I will go out on a limb here and say that Berbatov is the best striker in the Premier League. Drogba comes close, but he isn't as classy, while Rooney and Tevez seem to dissapear in matches too much for my liking.
And saying that Berbatov relies on a good linkman up front is bullshit, because Robbie Keane is a terrible linkman. Very good finisher, but he is lazy and barely creates any play after the first 20 minutes.
Berbatov creates a lot, is a good target, very strong and has sublime finishing and touch. All he lacks is pace, which is why Jermain Defoe needs to be given a run with him. Those two would score goals like they were going out of fashion.
ps. I think Berbatov/Drogba would get more like 50/60 goals between them, not 30.
I went to the Arsenal/West Ham game today and it was a fucking brilliant atmosphere from our end. Some of the chants we were singing were hilarious. I must tell you some another time as there were too many.
K, my thoughts on the game. I didn't think Arsenal deserved to come away 2-0 winners as the actual game was a lot closer than that. Maybe a 1-0 or a draw would have been fair. After their two goals they didn't really threaten us whereas we had 5 or 6 close chances, including one that was cleared off the line. It was a shame because if the two goals were avoided we probably would have come away with at least a 0-0 draw.
Having Spector and Pantsil, and then Jack Collison in a 5-man midfield away from home is always a recipe for disaste so we were doomed to begin with. Ljungberg's a cunt, he shouldn't have played and he only went on there for 20 minutes to soak up the applause.
All in all, a shit result but much, much better atmosphere from us West Ham fans this year than last.
JC, Berbatov is the best striker in the league? You having a laugh?
He's been missing all season long till two weeks ago, one game where he gets four goals doesn't make him the best striker around. Oleg Salenko once got four goals in a World Cup game. Do you even remember what team he played for?
IMO the reason Berbatove has stepped up lately is partly down to he is now managed by Juande Ramos, who is someone that can put his arm round Berba and help him through the tough times, and secondly because the transfer window has now arrived. By putting in better peformances than the ordinary ones before he has now attracted the big clubs' attention again
Jamie you were 1 year old when he did that, so don't bother trying to guess.
Although you did make a good point about Berbatov picking up his game at the right time; however that being said neither you know nor me personally how Ramos and Martin Jol went about their business, so it would be best not to speculate on their relationship with the players.
Not much to add to that honestly, I don't blame Sir Alex for saying what he did. I've been to a few United matches and unfortunately what tends to happen is that we get a bunch of Chinese tourists who are in there every single matchday.
Add to that it was New Years Day which would have meant more than usual people not coming and therefore, more than usual number of tickets being touted to Chinese tourists.
None of the Chinese wouldn't even be able to complete U-N-I-T-E-D, and they more often than not cheer the team doing well and not United.
It is a shame that things have gotten this way, but ever since United expanded Old Trafford from 63,000 to 76,000 it was bound to happen.
I do understand Coppell, but I see benefits too. Last January, the transfer window helped us in a way as we bought in a few players who helped us stay in the league. Having one month of transfer activity doesn't hurt at all, IMO.
I can understand what Coppell is trying to say; but this is an issue that FIFA/UEFA need to sort out, or as suggested by some manager (maybe Coppell, but can't remember) take this issue to court.
The problem with the transfer window is that it seriously affects the smaller clubs. The bigger teams can afford to buy 4-5 players in the summer and use them as squad players, but if the window was available all year round, then realisitically someone like Steve Sidwell would consider an offer from lets say Fulham rather than Chelsea.
I'm all for the January transfer window. It creates a fresh buzz in the footballing world that lasts the whole January, and we often see two or three big moves that shake up football. That's what it mainly is, a shake up.
If small clubs moan about bigger teams coming in for their players, then they should just stand their ground and not sell their top players. If then the smaller clubs' top players then moan that they are not allowed to move, then its then the clubs job to improve their deal or improve their Premier League position.
Anyway, it also gives them a chance to bring in new players to improve their league position anyway.
Jamie, I don't think you are getting the point why people like Coppell and Jewell are moaning about the transfer window. Even if there was no window bigger clubs would still be able to muscle smaller clubs into selling their star players.
But when you have say someone like Stephen Hunt doing well, Reading are basically pushed into a corner, where if they don't sell him before the 31st of January, there is a very real chance his form might dip and then he'll be worth nothing in the summer.
They might want to keep him, but there is a very real risk he could be a worthless player a month later cause as decent as he is, he certainly is no Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard who's value will remain constant.
Also, a small club like Reading would ideally want to operate on a squad of 20 players, but with the transfer windows you need to have a squad of atleast 23-25 players, cause otherwise even 1 or 2 injuries could cripple your squad.
A decent young signing for Roy Keane's Sunderland, having played a part in getting them up to the Premiership in the first place. I don't know too much about him, but he should do well up north.
I don't know, I just think they would. Especially since Berbatov has been reported saying he wants to move to a bigger club, I don't think Tottenham would refuse a £20m big for someone who doesn't want to play for them, even if they've slapped a £30m price tag on him.
What a crock of shit Bent has been this season. Yet, Curbishley wants to sign him. On loan, or for less than £5m, I think he'd be a decent signing because he'd be in the team every week, unlike at Tottenham, but for anything over £5m he's not worth it. I can't see Tottenham losing out on £12m though, if they do do that.
QPR are playing Chelsea tomorrow, and they have a decent chance. As Chelsea are without Drogba, Terry, Lampard, Cech, Kalou, Obi Mikel, among others. Wouldn't it just be great if QPR were to roll them over?
And lol at, Terry, couldn't have happened to a nicer man, or club.
And going back to the Berbatov thing. If they do get offered £25m or above, then of course then they wouldn't accept the £15-20m I was on about. It would be utterly stupid.
They've been on a role since that new owner took over, whatever his name is.
They're like 18th or something now after being rock bottom a few weeks ago. They're six points ahead of bottom placed Preston (Preston bottom of the Championship? They almost got promoted to the Premiership last two seasons), and 3 points off the relegation zone.
There's only 11 points separating a place in the play-offs and a place in a bottom three, that's how tight it is in that league. The top three are all on 47 points. Anyone can beat anyone, which is what makes the Championship so good and unpredictable.
It's not going to happen, but they have a fantastic chance of beating Chelsea considering they have all those key players out that I mentioned, and also QPR are enjoying some incredible form as of late.
Damn... Martin Laursen is really doing great in the Premier League.
Scored the last goal against Tottenham, and is now the topscorer of the defender, and he is number 2 on the high score list, on Aston Villa's team
Yeah Martin Laursen sure scores his fair share of goals, and he's not a half bad defender either. I'm glad that he is doing so well, because I've got him in my Fantasy Premier League and he normally always gets over 6 points which is awesome.
Aston Villa are doing brilliant in the league, they are currently 6th, even after having a somewhat bad run. A European spot is well on the cards for them
At first I thought this was going to be David Villa, but then it turned out to be someone I haven't ever heard of. Still, Derby seem sure he's the right man, so good luck to them. Either way, they're going down.
Laurent Robert's a good signing though, he should provide Derby with plenty of width down that left flank, he should do well for them, if he impresses on his trial and gets signed that is.
I wonder how much the bid was for... Still, Brown's had a solid season so far, as it said, he's played most games covering for Gary Neville and he's done a fine job, and I'm not surprised there's clubs after him. He'd be a great signing for Roy Keane's Sunderland.
What a crappy draw we got. Even if, somehow, we beat Man City away we will then have to play Sheffield United away... great.
Havant have got an incredible draw for them. If Liverpool beat Luton in their replay (which they will), and Havant beat Swansea in theirs, Havant have a trip to Anfield to look forward to.
Everton are going to be without Yakubu, Joseph Yobo, Steven Pienaar, Mikel Arteta and Leon Osman for their League Cup 1st leg semi final against Chelsea this week. All 5 of those are major, major players for them and they're going to struggle against the holders now. Though, Tim Cahill is back which is a boost.
Chelsea should have too much quality for Everton now that those players are out, but Chelsea are too without key players such as Drogba, Mikel, Terry, and Cech.
Arsenal will suffer but should still overcome Tottenham, and I hope they do.
Another one bites the dust. It really is ridiculous the amount of football (Premiership) managers are getting sacked after such few games. I mean, Allardyce was only in charge for 24 matches, and he really didn't do that badly. Yeah, there were some very bad results but I cannot see anyone coming in and doing any better than Big Sam did, unless your name is Alan Shearer.
We may be mid table at the moment (no idea how) but with Fat Sam's style of anti-football it was just a matter of time before he got the chop.
It's not just that he's a long ball merchant either, it's the fact that he can't seem to grasp the concept of playing players in their natural position. N’Zogbia at left back? Why spend 6million on a new left back if you planned on playing a winger at left back? Alan Smith is not a midfielder or a winger, surely the obese one watched Man Utd try playing Smith in midfield, it didn't work for SAF, it didn't work for us either.
Milner is right footed, why would you come out with a quote like "James Milner is not a right winger"? David O'Leary, Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder all must have been wrong then eh? Also "Big Sam" Martins is not a winger and Geremi can not play central midfield in the premiership.
As if playing players out of position wasn't good enough for the clueless gimp he thinks it's appropriate to go to places like Derby and Sunderland and play for draws... even if we are a mid table side like the useless lump implied we still should be looking for more than a draw against relegation candidates. And if we're a mid table side (with the likes of Owen, Martins, Viduka, Emre, Duff, Milner, N'Zogbia, Butt, Given, Beye and Taylor ) why were you being paid wages to match the top 4 clubs.
I'll give him credit for most of his signings though, none of the defenders he's brought in have been too bad but anything was an improvement on Bramble, Robbie Elliot and Boumsong etc. One signing that was unforgivable though was selling Parker (a model pro) and replacing him with someone who likes to fight in the street, attack his own team mates and stick his cigars in youth player’s eyes, great decision again there.
I've never been one to want managers sacked, I didn't like Souness or Roeder, never wanted them but I didn't want either sacked. Fat Sam is different though, there is no way he was going to improve things because he was too stubborn and all the idiot fans from other clubs who look in from the outside and make comments about us sacking (or how ever he left) Fat Sam have no idea how bad he was, looking at the table can be deceiving, we still have to play Man Utd twice, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in the league, as well as Tottenham away (and plenty of other games we had no chance of winning under Fats).
This was the best time for him to go, as long as we can get a replacement in quickly, they'll have a chance to make a few signings in January, but the squad as it is at the moment isn't bad at all, it's certainly a lot better than Allardyce made it look.
I quite like the enthusiasm and the delusion of most Newcastle fans, but truth be told what sort of manager do the Geordie folk want?
Are they looking for a messiah of some sort?
If I were the man calling the shots I'd get Quique Sanchez Flores (who got sacked by Valencia earlier this season), I bet he'd be able to give the Geordie fans something different.
Well it very much looks like Harry Redknapp will become the next Newcastle manager, and if that is the case then I'll take my statement of no-one doing better than Allardyce, because I think Harry 'Houdini' will do a great job at Newcastle. It probably won't see them lifting a trophy for at least another 1/2 years, but he'd be a really good manager for your lot David.
And it also looks like Anelka has all but signed for Chelsea, for £15 million. He should also be a great acquistion for Chelsea, especially with Drogba gone to the ANC and Shevchenko and Pizarro being way too incosistent this season. Anelka should get even more goals then he was getting at Bolton with better players and better service around him, and once Drogba returns I can see those two forming a formidable partnership upfront.
Redknapp has turned down the opportunity to manage Newcastle which I think is the most sensible option for all parties concerned.
Anyway, i really feel like having a rant about Anelka, coz I cannot imagine how that man has gone to so many clubs with so many £10 million plus transfers. I was reading yesterday that his net transfers have been worth £86 million.
He is a very good player, and on his day a great one to boot, but he is a mercenary of the worst kind. Hell he's had as many clubs as Nigel Quashie FFS.
Football/Soccer Thread 2008
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