teignman

Not too worried about Le Arse beating us to Eden's signature. The main reason is that they will have to fork out in excess of £30m to get him. Plus they'll have to give him wages that exceed their wage structure. The teams that do worry me are Real Madrid, Citeh, and Barca. I could rattle off some reasons why they don't make sense, but these teams have knack for making the big signings even when their teams are already loaded.

Well, apparently it's not fine in his eyes if he's asking for a review system. On his second point, the game would be slowed down much more by even 1 challenge. The challenge system has been embraced in American sports and kills the excitement and exhiliration of decisive plays. Also, the officials are still known to get calls wrong even with the benefit of video review. Good to know the brass at QPR is as cunty and hypocritical as the rank and file supporter. BTW, here's a little article I read on the antics of the QPR supporters before and during Saturday's match: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2093269/Even-children-joined-mayhem-Loftus-Road.html Like zolayes says, I hope these bastards keep going down and down. Love the little signs they have, "We are QPR. This is Loftus Road." Good that they identify themselves and the venue because someone might think it was some other pub team playing in a shoebox being cheered on by 15,000 assholes.

My take on the potential suitors for Jose's services: Arsenal- The cost of buying out his contract and salary will put them off. Spuds- see Arsenal ManUre- Sir Phallux will be in charge for the next 3 years. If Jose wants to cool his boots on moving, I could see this move happening in 3 years' time. Bin Dippers- I think the price tag could be off-putting, but not prohibitive. However, the issues of putting Queen Kenny out to pasture are a bit more difficult. The NESV brass are working hard to cultivate a solid relationship with the supporters, and sending the 'ol queen packing unceremoniously could be quite detrimental to this pursuit. I wouldn't say Jose going to the land of the hubcap thieves is impossible, but it's not likely, at least in the next year or maybe 2. That leaves us with the parvenu Manchester club. Heaven knows they've got the dosh to spend on buyouts, salary, etc. Mancini would seem to have some job security with their current position in the league and progress this season. However, if Citeh severely falter down the stretch (something I don't see happening), Mancini will be out faster than you can say Jack Robinson. Thus leaving Mourinho to come in. Now matter how much the simple-minded supporters of Citeh sing "Mancini, whooooa", they probably know that Mancini is a decent enough manager, but not a great one. Mourinho would be a definite improvement. Us- Been there, done that. Nuff said. Bottom line is, I don't see him leaving Real after this season. It would take something extraordinary for that to happen. Frankly, I don't want him back in the PL. He would strenghten one of our rivals, and I prefer our rivals to have whinging Frenchmen that fancy frail youth, ruddy complected costermongers that run afoul of the revenuers, or aging former star players that don bin liners in cold weather and enjoy paying far over the odds for mediocre talent at the helm of these teams.

Lille just sold Moussa Sow to Fenerbache. This could mean that they are effectively giving up on making the CL, and wanting to cash in on players now. Or it could mean that they got their price for Sow and will go into the market for a replacement. I still don't think this Hazard transfer will go through.

Alright, I'll just come out and say it: I'm not a big fan of this signing, or potential signing as it were. We're likely to pay too much for a player that quite possibly is not PL ready. I've watched Willian in the CL for a couple years now, a small sample size I'll admit, and I've seen him play a couple blinders. Overall though, he seems to have great flair, but not the substance to match. Like I said, this is only a small sample size and probably doesn't tell the whole story. I don't think this is the worst possible signing, but just not a fan of it. There is one area where I have not questioned AVB once, and that is his ability to evaluate talent in the transfer market.

They (Shakhtar) aren't going to loan an integral part of their team just to let us take him for a test drive.

A lack of service and confidence are probably the main culprits. Our form as a team has struggled since his arrival, and part of this has been trying to fit our team to Nando when we don't really have the personnel to service a player of his specific talents. I recently watched a compilation of all of Nando's goals with the dippers, and he just seemed to ooze self assurance and played with reckless abandon. But we've covered this ad nauseum on the forum so I won't say more to that end. I'm generally not a believer in curses, bad luck, etc., but I just have a feeling the Torres transfer put the malocchio on us. Even when he plays well or decent, he seems to hit the post or the keeper pulls an amazing save out of his arse (yeah John Ruddy I'm talking to you). Hell, even the media, who seemed to take a good deal of pleasure from his struggles, are coming to this conclusion. I think the media circus and his continuing drought drag the club down. I know it does to the supporters. I haven't been holding my breath for a return to the Nando of old. I think the pressure's has got to him from day one, and it will be an extremely impressive feat if he can regain a semblance of his former self finishing. However, I'll cheering him on and hoping for the best, cos he's not just any £50m striker that can't score for toffee. He's our £50m striker that can't score for toffee.

Definitely a match where a draw feels like a loss.

English football should take a long, hard look at itself. I understand that the "B team" system would have a very negative, if not devastating effect on the smaller clubs in England. The FA must ask themselves: Do they want to improve their showpiece (the PL) and its national side, or do they want to maintain an antiquated system that, whilst helping smaller clubs, impedes the progress of their two most popular and important jewels in their football crown?

I have my usual requests for this match, i.e. play with vigor, endeavor, intelligence, etc., but I have one more: Don't start Bosingwa. His past couple performances have been absolutely woeful, and Norwich rely heavily on their aerial attack, an area where Bosingwa struggles even on his best day. Yes, I am aware of Luiz's stuggles at FB at Benfica, including his meltdown against Hulk/Porto. However, the likes of Surman, Martin, and Jackson are a lot easier to handle than Pereira and Hulk.

Hazard ticks a lot of the boxes as far as the caliber and type of player we need. However, there are several reasons why the rumors flying around here today don't make sense. The biggest one being that Lille do not need to sell right now. They are fairly financially sound, and currently sit 3rd in the Ligue 1 table, a mere 4 pts. out of a CL spot and 7 pts. out of 1st. There are only 5 pts. separating them from 8th place Toulouse. If they sell now, they will greatly damage, if not completely sacrifice, any hopes they have of playing CL or EL football next season. This would have rather large ramifications for their profits, seeing as they can just sell Hazard in the summer for a similar if not better price, and still push for a CL spot this season. I'd love to be proven wrong and see Eden unveiled a Blue in the coming days/weeks. I don't think it's in the cards though. Furthermore, I'd be surprised, albeit pleasantly, if he comes here at all. He seems destined for Madrid.

A deserved 3 pts, but not by a wide margin. The Mackems had some chances to level, but we had numerous chances to put the game to bed. Not too pleased with the performance, but happy with the result. Some signs of life from Nando today. He should be amongst the goals again sometime soon. (BTW, I haven't been much of a Torres optimist.)

Prediction: This thread will quickly, if it hasn't already, become the "Airing of Grievances" thread.

Yesterday the Chelsea manager said of Hansen: "He doesn't have the privilege that I have, to work with these players every day. If everybody had perfect games media pundits would have no jobs because there'd be no one to criticise. They'd have to find jobs in professional football, which is a little bit harder." Now that you've tasted AVB's mutton Alan, how do you like it?

1500

Mata and Danny. No one really comes close to them in my not-so-humble opinion.

Good question. I've seen it suggested, from some less the reputable sources, that Danny would lead the line. If that were the case, what would we do with our £50m albatross? There are several combinations that I can think of, but I don't think they would necessarily better the team with the current personnel.

That's correct. He turns 18 in a couple weeks, and then he will be elgible for first team action.

Many football fans are just perpetual malcontents, especially when the going gets tough.

The latest from the horse's mouth: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/129257.html?CMP=OTC-RSS From what I've witnessed of De Bruyne, I would say he's very good at passing. Not that much pace relative to his position, and I don't see his dribbling opening up a PL defense at this stage of his career. If we can get him cheap and he has no delusions of waltzing into the first team, so much the better. He should not be a top priority though.

30,000+ muppets whinging, "Come on.... you spurs"

This is definitely a match for youth to be served. Pompey aren't doing so hot this season, so I think we should still win even with an extremely young lineup. The only caveat is this is a cup tie, so anything can happen. Looking forward to watching this one if the perveyors of streaming internet abide.

I've heard of Moura and I know he is held in high regard. He's an immense talent, but the only thing I question is the fact he has not played top European football. The £30m price I've seen quoted is a lot, so that is really what makes me hesitant. But hell, it's not my money.

It's mad really, when you think about it. A young, talented but inexperienced manager is tasked with maintaining AND rebuilding one of the biggest clubs in Europe, nay, the world. Well it's the Chels, and as we've learned throughout the Abramovich years, conventional operating procedures aren't our thing.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "I'm livid and disgusted. I should be talking about a well-earned point. We've given it away. Frank Lampard should not have been unmarked and putting the ball into the net. Defend the cross properly. We should have had a 1-1 draw." No Mick, you deserved absolutely nothing from this game. You were vastly outplayed and did very little to create anything.