*Official* English Football Season 2014-15

[Eds]

That's definitely what Barca of recent years have been lacking when both Alba and Alves have bombed forward -- they need someone intelligent like Abidal to be able to slot in and play as a third centre back as in Pep's team. Putting far too much pressure on Busquets and the increasingly immobile Xavi these days.

Pretty decent article on back threes btw: http://spielverlagerung.com/2014/07/21/three-at-the-back-chains-and-variations-of-it/

 

[GIMH]

Well done Everton on a great result last night, pretty obvious they will be contenders again after that.

 

[sledger]

Not quite sure where this ought to go, but may as well stick it in here:

BBC Sport - Dunga named as Brazil coach for the second time

This is quite possibly the most hilariously bad and backward move they could have made.

 

[King Pietersen]

When Dunga inevitably gets sacked, will they go back to Scolari?

Well done Everton on a great result last night, pretty obvious they will be contenders again after that.

Funnily enough, we normally have a good season after a ****e pre-season. Wasn't exactly the First Team either;

First Half:
Joel, Browning, Garbutt, Duffy, Distin, Lundstram, Barry, Kennedy, Naismith, Pienaar, McAleny.

2nd:
Joel, Coleman, Stones, Alcaraz, Hibbert, McCarthy, Gibson, Osman, McGeady, Long, Hope

2nd half slightly better team, but hardly surprising that a defence that featured Alcaraz and Hibbert at left-back conceded twice. Nice to see Gibbo back though, been out for ages with a nasty injury, so good to see him back on the park.

 

[Pothas]

Barcelona just bought a defender........

 

[sledger]

Huge fee for a defender who's older than 30.

 

[grecian]

LVG has seemingly made a few complaints about all the commercial and other responsibilities he has. Just shows how amazingly hands-on Fergie was. I genuinely wonder if they'll bring in someone else to do this, so Van Gaal (and future managers) can concentrate on football.

 

[King Pietersen]

 

[GIMH]

When Dunga inevitably gets sacked, will they go back to Scolari?



Funnily enough, we normally have a good season after a ****e pre-season. Wasn't exactly the First Team either;

First Half:
Joel, Browning, Garbutt, Duffy, Distin, Lundstram, Barry, Kennedy, Naismith, Pienaar, McAleny.

2nd:
Joel, Coleman, Stones, Alcaraz, Hibbert, McCarthy, Gibson, Osman, McGeady, Long, Hope

2nd half slightly better team, but hardly surprising that a defence that featured Alcaraz and Hibbert at left-back conceded twice. Nice to see Gibbo back though, been out for ages with a nasty injury, so good to see him back on the park.

You do know we are in league 2 right

 

[Tangles]

Saw an article with the cost of a possible 11 for Real and it's staggering to think how you compete with that sort of spending. Obviously it's about team play and not individuals but who can spend like that other than sugar daddy teams.

 

[sledger]

Not quite sure where this ought to go, but may as well stick it in here:

BBC Sport - Dunga named as Brazil coach for the second time

This is quite possibly the most hilariously bad and backward move they could have made.

Apparently in his first press conference he spoke about how impressive Colombia's James Gimenez had been at the World Cup.

 

[sledger]

Saw an article with the cost of a possible 11 for Real and it's staggering to think how you compete with that sort of spending. Obviously it's about team play and not individuals but who can spend like that other than sugar daddy teams.

There are very few teams, comparatively speaking, that can be considered true "Sugar Daddy teams" though.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'd say there are tbh, or at least clubs with that sort of money. City, Chelsea, Madrid, Monaco and PSG, plus clubs like Barca, Bayern, United and Arsenal who are just rich without the needs of rich owners etc.

Of those who got to the Champions League quarters only Atletico and to an extend Dortmund are clubs you wouldn't consider super rich and most of them have or will have sustained success over a long time because of how rich they are.

 

[sledger]

Yeah, I was just referring to Clubs who were reliant on one super rich owner/backer tbh.

 

[Uppercut]

There are very few teams, comparatively speaking, that can be considered true "Sugar Daddy teams" though.

Those are the teams that are struggling with FFP too.

 

[Cabinet96]

Sugar daddy clubs are only reliant on one owner and FFP for a few years maximum though. Once they're in the CL and start winnings things they're part of the furniture.

 

[Tangles]

United has a massive debt that people like to forget about. Before Moyes our spending under Glazier has been low. I was thinking that really only City and Chelsea can afford the ridiculous numbers that RM deals in.

 

[Pothas]

PSG and Barca.

 

[cpr]

Our debt is a strange one in that yes its big, but its not an impediment on the club. We still rake in silly money, and could easily pay off the debt in a short space of time - however unlike most peoples debts its not in the owners interest to pay it off in advance (after all, they aren't suffering the repayment or interest, the club is). I look at it akin to me getting a buy to let mortgage on a house, using the monthly rental to pay the mortgage - costs me nothing, and if i sell it down the line for more I'll pay off the remainder and be quids in.

Spending under the Glazers has been low because Ferguson didn't want to spend lots - however it was there when he wanted it - £80m in 2007 on Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Tevez, £30m on Berbatov in 08, then £25m on 3 unproven players in Smalling, Hernandez and Bebe in 10. 2011 saw £50m+ on Young, De Gea and Jones. Fergie always said he had a war chest readily available should he want it.

Dont forget in the last 12 months we've spent nigh on £100m on Fellani, Mata, Herrera and Shaw, with more to come.

When Woodwood comes out and says Utd can compete with the big teams on spending, I believe him.

 

[Nate]

Man Totti is still so good.