Football The 2013 / 2014 Season Thread

[DaGaffer]

Also two of my friends working at the Emirates are saying that the Rooney interest is all the Yank looking for a "Galactico" signing. And Wenger has said if any players are bought in behind his back he will quit. It makes a bit of sense as Rooney on £200k plus a week is not a Wenger signing.

None of that would surprise me, but what Wenger sometimes seems to forget is that "Galacticos" sell shirts; footballing purity as all very nice, but Gazidis is right; big names make the fans feel good and put bums on seats, and an English big name works best of all. Now, whether Rooney is the right big name is another matter (although lets face it, there aren't many English big names out there). I also think the time is right for Arse to show some proper intent; playing for fourth for yet another year shouldn't be acceptable for a club like Arsenal (and I say that as a United supporter).

 

[megadave]

Chelsea
City
United
Arsenal
Spurs

Quite scared by the prospect of City under Pellegrini. Also quite convinced that if we don't win the title, we'll be 4th/5th with Jose out of the door by March. Obviously massively hope that won't be the case and he'll be a success, but I have some big nagging doubts.

This season in the BPL should be a great one, so much uncertainty.

I don't expect us to win the league but we should make a good challenge and then perhaps win it in Jose's second season, I think Jose is probably the only manager who could win nothing and keep the job, assuming we're not playing terribly. Although if we spunk money on a top CM and striker this summer then who knows.

City should be better under Pellegrini although they need to replace Tevez and make much better signings than last year.Manchester United are an unknown quantity for once but you wouldn't bet against them.

If Arsenal actually spend the money they're talking about then they should finish above Tottenham easily imo. Tottenham are linked with everyone under the sun but they'll probably just buy a load of midfielders again.

Is it this year that premier league TV revenue goes up considerably? Should make the rest of the league quite interesting if it's invested in new players, I love how there's quality spattered about the whole league these days.

 

[megadave]

None of that would surprise me, but what Wenger sometimes seems to forget is that "Galacticos" sell shirts; footballing purity as all very nice, but Gazidis is right; big names make the fans feel good and put bums on seats, and an English big name works best of all. Now, whether Rooney is the right big name is another matter (although lets face it, there aren't many English big names out there). I also think the time is right for Arse to show some proper intent; playing for fourth for yet another year shouldn't be acceptable for a club like Arsenal (and I say that as a United supporter).

The Higuain rumour makes much more sense than Rooney imo, I know who I'd rather have.

Arsenal have managed to flog Mannone for £2m, good business tbh

 

[Aoami]

Paulinho confirmed to spurs for £17m. Great buy.

Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele is a quality midfield. Bale on the left obviously, Lennon on the right could perhaps with an upgrade but they'd have to spend too much to bring in someone who is noticeably better. The money would be better spent on a striker.

 

[soze]

None of that would surprise me, but what Wenger sometimes seems to forget is that "Galacticos" sell shirts; footballing purity as all very nice, but Gazidis is right; big names make the fans feel good and put bums on seats, and an English big name works best of all. Now, whether Rooney is the right big name is another matter (although lets face it, there aren't many English big names out there). I also think the time is right for Arse to show some proper intent; playing for fourth for yet another year shouldn't be acceptable for a club like Arsenal (and I say that as a United supporter).

I agree we need to show intent but Rooney is just the wrong player. Higuain and Fellani show the right intent. As for the English talent like you said I am not sure who would show we are serious and be a big improvement. I just think if we sign Rooney and Wenger stays his £200k - £250k a week will make him the biggest flop of the Wenger era.

 

[Lethul]

Hello!

I've gotten married and been on my honeymoon
But now I am back in the football thread!

Liverpool will win this year of course, this year is our year!

 

[Himse]

The depressing thing there is that Liverpool clearly don't have the cash to compete for top targets.

Just wasting 20m on players like Downing, 35m for Andy Carroll is why you dont have the cash to compete for top targets. You waste them on pointless ones.

 

[Scouse]

Just wasting 20m on players like Downing, 35m for Andy Carroll is why you dont have the cash to compete for top targets. You waste them on pointless ones.

Rubbish. That was two years ago. If we were Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelski or City we'd have had another 100m to spend since then, at least, without sales...

 

[Raven]

Hello!

I've gotten married and been on my honeymoon
But now I am back in the football thread!

Liverpool will win this year of course, this year is our year!

Gratz on obtaining a ball and chain!

Good to have some blind Liverpool optimism back too

 

[Himse]

Rubbish. That was two years ago. If we were Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelski or City we'd have had another 100m to spend since then, at least, without sales...

total: £23.584.000 is what you've already spent this summer alone. Granted you got 15m back from the Carroll sale, but apart from Mignolet you've just splashed 14m on some average players.

last year, 17m for Joe Allen, 12 for Borini 13 for Sturridge, your money soon goes rather than putting it into one basket.

 

[Scouse]

your money soon goes rather than putting it into one basket.

We're an under strength squad with no depth and the figures you're talking about are fuck all compared to the "competition"...

Q.E.D.

 

[Raven]

Liverpool are one of the highest spending clubs in the premiership. They just like to buy over priced players.

 

[DaGaffer]

Liverpool are one of the highest spending clubs in the premiership. They just like to buy over priced players.

I haven't checked in detail, but I would imagine the King Kenny period skews those figures somewhat.

 

[soze]

Sorry Liverpool in the Premiership era you are the highest spending non retarded Sugar Daddy Club.

Nett Spend 92/03 - 13/14 - Purchased Gross - Sold - Nett - Per Season

Chelsea - £841,440,000 - £248,475,000 - £592,965,000 - £26,952,955
Manchester City - £703,180,000 - £221,553,000 - £481,627,000 - £21,892,136
Liverpool - £601,005,000 - £333,970,000 - £267,035,000 - £12,137,955
Manchester United - £546,150,000 - £317,740,000 - £228,410,000 - £10,382,273
Tottenham - £473,550,000 - £306,017,500 - £167,532,500 - £7,615,114
Aston Villa - £330,890,000 - £181,325,000 - £149,565,000 - £6,798,409
Sunderland - £260,365,000 - £137,680,000 - £122,685,000 - £5,576,591
Newcastle - £371,845,000 - £261,025,000 - £110,820,000 - £5,037,273
Fulham - £146,131,000 - £74,595,000 - £71,536,000 - £3,251,636
Stoke City - £86,115,000 - £26,130,000 - £59,985,000 - £2,726,591
West Bromwich Albion - £108,800,000 - £69,667,501 - £39,132,499 - £1,778,750
Everton - £243,245,500 - £204,586,000 - £38,659,500 - £1,757,250
Arsenal - £393,390,000 - £363,174,000 - £30,216,000 - £1,373,455
Crystal Palace - £57,975,000 - £27,840,000 - £30,135,000 - £1,369,773
Hull City - £35,895,000 - £11,980,000 - £23,915,000 - £1,087,045
Southampton - £107,287,500 - £92,995,000 - £14,292,500 - £649,659
West Ham - £194,932,000 - £192,282,000 - £2,650,000 - £120,455
Swansea City - £31,102,500 - £29,860,000 - £1,242,500 - £56,477
Norwich City - £46,470,000 - £47,395,000 - -£925,000 - -£42,045
Cardiff City - £26,535,000 - £27,840,000 - -£1,305,000 - -£59,318

 

[Scouse]

Sorry Liverpool in the Premiership era you are the highest spending non retarded Sugar Daddy Club

Old arguments again.

Christian Purslow (the bloke who sold Liverpool to it's current owners) said it best in a leaked email to Martin Broughton - that they were "scraping the bottom of the barrel" with the new owners in terms of spending power.

NESV do not have the spending power of Utd, Chelski, Arsenal or City. And money is literally what it's all about.

 

[DaGaffer]

NESV do not have the spending power of Utd, Chelski, Arsenal or City. And money is literally what it's all about.

Maybe if Fenway got their finger out and finally rebuilt the stadium, they would. There's absolutely no logical reason why Liverpool shouldn't have similar resources to Spurs and Arsenal, even if they couldn't match the sugar daddy teams. United are in a weird place financially, so best not to make comparisons, but, Liverpool are probably the only other English team with the brand recognition and commercial potential of United. If Liverpool had sorted out the stadium issues 10-15 years ago, they'd be real contenders still; they would have no problem filling a 60-70K stadium every fortnight.

 

[Raven]

Old arguments again.

Christian Purslow (the bloke who sold Liverpool to it's current owners) said it best in a leaked email to Martin Broughton - that they were "scraping the bottom of the barrel" with the new owners in terms of spending power.

NESV do not have the spending power of Utd, Chelski, Arsenal or City. And money is literally what it's all about.

They don't have the spending power yet consistently keep up with the spending, out spending top 4 clubs some seasons (regardless of manager!)

They need to look at what they are spending the money on, not how much. (Which I think they are doing now)

 

[Scouse]

Liverpool are probably the only other English team with the brand recognition and commercial potential of United. If Liverpool had sorted out the stadium issues 10-15 years ago, they'd be real contenders still; they would have no problem filling a 60-70K stadium every fortnight.

/agree...

 

[georgie]

Interesting.

‏
Former England football manager Steve McClaren joins Harry Redknapp's staff at QPR

From England Manager to a Championship team Number 2 (presumably).

More his level mind you.

 

[megadave]

If Liverpool's splurge under Dalglish hadn't been so terrible then they wouldn't be so poor now. Usually teams who spend 100m+ end up in the CL the following year and recoup some money, plus potential for high selling on fees.

 

[Vae]

I don't think the Torres/Carroll/Suarez transfer was that bad for Liverpool. It was Chelsea who got screwed there. Effectively Liverpool got £30m for Torres (having bought Carroll at £35m and sold at £15m) and bought Suarez for £22.8m.
It was the other transfers done at the same time which were worse (Adam, Henderson & Downing for example).

I think the more recent transfers done under Brendan Rodgers appear much better - Well Sturridge and Coutinho do. I'm not sure Borini and Allen is a bit expensive at £15m.

 

[Raven]

Is there to be a fantasy football league again this season? Not sure it needs its own thread though!

 

[Aoami]

Of course

 

[Bahumat]

Hello!

I've gotten married and been on my honeymoon
But now I am back in the football thread!

Liverpool will win this year of course, this year is our year!

I really think you're correct this time x x

 

[megadave]

Bournemouth vs Real Madrid game this summer, err, ok?

 

[Aoami]

Real Madrid do games like that a lot. I remember they played Plymouth a f few years back

 

[Everz]

May aswell get it in.

LEAGUE ONE BABY! Looking forward to it tbh, hopefully we take the paint pot serious at least.

 

[Everz]

Bournemouth vs Real Madrid game this summer, err, ok?

£60 a ticket. Good work Bournemouth.

 

[Ch3tan]

Paulinho to spuds still not confirmed.

 

[Shagrat]

Paulinho to spuds still not confirmed.

It's annoying isn't it. Seems to take so long to finally get signed off. Reading sports pages and stuff Higuian to Arsenal has been "almost a done deal" for over a week yet that's still not confirmed either.