Football The 2011/2012 Season Thread

[Calaen]

I know it's 'only Swansea', but I'm getting more and more worried about Man City. Aguero is a beast.

Rumours about Raul Meireles to Chelsea. Not a signing to set the world on fire, but I think he could do a job for us and with the amount of midfielders Liverpool have, it could be a good deal for both clubs I think. Were we to sign Meireles, I'd be very eager to see us supplement that signing with a right winger as well and not just stop there, we desperately need more width.

Meireles would give Chelsea that bit of class they definately need in the middle of the park.

Looking back at the match last night, City were very good throughout the whole game. But Swansea had decent spells with the ball and onlylooked short of ideas when they got into the final third. Mancini is the reason City will fail, the tactical side to his game is very weak. Even last night they went two up and were cruising and looking more dangerous, yet he replaced Johnson with a 5th defender.

 

[eksdee]

You can take the Italian out of Serie A but you can't take the Serie A out of the Italian.

 

[Raven]

He manages like someone playing football manager with an infinite cash cheat. Just buys decent players but doesn't really know what to do with them.

 

[Calaen]

He manages like someone playing football manager with an infinite cash cheat. Just buys decent players but doesn't really know what to do with them.

You get that feeling when yuo see him on the touchline it's almost like he's not sure what he is meant to be doing

 

[Calaen]

So Eboue has signed for Galatasaray, decent enough squad player!

I'll give him about 3 weeks, before he's killed someone for throwing a sheeps head at him

 

[Keitanz]

I'd be gutted if Meireles left us for Chelsea, he's a top player and was pretty good last season.

 

[Calaen]

I'd be gutted if Meireles left us for Chelsea, he's a top player and was pretty good last season.

Yes he certainly settled into the league in the second half. Also Wenger saying Bender staying put!

 

[eksdee]

Finally some good news for Arsenal fans.

 

[soze]

Finally some good news for Arsenal fans.

I think it is good news played down the middle I like big Nick (sometimes). With RVP suspended tonight for kicking the ball away I would sooner play Bendtner from the start than Chamakh as he seems to be having some confidence problems. But if he does stay we need to stop playing him on the wings!

 

[caLLous]

Chamakh needs to spend less time worrying about his hair.

 

[Embattle]

BBC Sport - Uefa boss to scrutinise Manchester City's Etihad deal

 

[Ormorof]

but can they "fairly" say "you are not a big enough club to warrant this kind of sponsorship" i mean, if a business wants to invest that kind of money who are they to stop them?

i can understand they might want to stop owners setting up "fake" companies and then sponsoring clubs to inject cash, but unless they can prove the man citys owners pressurised Etihad into sponsoring them for a huge amount i dont think theres much they can do.

 

[megadave]

Wonder when Arsenal will start spending, their squad is threadbare at the moment. Now they need an Eboue replacement !

 

[megadave]

but can they "fairly" say "you are not a big enough club to warrant this kind of sponsorship" i mean, if a business wants to invest that kind of money who are they to stop them?

i can understand they might want to stop owners setting up "fake" companies and then sponsoring clubs to inject cash, but unless they can prove the man citys owners pressurised Etihad into sponsoring them for a huge amount i dont think theres much they can do.

They can do whatever is outlined in the FFP that clubs have all agreed to. That includes ensuring that sponsorship deals are in-line with the market price which Man City's clearly isn't. Who is going to believe that Man City have earned the highest sponsorship out of any club when they don't even fill their stadium or have any worldwide recognition ? :O

 

[eksdee]

I think it is good news played down the middle I like big Nick (sometimes). With RVP suspended tonight for kicking the ball away I would sooner play Bendtner from the start than Chamakh as he seems to be having some confidence problems. But if he does stay we need to stop playing him on the wings!

Fair one. Bendtner is definitely an okay player, he's just a nutter. And he's definitely not lacking in confidence . If Chamakh could recapture his early season form of last year, that would go a long way to helping Arsenal I think.

 

[Ormorof]

They can do whatever is outlined in the FFP that clubs have all agreed to. That includes ensuring that sponsorship deals are in-line with the market price which Man City's clearly isn't. Who is going to believe that Man City have earned the highest sponsorship out of any club when they don't even fill their stadium or have any worldwide recognition ? :O

ok, but then they should clearly state what % of a clubs income can be sponsorship, none of this wishywashy "market-price" bullshit (who decides the market-price? the market... the market that has chosen to sponsor them for £400 million...)

With the players they have they can easily challenge for trophys (if they can get them to play together!), if Barca had signed a similar massive sponsorship deal people might have said "wow" but then moved on

all the scrutiny will do if they start taking action without clear guidelines is reinforce many peoples view that these rules are there to keep the top clubs entrenched at the top and make it more difficult for smaller clubs to compete...

 

[soze]

Wonder when Arsenal will start spending, their squad is threadbare at the moment. Now they need an Eboue replacement !

We replaced Eboue with Jenkinson already, that is why Eboue left. But CM and DM we are stretched

 

[megadave]

Replaced with another teenager, because that's been working thus far :|

 

[Calaen]

Kids or not they still play the most pleasing style of football in the premier league. And people forget they actually beat Barca last year and were blatantly ripped in the second leg.

Arsenal are not miles away at all, losing Cesc is obviously a blow as he would be moving from any team in the world due to his ability, but I have faith in Wenger!!!

 

[megadave]

Anyone know anything about this kid?

De Bruyne reveals Chelsea talks | Chelsea News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports

Been linked with him for a while and it seems like we'll probably get him. All I know is he has great youtube skills but who doesn't?

 

[eksdee]

Think he was in the Belgian youth team with Lukaku that got a lot of plaudits? Otherwise, I know NOFFING. A midfielder though is at least a positive sign... until Roman decides to cancel the deal and sign Van Nistelroy and Yakubu instead to firm up our striking options.

 

[megadave]

Sounds like we'll loan him back for a season. Meh. We need players now

 

[eksdee]

Well it reads more like that was the plan before we did the deal for Lukaku, so he might come in straight away. AVB seems keen on youth with the signings he's made so far so it would make sense.

If he does come in I want to actually see him played though, same with Romeu. Goes without saying that I'm also hoping for the same for Mceachran. I think one of our worst failings as a club is not putting faith in raw talent. You only have to look at Man Utd for proof of how well it can work and I think it's time we took some risks. Lampard and Malouda are prime examples of how our current approach of relying on 'experience' over all else is harming us.

 

[Embattle]

UPDATE 2-Man United plans $1 bln Singapore float -sources | Reuters

 

[Embattle]

but can they "fairly" say "you are not a big enough club to warrant this kind of sponsorship" i mean, if a business wants to invest that kind of money who are they to stop them?

i can understand they might want to stop owners setting up "fake" companies and then sponsoring clubs to inject cash, but unless they can prove the man citys owners pressurised Etihad into sponsoring them for a huge amount i dont think theres much they can do.

It really is far far too much, Arsenal got £100 Million for 15 years in 2004.

 

[DaGaffer]

UPDATE 2-Man United plans $1 bln Singapore float -sources | Reuters

So the Glazers are valuing Utd at £4bn? This doesn't seem like a likely float, and if on the off chance its true, I can't see many institutions biting if the Glazers retain 75% of the business.

 

[Ormorof]

It really is far far too much, Arsenal got £100 Million for 15 years in 2004.

but Man City have won more trophys than Arsenal in the last few seasons

and they are buying big stars, so more shirt sales etc

it is a lot of money, but who determines "too much", the rest of us jealous fans of poor clubs or the person who actually invests the money?

 

[soze]

Replaced with another teenager, because that's been working thus far :|

He has replace Eboue who had around 10 games last year and took up one of our foreign player spots with a kid who could be great and does not need to be named in the squad due to his age.

The Man City thing is pointless Barce had to get a loan to pay their wages. They are not living within their means and any one why thing Uefa will boot them from the Champions League is dreaming.

 

[DaGaffer]

They can do whatever is outlined in the FFP that clubs have all agreed to. That includes ensuring that sponsorship deals are in-line with the market price which Man City's clearly isn't. Who is going to believe that Man City have earned the highest sponsorship out of any club when they don't even fill their stadium or have any worldwide recognition ? :O

A good marketing plan from Etihad can justify all of that. The idea that there's a "market price" is a bit erroneous because in this case Etihad have signed up for a ten-year deal; they could quite justifiably say they are basing the price on future expectations of City's performance, which could mean the annual price will be at a discount to the market in the latter half of the deal. This is unlikely, but its not illegal and not unreasonable.

ok, but then they should clearly state what % of a clubs income can be sponsorship, none of this wishywashy "market-price" bullshit (who decides the market-price? the market... the market that has chosen to sponsor them for £400 million...)

This is the problem UEFA has; it will be impossible to define market price for long-term deals, and sponsorship is one of the areas they don't really want to interfere with; tinkering with cost-side of football is one thing, but they want to maximise the attractiveness of football for sponorship because don't forget UEFA are in the "get juicy sponsors" game themselves.

 

[Urgluf]

Anyone know anything about this kid?

De Bruyne reveals Chelsea talks | Chelsea News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers | Sky Sports

Been linked with him for a while and it seems like we'll probably get him. All I know is he has great youtube skills but who doesn't?

I've seen him play dozens of times.
He's a fast paced winger, who likes to run inside and shoot. Has an amazing technique, lots of confidence, flair and correct work ethics. I think he has the potential.. But for now, I don't think chelsea should buy him. Definetly not ready to play him tbh. he lacks experience and is not strong enough for the premier league. He needs atleast one more year at a lower level. I have this feeling chelsea is going to ruin all belgian talent by buying and not using them!