General Football/Soccer Talk

[Phil89]

But Utd are signing Reus, Hummels, Vidal and Di Maria on deadline day....

It's funny the arrogance of their fans thinking that world class players would be lining up to join them, despite no champions league and a fairly weak squad. The only thing they can offer are huge wages.

Kagawa should go back to Dortmund and become a good player again.


Oh and unfortunately that Ashley Young thing isn't what it looks like. Saw another angle of it today and it landed behind him.

[shadowgrin]

https://twitter.com/not_motd/status/500979906243985408


Pitch invaders getting more creative these days...

https://vine.co/v/M3mMh7dKTa2

https://vine.co/v/M3AHvvYqebQ

[Phil89]

So just like last season's opening match, Sturridge scored the winning goal and Mignolet made a great save late on to secure the 3 points.


I keep seeing the Falcao to Liverpool on loan rumour popping up. That would be one way to replace Suarez..

[shadowgrin]

Guardiola and Mourinho may be rivals but they share the love for buses...

phpBB [video]

[Phil89]

Why did they put a decapitated player on the side?


Lots of rumours on twitter about Liverpool trying to loan Falcao. He could easily replace a lot of the goals that we've lost with Suarez leaving.

According to French radio station RMC Liverpool chiefs have given the green-light for an audacious season-long loan deal worth £12m.

The offer would include an automatic purchase clause of £40m after the conclusion of the Colombian's loan.

It has also been reported that Falcao will accept a significant cut to his £230,000 weekly pay to make the switch away from domestic side Monaco, but until then, the Kop side will be forced to cover his astronomical wages.

BBC also saying that Liverpool are trying to sign Mario Balotelli.

BBC Sport ‏@BBCSport 4m
Liverpool are in talks with AC Milan to sign Italy striker Mario Balotelli

Haha, I don't even know what I'd do if that happened. He can be a brilliant player when he wants to, but he can also act like a big child and pick up stupid red cards. Who knows

[shadowgrin]

Falcao at Liverpool is scary, same way Man Utd is if they get Vidal.
As a fan of the opposition I'd be shocked if it happens, just damn.

If Rogers was able to control Suarez from biting anyone for a full season then he can get the best out of Balotelli for a full season too. After that all bets are off on Mario going crazy again.

[Phil89]

Nicolò Schira @NicoSchira · 10m
#Balotelli has made a decision to join #Liverpool, and has told his teammates to his friends in #Milan this morning. #LFC

Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano · 9m
BREAKING: agreement between Liverpool and Milan for Mario #Balotelli for €20M via @DiMarzio

Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano · 8m
Mario Balotelli confirmed he'll join Liverpool arriving in sport center: "This one is my last day as Milan player". He'll play for #LFC

mirkocorli @mirkocorli · 24m
#Milan confirmed via their own TV channel a deal is on the table now between them, #LFC and #Balotelli. No loan, only selling him.

Seems that things are moving fast.

£16m these days is fairly cheap for someone as good as Balotelli. It's the same as what Man Utd just paid for Marcos Rojo; or just £4m more than Southampton just paid for Shane Long. Guess his off-field baggage and Milan's need for money drove his price down.

If Rogers was able to control Suarez from biting anyone for a full season then he can get the best out of Balotelli for a full season too.
After that all bets are off on Mario going crazy again.

I think that Dr Steve Peters (world leading sports psychiatrist who works for Liverpool) will really earn his money now.

This is going to be interesting.

[shadowgrin]

Seems that things are moving fast.

I think searching for 'Balotelli' just broke Twitter for me...



"Jamie, Jamie..."
https://vine.co/v/MLWYzuPZ5UB

Bayern Munich player's reaction when they realize they will face Bendtner's Wolfsburg in their first Bundesliga game.

[Phil89]

Imagine if Balotelli debuts in the next match against Man City, scores the winner and reveals a red version of this shirt.

[shadowgrin]

Sturridge, Sakho, Sterling, Ibe and now Balotelli. The barbers in Liverpool must be making a fortune. #lfc

[Phil89]

Makes a change from when we had Pepe Reina, Martin Skrtel, Paul Konchesky, Jay Spearing, Joe Cole, Jonjo Shelvey and Raul Meireles all with bald heads a few years ago.

It's nice to have better quality players at the club now than the ones I just mentioned. Also: Brendan Rodgers > Roy Hodgson

Hopefully Rodgers can have the same effect on Balotelli as he did with Sturridge and Coutinho. £16m will be a bargain if he can become a 20-goal a season player and settle his crazy side down a bit.

[shadowgrin]

Supposed leaked pic from where official club shirts are made...

[Phil89]

Supposed leaked pic from where official club shirts are made...

Apparently they have removed a youth team player who wore the number 45 from the squad list on the official Liverpool site. Unlucky.

BBC Sporf @BBCSporf · 9h
Liverpool will pay Balotelli £90,000 a week. Man United paying Nani £120,000 a week...to play for Sporting Lisbon.

Woodward strikes again. Did they want Rojo that badly?

[Phil89]

So Atletico beat Real Madrid in the Supercup, 2-1 on aggregate. Mandzukic scored the winner.

Atletico sure are good at replacing strikers when they sell their star: Torres -> Aguero -> Forlan -> Falcao -> Villa -> Costa -> Mandzukic

That's one less trophy for Bale and Real to win now.


Balotelli had his medical yesterday and should be announced on Monday. Actually excited by this and hope he proves all his doubters wrong

[shadowgrin]

His wages are reportedly £90,000/week with an additional £40,000/week bonus based on good behavior incentives on and off the pitch.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Like not burning his house and stuff?

I think Liverpool could have bought a more promising player with guaranteed consistency.

[Phil89]

Who else could they have signed at that price?

I'd rather the club took a risk on Balotelli at £16m than go for a boring British option like Shane Long for £12m.

[shadowgrin]

Watched Arsenal-Everton.
Everton scored 2 goals in the first half.
Decided to stop watching pissed off with the score still 2-0 at the 70 min. mark.
Saw new notifications, Giroud just equalized in the final minute of the game with Ramsey scoring the first goal for Arsenal.
Game ended with 2-2 tie.
The beauty of football.
The pain of being an Arsenal fan with the constant ups and downs and that's just in one game.

[Phil89]

Watched Arsenal-Everton.

How is Sanchez going so far?


Angel Di Maria to Man Utd for £60m apparently. Great player, but huge money and not what they need at all.

Maybe Van Gaal is thinking: "Our defence sucks, so we'll just try to score more goals than we concede" Win games 5-3

[shadowgrin]

How is Sanchez going so far?

My general early impression of him:
Good: He's all over the place, even helps the back four on defense.
Bad: He's all over the place, disrupting his teammates positioning on the pitch.

Not a big concern, he needs more games to build chemistry with the team and be familiar with each others tendencies. Dat pace and stamina though is as good as advertised, for now, don't know if it will hold up because of fatigue as the season progresses.

At one point in the match Alexis was responsible for losing possession of the ball but he never stopped pressing to get the ball back and he did get it back to correct his error.

He got subbed out for Giroud as the 2nd half started in the game.

It's no coincidence that when Alexis, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Wilshere were replaced by Giroud, Campbell, and Cazorla that the team were able to make a run and tie up the score. The three that were subbed out were playing out of control (both good and bad in their own way) and their three replacements provided the necessary execution to attack.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Who else could they have signed at that price?

Yes, I agree. It was either Balotelli or nobody. But given his past, he will score a hat-trick in one match and get a red card in the next one. This type of inconsistency can't fill the void that Suarez created. If Brandon Rodgers was more of a Wenger, he could've turned the younger players in his team into the next big thing. Balotelli is a hit or miss and most likely miss.

BTW, who do you guys predict to make it to CL next year?

1. Chelsea
2. ManC.
3. ManU.
4. Arsenal.

That's my prediction. Arsenal could finish 3rd if Giroud plays well like his hairstyle.

[stereoxide]

To much optimism for United there. They might clinch fifth above Tottenham and Everton and that is the highest place I predict for them to finish. Even adding Di Maria but having Cleverley in your starting XI. My predicted top 4 would be:
1. Chelsea (could be swapped with City)
2. City
3. Arsenal
4. Liverpool (can switch with Arsenal depending on the fitness of the two teams and if Balotelli will be a 20+ goal player.)

[Phil89]

Yes, I agree. It was either Balotelli or nobody. But given his past, he will score a hat-trick in one match and get a red card in the next one. This type of inconsistency can't fill the void that Suarez created.

Actually you kind of just described Suarez. Hat-tricks and suspensions were his thing.

And I think the biggest attribute Suarez had was his determination to win. No one can ever replace that. Balotelli is probably the opposite of Suarez in that respect. He will need to work on that if he wants to play in Rodgers' team.

If Brandon Rodgers was more of a Wenger, he could've turned the younger players in his team into the next big thing.

Is this a joke?

Raheem Sterling has gone from an extremely raw 17 year old, to playing at the World Cup in the two seasons since Rodgers has been at Liverpool.

Daniel Sturridge has become the England number one striker and was second top scorer in the premier league last season, despite being called arrogant and lazy when he played for Chelsea.

Rodgers has also helped Coutinho improve. It's no surprise he works well with young players as he started his career as a youth coach at Chelsea.


I look forward to seeing what Rodgers can do with Lazar Markovic, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Divock Origi in the next few years. Not to mention Balotelli.

BTW, who do you guys predict to make it to CL next year?

1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool
4. Arsenal

Top two are a class above after their new signings, I think.

Arsenal and Liverpool could depend on how well Sanchez and Balotelli settle in. I put Liverpool ahead only because of the Balotelli signing. I mean, if Giroud or Sturridge got injured I'd prefer Balotelli over Sanogo.



Sadly for me the Man City-Liverpool game starts at 5am my time. So I'll have to record it and watch it when I wake up. It's not the same as watching live though.

[formx]

Who else could they have signed at that price?

1. Chelsea
2. ManC.
3. ManU.
4. Arsenal.

1. Chelsea
2. Man City
3. Liverpool
4. Everton (Kinda my sleeper pick here.)

[Phil89]

Seems Liverpool still need more time to work things out defensively.

I was actually hoping for a draw against Man City, so I'm not overly upset at losing. Realistically it will probably take a couple of months for all the new players to settle in and learn to play in the system.


At least this is now official.