Football 2012-2013

[kaosmark2]

Still has it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJYoYjhVF6A&feature=player_embedded

[The Nal]

Ledley King retires. Has been coming.

[pink_triangle]

Ledley King retires. Has been coming.

[The Nal]

Ledley King was a solid premiership player but a little overrated for me. I have heard on several occasions people saying that when fit he was as good as any centre back in the world. My view is that because he didnt have a huge amount of champions league and international tournament expereince he wasnt tested enough in big games to make these kind of judgements.

Edited July 19, 2012 by The Nal

[strummer77]

I hate seeing footballers retire due to injury.

[The Nal]

Just got to hope Darren Fletcher doesn't face the same fate.

[pink_triangle]

I dont want to sound unsympathetic but ... While I feel mild sympathy for the likes of King, at the end of the day he is a 30+ age multimillionaire with not morgage to pay who will never have to work again should he choose, same with Fletcher who has had a decent innings. Both will also be parachuted above more qualifed people from lower leagues when it comes to non playing roles. Think about the lower league players who also can get career ending injuries often in their early 20s. Many with no qualification, bills to pay and having to join the queue with the rest of us minions when it comes to medical treatment. I heard Kings retirement called a tragedy by a journalist on the radio but there are many sadder stories in football.

[kaosmark2]

Hoilett's turned down clubs across Europe to join QPR. Toon wouldn't meet his wage demands, but extensive talks with Monchengladbach and some contact from Inter, Galatasaray and nearly half the Prem.

Greedy fucker.

[the_hedge]

I smell something wrong at Forest...

[eFestivals]

I smell something wrong at Forest...

yup, that was my exact thought too, when I saw who they've gone for as manager.

I don't know anything about the guy - which is sort-of the point - but it seems strange they've quickly gone for him when they'd also been talking to lots of high-profile managers too, and had taken over promising big things for the club.

Then again, perhaps he really is the best guy for the job. And perhaps those big names showed a lot of nervousness about being involved with new unknown owners, off the back of what happened with Sven at Notts County.

Edited July 20, 2012 by eFestivals

[the_hedge]

yup, that was my exact thought too, when I saw who they've gone for as manager.

I don't anything about the guy - which is sort-of the point - but it seems strange they've quickly gone for him when they'd also been talking to lots of high-profile managers too, and had taken over promising big things for the club.

Then again, perhaps he really is the best guy for the job. And perhaps those big names showed a lot of nervousness about being involved with new unknown owners, off the back of what happened with Sven at Notts County.

[The Nal]

Utd have had a 27m bid for Lucas Moura turned down by Sao Paolo.

And the Beeb confirming that Utd have bid for RVP. As have Citeh and Juve.

[eFestivals]

And the Beeb confirming that Utd have bid for RVP. As have Citeh and Juve.

the beebs gossip column says today that Wenger has said there's no way he's selling to Utd (which of course might not be true, it's in the papers).

But it seems weird that he wouldn't sell to Utd but would sell to city - unless the reason is the cash on offer of course.

[pink_triangle]

I hope I'm wrong but it doesn't add up. Alarm bells were ringing when Mick Mcarthy turned it down. If they had all the money they say they have and with Forest being a good size club you would think it would a great challenge to take up.

Don't get me wrong I'm glad they didn't go daft and signed up Sven but O'Driscoll got sacked from Donny Rovers not too long ago, just seems odd.

[pink_triangle]

But it seems weird that he wouldn't sell to Utd but would sell to city - unless the reason is the cash on offer of course.

[eFestivals]

I just dont see how giving someone like Hoddle the job would have been any better, Theres a clear reason why Hoddle hasnt had a decent job for years and thats because he is a poor club manager .

hmmm .... his record with Swindon says different. That went tits-up from off-field issues, not on-field ones.

I'm not a fan of his, but I'm surprised that he's not re-surfaced as a club manager more than he has. While he's done stuff that hasn't worked out great - which is the case with nearly every manager, don't forget! - he's also had his successes.

I'd guess that the main reason he's not had another job is because he doesn't much care to get himself one, which is expressed by asking for unrealistic wages against his club record, or by asking for unrealistic transfer money, or even by showing a lack of interest in interviews compared to other candidates.

Mind you, with his side-kick Gorman now retired, he'd have to do it on his own. And maybe that's the reason why.

[eFestivals]

I wonder if Wenger feels City with their finances are out of Arsenals reach where as Man Utd are catchable and he doesnt want to strengthen the side they can most realisitically overtake.

yeah, possible I guess. After all, the money each club has for transfers is probably around the same nowadays, tho Utd pay more to their top players in wages.

[pink_triangle]

hmmm .... his record with Swindon says different. That went tits-up from off-field issues, not on-field ones.

I'm not a fan of his, but I'm surprised that he's not re-surfaced as a club manager more than he has. While he's done stuff that hasn't worked out great - which is the case with nearly every manager, don't forget! - he's also had his successes.

I'd guess that the main reason he's not had another job is because he doesn't much care to get himself one, which is expressed by asking for unrealistic wages against his club record, or by asking for unrealistic transfer money, or even by showing a lack of interest in interviews compared to other candidates.

[strummer77]

United's bid has been turned down according to the Guardian (breaking on their twitter)

Liverpool closing in on Joe Allen according to Sky. (Edit: So probably bollocks )

Edited July 20, 2012 by strummer77

[The Nal]

yeah, possible I guess. After all, the money each club has for transfers is probably around the same nowadays, tho Utd pay more to their top players in wages.

Edited July 20, 2012 by The Nal

[thetime]

the beebs gossip column says today that Wenger has said there's no way he's selling to Utd (which of course might not be true, it's in the papers).

But it seems weird that he wouldn't sell to Utd but would sell to city - unless the reason is the cash on offer of course.

[strummer77]

Rooney earns the most at Utd and theres 3-4 players at City on similar to him. After that theres a huge drop off at Utd down to Rio/Vidic. City pay crazy wages.

[thetime]

On RVP, apparently City have to offload a striker or two before they can really go for him. Utd have had a 15m bid rejected today apparently.

[The Nal]

I thought he was comparing Arsenal and United to be fair.

Edited July 20, 2012 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

I thought he was comparing Arsenal and United to be fair.

Ah ok. Rooney is on massive wages to be fair.

yeah, I said that Utd pay higher wages.

But as far as money to spend on actual transfers goes, Utd and Arsenal probably aren't far apart nowadays.

(I'm not talking net transfer fees. With that, Utd surely spend massively more).