2007/2008 European football thread

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Paris Saint Germain

Who lost as many matches as they won last season and haven't made any significant moves in the offseason. Where are the ten extra wins they'd need to challenge Lyon going to come from?

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Fulham will get picked to be relegated and won't be.

Just like the last 4 years.

I'll tag on to that one

[Hageneezz]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Who lost as many matches as they won last season and haven't made any significant moves in the offseason. Where are the ten extra wins they'd need to challenge Lyon going to come from?

I know it aint realistic,but i just hope they can become one of the bigger teams in France again,as they used to be

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Hageneezz

Paris Saint Germain

holy hageneezz

[zoraster]

Regarding Lyon; no one can beat them this season, but I wouldn’t rule out them blowing up. It wasn't a happy ship since the turn of the year, and this is a club where success and dominance has been built on solidarity and team spirit in a league filled with dressing room cancers. Once they went out of the ECL morale fell through the floor and the sniping began as the players had to go through the same old domestic routine. Houllier has undermined everything that made Lyon strong. If Perrin doesn't put things right Lyon could easily fall back into the pack.

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Fulham will get picked to be relegated and won't be.

Just like the last 4 years.

Well they should have gone last year, and but for friendly Scouse selections they would have. Coleman going has given them a chance, but the squad badly needs strengthening if they are to survive. At the time you made that post I’d certainly have been among those tipping their demise. However they’ve started to take some much needed action this past week.

Hughes is a solid addition, giving the defence some much needed depth. Davis is an inspirational signing, while Kamara - if he does sign - will finally fill the void left by Boa Morte’s sale. Throw in Niemi deciding to stay along with the potential return of Bullard and there is enough to suggest they can halt the downwards momentum.


If I had to pick anyone for the drop right now Manchester City wouldn’t be far from my thoughts. The takeover and pursuit of Sven is all well and good, but it is taking far too long. They are in danger of forgetting they stank last season, and two of their best players in Barton and Distin have departed. With Trabelsi, Jordan and Sinclair also gone they haven’t even got depth (they are struggling for shallows... try and write out an EPL class XVI) and they’ll be hard pressed to find both the required quality and quantity if they don’t get started soon. The transfer deadline is just seven weeks away on Friday. Sure they can try and spend big in January, but everyone else in trouble will have some budgetary scope this season so they can’t expect to make up much ground.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Portsmouth found themselves on the periphery of the dogfight this year. Their strong start last season combined with the outstanding defensive record did camouflage the plummeting form after December. Moreover their defence was as good as it could get, so it is going to be a big ask just to remain as tight this year even with the new blood. Their problem was scoring goals, so the summer improvements to the defence doesn’t inspire confidence. They need more work before September or they could easily find themselves in the mire.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

I really don't see why this guy gets so much money thrown at him

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6270944.stm

West Ham have completed the signing of striker Craig Bellamy from Liverpool for a club record £7.5m.

The 27-year-old Wales captain has signed a five-year contract.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bellamy

Still, problem players have gone to Upton Park and excelled before so maybe he will be another one. I still believe that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

I really don't see why this guy gets so much money thrown at him

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6270944.stm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bellamy

Still, problem players have gone to Upton Park and excelled before so maybe he will be another one. I still believe that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players.

"""""

Joey Barton

[LFC1892]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

I really don't see why this guy gets so much money thrown at him

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6270944.stm

Me either, just glad he's gone and for an actual profit(very unlike Liverpool!). He's a quick little bastard, but it means he's caught offside way too often, and can't hit a barn door when he does shoot. Also excited by the probable capture of Ryan Babel from Ajax...great young player whos actually ready now. Buying talented 16/17 year olds is fine if they work out, but glad to see 1st team players being acquired finally.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

I really don't see why this guy gets so much money thrown at him

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/6270944.stm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Bellamy

Still, problem players have gone to Upton Park and excelled before so maybe he will be another one. I still believe that Curbishley has no clue when it comes to buying players.

Bellamy's a pretty good player. When he gets a run in the first team, he's a pretty good goalscorer, and he's pretty experienced at international level also. He's worth at least 4.5m-5m.

But there's the thing. With new signings and public pronouncements since the start of the Summer, it was obvious that Liverpool were very keen to offload Bellamy. So why did West Ham throw £7.5m? I bet that was their first offer, too. Heh heh. Good business for Liverpool.

Reminds me of the (probably apocryphal) story of Seth Johnson joining Leeds when Peter Ridsdale was busying himself with spending all of their money and a lot more. On the way to the contract negotiations, Johnson and his agent were discussing what terms they were looking for. Don't accept anything under £15k pw, Johnson was told. So they arrived at the meeting, all stony-faced, snake-oil salesman Risdale sat them down, then sternly told them, "We're not prepared to offer a penny over £30k per week". It was all Johnson and his agent could do not to burst out laughing. Ah Leeds.

[edrooney]

OI!! LFC1892 - are you familiar with the acronym 'NSFW'? Dude.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by edrooney

Bellamy's a pretty good player. When he gets a run in the first team, he's a pretty good goalscorer, and he's pretty experienced at international level also. He's worth at least 4.5m-5m.

But there's the thing. With new signings and public pronouncements since the start of the Summer, it was obvious that Liverpool were very keen to offload Bellamy. So why did West Ham throw £7.5m? I bet that was their first offer, too. Heh heh. Good business for Liverpool.

Answer: Alan Curbishley + money = wtf?

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Wigan sign Koumas

http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/...070775,00.html

JASON Koumas has joined Premiership outfit Wigan in a £5.3million deal.

The fee includes a guaranteed payment of £4.6m, with a further £500,000 due on appearances.

Albion would also receive another £200,000 if Wigan either retain their top-flight status next term or get back up while Koumas remains a Latics player.

The 27-year-old ace's JJB Stadium switch makes it two big-money departures in as many days after Diomansy Kamara joined Fulham for £6m yesterday.

Both players had previously expressed a desire to play Premiership football during the new season.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by edrooney

OI!! LFC1892 - are you familiar with the acronym 'NSFW'? Dude.

You "workies" ruin it for the rest of us, you know that don't you?

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

You "workies" ruin it for the rest of us, you know that don't you?

I'm really sorry. I feel like such a prude. LFC, if you would be kind enough to link to that pic in your sig, that would be appreciated, as that picture would be interesting to me as soon as my wife goes out tonight. It was a great picture.

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Me either, just glad he's gone and for an actual profit(very unlike Liverpool!). He's a quick little bastard, but it means he's caught offside way too often, and can't hit a barn door when he does shoot. Also excited by the probable capture of Ryan Babel from Ajax...great young player whos actually ready now. Buying talented 16/17 year olds is fine if they work out, but glad to see 1st team players being acquired finally.

Yeah. I'm excited about this one. Again, though, caveat emptor. He's one, relatively inexperienced, unaccustomed to the EPL. 13.5m is a lot of money to spend with these unknowns hanging over, but I guess it's the going rate. Players from the Eredivisie tend to transfer success more consistently to the EPL than players from other leagues - although not always. Mateja Kezman, lest we forget.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by edrooney

I'm really sorry. I feel like such a prude. LFC, if you would be kind enough to link to that pic in your sig, that would be appreciated, as that picture would be interesting to me as soon as my wife goes out tonight. It was a great picture.

Is she off to the bingo?

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Wigan sign Koumas

http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/...070775,00.html

Too much!! Too much! WTF is happening this summer. Managers are paying crazy sums for average players. Maybe it's the imminent new TV deal, which will blow the old one out of the water, and further lengthen the gap between the EPL and the lower divisions.

As a Welshman, and a lifelong fairweather Cardiff City supporter, I have a decent knowledge of Koumas. He can be a tremendously skilled performer, with a great touch, and an eye for a gap. He's also a very good direct free kick taker. That's 50% of his games. The other 50%, he's lazy, he gives the ball away, and cow's arses are unthreatened by banjos.

As such, £5m is TOO MUCH!!

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

Is she off to the bingo?

Dude, I may have a Smiths lyric in my sig, but we're not that old.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by edrooney

cow's arses are unthreatened by banjos.

Translation, please.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Translation, please.

It is from the phrase, "He couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo" which is the same as someone failing to hit the side of a barn