The Ultimate Football Thread 2013-2014 Vol. 4 EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A etc

TomDiginson said:
Liverpool with a very disappointing performance today. :smh:
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The problem with Liverpool is their formation.

3-5-2 is ALWAYS risky. But it makes for good attacking football. But Liverpool aren't like BVB, Barca filled with attacking players who can score. If the SAS go on hiatus, they look very ordinary as we saw yesterday. It's not like they can rely on someone like Henderson. I think Moses will come to the party soon though.

I always knew Arsenal was going to penetrate Liverpool's backline. What I didn't expect was for The SAS to sit there and do nothing about it.

SPeaking of SAS...

 
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A few inches either way and Lloris might be dead right now. Can't imagine having Lukaku coming at you like that.

Here's Old Man Friedel...
Er...nevermind. Lloris is staying on. Can't believe that. He looked lost just a second ago.
 
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ChampCruThik said:
Jordan Henderson is a bust any way you look at it. Daglish is still ruing the fee he approved.
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eiddyfouw said:
Absolutely incredible that someone actually paid for him.

If he was a FREE I'd maybe cut him some slack :smh:
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eiddyfouw said:
The problem with Liverpool is their formation.

3-5-2 is ALWAYS risky. But it makes for good attacking football. But Liverpool aren't like BVB, Barca filled with attacking players who can score. If the SAS go on hiatus, they look very ordinary as we saw yesterday. It's not like they can rely on someone like Henderson. I think Moses will come to the party soon though.

I always knew Arsenal was going to penetrate Liverpool's backline. What I didn't expect was for The SAS to sit there and do nothing about it.

SPeaking of SAS...
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I agree with everything said except about Henderson. I think he is a solid all around player. Was he worth his transfer fee ? No. In regard to yesterdays match, he pulled a few dear in headlight moves. Like earlier in the game Henderson broke free and instead of pushing forward and taking the shot, he slows down searching for Suarez and Sturridge who had defense on them. Then he takes the shot once the defense got to him. We have the attacking talent imo, but Rodgers is not willing to take the risk to put them all on the pitch all at once because many of them are still young. Victor Moses should have been in the starting line up imo. Lucas should have been on the bench. Kolo Toure and those silly mistakes for such an experienced player was also frustrating to watch.
 
Mastamind89 said:
CoupeIt88 said:
I just started watching thus game and I see 9 extra mins lol

What happened?
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Got hit by a tank aka Lukaku. His knee caught his head. I'm surprised Lloris stayed on
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cropped_knee.gif


Wouldn't be surprised if he started wearing headgear like Cech.
 
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@mattspiro Wenger says he was close to getting Ozil before he joined R Madrid. Ozil impressed Wenger by phoning him to explain choice. Wenger: 'PSG wanted Ozil but I had an advantage because I'd already had that contact (3 yrs earlier). He came to my house, decided quickly'. Wenger on Ozil: ‘He’s more of a dribbler than Zidane. But they have similar technical ease of expression & same natural humility’ (Telefoot)

Kagawa seeks United exit
Posted by ESPN staff
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Shinji Kagawa Manchester United tracksuit
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Shinji Kagawa: Determined to be given more game time.
A frustrated Shinji Kagawa has told Manchester United team-mates that he wants to leave Old Trafford in January, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

The Japan international has struggled for game time under new manager David Moyes and is becoming increasingly disillusioned as his talents go to waste. Kagawa joined United from Borussia Dortmund in a 17 million pound move in June 2012. The emergence of Adnan Januzaj has not helped the 24-year-old's cause, but he is determined to show his worth heading into the 2014 World Cup. Thus far, Dortmund and Wolfsburg have enquired about signing Kagawa.

The Sun, meanwhile, reports United are set to offer Wilfried Zaha and 7 million pounds for Everton left-back Leighton Baines. Moyes missed out on signing the England international during the summer, and is desperate to bolster his squad in the second half of the season. Zaha -- signed from Crystal Palace -- has made just two competitive appearances for the Red Devils.

Manchester City are looking to strengthen their midfield, with efforts to snare Real Madrid's Sami Khedira being stepped up. The Daily Mirror states a 30 million deal is in the offing next summer, as his contract has only 20 months remaining. Carlo Ancelotti is said to be reluctant when it comes to parting with the German, but such is City's financial clout, a deal too good to refuse may be tabled.

Ghana and Marseille striker Andre Ayew is reached the top of Liverpool and Newcastle's wish-lists. With 18 months left on his current deal, Ayew's Ligue 1 employers are prepared to listen to offers, and the two Premier League clubs currently lead the race for his signature.
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Still Moyes has no clue.

he's so obsessed with Baines, hoping that those FK's and pens will win him a trophy.

Baines is 29 years old in December 2013!

So determined to get Baines he's going to let go of ANOTHER decent midfielder (like we have those in abundance :smh: ). I would understand selling Willy Z if he was bringing in another top class midfielder. But for a 29 year old defender?!?!?!

This guy is frustrating.
 
Gex The Damaja said:
^ Wow, Zaha must have really had his way with Moyes daughter. Don't understand that one at all.
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Moyes came out and said a while ago that he didn't think Willy Z had what it took to be at United (rich coming from him :lol:)

Said Zaha needed to understand more of what United is about, and needed to train harder.

To me, what Zaha looks like is a rough diamond. He's got pace, skill, creativity and can score goals but needs grooming to stop overplaying the simple ball sometimes. In a way, he's like Welbeck a few years ago, I think it's worth giving him a go for a bit (I mean you're fielding Young, Cleverley, Anderson etc might as well) and see if he can be moulded into something special. He may end up like Welbeck not fulfilling his potential, but he just might fulfil his potential and more. Not every player is going to come ready made to your club like Ozil to Arsenal. Even the greatest players need to be groomed (see article on Rene grooming Ronaldo). Moyes saying he's not good enough, and not grooming Willy is basically Moyes running away from a challenge and hoping he can buy a Gotze, Reus, Ozil, Suarez and let their individual brilliance win him a trophy.
 
Roberto Martínez is transforming Everton
Everton are reaping the rewards of Roberto Martínez's man-management skills and Spanish football philosophy
Roberto Martínez has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure at Everton
In control: Roberto Martínez has enjoyed a strong start to his tenure at Everton Photo: AFP/Getty Images
By Henry Winter10:30PM GMT 02 Nov 2013 Comments3 Comments
When Roberto Martínez glances across at the Tottenham Hotspur dugout at Goodison Park on Sunday, the Everton manager will doubtless be relieved to see Jermain Defoe sitting there and not starting.
It was Defoe who orchestrated one of Martínez’s most painful moments as a manager, scoring five second-half goals in the 9-1 thumping of Wigan Athletic on Nov 22, 2009. One Spurs fan contacted 606 afterwards, lamenting that “we should have scored more”.
Typically dignified, Martínez congratulated Spurs afterwards, before admitting the result and performance were “unacceptable”. He promised to work hard on the training ground, organising the team better, particularly the defence. Six intense days of drilling later they faced eighth-placed Sunderland, who had Darren Bent flying and had just defeated Arsenal. Wigan won. They responded to Martínez’s words and tactics.
Now 40, the Spaniard is tougher than his public image. The perception of Martínez is of a nice man, a smiling, helpful figure in front of the cameras. He is undoubtedly a favourite of the media’s, partly because of his honesty and his eloquence (although without the big bang of headline material). He also flatters his inquisitors, occasionally slipping in a conspiratorial “as you know” into replies. He can end debates about ill-luck or superstition in football with a laughing "I was born on Friday the 13th" (in 1973).
There is a cunning streak to this charming man. He is ambitious. He can deal with setbacks. The graph of Martínez’s managerial career shows a steady rise since 2007, making his name at Swansea City, enhancing it at Wigan and now embarking on his biggest challenge, building on David Moyes’ legacy at Everton.
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Any assessment of Martínez’s promising start at Goodison needs prefacing with the reminder that he has inherited a sound defence, so often the Achilles' heel of past Martínez teams. His Wigan side conceded 79 goals in that Premier League season of the Spurs thrashing, ending with a 42 goal difference. Wigan shipped 73 goals in being relegated last May.
Martínez seems focused far more on the creative, than the preventive. So being able to start such a usually reliable defence of Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Leighton Baines in front of Tim Howard. There have been blips, and Manchester City exposed some frailties last month. It is an ageing backline and there is also the enduring fear of Baines following Moyes to Manchester United next year.
As well as a good young left back for the future, Martínez needs to augment elsewhere, probably a centre half to understudy Distin, a dynamic central midfielder, a winger and another forward, depending on Nikica Jelavic’s future. The issue, as ever with Everton, will be the scale of investment. How much will Martínez be allowed of the Marouane Fellaini money?
In Martínez, and this will be a concern for those fans who have campaigned against the lack of investment in the squad, Everton do not have a manager who pushes the board constantly for cash. He likes balancing the books, perhaps because of the memory of Motherwell’s administrators making him redundant in 2002, and delighting while at Wigan that some of the profit from selling Charles N’Zogbia in 2011 would be funnelled into plans for the training ground. At Everton, Finch Farm is excellent. The club’s major issue is the stadium.
His voyage from Springfield Park to Goodison has been a journey of self-development, learning all the while, ever since sitting in a bus filled with beer as a Wigan player in 1995 on an away trip to Runcorn. It was a slight culture shock but he survived and prospered, drawing on his inner strength. Martínez was a technical player, slightly ill-suited to the rigours of the lower leagues of the English professional game and during eight games in Scotland, but his passing principles remained strong, even when the tackles came flying in.
Martínez guided Wigan to the FA Cup last May, playing some attractive football against Manchester City, but he is no overnight sensation. By the time he joined Everton, Martínez had overseen 301 games. His man-management is one of his many strengths, seen and heard with his constant praise of players and his subtle rebuilding of Callum McManaman’s confidence after the controversy of the Wigan youngster’s ugly challenge on Newcastle United’s Massadio Haïdara.
Martínez’s motivational and coaching skills develops players. James McCarthy and Victor Moses improved under Martínez. N’Zogbia had two of the best seasons of his inconsistent career working for Martínez. Last week, Everton’s manager was quick to defend Gareth Barry publicly against Mark Lawrenson’s criticism.
He gives youth a chance, immediately showing faith in Ross Barkley, who has responded impressively. Few use the loan system as well as Martínez; Tom Cleverley grew as a player on loan at Wigan. Sir Alex Ferguson knew Cleverley would progress under Martínez. Barry, borrowed from City, has been reinvigorated by Martínez.
José Mourinho is well aware that Romelu Lukaku will return to Chelsea next year an even more polished predatory threat. Lukaku gives an insight into the qualities of the manager he calls “Mr Martínez”. After he was telephoned by the Everton manager, the Belgian rang his compatriots, Kevin Mirallas and Fellaini, to find out more about life under the Spaniard at Goodison. Fellaini played four times for Martínez before moving to Manchester United. Both spoke positively.
Lukaku has now scored five times in six appearances under Martínez. "My experience of him has been very good," said the striker. "I’m, like, a football freak. But he’s one as well. Every time when I notice something in a game I’ve seen at the weekend, so has he. Like when we were playing against Aston Villa I told him at one point I watched Roberto Soldado heading the ball (against Villa the previous week).
"The cameras gave a view from up in the stands and you could see how much space there was. I said: ‘Did you notice?’ He said: ‘Yes, and you have to play like this and like that’. It’s good working with someone like that, someone who has the same drive and ambition to go forward. We have a great squad, a great team and a great manager."
A student of the game, “Mr Martínez” understands that players are not robots but flesh and blood. “I deal with human beings Monday to Friday and I deal with footballers on Saturday,” Martínez once told me during a long conversation about his approach to management.
“They might have a problem with the missus, with the kids. I have to look after the human being so they are as good as they can be on Saturday. On match-day, you can’t be such a nice person because they will take the Mickey out of you. I lose my temper quite easily if people drop their standards.”
Players love being coached by Martínez because he makes training interesting, he makes them more accomplished professionals and because, in the words of Lukaku, “Roberto Martínez is playing the Spanish style of football.” His teams are invariably good to watch. The essence of Martínez’s coaching is giving players the platform and belief to win "one v ones" while also being aware of what is best in that situation for the team, basically encouraging self-expression within a framework. A lot of his sessions have "one v one" as their starting point.
All the time, Martínez talks to the players about decision-making, about when to commit to the attack or when to wait for numbers. He advises his defenders on the correct body shape, keeping low and balanced, when an attacker runs at them. From Swansea and Wigan and now Everton, players listen to and learn from their Spanish tutor.
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I don't watch footy a often as a lot of the posters here do, but why does Anderson get so much hate?

He's not starter material for united, and he's fat :lol: but whenever I watch them play and they bring him on to possess the ball and hold the lead, he plays that role pretty well.
 
nYcHipHopHippo said:
I don't watch footy a often as a lot of the posters here do, but why does Anderson get so much hate?

He's not starter material for united, and he's fat :lol: but whenever I watch them play and they bring him on to possess the ball and hold the lead, he plays that role pretty well.
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Watch ONE 45m half of Anderson. Just one, you will understand immediately.

He's useless.
 
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