The on topic thread

[Nallad]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3277...a-move?CMPID=FBUK_150410_suarezrealmadridsnub
Hahaha pissa. Wise move as well, will probably win Liga and CL

 

[chef]

Zlatan gets a 4 game ban for a rant about the refs.

In 15 years I’ve never seen a (good) referee in this s*** country ... (they) don’t even deserve PSG.

“Wake up, wake up... we’re not amateurs. F****** a******."

 

[jod23]

Never change Zlatan. Never change.

 

[Rough_Edges]

Swansea's transfer dealings this year have been sensational.

IN;

Montero 4m

He's had a great season. Started 10 games, come off the bench 14 times. Had 5 assists. He's seriously pacey.

Gomis free

I had my questions about him, especially in Jan when he was saying he's keen to leave. But he's really turned it around. 8 goals now. Seems to have adjusted to the Premier League.

Fabianski free + Gylfi

Had my worries about this one, especially with Vorm being such a good keeper. But Fabianski's been fantastic. 11 clean sheets and really steady. Gylfi just fits at Swansea. Started the season like a house on fire, kind of settled but has picked up again. He is really creative and scores. 6 goals and 9 assists in 27 apps.

Was a real shame to see Davies go, however - always likely.

Cork 3m

This is my favourite signing. Got him in Jan and he has seriously not put a foot wrong. He is really solid in the middle of the park and distributes really well. Covers well for our defence and rarely gives it away. Passes at close to 90% and makes 2.5 tackles and 3 interceptions a game. We've trailed him for a while and rapt we got him. We needed another really solid holding mid and he is that.

Naughton 5m

I thought we overpaid for him at the time. But to be honest, since joining he's exceeded my expectations and is a clear upgrade on Rangel IMO. Real shame he's out for the rest of the season because he was starting to look quite settled. Actually is quite dangerous going forward as well, and has an assist to his name.

Fernandez 7m

We badly needed another centre half, and rightly we went out and spent big on one. However, this is transfer - the jury is still out. He really struggled early days and made a couple of big errors - however he has been quite solid over the past 4-6 weeks. I think he was probably our best against Villa, really solid. Hoping he continues to adapt.

Emnes 1.5m

He's the kind of player not many clubs supporters would know about but I think this was a tidy bit of business. Offers us something off the bench as a bit part kind of player.

We also got Grimes for fairly cheap who looks like a likely lad and got Tom Carroll in on loan who was great for us before getting injured.

OUT;

Davies 10m

Was a real shame to see Davies go, he was a fantastic player for us once he got his chance when Taylor went down with injury a few years ago. However to get 10m for him was good business. Taylor while not quite as good, has had a decent season and not at all been disgraced. As much as I would've loved Davies to stay, he was destined to go on to a big club.

Vorm 5m

I was really worried to see Vorm go. A fantastic keeper in his own right, and was actually a little bit dirty on him for taking the money. However, in the end - I couldn't be happier with this. We got Fabianski for FREE and Gylfi came as well.

Hernandez 2m, Chico

Once our record signing, he could be very very good. However, unfortunately, due to injuries and seemingly a bad attitude - he never reached the heights we hoped. Was happy to see him go to be honest as apparently was one of the main culprits when it came to the few training ground bust ups.

Chico was a likeable character, but simply a terrible defender.

Bony 28m

Perhaps our best ever player. Was sad but inevitable to see him go but the way the club managed it was fantastic. Signing him to a big new deal to drive up his price, holding on to him for the first half of the season. We paid 12m for him, he scored 34 goals for us then sold him at a 16m profit.


______

Seriously, I know it is a bit of a wank fest above, but seriously our work in the transfer market ever since joining the PL has been really really good. The thing is, it had to be - or we'd be going straight back down.

We've now consolidated and look like breaking our points record and will finish our third consecutive season in the PL.

When you compare our transfers to a team like Hull for example, who I really do hope stay up, I just feel our work in the transfer market has been vastly superior for similar money.

Livermore 8m, Hernandez 10m, Snodgrass 6m (unlucky), N'Doye 3m.


Then when you compare the season we came out compared to Leicester this year.

We got out and buy Michu 2m, Chicho 2m, Ki 5m, Hernandez 5m and Tiendali, Bartley comes for free. None of these players other than Michu really set the world alight, but we were careful with our money and addressed areas we needed depth. Through the middle with midfielders and defensive depth. These players come in for approx 14m.

Sure we got lucky and Michu came out and scored 22 goals. Without those goals, I feel we still stay up.

However in comparison to Leicester, who are clearly weak at the back and seriously lack midfield depth smash all 8m in Ulloa and then panic spend another 9m in Jan on another striker.

I just feel that if they spend that 17m up front and maybe still get Ulloa, but get a couple of other mid options and improve what is clearly a championship defence.

I know this might sound preachy but I'm just truly grateful I follow such a well ran club who doesn't make rash decisions.

Getting good fees for Allen, Sinclair, Graham have also helped along the way.

Of course everything can change really quickly, but I'm enjoying it while I can.

 

[Jatz]

Dont think Leicester can be accused of making rash decisions myself. The fact Pearson is still the manager is testament to that.

Ulloa was incredible early on in the season. Earned us more than 5 points, all of which are crucial now. Kramaric was being chased by Chelsea. Unknown quantity but the kind of risk that can save a season. He hasnt set the world alight but he's played his part.

Definitely agree about improving our defense though. Huth is a big in but came in 6 months too late.

We got Cambiasso which has been awesome for us. Could probably have used another midfielder but not the end of the world.

More than anything this season, we've lacked a killer instinct. I'm ok with the club spending money to improve that myself.

No doubt we haven't been perfect in the transfer market but i have always believed we have a squad that was good enough to stay up. Whether or not we do remains to be seen.

 

[Shoei]

Gylfi + Flappy

Happy to see Flappy doing so well. Always a likeable guy.

Gylfi was excellent at Tottenham, silly decision to let him go as he's exactly the type of player they are missing now.

Just goes to show you don't have to spend 100+ Million to find the players you need.

Rogers needs to take note.

 

[Benno_900]

Sanchez - Gun signing
Ospina - Solid but he doesn't fill me with too much confidence
Welbeck - He really is nothing special but he is growing on me because he works so ****ing hard. Respect.
Debuchy - Injured all season
Chambers - Yuck

 

[Shoei]

Harsh on Chambers. Not really his fault he's being played in a position he isn't cut out for.

Looked more comfortable when playing as a CB.

 

[Jatz]

Way harsh on Chambers. He's still a kid. Could be a huge player for over the years.

 

[Cruyff14]

Debuchy was good when he played.

 

[glenferry23]

Yep very premature on Chambers. He'll be fine long term. Played way too much football earlier in the season, not his fault though we only went into the season with 2 centre halves.

 

[Benno_900]

Everytime I see Chambers defending one-on-one, I shield my eyes in terror.

 

[Cruyff14]

He's been poor this season but give him the chance to develop properly, I think he will come good.

 

[Benno_900]

He's not coming good at RB, that's for sure.

CB or CDM

 

[SM]

Our lesson is just keep signing new strikers and mids. They all seem to score 3-4 goals in their first 4-5 games and then drop off a cliff.

 

[Magma]

mangala - one half of our best pairing. paid a lot, everyone hates him and thinks he's shit, but he's been good.
fernando. ha. struggled every since his injury vs arsenal. needs to be in a 3 man midfield
sagna - good when he's played. managed to shut down hazard. probably been better than zaba, rarely gets played, no idea why
lamps - scored a couple of important at the time goals. now looks like nothing. not worth all the fuss in jan honestly. not much he can do from the bench though
willy - barely played, looked shaky when he did
bony - barely had a sniff. thought he'd kick on from scoring vs brom but of course had to get injured.
zuculini - looked good pre season, shipped off to valencia, barely played, if at all, now struggling at cordoba. yay

out
lescott - wouldnt have played
barry - got money for a free transfer. not bad
pants - would've rather have kept him to willy but he wanted to go and i can't blame him. played well in a poor sunderland side
rodders - did well to get 10 mil for a permacrock. hasn't kicked on at sunderland either. funny that
garcia - gotten rid when he started to get good. played well in zenit. fernando hasn't been any better, arguably worse.
negredo - wanted to leave, got a lot for him. okay with this
sinclair - nothing player, any fee is welcome
nasty - don't understand it. struggled with the high line but everyone has at times. got harshly banished and i hope he goes on to have a wonderful career at schalke.

 

[chef]

In

Fab - Excellent. Just what we need and has been involved in 31 of the 100 goals we have scored. Thanks Wenger.
Remy - Been a very good back up striker when call upon and has scored some crucial goals. A bit injury prone, but still a great buy for the money we spent. Thanks Brendan
Drogba - What more could you ask as a 37 year old 3rd inline striker, had some OK games but his value is more from the bench/changerooms/training ground.
Luis - Would def have wanted to be playing more, but seem cool about starting 50% of the games. Squad wise what a cracking fullback to call on when needed.
Cuadrado - To early to judge, but i think he'll settle in nicely and be a player next season.
Costa - What more to say than awesome signing, huge important cog in our machine.
Courtois - Will be a Chelsea great and our GK for ages.
Zouma - Looks a great prospect and will play a lot of football for us.

Out

Schurrle - Andre was one of mine favs, but didn't really fit the Chelsea mould. Turned a profit on a squad player, so that was excellent.
Lampard - Was finished by the end of last season, ending up at City(and scoring against us) was annoying but I still love him all the same.
Luiz - 50m, you beauty. I was a big geezer fan and it's great to see him doing well at PSG(apart from against us)
Cole - Was done and left as a legend
Torres - Thank god he's gone and am surprised we don't have to pay any of his salary. Thanks Milan.
Ba - For such a cameo player he left two amazing memories. Slippery Steve
Eto'o - I'll remember him for his hatty against United. Scored some good goals.

Didn't include any loaned out players.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

In:
Blind - A bargain at 17 million
Rojo - Has done a good job for us
Shaw - Injured but when he has played he has done well
Herrera - Gun player
Di Maria - A bit Dissapoiniting but will come good
Falcao - Flop

 

[NUFC Tiger]

While I suspect it's just him trying to drum up some support, seems David Cameron (British PM) 'sympathises' with our plight.

“I do understand their frustration and I know how passionate fans are about football clubs like Newcastle United,” he said.

“We have set up a review body to look at supporter ownership and see what we can do to help.

“It clearly is working for some clubs in some places and we will continue to do that work and listen to the people in Newcastle.”

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/david-cameron-says-feels-frustration-9036501


The interesting thing I took out of this article though was the comment by Ed Miliband (guessing he's the opposition leader?). From the article.

"But Ed Miliband is also competing for Magpies’ vote. Launching the Labour Party Manifesto in Manchester, he said the party would go further and introduce new laws allowing football supporters to appoint or remove two club directors and buy shares.

It comes as scores of fans prepare to boycott St James’ Park when Newcastle take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday."

 

[Shoei]

While I suspect it's just him trying to drum up some support, seems David Cameron (British PM0 'sympathises' with our plight.

“I do understand their frustration and I know how passionate fans are about football clubs like Newcastle United,” he said.

“We have set up a review body to look at supporter ownership and see what we can do to help.

“It clearly is working for some clubs in some places and we will continue to do that work and listen to the people in Newcastle.”

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/david-cameron-says-feels-frustration-9036501


The interesting thing I took out of this article though was the comment by Ed Miliband (guessing he's the opposition leader?). From the article.

"But Ed Miliband is also competing for Magpies’ vote. Launching the Labour Party Manifesto in Manchester, he said the party would go further and introduce new laws allowing football supporters to appoint or remove two club directors and buy shares.

It comes as scores of fans prepare to boycott St James’ Park when Newcastle take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday."

Very interesting to see how this is going to work with Corporations Law.....

Football clubs are businesses. You are going to run into all kinds of problems once you start trying to change corporate structures.

 

[moomba]

Its a nice idea in principle, but not practical. Leave it supporters and our board meetings would last months before we got agreement on resolution 1 - shall we have muffins or barms for morning tea. We still have arguments over whether Sven should have been sacked let alone the current manager.

 

[moomba]

It's probably worthy of its own thread but what government should be looking at doing is:

- Protecting home ground and training ground, similar to what Chelsea have. If a club wants to change things, convince your supporters to go along with it. I'd look at Heritage listing football grounds to add a bit of weight to that.

- Protect name, badge, home colours along similar lines

- Outlaw leveraged buyouts

- Cap management fees that owners can take out of the club, either directly or jndirectly through companies.

- Cap ticket prices.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Very interesting to see how this is going to work with Corporations Law.....

Football clubs are businesses. You are going to run into all kinds of problems once you start trying to change corporate structures.

Yeah, when I read it, the first thing I thought was how (or if the government could even) would they achieve that. Especially for club's that aren't listed publicly on the share market (for us, I know Mike Ashley took us off being a publicly listed company).

Could the government make demands/requirements onto the FA/Premier League and Football League and go about it that way perhaps?

Its a nice idea in principle, but not practical. Leave it supporters and our board meetings would last months before we got agreement on resolution 1 - shall we have muffins or barms for morning tea. We still have arguments over whether Sven should have been sacked let alone the current manager.

Yeah, no idea how they'd govern it, maybe the supporters would need to appoint a trust or group of fans who 'act' on the behalf of the majority of the fanbase?

There are a few clubs on the continent that are 'owned' by the fans I think? (Barcelona perhaps?)

 

[ADL9798]

It's probably worthy of its own thread but what government should be looking at doing is:

- Protecting home ground and training ground, similar to what Chelsea have. If a club wants to change things, convince your supporters to go along with it. I'd look at Heritage listing football grounds to add a bit of weight to that.

- Protect name, badge, home colours along similar lines

- Outlaw leveraged buyouts

- Cap management fees that owners can take out of the club, either directly or jndirectly through companies.

- Cap ticket prices.

Agree with all of this, especially the bolded. Some of this could be done by the FA without govt intervention.

 

[Loonerty]

Ba - For such a cameo player he left two amazing memories. Slippery Steve

I will always love Demba for his vein of form late last season. That PSG goal... man.
Has an amazing knack for ending up on his arse when scoring.