Football

Now, this is a guy that knows how to lose a bet.

#weartheshirt

Now, this is a guy that knows how to lose a bet.

#weartheshirt

stage 1 buddhist
wait till you see him in the orange away kit ... it'll make more sense then

Hiddink resigns. Off to Spain?

United bid £30million for Fabregas

Fabregas will not get sold until Barcelona have a new head coach in place.

Very snide to make a bid when the club has just announced that the head coach resigned because of health issues.

Coming out soon...

Like the fact that Barca's coaching search is taking them over and above the usual names bandied about (probably because the coaching carousel had come to a half before they started their search), another bielsa disciple in la liga would be truly interesting, especially as bielsa doesn't actually seem to be being considered for the role.

In striking news, been mentioned again in relation to Soldado, though I think Liverpool are monitoring him as well. But at least we've already got in two new players, early doors so our approach to the transfer window is changing, albeit slowly.

In twenty years or so you'll be signing them halfway through...

Martino appointment official according to Sid Lowe http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/22/barcelona-gerardo-martino

and breathe Cornelius.....

really interesting article about the coaching merits/history of Martino, from tactical journalist guru Jonathon Wilson.

Looks like he has better people skills than Bielsa, so will probably last longer as he's not as dogmatic.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jul/22/barcelona-gerardo-martino-bielsa

Still unsure about the validity of coaching in Argentina, though that being said they are football made over there, and it probably comes across as little european. But hoping he gets the time and space to revitalise a Barca team thats looked out of sorts, despite winning La Liga last year.

As CliveO will tell you its all about the Champions League nowadays..

It sure is...

Still unsure about the validity of coaching in Argentina, though that being said they are football made over there, and it probably comes across as little european. But hoping he gets the time and space to revitalise a Barca team thats looked out of sorts, despite winning La Liga last year.

Diego Simeone had barely managed outside of Argentina prior to taking the Atletico Madrid job. Pellegrini had barely managed outside Chile before taking over at Villarreal. Barca are more interested in continuity of thought than high profile managers. The big thing will be dealing with the press, although now Jose has left that may calm down a bit.

I was going to say something similar. Biggest load of rubbish written by corndog in a long time.

Its all about ideas, ethos and man management these days. You're either a good manager or you're not. Winning the clausura when Bianchi is at Boca is a big deal, even more so with a team like NOB.

Prole, and Jaw, I did indeed hedge my bets by saying they are football mad in argentina and that it is probably just my european mindset, lets not throw me under the neanderthal/backwards looking football fan cart shall we...

I hope Martino is a success and as said I hadn't heard about him and the intricacies of the Argentinian league and the relative sizes/merits of teams over there are on the edge of my radar. So forgive me for being a bit cautious about his appointment.

Looking forward to both of you jumping down hard on the next person to make a not so gentle dig at the prospective potential of other foreign managerial candidates in the coming season.

On Tottenham striker news, looks like we are deep in negotiations with Valencia for Soldado,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/23/tottenham-roberto-soldado-valencia

If we get him, would still want another young, up and coming striker to be signed as well, to make sure we can rotate, and not be caught short by injury..

snore

x

The only thing anyone is really interested in over the next four weeks is

1. Where will Suarez go?
   
2. Where will Bale go?
   
3. Where will Rooney go?
   
4. Will Arsenal ever spend any money?
   
   

When I say interested I mean already bored with. I'm going to the royalty thread. Far more interesting than here at the moment

Good summary mike.

The only thing anyone is really interested in over the next four weeks is

1. Where will Suarez go?
   
2. Where will Bale go?
   
3. Where will Rooney go?
   
4. Will Arsenal ever spend any money?
   
   

When I say interested I mean already bored with. I'm going to the royalty thread. Far more interesting than here at the moment

1. Madrid
   
2. Madrid
   
3. Chelsea
   
4. A bit, but not much and not on anyone you've ever heard of.
   

1. Did the lizard overlord force Benteke to sign a new contract?
   

He wanted to be part of a big club, going places. With added history.

(That's Villa, obv.)

So Napoli have agreed a deal with Higuain.

I think another summer of utter disgust lies ahead for me. Continuing to flirt with players that would improve the club but in the end, we lack the fucking bollocks to go out and sign players.

The club hierachy are bigger bedwetters than Islington's favourite plastic toffee.

The only thing anyone is really interested in over the next four weeks is

1. Where will Suarez go?
   
2. Where will Bale go?
   
3. Where will Rooney go?
   
4. Will Arsenal ever spend any money?
   
   

1: To the club which offers him the most money
2: To the club which offers him the most money
3: To the club which offers him the most money
4: If they don't, they'll never win owt again. It's bin 8 years now. That's quite a shocking statistic actually.