Football 2014/15

[Wooderson]

V few of the "Galacticos" have had a classic World Cup. Even Messi has been below his loftiest heights.

[thetime]

V few of the "Galacticos" have had a classic World Cup. Even Messi has been below his loftiest heights.

Pretty much spot on, can't think of any player that's excelled throughout the tournament.

[Gucci Piggy]

Sanchez to Arsenal confirmed. Good signing.

[Andre91]

very, very happy with the Sanchez signing

[thetime]

Alexis Sanchez: "I am delighted to be joining Arsenal. I look forward to finishing fourth and joining Manchester City next summer."

Edited July 10, 2014 by thetime

[pink_triangle]

Pretty much spot on, can't think of any player that's excelled throughout the tournament.

There's been plenty of keepers who have been excellent throughout.

[thegremlin_1999]

What I saw of James Rodriguez, he looked decent. Maybe a bit in and out of games but could do something special out of nothing I feel.

[Andre91]

There's been plenty of keepers who have been excellent throughout.

I read something yesterday about the Costa Rican keeper joining Bayern Munich! Can't believe that Ochoa hasn't been snapped up yet seeing how he is a free agent.

[pink_triangle]

I read something yesterday about the Costa Rican keeper joining Bayern Munich! Can't believe that Ochoa hasn't been snapped up yet seeing how he is a free agent.

Would seem odd going to a club and being a reserve, unless the money is too good to turn down. I guess Ochoa is hoping for a bidding war, I bet he ends up getting a big money move to somewhere like Russia/Ukraine. Rojo is a player who will get a good move on the back of this world cup.

[kaosmark2]

Pretty much spot on, can't think of any player that's excelled throughout the tournament.

Kroos. He's been phenomenal in every game for Germany I've watched.

James Rodriguez was generally excellent for Columbia, but he had limited impact on the Brazil game (partially due to being constantly fouled).

Most of the star names haven't performed throughout games, just been quiet for 87 minutes then produced a moment or two of magic, but isn't that what wins games? Being able, even on an off day, to do something special? Messi and Di Maria are the only reason I place Argentina with a chance of pulling off a win against Germany in normal time, because they've had those moments that you need. Messi's output for Barca is misrepresented at times as if he has a 10/10 game every week, he doesn't. He's a truly special player, but he's still a player. He has lots of games where he'd warrant 4-6/10 and then has 5 spectacular minutes which win the game for the team. All of the best attacking players have most of their games like that, and then a few where they excel throughout. I don't think it's that surprising that the WC has been similar.

[Wooderson]

Masch has been arguably one of Argentina 'a most important players.

[thetime]

Masch has been arguably one of Argentina 'a most important players.

Very under rated player by fans, one of those that's more respected by players rather than fans.

[LondonTom]

Yeah I'd say James Rodríguez, Keylor Navas have all pretty damn good but I'd guess for me, maybe its because I hadn't heard of them before the World Cup so it was a bit of a "wow" factor

Manuel Neuer has also been excellent, I'd say Mascherano has been fairly outstanding to and I doubt without Argentina would have done so well, out of the "big names".

Edited July 11, 2014 by LondonTom

[Gucci Piggy]

Suarez gone. Be interesting to see what the price ended up being.

[TheGayTent]

Liverpool need to make 2 or 3 very good signings if they're going to get anywhere near last season's finishing position.

[eFestivals]

Suarez gone. Be interesting to see what the price ended up being.

everywhere I've seen has said that £75M was agreed a while back, and the quibbling has been about payment terms.

[eFestivals]

Liverpool need to make 2 or 3 very good signings if they're going to get anywhere near last season's finishing position.

Not sure it's quite that bad. They were going very well even before Suarez came back from his last ban (and at the end of the season before that).

But to be sure, they defo need some good signings. I'm not trying to say he won't be missed.

[Wooderson]

Liverpool need to make 2 or 3 very good signings if they're going to get anywhere near last season's finishing position.

Always love reading your LFC predictions mate.

[TheGayTent]

Always love reading your LFC predictions mate.

I'll keep them coming then...

...Sturridge will be gone before the start of the 2016/17 season

[pink_triangle]

Liverpool clearly need a replacement for Suarez but outside of that I would of thought they would be fine.

They are going to go for the same approach as spurs last year which is looked to replace one great players with a few very good ones, hopefully they will have more success. The trouble they have is they don't have the same pulling power as clubs who usually finish runner up in the premiership and they will need successive years in the league to gain that.

The midfield worries me, to rely on Henderson to run for 4 players again would be a mistake. The midfielders job is to protect the defence as much as support the attack and they must find a way to achieve that. I think they must become more varied with tactics as well

[eFestivals]

I'll keep them coming then...

...Sturridge will be gone before the start of the 2016/17 season

While I certainly wouldn't rule that out, Sturridge a is a player who has already leant the hard way that the grass is not always greener elsewhere. So perhaps he'll be a little less eager to chase the dream than you're thinking.

[Gucci Piggy]

Sky Sports News just said they believe the fee to be £64m.

[eFestivals]

They are going to go for the same approach as spurs last year which is looked to replace one great players with a few very good ones, hopefully they will have more success. The trouble they have is they don't have the same pulling power as clubs who usually finish runner up in the premiership and they will need successive years in the league to gain that.

I'm presuming that Liverpool will go for - and probably get - a player who is at around the same level as Ozil was considered to be last summer. No ideas who tho.

And I don't see them as having less pulling power. They're clearly a team on the up (with the owners and on the pitch), and traditionally one of the big boys with a very strong history. And crucially, they have CL footie.

What they won't get is a player of the strength they've just sold - but no other club in England would either.

The midfield worries me, to rely on Henderson to run for 4 players again would be a mistake. The midfielders job is to protect the defence as much as support the attack and they must find a way to achieve that. I think they must become more varied with tactics as well

I think the tactics last year just sort of naturally evolved via a number of different circumstances (including injuries which forced changes, and the likes of Sterling and Flanagan coming into great form). It worked so Rodgers just went with it.

I'm thinking he'll start again from scratch this summer, particularly as he'll have lost his greatest single strength for that mad attacking footie. He's the man with the plan - supposedly, anyway.

The biggest midfield problem last season was that there were so few suitable midfield options - the decent players tended to be on the pitch or on the treatment table, and the available backups were significantly weaker (even the likes of Moses).

Lallana widens up the choices a bit more, and i'm guessing the croatian winger they'll be signing today isn't planned as warming the bench too much at £20M either. They'll be at least one more big signing, cos of Suarez going. Lucas, Allen and Gerrard are all going to see many less minutes I think.

[eFestivals]

Sky Sports News just said they believe the fee to be £64m.

Right - so we're back to the number being seventy five, but disagreement in the media of whether that's pounds or euros.

BBC are saying pounds.

Edited July 11, 2014 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

Guardian are saying "around £75m".

Which implies to me that the agreement is in Euros, of an amount that comes out to be around £75m (the supposed release clause amount) at today's exchange rate - but that because they're not paying it all today the final amount might change because of changing exchange rates.

Edited July 11, 2014 by eFestivals