City
15. West Ham United
16. West Bromwich Albion
17. Hull City tigers
18. Norwich
19. Crystal Palace
20. Cardiff City
 
Oh, go on then

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Tottenham
6. liverpool
7. Swansea
8. Fulham
9. Everton
10. Newcastle
11. Sunderland
12. West Ham
13. Aston Villa
14. Stoke City
15. Hull
16. West Bromwich Albion
17. Southampton
18. Norwich
19. Crystal Palace
20. Cardiff City
______________
 
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. Everton
8. Fulham
9. West Ham United
10. Swansea
11. Newcastle United
12. Aston Villa
13. Sunderland
14. Southampton
15. West Bromwich Albion
16. Norwich
17. Stoke City
18. Crystal Palace
19. Cardiff City
20. Hull City Tigers
 
TriggerHappy said:
Growing injury list too. At this rate we won't have a full bench from the senior squad!

I still think we'll see some money spent though, just a little later than ideal but that's the case for most teams in the premier league this year.
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We have a number of International Standard players available. Although you have missed out on Granero, Park, Mackie and Remy, Cesar, Barton, Mbia are still available at knockdown rates, and you can have Traore back on a special deal too as we all all heart.

I am surprised Cesar has not gone yet, World Cup year, needs to play to be Brazil No1 and will not do so for us, and is actually quite good. Massive wages no doubt, but small transfer fee, if any.
 
The23rdman said:
Well, you're so good!
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The23rdman said:
Well, if you wanna win you know who to copy. ;)
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No need to get sarcastic :nono:

akr said:
We have a number of International Standard players available. Although you have missed out on Granero, Park, Mackie and Remy, Cesar, Barton, Mbia are still available at knockdown rates, and you can have Traore back on a special deal too as we all all heart.

I am surprised Cesar has not gone yet, World Cup year, needs to play to be Brazil No1 and will not do so for us, and is actually quite good. Massive wages no doubt, but small transfer fee, if any.
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Thanks for the kind offer but you can hang on to them ;) Remy has gone to Newcastle on loan for the season anyway I'd thought? He'd have been the only player to tempt me. Having said that actually Cesar wouldn't go amiss but I always thought that depended on Fabianski leaving at the end of his contract which was rumoured to be at the end of last season. Seemingly now that's not the case as he's one of the few players still with us!

I've just seen Marca reporting that Falcao is already transfer listed due to tax issues :lol: I'm sure somewhere there are already rumours building of where he's off to instead!
 
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1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Manchester United
4. Tottenham
5. Arsenal
6. Everton
7. Swansea
8. Liverpool
9. Southampton
10. West Ham United
11. Aston Villa
12. West Bromwich Albion
13. Fulham
14. Norwich City
15. Cardiff City
16. Newcastle United
17. Sunderland
18. Crystal Palace
19. Stoke City
20. Hull City
 
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I'm flipping a coin for 1st and 2nd but here's mine....

1 Chelsea
2 Man City
3 Man United
4 Arsenal
5 Tottenham
6 Liverpool
7 Everton
8 Swansea
9 Sunderland
10 Villa
11 Newcastle
12 Stoke
13 Fulham
14 Southampton
15 Norwich
16 West Ham
17 Cardiff
18 WBA
19 Palace
20 Hull
 
Tough for the top...

1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham
7. West Ham
8. Swansea
9. Newcastle Utd
10. Everton
11. West Bromwich Albion
12. Southampton
13. Fulham
14. Norwich City
15. Sunderland
16. Aston Villa
17. Stoke City
18. Cardiff City
19. Hull City
20. Crystal Palace
 
I see Liverpool & Willian linked again in there. I actually thought you'd already got him till I read today that United and others were also looking.

Opinion seems very divided about his quality. 40 goals in 300 games in an average league, 25 years of age and 2 caps. £30m seems a bit nuts.

Cue Wenger offer of £30 million and a pound.
 
Sounds about right to me. ;)
 
Better sort my final FF team out tonight - sounds like a few players could be crocked.

Anybody know what the score is with Mata ?
 
dinners said:
Better sort my final FF team out tonight - sounds like a few players could be crocked.

Anybody know what the score is with Mata ?
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Much like the rest of the Chelsea squad....so much talent it's hard to know if he's nailed on for a starting place. He's also not meant to be fully fit yet and has only had a small roll to play in pre-season. It's all a gamble with Chelsea until we see who Mourinho's first XI is. I'm interested to see if he goes with Ba, Torres or Lukaku.
 
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