The Football Thread - Season 2017/2018

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redhed17 said:
I think there must be a reason Klopp didn't go after Aubameyang. ;)
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Well they say he has form for being a bad boy, but so far we have seen none of that, and 9 goals in 10 games is a pretty good return for your first half season in the Premier League. Let's see what happens when the new boss comes in.
 
redhed17 said:
If Coutinho was £142m, then Salah would be closer to £200m imho. Even if Salah doesn't have a season as good as this again, he will be in double figures from the wing, which is what was expected at the start of the season. Salah, Firmino and Mane seem to all be on the same page at moment, and long may it last, and hopefully they all realise they have something special together. I have my doubts about Mane though, and always have. He misses quite a lot and misplaces a lot of passes. And for a long period of the season didn't seem to want to pass to Robertson. Saying that he has done pretty well. :LOL:

I think there must be a reason Klopp didn't go after Aubameyang. ;)
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10 goals in 1st 13 PL games... liked him at Dortmund and so pleased we got him. Could actually see Pep going after him, already proved he can score in PL and would be a great replacement for Aguero
 
cambsno said:
10 goals in 1st 13 PL games... liked him at Dortmund and so pleased we got him. Could actually see Pep going after him, already proved he can score in PL and would be a great replacement for Aguero
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I agree he has done well, but there was no link between Klopp and Aubameyang, and consdiering how well he gets on with most players that struck me as odd. I can't see him moving so quick from Arsenal unless he causes trouble, and/or the new chap does not like him for whatever reason. For all the stick Wenger got he has left two good strikers who seem to have a lot of goals between them. For whatever reason Lacazette was held back at the start of the season but 14 goals in 32 games after a shaky start is a very good return.

I'm not sure who Cit€h could get to improve them. Do doubt they will be spending big though. ;) :rolleyes:
 
The hype for Deadpool 2 has been getting some football links. Can't wait to see the film, if it is anything close to the first one it will be great.


 
BBC saying that Hart and Wilshire are not going too Russia. Big mistake that.

Yes, Hart has been poor this season but for me he has to go as No.3. While Butland and Pickford are in much better form, nice to have someone experienced who has been there and done that to support them. Wilshire has been very good for Arsenal and played 38 games, yet Lallana is still in the running having played naff all this season!
 
cambsno said:
BBC saying that Hart and Wilshire are not going too Russia. Big mistake that.

Yes, Hart has been poor this season but for me he has to go as No.3. While Butland and Pickford are in much better form, nice to have someone experienced who has been there and done that to support them. Wilshire has been very good for Arsenal and played 38 games, yet Lallana is still in the running having played naff all this season!
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If form is anything, Pickford was unbelievably bad on Sunday. :eek: If Hart had been good in previous tournaments I would say take him for experience, but now is the time for a clean sweep imho. I'd take Shelvey before Wilshire, though I think his disciplinary record may go against him. I really like Lallana, but it is a big risk to take him with so few games this season. I don't envy Southgate at times like this.
 
redhed17 said:
If form is anything, Pickford was unbelievably bad on Sunday. :eek: If Hart had been good in previous tournaments I would say take him for experience, but now is the time for a clean sweep imho. I'd take Shelvey before Wilshire, though I think his disciplinary record may go against him. I really like Lallana, but it is a big risk to take him with so few games this season. I don't envy Southgate at times like this.
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I understand about the experience thing, but to be honest, Hart has been on the decline for some time. Big Wilshire fan, but he just hasn't shown what he can do in big games this season, although I've never been convinced my Lallana personally. Shelvey could go, but I'd be tempted to take Ainsley Maitland-Niles, he's shown great form and can play across a number of positions. Just what you need in a limited squad, players that are not one position dependant. The young lad from Liverpool has to be in with a shout too.
 
Sounds like Arteta is going to be unveiled in the next day or so as the new Arsenal manager.

I'm really not sure what to think of this. To be fair, he's had 4 or 5 years working with Wenger, 2 years with Pep, and he does come across as an intelligent guy. The infrastructure is now totally different, with a new head hunting & negotiating team in place, Gazidis has a new office at the training ground, and most of the back room staff have gone. So he will be a coach rather than a traditional manager, the same way most of the bigger clubs are run these days.

I just keep thinking, why didn't we get Viera if we were going down that route - more experience, club legend, World Cup winner.....
 
On Talk Sport this morning the presenters and their interviewees (Alan Brazil, Dean Saunders, David Seaman, Paul Robinson, etc) were queuing up to say that hart should be in the squad, some of them even saying he should be first choice, because "you can't buy experience". Well, fair enough, but you can't buy the ability to stop shots either, and unfortunately that's what Hart needs.
 
Jelster said:
Sounds like Arteta is going to be unveiled in the next day or so as the new Arsenal manager.

I'm really not sure what to think of this.....
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Interesting. One of the big criticisms of Arsenal's team in recent years is that there hasn't been enough leadership on the pitch. But Arteta was the captain for some of that time. So if he couldn't provide leadership on the pitch, why does anyone think he can make it happen from the manger's dugout?
 
Jelster said:
Sounds like Arteta is going to be unveiled in the next day or so as the new Arsenal manager.

I'm really not sure what to think of this. To be fair, he's had 4 or 5 years working with Wenger, 2 years with Pep, and he does come across as an intelligent guy. The infrastructure is now totally different, with a new head hunting & negotiating team in place, Gazidis has a new office at the training ground, and most of the back room staff have gone. So he will be a coach rather than a traditional manager, the same way most of the bigger clubs are run these days.

I just keep thinking, why didn't we get Viera if we were going down that route - more experience, club legend, World Cup winner.....
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The best players rarely make the best coaches!
 
cambsno said:
The best players rarely make the best coaches!
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Maybe that's why they think Arteta will make a good coach. ;) I mean, sure, he was a good player, but it's hard to argue that he was one of the best.
 
StewartR said:
Interesting. One of the big criticisms of Arsenal's team in recent years is that there hasn't been enough leadership on the pitch. But Arteta was the captain for some of that time. So if he couldn't provide leadership on the pitch, why does anyone think he can make it happen from the manger's dugout?
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Nail, hammer, hit.... The CLUB needs leadership, manager, captain, players.... Arteta just doesn't do that for me, Viera on the other hand is exactly the type of leadership we need. 3 titles, and one of the invincibles. A born winner.
 
Jelster said:
Nail, hammer, hit.... The CLUB needs leadership, manager, captain, players.... Arteta just doesn't do that for me, Viera on the other hand is exactly the type of leadership we need. 3 titles, and one of the invincibles. A born winner.
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I'm certainly not going to argue with that, but Vieira has no experience managing a big club and players with big egos. It would be a risk. Look at Roy Keane, for example. Similar temperament to Vieira, similar outstanding leadership qualities, completely intolerant of anyone giving less than 200% ... and not an effrctive manager.
 
StewartR said:
I'm certainly not going to argue with that, but Vieira has no experience managing a big club and players with big egos. It would be a risk. Look at Roy Keane, for example. Similar temperament to Vieira, similar outstanding leadership qualities, completely intolerant of anyone giving less than 200% ... and not an effrctive manager.
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My point was, if we are going down the ex-player route, Viera would be a far choice in my opinion. We don't need a soft spoken "kind" coach, we need somebody to shake it all up and get them playing for the shirt. And Roy Keane is just a thug anyway :D
 
StewartR said:
I'm certainly not going to argue with that, but Vieira has no experience managing a big club and players with big egos. It would be a risk. Look at Roy Keane, for example. Similar temperament to Vieira, similar outstanding leadership qualities, completely intolerant of anyone giving less than 200% ... and not an effrctive manager.
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Neither did some bloke called Pep!

In other news, Big Sam leaves Everton, and Moyes leaves West Ham... Makes Moyes back to Everton a certainty!!!
 
cambsno said:
I actually felt slightly sad watching Wenger at the end of the game yesterday. Just cant visualise someone else being there next season.
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Huddersfield fans chanting
"you wanted him out
you wanted him out
you two faced bastards
you wanted him out"

when the arse fans started chanting his name. :D
 
I'd go for Viera over Arteta any day, Arsenal need someone who can sort out the defence (Bould should go too, useless). As for big ego players, really? The club is bigger than any player, "leave your ego at home son and pull on a shirt that means everything to you" should be the new mantra. Far too many egos at Arsenal these days and I reckon Arsene was tired of it all but too loyal/kind to say anything publicly.
11 guys playing as a Team far better than half a dozen superstars that dont give a toss, look at Ozil, wouldnt even get in my team because of his attitude, quite a few of the others too. The main one worthy of his shirt was let go of to Man Utd. Think of the Legends that have played for Arsenal in the past, few were superstar players but you knew they would give their all and only lose because they were beaten not because they had given up.
 
So Gareth Southgate has announced his squad for the World Cup.

I don't think they've announced the squad numbers yet. I'd like to see England break with tradition and assign the squad numbers alphabetically, or randomly, or some other way that doesn't imply a "first XI". We need a 23-man squad, not an 11-man team. It worked for Argentina in 1978, when Ossie Ardiles won the World Cup wearing number 2. And in the modern game, so many players have squad numbers for their clubs, there's no real significance or importance to a number less than 12. John Terry played his whole Chelsea career wearing 26. Thierry Henry wore 14 for both Arsenal and Barcelona. Who cares about the number?

So for example, how about this?

Goalkeepers - 1 Butland, 2 Pickford, 3 Pope
Defenders - 4 Alexander-Arnold, 5 Cahill, 6 Delph, 7 Jones, 8 Maguire, 9 Rose, 10 Stones, 11 Tripper, 12 Walker, 13 Young
Midfielders - 14 Alli, 15 Dier, 16 Henderson, 17 Lingard, 18 Loftus-Cheek
Forwards - 19 Kane, 20 Rashford, 21 Sterling, 22 Vardy, 23 Welbeck

Or just be completely logical:

1 Alexander-Arnold, 2 Alli, 3 Butland, 4 Cahill, 5 Delph, 6 Dier, 7 Henderson, 8 Jones
9 Kane, 10 Lingard, 11 Loftus-Cheek, 12 Maguire, 13 Pickford, 14 Pope, 15 Rashford
16 Rose, 17 Sterling, 18 Stones, 19 Tripper, 20 Vardy, 21 Walker, 22 Welbeck, 23 Young
 
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MatBin said:
Far too many egos at Arsenal these days and I reckon Arsene was tired of it all but too loyal/kind to say anything publicly.
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All Wenger was interested in at the start of the season was beating Fergusons record.

On the bright side, the only way is up for the new manager :D
 
Good squad I think

England World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ashley Young, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Kieran Trippier

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Standby: Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski, Lewis Cook, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana
 
Byker28i said:
Good squad I think

England World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Nick Pope

Defenders: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ashley Young, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Kieran Trippier

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph

Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck

Standby: Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski, Lewis Cook, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana
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Generally I like the fact we have gone for a lot of younger players like Maguire, Loftus Cheek etc...

But, Heaton on standby??? Not played since Sept! Still think it should be Hart and not Pope going, that is 3 very inexperienced keepers! Not sure about Delph, is versatile but still think Wilshire should be in there, again, how can Lallana be on standby with just a handful of games played.

Also Welbeck, would be better off with me up front, he is a talentless waste of space!

My team would be (based on the squad)

GK - Pickford

CB - Stones
CB - Cahill
CB - Walker
RWB - Trippier
LWB - Young
CDM - Dier
M- Sterling
M - Alli
M - Lingard
A - Kane
 
Hart has been terrible the last couple of seasons, so quite right he's not going, too many mistakes.
Welbeck, good squad player
Lallana, good impact player but only if fit
 
Byker28i said:
Standby: Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski, Lewis Cook, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana
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I can cope with no Wilshire, but even having Livermore as a standby in front of him? He'll be taking Shawcross next and saying he's World class........

This is when I wish Ramsay was English.....
 
Byker28i said:
Hart has been terrible the last couple of seasons, so quite right he's not going, too many mistakes.
Welbeck, good squad player
Lallana, good impact player but only if fit
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I was a bit surprised to see Welbeck up there, but I agree, good team player, can play anywhere across the front 3.
 
MatBin said:
I'd go for Viera over Arteta any day, Arsenal need someone who can sort out the defence (Bould should go too, useless). As for big ego players, really? The club is bigger than any player, "leave your ego at home son and pull on a shirt that means everything to you" should be the new mantra. Far too many egos at Arsenal these days and I reckon Arsene was tired of it all but too loyal/kind to say anything publicly.
11 guys playing as a Team far better than half a dozen superstars that dont give a toss, look at Ozil, wouldnt even get in my team because of his attitude, quite a few of the others too. The main one worthy of his shirt was let go of to Man Utd. Think of the Legends that have played for Arsenal in the past, few were superstar players but you knew they would give their all and only lose because they were beaten not because they had given up.
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Sanchez had to be "let go", he had been causing issues off the pitch for over a year, and I think we got a good deal as he was going to walk away in the summer. Look at his form, 2 goals in 12 games for Utd? Just shows how good (and how hard) the Arsenal midfield worked. Ramsay is the man for me, he's stepped up this last season to show it's not all about taking the glory. I used to berate him as he wanted to be the star all the time, but he, above anybody else, has shown some degree of leadership in the side.
 
More blather on the radio about the England squad "lacking experience". Apparently Gary Cahill has the most caps with 58, then Jordan Henderson with 38, and the rest of them average about 15 each. I dunno though. What kind of experience do the pundits think would be helpful? Experience of failing at Euro 2016? Experience of failing big time at World Cup 2014? Experience of failing at Euro 2012? Experience of failing at World Cup 2010? .....?
 
Jelster said:
Sanchez had to be "let go", he had been causing issues off the pitch for over a year. year. Ramsey is the man for me, he's stepped up this last season to show it's not all about taking the glory. I used to berate him as he wanted to be the star all the time, but he, above anybody else, has shown some degree of leadership in the side.
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Sanchez -I doubt we will ever know why he was seen as a trouble maker, maybe he didn't like the fact he was working so hard and many others weren't.
Ramsey - agreed.
 
Jelster said:
Sanchez had to be "let go", he had been causing issues off the pitch for over a year, and I think we got a good deal as he was going to walk away in the summer. Look at his form, 2 goals in 12 games for Utd? Just shows how good (and how hard) the Arsenal midfield worked. Ramsay is the man for me, he's stepped up this last season to show it's not all about taking the glory. I used to berate him as he wanted to be the star all the time, but he, above anybody else, has shown some degree of leadership in the side.
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MatBin said:
Sanchez -I doubt we will ever know why he was seen as a trouble maker, maybe he didn't like the fact he was working so hard and many others weren't.
Ramsey - agreed.
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Sanchez is being used as a supporting attacker at Man Utd, he has to get used to that role rather then the attacking one he had at Arsenal.
And I can understand him being upset, many times he was the only one putting effort in, the rest were ambling, weighed down by their huge wage packets, no matter what they did...

It wasn't a good deal, hanging onto him cost the arsenal £60m
 
StewartR said:
More blather on the radio about the England squad "lacking experience". Apparently Gary Cahill has the most caps with 58, then Jordan Henderson with 38, and the rest of them average about 15 each. I dunno though. What kind of experience do the pundits think would be helpful? Experience of failing at Euro 2016? Experience of failing big time at World Cup 2014? Experience of failing at Euro 2012? Experience of failing at World Cup 2010? .....?
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They should bring back the proven WC winners - the '66 squad. ;)
 
StewartR said:
More blather on the radio about the England squad "lacking experience". Apparently Gary Cahill has the most caps with 58, then Jordan Henderson with 38, and the rest of them average about 15 each. I dunno though. What kind of experience do the pundits think would be helpful? Experience of failing at Euro 2016? Experience of failing big time at World Cup 2014? Experience of failing at Euro 2012? Experience of failing at World Cup 2010? .....?
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I do agree, and while I am pleased that most of the players are young, you do still need a few experienced heads around the place. Even if they have not played much for England (i.e. Young, who I think was outstanding in friendlies). Remember though that experience of failing is important and useful to share with others.
 
Byker28i said:
It wasn't a good deal, hanging onto him cost the arsenal £60m
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Perhaps they thought they could build a better team around him, get a few of the slackers to man-up or get rid of them, he saw that there was little or no chance of that and didnt renew his contract, personally I dont blame him for jumping ship.
 
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