World Soccer thread III

[Imran Siddiqui]

Some fun news coming out. Glazer has apparently unveiled a plan to raise ticket prices 50% over the next 5 years . Yikes! No wonder the fans were so pissed.

Also it seems Chelsea is just about to get Asier Del Horno from Athletic Bilbao. He's a great left back and should be a force for Chelsea. Also from Chelsea. They've accused the Spurs of making illegal approaches to some players. It's probably true that every club does it (just not obviously), though Chelsea spurned could try to tattle on everyone that has subtley tried an approach. Could be fun to watch.

Oh, and reports out of Newcastle are that if Mark Viduka is healthy, he'll likely be a Magpie next year (according to Souness). He'll be added to Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord, who is very close to being signed by Newcastle (or so it is said).

If Souness can get Kuyt, a healthy Viduka, and Parker, he'll probably be judged to have a successful transfer period, though he needs some more players to return Newcastle to the top 5 of the Prem.

[DanS]

Originally posted by reds4ever
Don't you have songs? What about at club level, different clubs must have different songs?

DC United has a few, as I understand. I don't think too many others do.

If you go to a Notre Dame, Ohio State or a Michigan football game, they have a marching band and cheerleaders. It's well organized. The marching band plays songs, but normally fans don't sing anything but the school fight song and a few others. There are many traditional cheers, just not singing. The tradition at these games is no less than than that a big soccer club in the UK, and normally the stadiums over here seat more fans. Realize, however, that our sporting tradition grew up uninfluenced by soccer or the way fans behave in other countries. As I understand, it is pretty radically different, and not all that well suited to soccer yet. It takes a lot of time to build tradition, so give it 20 or 30 years...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Btw, the biggest LOSER in Liverpool coming into the CL will be Manchester United. Because in the compromise all the other England teams will be getting LESS money than previously thought because instead of 4 teams, England gets 5, and the same pool of money is now divided up amongst a new country.

Because of the Glazier bid, they need as much money from the CL as they can possibly get.

[reds4ever]

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well I guess I could mail a check. Though I thought you wanted a Paypal thingy.

Or I'm being whooshed because most people wouldn't post their address on a forum .

[reds4ever]

Whatevers best for you mate, I'm not that big on the whole 'privacy' thing where people won't post their details, I think people who worry flatter themselves they are interesting enough to be stalked! Plus the fact I'll edit the post as soon as you say you've got my details!

My Paypal email is

[Locutus]

Kuyt to Newcastle? Noooo! What a waste of his talents, he'd be better off staying with Feyenoord...



Anyway, saw Argentina - USA today and I was thoroughly underwhelmed by Freddy Adu. I'm sure he had a bad day but this guy is supposed to be a second Pele? He certainly has the attidute of a prima donna but is yet to show the goods (e.g. he cheated to get a penalty, insisted on taking it himself and then failed to convert it ) I won't judge him on the basis of one match, but if I would I would say he will likely never exceed European top-level average. He's not bad, but not better than say a Van Bommel, a Giggs or a Julio Cruz (at best). But we'll see how he does in the upcoming matches...

On the American side I was more impressed by Barrett. A very hard worker and very goal-oriented. Doesn't seem to have quite the talent of some other players but hard work can get you far. As the goal that he scored testified. Reminded me of Kuyt actually (only less skilled).

But by far most impressive today was Messi, the Argentinian star player. If anyone on this tournament has it in him to become the next Pele it's him -- exceptional skill, fast as lightning, an inspiraration to the rest of his team. Didn't have his best day ever but you could see the talent is there. Why the Argentinian coach started him on the bench is a mystery to me.

He didn't come across as a very capable coach anyway (but I'm not gonna judge him on one match either), as the rest of the Argentinian team was a bit of a mess: great individual talent but not very well organised. The US were just the opposite and since I'm always biased in favour of hard work and team play I think their surprising and hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina was deseved -- if very, very lucky...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Alright, I PMed the info to myself .

Kuyt to Newcastle?

Pray Souness doesn't win that battle then .

he cheated to get a penalty, insisted on taking it himself and then failed to convert it

Cheated? I didn't see a dive. Shame he barely missed the penalty. Had the keeper beat, just hit the inside of the post and bounced out.

Freddy has had better games, though he had a few good runs. The problem is Adu is a MF, not a Forward, but in this team he's playing on top. It's a wierd decision.

But by far most impressive today was Messi

Yep. He was amazing. Unlucky not to get a goal.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
If Souness can get Kuyt, a healthy Viduka, and Parker, he'll probably be judged to have a successful transfer period, though he needs some more players to return Newcastle to the top 5 of the Prem.

Newcastle buying Middlesbrough cast-offs? I wouldnt call that a successful transfer period just yet.

[Urban Ranger]

I wonder if AJ and Hunkeby (sp?) will have premier league buyers. Everton is still stilling on the pile of cash from the Rooney sale.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui If Souness can get Kuyt, a healthy Viduka, and Parker, he'll probably be judged to have a successful transfer period, though he needs some more players to return Newcastle to the top 5 of the Prem.

No ****.

[DanS]

I won't judge him on the basis of one match, but if I would I would say he will likely never exceed European top-level average. He's not bad, but not better than say a Van Bommel, a Giggs or a Julio Cruz (at best). But we'll see how he does in the upcoming matches...

He's not a consistent player now. Same thing when he's playing at DC.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Oh, and reports out of Newcastle are that if Mark Viduka is healthy, he'll likely be a Magpie next year (according to Souness). He'll be added to Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord, who is very close to being signed by Newcastle (or so it is said).

If Souness can get Kuyt, a healthy Viduka, and Parker, he'll probably be judged to have a successful transfer period

Hilarious. Viduka is a spent force. Even when he wasn't injured he looked fat, unfit and jaded.

Parker, on the other hand, would be a good buy. If Souness is looking for a striker, in his position I'd take a gamble and buy Nathan Ellington from Wigan. Ellington still has some way to develop, but he's got time on his side and was one of the Championship's top scorers even though he lost fom at the close of the season. He's fast and strong, and with the right coaching could cut it as a Premiership striker.

[MikeH]

I doubt Wigan will sell him, they need to strengthen for the premiership not sell their best players.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Locutus
Kuyt to Newcastle? Noooo! What a waste of his talents, he'd be better off staying with Feyenoord...

He should go to Ajax

the rest of the Argentinian team was a bit of a mess

... add a kid who's called Messi, and you'd get pandemonium. You say he was benched? Well, duh