The Z Machine
Footballguy
I'm at the ticket window at the stadium. It opens at 9:00 am. Does anyone want a ticket?
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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
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SmoovySmoov
The Way of the Samurai
That was the only reason I didn't punch my monitor when I read that. Supposedly, if I subscribe to NBC Sports through DirecTv, I should be good. Right?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Window didn't open until 9:10 and I was already 5+ people back, plus I have a 9:30 meeting.
I'll head back over there at 1:00, so if amber wants to join me, I can buy a ticket for them.
I'll head back over there at 1:00, so if amber wants to join me, I can buy a ticket for them.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Interesting times up at Newcastle. I'm sure Kinnear is handling this very tactfully and sensitively:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/papiss-cisse-future-uncertain-after-pulling-out-of-newcastle-tour-over-wongabranded-training-gear-8714772.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/papiss-cisse-future-uncertain-after-pulling-out-of-newcastle-tour-over-wongabranded-training-gear-8714772.html
SmoovySmoov
The Way of the Samurai
I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
SmoovySmoov
The Way of the Samurai
Ah.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
Jaysus
Good times!
It's not looking like I can talk my wife into it at this point. She really wants to go to the concert I promised to take her too.
women
The Z Machine
Footballguy
OK, thanks Jaysus.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Yes. As I understand it, Cisse doesn't have a religious objection to sponsorship or capitalism. He has a religious objection to usury, and Wongo is, depending on your perspective, either usury or as close as you can get to usury in the Western world.Ah.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
T Bell
Footballguy
No, the issue is Cisse being a whiney ##### and wanting to agitate to bring about a transfer. There are plenty of Muslim players who have Sbobet and other of the many British gambling sites plastered across their chests.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
jonessed
Footballguy
I suspect there is some truth in this, but there's no way to know. Obviously some people are more devout than others.No, the issue is Cisse being a whiney ##### and wanting to agitate to bring about a transfer. There are plenty of Muslim players who have Sbobet and other of the many British gambling sites plastered across their chests.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
I'm no Sharia law expert, beyond the Wikipedia article I just looked at. Does Sharia law explicitly forbid gambling? Is what is/isn't covered by Sharia law open to some interpretation?No, the issue is Cisse being a whiney ##### and wanting to agitate to bring about a transfer. There are plenty of Muslim players who have Sbobet and other of the many British gambling sites plastered across their chests.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
Anyway, if Cisse wanted a transfer, I'd assume he'd just go about doing so the old-fashioned way, e.g. letting his "Mr. 15%" troll his name around to other clubs, get some bites, get some offers, play dumb the whole way, and then shrug his shoulders and be off to greener, Kinnear-less pastures.
IIRC, many followers of Islam are against the idea of interest altogether.I'm no Sharia law expert, beyond the Wikipedia article I just looked at. Does Sharia law explicitly forbid gambling? Is what is/isn't covered by Sharia law open to some interpretation?No, the issue is Cisse being a whiney ##### and wanting to agitate to bring about a transfer. There are plenty of Muslim players who have Sbobet and other of the many British gambling sites plastered across their chests.I think the issue is with how Wongo conducts their business (e.g. high-interest payday loans), rather than the fact that they're just paying for advertising.I'm not sure I fully understand the problem. Isn't any team he plays for going to have kits from a company that they basically are paid to advertise?
Anyway, if Cisse wanted a transfer, I'd assume he'd just go about doing so the old-fashioned way, e.g. letting his "Mr. 15%" troll his name around to other clubs, get some bites, get some offers, play dumb the whole way, and then shrug his shoulders and be off to greener, Kinnear-less pastures.
T Bell
Footballguy
This just adds to my questioning of how smoothly United's going to transition out of the Ferguson era. I can't imagine Ferguson doing this, even if he wanted Rooney to go. It makes no sense to me.
berndog
Footballguy
Eddie Johnson, Alan Gordon and Matt Besler will be joining the USMNT for the El Salvador game. Omar G. will join the team if they make the semi's.
I'm guess the the starting defense on Sunday will be Parkhurst, Besler, Goodson, Beasley. The midfield is a little tougher to figure.
I'm guess the the starting defense on Sunday will be Parkhurst, Besler, Goodson, Beasley. The midfield is a little tougher to figure.
jonessed
Footballguy
If RM start negotiations I have a hard time believing Suarez won't force the transfer. Until that time they will hold Higuain. It's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out as we get further along in the transfer window.Benteke will be interesting as well. He turned down Chelsea because of play time concerns, but there is no way Levy puts up the money Villa want.
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T Bell
Footballguy
What I'm wondering now in light of the Jovetic signing is whether Aguero's in play now. If I'm Arsenal, I absolutely cut the check for 35M+ to get Kun Aguero, and I don't think any more about Suarez, Rooney or Higuain.
jonessed
Footballguy
I think they are much more likely to let Dzeko go. I don't know if he would fit well with Arsenal though. I would love him at Spurs, but his wages are likely too high.
T Bell
Footballguy
It's such a weird window, because most of the clubs with strikers to sell are also clubs with strikers to buy.
Napoli
RM
United
City
Atletico
PSG(?)
Barca
Fiorentina(?)
All of the above clubs are or have been in that buy/sell striker clique this summer, and the below clubs either want to or already have jumped in with a purchase:
Arsenal
Monaco
Chelsea
Spurs(?)
Then you've got a couple of potential sellers:
Dortmund
Liverpool
There's just so much overlap - it's made for some very complex scenarios.
Napoli
RM
United
City
Atletico
PSG(?)
Barca
Fiorentina(?)
All of the above clubs are or have been in that buy/sell striker clique this summer, and the below clubs either want to or already have jumped in with a purchase:
Arsenal
Monaco
Chelsea
Spurs(?)
Then you've got a couple of potential sellers:
Dortmund
Liverpool
There's just so much overlap - it's made for some very complex scenarios.
Jovetic is a logical fill in for Dzeko. No way they let Kun go. City does have a glut of midfielders though, not sure how that all is gonna pan out.
Benteke will be a Spur. AV can use the money, and Spurs need a striker. They will make a deal. There was a discussion about transfer winners and losers a number of pages back, and although not on the scale of RM or Barca, Aston Villa has been a disaster in the transfer market over the past decade. They are not a big club, and losing 100M or so stings. Benteke will make a huge return for them, they have to let him go while the iron is hot. God forbid he gets injured, or forgets how to score this year. Last year's performance was prodigious. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but he scored the most goals in an premier league season for AV, and I believe he accounted for the highest percentage of goals in the premier league for AV, scoring 40% and scoring or assisting for nearly 50% of their goals.
Spurs are in a dire predicament here and they know it. They have the best player in the premier league and they need to make waves whilst they still have him.
Benteke will be a Spur. AV can use the money, and Spurs need a striker. They will make a deal. There was a discussion about transfer winners and losers a number of pages back, and although not on the scale of RM or Barca, Aston Villa has been a disaster in the transfer market over the past decade. They are not a big club, and losing 100M or so stings. Benteke will make a huge return for them, they have to let him go while the iron is hot. God forbid he gets injured, or forgets how to score this year. Last year's performance was prodigious. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but he scored the most goals in an premier league season for AV, and I believe he accounted for the highest percentage of goals in the premier league for AV, scoring 40% and scoring or assisting for nearly 50% of their goals.
Spurs are in a dire predicament here and they know it. They have the best player in the premier league and they need to make waves whilst they still have him.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
RM reportedly interested in Kun. Don't know why they'd even consider letting that guy go, though.
I think a lot of the dominoes will fall here pretty soon as far as strikers go. If Damaio remains in Brazil, that will be one less off the market. I think Higuain goes to Napoli, I think Suarez goes to RM 
I think Wenger ####s himself again by thinking he can make more of what he has than anyone else can.
This Cisse deal in Newcastle is rather interesting, but probably much ado about nothing.
I think Wenger ####s himself again by thinking he can make more of what he has than anyone else can.This Cisse deal in Newcastle is rather interesting, but probably much ado about nothing.
T Bell
Footballguy
Certainly this is what "should" happen, but I think Levy gets too clever for his own good.
One thing's for sure - Bale is a Spur for at most 1 more year, so they absolutely need to get into the top 4 this year to put themselves into a position to be in CL football while also using part of that Bale money to fund a new stadium, which they also badly need to move on. If they aren't in the CL next year, then it's going to be a while before they're going be serious competitors for the top 4 unless they put their stadium plans on hold (which they shouldn't do).
T Bell
Footballguy
I don't think that's what will have ended up happening this time around. I think Arsenal just will have gotten bypassed in the market by not being aggressive enough. I know that Wenger knows he needs more to seriously compete.I think a lot of the dominoes will fall here pretty soon as far as strikers go. If Damaio remains in Brazil, that will be one less off the market. I think Higuain goes to Napoli, I think Suarez goes to RM
This Cisse deal in Newcastle is rather interesting, but probably much ado about nothing.
As far as United go, I really don't know why they don't make a bigger push for Fellaini now that they can't get Thiago. I mean, Fellaini would be perfect fit there. He's big, physical, good on the ball, good in the air, I mean would be a great attacking mid for them. I would much, much, much rather have him then spend 30m on Fabregas. They have Kagawa still who can distribute well, Carrick is a decent defensive cm.
And I would love Rooney to stay, no reason to push him out the door imo. The only thing prohibitive about him staying is his salary (which is pretty massive), but no one is ever going to be crying for United needing to pay players. His work rate is phenomenal, he played well as a displaced striker. Sure he may not be happy there, but #### him, team did great last year - in league at least.
Big soap opera to me, and I thought it was more logical for him to have left a few years back when he was much more unsettled and had a falling out with SAF and City was willing to buy him.
And I would love Rooney to stay, no reason to push him out the door imo. The only thing prohibitive about him staying is his salary (which is pretty massive), but no one is ever going to be crying for United needing to pay players. His work rate is phenomenal, he played well as a displaced striker. Sure he may not be happy there, but #### him, team did great last year - in league at least.
Big soap opera to me, and I thought it was more logical for him to have left a few years back when he was much more unsettled and had a falling out with SAF and City was willing to buy him.
jonessed
Footballguy
The stadium is a done deal. They may use some of the money for financing, but they don't need it. They are revitalizing a pretty crappy area so there is quite a bit of public funding and development money being made available. It's not just a stadium. It's a massive revitalization project.
Certainly this is what "should" happen, but I think Levy gets too clever for his own good.
One thing's for sure - Bale is a Spur for at most 1 more year, so they absolutely need to get into the top 4 this year to put themselves into a position to be in CL football while also using part of that Bale money to fund a new stadium, which they also badly need to move on. If they aren't in the CL next year, then it's going to be a while before they're going be serious competitors for the top 4 unless they put their stadium plans on hold (which they shouldn't do).
T Bell
Footballguy
They've moved on the first phase, which is the supermarket, but the bulk of the project hasn't even been funded yet, much less have they broken ground. They're going to need cash in the not-too-distant future.The stadium is a done deal. They may use some of the money for financing, but they don't need it. They are revitalizing a pretty crappy area so there is quite a bit of public funding and development money being made available. It's not just a stadium. It's a massive revitalization project.
Certainly this is what "should" happen, but I think Levy gets too clever for his own good.
One thing's for sure - Bale is a Spur for at most 1 more year, so they absolutely need to get into the top 4 this year to put themselves into a position to be in CL football while also using part of that Bale money to fund a new stadium, which they also badly need to move on. If they aren't in the CL next year, then it's going to be a while before they're going be serious competitors for the top 4 unless they put their stadium plans on hold (which they shouldn't do).
Fellanini makes a ton of sense. Also may try to see if they can snag a MF player from Real Madrid. There has been a lot of talent brought into that MF lately without many exits.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Somewhat further complicated because it's a world cup year. Many of these guys are fighting for spots on their national teams and don't want to sacrifice minutes, even if it means playing for a bigger club, bigger salary etc.
T Bell
Footballguy
I still can't get my head around what exactly Ancelotti wants to do with that squad. Aside from trying to inflate Higuain's price, what's he done?
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Seems like he is trying to corner the market on Spain's U-21 squad with Carvajal, Illarra, and Isco.
T Bell
Footballguy
The next drama that will apparently unfold is United supposedly going in on a bid for Bale. Spurs were pretty adamant about not letting him go to Real Madrid, their supposed "partner" (read "parent club") and a non-English side, so I can't imagine they'd be more enthused about sending him to United. Still, maybe this will shake them up enough to deal him this year rather than next.
And of course Spurs desperately need a striker, as they have for years now.
And of course Spurs desperately need a striker, as they have for years now.
T Bell
Footballguy
jonessed
Footballguy
His marketing potential in the EPL is huge so United would likely have to pay a hefty premium. Not that it matters much. Levy would never sell him to United.
Native
Footballguy
Would love if Higuain landed at Chelsea with Torres going the other way. Hes pure class, scores in a variety of ways and can do it with or without service. I dont want to go as far as to say hes underrrated because he commands a hefty transfer fee, but he seems to get overlooked compared to the bigger names (though not Arsenal fans who are rightly desparate for him). He would be absolutely devastating in front of Hazard/Mata/Oscar.
T Bell
Footballguy
He'd be equally devastating in front of Wilshere, Cazorla and Arteta. But yeah, I agree that he's puzzlingly unheralded.
Native
Footballguy
IMO, he and Ibrahmavic are the two remaining strikers on the market who can help change the balance of power in the EPL. WIll be interesting to see where they end up. The thing with Higuain is that hes just 25. Loads of potential.
T Bell
Footballguy
The Gator
Footballguy
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
Lovin this silly season.
Paris Saint-Germain president Sheikh Nasser Al-Khelaifi -- "If Barca pay the buy-out clause of Thiago Silva then I will meet Messi's buy-out clause"
http://www.actusports.fr/67766/la-reponse-choc-de-nasser-al-khelaifi-a-linteret-du-barca-pour-thiago-silva/
Paris Saint-Germain president Sheikh Nasser Al-Khelaifi -- "If Barca pay the buy-out clause of Thiago Silva then I will meet Messi's buy-out clause"
http://www.actusports.fr/67766/la-reponse-choc-de-nasser-al-khelaifi-a-linteret-du-barca-pour-thiago-silva/
That is fake and Silva doesn't have a buyout clause. I believe they're illegal in the French League.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
So I'm a little late on the Jovetic transfer, but I don't see him as a striker for Man City. The player who he would probably compete with is Silva (and I'm assuming Nasri is gone). Jovetic tended to play behind Toni and often drifted out to the left flank for Fiorentina (this is why I never really understood Arsenal's interest as he seemed almost identical to Cazorla to me). He's not a pure goal scorer, but rather more a between the lines player. Jovetic is a better finisher from the top of the box than Silva (or Aguero for that matter), but he doesn't have the same knack for the right run.
My sense is that Negredo and Dzeko will rotate as the point of the spear the way that Dzeko and Mario did. I'd expect Kun to usually play behind whoever's at striker and for a healthy rotation in the other AM positions.
My sense is that Negredo and Dzeko will rotate as the point of the spear the way that Dzeko and Mario did. I'd expect Kun to usually play behind whoever's at striker and for a healthy rotation in the other AM positions.
Bonzai
Footballguy
I know he's dipped, but can they really sit Silva? I was thinking Kun up top with Jovetic behind him and Silva and Navas on the wings. I forgot all about Negredo though. They're going to be ridiculous this year. Ugh.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
There are a lot of fixtures, so I think Silva, Jovetic, and Navas will all get their share of games. But I think there will be an emphasis on keeping them fresh.
Bonzai
Footballguy
Right. I'm just thinking their strongest lineup. Either way, I think Jovetic is going to blow up in the EPL. Dude scares me.
CletiusMaximus
Footballguy
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