football: the beautiful game

[beast]

Beast, I've seen the game, there is way too many problems in the team and Aston Villa just exposed them. AV actually did scored 4 goals in London this season @ Spurs, so they are a good team upfront at least. With all those talks of Milan buying Drogba who is Chelsea's main gun it looks like Chelsea will enter a true new era real soon. They didn't loose for 16 games after they lost @ MU so I don't really think Grant was as big of a negative impact for a team. As far as who to sell

1 Petr Cech 15 0 73 0 0 1 0 0 8 3 4

23 Carlo Cudicini 4 0 10 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1

40 Henrique Hilario 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 Frank Lampard 15 0 5 47 23 6 8 14 4 0

3 Ashley Cole 14 0 0 1 0 0 4 26 3 1

12 John Mikel Obi 13 4 0 6 3 0 31 31 3 1

21 Salomon Kalou 12 6 3 24 12 7 15 17 1 0

10 Joe Cole 12 3 3 22 10 0 16 15 3 0

5 Michael Essien 12 1 2 19 12 2 12 20 5 1

24 Shaun Wright-Phillips 11 5 1 23 10 4 15 16 1 0

33 Alex 11 2 2 11 5 1 6 9 2 0

35 Juliano Belletti 11 1 1 5 4 0 13 14 3 0

26 John Terry 11 0 0 5 1 0 7 11 4 0

11 Didier Drogba 10 1 5 35 15 3 28 18 3 1

15 Florent Malouda 9 2 1 19 9 1 11 19 1 0

6 Ricardo Carvalho 9 0 0 1 0 0 11 13 4 1

7 Andriy Shevchenko 8 3 4 24 12 1 9 7 0 0

22 Tal Ben-Haim 7 3 0 0 0 0 9 4 2 0

20 Paulo Ferreira 7 1 0 0 0 0 6 5 0 0

9 Steve Sidwell 6 4 0 7 1 1 13 5 1 0

4 Claude Makelele 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 6 0 0

14 Claudio Pizarro 3 11 1 16 5 0 3 8 0 0

18 Wayne Bridge 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

2 Glen Johnson 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0

13 Michael Ballack

Ballack and 7eva, Carvalho need to go immediately,now with Drogba possibly leaving to Milan they really need someone who can replace him. I would try Et'o.

That match with Spurs was a joke. It was Spurs 100th anniversary or something like that so the referee got to give the last offside goal. If not, Villa would win 4-3. Villa is a small stretched team but O'Neil got his concept right. Quick attack on the flanks with Carew the big point man and with a good defence. Better defence than Chelsea in fact.

Abramovich must know Grant is just an Israeli McClaren. Grant just cant cut it. If Jose was around, its doubtful he will crash out to Man U and Arsenal and this match, he would have won because when Chelsea lead 3-2, Jose would put in Ben Haim and closed shop with 20 min to go. Grant was still stupidly trying to score more goals not knowing Villa is actually more dangerous than they appear. Like I said everytime Villa attacked, they looked deadlier than Chelsea.

After the Man U match, their opponents were average and below average so that had nothing to do with Grant. In fact if Jose was around, despite their bad start, Chelsea would probably win against Villa at home, drew with Man U and Arsenal and would still be within striking distance at winning BPL. Although there is still a chance now, the bookies have already written Chelsea off and I would agree. One would be mad to back Chelsea to win BPL.

Anyway I cant read your stats but Carvalho is a good defender and should stay. Barca should be clearing house this season since Rijkaard said its his last season and after 1-0 defeat to Real. Dont think Barca and Eto'o and Ronnie gets along. So you can only pick one. Eto'o in form and injury free is deadlier than Drogba I think but the guy is very hard to control so Abramovich, who dislike confrontation may not like it.

Anyway Drogba wants out and with him and Jose out. would Malouda want to stay? Lampard still hasnt signed his deal. Makelele is old and his days are numbered anyway. SWP still cant show his Man City form. The other strikers cant strike. Rumoured that Abramovich is picking the players to play. I wonder would Anelka et al still want to join Chelsea? Unless they get a good coach, the rebuilding will take years and Abramovich is not that eager to spend on Chelsea no more.

[kert]

okay i think i officially hate the new chelsea coach more then mourinho. he thinks chelsea deserved to win today against newcastle. for one thing, newcastle was robbed by the linesman not calling offsides on kalou, when he was clearly off my 2 to 3 yards!! can i get a replay!

second, newcastle took it to them. was clearly more aggressive. in fact, chelsea's first goal should have not happened either. it bounced off of kalou's hand straight to essian. anyways, newcastle was robbed. there's no way in hell chelsea will win the premier this year. they are looking weak. i realize most of their good players (lampard, terry, drogba) are hurt but oh well, that's the premier league. GO ARSENAL!

[polishmike]

Fuck everyone who made Berbatov their captain in fantasy this week. Fuck you you fucking fuck shit lucky bastards!!!

[stranger danger]

i don't know how good a fit eto'o would be with chelsea. look at shevchenko and how bad he's been without service from kaka and pirlo - would eto'o be able to fare much better in chelsea's system? their attack is/was so much more potent with drogba because they can hoof the ball forward to him and the rest can play off of him, something they can't seem to do with sheva/pizarro/kalou/whoever else and probably won't be able to do with eto'o.

either way, i think chelsea's days of contending for the title are over barring some huge changes.

[beast]

i don't know how good a fit eto'o would be with chelsea. look at shevchenko and how bad he's been without service from kaka and pirlo - would eto'o be able to fare much better in chelsea's system? their attack is/was so much more potent with drogba because they can hoof the ball forward to him and the rest can play off of him, something they can't seem to do with sheva/pizarro/kalou/whoever else and probably won't be able to do with eto'o.

either way, i think chelsea's days of contending for the title are over barring some huge changes.

Those are 2 different issues. Sheva have no legs no more and loses the ball all the time. They will have to re-jig their lineup to make it a real 4-4-2 and if Torres can make it, so can Eto'o and Eto'o is a much better striker than him in La Liga.

[beast]

okay i think i officially hate the new chelsea coach more then mourinho. he thinks chelsea deserved to win today against newcastle. for one thing, newcastle was robbed by the linesman not calling offsides on kalou, when he was clearly off my 2 to 3 yards!! can i get a replay!

second, newcastle took it to them. was clearly more aggressive. in fact, chelsea's first goal should have not happened either. it bounced off of kalou's hand straight to essian. anyways, newcastle was robbed. there's no way in hell chelsea will win the premier this year. they are looking weak. i realize most of their good players (lampard, terry, drogba) are hurt but oh well, that's the premier league. GO ARSENAL!

The minute Jose was replaced by Grant, they kissed their title aspirations goodbye since no team have won the BPL with a new manager mid stream. They can still win the League Cup though because no other top team gives a damn. Maybe FA Cup but probably not Champions League. Time to rebuild including getting a new manager.

[Magsåvningsreserven]

sigh, seems berba might be leaving according to quotations of his agent..

really stupid move if we sell him tbh, if we want to break into the top 4 we have to hang on to our best foraward, if we do sell him for £25m or whatever we'll probably end up with a lesser player(s) anyway..

[the breaks]

Berbatov is too good for the premiership

[kert]

Berbatov is too good for the premiership

agreed. i guess he says he wants to stay. but, i see him leaving next year unless he signed some contract i'm not aware of. maybe ac milan should get him. milan really needs to start getting some younger blood. here's a list of the old and broken: seedorf, dida, pirlo (still good though), cafu, inzaghi, maldini (finally retiring).

[kert]

Those are 2 different issues. Sheva have no legs no more and loses the ball all the time. They will have to re-jig their lineup to make it a real 4-4-2 and if Torres can make it, so can Eto'o and Eto'o is a much better striker than him in La Liga.

sheva's last couple of seasons at milan were shit also. i had a feeling he wouldn't do anything with chelsea. no more speed and less heart. and his ball control is terrible.

[fatchino]

Isn't 28 the prime of a midfielder's life?

43(2) 31

37(2) 23

35(4) 28

Sheva's last 3 seasons for Milan ... I wish Martins/ Owen was this shit for us ... wish Shearer had been this consistantly shit for us.

[polishmike]

Berbatov is too good for the premiership

I just lol'ed. I think Berbatov should stay put, shut up and help your team climb up the table. On the other hand if they can sell him for 25 million that's a nice profit after 1.5 years.

[polishmike]

sheva's last couple of seasons at milan were shit also. i had a feeling he wouldn't do anything with chelsea. no more speed and less heart. and his ball control is terrible.

I just can't agree here. Sheva was the best striker in the world for me when he was leaving AC. He was never very fast but he had great positioning and fantastic ability to finish.

Here are his stats from last 3 seasons in Milan (season before those he had a bad one)

2003/04 Apps: 45 Goals: 29

2004/05 Apps: 40 Goals: 26

2005/06 Apps: 40 Goals: 28

This is in all competitions. If this is shit than you really need to watch football more or get your head checked out.

He was playing in different system in AC and I can see how it's hard for him to adjust to playing behind Drogba. He also came to a new league and country so I think you have to give him some time to adapt. I think the problem was that Roman and fans expected a great player right of the start. That doesn't happen in EPL that often. You can look at Tevez or Ronaldo who needed time to get better. Torres is doing great in his first season but that also wasn't expected. Even Kalou was not playing well right away. In that first year when Sheva didn't score a hat trick in every game the pressure on the team was just too high. He had to be benched in order for other players to get into the team and score. I think if he would go to a team like Spurs or even today's Man City he would do a lot better. I'll be glad to see him leave Chelsea and go abroad cause I still see him as a threat.

[beast]

agreed. i guess he says he wants to stay. but, i see him leaving next year unless he signed some contract i'm not aware of. maybe ac milan should get him. milan really needs to start getting some younger blood. here's a list of the old and broken: seedorf, dida, pirlo (still good though), cafu, inzaghi, maldini (finally retiring).

He did sign a long term contract start of the season but if he is adamant about leaving, there's nothing you can do about it especially if there is a clause that says he can leave if a offer above X amount is made.

[beast]

I just can't agree here. Sheva was the best striker in the world for me when he was leaving AC. He was never very fast but he had great positioning and fantastic ability to finish.

Here are his stats from last 3 seasons in Milan (season before those he had a bad one)

2003/04 Apps: 45 Goals: 29

2004/05 Apps: 40 Goals: 26

2005/06 Apps: 40 Goals: 28

This is in all competitions. If this is shit than you really need to watch football more or get your head checked out.

He was playing in different system in AC and I can see how it's hard for him to adjust to playing behind Drogba. He also came to a new league and country so I think you have to give him some time to adapt. I think the problem was that Roman and fans expected a great player right of the start. That doesn't happen in EPL that often. You can look at Tevez or Ronaldo who needed time to get better. Torres is doing great in his first season but that also wasn't expected. Even Kalou was not playing well right away. In that first year when Sheva didn't score a hat trick in every game the pressure on the team was just too high. He had to be benched in order for other players to get into the team and score. I think if he would go to a team like Spurs or even today's Man City he would do a lot better. I'll be glad to see him leave Chelsea and go abroad cause I still see him as a threat.

The ship has sailed on Sheva in BPL. He just cant cut it. Play him upfront as lone striker, he cant cut it. Play him in the hole behind another striker ala Rooney, he cant cut it. Play him off another lead striker ala Owen, he cant cut it. Play him in the box all the time ala Ruud, he cant cut it. Play him wide left or wide right, he cant cut it. Even opposing players know he sucks so they dont bother closing him down.

Sheva is happy staying in London and joining his exclusive club playing golf. Chelsea should just sell him to AC or Juve or whoever in Serie A who still wants him before he gets too old and have no value whatsoever.

Kalou still sucks and its not an issue of Sheva not scoring enough hat tricks. He just doesnt score period. His goal tally is like 6 BPL goals last season. That is truly abysmal. He was paired with and started with Drogba last season but he was taken off because he was bad. Not fast enough, loses box easily in the box etc etc.

Tevez took less than 1 season before finding his touch. Ronaldo 2 seasons but he is young. Even Benni McCarthy, Santa Cruz can find their scoring touch. Sheva is a seasoned striker and European footballer of the year. He aint some hot shot striker playing for some godforsaken St Marino league. If he goes to Man City, he would still suck because he is slow and loses the ball.

[Klangspiel]

Prepare thee Europe for the time of the Duck is upon us...

BIirCGpe5-E

[LaiShin]

Fuck everyone who made Berbatov their captain in fantasy this week. Fuck you you fucking fuck shit lucky bastards!!!

:D :D :D :D

I'm of the opinion that Berba is too good for his team. And I can understand why he would wanna move to another (better) team, since he's already 26 and 27 soon. Spurs definitely won't be getting CL football next season, unless they fix their defensive problems. Moreover, Berba only has Bulgaria cup to his name now?

Anyway, i'm a Berbatov fan since last season. So I may be biased. I just hope he moves to a good team, such as Man utd maybe Though the asking price of > 30 maybe a bit steep, considering that he can't play in CL.

[beast]

:D :D :D :D

I'm of the opinion that Berba is too good for his team. And I can understand why he would wanna move to another (better) team, since he's already 26 and 27 soon. Spurs definitely won't be getting CL football next season, unless they fix their defensive problems. Moreover, Berba only has Bulgaria cup to his name now?

Anyway, i'm a Berbatov fan since last season. So I may be biased. I just hope he moves to a good team, such as Man utd maybe Though the asking price of > 30 maybe a bit steep, considering that he can't play in CL.

Is Berbs Cup tied for Champs League this season?

Anyway, he has been compared to Cantona. Hmm. His form this season is not fantastic and he is getting older. His languid style and positioning makes him difficult to mark.

Spurs wont make it to Champions League this season and probably not the next season. So a move is the way for him to go if he wants to play in Champs League but at 30 million pounds? No way Man U , Arsenal, Liverpool will pay that. Maybe Chelsea but unlikely. After all, Anelka will cost 19 million pounds?

Anyway, Berbs will be pissed if he cant move due to the gi-normous price tag. If you think he was moody before, wait till you see what he will be like if he cant move.

[plongin]

my take on it is that he'll stay with spurs in till the end of the year. its hard to move a 20-30 million pound striker during the mid season. there's just too many cheaper alternatives.

[beast]

my take on it is that he'll stay with spurs in till the end of the year. its hard to move a 20-30 million pound striker during the mid season. there's just too many cheaper alternatives.

I tend to agree but when a player is dying to move, its best to sell him now. Some like Ballack and probably Wes Brown would leave on a free transfer. For Berbs, he will slack off.

He is already moody enough thinking the Spurs players are not up to his standard, which he is probably right.

Speaking of which, its unlikely Chelsea can nab Dani Alves who should stick with Sevilla for Champs League. If he does well, his value would increase tremendously.

[readytoignite]

berbs isn't going anywhere during january, maybe in the summer depending on how the season and cup runs end up. the 30 million price tag is based on the sheva move to chelsea, granted berba's not a proven striker in that class, but he is entering the prime of his career.

if him being so desperate to leave continues to net him multiple goals per game, i say keep him around, under house arrest if necessary.

to be honest i'm not sure if playing in the uefa cup affects eligibility for the champs league, it wouldn't really make sense but who knows?

[polishmike]

to be honest i'm not sure if playing in the uefa cup affects eligibility for the champs league, it wouldn't really make sense but who knows?

You can have one player on your team in champions league that played in uefa cup same season. If he goes it's to Man Utd or Chelsea. For 30 it would be tempting but I don't see him moving. Nico would be 10 millions cheaper.

[readytoignite]

ah thanks. chelsea would be the most likely in england but it's rats on a sinking ship over there. i would imagine/hope/pray that levy would only sell berbs overseas lest we become utd's version of west ham

[beast]

You can have one player on your team in champions league that played in uefa cup same season. If he goes it's to Man Utd or Chelsea. For 30 it would be tempting but I don't see him moving. Nico would be 10 millions cheaper.

The Incredible Sulk was bought for 10 million but is going for more now. Maybe 15 million? Bolton must be thanking god for Big Sam's shrewd buy.

[beast]

ah thanks. chelsea would be the most likely in england but it's rats on a sinking ship over there. i would imagine/hope/pray that levy would only sell berbs overseas lest we become utd's version of west ham

I dont think AC, Real or Barca would pay so much for Berbs who hasnt really proven himself with 20 over goals etc, playing in big finals like Ruud or Henry. Plus he is not yuong like Ronaldo and Robben who can command in excess of 20 million pounds.

If Berbs is to go, it would be to clubs with excess cash and want immediate success. Chelsea? Man City? QPR?

[beast]

berbs isn't going anywhere during january, maybe in the summer depending on how the season and cup runs end up. the 30 million price tag is based on the sheva move to chelsea, granted berba's not a proven striker in that class, but he is entering the prime of his career.

if him being so desperate to leave continues to net him multiple goals per game, i say keep him around, under house arrest if necessary.

to be honest i'm not sure if playing in the uefa cup affects eligibility for the champs league, it wouldn't really make sense but who knows?

The price tag is there to prevent suitors. Just like Ronaldinho has that ridiculously big price tag too. Ultimately if he wants to go, he will go if someone wants to buy him. Look at Henry.

The saving grace is that he didnt say he wants to go, but his agent did. Anelka and Drogba did say they want to go but not Berbs. And if Ramos is willing to let Defoe go, maybe it means Berbs doesnt want to go.

But there is no point in Berbs being a big fish in a small pond. If the club cannot match his aspirations, then he should go.

My feel is Berbs should go. He obviously thinks he is top class and top players need to play in top clubs. Spurs with Ramos or not, still have the same problems. Backroom dealings for Hutton Ramos knows nothing about. Spurs players not in his class.

[readytoignite]

i suppose if henry ever showed up for a big final then i would agree with you. plus the arrogant prick's poison in the scum's dressing room is pretty clear to see. it's true that berbs is really worth low to mid 20s but i'm not convinced he wants to go. man city, you are having a laugh.

so how are spurs supposed to break the top four if they routinely sell off their best players to the (presumtive) top four? we would have probably qualified for the champions league last year if we hadn't mugged carrick off so badly. who else has anything close to the depth of squad to compete for the fourth position and maintain a credible threat in europe? and if you're ready to engrave the top four in stone what does that say about the premiership as a competitive league given that all the other major european leagues have had someone else have a bite of the cherry?

btw, i'm sure bolton will be enjoying their profit on anelka when they get relegated.

[beast]

i suppose if henry ever showed up for a big final then i would agree with you. plus the arrogant prick's poison in the scum's dressing room is pretty clear to see. it's true that berbs is really worth low to mid 20s but i'm not convinced he wants to go. man city, you are having a laugh.

so how are spurs supposed to break the top four if they routinely sell off their best players to the (presumtive) top four? we would have probably qualified for the champions league last year if we hadn't mugged carrick off so badly. who else has anything close to the depth of squad to compete for the fourth position and maintain a credible threat in europe? and if you're ready to engrave the top four in stone what does that say about the premiership as a competitive league given that all the other major european leagues have had someone else have a bite of the cherry?

btw, i'm sure bolton will be enjoying their profit on anelka when they get relegated.

1. Henry did play in Champs League finals 2 seasons ago and countless FA Cup finals. He may be bad for the youngster's growth in one way but his quality is there.

2. Thaksin spent 50 million pounds during last transfer window. He is also willing to spend where it is needed. He got one of the most important buys - Sven. If Newcastle got him instead of Big Sam, would they be in such shits? Sven brought in Petrov and Elano. Great buys. Sam brought in who? Geremi? Viduka? Capaca? I heard Thaksin is willing to fork out another 50 million this window. Who will Sven get? Crouch? Adriano? Defoe?

3. Carrick aint doing well in Man U. He would be relegated to a squad player next to Park and O'Shea and Saha in the bench soon. Anderson and Hargreaves and Scholes and Giggsy will be Fergie's go to guys in midfield. Good thing is Ronaldo seems to be converted into an advance position, so 1 more slot in midfield or winger to be filled.

4. In order to crack the top 4, you have to basically wait for one of the top 4 to crack. Thats what happened to Liverpool when Rafa took over and Everton got in. Spurs almost got in thanks to Jol if not for that tainted lasagna? at West Ham and Arsenal's sputtering form.

As it is, the top 4 spends too much and have too good a quality of players to fall outside top 4. But Moyes have shown as long as you have consistency, you can make it.

Its doubtful Spurs can crack top 4 this season since they dropped too many points. Unlikely next season unless Ramos has free rein but Ramos shows his success in cup runs and not La Liga positioning.

5. Bolton probably wont be relegated this season considering how badly others are playing.

[evisu 2000]

allardyce sacked... haha.

[polishmike]

allardyce sacked... haha.

Good, fuck that fat cunt. Now let's see Shearer take over, punch Barton in training and get them relegated