2007/2008 European football thread

[Fallschirmjager]

My God
The new Galaxy kits are hideous and the new Logo is awful

The away kits and pretty decent looking but those home kits are pretty bad

[bababui]

DOLA

The pundits get it wrong very often.

I'd challenge you to find very many pundits in the early 90's, pre USA 1994, who proclaimed Gheorgi Hagi or Hristo Stoichkov the best or even near the best at their positions even though they are two of the greatest players ever. Conventiamal wisdom only goes so far in football.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by bababui

Tevez/Messi..maybe not as good.

The rest absolutely as good or better. In fact, some of these guys, van Nistelroy, Trezeguet, Henry are over the hill.

Forlan/Recoba get punished for playing in what is basically a small market country. But based on raw talent they are as good as anyone.

Forlan plays in Spain. Recoba plays in Italy. We have a basis for comparison. Do you think van Nistelrooy scored more goals in La Liga than Forlan did because opposing defenders knew he was Dutch? Recoba was fifth on the depth chart at Inter last season; do you think he didn't get playing time because he was Uruguayan, or possibly because the four guys playing ahead of him were better?

[mlyons]

dola

It's really bizarre for you to say players like Trezeguet, van Nistelrooy, and Henry are over the hill when you're comparing them to Alvaro Recoba, who's 31 and has been off-form since 2002.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

Brazil got a huge gift from the referee when he allowed their last PK to count. Maybe they might have won anyway...but maybe.

Seeing as how Greece, of all countries, is the champ of Europe I could then argue that this shows the lack of talent in Europe.

Greece played well and deserved their win and they never did it by beating teams 6-1, let me ask you to put up your top ten nations in no order and I'd be VERY surprised if you put in more than 2 South American teams, mine would be.

Italy
Brazil
Argentina
Germany
Spain
Holland
England
France
Portugal
Croatia

in no order.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

My God
The new Galaxy kits are hideous and the new Logo is awful

The away kits and pretty decent looking but those home kits are pretty bad

Supposed to have done it because of Ego coming from Madrid, reminds me a bit of the German home top imo. Kits are pretty much the same same depending on who makes them aka Adidas, Puma, Nike etc.

[theasfl]

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

My God
The new Galaxy kits are hideous and the new Logo is awful

The away kits and pretty decent looking but those home kits are pretty bad

I miss the green and gold.

[Raderick]

I've ordered my new Beckham L.A. Galaxy jersey and pre-ordered my new Man Utd Cristiano Ronaldo jersey!

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by Raderick

I've ordered my new Beckham L.A. Galaxy jersey and pre-ordered my new Man Utd Cristiano Ronaldo jersey!

You really are gaye!

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

You really are gaye!

The fact that he is a Chargers fan cubes his gayness.

[darkhorse]

Originally Posted by bababui

The fact that he is a Chargers fan cubes his gayness.

Also, the proud possessor of the gayeest thread title evah.

[mlyons]

Still think Argentina's the best team in the world?

[Raderick]

Originally Posted by bababui

The fact that he is a Chargers fan cubes his gayness.

[LFC1892]

FOXSPORTS.com.au
July 16, 2007
DUTCHMAN Dick Advocaat looks set to replace under-fire Graham Arnold as Australia coach next year, according to media reports.
Arnold is to remain with Football Federation Australia, most likely in a coaching role alongside technical director Rob Baan, until Advocaat is confirmed as the new national coach.
The vastly experienced Advocaat, whose contract with Russian club Zenit St Petersburg expires later this year, was interviewed for the job in 2005, but compatriot Guus Hiddink was preferred to lead the Socceroos to the World Cup in Germany.
But after Arnold's disastrous Asian Cup campaign, Advocaat has been tagged as the man to take Australia to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, qualifying for which starts in June 2008.
It is reported that FFA chairman Frank Lowy will fund Advocaat's wages, as the organisation's finances look to be stretched even further if the Socceroos crash out of the Asian Cup, a tournament they were tipped as favourites to win.
<A class=image href="http://foxsports.news.com.au/?from=ni_story"">

Hopefully this happens sooner rather then later. Graham Arnold sucks.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Still think Argentina's the best team in the world?

Well...firstly I must give Brazil enormous kudos for a great defensive performance.....but...

Dunga's Brazil and their 3 defensive midfielders must score first against an offensive team like Argentina. Were these two teams to play again, there is no guarantee Brazil would win. They were definatly not dominate on the offensive end. They played classic counter attacking football. They are much less effective playing from behind.

And losing to Brazil doesnt mean they arent better than any other team in the world. One last thing, hate to add it, but I wonder if the result might have been different had the game been played at night and not in 90 degree heat with 70% humidity.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by mlyons

Still think Argentina's the best team in the world?

"

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

but I wonder if the result might have been different had the game been played at night and not in 90 degree heat with 70% humidity.

I'd understand this if Argentina was next door to Iceland or Sweden but aren't they both South American teams playing in a South American country ?

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

I'd understand this if Argentina was next door to Iceland or Sweden but aren't they both South American teams playing in a South American country ?

It snowed in Buenos Aires last night. Remember they are in the southern hemisphere.

[LFC1892]

Jeez United....no sh*t?

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...127494,00.html

The Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists his club is determined to proceed with the signing of Carlos Tevez despite admitting the deal is "over-complicated".

After finishing on the losing side in last night's Copa América final as Brazil hammered Argentina, Tevez is preparing to fly into Manchester for a medical which, under normal circumstances, would mark the end game in a £30m move from West Ham. However, with the Premier League insisting that any transfer fee must be paid to West Ham rather than Kia Joorabchian, whose company owns Tevez's economic rights, the saga is likely to remain some way from conclusion.....

"

[edrooney]

Originally Posted by LFC1892

Jeez United....no sh*t?

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...127494,00.html

A lot of pundits are expressing boredom at this long drawn out saga. I'm really enjoying it. It'll be really interesting to see how it pans out.

ManU have been negotiating the transfer directly with Jia Koorabchian, which seems to indicate that the FA rule about third parties being able to directly interfere with a football club's ownership of a player was, and continues to be breached, by West Ham.

Now this is why they were fined. The reason they were not docked points, and the reason that Tevez was allowed to play in the last few crucial games at the end of the season. was that the Premier League were 'satisfied' that such ability did not exist after West Ham unilaterally 'tore up' the contract between themselves and Joorabchian.

I never really understood this. One signatory to a contract can't just tear it up and make it null and void. It requires all signatories, and I couldn't see Joorabchian just foregoing his claim on a very lucrative player. So I fail to see what West Ham could have done to satisfy the Premier League that this third party binding no longer existed, particularly now as it seems to entirely exist.

The Premier League's insistence that West Ham are the sole owners of Tevez' contract, and transfers can only be negotiated with them, with all proceeds flowing to them, seems to be entirely misguided. As one pundit wrote today "ManU seem to be operating in the real world, while the Premier League are insisting on a fantasy version of events".

My guess is the following transpire: ManU will complete the signing of Tevez through Joorabchian with Joorabchian getting a bundle of cash in return (pending personal legal difficulties notwithstanding). West Ham get bupkiss. Premier League are forced to admit that they got it massively wrong in allowing Tevez to play those last few games, as he was, indeed, tied to a third party external to West Ham in breach of their rules.

If they told West Ham they were satisfied, and Tevez could play, it would seem unfair to punish West Ham for that. Can't really punish ManU or Tevez or Joorabchian, as they've done nothing wrong. The fall of the blame has to land on the head of the Premier League. Massive incompetence, stupidity and blind arrogance. Resignations all round would be appropriate.

(Hopefully the new guy would instantly dismiss Steve MacLaren as England manager.)