liverpoolfc73 - I know you don’t generally do this, but I am testing a very interesting hypothesis and would greatly appreciate your valued and informed view on Liverpool's priorities for the next year. Would you please mind reading my blog and posting your views, especially in terms of priorities for 2008-09. I would truly appreciate your valued opinion.
Bobby – I think I answered your question where I could on the last blog. There are players listed that I have never seen and probably never will see so I don’t think it fair or helpful to comment on them. Is your hypothesis something to do with how many people recognize obscure Liverpool reserve players and is a way to get LGB into another scrap?
Craigy_f –1. Do you like the third placed Champion's League teams from the group stage hopping over to the UEFA Cup? 2. Who is the best player you've ever seen play (live and in the flesh). 3. Villa or Everton - who finishes fifth? Stoke or West Brom - whose kit do you like best? 4. Goals, gaffes and stunning tackles - see any worth mentioning at the weekend. 5. Philly in 2010 (wasn't there something about a Spaced Oddesy?) An opinion on the MLS' latest recruit. 6. Is Roy Keane British? 7. Who is your top foreigner ever to play in the British leagues? 8. Do you know the prize money (minimum) that Stoke and West Brom can expect to make next year? 9. Do you know what parachute payment Derby et al will get for being relegated? 10. Do you like billionaires in charge of football clubs? 11. Will you be more interested in the UEFA CUP Final or the Champions League Final? 12. How is your heading ability now?
Bobby – 1. Not particularly but it’s not as if it comes as a surprise anymore.
2. That can be answered two ways. The players who has gone on to be considered the best or the best performance I’ve seen be an individual. I’ll answer the second one. Given the quality of the opposition and the occasion I would go for Charlie Cooke for Scotland against England at Hampden in a 1-1 draw on frosty rock hard surface in February (?) 1968.
3. Everton holds a big advantage. Stoke.
4. The Julio Cruz free kick was a corker. I didn’t think it was a very good weekend all together.
5. They seem to be an enthusiastic bunch so that’s good. And they worked hard to get into the league.
6. The conventional pick seems to be Cantona but I preferred watching Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola. If you want a real off the wall pick in Scotland it would be Orjan Persson a Swedish winger who played for Dundee United in the sixties as part of the Scandinavian invasion pre-Abba. He later signed for Rangers when they were frantically trying to loosen Celtic’s stranglehold on Scottish football. I think Persson went on to play in a World Cup.
7. You ask Keane and see what reaction you get.
8. That is a difficult question to answer because it varies based on TV revenues, ticket prices, merchandise expectations, their final points total and a few other things. There are a lot of numbers thrown around with assumptions being made that are not necessarily reliable or are one sided. It’s fine to talk of the increase revenue that will be generated but players will almost certainly have to be paid more so the extra money does not all flow to the bottom line. However, there is no doubt that the money is significant. Conservative estimates seem to put the gross revenue increase at between £30m and £35m through TV and place money with another £12m in parachute payments for two seasons.
9. The old formula for parachute payments was little under £7m and to date I have not been able to ascertain if Derby and, whoever the other two are, fall under the old or new parachute scale.
10. As it presently stands I have nothing against billionaires being in charge of football clubs per se as long as they are semi-sensible and putting their own money up.
11. Both.
12. Still has bad as ever! They used to say that Denis Law defied gravity by being able to hang in the air – I defy gravity by jumping and losing height.
Djnima19 - Any chance you will be doing another daily show covering the Euros? I remember during the WC I really starting following you after that show with you and Max during the WC. Really enjoyed that. Hope u can make that happen...
Bobby – Sorry no daily show during the Euros for me.
RonW - What's the deal with Parry faxing a trade proposition for Barry outside the transfer window? Any ideas why now? Instead of waiting until Villa's season was over. When was the Russian off season? I know Zenit were the champs when they played Everton. I wasn't overly impressed with Zenit in that game shown on FSC and was surprised they beat Bayern Munich. Less fatigued maybe?
Bobby – There is nothing stopping deals being done outside of the transfer window. However, the player cannot be registered until the window opens. Why now? – probably a wee body-swerve to take attention away from the squabbling and Champions League exit.
The Russian 2007 season finished November 11 and 2008 started March 14. We talked about the differing seasons for Eastern European and Scandinavian clubs a couple of weeks ago on the FSR. It is normally considered an advantage when UEFA Cup and Champions League qualifying starts in July/August (mid-season form) and a disadvantage in spring when European competitions reopens as their seasons have just started.
Roseboy64 - Lehmann gone. Flamini having a medical in Milan. Gilberto and Hleb look to be going. Hmmm.....What do you think Bobby?
Bobby – Lehmann and Gilberto going is not a surprise. Flamini – I think we really have to wait and see how he pans out over the next couple of seasons. He was terrific this season after giving no real indication that he had it in him –before this season he looked set to be the 2000s version of Gilles Grimandi. One season wonder – or a quality defensive midfield player? As for Hleb - I really enjoy watching him but he can be frustrating. If he goes he will be missed by Arsenal.
Liverpoolfc73 - With all due respect, Wenger has done an amazing job at the Emirates. I can see the logic of him wanting to maintain some discipline through the wage structure by insuring there is no disparity. However not when it cost's the team valuable players. I am fairly sure that the wage structure of Arsenal was hugely different during the time the invincibles were unbeaten for 49 games. The likes of Henry, Vieira, Pires etc were not on the same pay-structure as the rest of the team - If Wenger could manage it then, why can’t he manage it now.
Bobby – It comes down to how highly you rate Flamini. He has been a revelation this season particularly when you consider that last season at this time most Arsenal fans would have been happy to see him go. However, he isn’t in the category of Pires, Henry, Vieira vintage 2004 by any means.
If he is probably in the middle of the Arsenal pack (in terms of his importance to the team) and offered $110K a week then that would probably be right. But he can’t be given $170,000 a week without the scale being tilted and the rest of the players wanting more. The wage-structure is likely the same – the difference in opinion was where Wenger ranked Flamini in the pecking order as opposed to where Flamini either thought he should be or what Milan were willing to pay him.
Maybe it is just me but there seems to be a a lot of fallout from Flamini's move - how did Arsenal supporters feel when Overmars and Petit were sold to Barcelona?
ReggaeGunner - Any CM out there that you can think of that would really be a good fit with Cesc?
Bobby – Mascherano, Cambiasso for starters.
Henry14 - What’s your take on Makoun, l heard he is good but when l saw him at the African tournament he was BLEEP and had to be replaced by Song, l clearly do not want Wenger to replace Flamini with thus guy because l am afraid of another Djemba Djemba.
Bobby – I would be surprised if it is Makoun. Every agent who has a client that is defensive midfield player will be claiming Arsenal is looking at him.
Jahmikes - All this talk about Arsenal interested in Martins is good but I’m thinking of another African striker Ghana and Udinese Gyan...He is quick and has an eye for goal what do you think? Do you think Grant will remain Chelsea's coach? What are your views on Rooney this season? Is Ballack this year’s most improved player?
Bobby – I'm not aware of a lot of talk about Obafemi Martins – there is a rumour amongst 100s of others - and so far there has been nothing more than that. If Wenger wanted Martins he has had ample chance in the past so I don’t see why he would suddenly be interested.
Gyan – he’s struggled at times to get a start for Udinese and his goal scoring record is spotted at best. Nine starts, four more as a substitute and three goals in Serie A this season - if that is an example of having an eye for a goal then he should use his speed and go and get his sight checked.
Grant – no. Rooney – has played well but he has yet to show that he is a natural goal scorer and I don’t think he ever will. Ballack – surely you mean this month’s most improved player?
Thierry_Henry - Stoke will join WBA in the EPL this season. I’ve never seen them playing. Do you know anything about them? Do you think they will break Derby County's records? I think can see them picking up only 6 points against Tottenham Hotspurs the entire season.
Bobby – Stoke are a big strong physical team that play basic football with a number of players who are just not Premiership calibre. They are better equipped than Derby but will struggle to survive next season without a substantial investment in new players over the summer.
Leche010 - Whatever happened to the rumor that Arsenal was going to sign Vonlanthen? The kid should be at a bigger club than he is, but missing the last WC due to injury didn't help. Look out for him in EURO this summer, if he has a good tournament, I wouldn't be surprised to see him at a big club next fall.
Bobby – Probably what happens to 99.999% of rumours…..they die because they are not based in fact. Going from PSV out on loan and then on to Red Bull Salzburg and scoring very few goals along the way is a very unusual route to the Emirates.
Zuco2 - Is Lehmann retiring from football or is he just leaving Arsenal?? A few months ago, he said he would play for Germany at EURO 2008.
Bobby – The two things are not incompatible. He has not made up his mind yet about 2008/09 but wants to play in this summer’s Euro 2008 for Germany either way.
Henry 14 - This is going to be a long summer for Arsenal fans. Hleb might leave and no matter who comes in it is pretty safe to say we will not challenge. This board has been shortchanging fans for some time and lying in the process. Gilberto will leave, RVP and Rosicky injured the future does not look good at all. Imagine if Fergie buys a striker and a good defender, Chelsea will buy so as Liverpool what chance do we have, all the BLEEP that Hill-Wood wanted to give Wenger 100m quid is a hoax, trying to get Usmanov out. For the first time we really need Usmanov, dare l say.
Bobby – Glazers lose £58M, Liverpool is in a mess and your answer for Arsenal is to do he same thing. Usmanov will not put money in, he would borrow money to buy the club then borrow more so players can be bought and then surprise, surprise ……. the club will need to pay it back to the banks. Something the the present directors are currently able to do if they want to put the club into more debt.
RonW - Did Dalglish play in the Premier League? I know he managed Blackburn to an EPL title and played in the 1st Division.
Bobby – Paul Dalglish did but Dad Kenny never played in the Premiership.
DVXPrime - 1) In 1998 Chicago Fire stunned MLS and won the league in their inaugural season. Last year, Toronto FC drew a legion of fans, and rewarded said fans by going months without scoring. If you could advise the GMs/team presidents of the Seattle and Philadelphia expansion clubs, what would you say?
2) Speaking of very bad teams, I checked out attendance records for Derby County. Unless I counted wrong, they averaged 33,000 in attendance at home. Pretty surprising for a team that was one good afternoon vs. Newcastle from going winless in the EPL. Any thoughts on how the Rams kept bodies in the seats this year?
3) What are your best sources for all the articles you post?
Bobby – 1. Have a solid and realistic plan based on experience, wisdom and knowledge and execute to it.
2. Loyal fans who probably knew from the beginning that this was a one season chance to see Premiership football.
3. I don’t consider there to be one best source. I just try to get through seven or eight sites a day (sometimes more) to try and keep up and cherrypick.
Neophyte - Utd's financial situation is more than concerning. It is one I have been silently trying to follow...they have made it somewhat difficult to find correlating figures. The releasing of numbers at the last minute etc...makes it seem like a company in trouble. It reminds me of the US auto industry in many ways (and many ways not so similar :) ) I wonder if you were to look at the top flight clubs throughout Europe, how many would be operating in the red? I can also see a dangerous group think mentality taking place..."We can operate in the red if we have enough credit or deferment, as long as we are competitive. Then, when our brand has reached its height, and our deferment is still in place we can look for a buyer."
Next question: Who has more to play for, Wigan or Bolton? (I ask that one with a big sheepish grin on my face).
Bobby – I think you have to differentiate between operating in the red (annual operating losses) and being in deep debt to the banks because they have lent money to pay the previous owners ridiculous amounts of money.
As I have said a number of times the Glazer model is high wire act without a safety net. They paid (borrowed) top dollar to buy United on the basis that they could grow revenue in ways that the previous owners could not.
Their business model is largely based on United having continuing success and fielding star players. The down side is that they compete in a market in which the money that mega-stars can demand icontinues to increase. The jury is still out on whether or not the Glazers can find a way to keep United successful, grow revenues and pay the staggering interest costs each year. This one has a ways to go yet.
Gers4Lyfe - Rangers seem to be up against it. Fatigue, injuries and a packed fixture list. They are also fighting an inability to score goals in their current 4-5-1 formation. While the club is close to history it is flirting with unprecedented disappointment. 4 titles could end up to be one heaven forbid.
It seemed the first match with Fiorentina Smith's Catenaccio was much more effective in creating turnovers. Do you think Zenit on its current high could experience difficulty against this formation? Has Advocaat and Zenit faced this formation in UEFA Cup competition? As for the league it is an uphill climb but still within grasp. Do you see a 4-4-2 switch with Novo and Boyd up front a possibility?
Is Queen of South that well coached?
Bobby – A well coached, organized side that puts players behind the ball are always going to be difficult to score against so if Smith plays the same system then it will challenge Zenit. It is not an unusual system so I can’t see how the Russian side would have never come up against it. The problem for Rangers – and the gamble – is what happens if Zenit grab a lead.
Boyd’s been available most of the season but Smith is reluctant to play unless Rangers have to chase a game. It seems that the only team Smith regularly plays Kris Boyd against is Dundee United!
Queen of the South have a handful of experienced players and they also have Gordon Chisholm as their coach and he took Dundee United to the Scottish Cup Final a few seasons ago. QOS are a full time club so they should be in good nick as far as fitness is concerned although they have a long lay-off between their last First Division games (April 26) and the Scottish Cup Final (May 24). QOS had a decent showing in the First Division this season and based on other performances from other First Division sides this season they should give a good account of themselves against Rangers.
On a related point I think they should be giving serious consideration once more to going to a 16-team SPL league. It would get the league games to a more reasonable 30 from 38 and allow for a winter break if needed.
Leche010 - What do you think United are to do with Louis Saha? He doesn't play that often, partly do to him being as injury prone as he is, but even when he's not injured he wasn't playing that much. He managed to play all 90 minutes only 3 times this past season. In all honesty, and yes, I am saying this hindsight, I think SAF made the wrong decision to keep him and sell Giuseppe Rossi to Villarreal, but that's the way it goes.
Now on top of that he wants to bring in Benzema from Lyon, which is a move I'm not going to rule out until the transfer window officially closes, but if he is to bring Benzema in, or any other new striker for that matter, surely Saha will be shown the door, no?
Bobby – Keep on paying him I expect because I can’t see anyone jumping to pay money for him. My understanding he has a contract – and therefore a pay cheque – until 2010 so it would need United to settle up with him if they wanted rid of him. United still have a first option on Rossi should Villarreal choose to sell him.
And how do we know that Ferguson wants to sign Benzema? Because Fergie “hinted” in February just before United was to play Lyon? Hmmmm.
Q2 response. Cantona - I think perhaps the impact he had when he went to United elevates his status.
Bergkamp & Zola - I'd even add Juninho to those two just provided a breath of fresh air and some wonderful skills.
Perhaps I'd pick Pele if I'd have seen him play, Gazza was good on the day, Maradona - utterly brilliant.
Seeing Lineker scoring for fun in a trophyless seadon was a tad bittersweet - kind of like watching Torres this year.
Response to Q11 is a tad of a copout. Put aside your ana_lyst hat and 'fess up.
Q12 Response - the lasik not had any positive efect? (ie you may actually keep your eyes open)
Do you think Kevin Philips has another good season in the PL?
Bobby- Actually I was thinking more along the line of SAF wanting to sign Benzema because... Just about everyone wants to sign him. They don't have to express it verbally, but I can't think of a team in the world that would turn a play like him away. Especially with how young he is, and the potential for him to get so much better.
And as far as my thoughts about Saha go, I can't see SAF really wanting to keep him around, so I figured he'd try to sell him if he got any offers. There are some mid-table clubs who I think would be happy to have him. Portsmouth (who aren't going to permanently buy Baros), West Ham, and Man City come to mind...
Benzema is not going anywhere this off season barring a total 180. He signed a new deal this year and said he wanted CL success with Lyon. Not exactly a poor club either that needs to offload him to stay afloat. Not sure what Man U needs with strikers, they have one in Tevez they don't use always considering Red Nose is happy to play 1 upfront. Rooney, Tevez, Saha and Manucho might be 2 strikers too many already.
anyways Benzema summer of 2009 for Arsenal is already a done deal. Wenger wont sign a striker this year as he gives RvP, Eduardo and Bendter a year to prove their worth until he brings in a world class partner to Ade. ;P Btw this will coincide with Ferguson retiring after another domestic title he wants so bad and the Glazers selling Ronaldo to the highest bidder to shore up some of those debts and admit to their fans they are entering a rebuilding phase under a new manager as they slow down spending as an excuse.
henry14 how long have you been a fan of arsenal? Usmanov in, are you crawy? we have values at arsenal, unlike chavski and Manyoo, we are not selling, flamini was good for a season, great but we can get someone else to do his job, last year everyone thought gilberto was the best; now look at him? trust wenger, he knows what he is doing
Craigy-I've actually watched quite a bit of Bayern this season and as much as I could of Fiorentina(which wasn't too much) the past two seasons.
As I said, I wanted Liverpool to sign him two years back when instead we went and signed Bellamy on the cheap.
Anyways, Fiorentina got just as far as Bayern did in the Uefa Cup AND are fighting for a Champions League spot this year. Sure their League form is down but they also went further in a European comp than last year.
AG-I never said Toni wasn't class. Just not my signing of the season for Bayern. Again, I believe Ribery was. He not only added more width to Bayern's game, he also plays link-up man and with his speed he streches the field for them.
As for Adebayor, I'll let Wenger speak for me. 24 goals is amazing and yet there is still something that is left to be desired from a 24 goal-scorer.
A fast Toni? well thats Ade. He has great pace for a player his size and still the strength to go with it not the papermache frame of Peter Crouch. I don't think any Arsenal fan will disagree with you on Ade being inconsistent but thats about it. Considering this was his first full season to show his stuff I'm not really afraid either.
Craigy doesn't it all make sense though? The only hitch in that is if Quieroz is Fergies successor or stays as the assistant as he has a link with all the Portuguese speaking players. Otherwise the second Ferguson is gone so is Ronaldo off for the new record fee signing and I doubt the Glazers turn around and spend much of that money on anything but servicing the debt. And you know what who would blame them besides the Man U fans? Carrying that much debt even if Ronaldo is multiple time world player of the year you have to cash in on the hysteria to save bankruptcy.
Actually the hypothesis I was testing was to evaluate what fans thought Liverpool's true priorities should be for 2008-09. i.e between winning the Premiership or resolving the ownership issue. I wanted to ask a cross section of the football fans which included Liverpool and Non-Liverpool supporters what they thought the number one priority should be?
From the responses I got, the interesting result it that 100% of Non-Liverpool supporters felt that Liverpool had only one priority i.e Winning the Premiership. 99.9% of Liverpool supporters and fans felt that resolution of the ownership scenario should take precedence over winning the premiership.
Its interesting to note the expectations various constituents have - the expectations of Liverpool fans are vastly different from those of Non-Liverpool fans - The overwhelming majority of Liverpool fans felt that first and foremost we need to resolve the long term viability and future of our club - there is a distinct sense amongst the supporters that the current owners have put the long term viability of Liverpool at risk and hence the immediate priority is to resolve the ownership issue.
Agreed, Ribery was Bayern Munich's signing of the season.
On Ade, we'll disagree. Apparently Milan is interested in him, too, according to today's Guardian rumour mill and that's really not that surprising, given how he dominated their back four in the CL. Given the price they'd have to pay, I doubt they'd want him on the bench any more than Arsenal.
There's very few strikers with his package of size, work rate, pace, aerial threat, strength, ability to hold up the ball and on-the-ball skills. You're looking at a select group of two in world football (Drogba's the other one). Toni has pretty much everything but the pace and there's a lot of clubs who would jump to buy him. Drogba and Toni are about five or six years older than Adebayor, too.
Now I haven't discounted the possibility you are trying to pull a wind-up here, in which case, well played.
But if it's your genuine opinion Arsenal can find and buy somebody better than Adebayor -- who has scored more Premiership goals than Torres -- and relegate him to the bench, well, the rest of us would love to know where this "fast Toni" plays and how much he'd cost. It might be better for Wenger to scrimp by with Adebayor and invest some of that "fast Toni" money in a central midfielder or a defender.
Oh, and I'll be willing to wager that Wenger would suggest Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano -- great players all -- would all be capable of improving 20 per cent, too. Wenger is a perfectionist, which is both a blessing and a curse.
"fast" Toni? Can't Toni be considered a slow Adebayor if you're going to compare? Personally, I think they're both #### good, so it really doesn't matter.
Does anyone talk about anything but the PL? Everyone talks about "the pace of English football". How about putting a foot on the ball and picking out a meaningful pass. There is no change in the pace of play. Sure, the fitness level and commitment are outstanding, but it doesn't always make for entertaining football. Serie A has been outstanding this year and even though Fox owns the rights, no one seems to notice. That Fox is shoving the EPL down our throats is a shame.
AG-I'm not doing the wind-up:) And I'm not saying Adebayor is bad. I think he is a good player.
I watch games with Arsenal supporters all the time and they all hate Adebayor and I'm the only one who thinks he's any good(well that was before this season started).
My main thing with him is his possession and the fact that he has some absolute sitters that he lets go begging. And to be honest, if Adebayor is more clinical Arsenal knock out Liverpool in the CL.
I think Arsenal would be better suited to find someone who finishes better and doesn't lose possession as easily.
I think whats funny is that somehow through all this is that I've been accused of saying Adebayor is a bad player, Gerrard is a water boy and that Toni is a terrible player.
Verbal-I watched neither of those games live so not really one to say that they are the best. But I've heard enough about them that I can give you a minute by minute description of each:)
Lyon has a pretty good track record for producing quality CM players. I wonder if they have an Essien type in their junior ranks that we need to know about.
LGB, fair enough. I will definitely put those two in my top 5. My number one will forever be the game that made me a Liverpool fan. Dec. 17, 1995...Liv 2:0 ManU. I haven't decided on the other two yet. Fowler's fastest hat trick against Arsenal maybe? There's too many to choose from though.
AG-Sorry I forgot to answer where the "fast Toni" is...
Don't know. If I did, I wouldn't be working in insurance now:) I trust Wenger has a better idea on potenial players than I do.
I guess the point that is getting missed is that I can name about 10 players who could do the job that Adebayor has done with Arsenal. And those players can do it better and in turn make Arsenal more dangerous.
I can only name about 3 or 4 players who can do the job Torres does at Liverpool. But I don't think any can do it better. I think they could equal him but not make us better.
LGB that player is Ade. This was his first full season of appearances so next year his consistency could and should go up. We don't need more consistent scoring from him we need it from midfield where Hleb does not provide. Rosicky from the left Rvp behind Ade and Walcott on the right pitching in on the goals will open it all up for him also. Just need to find that doctor who can keep RvP and Rosicky and even Walcott who gets his fair share of injuries to not fall apart. Or bring in an attacking stud in midfield to shore up the eventual injuries.
Apparently, If you acquire citizenship from you new country, to Blatter, you are not a citizen! You will be denied your rights that other citizens possess, such as playing for your national team. In other words, you are a second class citizen.
Missed the PL bit ,but that was the best Liverpool game I've ever seen. (assuming only wins count).
Bobby - Chick Young on the BBC has a better suggestion for the SPL ,have the split after everyone's played each other twice ,and then play the other five teams twice more ,making 32 games.
TH- Sepp Blatter just needs to go away... Or better yet, just die. I know that sounds really cruel, but seriously... The man just isn't with it. He's about as useful of a leader for FIFA as Al Sharpton would be for the USA...
Both AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester won promotion play-offs at the weekend.
AFC Wimbledon ,and it's time they dropped the "AFC",won their Ryman Premier play-off against Staines and will be in the Conference South next season ,just two promotions from the Football League.
FC United beat Skelmersdale to win the Unibond League North play-off for their third straight promotion. They'll be in the Unibond Premier next season ,three promotions from the League.
I am not a big fan of Blatter's either, but you guys really wouldn't see anything wrong with Kaka' playing for the Italian national team and Ronaldinho and Messi playing for Spain?
It's bad enough to see club teams made up entirely of foreign players, but at a national team level that would be a bit ridiculous. Nothing against foreign workers; I'm a foreign worker, but the beauty of international football is the national identities of the teams.
Last edited by Venti_vidi_vici on May 7th at 1:37 PM.
Well thats abit absurd considering both countries would never let them go uncapped as your talking about 2 players of the year and this years runner up and potential future winner one day.
Eduardo for Croatia and Deco for Portugal is as far as its gone for great players in the modern era, cant think of any bigger examples. Puskas played 4 games for Spain...
LGB: My top 5 games would have to include the 5-0 Notts Forest match when we played near perfect football and should have scored 10. John Barnes et al in full flow against Brian Clough's Forest who won the European Cup around that time. The same season we did a job on Spurs too, but Off the top of my head I can't remember if the score....(might have been 7-0 or so).
Bobby: Charlie Cooke in full flow was a sight to behold with his long black hair flying eveywhere.
So Kaka' should be allowed to play for Italy even though he has represented his native Brazil in the past? Could players change national teams after they are naturalized?
Now your just confusing me VVV. As the rules stand now no. Once your capped your capped and it takes extra special circumstances to get it undone. The only high profile player I know of to recently do it was Kanoute who was capped for France and got it undone so he could play for Mali. As for why well one reason because you can get into an ugly situation where players would become mercs at the tail end of their careers maybe even for money under the table. It happened not so long ago last year in the gold cup that the best player for Guadalupe? was a native but French international who was tearing it up for them at 40? cant remember the exact names Bobby would probably remember. Henry is also of the same decent and the commentators suggested he might do the same one day his French career is done. Anyways I don't think we have to worry about Kaka for Italy as by the time his career for Brazil is done it would most likely be done for Italy also... He would still walk on to a lower countries side but that would be somewhat ridiculous.
VVV- A player who already has played for one national team can't play for another one, even if they gain citizenship, but that's not what Blatter is talking about anyway. What Blatter wants to control is Kaka being counted as an Italian for AC Milan, so when his 6+5 idea gets imposed (even though I hope it never does), Kaka will count as one of the 5, instead of one of the 6 Italians that would have to play for Milan...
Pretty much, Blatter is a ####, and is going to hurt the game, instead of help it... His idea is to help the little guy, but he doesn't realize that by doing so he will hurt the big guy, and the big guy is what the game is all about... No one cares when San Marino plays the Faroe Islands, but Italy vs France is huge...
speaking about buying benzema are the rumors about man. utd wanting to buy marcelo moreno true cause that would be crazy this young player is crazy am not a man. utd fan but that would be an amazing buy and a worrying one in that case arsenal need a try at carlos eduardo wishful thinking
I seriously doubt Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham could beat this :
The commentator is in German. It's a free kick scored by Sejad Salihovic ( a bosnian player) for Hoffenheim in the German 2. Bundesliga.
Now i see why we need a european super league. the point is, if WE the customers don't want to see the best players in the EPL, then we will turn off the TV and watch something else (French league, Bosnian Leauge, etc...) who have local grown talent.
But for some reason, we continue to watch and Blatter is upset about it. :)
I was just wondering if anyone had a problem with the rule forbidding players from switching national teams, even after they change citizenship?
I think it's funny that nobody seems to have a problem with the non-EU player quota, but yet no problem with South American players becoming EU citizens just to beat the rules. Why not just eliminate quotas all together?
Does anyone like Platini's homegrown player rule which does not differentiate by nationality, even though still is apparently afoul of EU laws?
The concern is that the top clubs will sign up any and all significant young talent, only for a small percentage to make it, and the rest not get the opportunity to develop which they would have at their local smaller teams. Also, watching Celtic-Rangers just won't be quite the same when there isn't a single Scot on the field.
Also, watching Celtic-Rangers just won't be quite the same when there isn't a single Scot on the field.
VVV, times have changed. there is now that train they call GLOBALISATION, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Some people are scared of the future, others embrace it.
the best way to stop a runaway train from crashing you, or even stop it at all, is to jump on board, not to try to block it.
MLS
High flying Chicago come to the capital so should be a good game.
BRITISH PLAYERS
“Ryan Giggs
Not a typical British player, Giggs’s strength is his skill and imagination rather than his power.”
I’m sure that some would agree with Gheorghe Hagi on that observation.
GOONER STUFF
What’s you’se lots’ take on Merida?
LADIES FA CUP FINAL HIGHLIGHTS
COPPA ITALIA
Applauding the ref – gets you a red
Getting punched on the penalty spot is no fun.
Materazzi goes mental and gets a red
THE BIG DROP
Atelti would like to see Bolton get relegated (as would Ringo)
I’d love to see Brum play in the Championship next season.
Who would you like to go down?
TH:
I agree, but if globalization has an adverse effect on the popularity of the game, it will not be embraced. Nobel prize winner, economist Paul Samuelson, once wrote, “Globalization presumes sustained economic growth. Otherwise, the process loses its economic benefits and political support.”
As long as the rich clubs get richer, and international competitions get bigger, this trend will continue. When popularity and revenues begin to diminish, globalization will become the root of the problem.
"I guess the point that is getting missed is that I can name about 10 players who could do the job that Adebayor has done with Arsenal. And those players can do it better and in turn make Arsenal more dangerous."
Give us the list, LGB. I'm curious which 10 strikers are better than Adebayor.
As for missing sitters, well, there's a fair few strikers -- including Fern -- who duffed on gimmes. I posted the conversion rates for him and Torres a few threads back -- they are remarkably even when it comes to shots taken, shots on goal and goals. The biggest difference is Ade does it away from the Emirates on a far more consistent basis than Fern does on travels from Anfield. Well, that and the price they cost their respective clubs.
But the chance conversion rates for Torres and Adebayor glow compared to strikers such as Berbatov, Rooney and Tevez. So I'm looking forward to that list.
A young holding midfielder that really impressed me was Charles Kabore, an 20-year-old from Burkina Faso who plays for L'OM and slotted in the middle of the park while Cana was pressed into action as an emergency centre half earlier this season. Very quick, phenomenal work rate, good tackler, great energy and skills on the ball (distribution was only OK). He reminded me of a bigger version of Makelele. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
First can I see where you got that shot/goal comparison list?
Second, are you really trying to say that all shots/chances are equal?
Finally, Adebayor has 24 goals to Torres 23. Adebayor has been on the field for 2864 league minutes. Torres has been on the field for 2454 minutes. Theres quite a bit of difference there.
Anyways, that list of 10 that I'd rather have up front that Adebayor(or I should say that could do just as well if not better than Adebayor):
Bolton would have to lose 6-0 at Chelsea and Reading win 6-0 at Derby for Bolton to be relegated. The goal difference between the teams is 11. Highly unlikely.
Craigy, Bradley, was sent off in the 38 minute with Moyes in attendance on Monday.
Have Hull City ever been in the top flight?
Who would you like to go down?
Paging Finbarr Saunders and his double entendres!
Thats all subjective though. For me theres 3 clear cut strikers in the world right now in Toni Torres and Drogba and everyone afterwards is going up and down the list after each goal, you could argue it all day.
Henry? well Arsenal just sold him cause he wanted to leave.
Eto'o whens the last time he played a full season.
Yak, a wash couldn't say either is hands down better.
Klose, same as above.
Berbs, same as above also hes on spurs also hes whiny.
Owen injuries.
Anelka, been there done that.
Martins, heavily linked with last year and we took eduardo instead. His consistency is lacking another wash.
Rudd? old and I doubt he was exactly available.
Tevez 30m pounds...
Villa who knows maybe this year I doubt it.
Its easy to list strikers but they are not exactly all available or interchangeable. You forgot Aguero also... and Raul and Zlatan and... I think you get the point.
