Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread (2011-2012)

[Keronians]

Up next they've got Aldershot in the Carling Cup, but the next real match is away at Everton next weekend. Not the easiest of trips to make.

Four of Newcastle's next five league games are horrible: Stoke away, Everton at home (the easiest), Man City away, Man U away and Chelsea at home.

If Everton's their easiest game...

I'll just leave it there.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Four of Newcastle's next five league games are horrible: Stoke away, Everton at home (the easiest), Man City away, Man U away and Chelsea at home.

If Everton's their easiest game...

I'll just leave it there.

It is at home, so as long as we don't lose against Stoke, it should be tolerable.

[Hossaim]

@ Hossaim, you're being a stereotypical United fan right now. You've been humiliated by the better side (we were 1-0 up before the sending off, so y'know - we were already winning and the sending off was fair), and now you're making excuses for it. You played badly, Anderson and Carrick particularly so and we won because we were better. I accept the fact that foreign investment has helped us massively in this, but you have foreign investment from all over the world because of your fans from all over the world - so you have money too.

We were just better, the sending off just helped us dominate the game.

you were better, but not 6-1 better. more like 2-1 better. And yes, we have money, but ti's not the same. We build up squads using our youth acadamy and spoting potential good players early wiht the occasional big splash. You go and think "k, who is the beat plyer in teh worldz?" Then buy him.

[Fartsniffage]

@ Hossaim, you're being a stereotypical United fan right now. You've been humiliated by the better side (we were 1-0 up before the sending off, so y'know - we were already winning and the sending off was fair), and now you're making excuses for it. You played badly, Anderson and Carrick particularly so and we won because we were better. I accept the fact that foreign investment has helped us massively in this, but you have foreign investment from all over the world because of your fans from all over the world - so you have money too.

We were just better, the sending off just helped us dominate the game.

Let's not get silly now. You were in no way dominating the game before the sending off and the City goal was very much against the run of play.

Tell me more about how badly Carrick played today, did you even watch the game?

[Hossaim]

@ Hossaim, you're being a stereotypical United fan right now. You've been humiliated by the better side (we were 1-0 up before the sending off, so y'know - we were already winning and the sending off was fair), and now you're making excuses for it. You played badly, Anderson and Carrick particularly so and we won because we were better. I accept the fact that foreign investment has helped us massively in this, but you have foreign investment from all over the world because of your fans from all over the world - so you have money too.

We were just better, the sending off just helped us dominate the game.

Let's not get silly now. You were in no way dominating the game before the sending off and the City goal was very much against the run of play.

Tell me more about how badly Carrick played today, did you even watch the game?

Lol @ carrick not even playing

Yeah, there was no way you were dominating. IF evans wasen't a dumb fuck we would have stood a very good chance of winning.

[Bales Rant]

As a United fan, I must firstly say congratulations to City. It was a well-deserved win, the sending off was correct (though I did initially think Evans was fouled first), it wouldn't have changed the overall result, and City were better in all areas. They had the better quality and commitment, which worries me.

Now time for the rant.

After United got beat for the second time by Barcelona in the 2011 CL final - and in a even more convincing manner than 2009 to boot - I began thinking the unthinkable: it's time for a new manager with new, fresh ideas.

Firstly, Ferguson claimed after '09 that he knew what went wrong and he would fix it next time around. '11 demonstrated clearly that he couldn't even identify those problems nevermind surmount them. I said at the time there's a guy called Boas at Porto who'd be a suitable replacement.

Secondly, it was obvious to most United fans that we should have bought a quality central midfielder (or two) during pre-season aka Sneijder. Ferguson gambled and didn't, and now we are paying for it as shown today. Does anyone really think Carrick (the new Ray Wilkins), Anderson, Fletcher, Park are United quality?! Are they going to scare any of the Premier League's top boys or European teams? I like Cleverley but he's got a long way to go and its completely unfair to rely on him, esp in European games.

Thirdly, and regarding today, Evans over Jones, over Vidic? At half-time it was obvious United needed to make a change. What does Ferguson do? He only makes the change after City scored their second. And then he takes Nani off?! (Granted, he played shite like the rest of them but he remains one of our best players and can turn a game). Also, if he isn't going to give Berbatov game time he may as well have sold him to fund new player's - or even Sneijder's wages. Welbeck has the distinction of putting in the worst display by a United forward in five years. Yes, worse than Forlan and Bellion. Rio is, unfortunately, past it. If he was a horse he would be taken out back and shot. I've given him time but Evan's isn't United quality - he gets bullied time and again, his football intelligence isn't the best either. Since he requested a transfer in 2010, Evra has been shocking - his positional sense has deserted him.

Not that everything's bad. It's only 3 points lost in a long season. In the long-run it might be a good thing that we got found out today.

[Mytannion]

Let's not get silly now. You were in no way dominating the game before the sending off and the City goal was very much against the run of play.

Tell me more about how badly Carrick played today, did you even watch the game?

Fletcher, apologies. Got a bit carried away there..

The first goal was against the run of play, yes, however - as soon as that went in, we started to take control and stated to knock the ball about nicely.

I'm not even going to dignify Hossaim's reply with a response, it's pure bias.

EDIT: You'll also like to note, I did not say we were dominating the game before the sending off, but rather we were winning and that the sending off helped us dominate the game.

[Hossaim]

Let's not get silly now. You were in no way dominating the game before the sending off and the City goal was very much against the run of play.

Tell me more about how badly Carrick played today, did you even watch the game?

Fletcher, apologies. Got a bit carried away there..

The first goal was against the run of play, yes, however - as soon as that went in, we started to take control and stated to knock the ball about nicely, and yes, started dominating the game.

I'm not even going to dignify Hossaim's reply with a response, it's pure bias.

You can't say it's not true that city did not earn their way to the top. They go and get whatever superstar they can get and buy him no matter what, and then often bench him. They didn't earn their place as a top club.

[Mytannion]

You can't say it's not true that city did not earn their way to the top. They go and get whatever superstar they can get and buy him no matter what, and then often bench him. They didn't earn their place as a top club.

I've never denied this. Ever. So don't put words in my mouth. If you were in the same situation you would be the same and would not complain, and also - the bias part was mainly directed at you saying we don't develop youth or sign young players. We do both of these.

[Eastfield Lodge]

You can't say it's not true that city did not earn their way to the top. They go and get whatever superstar they can get and buy him no matter what, and then often bench him. They didn't earn their place as a top club.

I've never denied this. Ever. So don't put words in my mouth. If you were in the same situation you would be the same and would not complain, and also - the bias part was mainly directed at you saying we don't develop youth or sign young players. We do both of these.

Out of interest, which young players have broken through into the first team since the money spending?

[Nazis in Space]

@ Hossaim, you're being a stereotypical United fan right now. You've been humiliated by the better side (we were 1-0 up before the sending off, so y'know - we were already winning and the sending off was fair), and now you're making excuses for it. You played badly, Anderson and Carrick particularly so and we won because we were better. I accept the fact that foreign investment has helped us massively in this, but you have foreign investment from all over the world because of your fans from all over the world - so you have money too.

We were just better, the sending off just helped us dominate the game.

you were better, but not 6-1 better. more like 2-1 better. And yes, we have money, but ti's not the same. We build up squads using our youth acadamy and spoting potential good players early wiht the occasional big splash. You go and think "k, who is the beat plyer in teh worldz?" Then buy him.

Looking at today's starting lineup...

David e Gea Spanish; Bought from Athletico for 20 mio €
Chris Smalling Bought from the FC Fulham
{b]Rio Ferdinand[/b] Bought from Leeds United
Jonny Evans Hooray, a Manchester Youth!
Patrice Evra French; Bought from AS Monaco
Nani Portuguese; Bought from Soporting CP for 25.5 mio
Darren Fletcher Manchester Youth #2!
Anderson Bought from Porto for 30 mio €
Ashley Young Bought from Astron Villa
Wayne Rooney Bought from Everton for ~ 30- 35 mio € (Bloody conversion)
Danny Welbeck Manchester Youth #3

Rose-tinted glasses, it seems.

[Mytannion]

Out of interest, which young players have broken through into the first team since the money spending?

Well, not so much broken into the team since the money spending - but we developed Micah Richards, we signed Joe Hart and developed him. John Guidetti has had a few chances, but yeah - because of the money spending, there haven't been many players breaking into it recently - but that's inevitable.

We have signed some great youngsters recently though.

[Eastfield Lodge]

Out of interest, which young players have broken through into the first team since the money spending?

Well, not so much broken into the team since the money spending - but we developed Micah Richards, we signed Joe Hart and developed him. John Guidetti has had a few chances, but yeah - because of the money spending, there haven't been many players breaking into it recently - but that's inevitable.

We have signed some great youngsters recently though.

Such as?

[Mytannion]

Well, not so much broken into the team since the money spending - but we developed Micah Richards, we signed Joe Hart and developed him. John Guidetti has had a few chances, but yeah - because of the money spending, there haven't been many players breaking into it recently - but that's inevitable.

We have signed some great youngsters recently though.

Such as?

Denis Suarez, Karim Rekik, Luca Scapuzzi, Harry Bunn, Chris Chantler etc. All of which can be brought through in the future, you should note.

[Phoenigetuzstha]

Such as?

Denis Suarez, Karim Rekik, Luca Scapuzzi, Harry Bunn, Chris Chantler etc. All of which can be brought through in the future, you should note.

Oh he told yo ass!
(Sorry I know my imput is irrelevant)

Although today I'm happy because Maribor won 3-1

[Eastfield Lodge]

Such as?

Denis Suarez, Karim Rekik, Luca Scapuzzi, Harry Bunn, Chris Chantler etc. All of which can be brought through in the future, you should note.

Fair enough, just wondering.

[Hossaim]

you were better, but not 6-1 better. more like 2-1 better. And yes, we have money, but ti's not the same. We build up squads using our youth acadamy and spoting potential good players early wiht the occasional big splash. You go and think "k, who is the beat plyer in teh worldz?" Then buy him.

Looking at today's starting lineup...

David e Gea Spanish; Bought from Athletico for 20 mio €
Chris Smalling Bought from the FC Fulham
{b]Rio Ferdinand[/b] Bought from Leeds United
Jonny Evans Hooray, a Manchester Youth!
Patrice Evra French; Bought from AS Monaco
Nani Portuguese; Bought from Soporting CP for 25.5 mio
Darren Fletcher Manchester Youth #2!
Anderson Bought from Porto for 30 mio €
Ashley Young Bought from Astron Villa
Wayne Rooney Bought from Everton for ~ 30- 35 mio € (Bloody conversion)
Danny Welbeck Manchester Youth #3


Rose-tinted glasses, it seems.

Yes but bar maybey rooney, none of these were huge 40 million dollars buys for the superstars. Nani and Anderson were young players and based on potential, so was smalling.
based on your lineup:

City Lineup
Hart: bought from shewsbury
Richards: a city youth
Kompany: 6 million from Hamburg
Lescott: 22-24 million from Everton
Clichy: 7 million from arsenal
Toure: 24 million form Barcelona
Barry: 12 million from Aston Villa
Millner: 24 million from Aston VIlla
Silva: 24 million form Villarreal
Ballotelli: 22 million from inter milan
Aguero: 35 million from Athletico Madrid

Other notables:
Nasri: 25 million form Arsenal
Robinoh: £32.5m from Real madrid
Bridge: 10 million from chelsea

1st of all, we out youth city 3-1, plus cleverly would have been playing if he was fit, so more like 4-1. Man City buy a player who had a superstar previous season for 20-30 million, then bench him when the sucks, and only seem to buy players form mostly other big clubs because they mostly only buy stars, while united buy good young players form lesser clubs along with the occasional bigger player, but Young and Rooney weren't superstars like Aguero and Nasri, so your biased ass assessment is worthless.

[Phoenigetuzstha]

Yes but bar maybey rooney, none of these were huge 40 million dollars buys for the superstars. Nani and Anderson were young players and based on potential, so was smalling.
based on your lineup:

City Lineup
Hart: bought from shewsbury
Richards: a city youth
Kompany: 6 million from Hamburg
Lescott: 22-24 million from Everton
Clichy: 7 million from _______
Toure: 24 million form Barcelona
Barry: 12 million from Aston Villa
Millner: 24 million from Aston VIlla
Silva: 24 million form Villarreal
Ballotelli: 22 million from Man City
Aguero: 35 million from Athletico Madrid

Other notables:
Nasri: 25 million form Arsenal
Robinoh: £32.5m from Real madrid
Bridge: 10 million from chelsea

1st of all, we out youth city 3-1, plus cleverly would have been playing if he was fit, so more like 4-1. Man City buy a player who had a superstar previous season for 20-30 million, then bench him when the sucks, and only seem to buy players form mostly other big clubs because they mostly only buy stars, while united buy good young players form lesser clubs along with the occasional bigger player, but Young and Rooney weren't superstars like Aguero and Nasri, so your biased ass assessment is worthless.

Anyway, who cares, Man City won using a system that suited them (Spend big money on the best) while Man U used their system which failed (Deprive lesser clubs of their better youth and then take 1-3 years developing them to play 20 odd games in a season).

[Hossaim]

Yes but bar maybey rooney, none of these were huge 40 million dollars buys for the superstars. Nani and Anderson were young players and based on potential, so was smalling.
based on your lineup:

City Lineup
Hart: bought from shewsbury
Richards: a city youth
Kompany: 6 million from Hamburg
Lescott: 22-24 million from Everton
Clichy: 7 million from _______
Toure: 24 million form Barcelona
Barry: 12 million from Aston Villa
Millner: 24 million from Aston VIlla
Silva: 24 million form Villarreal
Ballotelli: 22 million from Man City
Aguero: 35 million from Athletico Madrid

Other notables:
Nasri: 25 million form Arsenal
Robinoh: £32.5m from Real madrid
Bridge: 10 million from chelsea

1st of all, we out youth city 3-1, plus cleverly would have been playing if he was fit, so more like 4-1. Man City buy a player who had a superstar previous season for 20-30 million, then bench him when the sucks, and only seem to buy players form mostly other big clubs because they mostly only buy stars, while united buy good young players form lesser clubs along with the occasional bigger player, but Young and Rooney weren't superstars like Aguero and Nasri, so your biased ass assessment is worthless.

Anyway, who cares, Man City won using a system that suited them (Spend big money on the best) while Man U used their system which failed (Deprive lesser clubs of their better youth and then take 1-3 years developing them to play 20 odd games in a season).

But it's a system that buys a trophy, not earns it.

Also, it's a conspiracy with nameless and copycat clubs

[Osarius]

Just one note about that youth comparison... I'd say Joe Hart is practically a Man City product, personally. When they signed him he was still only 19, and 'keepers tend to mature later than other positions. But even so... I'm inclined to say that having five youth team products starting between the two teams is perhaps more indicative of either a trend at richer clubs toward buying from other teams, or a more concerning thought; English kids aren't good enough (but as a youth coach, I would dispute the latter, heh).

On top of that, just "buying good players" doesn't bring success. It takes man-management, tactical nous and other factors to make that collection of good players into a good team, imo. While I don't think Mancini is necessarily a strong enough manager to tame that dressing room, he's done alright so far, it seems. So, as much as I'm a bit... peeved... by Man City buying my club's best player two years in a row... I don't think its fair to say "City bought success" ... It's not like they're the only ones, either... Man Utd bought our best player this past summer *shrug*

[The Deleted Chris]

Such as?

Denis Suarez, Karim Rekik, Luca Scapuzzi, Harry Bunn, Chris Chantler etc. All of which can be brought through in the future, you should note.

I'd still prefer United's young players at present. Macheda has been something of a disappointment, but Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Morrison and Keane look very, very good. Admittedly Ravel Morrison is a complete and utter twat, but he's extraordinarily gifted.

In other news, ouch. Fuck that hurt. Could we please buy a central midfielder now? M'Vila if possible please.

[Serrland]

Denis Suarez, Karim Rekik, Luca Scapuzzi, Harry Bunn, Chris Chantler etc. All of which can be brought through in the future, you should note.

I'd still prefer United's young players at present. Macheda has been something of a disappointment, but Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Morrison and Keane look very, very good. Admittedly Ravel Morrison is a complete and utter twat, but he's extraordinarily gifted.

In other news, ouch. Fuck that hurt. Could we please buy a central midfielder now? M'Vila if possible please.

I've been keeping an eye on Mauricio Isla, the Chilean playing for Udinese. He can play any of the back positions and a solid center mid - he might be a good fit, given how he can play a good center mid and is versatile (and how injury ridden ManU's back line has been in past years, that is a huge plus)...

[The Deleted Chris]

I'd still prefer United's young players at present. Macheda has been something of a disappointment, but Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Morrison and Keane look very, very good. Admittedly Ravel Morrison is a complete and utter twat, but he's extraordinarily gifted.

In other news, ouch. Fuck that hurt. Could we please buy a central midfielder now? M'Vila if possible please.

I've been keeping an eye on Mauricio Isla, the Chilean playing for Udinese. He can play any of the back positions and a solid center mid - he might be a good fit, given how he can play a good center mid and is versatile (and how injury ridden ManU's back line has been in past years, that is a huge plus)...

Not familiar with Isla, but I think the mooted move for Montolivo makes sense if he still hasn't renewed his Fiorentina contract come January. Putatively available for under £10mil., right sort of age and player to inject some stability and creativity into United's midfield. De Rossi seems too expensive for his age.

I do like Ever Banega at Valencia too. Similar to Xavi as a mobile distributor, and tactically disciplined. Him or Javi Martinez, who's awesome.

[The Deleted Chris]

you were better, but not 6-1 better. more like 2-1 better. And yes, we have money, but ti's not the same. We build up squads using our youth acadamy and spoting potential good players early wiht the occasional big splash. You go and think "k, who is the beat plyer in teh worldz?" Then buy him.

Looking at today's starting lineup...

David e Gea Spanish; Bought from Athletico for 20 mio €
Chris Smalling Bought from the FC Fulham
{b]Rio Ferdinand[/b] Bought from Leeds United
Jonny Evans Hooray, a Manchester Youth!
Patrice Evra French; Bought from AS Monaco
Nani Portuguese; Bought from Soporting CP for 25.5 mio
Darren Fletcher Manchester Youth #2!
Anderson Bought from Porto for 30 mio €
Ashley Young Bought from Astron Villa
Wayne Rooney Bought from Everton for ~ 30- 35 mio € (Bloody conversion)
Danny Welbeck Manchester Youth #3

Rose-tinted glasses, it seems.

That's just the supremest shite, for many reasons. A glance at the squads reveals that whereas United either have youth players or relatively inexpensive and young acquisitions, notwithstanding Berbatov, City have an entire squad of prime age players bought for significant money, and this excludes those bought and moved on rapidly (Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge etc.). Or Robinho, bought for £30mil. and happily discarded.

Nobody would dispute that United will spend big on players; but it tends to be targeted investment to meet a specific demand (Smalling, Rio, Vidic, Carrick), or to acquire a specific and extraordinary talent (Rooney, Ronaldo, Pogba). It's also been money raised organically throught the club's commercial operations. Not City's approach, which has amounted to saturation spending of petro-millions in every conceivable position.

So do fuck off. I don't dispute that City have some extraordinarily good players, particularly Balotelli and Silva, but to equate the club's transfer policies and find similarities is just retarded.

[Fartsniffage]

Looking at today's starting lineup...

David e Gea Spanish; Bought from Athletico for 20 mio €
Chris Smalling Bought from the FC Fulham
{b]Rio Ferdinand[/b] Bought from Leeds United
Jonny Evans Hooray, a Manchester Youth!
Patrice Evra French; Bought from AS Monaco
Nani Portuguese; Bought from Soporting CP for 25.5 mio
Darren Fletcher Manchester Youth #2!
Anderson Bought from Porto for 30 mio €
Ashley Young Bought from Astron Villa
Wayne Rooney Bought from Everton for ~ 30- 35 mio € (Bloody conversion)
Danny Welbeck Manchester Youth #3

Rose-tinted glasses, it seems.

That's just the supremest shite, for many reasons. A glance at the squads reveals that whereas United either have youth players or relatively inexpensive and young acquisitions, notwithstanding Berbatov, City have an entire squad of prime age players bought for significant money, and this excludes those bought and moved on rapidly (Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge etc.). Or Robinho, bought for £30mil. and happily discarded.

Nobody would dispute that United will spend big on players; but it tends to be targeted investment to meet a specific demand (Smalling, Rio, Vidic, Carrick), or to acquire a specific and extraordinary talent (Rooney, Ronaldo, Pogba). It's also been money raised organically throught the club's commercial operations. Not City's approach, which has amounted to saturation spending of petro-millions in every conceivable position.

So do fuck off. I don't dispute that City have some extraordinarily good players, particularly Balotelli and Silva, but to equate the club's transfer policies and find similarities is just retarded.

The fuck you been?