Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
I think it's clear Spector's problems were his injuries. He was steadily increasing his appearances for West Ham up until that time. He showed Saturday night that talent-wise he's head and shoulders above Hejduk and Wynne. And since this is all prep for the WC, Bradley just has to bite the bullet and plug him in every game to give him experience linking up with Dempsey.LHUCKS said:
El Floppo
Footballguy
Totally agree... at least until Cherudulo comes back.Still stuck with who starts at left back... Bornstein or Pearce I guess- bleh- no consistency from either of them, but both have shown some upside.
And I figured there'd be a bunch of you disagreeing with some of the results I'm forecasting... or something. Any thoughts?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Like I said, I'm not sure Mexico gets all those points at home considering the way they're playing. I can definitely see them in 4th place at the end of the Hex.
I think the Us still has a pretty damn good shot at placing top 3. Mexico would have to step up big time and get great results, and Honduras would also have to play lights out. Costa is in the best shape, but that can easily change in the next set of qualifiers. Thankfully CONCACAF isn't that big and that they are overly represented at the WC (IMO). If it were top 2 plus a 3rd gets a play-in, that would be tough to get through unscathed.
I think the Us still has a pretty damn good shot at placing top 3. Mexico would have to step up big time and get great results, and Honduras would also have to play lights out. Costa is in the best shape, but that can easily change in the next set of qualifiers. Thankfully CONCACAF isn't that big and that they are overly represented at the WC (IMO). If it were top 2 plus a 3rd gets a play-in, that would be tough to get through unscathed.
El Floppo
Footballguy
FWIW- Mexico lost 3 tough away games. I thought they were the better team against El Salvador and for a lot of the game agsint Honduras and most definitely did not have the calls going their way in either game. Keep in mind, they beat Costa Rica somewhat easily at home, and looked good doing it (that was the game that was supposed to save Sven).
eagles2007
Footballguy
anyone know if the upcoming confederation cup is televised in the US?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
The US hasn't looked all that good, but at least they're getting wins. The same can't be said about el tri.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I don't think he gets in much for Derby either.
eagles2007
Footballguy
TYVM. Looks like I will watch 1 game a day live and one when I get home from work.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Don't think he's been with Derby for a while. Last I heard, playing at Arhuis? in Denmark? Getting the start lately, IIRC from the game commentary on Saturday.Pretty sure he was battling injury too for a while. Or maybe just teh suck.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Probably. I've been drinking....I lost track of him when Derby got relegated, basically.
Bonzai
Footballguy
What about Mastroeni at left back?
andy_b
Footballguy
His mobility was never great when he was young. I don't think he would be up to the task today of getting forward and back. DMB has a hard time with it and he is light years more mobile than Pablo is.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
Also seeing Villa being linked to RM... that will be quite a lineup (of course, we've said that before).
Damn! I was really hoping QPR could snap him up.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
I heard Ipswich offered 400 million pounds...
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Los galacticos are back. The fact that they think that any player is worth near 70 million euros for a transfer fee shows that they just don't get how to run a succesful club. Speaking of poorly run clubs, what the hell is Milan doing? They sign Beckham yet lose Gourcuff and Kaka due to financial constraints. it looks like Pato may be on the move soon as well. I don't really think Ronaldinho and Beckham are in the stage of their careers where they can carry a team.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Check out the Bavarian Soccer Club, interesting stuff.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I would agree with the whippersnapper here, if Real Madrid and AC Milan weren't inarguably two of the all-time most successful football clubs in the history of the world - almost certainly both top 5 on anyone's list.
Kendall
I heart waffles
Some how it worked for Madrid from 2000-2006. I think they'll turn out alright.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Sure Barça and Arsenal provide a much more palatable way of running a club, but it has yet to be seen if "Galacticos Dos" will be a failure. It may well be an abject failure (and I would root heartily for that), but let's not consign them to the back of the pack just yet.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Well, it certainly worked well for half of those years. Figo and Zidane were succesful buys, but Ronaldo, Beckham and Owen yielded them very little success which leads one to question if the galactico period was really worth it. Additionally, it is the defense that requires work in Madrid not the attack. When teams are racking up goals agaisnt the world's best keeper maybe your targets shouldn't just be attacking mids and strikers.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Certainly they have historic success, but that doesn't have much bearing on their short term prospects if, like Milan, they are selling their best talent and spending the last couple of transfer windows to buy players well past their prime.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Certainly, developing players is a better way of building a team then buying players once they've peaked. The biggest concern about what RM is doing from their perspective(besides not addressing the defense) is the fact that they have a lot of talent in their squad already that they aren't going to be able to sell for what they are worth. You have to wonder if the club really has the capital to go after more players who's transfer fees alone will be over 30 million euros in this economy. I doubt the city of Madrid will find a way to help them finance another galactico period.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I have no actual knowledge of the finances, but my assumption has always been that the galacticos paid for themselves many times over. They may have been a failure to an extent in terms of the titles they delivered, but I think they paid off financially.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Of course, selling the training grounds for half a billion euros to Madrid while getting them leased back to you bascially free had something to do with that.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I think Cletius was referring to the increase in shirt sales and advertising revenue, rather than Ciudad Real Madrid being sold to la Comunidad.
Kendall
I heart waffles
That is what I thought he was getting at. Players like Kaka and C. Ronaldo sell A LOT of jerseys.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Right, my point was that that allowed them to proceed in the early galactico area with the large transfer fees. RM has to take on a decent amount of debt for this splurge I am hearing and is a bit risky. We are seeing now how large clubs get themselves into financial trouble.Additionally, a lot of the gains they made in revenue was related to Beckham's marketability worldwide. Kaka or even C. Ronaldo is just not capable of repeating that off the pitch success for Real that Beckham did.An ancilliary point is that in the last nine years it is become a lot easier to procure knock-off shirts. Not that I have any figures on to what type of impact that would even have.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
I recall the Galacticos doing an Asian tour - it was like the Beatles had re-united and were the opening act for Jesus on his welcome back tour. Michael Owen was probably a failure all around, but I'd think Beckham and Ronaldo paid for themselves in marketing value easily.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Given the nature of la Liga talk today, I am curious if you (Z machine) see Forlan and/or el Kun leaving this summer?
Of all the names being mentioned for Barcelona to buy up top(Ibra, Benzema, Ribery, el Kun), Villa is my favorite so far and I think he is the best fit style wise. Speaking of Valencia, I expect Silva to land in Madrid while part of me thinks that if we are going to buy a Valencia player, Mata would be a great option. Uneasy about buying RM youth products though.
Evidently Toni is a name being talked about too. Wouldn't like that one bit.
Of all the names being mentioned for Barcelona to buy up top(Ibra, Benzema, Ribery, el Kun), Villa is my favorite so far and I think he is the best fit style wise. Speaking of Valencia, I expect Silva to land in Madrid while part of me thinks that if we are going to buy a Valencia player, Mata would be a great option. Uneasy about buying RM youth products though.
Evidently Toni is a name being talked about too. Wouldn't like that one bit.
Last edited by a moderator:
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I head rumors of Pep going after Luca Toni. I kind of want that to happen just so that he ruins the good mojo at Barça.
It's quite possible that el Kun or Forlán go some place else this offseason. I would say however, that both of them are pretty happy playing for Atlético and are proud of what the achieved this year. I really don't see el Kun going to another Spanish team. No one but Barça and Real have the capital, and I don't think he'd go to Real ever. Barça would be a tough sell due to the rivalry w/ Messi. I don't think there's a good sporting rivalry there, and I think that Agüero has a chip on his shoulder about it.
Forlán is a different story, and I could see Atlético cashing in on his Pichichi and Golden Boot titles. He's in his prime, he's worht more now than when they got him 2 years ago. He's been somewhat nomadic over his career, and I think that he might think he still has something left to prove. He could end up at Barça for all I know. He wouldn't see the field nearly as much as he did with Atlético though.
Personally, I'd be more inclined to get a blockbuster deal for el Kun than for Forlán. It would make me really sad if either one of them goes though. if it meant bolstering the defense somehow, then I would be more swayed. Getting the CL money for next year was critical to the continued success of the club IMO.
Also, it looks like Atlético is close to signing Asenjo as Leo Franco's replacement. I like Ansejo, so this would be a nice addition to the team. I could see him at Vincente Calderón for a while.
It's quite possible that el Kun or Forlán go some place else this offseason. I would say however, that both of them are pretty happy playing for Atlético and are proud of what the achieved this year. I really don't see el Kun going to another Spanish team. No one but Barça and Real have the capital, and I don't think he'd go to Real ever. Barça would be a tough sell due to the rivalry w/ Messi. I don't think there's a good sporting rivalry there, and I think that Agüero has a chip on his shoulder about it.
Forlán is a different story, and I could see Atlético cashing in on his Pichichi and Golden Boot titles. He's in his prime, he's worht more now than when they got him 2 years ago. He's been somewhat nomadic over his career, and I think that he might think he still has something left to prove. He could end up at Barça for all I know. He wouldn't see the field nearly as much as he did with Atlético though.
Personally, I'd be more inclined to get a blockbuster deal for el Kun than for Forlán. It would make me really sad if either one of them goes though. if it meant bolstering the defense somehow, then I would be more swayed. Getting the CL money for next year was critical to the continued success of the club IMO.
Also, it looks like Atlético is close to signing Asenjo as Leo Franco's replacement. I like Ansejo, so this would be a nice addition to the team. I could see him at Vincente Calderón for a while.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Not a big Toni fan, and I'm not sure how he would fit in at Barca....
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I have read quotes from Aguero talking about how he hopes Messi can bring him to Barca so I am not sure that there is much of a rivalry there. From the FCB perspective, I think he would fit in well and probably take a lot of time away from Henry which would free Henry to replace Eto'o in the center during the African Cup. However, I am not sure that we want to add more to our merry band of players under 5'9''(Messi, Alves, Iniesta, Xavi, Bojan, and Pedro), particularly in the attack.I think that they are unlikely to lose el Kun this transfer period. He didn't seem to finish strongly this season which will prevent many of the English clubs for offering something extravagant. Certainly he won't join Real.
Forlan is difficult to place but I think that you guys cash in on him. While there is going to be plenty of chance for appearances with Barcelona, I think Forlan would struggle being part of a rotation. He was certainly on fire this year, and I think that will bring some pretty nice offers for him. Hopefully you can hold on to him, Atletico shouldn't be selling in the position their in.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Maybe Pep thinks we need to draw more PKs and miss some empty nets to build character. I actually like the idea of getting a striker on the downside of his career cheaply to work into the rotation as opposed to paying Real money for any various big name transfer. Just, don't let it be Toni.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
Nike is writing us a 40 million euro check for this year, we will trade you it for Franck. If Pep wants Franck, he'll take him. Ribery, Eto'o and Messi on the attack? Awesome.I think Bayern is making some decent signings, a shame that you ran off Lucas though. Losing Ze is going to be rough, one of my favorite players.
Last edited by a moderator:
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Well if he's willing to take a backseat to the other stars, sure. But I don't think he views himself as being on the downturn of his career like we might. He's certainly a more than adequate backup, but I'm not sure if that's what he's looking for....but it's what Barca would be looking for. To be honest, I could see him coming in, getting relief/cup/marginal regular season appearances, and then get sold/transferred next summer.If he were to come in and be a superstar and boost his stock against great Spanish competition (not knocking Bayern of course, but this is Barcelona...), it'll be a huge boost come the 2010 cup...but I don't see that happening.
Desert_Power
Footballguy
I highly doubt Eto'o leaves, so this would be his role presumably. Barca is going to be playing a lot of matches and be without Eto'o for at least a month, so we need some firepower up there.
Maybe I am wrong, but it shouldn't be Toni. Their are few players whose play I dislike more than Toni's. Pep played with him so I would guess he sees something that us Americans on the internet don't. Still, his style just wouldn't work well with Barcelona IMO.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Well, I'm a big fan of the Azzurri, so I won't say I hate him, but he plays a very unattractive type of football, and IMO, he isn't a world class talent. He just isn't. He's a good player, strong, pretty good in the air for sure. But there are a handful of select strikers in the world that could come into Barcelona and crack the starting lineup consistently/make a huge impact.....and Toni just isn't one of them. I wish he was...I wish he would move to Barca, score 25 goals, and lead Italy to another title in 2010, but he's not that kind of player.And like I said, I think that might be how he views himself. There's nothing wrong with being optimistic and trying to challenge yourself against players like Eto'o, Messi, etc. on a daily basis. But I don't think it will end like he thinks it will end. He's still a good player, he could star for many European teams....but Barcelona is on a different level. I actually would be disappointed if this did happen, because it could impact his skill/fitness with an eye towards the cup next year.
I'm with you....I don't think it's a good move for him. A good move for Barca? Possibly, depends on the price. If they can get him cheap, he's still a competent striker who would be great off the bench, IMO. You know better than I do when it comes to Barcelona though :(
The Z Machine
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
wow.
re: Toni's game- 4 years ago, the guy was a monster and had this guy actually enjoying watching Italy play as the went through qualifying for Germany. Now- guh. What's the deal- is he selectively trimming that stache?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I wish I was enough of a baller to rock a 'stache like that.
BTW, Toni was a monster and still can be, but his antics and crying are really bad. I'd take RVN over him if that's the role I'm trying to fill. RVN has a much better attitude.
But that 'stache man... it's sweet. My gf would probably not kiss me though.
BTW, Toni was a monster and still can be, but his antics and crying are really bad. I'd take RVN over him if that's the role I'm trying to fill. RVN has a much better attitude.
But that 'stache man... it's sweet. My gf would probably not kiss me though.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I give much love to the stache that isn't trying to be a hipster stache. And that one is most definitely not trying.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Nope. Luca Toni looks like he enjoys looking "debonair". Europeans have so much more freedom in dress, facial hair, and hair style. Here in the US you're either a hipster, a h0m0, or a foreigner or something else that I'm not if you pull any of that stuff.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Construction worker or cop. Or the other guys from Village People.I go with the Clark Gable every now and then until the wife stops putting out (who am I kidding, that happened years ago).
Similar threads
