The OtherArena

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Ashley Young deal to ManU is allegedly very close.

Funny that there's a Nasri to ManU rumor popping up. He has a year left on his contract. Evra even is quoted about it.

Sneijder's agent is saying that ManU hasn't made an approach yet. One wonders if Sir Alex thinks several 10M to 20M players might be better than a giant 30M to 40M player. They do seem to be eyeballing guys who are going to be a year out of contract, like De Gea and Young, along with younger less expensive and more long term guys like Varane.

John

Midline Shift · Joined: 22 Apr 2010 Posts: 493

Jorge Valdano shitcanned by Real Madrid

Valdano was Mourinho's enemy, so Flo Perez putting a bullet in him means we can safely remove Jose from the list above.

Simon

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Yeah, it's Jose's baby until he falls out with Perez.

Let's not forget that Perez is Mr. Galácticos, ushering in both Galáctico era: the orignial Figo/ZuZu/Ronaldo/Beckham era and now the Kaka/Cristiano Ronaldo/Benzema/Xabi Alonso splurge in 2009. So this probably is only a short term thing before Perez sticks his fingers in the pie. :)

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Uncertainty over De Gea deal

Say what?

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Fulham awarded Europa League spot

I think Scott had predicted that a while back.

Charlie Adam expressing a desire to remain in the Premier League

Blackpool use clause to hike Adam price

This just keeps his price up to transfer him. I a player wants out, you're just not going to be able to keep him when going down.

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Wesley Sneijder says he wants to stay at Inter. He's been going back ad forth, but this might be enough (along with the price tag) for ManU to move on.

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Okay... I've split all the transfer and managing talk from May on into this one.

We can save the 2010/2011 for the CL Final, then toss everything else in here.

Copa America and Gold Cup are kind of tweener things... might just be easiest to toss them in here as well. :)

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

ManU over America Tour '11:

07/13/11 New England Revolution
07/20/11 Seattle Sounders
07/23/11 Chicago Fire
07/27/11 MLS All-Stars
07/30/11 Barca (FedExField in DC)

John

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

From Athletico Madrid, it sure sounds like they believe De Gea is going. They seem to have accepted the money, and say it's just up to De Gea. Since he hasn't taken Athletico Madrid's contract extension offer, one would think they know. There really are only two teams in Spain where you could see him wanting to go other than AM... and neither is exactly knocking on the door. It's hard to ponder what exactly is in De Gea's head if he doesn't sign with ManU on Monday.

Allegedly the Ashley Young deal is even closer today than yesterday. £15M number being tossed around.

Gunners appear to have swiped two Barca prospects, which makes it look like three of their prospects are heading out this summer. Odd...

John

Midline Shift · Joined: 22 Apr 2010 Posts: 493

With Dimitar Berbatov not even making the bench for the CL final, that has to be the end of his time in Manchester, right?

Simon

CFTV · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 274

Young, De Gea, and Varane will not put United over the top if they want to compete with Barca for European Glory after watching the last two finals the two teams have played in. United need players that can come in and start. Young will be a nice squad player but is he going to usurp Nani or Valencia on the wing honestly? If the goal is to win and compete in the Premier League than those signings are alright. If they want to compete with Barca than those 3 signings if they come to fruition just aren't good enough. I don't see Barca shaking in their boots as United will try to blood Welbeck, Gibson, and Cleverly into the squad next season too. Yesterday was a game between men and boys and the gulf in class will continue to widen as United try to bring in boys when they need men NOW if they want to win the Champions League again.

FUCKING GLAIZERS

CFTV · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 274

Swansea City up to the Premier League after taking out Reading 4-2 at Wembley. Swansea City are the first Welsh team to compete in the modern day Premier League. They were in the top flight in the early to mid 80's for a couple of seasons till they were relegated and in the lower leagues ever since.

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

jdw · Site Admin Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 12620

Not surprisingly, Paul Scholes retires.

Quite a fun career over the years.

John

Scott · Joined: 31 Jul 2006 Posts: 1308

That Barca team are chock full of talent in the starting 11. Behind that, they're thin, but when the vast majority of them stay healthy, look out. Here's a comparison:

Barca starting 11 vs. Manchester United:

Valdes; Pique, Abidal, Mascherano, Alves; Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta; Villa, Messi, Pedro. If Puyol were healthy, he would have played center back and Abidal would be on the left, and Mascherano would be on the bench.

Spain starting 11 vs. Holland, WC final:

Iker Casillas; Joan Capdevila, Puyol, Pique, Sergio Ramos; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Xavi; Iniesta, Villa, Pedro. Fabregas on the banch.

Barca stacks up rather favorably with the team that has won the last two major tournaments they've entered. :P It's hard to chase a team like that. You have to remember that Real spend and spend and spend themselves into debt to get the guys they get. Manchester United can't do that, nor should they. Sometimes you come up against teams that are just the best. Barcelona right now are that team. Here's what Barca spent on their first-choice 11, in pound sterling:

Valdes: 0 (youth)

Alves: 23 million, potential up to 30 million

Puyol: 0 (youth)

Pique: 5 million, thx Fergie

Abidal: ~ 8 million

Busquets: 0 (youth)

Xavi: 0 (youth)

Iniesta: 0 (youth)

Messi: 0 (youth, Barca paid nothing to Newell's per transfermarkt. The main selling point Barca had was being able to pay for Messi's hormonal treatments to treat his GHD, which cost ~ $900/month. Newell's nor River could not afford it.)

Pedro 0 (youth)

Villa ~ 35 million

So for around (maybe not even as much) as what Real paid for CR7, Barca put that whole team together. Seven of that starting 11 comes from their youth system. What other club in the world do you think can actually do that? How do you compete with teams that only have to pay transfer fees for four of their eleven? There is not a single English club that can do that.

Scott