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[psycho_snake]

Ive been saying that we need a target-man like huntelaar, but after thinking about it getting tevez would be a better option. I know rooney and tevez are similar, but rooney scored 23 goals last season whilst tevez scored quite a lot in his last few games of the season. Those two arent target men, but they can score and thats what you want from a striker. As long as they can get 20 goals a season then its fine. Rooney and tevez play a very similar role, but I still think that they can play together. Thhey can both dribble, they can shoot and and they can set each other up, so it should turn out to be a good combination. The only problem is that they'll occasionally play deep and copllect the ball from midfield, but tif they;re playing together then they'll be given instructions to stay up front and not come too deep.

 

[Steroyd]

This is another reason why I hope Arsenal can avert a takeover. How can you trust those people. They're not in for football, they want to make money. And it's not so easy to make money from a football club, in particular if you're going to spend a lot of money.

Arsenal are already the most expensive to get a season ticket by a large margin (they've froze ticket prices for 3 years according to The Mirror) I think any further rise would be suicide.

 

[Wes]

Only worry I have about Rooney and Tevez playing together is getting in each others way. They enjoy very similiar roles. Think it would take several weeks/months of playing together before they knew how to play alongside one another.

 

[hadareud]

Arsenal are already the most expensive to get a season ticket by a large margin (they've froze ticket prices for 3 years according to The Mirror) I think any further rise would be suicide.

it's not like you can buy a season ticket even if you wanted to.

You have to pay 35 pounds a year to get on the season ticket waiting list, and then it takes 10 (or longer) years to actually get one.

I am a Red Member on the waiting list for silver membership for 3 years now. There's over 30,000 (!!) people in front of me.

If they wanted they could raise the prices, they would find the people that would pay up. Is that the people you want in the stadium? Not if you want to have any kind of atmosphere.

 

[psycho_snake]

Only worry I have about Rooney and Tevez playing together is getting in each others way. They enjoy very similiar roles. Think it would take several weeks/months of playing together before they knew how to play alongside one another.

I dont think it'll take very long for them to click together. I'm not much of a believer that players get in each others way. Some p[eople say thats whats happening with lampard and gerrard in the england midfield, but it wasnt gerrards positioning that caused lampard to miss 22 shots.

It will take a little bit of time for them to adjust to playing alongside each other, but i cant see it being too much of a problem. I think those two are the type of strikers that can play alongside anyone.

 

[Wes]

I think torres would be a better suit for Man Utd to be honest, but it's not as if whichever world class striker he buys they're not going to end up being good for the team anyway.

Also, check your PMs Psycho.

 

[psycho_snake]

Torres might be a better option, but tevez is proven in the EPL, so if we do buy him, then we know he will perform. Id rather pay big money for proven quality than take a risk on someone like torres who might end up being marginally better. As tyou said it wont make a huge different at the end of the day.

Acoording to reports, Inter are leading the race to sign him. For our sake and his sake I hope that doesnt happen. h0pper isnt going to like this, but inter are one big joke club. They're are useless. Tevez would gain more from a move to united and on top of that its better for us because we get a world class triker.

I replied to your PM wes.

 

[kaizoku]

There are two reasons Utd have not signed a striker with the speed of their other deals - the Spanish league isn't over yet and we're juggling a couple of options.

Anelka and tevez are smokescreens imo, berbatov was just his agent talking silly.

Torres will be the main target and Utd have been in touch with his agent. What could throw a spanner into the works is if he wants to stay or Etoo suddenly becomes available if say Barca sign a top class forward.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Torres is more Rooney like than Tevez.

I think Tevez and Rooney could play together just fine. And if the loan rumour is true, there's really no downside to it. You get a player for nothing (except wages) for a year and if it works then great, you can pay the money as you would have with any other striker already anyway, and if not you haven't blown the bank and can go after another player next year.

 

[kaizoku]

Torres is more Rooney like than Tevez.

I think Tevez and Rooney could play together just fine. And if the loan rumour is true, there's really no downside to it. You get a player for nothing (except wages) for a year and if it works then great, you can pay the money as you would have with any other striker already anyway, and if not you haven't blown the bank and can go after another player next year.

Its funny how you think real football is like video game football!

Torres is a pacey striker who is also very good on the ball and can beat his man and get on he end of moves. Scores great goals. He would be ideal for Man Utd, not finished article by any means but he needs to move to develop.

Tevez isn't as good as Rooney, isn't as fast etc, wold strengthen our squad but doesn't really improve the weapons at our disposal which is what we're trying to achieve.

Essentialy we're trying to replace Saha with a similar player.

 

[Ghost]

Tevez isn't as good as Rooney

 

[Mama Smurf]

I just noticed the Beattie to Birmingham rumour, man I hope that's true.

I'm a bit annoyed we've stopped being linked to Nugent, if we can't get Bellamy I probably want him next. I kind of gave up and expected him to just got Everton, but if they're after Roberts now then I'm back interested again.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

Its funny how you think real football is like video game football!

Torres is a pacey striker who is also very good on the ball and can beat his man and get on he end of moves. Scores great goals. He would be ideal for Man Utd, not finished article by any means but he needs to move to develop.

Tevez isn't as good as Rooney, isn't as fast etc, wold strengthen our squad but doesn't really improve the weapons at our disposal which is what we're trying to achieve.

Essentialy we're trying to replace Saha with a similar player.

Still, that doesn't rule out the possibility of loaning Tevez as a back-up option and getting hold of a more traditional striker if the possibility arises - Saviola, Huntelaar, Torres, etc. do come to mind admittedly. However, I don't think that Tevez wouldn't improve the weapons at Man Utd's disposal by any stretch of the imagination, and to be frank I'm a bit confused in your remarks on that front... as well as the "video game football" one.

 

[BatiGOOOOOOL]

Why oh why are you people so keen on Man Utd. signing Torres? How often do you see him play? Or are you going on what a few persons might've said?

He's barely decent for a team like Atletico, he'd be eaten alive in the EPL.

 

[Falch]

Why oh why are you people so keen on Man Utd. signing Torres? How often do you see him play? Or are you going on what a few persons might've said?

He's barely decent for a team like Atletico, he'd be eaten alive in the EPL.

I agree with Bati here. I've seen Torres enough times to know that he's not what's made out to be in (English) media. I'd pick Saviola, Eto'o, Eduardo or Tevez over him any day of the week.

 

[Yazan]

Welcome back:

Next season is going to be great. All classic teams are back

 

[BatiGOOOOOOL]

I think he has mainly made a name for himself by owning Barca for many years. :lol Other than that he is simply average. It's just that the spanish media have badly wanted him to be Raul's successor and have shoved him down everyone's throat, but it just hasn't happened.

If Man Utd. needs a big, strong striker they should be definitely looking at Huntelaar or maybe Diego Milito.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Some Dutch fans tell me who to look out for in the U21 match. I don't think the lineups are available yet, but I assume the stars (whoever they are) will be playing.

Unfortunately the 4 main players I'd say to watch for England are all missing, but check our Huddlestone if you haven't seen him for Spurs, his passing ability is excellent.

 

[Yasser]

according to my friend "torres is one of those gay boys, like reyes, who wouldn't like it outside of spain". anyone have anything more concrete/official?

 

[Mama Smurf]

Babel is playing for Holland, though those Premiership rumours seem to have died away anyway. And Sahar is up front for Israel, the young Chelsea guy, made a few first team appearances.

 

[Shinobi]

Canada 1 - 2 Guadeloupe

This may be the funniest result Ive ever seen

And this after we upset the hosts Costa Rica 2-1. :lol That's the way it is with Canadian soccer though...one step forward, three steps back.

It's cheaper to watch Barcelona than Wigan. A JJB Stadium season ticket will cost £250 next season, the cheapest in the Premiership but a season ticket at the Nou Camp is just £110. (Sunday Mirror)

:lol :lol :lol What the shit...

Ive been saying that we need a target-man like huntelaar, but after thinking about it getting tevez would be a better option. I know rooney and tevez are similar, but rooney scored 23 goals last season whilst tevez scored quite a lot in his last few games of the season. Those two arent target men, but they can score and thats what you want from a striker. As long as they can get 20 goals a season then its fine. Rooney and tevez play a very similar role, but I still think that they can play together. Thhey can both dribble, they can shoot and and they can set each other up, so it should turn out to be a good combination. The only problem is that they'll occasionally play deep and copllect the ball from midfield, but tif they;re playing together then they'll be given instructions to stay up front and not come too deep.

Man U's style is kinda freewheeling anyhow...fast counterattack, open play. So I don't think they need a target guy as a main weapon. Maybe you can find one for the bench if you're down a goal late and need to thump it into the box, but for Man U's main style I don't think you'd need him (kinda like us really). So yeah, I think Tevez would fit in just fine with Man U...he and Rooney could take turns running the ball in from deep, conserving some energy.

Tevez isn't as good as Rooney, isn't as fast etc, wold strengthen our squad but doesn't really improve the weapons at our disposal which is what we're trying to achieve.

Tevez can actually score from free kicks, and does it at a better clip then anyone you've currently got on the roster. Meanwhile Rooney probably hasn't scored from a direct free kick since his Everton reserve days.

Why oh why are you people so keen on Man Utd. signing Torres? How often do you see him play? Or are you going on what a few persons might've said?

He's barely decent for a team like Atletico, he'd be eaten alive in the EPL.

Heh...as Yasser indicated I wonder if he's anything like Reyes, who was lights out for us till he got the shit kicked out of him at Old Trafford, subequently falling off the face of the earth.

 

[BatiGOOOOOOL]

And this after we upset the hosts Costa Rica 2-1. :lol That's the way it is with Canadian soccer though...one step forward, three steps back.

The hosts? The Gold Cup is being played in the US and this group specifically in Miami.

Plus, eventhough it's not an excuse for how poorly we did against Canada, we're missing like half a team to injuries right now.

Heh...as Yasser indicated I wonder if he's anything like Reyes, who was lights out for us till he got the shit kicked out of him at Old Trafford, subequently falling off the face of the earth.

I actually think Reyes is more talented than Torres, but I see your point. Even in Spain, Torres disappears most of the time. He doesn't have that striker killer instinct or the leadership skills to be a heavyweight on the pitch.

 

[Steroyd]

according to my friend "torres is one of those gay boys, like reyes, who wouldn't like it outside of spain". anyone have anything more concrete/official?

What about "other" strikers like Morientes, and Luque who haven't hacked it in the Premiership, and typically in Morientes' case where when he went back to Spain he's scoring left right and centre. :/

:lol :lol :lol What the shit...

Ain't it funny how we English pay double just to watch Heskey and erm... whoever else is in the Wigan team play and for half price you get to see Eto'o, Ronaldhino and Messi (well after yesturday less Messi) play on the same team it's crazy.

Yet to watch a team that plays similar to Barca you've got to pay around 10x as much.... wouldn't complain with the type of football Arsenal play mind you... but come on.

If Man Utd. needs a big, strong striker they should be definitely looking at Huntelaar or maybe Diego Milito.

OI!! Hands off our 8th on the list Striker. *shakes fist*

 

[Merovingian]

I've seen Torres play tons of times, he's really good.

And i think he would fit in sooo perfectly in Man Utd that it's sick. I think some of you are underrating him, he is fast, he has awesome technique on the ball, he's strong...

Sure i do think people overrate him overall, BUT he is great, and would be awesome to see him play at Man UTD.

 

[enishi]

Tevez can actually score from free kicks, and does it at a better clip then anyone you've currently got on the roster. Meanwhile Rooney probably hasn't scored from a direct free kick since his Everton reserve days.

Yes, he did for us. I just can't remember it was either his first goal or CL goal for United. But he scored fewer direct freekicks than Richardson. You know how bad that is :lol

 

[nitewulf]

so is henry staying at arsenal or what? arsenal without henry would...not be as exciting to watch.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

Good thing the Arsenal aren't a one man team then.henry was out for large chunks of last season,so we're getting used to playing without him.RVP was top scorer last season, and was also injured for long periods,so i expect even bigger things from him this season.

I will admit that it is very unsetteling, all the rumors surrounding Henry, Cesc and now Wenger...Dein's departure seems to have left a bad taste in their mouths.

Also, Wenger needs to get back from Holiday and start making some moves...sure we never know what he's doing, but at least rumors keep us entertained,and right now,no one is being linked to the Arsenal.

He'll probably just end up buying some unknown African for peanuts again.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

O and did anyone read about Adebayor saying "I'm not so shit in front of goal"?

Hilarious stuff.

 

[hadareud]

O and did anyone read about Adebayor saying "I'm not so shit in front of goal"?

Hilarious stuff.

one of the best lines I have ever read in an interview.

Next week should be better from a news perspective btw. I have a feeling we will see the Malouda deal announced and there will also be a little "shut up, you're not going anywhere unless we want you to" in direction of Henry

 

[velvet_nitemare]

one of the best lines I have ever read in an interview.

Next week should be better from a news perspective btw. I have a feeling we will see the Malouda deal announced and there will also be a little "shut up, you're not going anywhere unless we want you to" in direction of Henry

I'd take babel over Malouda personally,but that's just me. Happy Ribery went to Bayern also,since i feared we'd take him over Babel.

I do hope someone puts Henry in his place like Wenger did last season by dropping him. And no way next week can be this bad news-wise. Only Rumor was being linked to Quagirelli(SP?), who scored 2 cracking goals on his debut for Italy...probably headed for another Italian club tho.

This thread need more pimp Adebayor.

'Pimp' Adebayor In The Airport
My mate and I went to visit a friend in Tokyo for a couple of weeks in March. We had to be at Heathrow terminal 4 for about 7am to make the connecting flight to Paris, so I dutifully got there for 6:45 and awaited the inevitable tardy arrival of my companion. Stood near the entrance I could see everyone coming in and out, and after about five minutes of waiting I saw a lanky fellow in what could only otherwise be described as a fancy-dress 'pimp' costume, accompanied by two rather tasty birds.

As he got closer I realised it was Emmanuel Adebayor, probably making the most of the three-game ban he had just received for the handbags at the Carling Cup final. As an Arsenal fan I thought I had nothing really to lose, so I asked him for a photo, to which he obliged. He didn't look too happy, but then he probably would have rather had his teeth pulled than pose for photos after finding out he was going to miss the most important part of our season, so fair play to him. He had a wet handshake though.

 

[hadareud]

:lol

cool story, thanks. I have yet to meet any Arsenal players. The closest I came was passing Pires in the bus and Bergkamp driving past me when I went to Highbury once.

 

[velvet_nitemare]

:lol

cool story, thanks. I have yet to meet any Arsenal players. The closest I came was passing Pires in the bus and Bergkamp driving past me when I went to Highbury once.

I've never been to the UK much less Highbury...my greatest regret. I've been an Arsenal fan for 11 years.Starting from my native Nigeria to my current LA,CA days.

Hopefully i get catch a game at the Emirates soon.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I'm impressed by this Belgium U21 side, especially their attack. Well, not the finishing. Bears no resemblance to any Belgium side I've ever seen, they're outplaying Portugal.

 

[Falch]

I'm impressed by this Belgium U21 side, especially their attack. Well, not the finishing. Bears no resemblance to any Belgium side I've ever seen, they're outplaying Portugal.

Yeah, me too. I'm familiar with most of them (Vertonghen, Vermaelen = Ajax, De Roover = Sparta, Martens = AZ, and I know most of the other players too) but I hadn't expected them to play so well together. Fellaini is the best player on the pitch atm.

Although, to be honest, it's partly because of the poor play by Portugal. That Nani guy's been invisible.

 

[Shinobi]

:lol @ "Pimp Adebayor"

The hosts? The Gold Cup is being played in the US and this group specifically in Miami.

Anyone have a self-owned pic handy?

I can't believe I'm rooting for Real Madrid to win the title...such a thing would've been inconceivable just a year ago. And Barca not winning Liga would mean they'd go balls out to get Henry (or try to anyway). But it would awesome to see Beckham leave on such a high, after all the shit he took last year. I've even grown to like Ruud a little after some people dismissed him as being washed up. I mean he's still a gnat, but he's a gnat who can score goals in bunches.

Yes, he did for us. I just can't remember it was either his first goal or CL goal for United. But he scored fewer direct freekicks than Richardson. You know how bad that is :lol

:lol

 

[Mama Smurf]

I wouldn't say Nani's invisible, though that might be because I've been looking out for him, but he hasn't really done anything good yet.

Not that these tournaments are always the best indication of the future for a country anyway. I don't know about other countries, but England aren't going to send players from the senior squad to the U21 championships even if they're still the right age. Like Portugal have Nani, who's regularly called up to Portugal's main squad and has 8 caps already, that would never happen in England. Don't know if the Portugese way is normal, or the English way.

We could call up Rooney, Lennon and Richards...though it'd be weird and kind of pointless, they've already made it.

 

[Falch]

I wouldn't say Nani's invisible, though that might be because I've been looking out for him, but he hasn't really done anything good yet.

Not that these tournaments are always the best indication of the future for a country anyway. I don't know about other countries, but England aren't going to send players from the senior squad to the U21 championships even if they're still the right age. Like Portugal have Nani, who's regularly called up to Portugal's main squad and has 8 caps already, that would never happen in England. Don't know if the Portugese way is normal, or the English way.

We could call up Rooney, Lennon and Richards...though it'd be weird and kind of pointless, they've already made it.

I think most teams call up their strongest squad like Portugal does. I know Belgium and Holland do it to. Babel has 14 caps for Oranje already, but still plays for the U21 team. After all, it's still a nice price to win, it's not about whether a player has already 'made' it.

 

[Mama Smurf]

See I think that's the difference, we don't really see it as a prize to win. I mean, the players taking part will, but as a footballing nation we don't. It'll be nice to win, but it's just a place to get experience of international football until you make it to the top. Also to look at the players who haven't got a chance at senior level, and we kind of feel like a senior player would take one of those places away.

 

[Ghost]

I wouldn't say Nani's invisible, though that might be because I've been looking out for him, but he hasn't really done anything good yet.

Not that these tournaments are always the best indication of the future for a country anyway. I don't know about other countries, but England aren't going to send players from the senior squad to the U21 championships even if they're still the right age. Like Portugal have Nani, who's regularly called up to Portugal's main squad and has 8 caps already, that would never happen in England. Don't know if the Portugese way is normal, or the English way.

We could call up Rooney, Lennon and Richards...though it'd be weird and kind of pointless, they've already made it.

They should call them up because they need the tournament experience, but they'd all just do a Bentley and pull out for no good reason anyway.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I think Bentley has a good reason. He's been called up to the senior squad, you don't get called up to the U21s at the same time as that, in England at least. As he's part of the senior squad, he's got every right to think that he has a good chance of making the Euro 2008 squad, if we make it.

But if he's going to this tournament, he won't have a summer off. I mean, literally, his break would be 5 days between the end of one season and the start of the next. Players burn out after not having just one summer off, but if he goes to the U21 tournament and then Euro 2008, he'll be playing 3 season in a row with no break.

I really think it was a crappy thing for Pearce to do, calling him up after he'd been chosen for the senior squad. It's like the other senior players advised Bentley: if you go to the U21 tournament, you'll burn out and won't make the Euro 2008 squad against the fresher players. He basically had to choose between definitely playing an U21 tournament and keeping the possibility of making Euro 2008. I know what I'd choose.

 

[Ghost]

 

[Mama Smurf]

Oh it's alright for you! We can't all have no players in the England squad and all sell the guys going to this tournament.

 

[Blablurn]

I hate summers without any soccer tournament -.-

 

[Crys]

I wouldn't say Nani's invisible, though that might be because I've been looking out for him, but he hasn't really done anything good yet.

Not that these tournaments are always the best indication of the future for a country anyway. I don't know about other countries, but England aren't going to send players from the senior squad to the U21 championships even if they're still the right age. Like Portugal have Nani, who's regularly called up to Portugal's main squad and has 8 caps already, that would never happen in England. Don't know if the Portugese way is normal, or the English way.

We could call up Rooney, Lennon and Richards...though it'd be weird and kind of pointless, they've already made it.

Well to be fair they could be calling Ronaldo

I was impressed with Belgium especially in the first half they created some decent chances.
Expected more from Portugal with a midfield of Moutinho, Fernandes and Nani.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Isn't Ronaldo 22?

 

[Crys]

Isn't Ronaldo 22?

Don't know the exact rules but u can have 1 or 2 players under 23 in your team.
Hugo Almeida is 22 also I believe.

Most teams unlike England call players who do have caps but aren't first team players for the senior squad like Nani, Moutinho, Babel, Maduro, Vlaar, that long Belgian dude who scored last week against Portugal also played today.
They all have caps but aren't first choice.

 

[MrPing1000]

You know as good as Tevez is I'm not entirely sure if he's the sorta player we need.


Now if Yakubu wants out of Boro..... Snap him up. Sell Saha, Rossi n Smith do the dance for 3rd choice with Ole making the odd appearence up front and on the wing.

 

[Mama Smurf]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that rule. Is it something do with players who competed in the qualifying but were over 22 by the time the tournament came round can play?

I'm ok with it if it's that, otherwise they should just stick to the actual age limit.

Actually, why's it called U21s if it goes write the way through your 21st year? Shouldn't it be called U22s? I'll have to get on the phone to FIFA immediately, like I did when I saw players jumping into crowds and lifitng their shirts over their heads to celebrate.

EDIT:

Tevez did score 25 goals in 38 games for Corinthians, and once he fiiiiiiinally got used to the Premiership with West Ham he started showing that sort of goalscoring form again (didn't score for his first 23 games for West Ham, got 7 in the last 10). So if he could keep that up, he'd be perfect.

 

[jamesinclair]

Following up the funniest soccer result ever (Canada losing to a tiny non-fifa island) comes the saddest

Honduras 1 - 1 Mexico

WTF

I guess CONCACAF is more balanced than we thought :/

 

[Prince]

Isn't Ronaldo 22?

You're allowed to play with players that where 21 years old when the qualification started, that's why there are players that are 22 or even 23 years old.

btw it really depends on the player if he chooses to play for under 21, for the Netherlands for example Sneijder and N. de Jong could have played.