Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread 2014-15

[KoloToure]

Oh bloody hell. Malky Mackay has to be unemployable now, if this is true. Puts a whole new light on what happened last year as well.

[Saugeais]

Dead last in Fantasy. Wooden Spoon ahoy, woooo!

[KoloToure]

And here comes Super Mario...

[Shove Piggy Shove]

Dead last in Fantasy. Wooden Spoon ahoy, woooo!

If I'd picked the right captain, I'd be second *sigh*

Oh bloody hell. Malky Mackay has to be unemployable now, if this is true. Puts a whole new light on what happened last year as well.

Nah, I reckon he's got a job for life at Millwall now

And here comes Super Mario...

Could be a good signing for Liverpool if BR can keep him in check, but he seems to be calming down as he gets older, and BR did manage to keep Suarez out of the news for anything but goalscoring last season - so it's definitely a promising signing if it goes through. Is there much hope of it being a done deal before Monday's game against Citeh?

[KoloToure]

Oh bloody hell. Malky Mackay has to be unemployable now, if this is true. Puts a whole new light on what happened last year as well.

Nah, I reckon he's got a job for life at Millwall now

I was thinking Romania actually. Gigi Becali says this stuff every week.

And here comes Super Mario...

Could be a good signing for Liverpool if BR can keep him in check, but he seems to be calming down as he gets older, and BR did manage to keep Suarez out of the news for anything but goalscoring last season - so it's definitely a promising signing if it goes through. Is there much hope of it being a done deal before Monday's game against Citeh?

Liverpool have a notoriously highly detailed medical, so I can't see it being done and the results returned by 12pm tomorrow.

Would fucking love it though.

[Evil Lord Sauron]

Oh bloody hell. Malky Mackay has to be unemployable now, if this is true. Puts a whole new light on what happened last year as well.

What are the actual claims? BBC hinted at racist text messages between him and Moody and that's about it.

And here comes Super Mario...

£16 mill if the reports are right could be a bargain. He is a quality player if inconsistent and crazy, but then again so was Suarez before he got to Liverpool.

[KoloToure]

Oh bloody hell. Malky Mackay has to be unemployable now, if this is true. Puts a whole new light on what happened last year as well.

What are the actual claims? BBC hinted at racist text messages between him and Moody and that's about it.

https://twitter.com/MailSport/status/50 ... 48/photo/1

There are also allegations of transfer fraud. One cited example if that he signed a player for £600k and paid the same sum to the agent.

And here comes Super Mario...

£16 mill if the reports are right could be a bargain. He is a quality player if inconsistent and crazy, but then again so was Suarez before he got to Liverpool.

Suarez actually scored 43 goals the season before he signed for Liverpool, and was always on point - Balotelli, not so much.

But honestly, if there is anyone who can get him to grow up and take the game more seriously it is Rodgers and Peters.

[Osarius]

So I'm trying desperately not to read too much into the appointment of a new CEO at Villa........

[Commerce Heights]

Oh, look, Roy Hodgson has an actual suggestion for England’s players to improve themselves—one that’s more likely to be productive than the silly B-team league and all of the FA’s whining about foreigners.

[Bundabunda]

And here comes Super Mario...

I think Suarez was manageable on some level (that is, he might've been Dracula incarnate) but he also had a selfless side to him. When things aren't going right for Balo, he gets petulant. He seems a greedy player to, so maybe Rodgers needs to bring something out of him to work in their system. It'd be a massive effort to sign him.

Meanwhile, Sherwood has pulled out of the Palace managerial race. They're better off without him.

[Osarius]

He seems a greedy player too

People said that about Sturridge. Also said he had attitude problems.

[Bundabunda]

Comparing Sturridge's behavior to Balo's is a bit harsh on Sturridge. Sturridge was played out of position and rarely got any time in his preferred position at Chelsea, so that was a bit understandable.

Balo has had Mourinho, Mancini, and Seerdorf (the latter two's relationship with him was pretty fraternal, wasn't it?) to turn his attitude problems around. If Brendao can change him, it'll be a minor miracle.

[Yttribia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Depo ... _Francisco

The club played its first match on 12 April 2014 against local side Trefules. The match drew international attention after two players from CDPF were sent off during the match despite the club's promotion of nonviolence in the sport.

This is, quite frankly, stuff you'd find out of The Onion.

[Osarius]

Comparing Sturridge's behavior to Balo's is a bit harsh on Sturridge. Sturridge was played out of position and rarely got any time in his preferred position at Chelsea, so that was a bit understandable.

If it's harsh on Sturridge, it's harsh on Balotelli. That was kind of my point.

Also, if Sturridge's alleged issues were because he wasn't playing in his favourite position, I'm pretty sure that fits the definition of petulance.
I don't see why there is any real difference in opinion. I addressed the exact same two "problem traits" (greediness and petulance) in both players. I don't see anybody criticising the signing of Sturridge anymore.

On a related note, why is it that when say, Wayne Rooney looks like he's about to lose his head, he's "showing passion", but when Balotelli "shows passion" (you know, by doing the same shit) he's labelled petulant and branded as a player with attitude problems? If Wayne Rooney can exhibit the same behaviour on the pitch and yet still be considered suitable to captain his country (and people seem to think he can), I really don't see why there's so much focus on the supposed problems with Balotelli.

I dunno man. For a guy who is supposedly greedy, sometimes petulant and has attitude problems, Balotelli seems pretty popular with his teammates, too. He just doesn't sound like a problem player to me.

[Yellow Yellow Red]

Comparing Sturridge's behavior to Balo's is a bit harsh on Sturridge. Sturridge was played out of position and rarely got any time in his preferred position at Chelsea, so that was a bit understandable.

If it's harsh on Sturridge, it's harsh on Balotelli. That was kind of my point.

Also, if Sturridge's alleged issues were because he wasn't playing in his favourite position, I'm pretty sure that fits the definition of petulance.
I don't see why there is any real difference in opinion. I addressed the exact same two "problem traits" (greediness and petulance) in both players. I don't see anybody criticising the signing of Sturridge anymore.

On a related note, why is it that when say, Wayne Rooney looks like he's about to lose his head, he's "showing passion", but when Balotelli "shows passion" (you know, by doing the same shit) he's labelled petulant and branded as a player with attitude problems? If Wayne Rooney can exhibit the same behaviour on the pitch and yet still be considered suitable to captain his country (and people seem to think he can), I really don't see why there's so much focus on the supposed problems with Balotelli.

I dunno man. For a guy who is supposedly greedy, sometimes petulant and has attitude problems, Balotelli seems pretty popular with his teammates, too. He just doesn't sound like a problem player to me.

I think some of the differences in perception between Balo and Rooney (apart from the latter being an Englishman) come down to off the field issues though, too. The "because I'm rich" car crash incident, the firework fire, the dart throwing mishap, the busting up of the press conference to introduce Stramaccioni, etc.

Although I've got to admit, I might be biased, given that I really dislike him after this bit of disrespectful fucker.

[Osarius]

I think some of the differences in perception between Balo and Rooney (apart from the latter being an Englishman) come down to off the field issues though, too. The "because I'm rich" car crash incident, the firework fire, the dart throwing mishap, the busting up of the press conference to introduce Stramaccioni, etc.

When was the last time he did something like that, though?

[Yellow Yellow Red]

I think some of the differences in perception between Balo and Rooney (apart from the latter being an Englishman) come down to off the field issues though, too. The "because I'm rich" car crash incident, the firework fire, the dart throwing mishap, the busting up of the press conference to introduce Stramaccioni, etc.

When was the last time he did something like that, though?

A few years ago. For all I know, he could very well have "grown up" (as much as I hate that phrase). I'm not saying I agree with that perception of him, mind, I'm just saying why people could draw the difference between him and other "troublemakers."

Although that backheel still makes me grumble.

[Shove Piggy Shove]

When was the last time he did something like that, though?

A few years ago. For all I know, he could very well have "grown up" (as much as I hate that phrase). I'm not saying I agree with that perception of him, mind, I'm just saying why people could draw the difference between him and other "troublemakers."

Although that backheel still makes me grumble.

Also, whilst he was at Citeh, he was reportedly donating ~50% of his salary to charity. Not sure how much truth there is to that, as the claim was made by an ex-girlfriend, but is does show a different side to the 'bad boy' persona usually portrayed in the media.

[Osarius]

I know why people see him differently. I just think it's ridiculous, and baseless. People see him differently because they're told to, put simply.

[KoloToure]

Balotelli arriving for his medical

[Bundabunda]

Don't know how I'd feel about Welback rumored for Spurs. He'd start here, but probably on the wing and be less effective.

[Alvalero]

What are the actual claims? BBC hinted at racist text messages between him and Moody and that's about it.

https://twitter.com/MailSport/status/50 ... 48/photo/1

There are also allegations of transfer fraud. One cited example if that he signed a player for £600k and paid the same sum to the agent.

£16 mill if the reports are right could be a bargain. He is a quality player if inconsistent and crazy, but then again so was Suarez before he got to Liverpool.

Suarez actually scored 43 goals the season before he signed for Liverpool, and was always on point - Balotelli, not so much.

But honestly, if there is anyone who can get him to grow up and take the game more seriously it is Rodgers and Peters.

I thought it was 48 in 50 games...................that may have been for a calendar year mind you.
We do need another striker and with Balos potential and price(waste-of-Aspas was 10 mil) it's a bargain. Better option than samuold eto despite his great scoring record, a long term young-ish player is better than an old one who will probably be gone in a year.

Replaced Coutinho and Herrara with Sterling and McGeady for this weekend. Coutinho while a great player is not reliable enough(yet) for a fantasy league team hence I've replaced him with Sterling who pops up with goals and assists more regularly. As Herrara is injured I've replaced him with McGeady(who I forgot signed for Everton. Had I remembered that he'd have been in the team last week). A slower version of Sterling who seems to have already settled in the premier league, and at 5.5 is dirt cheap.

[Buyan]

Alex McLeish as new coach of Racing Genk. He seems to have a tough time after his Birmingham period, anyone who can illuminate me on this?

[Auremena]

Don't know how I'd feel about Welback rumored for Spurs. He'd start here, but probably on the wing and be less effective.

Not fond of it.
I'm generally not fond of Welbeck at all. Keep him as a backup to RvP and Rooney, where he belongs. Spurs already have a great contingent of attacking/wing midfielders; all the AMs can lay on the wings, and all wingers (save Townsend, possibly Lennon) can play as an AM.
Chadli-Eriksen-Lamela is my preferred lineup, with Townsend-Holtby-Lennon the second line. A spare one might be nice, but Welbeck is too expensive and too good to be a 3rd choice; he's definitely a second choice for top clubs or first choice for mid-table down. Pick someone out of the youth team to take the occasional bench spot or start during a league cup match in case of injury. Heck, Kane could even play as an AM, or rather a deep striker.

No, I'd much prefer Chadli out left. Welbeck would do better at a mid-table club where he is more needed.

[Osarius]

Alex McLeish as new coach of Racing Genk. He seems to have a tough time after his Birmingham period, anyone who can illuminate me on this?

Nothing to illuminate. He's a shit manager.