Football 2014/15

[Wooderson]

Either way another fascinating couple weeks in store. Think a few big signings are due for Utd.

[zahidf]

Either way another fascinating couple weeks in store. Think a few big signings are due for Utd.

Rojo for sure ( though they are definitely overpaying him)

I doubt Vidal and Angel are in the wings.

Anyway, Fabregas looked bloody good last night. Chelsea and Man City look much more set than Man Utd for a title challenge.

[The Nal]

Rojo for sure ( though they are definitely overpaying him)

I doubt Vidal and Angel are in the wings.

Anyway, Fabregas looked bloody good last night. Chelsea and Man City look much more set than Man Utd for a title challenge.

No question. Top 4 is the goal for Utd. No chance of winning it.

[eFestivals]

interesting top 4 at the mo.

I'm not sure there's going to be much of a change all season.

[Gucci Piggy]

As much as Rojo's an improvement on what Man U currently have, would he get into any of the current top four's back four? I doubt it.

The price is high, but everyone knows they're desperate, and after Ed Woodward's stupid claims that they have an unlimited budget then they're going to have to overpay for everybody.

[The Nal]

As much as Rojo's an improvement on what Man U currently have, would he get into any of the current top four's back four? I doubt it.

The price is high, but everyone knows they're desperate, and after Ed Woodward's stupid claims that they have an unlimited budget then they're going to have to overpay for everybody.

Hes left sided which is good and can play left and centre back. Theres a big imbalance there at the moment. Its a good signing.

Woodword has spent last year making great deals on the commercial level but not concentrated on signing players. Unless theres Vidal and/or Di Maria in the next few weeks (looking unlikely) I'd take 4th right now.

[Gucci Piggy]

Hes left sided which is good and can play left and centre back. Theres a big imbalance there at the moment. Its a good signing.

Woodword has spent last year making great deals on the commercial level but not concentrated on signing players. Unless theres Vidal and/or Di Maria in the next few weeks (looking unlikely) I'd take 4th right now.

Yeah I do think he's a good fit for the 3 at the back formation, as a left sided CB. For the position you're in, it's a good signing, but I can't help but think you missed out on better options in Benatia, Garay, Vermaelen, etc., just to chase Hummels (if you were really after him), and have now ended up with a second string signing.

I think it's clear that Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd are fighting for 3rd and 4th. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

[LondonTom]

interesting top 4 at the mo.

I'm not sure there's going to be much of a change all season.

No wouldn't be suprising to see it finishing like that at all really, Arsenal to make it to the summit around Christmas time though.

[The Nal]

Yeah I do think he's a good fit for the 3 at the back formation, as a left sided CB. For the position you're in, it's a good signing, but I can't help but think you missed out on better options in Benatia, Garay, Vermaelen, etc., just to chase Hummels (if you were really after him), and have now ended up with a second string signing.

Could be right yeah. Fans are planning protests for the next home games unless signings happen.

Look at the last 5 years, Lost Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov, Pogba, Scholes, Giggs, Rio, Vidic, Evra and a few others. And really only signed two established players in Mata and RVP. De Gea the only other one I can think of who come really good.

So 4th would be pretty good!

[Gucci Piggy]

Could be right yeah. Fans are planning protests for the next home games unless signings happen.

Look at the last 5 years, Lost Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov, Pogba, Scholes, Giggs, Rio, Vidic, Evra and a few others. And really only signed two established players in Mata and RVP. De Gea the only other one I can think of who come really good.

So 4th would be pretty good!

Yeah, Ferguson really did leave the squad in a horrible state for future managers to come in.

[kaosmark2]

I think it's clear that Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd are fighting for 3rd and 4th. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

I think Arsenal have a chance of 1st or 2nd. I can see them struggling and finishing 4th, but I reckon they'll be in the mix for the title until at least Feb.

[zahidf]

Yeah I do think he's a good fit for the 3 at the back formation, as a left sided CB. For the position you're in, it's a good signing, but I can't help but think you missed out on better options in Benatia, Garay, Vermaelen, etc., just to chase Hummels (if you were really after him), and have now ended up with a second string signing.

I think it's clear that Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd are fighting for 3rd and 4th. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded.

I'd say Arsenal are clearly favourites for top 3 at the moment. Unless they have some more big injuries and their new german meidcla team aren't an improvement, but on current squad, i can;t see the other teams being better than Arsenal.

4th is going to be the battleground for Liverpool, Man Utd, Everton and Spurs. It'll be very close, i just think Liverpool will pip Man Utd to it.

[pink_triangle]

4th is going to be the battleground for Liverpool, Man Utd, Everton and Spurs. It'll be very close, i just think Liverpool will pip Man Utd to it.

On current squads, I would agree. However I suspect changes are likely in upcoming weeks.

[Gucci Piggy]

I think Arsenal have a chance of 1st or 2nd. I can see them struggling and finishing 4th, but I reckon they'll be in the mix for the title until at least Feb.

Oh I worded that horribly. I meant that they'll be the team fighting for third, and any Man U fans who think they'll be challenging for anything more are deluded. Arsenal will probably challenge the top two, but I really can't see them finishing there.

I'd say Arsenal are clearly favourites for top 3 at the moment. Unless they have some more big injuries and their new german meidcla team aren't an improvement, but on current squad, i can;t see the other teams being better than Arsenal.

4th is going to be the battleground for Liverpool, Man Utd, Everton and Spurs. It'll be very close, i just think Liverpool will pip Man Utd to it.

Yeah Arsenal are definitely favourites for third, and I'm pretty confident they'll get it.

[zahidf]

On current squads, I would agree. However I suspect changes are likely in upcoming weeks.

Dunno about that. Man Utd have had several transfer windows!

Edited August 19, 2014 by zahidf

[The Nal]

Dunno about that. Man Utd have had several transfer windows!

Yep the clock is ticking. Di Maria may play tonight Ancelotti said. And hes not sure if he wants to leave or not.

[ThomThomDrum]

I still think its too early to predicting as the window is still open. Anything can happen. Logic dictates it will between City and Chelski for top spot and the Gunners and the Pool for the next two positions............

But the signings clubs make between now and the end of the window can affect that thought in a major way.........

Right now I dont think any sane Utd fan is thinking first. Most are hoping and praying for 4th, but in reality fear worse.

What they can bring in in the next week or two will make those fans either believe 4th is very much possible, or that they are in big trouble. It will be interesting to see what happens

[kaosmark2]

Arsenal will probably challenge the top two, but I really can't see them finishing there.

Absolutely agree. I just think there's too much quality in City and Chelski squads, even though Arsenal aren't short of it. Fabregas is the biggest signing of the transfer window IMO, provides that box-to-box goalscoring midfielder Chelsea needed alongside Matic. They've been relying on an aging Lampard to do that in recent years and he gives them so much energy and creativity in midfield now.

My main thing in thinking Arsenal could nick it is if Aguero/Kompany/Yaya get injured, and Diego Costa doesn't fire as well as everyone's predicted. He's only really had one great season and I don't think he's the sure thing that many people have made him out to be. Chelsea could still win even if he doesn't do that well as they've got so many goals in midfield. And City, while stronger yet again, are still phenomenally reliant on the same spine they have been for 4 seasons, 2 of whom are somewhat injury prone.

[ThomThomDrum]

My main thing in thinking Arsenal could nick it is if Aguero/Kompany/Yaya get injured, and Diego Costa doesn't fire as well as everyone's predicted.

Thats a whole lot of ifs. And I suspect its predicated on Arsenal not having any/many injuries themselves?

City would be able to manage with injuries to star players better than any squad in the league. Sure look how they coped without Aguero last season. And wasnt Toure injured for a couple of weeks also?

[kaosmark2]

Thats a whole lot of ifs. And I suspect its predicated on Arsenal not having any/many injuries themselves?

City would be able to manage with injuries to star players better than any squad in the league. Sure look how they coped without Aguero last season. And wasnt Toure injured for a couple of weeks also?

Yup. Basically I reckon for Arsenal to win the league they'd require substantially better luck with injury than City and Chelsea. I don't think they WILL win the league, just that they can compete.

City's squad is fantastic, but they have a spine of 3-5 key players and their results and performance notably drop off without them. This isn't to say they aren't good enough to win without those players, but I think the other clubs suffer less from an injury to their star CB than City do.

[TheGayTent]

Appears Sporting have confirmed Rojo is on his way to OT.

Tottenham need a seriously good last 2 weeks of august if they're going to get anywhere close to 4th IMO.

[luckysalt]

Villa have stolen Arsenals Chief Commercial Officer Tom Fox to be their new CEO.

This guy set up Arsenals Puma kit deal.

Seems a pretty big appointment. I hope he can raise our profile outside the football world as well as assist to raise it on the pitch.

Better than I was expecting anyway.

Any Arsenal supporters [or anyone else with knowledge of him] have any opinions on Tom Fox?

[TheGayTent]

Whatever happened to being on the verge of being taken over by mega rich backers...?

[luckysalt]

It fell thru, obviously. This guy has been brought in to make us look more of a potential profit maker Id imagine. In terms of potential corporate deals that would be avaliable to new owners.

I really think he knows jack shit about football, but is all about making people money.

[TheGayTent]

It fell thru, obviously.

Oh.

I must have missed that.

Are there lots of other interested parties?