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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (6 Viewers)

Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
Not make a fool of himself.
Well, yeah. That.

I wouldn't mind Luiz. Any port in a storm. Just don't let him take PK's.

 
Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
Exactly. Arsenal did some good business last year by buying early, landing Giroud and Podolski.

Up against the deadline you can get bargains on some good but not great players who are either older or who want to leave, but you're probably not going to land stars at that point unless you're willing to grossly overpay (e.g. Torres, Carroll, etc.)

 
Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
Not make a fool of himself.
Well, yeah. That.

I wouldn't mind Luiz. Any port in a storm. Just don't let him take PK's.
I like Luiz, he brings the type of hair that is worthy of taking Puyol's place.

However, buying from other rich clubs who don't want to sell is a disaster waiting to happen. Too much wasted time going down that road with Thiago Silva.

 
Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
FCB keeps claiming Cesc doesn't have a price right now. I read yesterday Moyes was interested in Modric.

Whole thing seems even stranger than the rumors that Barcelona would by David Luiz.
Modric would be a fantastic fit for United, but I don't know how he figures in Ancelotti's plans. I imagine he would want to stay if he is in contention for decent play time.

 
Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
FCB keeps claiming Cesc doesn't have a price right now. I read yesterday Moyes was interested in Modric.

Whole thing seems even stranger than the rumors that Barcelona would by David Luiz.
Modric would be a fantastic fit for United, but I don't know how he figures in Ancelotti's plans. I imagine he would want to stay if he is in contention for decent play time.
:goodposting: Plus Modric doesn't have a buy-back clause to my knowledge, so United wouldn't have a team like Arsenal to contend with even with an accepted offer.

 
Buying early is so smart, when you can.

I haven't seen any indication of interest on Cesc/Barca's part at all. This is all coming from United. Seems like they're almost ready to move on to Felliani, but they don't give up easy. Wonder what SAF would've done...
FCB keeps claiming Cesc doesn't have a price right now. I read yesterday Moyes was interested in Modric.

Whole thing seems even stranger than the rumors that Barcelona would by David Luiz.
Modric would be a fantastic fit for United, but I don't know how he figures in Ancelotti's plans. I imagine he would want to stay if he is in contention for decent play time.
When I was in Croatia it seemed like everyday there was a Modric/Real article in the paper. Granted my Croatian is pretty abysmal, but they all seemed to be about fitting in better this year and playing more. I'd be shocked if he went back to Tottenham, less so with a move to ManU, but he doesn't seem like a Moyes type of midfielder.

FWIW, they also are reporting Ancelotti is interested in Mandzudic.

 
Really don't see Modric to United.

I don't think Fabregas goes to United either, not sure if it's the press hyping up the Cesc love or not. The only thing I can see is Moyes is trying to do his damndest to make a big money buy and kind of put his stamp on the managing of the club. First big signing has tons of pressure, especially if United don't perform well on the field. I think Cesc is the safest kind of guy out there that fits Uniteds mf need. He's played at the highest level and is still in his prime. But, FFS, no need spending 35m right now. Team is still in decent shape, spending that kind of money and with the salaries that their current squad command really going to put a hamstringing on going out and getting other players, especially if injuries happen.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
Right - but I think Spurs would be foolish not to sell. The offers Real is sending is HUGE money. I love Bale, would hate to see him leave EPL, but Spurs have always been shrewd in selling and making nice acquisitions. They have a nice young team. Sure, no way to replace Bale with one player, but some times you need to build a team with big depth.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
Right - but I think Spurs would be foolish not to sell. The offers Real is sending is HUGE money. I love Bale, would hate to see him leave EPL, but Spurs have always been shrewd in selling and making nice acquisitions. They have a nice young team. Sure, no way to replace Bale with one player, but some times you need to build a team with big depth.
If you want to vie for the PL title, you keep Bale. If they have other priorities, then they sell. It really comes down to that.

They don't particularly need the money, and they're already serious contenders to finish top 4. :shrug:

 
Sell Bale and just poach Arsenal's transfers by £1 the rest of the window. Everybody wins

 
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Man if Spurs sold Bale for 85, theyd be kicking themselves for not picking up Benteke for 25. 60m net gain, get a 22 year old could be stud striker and could go out and spend the rest of that cash. As it stands, they look to be overpaying, or at least paying market price for 28 year old Soldado, who's never played in a league game out of Spain.

 
If you want to vie for the PL title, you keep Bale. If they have other priorities, then they sell. It really comes down to that.

They don't particularly need the money, and they're already serious contenders to finish top 4. :shrug:
maybe.

Honestly, it's always about the money and CL play has to be their priority first and foremost. That's huge money for the club.

And without a deep squad, I don't know if this team has any chance to win the title with Bale. He runs around a lot. And yes, he's young, but sometimes you run out of gas, if you're playing 90 minutes, 2x per week in important games. He didn't break down last year perse, but there were certainly games where he was a lot less effective than others.

Gonna be a tough sell to Spurs supporters though losing a once a decade (or more) kinda talent, but sometimes you need to restock those cupboards.

I still look at Spurs as a top-4 contender without Bale, ASSUMING they can go out and make a few more signings. gk is strong, backline is very strong, midfield is decent. forwards/wings without Bale, obviously a bit of a concern.

 
Man if Spurs sold Bale for 85, theyd be kicking themselves for not picking up Benteke for 25. 60m net gain, get a 22 year old could be stud striker and could go out and spend the rest of that cash. As it stands, they look to be overpaying, or at least paying market price for 28 year old Soldado, who's never played in a league game out of Spain.
He has plenty of CL experience so I don't see him having problems. Age and price are definitely high for Spurs though. I think he's going for about 5M more than he is worth.

If they keep Bale Soldado is the better choice. If they lose Bale they should have gone for Benteke.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
Right - but I think Spurs would be foolish not to sell. The offers Real is sending is HUGE money. I love Bale, would hate to see him leave EPL, but Spurs have always been shrewd in selling and making nice acquisitions. They have a nice young team. Sure, no way to replace Bale with one player, but some times you need to build a team with big depth.
It's being reported as huge. Nobody seems to know exactly how huge though.

 
oh, absolutely, all the stories are worth #### until the pen is on the paper. That's why I don't really think Cesc is coming to Old Trafford either.

And my posts are obviously under the impression that there is huge money involved for Bale (reports of 85m-100m would be good enough for me).

I think the only negative impact of selling Bale for far and away the biggest price in the world of late would be a possible negative impact on players on current squad or thinking about going there that Spurs may not be building a club, rather just trying to turn a profit. But, the history is already out there of Spurs selling their most valuable assets when the asking is right anyway :shrug:

 
oh, absolutely, all the stories are worth #### until the pen is on the paper. That's why I don't really think Cesc is coming to Old Trafford either.

And my posts are obviously under the impression that there is huge money involved for Bale (reports of 85m-100m would be good enough for me).

I think the only negative impact of selling Bale for far and away the biggest price in the world of late would be a possible negative impact on players on current squad or thinking about going there that Spurs may not be building a club, rather just trying to turn a profit. But, the history is already out there of Spurs selling their most valuable assets when the asking is right anyway :shrug:
It's not the asking price, it's when the player expresses a strong desire to leave. I have yet to hear anything from Bale, but if he is set on leaving, then he's set on leaving. There isn't a whole lot they can do outside of get max value.

 
oh, absolutely, all the stories are worth #### until the pen is on the paper. That's why I don't really think Cesc is coming to Old Trafford either.

And my posts are obviously under the impression that there is huge money involved for Bale (reports of 85m-100m would be good enough for me).

I think the only negative impact of selling Bale for far and away the biggest price in the world of late would be a possible negative impact on players on current squad or thinking about going there that Spurs may not be building a club, rather just trying to turn a profit. But, the history is already out there of Spurs selling their most valuable assets when the asking is right anyway :shrug:
It's not the asking price, it's when the player expresses a strong desire to leave. I have yet to hear anything from Bale, but if he is set on leaving, then he's set on leaving. There isn't a whole lot they can do outside of get max value.
Actually they can say no.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
I've never understood this, why players fart around with submitting transfer requests. It always seems like there's stories swirling of players of want to leave (i.e. Bale, Suarez, etc.), but there is never a transfer request submitted. What am I missing?

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
I've never understood this, why players fart around with submitting transfer requests. It always seems like there's stories swirling of players of want to leave (i.e. Bale, Suarez, etc.), but there is never a transfer request submitted. What am I missing?
It might be a matter of the agents doing the dirty work for the players, so they don't have to seem like the bad guy if things fall through. I dunno.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
I've never understood this, why players fart around with submitting transfer requests. It always seems like there's stories swirling of players of want to leave (i.e. Bale, Suarez, etc.), but there is never a transfer request submitted. What am I missing?
A formal transfer request, which is by definition in writing and is a legal act under the rules governing those contracts, alienates fans. If you informally ask for a transfer, verbally and behind the scenes, you can later posture like it was just transfer gossip behind the story if you don't end up leaving.

 
No transfer request as of yet. He's trying to ask for a transfer without formally asking for it. I would think Levy will force him to make the request.
I've never understood this, why players fart around with submitting transfer requests. It always seems like there's stories swirling of players of want to leave (i.e. Bale, Suarez, etc.), but there is never a transfer request submitted. What am I missing?
He may have a loyalty bonus in his contract that he would lose if he formally submits a transfer request. Granted, he'll end up making more at Real anyway, but he can try to have it both ways.

 
Minor news, but it sounds like Tata is going to keep Jonathan dos Santos in the squad at Barcelona instead of loaning him out. I think it is a smart move since the midfield is pretty thin.

 
I have to admit, I spent most of my life paying zero attention if not downright loathing soccer, but marrying a former college soccer player, and then starting to watch EPL games with my son, I've done a complete 180. Or course, my son goes and becomes a huge Gareth Bale fan, so we all get on board with Spurs, and now this. I think I kind of hate soccer again. :) This transfer process is just painful, utterly painful.

 
I have to admit, I spent most of my life paying zero attention if not downright loathing soccer, but marrying a former college soccer player, and then starting to watch EPL games with my son, I've done a complete 180. Or course, my son goes and becomes a huge Gareth Bale fan, so we all get on board with Spurs, and now this. I think I kind of hate soccer again. :) This transfer process is just painful, utterly painful.
I hate to say this, but you're in for a lifetime of this unless Spurs get new owners. Realistically there are 2 EPL teams screwing around with insane play money, and the rest have to inevitably turn some sort of profit. I really don't think his value is going to get much higher than it is right now, and if he goes to Madrid at least he's not staying in the EPL to beat up on Spurs twice a year. Arsenal still have to play against RvP twice a year, that sucks.

Is Bale's contract up at the end of this season? I'm not 100% on the Bosman rules, but would he be able to move to Spain for free in a year? The Steve McManaman move. I am not entirely sure on his contract though.

My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.

 
My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
There's a lot of truth to this. I've been seriously following Arsenal and PL footy since the 2010 World Cup, and international football can teach a graduate level course to American sports on trade/transfer rumors. The only thing that remotely approaches it is the NFL draft.

 
My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
There's a lot of truth to this. I've been seriously following Arsenal and PL footy since the 2010 World Cup, and international football can teach a graduate level course to American sports on trade/transfer rumors. The only thing that remotely approaches it is the NFL draft.
I agree with this. I think college football recruiting leading up to signing day is probably pretty similar. I've taken to completely ignoring the noise on both.

 
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I have to admit, I spent most of my life paying zero attention if not downright loathing soccer, but marrying a former college soccer player, and then starting to watch EPL games with my son, I've done a complete 180. Or course, my son goes and becomes a huge Gareth Bale fan, so we all get on board with Spurs, and now this. I think I kind of hate soccer again. :) This transfer process is just painful, utterly painful.
I hate to say this, but you're in for a lifetime of this unless Spurs get new owners. Realistically there are 2 EPL teams screwing around with insane play money, and the rest have to inevitably turn some sort of profit. I really don't think his value is going to get much higher than it is right now, and if he goes to Madrid at least he's not staying in the EPL to beat up on Spurs twice a year. Arsenal still have to play against RvP twice a year, that sucks.

Is Bale's contract up at the end of this season? I'm not 100% on the Bosman rules, but would he be able to move to Spain for free in a year? The Steve McManaman move. I am not entirely sure on his contract though.

My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
Spurs are in a better financial position than at least 85 of the 92 clubs in the Football League and 99% of the teams in world soccer. If the Northumberland Development goes forward, they'll even climb a few notches.

Enjoy the games and don't focus too much on the off-field monopoly money. Bale came from Southampton and he'll probably go somewhere else after Madrid. The names on the back of the kit change but the club will remains the same. At least Spurs aren't moving up the M1 to Milton Keynes.

 
Bale has more than 1 year left - I believe he has 3.
I don't know why I thought he had 1 year left (hence my asking). I tried Googling it but couldn't find anything conclusive and figured someone here would know...
As a fellow Gooner, I have to ask: how differently would Arsenal's position be now if they'd signed him instead of Walcott back in 2006? Sorta hurts to think about, doesn't it?

 
My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
There's a lot of truth to this. I've been seriously following Arsenal and PL footy since the 2010 World Cup, and international football can teach a graduate level course to American sports on trade/transfer rumors. The only thing that remotely approaches it is the NFL draft.
I agree with this. I think college football recruiting leading up to signing day is probably pretty similar. I've taken to completely ignoring the noise on both.
UK media and the continental European sporting dailies have a lot of column inches. Rumors fill the gaps between game weeks than anything else.

 
Bale has more than 1 year left - I believe he has 3.
I don't know why I thought he had 1 year left (hence my asking). I tried Googling it but couldn't find anything conclusive and figured someone here would know...
As a fellow Gooner, I have to ask: how differently would Arsenal's position be now if they'd signed him instead of Walcott back in 2006? Sorta hurts to think about, doesn't it?
Bale probably would have left the Emirates before last season :shrug:

 
My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
There's a lot of truth to this. I've been seriously following Arsenal and PL footy since the 2010 World Cup, and international football can teach a graduate level course to American sports on trade/transfer rumors. The only thing that remotely approaches it is the NFL draft.
I agree with this. I think college football recruiting leading up to signing day is probably pretty similar. I've taken to completely ignoring the noise on both.
UK media and the continental European sporting dailies have a lot of column inches. Rumors fill the gaps between game weeks than anything else.
If you want "hard news", you stick with the BBC (not the "rumors" page though), and official club announcements. Everything else is fluff or based on unnamed (read "non-existant") sources.

 
Bale has more than 1 year left - I believe he has 3.
I don't know why I thought he had 1 year left (hence my asking). I tried Googling it but couldn't find anything conclusive and figured someone here would know...
As a fellow Gooner, I have to ask: how differently would Arsenal's position be now if they'd signed him instead of Walcott back in 2006? Sorta hurts to think about, doesn't it?
He would've been sold years ago to pay down the stadium debt. Wenger doesn't like to pay interest....he's an economist, after all. :mellow:

I really have no idea. How would he have fit in with the team? Would they have spent less money on mindless wingers and spent more elsewhere? I'm not sure that question is really answerable.

 
I have to admit, I spent most of my life paying zero attention if not downright loathing soccer, but marrying a former college soccer player, and then starting to watch EPL games with my son, I've done a complete 180. Or course, my son goes and becomes a huge Gareth Bale fan, so we all get on board with Spurs, and now this. I think I kind of hate soccer again. :) This transfer process is just painful, utterly painful.
I hate to say this, but you're in for a lifetime of this unless Spurs get new owners. Realistically there are 2 EPL teams screwing around with insane play money, and the rest have to inevitably turn some sort of profit. I really don't think his value is going to get much higher than it is right now, and if he goes to Madrid at least he's not staying in the EPL to beat up on Spurs twice a year. Arsenal still have to play against RvP twice a year, that sucks.

Is Bale's contract up at the end of this season? I'm not 100% on the Bosman rules, but would he be able to move to Spain for free in a year? The Steve McManaman move. I am not entirely sure on his contract though.

My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
Spurs are in a better financial position than at least 85 of the 92 clubs in the Football League and 99% of the teams in world soccer. If the Northumberland Development goes forward, they'll even climb a few notches.

Enjoy the games and don't focus too much on the off-field monopoly money. Bale came from Southampton and he'll probably go somewhere else after Madrid. The names on the back of the kit change but the club will remains the same. At least Spurs aren't moving up the M1 to Milton Keynes.
I was a little harsh. Spurs are not a selling club, but they do have a tremendous player who could be a huge financial windfall for them. As much as it hurts, the players will come and go, and the club will be better off in the long-run if they can make as much money as the rumors seem to indicate,

And yes, at least they're not moving the team. Germany Jones.

 
My recommendation is to stay away from transfer news entirely until a deal happens. I get my little snippets of gossip from this thread and if I see something on SBI or Twitter or something, but otherwise I don't even read it anymore until a deal is signed and the player has the ol' hold-up-a-jersey-and-smile-for-the-cameras press conference.
There's a lot of truth to this. I've been seriously following Arsenal and PL footy since the 2010 World Cup, and international football can teach a graduate level course to American sports on trade/transfer rumors. The only thing that remotely approaches it is the NFL draft.
I agree with this. I think college football recruiting leading up to signing day is probably pretty similar. I've taken to completely ignoring the noise on both.
Yeah, that's a much better comparison.

 
I appreciate the words of wisdom fellas regarding the transfer buzz. It's amazing to me how much I've really gotten into it. I played football (American, and I can't believe I'm even typing "american") into college and was kind of the prototypical soccer hater, but I guess kids will do funny things to you. The 2010 World Cup was kind of a turning point for me, but last year was really the first year of really getting into the Premier League. Many people on the internet have said it much better than me, but I really enjoyed the time commitment (you know how much you're investing going in), the drama of the whole thing, and learning to yell at Tom Huddlestone. Thanks for the conversation.

 

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