Chelsea are the champions, Tottenham are in the Champions League. Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull City go down. Newcastle and West Brom are back and we're going to see one of either Cardiff (WALES IN THE EPL!) or Blackpool joining Sky League.
Transfer tavern is open for business, Fabregas to Barcelona? Not for a penny less than 50 million I say, how will they afford him now that they've just brought David fucking Villa for 40 million!? Sir says Manchester United will only sign one player, that's okay because Obertan and Hargreaves will be just like new signings right? Manchester City will make up for the shortfall of spending in red quarter by throwing 25 million pound offers around at both James Milner and Football Manager superstar David Luiz, Possibly financed by selling Robinho to Milan, but doubtful because he's under the age of 30. Chelsea must still be in party mode although no John Terry shenanigans have emerged lately, although Ashley Cole is in the headlines over a possible move to Madrid to meet up with his old boss Jose Mourinho, possibly going the other way is the woefully out of form Kaka. Kaka? Cacca? shit more like. That joke would have been better if there was an Italian involved somewhere. Back to Mourinho for a second, some joker at the Guardian did an approximation of what it would cost Read Madrid to bring in Mourinho as manager, factoring Mourinhos wages, paying out Pellegrini, the backroom staff Jose would bring and severing his contract at Inter it was likely going to come to something like 56 million euros. The worlds first Galactio Manager! Who will be his Pavon is anyone's guess. And finally, Jamie Carragher, after deserting his nation in it's time of need has answered the three lions call and come out of international retirement. This is after he's had without doubt his worst season ever, seriously, I would rather have any of Roger Johnson, Ryan Shawcross or Phil Jagielka.
56 million euros to change managers?
wowee.
Fabs as good as gone. Word is they'll offer us cash plus Toure or Imbrahimovich but that Wenger won't take either and spend the cash on shoring up our defense. Buffon is staying in Italy meaning we'll need most of the fee to get wasssismane from City. Should be an interesting transfer window!
I dunno about Fabregas leaving just yet; I want some serious quotes not the wafty allusions that're printed in all the articles so far.
As for the swap deals - Toure doesn't want to come to Arsenal and Ibra can literally only go to three clubs in the world - Chelsea, Man City or Real. Noone else can afford his 150k plus per week wages. Arsene should only take the cash for Fabregas and only big cash at that - what do you think a world class midfielder is worth to Barcelona over the next 10 years, which is how long Fabregas would be there? 30 million is a massive undervaluation of his worth to that club. Add to that Laporta wanting to do the deal himself too; he's the outgoing president and he'd hate to have his replacement be the one waving at the crowd when they sign Fabregas. Puts Arsenal in a stronger position at the table as we can demand more money.
Losing Fabregas would be a huge blow, it'd essentially signify another 'era' for the club, the end of the youth project effectively. Having said that, Nasri has been marooned out on the fucking wing for the last two years and looked much better when he's been able to come in and play centrally and Ramsey looked the business before his leg exploded. I think the club can survive this, although I dont think it's a foregone conclusion at all.
Wonder what Hart is worth? He's the best of the bunch in terms of the available keepers. 10-12 is what I'd say is a fair valuation for him.
Is this the Arsenal thread?
I really think you guys will suffer greatly if you lose Fabregas for any amount of money. I think most would agree that had he been fit all season you may well have been celebrating a title.
Couldn't agree more on Carragher, not that I care for England but any of those players would be much better. Shawcross is great and a wise manager would start integrating him now.
Getting a post in now so it comes up on my discussions and means I avoid all the utter drek on the site...
if you start a new thread it doesnt come up as a 'discussion i've participate in' either, you've actually got to post in it.
I think you're right, it'll be bad but the money we will/would get for him will allow us to strengthen across the park. He is truly one of the very few absolute world class midfielders going around at the moment.
Apparently in a big fuck off to Barcelona, Arsenal have set the bar at 50 million to even open discussions and are asking for 80 million for Fabregas. I hate having to put up with this shit every year but at least the club is making a stance about not being completely reamed.
Well considering Spurs sold Carrick and Berbatov when they were so important to us ( I know they proved pretty useless to Manure), I think it's great if he stays with you guys because the foot is put down. But I encourage him to join Barca so Arsenal can follow Liverpool down the ladder.
I've said it before and will say it again, I think it's Bullshit that someone can sign on for x (x is more than 3 in this case) amount of years and not go close to honouring it. Unless they have a get out clause because of relegation or something, they should have to get to within a year or 2 of it expiring. That along with players hanging out for a Bosman are among the shittiest things with transfers.
All signing players on for extra time seems to do these days is give already over paid players more money in sign on bonus's, higher wages and drain the club of resources. what's the fucking point of a five year contract if it's going to be broken at the first sign of interest from a bigger club.
Speaking of contracts, on the latest Football Ramble they were chatting about Steven Pienaar; apparently he's never looked at his bank balance since he moved to Everton - when he wants something he just asks his guy to go off and get it for him. Other Pienaar stories included that he apparently has said that he wishes he was born in the Ivory Coast because the South African National Team is rubbish and that he's got a fantasy football team called 'Stevens Bitches' but that he didnt pick himself because he'd be too keen to shoot all the time and try and get heaps of points. He had Cahill and was angry when he got injured at the start of the season.
Ballack's agent is talking about legal action against Boateng. He must have forgot about the stamping incident a few years ago against the Pool.
That Pienaar stuff made me laugh.
Apparently there is history between Ballack and Prince-Boateng. Apparently when they were both playing back in Germany, Boateng scored his first goal against Ballacks side; Bayern. Ballack told him to stop carrying on like a pork chop and that he'd achieved nothing. Apparently Boateng has, in his dad's words, via Topleague.co.uk ''never forgotten that.'' To be fair, Ballack is a massive cunt, but in that case he was a right cunt.
Anyway, what kind of a precedent would that set if every time you injured someone you got taken to court. Arsenal would certainly be much richer but cripes.
if you believe the papers barca are throwing in a 70m pound bid for torres, but wont go above 30 for fabregas.
fucking bizarre stuff. these figures seem to have no real relevance anymore.
fuck - the redshite would be screaming bankrupcy!!
Chamakh confirmed.
Love you Charlie Adam. Come on Blackpool!
blackpool beat cardiff 3-2
Great match, brilliant result. Suck shit Ridsdale, get ready to return to Elland Road next season.
Fucken Wembley, playing that horrible Black Eyed Peas song during both these celebrations and the FA Cup's. They sure do know how to ruin an occasion.
Modric joins Bale in signing long-term contract extension. Snubs 'big clubs' in the process.
probably Spurs' most important piece of business this summer.
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20 million for jordan henderson.
to the pool?
yep.
kinda feel like if i had 20 million to drop on a player, i'd probably look at a few options before Henderson.
arsene would buy about 5 french players from the french 2nd division with that sort of coin.
whatever. i have confidence in the King.
I'm a bit worried that his price has been greatly inflated. He's okay, but it worries me that he's come to pool for 20mil, and we didn't seem to have to battle Chel/Manu/Manc/Arse for him.
I'm hearing rumours that Malouda might be making the trek to Anfield too..
'pool have paid over the odds for henderson but that's been the case with decent english talent for a while now. not sure how they would use him seeing as there's already enough competition for centre mid spots with meireles, gerrard, spearing, lucas, shelvey. he'll probably be used on the right of midfield like he was throughout last season but £20m is a lot for what, at the moment, seems like a fringe player
He is English, which pretty much doubles his value. I guess when you look at it you're paying 20 million for a young, talented, premiership experienced, homegrown player. He's probably not worth 20 million, he may be. If he sticks around for 10 years you will have done well.
Where does he play though? Cant have four central mids on the park and I dont think Schtevie Gee will enjoy being stuck out on the wing. Gotta get your width to hit those long balls onto Carrolls head from somewhere..
''I dont think Schtevie Gee will enjoy being stuck out on the wing.''
here we go - this old chestnut.
had his best season ever at RW, will be even MORE inclined to pander to KK than Rafa, Lucas has done a fine job in CM (admittedly, after much work).
SG must know that he's in his dotage now (or getting there) and his ability to read the game and laser passes through to Suarez will be more useful than those bursting runs from the middle of 5 years ago.
I think Henderson is a good buy...even at 20 million - although Daglish might want to see a few goals from him.
Think he should play on the right flank.
liverpool's problems, if you can call them that, are of the good variety.
villa on the other hand look like they're going to lose ashley young, and maybe downing to follow him. if both leave then that's basically all of the creativity sucked out of the team.
and from most reports steve mcclaren looks to be managing them next season. looking bleak
This old chestnut is exactly right, you've said it your self; he's no longer a player in his prime who's going to be able to motor up and down the wing doing not just providing width when Liverpool have the ball but also to do all the defensive work that's required of a winger now. The way most teams play you're not allowed to carry someone outwide anymore because it'll just create too many 2v1's on the overlap if he's not tracking back.
I know that he had a good year on the wing three or four years ago but you dont have the midfield or the defenders to stick him out there, other teams would be licking their chops at the thought of old man Gerrard and that non-defender Glen Johnson trying to hold down the right side.
Laser passes? more like wasteful hollywood balls.
we shall see. having options in midfield is never bad, especially as the old man gets crocked more often these days.
just good to know there's some English/quota action being addressed. Liverpool were talking about building the wings before KK even came back on board, so i daresay that will also be addressed.
of course it's not bad, it's just that if you're playing a three man midfield then who gets dropped? 20million pound Henderson? Lucas who's been persisted with and finally looks not shit? Mierales who was probably your player of the season last year or your spiritual leader?
Agreed, it's not looking good. In some ways the Ashley Young sale is forced, on the other hand he's only got 1 year left on his contact, so at least they get some value for him now, rather than nothing in 12 months. I would guess that Lerner will ensure Downing doesn't go anywhere, seeing as he was the club's best player and he's got 2 years to go on the contract. So that at least buys them a season to find replacements. Here's hoping whoever comes in is good at bringing the kids through or Tom Hanks ain't gonna be happy.
telegraph reckon he will go to liverpool for around £10m which doesn't make much sense if you consider the sums bandied about for young and henderson.
i'm hoping the likes of bannan, delph and delfouneso get more game time, and maybe stephen ireland to pull his finger out.
McLeish to go to Aston Villa?
Fucken' Judas.
Looking forward to Dunne/Collins/full backs lobbing long balls forward for Bent to hold up/run onto. All those 1-0's (wins and losses) will make for some scintillating football.
new thread time