*Official* English Football Season 2010-11

[sledger]

Not overly bothered if it goes through or not tbh, imagine the long term difference he would make over the course of the season would be negligible. Would rather see players in other positions come in. However, removing Almunia would be so great.

 

[Jarquis]

A CB would make me much happier, but the current keeper situation is a farce.
Nobody knows who the #1 for Sunday is, Almunia didn't feature for the most part in preseason and Fabianski well and truly dropped his chance with both hands, much he does in a match.
Neither of those two are really good enough, which is a shame because it was only 2 seasons ago that Almunia looked terrific. His confidence is shot now though, being dropped for the end of the season with a "wrist injury", being dumped for preseason and being pushed towards the exit when Osasuna and Galatasary enquired.
Schwarzer is an improvement on both of them, even if only a marginal but not insignificant improvement. It'd bring some clarity to the keeper situation and it'd give us some consistency and solidity we've been lacking for a while now.
Obviously it doesn't compare to signing a real top keeper... but i'll settle for it.

 

[sledger]

Can see Schwarzer joining and being stuck on the bench, as happened with Richard Wright and Carini. If that happens, I will laugh/cry.

 

[Jarquis]

Depends if he's here in time for Sunday. If he signs but Almunia plays and has the game of his life it'd be interesting.

 

[sledger]

Depends if he's here in time for Sunday. If he signs but Almunia plays and has the game of his life it'd be dire.

Fix'd.

And you so know that would happen btw.

 

[Jarquis]

More pressing issue... Djourou is out injured right? So if Vermaelen goes down, we have Koscielny and Nordveit at the back

 

[Uppercut]

Think Schwarzer would make a huge difference. Almunia cost you enough points last season (especially in big games) that you could have won the league without him.

 

[Uppercut]

People under-estimate how fantastic Barcelona are defensively. From the front, they absolutely suffocate teams. Occasionally they'll get caught out by a really basic looking ball in behind the defence, but that's always a risk for a team that plays with such a high defensive line and which presses the ball so relentlessly.

Partly because in this country, we regard good defending as the John Terry "heroically lunge in desperately at the last minute, putting everything in the way." If Terry had the first clue about how to position himself, he wouldn't need to throw himself about.

^ Great post this.

Although Terry's positioning is actually pretty good. Deep defensive lines can be very successful too.

 

[grecian]

^ Great post this.

Although Terry's positioning is actually pretty good. Deep defensive lines can be very successful too.

Meh, it's a "no-****-sherlock" post, and going on what experts say, it's the reason why Bobby Moore was considered a "great".

 

[cpr]

Downside to deep defending is if you drop a testicle, no ones behind to catch it, unless you've got two centre backs who really understand each other (and their testicles.....). Hence why Vidic/Rio together are immense, also Rio/Terry for England are pretty solid, but change either of the combo's by one and it gets shocking.



Anyway, god awful pun I heard today, that Utd fans shouldn't worry about our new signing only being a Bebe, as we've got a Nani who can look after him Bloody hate it when Scouse fans are going into a season laughing at us.... Be different come November and they've imploded

 

[Uppercut]

Downside to deep defending is if you drop a testicle, no ones behind to catch it, unless you've got two centre backs who really understand each other (and their testicles.....). Hence why Vidic/Rio together are immense, also Rio/Terry for England are pretty solid, but change either of the combo's by one and it gets shocking.

Nah, that's the opposite of the truth. Mistakes are much more costly when you have a high line because there's acres of space in behind. Although you'll generally come under a lot more pressure (and maybe make more mistakes as a result) with a deep defensive line.

 

[duffer]

We're not worried about defenders anymore. This season is going to be attack or nothing for us. Actually have good feelings on how Chamakh, Bendtner,Nasri, Walcott and Wilshere will go this season. Think they will all be significant. Let's not be worried about the shambles we have at the back.

 

[Jarquis]

If its a season full of games like Legia Warsaw... it'll be interesting I guess. Does seem like its going to be a vase of just scoring one more than the opposition manage. No 1-0 to the Arsenal

 

[Craig]

James Milner and Mario Balotelli all but set to join Man City. As an Inter fan, I'm not too disheartened by the transfer, a talent yes, but too much of a loose cannon, and Inter get a great deal out of it. Bought for £250k and then sold on for about £26m.

Craig Bellamy is out, and Carlos Tevez reckons he will retire in a few years time as he has lost his passion for football.

 

[Jarquis]

Apparently Torres out on Sunday. Will be on the bench at best.

 

[vcs]

It's a crazy world where Balotelli (what exactly has he accomplished so far?) and Milner go for 20+ million. City's transfer policy is a joke.

 

[Pothas]

Milner is such a pointless buy as well, not a bad player by any means but where is going to play? They have got a million central midfealders as it is and if he is going to play wide then they probably have better options there as well.

Anyway Bellamy would be a great aquisition for any middle of the road premiership team, would be excellent for Fulham, Hughes knows how to handle him and he has always played well under him.

 

[Jarquis]

Mario Balotelli signs a five-year deal with Manchester City | Football | guardian.co.uk

Done deal. City to be lethal from direct free kicks. Balotelli, Kolarov and Silva (IIRC) all pretty deadly.

 

[Cevno]

Google Translate

Look at how Ballotelli introduces himself on his official Website.

 

[sledger]

Apparently Torres out on Sunday. Will be on the bench at best.

Is about the only hope Arsenal have tbh.