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Yeah lets keep selling key players and continue to develop youngsters....thats worked well.
2/17/2011
The team that beat Barcelona. If Theo goes thats 7 of the 11 gone...******g depressing.
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The Ultimate Soccer Thread 2012-2013 Vol. 3 Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga etc
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by the sauna,
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Yeah lets keep selling key players and continue to develop youngsters....thats worked well.
2/17/2011
The team that beat Barcelona. If Theo goes thats 7 of the 11 gone...******g depressing.
quik1987
Banned
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Man, MLS will somehow circumvent the rules to let LA get a 4th DP slotplus there's a decent chance Landon gets sold to Everton over the winter which would be great for all parties so that could free up space....I knew Drogba wouldn't last in China, all that money doesn't mean anything to him...the lifestyle change must've been way too much for him to handle
Did you even read?
He's moving because the club's shareholders said they can't afford to pay his wages anymore. Not because he doesn't want to play there anymore.
No I didn't read it, I've just heard he and anelka wanted to leave in the past...but I'm not surprised at all they can't afford his salary...that league is poor quality and paying ridiculous salaries without sound economic strategy behind it was bound to cause problems, see the nasl
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Yeah lets keep selling key players and continue to develop youngsters....thats worked well.
2/17/2011
The team that beat Barcelona. If Theo goes thats 7 of the 11 gone...******g depressing.
It is frustrating but it's important to realize Arsenal doesn't have unlimited money, they to turn profit and balance their books unlike some of the other large clubs
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Yeah lets keep selling key players and continue to develop youngsters....thats worked well.
2/17/2011
The team that beat Barcelona. If Theo goes thats 7 of the 11 gone...******g depressing.
That team finished 4th and went trophy less again. So what. Obviously those were good players but it is what it is. I have to trust Wenger. Theo is not a superstar. Im reading that he wants more money or that there is another issue. I don't really know what is going on but Theo Walcott is definitely replaceable. Many Arsenal fans are tired of inconsistent one trick pony act anyway. We were held over a barrel on RVP, Cesc, and Nasri but those guys didin't win anything anyway so let's have Wenger continue with his obvious new philosophy of buying players who aren't teenagers and see where that takes us.
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i was hoping to see Di Natale and Co. playing in the CL this season...
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YOOO if Dempsey doesn't get transferred soon im gonna be heated.
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we're the 10th most valuable sports franchise in the world, have a 60,000 seat stadium charging the most expensive tickets in England and although I dont want to go that route we're owned by 2 billionares one being the 28th richest man in the world. Thats not even the issue, a club who is serious about wining things would NOT let Cesc Febregas, Sami Nasri, Robin Van Persie, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Gael Clichy, all first team players, leave in one calendar year....again one calendar year we lost all that quality...its a joke really.
Yeah I know but after that game we just beat the best team in the world and were in the hunt for all four trophies. As always injuries killed us, Cesc and Theo vs Stoke (god I hate Stoke City) and RVP in the CL final. My gripe is that this team of players looked like they could do something its just needed better squad depth and in the space of the year its been completely taken apart and even helped strengthen teams we compete against.
And I agree Theo is replaceable, most players are, but with 3 days left in the window how easily is a player replaced for like or better quality? Either we pay over the odds as (which we dont do) or we'll promote from within.
Anyways dont mind me, I'm just frustrated...3 quality signings in, 3 top performers from the season before out....
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Yeah lets keep selling key players and continue to develop youngsters....thats worked well.
2/17/2011
The team that beat Barcelona. If Theo goes thats 7 of the 11 gone...******g depressing.
That team finished 4th and went trophy less again. So what. Obviously those were good players but it is what it is. I have to trust Wenger. Theo is not a superstar. Im reading that he wants more money or that there is another issue. I don't really know what is going on but Theo Walcott is definitely replaceable. Many Arsenal fans are tired of inconsistent one trick pony act anyway. We were held over a barrel on RVP, Cesc, and Nasri but those guys didin't win anything anyway so let's have Wenger continue with his obvious new philosophy of buying players who aren't teenagers and see where that takes us.
Maybe it's time to give him a chance in his preferred position
It is unfortunate that out top players want to leave in such short time. But at the end of the day, if they are so keen on leaving, sell them, replace them...and focus on the players we have on the current squad. Bringing the best out of them and getting them to commit. One too many times when the club seems to be moving forward and turns around and goes backwards. frustrating
Balotelli
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/4509201/Its-Super-Mario-3.html
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The whole self-financing...it's like a gift and a curse. But I also do forget that FFP is kicking in next season.
Who do think if worth promoting from within?
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Love that Arsenal beating Barcelona is their biggest accomplishment since 2005. 
Never thought that highly of Walcott but he was starting to put the pieces together. Not sure what his purpose would be at Man Ciy but with Aguero out for a month, I guess he'll have a role.
Far as Clint Dempsey goes, Liverpool seems like a realistic option even though they just got Sahin. Dempsey-Gerrard-Sahin as the starting midfield in the 4-3-3 would be a great look for them. I assume that would be the end of Charlie Adam at Mersyside (there's been rumors of him leaving anyway) so you'll still have Lucas, Henderson, Allen to rotate. Offense could be stronger. Rodgers said Downing might have to reinvent himself and become a LB to stick with the squad. Either way, Raheem Sterling looked pretty good against Man City on the weekend but still, I'm sure L'pool fans would want a quality, established winger.
Never thought that highly of Walcott but he was starting to put the pieces together. Not sure what his purpose would be at Man Ciy but with Aguero out for a month, I guess he'll have a role.
Far as Clint Dempsey goes, Liverpool seems like a realistic option even though they just got Sahin. Dempsey-Gerrard-Sahin as the starting midfield in the 4-3-3 would be a great look for them. I assume that would be the end of Charlie Adam at Mersyside (there's been rumors of him leaving anyway) so you'll still have Lucas, Henderson, Allen to rotate. Offense could be stronger. Rodgers said Downing might have to reinvent himself and become a LB to stick with the squad. Either way, Raheem Sterling looked pretty good against Man City on the weekend but still, I'm sure L'pool fans would want a quality, established winger.
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Sorry for the double post but I want to address something Arsenal related. What's the general consensus with the Gooners regarding Arsene Wenger? Do you want him gone, do you still like him? Approaching 8 years since your last meaningful trophy, consistently selling your top players instead of spending to improve the squad. I realize they did that last year with the Arteta, Mertesacker, etc signings but I'm talking about a world class player (Podolski and Giroud? Enhh). When do you say enough is enough? I'm not entirely sure of the owner situation at Arsenal but I do remember them giving Arsene quite a bit of money to work with in their transfer budget. I just want to know what Arsenal fans are thinking here.
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Arsene Wenger doesn't have really anything to do with what you are saying. It has to do with the board and players wanting to go to better teams and make more money than they could at Arsenal. Arsenal's model hasn't changed much and Wenger somehow has been able to keep us in the CL every year even with the Chelsea and City mega clubs coming out. So yeah basically most of what you are saying is looking from afar and not knowing what is really going on with the club. We just got Santi Cazorla. He may not be world class but he is probably one of the most accomplished players Arsenal has bought under Arsene Wenger (Bergkamp was not purchased by Wenger). Honestly I think Theo will stay and hopefully sign a new contract. Unless we start spending more recklessly then I don't think we can do any better than Wenger.
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Theo Walcott is a good footballer that relies tremendously on his pace. Nothing more, nothing less. He won't bring any major club to the next level.
AVB has no excuses with the "war chest" Levy has provided. Dembele is a huge signing and everyone on here knows I love the Belgian kid. World-class potential and a chance at CL football next season. Villas-Boas, please utilize Dembele correctly at the right position. Lloris and Willian (or Leandro) likely next.
"Super" Mario has been on a tear since splitting with Raffaella Fico. She claims to be pregnant with his child. Can't help but believe the news is somewhat affecting Mario's football, post-Euro tournament. Have a feeling the couple will reunite once the baby is born. We'll see.
AVB has no excuses with the "war chest" Levy has provided. Dembele is a huge signing and everyone on here knows I love the Belgian kid. World-class potential and a chance at CL football next season. Villas-Boas, please utilize Dembele correctly at the right position. Lloris and Willian (or Leandro) likely next.
"Super" Mario has been on a tear since splitting with Raffaella Fico. She claims to be pregnant with his child. Can't help but believe the news is somewhat affecting Mario's football, post-Euro tournament. Have a feeling the couple will reunite once the baby is born. We'll see.
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Thats not even the issue, a club who is serious about wining things would NOT let Cesc Febregas, Sami Nasri, Robin Van Persie, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Gael Clichy, all first team players, leave in one calendar year....again one calendar year we lost all that quality...its a joke really.
Kroenke might be one of the richest men in the world, but look at all of his teams he is the primary owner of: Avalanche, Broncos, Rapids, Nuggets, and St. Louis Rams....what do they have in common? Now some are in sports with salary caps so there are limits, but the Rams and Broncos don't operate on a salary cap and even still don't spend the most or near the most in the NFL....now Ursmanov (the Russian you're talking about) seems to be all about being ambitious and wants the board to stop selling off top talent. On the flipside though spending something like 40mill and flipping it to 200+ mill in transfers is GREAT business, now that doesn't always equate to results on the field which is frustrating for us fans.
But neither of these people have the money of Man City's owners...which straight up manipulate the current system. Plus having money doesn't guarantee your owner will build a winner, you have to have a strategy. When FFP comes in, people won't be knocking Arsenal for this, as every player has a price. Even Messi or C Ronaldo, getting 20+mill for an injury prone 29yr old one his final yr who refuses to resign, and who had a career year he'll never duplicate again is smart....if anyone wouldn't do that deal they're banking on diminishing assets and losing out on cashing in on his prime value (it just sucks he went to ManU but they were the only ones who met the asking price).
Now that being said, Arsenal are a big club and should have won SOMETHING in the last 7 years, and I don't always agree with Arsene's philosophy of usually only buying pre pubescent teens
but it has paid tremendous dividends in the business sense. Just because you're a big club doesn't give you any entitlement to win a trophy, but they need to reinvest the money in intelligent buys and good players, regardless of nationality bias. Santi is a good example of that, and if I'm a big club in good financial status I'd be raiding Spain of a lot of its young talent b/c half those teams are underwater, even the CL clubs aside from Real and Barca (who are not even in a good financial state tbh). Sports is a business, and honestly a lot of the owners aren't in it to win as cynical as that is...I hope Ursmanov gets more say and gets the board to spend more b/c they can afford to...Cesc wanted to go back to Barca (he was great for us but eventually it was gonna happen, City offered Clichy money they simply weren't willing to match, Nasri as well, and Song is going to be a benchwarmer (that kind of tells you where his head is, although he';; get trophies since he's a part of the team there), and honestly Walcott is a good player but he's not the second coming, he's extremely one dimensional and can be taken out of games completely....and that money has been used to acquire new talent (which we can debate whether or not it'll work out as I'm realllly skeptical of Giroud and Podolski to a degree). They're probably not going to compete for a titile this yr either if we're being real, but that's just where we are at the moment.
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ham city
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I saw him a few times with Cal Odyssey and paired with what I've seen of him via stream since he left for Europe I'll second the above.
He's technically gifted for sure but I remember his instincts and understanding of the game were something we're just not used to seeing in U.S. youth soccer. Just seemed like a very intelligent player at a young age.
Keep an eye out for more Odyssey kids leaving for Europe, that club is the lone good thing about central California.
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Now that being said, Arsenal are a big club and should have won SOMETHING in the last 7 years, and I don't always agree with Arsene's philosophy of usually only buying pre pubescent teens
Appreciate the replies, fellas. I admit I don't follow the ins and outs of Arsenal's front office so I just wanted to see what the opinion from the regular Gooner was. Rarely do find a squad in a top market fail to keep their star players happy. On the business end, Wenger really has done a solid job of reselling his talent. He bought Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie, Kolo Toure, Henry, Overmars, Petit, Vieira, Song, and Anelka for £32.8m and sold them for £162.3m. Very impressive.
But as I mentioned earlier, Wenger's been with Arsenal for what, 16 or 17 years now? The second half of his tenure has been disappointing. Arsenal hasn't finished top 2 in the tables since 04-05, no trophies since 05 and CL appearances is all you have to show for in the last 7-8 years?
****, at least you're in better hands than Liverpool.
quik1987
Banned
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I'll wait until the end of the transfer window before I have a say on Arsene Wenger, I think he has more moves up his sleeve. (hopefully)
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Bojan 
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Bojan
Yeah sounds like he's headed to Milan on loan....he'll probably end up back at Barca next yr too since he has that weird transfer agreement set up with them and Roma, they have to pay like double to keep him or something
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Portland Timbers to name Caleb Porter, 37, University of Akron, new head coach tomorrow @ 10:45am
ham city
Banned
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^Kinda of surprising given Akron was due to give him a cool 4 million over the next decade.
PTFC must have came through with money bags. Regardless it's a great move for the Timbers and the league.
PTFC must have came through with money bags. Regardless it's a great move for the Timbers and the league.
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In other MLS news, Philly cut Jorge Perlaza. What a terrible situation for those fans
Sucks to lose your #1 pick from 2 years ago for a guy who you cut a couple months and 1 start later.
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Dembele to Spuds is a good deal for them...especially at 15 mill quid.
Not sure on the Dempsey to Sunderland move...seeing how Fulham are just as good as side as Sunderland and he STILL won't get UCL footie.
Not sure on the Dempsey to Sunderland move...seeing how Fulham are just as good as side as Sunderland and he STILL won't get UCL footie.
