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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (9 Viewers)

Yeah, real nice guy move by CR7. The problem is now every lunatic has hope that they'll get a reach-around if they run onto the field.

 
Despite looking like the worst professional soccer team in recorded history for much of this MLS season, DC United has somehow reached the US Open Cup final by defeating the FIRE last night.

They're looking a little more feisty with the new youth movement, but I wouldn't relish seeing them try to compete in the CCL next year.

 
Steve Tasker said:
So uh...Bernard to Shakhtar?
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Guess so. He had said that he was only visiting the facilities and wouldn't take a medical. But my understanding is that Porto would only bid 18 million and that Arsenal had promised to bid but never bid.

I had become enamored of Bernard's YouTube skills video (which hardly represents good scouting, I guess), but I still think a true versatile playmaking AM is a bigger need for Arsenal than striker.

Rumor du jour, however, is that Arsenal's backup plan with Suarez is a 46 million euro bid for Big Benz (with the assumption, I guess, that Madrid basically swaps out for Suarez themselves).

 
I would take Benzema over Suárez simply for the fact that he's less likely to miss time for biting someone. Plus, I think Benzema fits in better to Arsenal's style than Señor Overbite.

 
The Z Machine said:
I would take Benzema over Suárez simply for the fact that he's less likely to miss time for biting someone. Plus, I think Benzema fits in better to Arsenal's style than Señor Overbite.
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I agree (I like Benz better than either Suarez or Higuain). But I've also heard literally nothing to suggest that Real were looking to sell Benz.

In Arsenal's shoes, I also would have at least tempted City with an offer for Dzeko. Maybe he's not for sale, but it's weird that nobody has tried.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Despite looking like the worst professional soccer team in recorded history for much of this MLS season
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I didn't say anything out of fear that Newly Retired might never come back, but now that he's already never come back...

I caught the first half of DC United vs Toronto earlier this season and it was the worst professional soccer I'd ever seen. It was WNBA-level unwatchable.

 
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wdcrob said:
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Despite looking like the worst professional soccer team in recorded history for much of this MLS season
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I didn't say anything out of fear that Newly Retired might never come back, but now that he's already never come back...

I caught the first half of DC United vs Toronto earlier this season and it was the worst professional soccer I'd ever seen. It was WNBA-level unwatchable.
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It's a weird team. I'll give Pontius a pass for this season due to injuries, but even the promising players on United just never seem to get better. Perry Kitchen still looks like the same guy he was as a rookie. He has some nice qualities, but I don't feel like he's improved his weaknesses one bit. And Pontius and De Leon feel similar.

Add in Olsen's weird insistence on strikers doing defensive work and they ended up playing Pajoy, who would go games not only without a goal, but seemingly without a shot on goal.

Luis Silva looks like a steal, so that's good, but I worry that he'll just plateau like the rest.

 
How often does a young Brazilian move directly to England? 90% of those guys are involved in 3rd party ownerships, aren't they? Hopefully Arsenal laid some ground work with him to get him in a year or two after the necessary third patty BS launders through another league.

 
Sebowski said:
Good Posting Judge said:
Would Eto'o make sense for Arsenal?

:whistle:
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Yes!
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That thought occurred to me yesterday.

I'm a little unsure how well he's taken care of himself - I'd probably have more confidence in Villa's ability to get through the year playing consistently and without injury (and yes, I know he's with AM, just using a similarly aged striker to compare).

Also, Eto'o's on some ridiculously high salary (like 300k+/week), maybe even the highest in the world, and he'd have to reduce that significantly for Arsenal to even consider it.

 
Good Posting Judge said:
Would Eto'o make sense for Arsenal?

:whistle:
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Depends on the price. I don't think a 32 year old striker who scores .5 g/game in the Russian Premiere League is anyone I would be putting in a big bid for. And I'm not sure his versatility in being able to play the wing and up top means as much for Arsenal who already have Walcott and Podolski who fit that description from either side.

I'd be more inclined to bid on whoever Juventus ends up shopping.

 
Sebowski said:
How often does a young Brazilian move directly to England? 90% of those guys are involved in 3rd party ownerships, aren't they? Hopefully Arsenal laid some ground work with him to get him in a year or two after the necessary third patty BS launders through another league.
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It's a big step from Brazil to the PL anyway, and Bernard's young. I'm just as happy they'll let him develop elsewhere and see about getting him in a year or more if they're still interested. He'll get more playing time at Shakhtar anyway.

The Brazilian I want Arsenal to get is Luis Gustavo.

 
Sebowski said:
How often does a young Brazilian move directly to England? 90% of those guys are involved in 3rd party ownerships, aren't they? Hopefully Arsenal laid some ground work with him to get him in a year or two after the necessary third patty BS launders through another league.
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I don't think there was 3rd party ownership with Bernard. Form what I understand, Bernard's father was worried that if might struggle to win a place at Arsenal and that his place in the Brazillian team in 2014 would be affected. Bernard apparently was urged by Hulk to go to Porto, and that was his and his father's preference. But Porto didn't meet AM's asking price. Only Shaktar did (and Arsenal, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, never bid). As recently as Monday, Bernard claimed that he was only going to the Ukraine to take a look at the team and that he wasn't intending to agree to terms or take a medical, but they appear to have convinced him.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Sebowski said:
How often does a young Brazilian move directly to England? 90% of those guys are involved in 3rd party ownerships, aren't they? Hopefully Arsenal laid some ground work with him to get him in a year or two after the necessary third patty BS launders through another league.
Click to expand...
I don't think there was 3rd party ownership with Bernard. Form what I understand, Bernard's father was worried that if might struggle to win a place at Arsenal and that his place in the Brazillian team in 2014 would be affected. Bernard apparently was urged by Hulk to go to Porto, and that was his and his father's preference. But Porto didn't meet AM's asking price. Only Shaktar did (and Arsenal, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, never bid). As recently as Monday, Bernard claimed that he was only going to the Ukraine to take a look at the team and that he wasn't intending to agree to terms or take a medical, but they appear to have convinced him.
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"In (former) Soviet Russia, team chooses YOU!"

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Sebowski said:
How often does a young Brazilian move directly to England? 90% of those guys are involved in 3rd party ownerships, aren't they? Hopefully Arsenal laid some ground work with him to get him in a year or two after the necessary third patty BS launders through another league.
Click to expand...
I don't think there was 3rd party ownership with Bernard. Form what I understand, Bernard's father was worried that if might struggle to win a place at Arsenal and that his place in the Brazillian team in 2014 would be affected. Bernard apparently was urged by Hulk to go to Porto, and that was his and his father's preference. But Porto didn't meet AM's asking price. Only Shaktar did (and Arsenal, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, never bid). As recently as Monday, Bernard claimed that he was only going to the Ukraine to take a look at the team and that he wasn't intending to agree to terms or take a medical, but they appear to have convinced him.
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That's my understanding as well.

Keep in mind that Arsenal played this one close to the vest in all likelihood because Bernard doesn't fit an area of need and is also more of a signing for the future given the jump to the PL, and Arsenal have a striker purchase worth as much as ~50M up in the air, and some important needs at GK, CB and CM as well.

I figure their attitude was essentially that they'd be willing to "steal" Bernard for a low price, say ~15M, if possible, but if other clubs were seriously interested they weren't going to even bother.

 
Native said:
Thought this was funny.

Alex Mason ‏@AlexMason271h
Dear Mr Suarez, Madrid don't want you. Arsenal can't afford you and Liverpool fans think you're a #####. Have a great season. #LFC
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Seems to me that LFC are in pretty much the same place as City was with Tevez. Whether he's being poisonous or not, stashing him in the reserves isn't going to help them. They'll just end up selling him for much less next year.

The fact that nobody is bidding against Arsenal suggests, to me, that Suarez's market value is less than 50 million. And LFC could probably use 40 million. I think they're cutting off their nose to spite their face.

 
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CletiusMaximus said:
"Good said:
Would Eto'o make sense for Arsenal?

:whistle:
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Reportedly the highest wages in the world at least until Ronaldo's deal gets done.
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:yes:

I can't see Arsenal paying him more than 100k/week in wages which is steep enough, and even that would be at most one-third of what Eto'o gets at Anzhi, and of course there's the transfer fee, his age, etc. I don't see this deal happening, even though I'm sure he'd be an asset for them for a year or two.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Native said:
Thought this was funny.

Alex Mason ‏@AlexMason271h
Dear Mr Suarez, Madrid don't want you. Arsenal can't afford you and Liverpool fans think you're a #####. Have a great season. #LFC
Click to expand...
Seems to me that LFC are in pretty much the same place as City was with Tevez. Whether he's being poisonous or not, stashing him in the reserves isn't going to help them. They'll just end up selling him for much less next year.

The fact that nobody is bidding against Arsenal suggests, to me, that Suarez's market value is less than 50 million. And LFC could probably use 40 million. I think they're cutting off their nose to spite their face.
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I don't fault Liverpool for how they've played this so far, that is until Rodgers excluded him from practicing with the team yesterday. That's a clear sign of a rift which means a weaker bargaining position for Liverpool. Now the relationship is essentially unrecoverable and Liverpool has to sell.

Up until then, I wasn't sure Suarez would leave; now I'm sure, and it's just a matter of price.

 
But no team is going to pay Eto'o's wages at the current level, right? Maybe one of those UAE teams? Other than that, Eto'o would have to take a pay cut anywhere he goes.

Chelsea isn't going to pay the guy 3 times what Mata makes. That would be insane.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
But no team is going to pay Eto'o's wages at the current level, right? Maybe one of those UAE teams? Other than that, Eto'o would have to take a pay cut anywhere he goes.

Chelsea isn't going to pay the guy 3 times what Mata makes. That would be insane.
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He is on the last year of that crazy deal though. I'm sure he will be willing to restructure for a 2-3yr type deal. What knd of player will he be at the end of that deal? At least one with a salary that is easier to unload.

 
Ramsay Hunt Experience said:
Native said:
Thought this was funny.

Alex Mason ‏@AlexMason271h
Dear Mr Suarez, Madrid don't want you. Arsenal can't afford you and Liverpool fans think you're a #####. Have a great season. #LFC
Click to expand...
Seems to me that LFC are in pretty much the same place as City was with Tevez. Whether he's being poisonous or not, stashing him in the reserves isn't going to help them. They'll just end up selling him for much less next year.

The fact that nobody is bidding against Arsenal suggests, to me, that Suarez's market value is less than 50 million. And LFC could probably use 40 million. I think they're cutting off their nose to spite their face.
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http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/laliga/story/bale-price-tag-too-high-says-real-madrid-president-perez-080813

Watch that RM $55m Suarez bid come in now.

 
Wahl on si.com

New Seattle Sounders signing Clint Dempsey has been omitted from the U.S. national team squad for next Wednesday's friendly in Sarajevo against Bosnia-Herzegovina, SI.com has learned.

Dempsey, the U.S. captain, has been a busy man lately and is expected to make his Sounders debut Saturday in Toronto. Players adjusting to new club environments often skip FIFA's August friendly date, which comes at an awkward time at the start of the European club calendar.

It remains to be seen what U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann thinks of Dempsey's move from Tottenham Hotspur to Seattle. Klinsmann has not commented publicly on the move, though he has said in the past that he wants his U.S. players to challenge themselves at the highest possible club level.

Dempsey's Seattle teammates, Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans, will be part of the U.S. squad next week, according to a source with knowledge of the call-ups.

In other U.S. squad news, SI.com has also confirmed that promising 20-year-old Hertha Berlin defender John Anthony Brooks has accepted a call-up and will be with the U.S. senior team for the first time next week. Brooks, the son of a German woman and U.S. serviceman, has dual citizenship and reportedly turned down a call-up this week to the German under-21 team.

Because the Bosnia game is a friendly, Brooks will not be cap-tied to the U.S. next week. But his decision to come into the U.S. camp is a positive sign as the U.S. tries to recruit him to the Stars & Stripes. A 6-foot-4-inch center back with promising foot skills, Brooks is expected to make his Bundesliga debut on Saturday against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130808/clint-dempsey-us-john-anthony-brooks/#ixzz2bPheo4iZ
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I'm trying not to get excited about this kid until he is cap-tied, but this is good news. I didn't think he'd accept the call-up. Also positive that he apparently turned down a German call-up.

 
Suarez, stay!

JWH-

"I'm unequivocal that we won't sell to Arsenal, whatever the bid is," he said. "I have not said it to Stan [Kroenke, Arsenal's majority shareholder] but I had a personal conversation with others at Arsenal and told him [Gazidis] we would not sell to Arsenal."

:thumbup:

 
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The Gator said:
Suarez, stay!
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"He won't be sold even if a foreign club comes in because we do not have time to sign a suitable replacement," he said. "It's a football reason. It's not about finances. That's why at this point, so late in the window, with everyone who's already moved or isn't moving, we can't replace him. So for football reasons we can't sell, and especially to Arsenal."
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Whew. Now here's hoping he means it.

 
The Gator said:
T Bell said:
The Gator said:
:blackdot: for Suarez apology
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I don't know that this is over just yet, but we'll see. Besides, are you sure you want to keep him? ;)
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Agreed..still time left and nothing is final until the window close...so we'll see.

IF he's still here in January...He could be a real good get for someone in the CL. Not often you can get that talent in January who isn't cup tied.
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Liverpool have got a tiger by the tail here. The countdown clock for his departure has started, it's just a matter of when during the next 12 months he leaves. He and Liverpool have both gotten a little nasty here. And the longer this plays out with Suarez agitating, the worse Liverpool's bargaining position becomes, and of course the more distracting he is to the team.

OTOH, I don't think Liverpool can afford to lose him, especially this late in this transfer window, and still expect to seriously compete in the league for top 4. It'll be hard enough with him there as you saw last year. Even if they sell him and pocket 40M+, who do they get in his place?

That's the sort of dilemma I'm just has happy for Arsenal to avoid frankly, but Arsenal at least for now would seem to be able to afford this a bit more than Liverpool. He's basically Terrell Owens - a tremendously gifted player, but unbelievably narcissistic and selfish and a major distraction for the team.

 
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