Football The 2013 / 2014 Season Thread

[caLLous]

The idea that Bale is worth more than Ronaldo really makes me giggle.

It's ironic that it's because of owners like yours that prices have become so ridiculously inflated recently.

(sidenote: if we get Soldado it looks like Valencia might be hitting you up for Torres so, every cloud and all that)

 

[Raven]

Yeah, clubs who try to buy silverware are the problem.

 

[Himse]

They aren't a one man team though. They have a very good squad.

A very good squad that plays terribly together. No idea what they'll be like this season but last season their movement of the ball was shocking, barely any awareness of each other and knocking balls out for throw ins etc with simple passes.

 

[Himse]

It's ironic that it's because of owners like yours that prices have become so ridiculously inflated recently.

(sidenote: if we get Soldado it looks like Valencia might be hitting you up for Torres so, every cloud and all that)

Eden Hazard - 32m Gareth Bale - 85m..
It's the billionaires inflating the prices alright.

 

[soze]

They aren't a one man team though. They have a very good squad.

Take away Bales last minutes goals and they would be no where near Europe. He was massive for them last season. If all the new players gel then maybe they will not need last minute winners this season but last year he saved them they were only in Europe because of one Man.

 

[Cormac]

Tranmere's away kit looks like a Scunthorpe kit, not keen on either. Nice Cherries away strip, simple and black means less work to keep it clean.

 

[caLLous]

A very good squad that plays terribly together. No idea what they'll be like this season but last season their movement of the ball was shocking, barely any awareness of each other and knocking balls out for throw ins etc with simple passes.

You're high. You must be high. There's no other explanation.

 

[eksdee]

It's ironic that it's because of owners like yours that prices have become so ridiculously inflated recently.

(sidenote: if we get Soldado it looks like Valencia might be hitting you up for Torres so, every cloud and all that)

True enough, but I'd say Torres aside we haven't paid as much silly money for players as the likes of Man City and PSG have. No doubting that the millions brought into the game by Abramovic brought on this whole swathe of billionaire foreign investment, but it's not like pre-Abramovic there was no rich owners in the game - he simply raised the stakes. Money in football has been on a road to idiocy for years and years.

I'll probably go to far more Clapton FC games than Chelsea this season with my friends who support a variety of EPL/Championship/L1/L2 clubs as it's simply more accessible than Premier League football which is slowly but surely being put out of price range for 'normal' people. It's sad.

 

[rynnor]

It's ironic that it's because of owners like yours that prices have become so ridiculously inflated recently.

(sidenote: if we get Soldado it looks like Valencia might be hitting you up for Torres so, every cloud and all that)

On the International scale Real Madrid distort the prices being basically a state funded football club with bottomless pockets.

 

[Himse]

You're high. You must be high. There's no other explanation.

I'll just erase from my mind the 2-2 Chelsea - Spurs match where in the first half Spurs could barely string passes together? Not exactly high, just an observation.

 

[caLLous]

Boom.

We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Valencia for the transfer of Roberto Soldado subject to medical. #THFC

I am now officially more relaxed about the Bale situation.

 

[rynnor]

Boom.


I am now officially more relaxed about the Bale situation.

Awesome!

 

[eksdee]

Goldado is a great signing.

 

[Raven]

A very good squad that plays terribly together. No idea what they'll be like this season but last season their movement of the ball was shocking, barely any awareness of each other and knocking balls out for throw ins etc with simple passes.

That's not strictly true though, is it?

 

[Raven]

I'll just erase from my mind the 2-2 Chelsea - Spurs match where in the first half Spurs could barely string passes together? Not exactly high, just an observation.

Chelsea must be terribad then if they can only manage a 2 all at home vs a team that can't string two passes together.

 

[Himse]

Chelsea must be terribad then if they can only manage a 2 all at home vs a team that can't string two passes together.

Chelsea do have a knack of playing 45 minutes of good football, 45 minutes of 'i've never seen a football before, where am i?'

Edit - Saldado is a great signing. Spending the Bale money already!

 

[Aoami]

Tottenham were a 1 man team too often last year. Bale dug them out of games with moments of solo brilliance far too often. This will change with Soldado, Chadli and Paulinho. If Soldado has signed then Spurs can afford to lose Bale imo, and use the money to replace Aaron Lennon and Essou-Akoutu and have a very strong team. Conversely, £85m will pay for biggest part of a new ground if they are looking to move still. Also, people saying Bale being valued more than Ronaldo is ridiculous - It's a different situation. Ronaldo had made it clear a while before that he wanted to go to Real, and had United over a barrel. Bale is conducting himself (in the media at least) with much more dignity and respect for his club, and as a result Spurs seem under no real pressure to sell so can quote whatever numbers they want.

 

[caLLous]

Saints get some bucks too if we sell him.

 

[rynnor]

Bale is conducting himself (in the media at least) with much more dignity and respect for his club, and as a result Spurs seem under no real pressure to sell so can quote whatever numbers they want.

Bale signed a new longterm contract last year - he doesn't have a lot of choice.

 

[Raven]

Saints get some bucks too if we sell him.

Only a small amount, Spurs bought out the sell on clause a few years ago.

 

[Aoami]

We sold it rather than them buying it, back when we were in administration. Still in line to make 2.5% rather than the 15% it would've been originally.

 

[Aoami]

Bale signed a new longterm contract last year - he doesn't have a lot of choice.

Ronaldo signed a 5 year deal 18 months before he left, around the time he started saying he wanted to go to Madrid. Means absolutely nothing.

 

[caLLous]

We sold it rather than them buying it, back when we were in administration. Still in line to make 2.5% rather than the 15% it would've been originally.

Yup I think I saw £2m being talked about.

 

[eksdee]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/01/liverpool-warrior-sports-man-up

And so it begins.

 

[rynnor]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/01/liverpool-warrior-sports-man-up

And so it begins.

What is interesting from an anthropoligist angle is that some of the banned words now considered bad are actually the polite descriptions of yesteryear. I remember 'coloured' being the polite term for black people that replaced negro or the more vulgar 'nigger'.

Similarly 'handicapped' was the politically correct version where cripple was the more commonplace.

I wonder when the words 'Black' or 'Disabled' will appear on one of these lists?

 

[Raven]

I wonder if you will be able to buy McCoys crisps at Anfield...or Yorkie bars?!

 

[rynnor]

Re: Bale - it now sounds like no actual bids have yet been made by Real but one is expected shortly.

 

[Marc]

80 million is such a high price tag that it will bring massive pressure. Didnt faze Ronaldo one bit but thats my only concern with Bale, if he can handle it. For 80 million, the real fans will be expecting him to not only score 12 goals a game but to also cure cancer, eradicate world poverty and fly a solo mission to mars and back in the space of a week

That said, pace is always a massive help in La Liga so hes already won half the battle. Bale & Ronaldo v Neymar and the Las Vegas lapdance addict. Mint!

 

[Marc]

I remember Soldado at Madrid and he looked absolutely woeful. One of those players you thought was headed for total obscurity but last season he was awesome. Just shows what a bit of hard work can do.

 

[Raven]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23543131

Heh, triggered his release clause.