Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread 2014-15

[I V Stalin]

Will Arsenal really get Iker Casillas?

No. I don't think there was ever any actual interest, but as we've now pretty much bought Ospina I think we can rule out Casillas.

[Liventia]

bought Ospina

"traded"

Sorry to be a bit off topic, but I installed FM14 on my tablet (Dell Venue 8 pro) and an internet search says it should run, but I get an error message on startup. Any techies want to TG me to get some help out?

You have installed Steam, presumably? Or are you trying to run FMH?

[Auremena]

Nevermind, dumb me forgot to install directx as well. Crisis averted.

[Bundabunda]

As a Swans fan, its actually probably a win-win for both sides. For one thing Vorm has been decidedly mediocre and injury prone for about two years. He's not the same player that was so good in that first season.

Secondly, Davies has the potential to be very, very good, but right now he's not at that level. He's still developing and in all honesty Taylor coming back in regularly instead will probably help shore us up defensively, though Davies attacking qualities will be missed.

Siggy meanwhile is exactly the kind of player we need. The chosen one has returned at the perfect time seeing as Michu now has glass legs and has been shipped off to Napoli. So no, we haven't really been robbed, though I would've really liked to have got a better deal for Davies overall.

He's had two mediocre seasons to be honest, not one. I would've liked to have him stay but the fee we are supposedly getting is basically not far below what we would've got for him.

I will miss his ability to be one of the few people in the Swansea team that can actually cross onto the goal magnet that is Wilfried Bony's head. He's definitely better than Danny Rose, no doubt. Though to be honest, I'll say one other thing about Davies; he looked a lot better in his first season than his second. He wasn't bad by any means in his second season, but defensively Taylor would've been a better choice and its proven a wise decision not to cash in on him when he was restless.

I'm a bit down that we've lost Davies and Vorm at the same time really. I don't mind seeing Michu off now, and losing Vorm isn't the end of the world unless Fabianski is suddenly terrible, but I'm sorry to see Davies go while he's still so young.

On the plus side, SUPER SIGGY HAS RETURNED. ALL HAIL THE KING!

You've made some good points about Siggy, but I see it from a fan's viewpoint, to an extent-we're offloading a player who was too limited in ability. For the life of me I will never figure out why Siggy wasn't experimented in a two-striker system. He would've been the perfect for an Ade or Kane or even Soldado, so that does leave me a bit pissed. Anyway, I think I've used the term "robbed' too loosely. From my viewpoint, we offloaded a sort of player we were stacked in, and Swansea got one of their loan stars back.

Perfect, perfect replacement for Michu though. If you want an attacking mid who can score goals, I can't think of anyone better for the role. As for left backs, Neil Taylor is still good, isn't he? Depth looks like a problem, and the right back position does too, but I think the starting left back spot is still well covered.

I'm finding it really odd that Taylor's called the better defensive decision though. It's not much, but they game yesterday was a good litmus test of what kind of player Davies will be for us. He's less conservative than Naughton going forward, but not nearly as reckless as Walker. He doesn't have the physicality that Walker does, but what he does have is the brain for it.

[Eura]

Liverpool, if you count injury their first choice fullback was Big Aly. One must not forget Flano is a right back.

Flani Alves was for all intents and purposes a leftback last season.

Flani Alves? Brilliant. You know, I vaguely remember Flanagan's Prem debut being an absolute disaster against West Ham or someone; well done to him for coming through.

[KoloToure]

Flani Alves was for all intents and purposes a leftback last season.

Flani Alves? Brilliant. You know, I vaguely remember Flanagan's Prem debut being an absolute disaster against West Ham or someone; well done to him for coming through.

Nah his debut was against Man City and he bossed it, had Balotelli in his pocket all night.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Liverpool, if you count injury their first choice fullback was Big Aly. One must not forget Flano is a right back.

Flani Alves was for all intents and purposes a leftback last season.

Definitely liking Flani Alves more than Scouse Cafu.

[KoloToure]

Flani Alves was for all intents and purposes a leftback last season.

Definitely liking Flani Alves more than Scouse Cafu.

Flanberto Carlos. Jollip Flahm etc. etc.

Calling him Scouse Cafu, however, seems to have made the man himself become a Liverpool fan. Or, at least, he watches our games to watch Flanno develop.

[The Blaatschapen]

brb, buying a Bayern Munich away shirt: http://shop.fcbayern.de/en/0/0/-fc-bayern-Home--/

[Osarius]

Flani Alves was for all intents and purposes a leftback last season.

Definitely liking Flani Alves more than Scouse Cafu.

I prefer Scouse Cafu. Implies he can actually defend too.

[KoloToure]

Definitely liking Flani Alves more than Scouse Cafu.

I prefer Scouse Cafu. Implies he can actually defend too.

Tbh he's more of a defender anyway. That goal against Spurs is likely to be a one off.

Should be interesting to see what happens this season for him, what with Martin Kelly finally being match for again and us buying in Bertrand.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

I prefer Scouse Cafu. Implies he can actually defend too.

Tbh he's more of a defender anyway. That goal against Spurs is likely to be a one off.

Should be interesting to see what happens this season for him, what with Martin Kelly finally being match for again and us buying in Bertrand.

Shame it's hard to do a portmanteau with Steve Nicol. Jon Flanicol? Nicolagan? They're about the same size and weight, could end up with the same skill sets (assuming Flanagan doesn't top out too early), can play both outside back positions...

What has been happening with Kolo Toure? I thought it looked for a while that he was surely out the door, but I haven't seen anything official yet. And speaking of right backs, is McLaughlin going to be shipped off on another loan? It seems like he can be proud of what he did on loan at Barnsley, even though they dropped.

edit: also, Claudio Ranieri named Greece boss. Will we see the Greeks change their mentality now?

[KoloToure]

Tbh he's more of a defender anyway. That goal against Spurs is likely to be a one off.

Should be interesting to see what happens this season for him, what with Martin Kelly finally being match for again and us buying in Bertrand.

Shame it's hard to do a portmanteau with Steve Nicol. Jon Flanicol? Nicolagan? They're about the same size and weight, could end up with the same skill sets (assuming Flanagan doesn't top out too early), can play both outside back positions...

What has been happening with Kolo Toure? I thought it looked for a while that he was surely out the door, but I haven't seen anything official yet. And speaking of right backs, is McLaughlin going to be shipped off on another loan? It seems like he can be proud of what he did on loan at Barnsley, even though they dropped.

edit: also, Claudio Ranieri named Greece boss. Will we see the Greeks change their mentality now?

The last I knew, Toure was the subject of interest from one of the two big Istanbul teams, can't remember which one. But that was a while ago and nothing ever came off it, so I imagine he'll stay as our last resort defender for another year then go stateside.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Shame it's hard to do a portmanteau with Steve Nicol. Jon Flanicol? Nicolagan? They're about the same size and weight, could end up with the same skill sets (assuming Flanagan doesn't top out too early), can play both outside back positions...

What has been happening with Kolo Toure? I thought it looked for a while that he was surely out the door, but I haven't seen anything official yet. And speaking of right backs, is McLaughlin going to be shipped off on another loan? It seems like he can be proud of what he did on loan at Barnsley, even though they dropped.

edit: also, Claudio Ranieri named Greece boss. Will we see the Greeks change their mentality now?

The last I knew, Toure was the subject of interest from one of the two big Istanbul teams, can't remember which one. But that was a while ago and nothing ever came off it, so I imagine he'll stay as our last resort defender for another year then go stateside.

I'd quite like it if he came to Chicago. He could fill the Arne Friedrich role (miss that guy so much) - maybe not a play-every-game defender, but someone that has been in massive club games at the highest level, had a long and successful (relative to the Ivory Coast's stature) international career, and made lots of connections with clubs throughout the world.

Then again, he might not exactly be the best player to become the locker room's éminence grise the same way Friedrich did. Our media would love him, though! I mean, you can't not love the guy, right?

[Saugeais]

brb, buying a Bayern Munich away shirt: http://shop.fcbayern.de/en/0/0/-fc-bayern-Home--/

It's so Nederlander, it hurts!

[Auremena]

Drogba back at Chelsea.
Lukaku can go to Everton now. Striker problem solved.

brb, buying a Bayern Munich away shirt: http://shop.fcbayern.de/en/0/0/-fc-bayern-Home--/

It's so Nederlander, it hurts!

Pep must have forgot what team he was with, with the home shirt.

[KoloToure]

Thank fuck Griezmann went to Atletico and not Spurs.

[Osarius]

Drogba back at Chelsea.

Even though I've known this was coming for a while now, I kept telling myself it couldn't be real.
But God I'm happy. I fucking love Drogba <3

[Liventia]

Time to rejig my fantasy team: Adam Lallana will miss the next 6 weeks through injury.

[Kinitaria]

Van Aanholt has joined Sunderland, which means... we own a left back. I think this is the first time we've owned a left back of our very own since Danny Collins left in 2009.

[KoloToure]

Time to rejig my fantasy team: Adam Lallana will miss the next 6 weeks through injury.

So upset by this. He would have been fucking boss.

[Bundabunda]

Van Aanholt has joined Sunderland, which means... we own a left back. I think this is the first time we've owned a left back of our very own since Danny Collins left in 2009.

Are you sure that you don't want Danny Rose back?

Thank fuck Griezmann went to Atletico and not Spurs.

Nobody credible said that we were after him, but damn does it hurt. Griezmann-Eriksen-Lamela would have been by far the youngest and one of the most terrifying front three in the league. Ah well, on to Kono or Depay. The former's contract is supposed to be out next year, so here's to hoping Spurs coup in January for Holtby-level prices.

A starting center back is proving to be the hardest of finds for us. There's been links to Vlaar, but I really don't want him. Hector Moreno was supposed to be the guy, but he got injured out. I will laugh so hard in the end if Bertrand is Liverpool's left back come match day, no offense.

[Liventia]

The raiding of Southampton continues — Calum Chambers is off to Arsenal for a reported £7M–£10M, while Spurs have reportedly made an enquiry as to Jay Rodriguez's availability.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

The raiding of Southampton continues — Calum Chambers is off to Arsenal for a reported £7M–£10M, while Spurs have reportedly made an enquiry as to Jay Rodriguez's availability.

£16M according to the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28497920

Will Southampton even have a squad after this? Sure they will be flushed with cash but with so many of their squad leaving as well as the manager really doesn't make good reading for any Saints fan. Certainly one of my favourites to go down. It is a shame consider the style and quality they produced last season.

[The Blaatschapen]

brb, buying a Bayern Munich away shirt: http://shop.fcbayern.de/en/0/0/-fc-bayern-Home--/

It's so Nederlander, it hurts!

Yup.

It's hilarious

Edit: Maybe Bayern wants to become popular over here?