The Soccer thread

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I laughed off claims when Real guaranteed Ronaldo would be signed by the end of this month, but now...

I am mortified that he has left, however he never once said that he "loved" the club; he just said he was happy to play at Old Trafford. We all knew Real Madrid was the team he was destined to play for given the strong desire he had to play for them. And for money like that, you just couldn't say "no".

But we really shouldn't sell the best player in the world; instead, Giggs, Scholes, Nevile and the like should be the ones who we should be letting go of.

Still, I remain extremely confident that Real will win nothing next year, despite buying all of these expensive players because Barcelona are simply too good as a team to be overthrown by a bunch of megastars, all thrown in one team and expected to function properly as a unit.

Oh well...
 
Now that Madrid bought Kaka and Ronaldo they really have a good midfielder and can focus on improving that defense (no team deserves Pepe and Heinze playing together) or will proprably see "galactico's failure era: the comeback". At least the current team is more likely not to have ego wars than the one with Ronaldo, Becks, Figo and Zizou. There's only 2 star players and one of them is Kaka, who's famous for his good behaviour.

About MU, Ferguson will really need to sign some good players with that fee and design a new tatical system for the team since everything revolved around Ronaldo. There will be no problem competing in the Premiere League but at least one decisive and "magical" player will be needed if they want to conquer europe once more (and a solid central midfield too, playing CL's final with Anderson, Carrick and Giggs is a joke).
 
Come on, no-one can act surprised about ronaldo's departure. It wasn't a case of 'if' but merely 'when'.
 
It's not surprising that he left, it's more the £80M spent especially after they got Kaka for £59M and now are apparently they are after Ribery who Bayern want £65M or so for.
 
amazing what money can do ;)
then again, ronaldo always wanted to go to madrid, and he's not exactly the best of friends with ferguson

edit: funny how this relates to my username

edit 2: sbc, he's been good friends with ferguson up until about a month ago, and it's not like they hate each other; they're just having minor disagreements at the moment I guess

besides, if yahoo said it then it must be true
 
how did you work that out? Ronaldo has called Ferguson his footballing "father" and was the only reason he stayed last season.
 
Ronaldo and Sir Alex share a father-son relationship as well as a manager-football connection. Ronaldo's birth father died a few years back, and Ronaldo has since claimed that Sir Alex is like his "second father".
 
Taylor said:
But we really shouldn't sell the best player in the world; instead, Giggs, Scholes, Nevile and the like should be the ones who we should be letting go of.
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Maybe I'm old school, but I don't think thats a good idea. They didn't asked for a transfer when they were on the top of their game, I don't see why they should be forced out of the club now that they have past their prime. I'm not saying they should be a first team regular, but they can still play the odd game here and there. I feel they still got alot to offer to the club, and not neccesarily on the pitch. They're the players that kids in the youth team look up to, they came from the youth system themselves, knows the club inside out, and what it means to be a player of Manchester United. They can then be slowly integrated into the coaching staff, and to me that is one of the more beautiful things in Football.

I don't know how Real Madrid will fare next season, but it sure is looking to be an exciting one! Love them or hate them, you gotta admit watching Kaka and Ronaldo on the same team is a mouth watering prospect, its like the short of stuff that only happens in a video game. Where the hell is Real Madrid getting all those money though? Especially considering the current state of finance? It kinda sickens me that so many people are living in poverty, yet so much money is splashed on a single player. On a lighter note, how do you think Real Madrid's first XI will form? Personally, I think it will look like this:

Raul
Robben Kaka Ronaldo
M. Diarra L. Diarra
Heinze Pepe Metzelder Ramos
Casillas

I think time has shown that Raul will not be benched, regardless of his form. Formation is, of couse, subjected to change, since the transfer window is still open. The front 4 looks scary as hell, but the defence is definitely a weak point. Garay has yet to prove himself at the highest level, and Metzelder is too injury prone, they definitely need another world class centreback. Or they could move Ramos to the middle, but then they'll need someone to fill in on the right. Heinze is way past his prime, and his deputy, Marcelo, was never fancied much as a left back. A problem is I can't imagine players like Sneijder, Guti, Huntelaar, Higuain, van der Vaart and van Nistelrooy being too thrilled with this.
​
 
I'd go with

Casillas
L.Diarra Ramos New Sign Marcelo
Gago M.Diarra
Ronaldo Kaka Robben
Someone​

There are some problems, They lack a good central defender and neither Raul nor Higuain can play as a lonely striker. Huntelaar has yet to prove himself and Nilsteroy is not the same player once he was. There's no replacement for the wingers or for the holding midfielders too (I guess Higuain could do the right wing and Sneidjer/Guti the holding midfield position but meh)
 
Mosh said:
I'd go with

Casillas
L.Diarra Ramos New Sign Marcelo
Gago M.Diarra
Ronaldo Kaka Robben
Someone​

There are some problems, They lack a good centrak midfield and neither Raul nor Higuain can play as a lonely striker. Huntelaar has yet to prove himself and Nilsteroy is not the same player once he was. There's no replacement for the wingers or for the holding midfielders too (I guess Higuain could do the right wing and Sneidjer/Guti the holding midfield position but meh)
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They are probably going to get Villa so I dont think the Striker position is too much of a problem but they do need to buy one or two defenders definately and probably, this is what I see the team being like:

Casillas
Ramos Pepe new signing Marcelo
L. Diarra
Sneidjer
Ronaldo Kaka Robben
Villa
 
Pokemon Red said:
Maybe I'm old school, but I don't think thats a good idea. They didn't asked for a transfer when they were on the top of their game, I don't see why they should be forced out of the club now that they have past their prime. I'm not saying they should be a first team regular, but they can still play the odd game here and there. I feel they still got alot to offer to the club, and not neccesarily on the pitch. They're the players that kids in the youth team look up to, they came from the youth system themselves, knows the club inside out, and what it means to be a player of Manchester United. They can then be slowly integrated into the coaching staff, and to me that is one of the more beautiful things in Football.
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They are not good enough to play for a team expected to compete at the top level. Why hold players up and opt for the older players, who will get danced around by the likes of Xavi, Gerrard and the like? It is harsh, but the truth.

They will have roles behind the scenes; that is a certainty.
 
Oh well, I guess there's no Milan supporter on the forum but I need to do it:

Milan is lacking world class righ back, left back, goalie, midfielder and defender (actually they need a completly new team). I heard they are going after Gary Neville, Roberto Carlos, Lehman, Rivaldo (or Scholes) and Jaap Stam this summer
 
Taylor said:
They are not good enough to play for a team expected to compete at the top level. Why hold players up and opt for the older players, who will get danced around by the likes of Xavi, Gerrard and the like? It is harsh, but the truth.

They will have roles behind the scenes; that is a certainty.
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I meant games like in the Carling Cup, FA Cup or as a backup when the first choice is injured or if SAF wants to give him a rest, not against fellow title challengers or in the Champions League final. tbh Giggs didn't perform any worse then Anderson, and another old warhorse, Sylvinho, played pretty well that night.
 
Giggs was PFA player of the year and neither he Scholes or Neville are first choice. They are used sparingly and will help the likes of Nani, Anderson and Rafael coming through in their position. No point in selling them because we'd be lucky to get £10m for the three of them combined. It's good to reward loyalty as well, these are the guys that wouldn't request to leave two seasons in a row and act like a dick during the off-season.
 
Mosh said:
Oh well, I guess there's no Milan supporter on the forum but I need to do it:

Milan is lacking world class righ back, left back, goalie, midfielder and defender (actually they need a completly new team). I heard they are going after Gary Neville, Roberto Carlos, Lehman, Rivaldo (or Scholes) and Jaap Stam this summer
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Stam stopped playing football a while ago.
 
Pokemon Red said:
I meant games like in the Carling Cup, FA Cup or as a backup when the first choice is injured or if SAF wants to give him a rest, not against fellow title challengers or in the Champions League final. tbh Giggs didn't perform any worse then Anderson, and another old warhorse, Sylvinho, played pretty well that night.
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Anderson provided balance to the midfield; Giggs went missing from the beginning of the match. When Anderson was substituted, so many fans rioted at the pub and then on the boards which I visited later on. It was a stubborn decision to keep his "Giggsy" on and make the young Anderson suffer. Anderson had a better game than Giggs because Anderson was at least involved in the match. It is also rumored that Sir Alex invisioned Carrick and Anderson falling back when Barcelona had possession, and were ordered to intercept Barca's play in United's final third; this is why we did not see Anderson rushing into challenges. But Giggs was further advanced and looked clueless throughout the ninety minutes.

Sylvinho is a player whose contract has not been renewed by Barcelona because he has had his day, and is on his way out this summer.
 
Taylor said:
Anderson provided balance to the midfield; Giggs went missing from the beginning of the match. When Anderson was substituted, so many fans rioted at the pub and then on the boards which I visited later on. It was a stubborn decision to keep his "Giggsy" on and make the young Anderson suffer. Anderson had a better game than Giggs because Anderson was at least involved in the match. It is also rumored that Sir Alex invisioned Carrick and Anderson falling back when Barcelona had possession, and were ordered to intercept Barca's play in United's final third; this is why we did not see Anderson rushing into challenges. But Giggs was further advanced and looked clueless throughout the ninety minutes.

Sylvinho is a player whose contract has not been renewed by Barcelona because he has had his day, and is on his way out this summer.
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Ok, perhaps Giggs was a terrible example lol. My point with Sylvinho is that, at the end of the day, he is a backup for Abidal, he did a great job when called upon, and was an important father figure behind the dressing room, which I feel the same could be done for players like Giggs, Neville, and Scholes. At least let their contracts run out instead of selling them.
 
I'm still wondering if the US will make it into the world cup. What do you guys think? Our team isn't amazing but you still gotta represent your country...
 
Pokemon Red said:
Ok, perhaps Giggs was a terrible example lol. My point with Sylvinho is that, at the end of the day, he is a backup for Abidal, he did a great job when called upon, and was an important father figure behind the dressing room, which I feel the same could be done for players like Giggs, Neville, and Scholes. At least let their contracts run out instead of selling them.
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I don't particulary mind if they're sold or if they all retire, but I do want them to voluntarily take a step back and allow younger talents to step in more regulary so they can develop.

Right now, Giggs is played in the centre of midfield and he is no better than he was 5 years ago when he was played there before. He also jumps at the chance to play in every game available to him because he loves football; I can't fault him for that. But as a Manchester United legend, who I am sure wants to see the club succeeed and improve for the future, surely he must see that his time in the team only prevents the Andersons and the (dare I say it) Fletchers from getting regular first team football to establish a partnership and become a formiddable force.

The fact Sir Alex continued to mix up the midfield this year is part of the reason as to why our football this year has been poor. We have won games, but with considerable difficulty. Our attacking, beautiful style has been tarnished because Sir Alex's rotation policy was overly used. Pep Guaradiola rotated Barcelona's squad, but Xavi and Iniesta were the core of the team's play and were vastly involved in Barcelona's matches. We, however, have had Carrick at the heart of the midfield for the majority of the season, yet he has not been able to establish a partnership with another member of the team because Sir Alex switches too often to promote that. One day it is Carrick and Fletcher; the next it is Carrick and Scholes; and then sometimes Carrick is not even involved, and we have Giggs and Fletcher in the midfield. There are just too many midfielders and with Hargreaves coming back, Giggs and Scholes know their time at United is coming to a close.

Admittedly I do understand the "father" figures that these experienced veterens offer to the club. They will have roles beyond their playing days, no doubt.
 
Tévez rejected - United put in £25.5million (more than the initial asking price of £22million) so we can't blame the club. In retrospect he got enough first-team football but he's obviously being a bit greedy while playing for Manchester United. So I'm assuming he'll go to Manchester City now and probably get a bit more first-team action provided they don't go signing more strikers and/or play 433 more often (he won't get in their 433 side, it'll be Santa Cruz up top).

His choice I suppose. We need to sign another striker as well as Ribéry if we want to be as exciting as we're used to.
 
Well... if that striker is Karim Benzema, I would be satisfied.

Karim Benzema could well be on his way to Manchester United...

Olympique Lyonnais advisor Bernard Lacombe has said that the club could be powerless to stop Karim Benzema moving to Manchester United this summer.

The French striker has long been linked with a move away from Stade Gerland, and now this is beginning to look like becoming a reality.

The 21-year-old striker has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the Red Devils appear to have stolen a march on the rest.

Lacombe, who acts as an advisor to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, has stated that a bid could come in from the Manchester based club in the summer.

The Lyon advisor also stated that if the offer is big enough, the club would have to accept it, much like they did with the £24 million offer they received from Chelsea for midfielder Michael Essien.

Speaking to Progres, Lacombe said, "He is with us, but nobody knows what will happen.

"We didn’t think Michael Essien would leave at the time, but when Chelsea arrived with the cheque...

"If Manchester, who as we know have plenty of cash available, want to buy Benzema, what can you do?”


Benzema himself has stated in recent seasons that he would like to win the Champions League with the club, but this is now looking like an impossible dream, and the France international may now be tempted to try his luck with the Premier League champions.

United are on the lookout for a striker after announcing that Carlos Tevez will not be remaining with the club.
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This is just in.
 
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