2007/2008 European football thread

[bababui]

Originally Posted by mlyons

That's a bit of a stretch. If he's healthy, there's no question that Henry's better than Palacio. The Argentine Primera's a good league, but it's not the Premier League. The only question is Henry's health. I don't really see Palacio as anything more than a replacement for Saviola -- he's there strictly for depth.

Dont agree. Henry is 30 and hasnt been effective in a while. Palacio scored like 25 goals last season. I said 'now'.

[LFC1892]

F*#k Italy.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

Dont agree. Henry is 30 and hasnt been effective in a while. Palacio scored like 25 goals last season. I said 'now'.

Umm, Henry scored 10 goals in 16 Premier League matches last season. That's pretty effective, if you ask me. Again, the only issue with Henry is his health.

[LFC1892]

Is Freddy worth 70k per week? I know Bellamy isnt, but isnt Ljungberg half the player he once was?

Ljungberg wages stumbling block to Fiorentina transfer

By Jason Burt

Published: 12 July 2007



Fredrik Ljungberg is close to agreeing a £5.5m move to Fiorentina - although there is a major stumbling block over the Arsenal midfielder's wages. The 30-year-old Swedish international has been told he can leave, after nine years at the club, but the Italians do not want to pay the £70,000 a week he earns at the Emirates.
They are prepared to pay a straight transfer fee for Ljungberg after initially offering the Danish defender Per Kroldrup in exchange. However, Arsenal are believed to have indicated they had little interest in the former Everton player. As part of the negotiations it's understood that Fiorentina, whose delegation arrived in London on Monday, are trying to negotiate sponsorship deals to try and make the four-year contract they are offering more attractive to Ljungberg.
The Swede, who was offered to West Ham United in January, is keen on a move to Italy if he leaves Arsenal where his first-team opportunities have become limited. The transfer funds - plus the freeing up of a lucrative contract that still has two years to run - will help Arsène Wenger's re-building plans. Arsenal are close to announcing the £7m acquisition of right-back Bakary Sagna, from Auxerre, and are still mulling over whether to trigger the £13m buy-out clause in the contract of the Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Umm, Henry scored 10 goals in 16 Premier League matches last season. That's pretty effective, if you ask me. Again, the only issue with Henry is his health.

His age and athleticism are also at question. He is a player who has depended on that athleticism more than many strikers. Maybe he will still show flashes of the old Henry but I doubt if we will see a full resurgenceIf Barca were so confident in his abilities one wonders why they would shell out 25 million pounds for Palacio. After all, they still have Eto'o, Gudjonssen, Messi and Ronaldinho.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Is Freddy worth 70k per week? I know Bellamy isnt, but isnt Ljungberg half the player he once was?

It sounds crazy.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

His age and athleticism are also at question. He is a player who has depended on that athleticism more than many strikers. Maybe he will still show flashes of the old Henry but I doubt if we will see a full resurgenceIf Barca were so confident in his abilities one wonders why they would shell out 25 million pounds for Palacio. After all, they still have Eto'o, Gudjonssen, Messi and Ronaldinho.

They'll play about 70 matches next season. They need depth, and lots of it -- and they've lost Saviola, they're going to lose Giuly, and I don't think they want to rely on Gudjohnsen, who didn't exactly impress last season. I would be shocked if Palacio were a regular starter ahead of a healthy Henry.

[LFC1892]

Forgive me if you've seen this(and the others as well)..just found it funny.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l9cee5kBqz8

[LFC1892]

Marseille are welcome to him I say.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Forgive me if you've seen this(and the others as well)..just found it funny.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l9cee5kBqz8

Excellent commercial!!

[bababui]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Marseille are welcome to him I say.

He reminds me of Fred Sanford

[ukhotstove]

Italy are the best team in the world, don't forget they had that world cuppy thing to sort it out Never wished ill on anybody but the day Ken Bates leaves this earth it shall be free beer (1 round I'm a cheap bar steward) at my local.

Tips on best buy of the season ?

Last season had to be David Unsworth, paid nothing for him plus cheap wages and got the goal that earned Wigan around £40 million not bad for a player who can't run, can't tackle and can only score from 12 yards out with just the goalie to beat "Latics Legend"

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Southampton's Player of the Year and Northern Ireland international defender Chris Baird, is off to Fulham for just over £3M.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...ham+land+Baird

Fulham have signed defender Chris Baird from Southampton on a four-year deal.

The Cottagers have landed Baird for a £3.025million fee after beating Premier League newcomers Sunderland to the 25-year-old Northern Irishman's signature.

Not surprising that Sanchez will look to grab some of his players from when he was manager at Northern Ireland and that was probably the difference in Baird going to Fulham instead of Sunderland. Both sides may well be fighting to stay up so it's a good boost for the Cottagers.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Italy are the best team in the world, don't forget they had that world cuppy thing to sort it out

They were the Champs of the world on July 9th, 2006. Today is a new day. If the Argies were allowed to play in Euro 2008, they would likely go in as favorites. They simply have the best all-around squad ATM and a very nice balance of youth and experience.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

They were the Champs of the world on July 9th, 2006. Today is a new day. If the Argies were allowed to play in Euro 2008, they would likely go in as favorites. They simply have the best all-around squad ATM and a very nice balance of youth and experience.

Meh. I love watching Argentina play, but they've got some weaknesses. Abbondanzieri's no good, Cambiasso's not really comfortable at left wing, and (despite what Ray Hudson might think) Riquelme's got some flaws. He's an incredible passer with amazing vision, but he's also slow as molasses, can't play defense, and is prone to disappearing for large chunks of time. There's a reason Villareal shipped him back to Argentina.

Argentina's doing a fine job in the Copa America, but they looked really shaky going in (a draw against Switzerland and a narrow win against Algeria aren't exactly confidence-inspiring). It's a little premature to crown them as the best team in the world before they've actually beaten a top team.

[bababui]

I wish we had the World Cup biannually. As the world gets smaller these continental competitions are becoming anachronistic. I dont know whether the Argentinians would win the World Cup but it would be more fun to watch them in that competition rather than the Copa America.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

I dont know whether the Argentinians would win the World Cup but it would be more fun to watch them in that competition rather than the Copa America.

I agree with this much, at least.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

They were the Champs of the world on July 9th, 2006. Today is a new day. If the Argies were allowed to play in Euro 2008, they would likely go in as favorites. They simply have the best all-around squad ATM and a very nice balance of youth and experience.

Italy = world champs and until the next world cup thats what they'll be imo, the ratings system is worthless at best so until the next world cup Italy are the team to beat. Would Argentina go in as favourites Id have to say no, before the Argies I'd put my money on Spain and Holland because just once in their lifetimes they have to play as a team and live up to the hype aka Argentina thats why I wouldnt put them as favs as they self inplode on the big stage and imo the Eurpoean Championship is deeper team wise than the Copa.

[bababui]

Argentina have swept through this tourney with 5 easy wins outscoring their opposition 16-3. Nary a close match amongst them. Of course, it could all come undone against their arch rivals Brazil sunday.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

Argentina have swept through this tourney with 5 easy wins outscoring their opposition 16-3. Nary a close match amongst them. Of course, it could all come undone against their arch rivals Brazil sunday.

The most difficult competition they've had to face has been a 3/4 strength Mexico, though. Nobody they've faced in this Copa America would seriously challenge any of the major European teams.