Football 17/18

[pink_triangle]

34 minutes ago, Dan R said:

Think Kane has to be mentioned as well. Gotta be De Bruyne though, I wouldn't be surprised if he broke the Messi/Ronaldo duopoly of the Ballon d'Or, he's just such a wonderful player to watch.

I think that may need a Belgium World Cup win.

[Hugh Jass]

James McLean

[Wooderson]

Chris Smalling.

[The Nal]

1 hour ago, Wooderson said:

Chris Smalling.

A centre back 

[ToffeePopcorn]

2 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

I think that may need a Belgium World Cup win.

Maybe Man City champions league win instead? 

[zahidf]

Smalling. As an ABU, he always makes me happy when i see him on the pitch!

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, ToffeePopcorn said:

Maybe Man City champions league win instead? 

I don't think that would be enough. He isn't high profile enough.

[zahidf]

4 hours ago, eFestivals said:

pogba

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call me old fashioned, but there are a few fundamental traits I’d expect from a midfielder, not to mention one you’d paid over £100m for. Being able to perform effectively in two opposing directions and getting the odd tackle in are both high on the list.

[DareToDibble]

In 2 minds about the Salah/De Bruyne argument.

Both are absolutely phenomenal. I think De Bruyne just edges it and the fact he will be winning trophies puts him even further ahead. However I also look at how they would both do if they were in each others situation. Salah would still be scoring for fun (probably be on 30 goals by now in that team), De Bruyne wouldn't be surround by such class players so wouldn't look as good.

[Hugh Jass]

10 minutes ago, DareToDibble said:

In 2 minds about the Salah/De Bruyne argument.

Both are absolutely phenomenal. I think De Bruyne just edges it and the fact he will be winning trophies puts him even further ahead. However I also look at how they would both do if they were in each others situation. Salah would still be scoring for fun (probably be on 30 goals by now in that team), De Bruyne wouldn't be surround by such class players so wouldn't look as good.

It's been said about Aguero too, but a lot of people take De Bruyne's brilliance for granted because he does it every week. He makes brilliance look ordinary.

[Wooderson]

Sanchez delighted to line out for Utd alongside Smalling. One of the reasons he signed lads.

[thetime]

44 minutes ago, Wooderson said:

Sanchez delighted to line out for Utd alongside Smalling. One of the reasons he signed lads.

You know it’s a sorrow state of affairs when Liverpool supporters are taking the piss out of your centre  backs.

[thetime]

Personally speaking united fans are aiming there abuse in the wrong direction. End of the day Smalling is a squad player and we all know how average he is. 

Pogba on the other hand is bang average, not a single game against a top side has he turned up, now he doesn’t even turn up against mediocre teams. 

[Gucci Piggy]

6 hours ago, mjsell said:

Who have people got for their player of the season so far? 

Was discussing this the other day and was torn between Salah and De Bruyne 

Easily De Bruyne. Salah may be scoring loads but KDB has been on another leverl this season.

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, DareToDibble said:

However I also look at how they would both do if they were in each others situation. Salah would still be scoring for fun (probably be on 30 goals by now 

I think that's a big assumption. I have no doubt some players look better having to share the limelight with less players.

[kaosmark2]

Well neither of them were good enough for Chelsea

[jyoung]

10 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Well neither of them were good enough for Chelsea

At the time, they probably weren't. People forget that Chelsea won the league both seasons after selling De Bruyne and Salah.  Easy to sit around and act like Chelsea are the only team to not give chances to players who have gone on to be class but yeah the trophy cabinet is doing just fine recently.

This isn't a dig towards you by the way but the media seem to love hashing out these 'stories' about Chelsea rejects.

[kaosmark2]

22 minutes ago, jyoung said:

At the time, they probably weren't. People forget that Chelsea won the league both seasons after selling De Bruyne and Salah.  Easy to sit around and act like Chelsea are the only team to not give chances to players who have gone on to be class but yeah the trophy cabinet is doing just fine recently.

This isn't a dig towards you by the way but the media seem to love hashing out these 'stories' about Chelsea rejects.

Chelsea around 3-7 years ago had a phase of every window buying at least one, if not two or three, young attacking midfielders that didn't really play much for the club, and got loaned out/sold on around two years later. It felt like they were trying to hoover up all the talent without any direction towards the team or squad, much like Real Madrid (particularly in the noughties).

I'm not just repeating lines in the media btw, you can probably find a comment from me in the football thread from 5 years ago here saying about all the £10-20m players they had out on loan.

[TheGayTent]

Sturridge injured already

[pink_triangle]

2 hours ago, jyoung said:

At the time, they probably weren't. People forget that Chelsea won the league both seasons after selling De Bruyne and Salah.  Easy to sit around and act like Chelsea are the only team to not give chances to players who have gone on to be class 

What other examples are you thinking about?

[pink_triangle]

1 hour ago, kaosmark2 said:

Chelsea around 3-7 years ago had a phase of every window buying at least one, if not two or three, young attacking midfielders that didn't really play much for the club, and got loaned out/sold on around two years later. It felt like they were trying to hoover up all the talent without any direction towards the team or squad, much like Real Madrid (particularly in the noughties).

I'm not just repeating lines in the media btw, you can probably find a comment from me in the football thread from 5 years ago here saying about all the £10-20m players they had out on loan.

I remember the time well. Everytime a top 5 team was linked with a player, Chelsea seemed to swoop the next day. It very much looked like trying to get success by reducing supply to competitors.

[mjsell]

52 minutes ago, pink_triangle said:

I remember the time well. Everytime a top 5 team was linked with a player, Chelsea seemed to swoop the next day. It very much looked like trying to get success by reducing supply to competitors.

I don't believe that was the aim, but a happy consequence (on their part). Their loan system made them (and probably still does - a quick search and they currently have 37 players out on loan) a truck load of cash - far more than the transfer fees they are paying for these types of players. 

[Hugh Jass]

2 hours ago, TheGayTent said:

Sturridge injured already

3 minutes it took. It would be funny if it happened to someone else.

Good God we are shit.

[TheGayTent]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5382599/Dimitri-Payet-gives-West-Ham-fan-perfect-birthday-present.html

Nice to see. 

[jyoung]

2 hours ago, pink_triangle said:

What other examples are you thinking about?

United let go of Pogba and Pique. Real let go of Juanfran and Eto'o.

edit: I suppose those guys were at the start of their careers so it is slightly different but yeah. We signed plenty and used few. 

Edited February 12, 2018 by jyoung