General Football/Soccer Talk

[shadowgrin]

Same here. Bet 2-1 for Barca. Didn't know Real sucked that much now.

[kibaxx7]

World Cup 2018 to Russia, World Cup 2022 to Qatar. Because Russia and Qatar have a rich soccer history. What money can do...

[Axel The Great]

Literally fucking snubbed the US out of a world cup. Fuck FIFA. All I can say:

[Phil89]

World Cup 2018 to Russia, World Cup 2022 to Qatar. Because Russia and Qatar have a rich soccer history. What money can do...

Exactly. It's such a joke. Who's going to want to play matches in 50 degree heat?

They've never even qualified for a World Cup and they have to pay players from other countries to play for their national team.
http://www.thebesteleven.com/2010/11/qa ... ayers.html

I'm disappointed that Australia didn't get it, but I'd rather USA got it than Qatar.

They are going to spend £4bn on building 9 new stadiums that will never be filled again after the World Cup.

[kibaxx7]

They've never even qualified for a World Cup and they have to pay players from other countries to play for their national team.

Yep, the Qatar case is just incredible. On Russia, not sure but I think they qualified for two WCs, but still, these two don't have what I'd call a "rich soccer history". I still can't believe how this people end up choosing Russia over England, or Spain in that case, the World Champion.

They are going to spend £4bn on building 9 new stadiums that will never be filled again after the World Cup.

It's already happening in South Africa

[Murat]

If you ask me, it's great. Every country can do it. Qatar is the first Middle-East country to organize that, remember this. Also I believe that Russians will do it well.

UEFA Europa League case: CSKA Sofia-Besiktas: 1-2. Yeah, Besiktas advanced to 2nd round, that is the great side. But terrible side was only at match, there were no fanatics at stadium and it was empty, also I watched it from TV and speaker was horrible. It came boring to me.

Also look at Besiktas second goal:

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[Phil89]

Apparently there is a real problem with racism with the Russian fans. Good luck to all the African teams that qualify.

[Phil89]

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[Mandich]

Football , or soccer how you yankees call it has become such a disgusting thing to watch, I hate Barcelona and they are the only team playing good. Qatar with the WC ? wtff Also russians are racists , the fuck how money can change the world

[kibaxx7]

Football , or soccer how you yankees call it has become such a disgusting thing to watch, I hate Barcelona

Barcelona makes the soccer beautiful. Man, the Barcelona-Madrid of a couple weeks ago... the 5 goals compact doesn't make justice. That game is worth of downloading the full match and burn on a DVD.

and they are the only team playing good.

I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that. Look at how Arsenal played against Fulham on the weekend then come back. I know Nasri saved us from a disaster

[Houndy]

As soon as I saw that Qatar won, I literally thought "Money".

You know what's the worst part? They're fucking lying to FIFA. They said they're going to tear down the stadiums and give them to needy countries. How the hell can you do that?

US or Australia, but not fucking Qatar. Cowboys Stadium> Qatar's Stadiums

[[Q]]

there's racist fans all over europe. didn't they use to throw bananas at thierry henry?

btw, west ham vs man city on espn right now. the set pieces by man city were executed terribly. i just remembered why i only watch the elite teams play. arsenal chelsea manchester united barcelona real madrid only

[kibaxx7]

The bananas, I think that was Samuel Eto'o, but it could happen to Thierry as well. The racism in Europe soccer against black players is just terrible.

I'm also waiting for next Friday, UEFA CL knockout phase draw!

[Axel The Great]

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He's a little harsh at the end, but it's hilarious.

[kibaxx7]

Messi new Ballon D'or. Deserved, with all the goals and hattricks he had, but I think Iniesta should have won it... he makes everyone around him play better... World Champion... scored the championship goal...

[Murat]

No, the prize should be Daniel Guiza's. Watch his videos when he was at Fenerbahce. Hilarious.

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[Phil89]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 377256.stm

Liverpool agree £23m Luis Suarez deal with Ajax
Liverpool have agreed a fee to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez from Dutch club Ajax for £23m.

The deal for the 24-year-old striker is subject to Suarez passing a medical and agreeing personal terms with the Premier League club.

Liverpool initially bid £12.7m for Suarez, but Ajax told them to come back with a more "respectful" offer.

That led to Liverpool almost doubling their offer to tempt the Dutch giants to sell the forward.

Clubs usually have to pay a premium to sign players during the January transfer window - Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko reportedly cost Manchester City £27m earlier this month - and Ajax will make a £16.6m profit on a player they bought from Groningen for £6.4m in 2007.

But BBC Sport blogger Tim Vickery suggested that Liverpool had invested wisely.

"If I had £23m in my bank account I wouldn't have too many qualms about spending it on Suarez," Vickery told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Everybody wins. Ajax played the transfer game poker very well. Liverpool have paid top whack but they have got a striker who can play across the line.

During his spell with the Amsterdam club Suarez scored 111 goals in 159 appearances. His scoring ratio for Uruguay is one goal in every three internationals, having scored 10 times in 30 games, including three goals in last summer's World Cup.

The Uruguayan has just finished serving a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

"I can understand Luis wanting to go to Liverpool, it's a beautiful club, but then it has to be satisfying for both parties," said Ajax manager Frank de Boer.

Suarez is the first major signing for Liverpool's new owners, Fenway Sports Group, since it bought the club in October.

However, it comes at a time when the Reds have just turned down an offer from Premier League rivals Chelsea of about £35m for Fernando Torres and the focus is likely to remain on whether the Spaniard will be sold in the next few days.

The 26-year-old Torres has struggled for form so far this season but has scored nine goals in 26 appearances for the Reds.

Suarez was at the centre of controversy when he was sent off in Uruguay's World Cup quarter-final against Ghana for handling the ball on the line to keep out Dominic Adiyah's goalbound header in the last minute of the game.

Ghana missed the subsequent spot-kick and were beaten in a penalty shoot-out - with Suarez celebrating from the sidelines.

Last weekend Suarez, who has scored seven goals in the Dutch league this season, spoke of his desire to play in the Premier League.

"I used to think that English football was not my style," the Uruguayan, who turned 24 on Monday, told the Sunday Times. "But I saw Carlos Tevez play at Boca and Corinthians and I never imagined that he would play in the Premier League.

"When I see the way that Tevez plays there I think I can be a big name in England. It's because of the energy, and the spirit they put into the game in England. Now, I think it's a kind of football that suits me."

Finally. All week there has been rumours about it happening and it was getting to the point where I thought it wouldn't happen.

Big first signing by the new owners.

[kibaxx7]

I knew you were gonna say something, Phil

Arsenal are the only English team who can compete for all the 4 trophies (Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup & Champions League). Take that one

[Phil89]

We can still win the Europa League.

Plus we're only 9 points behind 4th now. I still have some hope.

Btw, I'd rather see Arsenal win the league than United, City or Chelsea.

[kibaxx7]

5 years without silverware. I think it's about time they win something. They have all the chances for the Carling Cup, at least.

[J@3]

Torres submitted a written transfer request. If I were Liverpool I'd be asking for the 35 mil + Kalou and Alex or something.

[Phil89]

I wouldn't accept anything less than £60m.

I have no idea what his problem is. Everything was just turning around and we just signed Suarez to help him up front.

I can't comprehend him wanting to join Chelsea. That would be like Kobe wanting to be traded to Boston.

The only reason I could think of for him wanting a move to Chelsea is Champions League football. But they aren't even assured of finishing top 4 anyway.

I'm still hopeful that Dalglish can convince him to stay, but even if he does I've lost a lot of respect and admiration for him.

[J@3]

I can't comprehend him wanting to join Chelsea. That would be like Kobe wanting to be traded to Boston.

I dunno if Liverpool are the Lakers of the EPL but I see your point lol. I think it is strange though, he'll just get buried in their stupid forward rotation no matter how good he is. They sign far too many players then have trouble giving them all games. Unless they're looking at squeezing out Anelka or something.

I don't know if 60 million is realistic looking at prices other players are getting. He's not on Ronaldo's level but he's above Dzeko, I'd say 45 mil, that's about 10 mil more than Villa cost Barcelona.

[Phil89]

Liverpool can set whatever price they want. He has a long-term contract and they expect him to honour it.

If Chelsea want to buy back their position in the top 4 by signing our best player, they will have to pay a crazy amount.

[J@3]

They can't really set whatever price they want because he wants to leave. So they can either cash in on him or they can put up with an unhappy player for the next 4 years or whatever. Everyone has a price, better players than Torres have been sold before it's just part of football.