Football talk - The Beautiful Game Thread
Discuss all things Aleague, EPL and around the world!
Haha! Love the title!
Lets kick things off with transfers so far, some interesting ones:
Luis Suarez [Liverpool - Barcelona] £75m
Lazar Markovic [Benfica - Liverpool] £20m
Mario Mandzukic [Bayern Munich - Atletico Madrid] Undisclosed
Alexis Sanchez [Barcelona - Arsenal] In the region of £35m
Mario Pasalic [Hajduk Split - Chelsea] Undisclosed
Gareth Barry [Manchester City - Everton] Free
Ashley Cole [Chelsea - Roma] Free
Emre Can [Bayer Leverkusen - Liverpool] £10m
Diego Costa [Atletico Madrid - Chelsea] £32m
Adam Lallana [Southampton - Liverpool] £25m
Alexander Buttner [Manchester United - Dynamo Moscow] £4.4m (initial)
Luke Shaw [Southampton - Manchester United] £27m (rising to £31m depending on success)
Luis Alberto [Liverpool - Malaga] Loan
Fernando [Porto - Manchester City] In region of £12m
Adam Taggart [Newcastle Jets - Fulham] Undisclosed
Joleon Lescott [Manchester City - West Brom] Free
David Luiz [Chelsea - Paris St-Germain] £40m (reported)
Bacary Sagna [Arsenal - Manchester City] Free
Cesc Fabregas [Barcelona - Chelsea] £30m (reported)
Joe Cole [West Ham - Aston Villa] Free
Damien Duff [Fulham - Melbourne City] Free
Steve Sidwell [Fulham - Stoke City] Free*
David Villa [New York City - Melbourne City] Loan (from October)
Rickie Lambert [Southampton - Liverpool] £4m
David Villa [Atletico Madrid - New York City] Free
Good to see some Aleague clubs on the list!
These are only the confirmed transfers, other rumours at the moment are:
Pogba and Vidal looking to leave Juve, being hunted by Chelsea and Man United
Emmanuel Riviere going to Newcastle from Monaco
AC Milan are after Nani
David Ospina to Arsenal
Di Maria to Man United
Ah, you sniped me Mr. Chelsea. Was just about to start on this thread today.
All right, the biggest news today is manager Antonio Conte’s shock departure from Juventus after just three seasons at the helm. The most shocking part is that he’s won the title in all three of those seasons, as most of you probably know, and led Juve back to their glory days. He was set to create something special that the Serie A hasn’t seen in a long time, but he’s outta there.
What this means, I think (and most others do too) is that Vidal’s move to Man Utd is all but complete. Conte said at the start of the year that if either Vidal or Pogba were sold by the club he would immediately resign. Pogba’s agent confirmed he wasn’t going anywhere yet while Vidal’s agent declined to comment on the matter. I think we can safely assume the world’s best midfielder is coming to Old Trafford, where he obviously belongs. I’m just asking for abuse with that sentence aren’t I…haha.
What I’m most looking forward to in this transfer window, besides obviously Di Maria, Vidal and Hummels joining United, is seeing what Liverpool does with that Suarez money. Going all out and packing your team with stars went terribly for Spurs last season after they sold Bale, so it will be interesting to see what they decide to do. Obviously they’ve made a few signings already but I can feel some bigger names heading over. Lots of pressure on Sturridge next year either way.
Something else that should be interesting is Southampton’s ‘recovery’ process after selling Shaw, Lallana, Lambert and probably Lovren, Rodriguez and a few others. Big losses there but they’ve made some big money from them. Can’t wait to see what they do.
I hope United can sell some dead weight this window too…Buttner is gone, but I’d like to see Anderson, Young, Nani, Bebe and company outta here. Heck, Fellaini is on his last legs too after last season’s flop of the century. I’d love to see the likes of Januzaj, Powell, Wilson, the Keane brothers, Janko and company get a run this year. Adnan obviously got a good run last year but it would be great to see him cement his spot. He’s our next great No.7!
mm I’m worried about United if they can pick up all those players and get rid of the leftovers as you mentioned, especially with the new gaffer at the helm!
I thought this season would see Liverpool going close to the title, if not taking it out, but the loss of Suarez is huge. Sturridge is a fantastic player (devode that Chelsea got rid of him) but I don’t think he can do it without another big name.
Over to the Aleague now, Sydney FC had their first hit out of the preseason downing Macarthur Rams 5-1. Its only a glorified training run obviously but from reports they did well, Carle back in the action with a a goal and 2 for Gamiero, some of the youngsters showing promise.
I’m liking the team this year and I really think its a title contender. Our attacking options are solid with Brosque Smeltz and Ibini all coming up, with Gameiro too, and backed up by the likes of Antonis and Carle.
In other news, apparently the Wanderers (YUCK) are after Luke Wilkshire.
Brisbane roar have lost Berisha, but have signed another Albanian striker with better stats than Berisha did on his arrival.
Mitch Nichols has gone to Perth
Josh Brillante of the Jets has gone to Fiorentina. Great move for the kid
Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan was spotted at NIB Stadium in Perth with the Glory CEO - possible new investor?? Hopefully the City takeover at the Heart has brought some international interest in the Aleague.
Newcastle Jets have signed Northern Ireland international Jonny Steele
Jerad Tyson signed for Sun Pegasus FC in Hong Kong
Richie Garcia and Hersi to Perth Glory
Victory sign French defender Del Pierre
McGlinchey to Wellington
That’s all I can think of right now
City taking over the Heart is definitely the most interesting point in the A-League this year, and I’ll probably head out to one of their NSW games to check it out. Lampard and David Villa in the A-League? Yes please!
City taking over the Heart is definitely the most interesting point in the A-League this year, and I’ll probably head out to one of their NSW games to check it out. Lampard and David Villa in the A-League? Yes please!
Crazy isn’t it! Great for the Melbourne City guys especially the younger players. They are over in the UK now for some training and trial games. They had a 2-2 draw with league 2 side Bury last night, and are playing Oldham Ath on Saturday.
Not only have they got Villa for the guest stint, but they have Damien Duff for the whole season, as well as poaching Aaron Mooy from the wanderers.
As a Reading FC fan it looks like we’re going to have a very quiet summer. Unless the club gets bought soon, we won’t be bringing anyone in. I can only hope we keep our good players and get rid of the dead weight. Absolutely gutted we sold Le Fondre to Cardiff. With that midfield I can see him scoring 15-20 goals easily in the championship.
I didn’t see it mentioned in this post, but apparently Tony Kroos is on his way to Real Madrid now. He mentioned it in an interview after Germany won the world cup. Brilliant signing, although I was hoping United we’re finally going to get him. Would love to have seen him in Engalnd.
I don’t understand why Toni Kroos would move to Real Madrid? Except maybe the weather?
He’s got just as big a chance to win the Champions league with Bayern, some would say a bigger chance (a chance for a real crack at it is often why players move).
Sydney FC’s trial game win means pretty much nothing..although with the Wanderers playing the rams soon in another trial game, it will be fun to compare the scores of the two matches afterwards. One of my ex-students is playing in the rams team. If I was at home instead of in europe, I’d be going along to watch and cheer him on for sure!
Will be most interested in how the Wanderers new brazilian signing Vitor Saba goes!
Chelsea is buying so many players again…I actually like it when it happens because it means there is more good players like Sturridge around who are good players in a Chelsea squad, not getting game time and who are happy to move somewhere else to get game time.
I don’t understand why Toni Kroos would move to Real Madrid? Except maybe the weather?
He’s got just as big a chance to win the Champions league with Bayern, some would say a bigger chance (a chance for a real crack at it is often why players move).
Bigger chance at Bayern? Did you watch them play Real Madrid last year in the semi finals? Madrid are going to be back-to-back Euro champions this season. I think they’ll take La Liga too this time.
Real Madrid is just…Real Madrid. Almost everyone wants to play there. It’s probably been a dream for Kroos growing up, just like it was for Ronaldo, and I’m stoked for him to be on his way there. Playing behind Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo is something he’d obviously be keen to relish as well.
Chelsea is buying so many players again…I actually like it when it happens because it means there is more good players like Sturridge around who are good players in a Chelsea squad, not getting game time and who are happy to move somewhere else to get game time.
I’ve said it before, but I hope Schurrle gets good gametime again this year, especially up front where he’s at his best. Costa is in the mix now so I’m worried he’ll be on the fringes this season…but Eto’o is gone, so there might be some room. Otherwise I hope he moves to somewhere he can make more of an impact. Horribly underrated player.
It’s hard to admit as a United fan, but I love Chelsea’s side. Oscar, Hazard, Willian and now Fabregas are some of my favourite players. If they can sign a couple of defenders this year they’ll be looking good. Gotta admit I’ve always liked Gary Cahill for some reason too.
I’d be reasonably happy to make some kind of bet that Real won’t win the champions league again this season!
Anyone see that the Young Socceroos are over in the US at the moment playing in a tournament? They won their first game against Bermuda and played Chile last night. They went two goals up relatively early on and then conceded 4 in a row.
Awer Mabil got subbed on and got two goals to make it even (one of them an absolutely pumping free kick), and young Daniel DeSilva got us the winner. Wish I could have seen more highlights apart from the free kick.
So many of the lads in that team are from the A-league and its good to see them getting some revenge on Chile for the senior team!
Chelsea are also stupid if they don’t keep Lukaku and give him some game time. Gun player.
Van Gaal is looking to offload at least 10 players at United
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/489317/Louis-van-Gaal-to-AXE-10-players-as-new-Manchester-United-era-begins
Sydney FC’s trial game win means pretty much nothing..although with the Wanderers playing the rams soon in another trial game, it will be fun to compare the scores of the two matches afterwards.
The score means pretty much nothing I think, but the way they played very important, and the fact they have a busy preseason. In the season Sydney won the double with Lavicka, we had a long preseason and from the first trial right up until the season began we looked sharp and had easy victories over these local teams. That season we were the fittest and most disciplined team all season and won it all.
The last few (and especially last year with Farina) the preseason was poor, we cut back on games and lost a few, won a couple by lucky goals. It showed throughout the season I believe, we looked sluggish and gave away more yellow and red cards than any other season in our history.
I think these trials are so important for Graham Arnold and the squad to bond and build a solid understanding with eachother, as well as match fitness.
This is the first time since 2010 ive been really pumped on Sydney FC’s chances of actually playing some good football and winning the thing!
Van Gaal has said that he’ll look at the players he’s got over the next 2-3 weeks before he decides whether or not to offload players. I think he’d be making a mistake if he gets rid of Nick Powell, and I’d be disappointed to see Kagawa go. Fellaini might deserve another chance but other than that I’m happy to see the lot of them leave, as long as we can sign some solid backup.
Rio Ferdinand has officially signed with QPR, which means we’ve lost Rio, Evra and Vidic at the back, all in the space of 18 days. Together those three have played in 1773 top tier European matches. It really is the dawn of a new era, but I think selling them is the right move, as long as we can get that backup in.
Reports are floating around that Monaco has agreed with Real Madrid for a $107 million transfer of James Rodriguez. Assuming Di Maria ends up at either PSG (likely) or Man United (slightly less likely but I’m still hopeful), we’re probably looking at Kroos and James as attacking midfielders behind the “BBC” (Benzema, Bale, Cristiano) next season. That looks juicy.
Arsenal has also officially signed Mathieu Debuchy today. I’d be liking this move if I were an Arsenal fan, seems sensible with Sagna gone, and particularly if Vermaelen ends up leaving too.