General Football/Soccer Talk

God that team's going to be fun to use on FIFA. If they get Ribery they may aswell just cancel the Champions League this year. I think they need another defender though.

You know what they say attack is the best form of defense.

But seriously, your right, I've been saying this for ages as well they need to buy a defender man, they going all out for attack but who's going to stop the opposition from scoring? or do they just think they are always going to outscore them.

Inter have added Militio and Mottta from genoa. Decent players. Militio scored 24 last season.

They (real) had made an offer for Vidic, but he wanted to stay with fergie.

And now Ribery said he wants some of that real money as well.

I wonder if Lucio of bayern could also be a madrid target. He has been saying things in the media like he feels the support of bayern slipping away.

Lucio's a weird one for me, I like him a lot as a player but Real have gone out and signed big name guys like that before (Metzelder, Cannavaro, Pepe, Jonathan Woodgate lol) and it hasn't really worked all that well. I think Albiol is a good move, maybe they should go after someone like Breno or maybe De Silvestri

Albiol looks pretty solid. Pepe might still turn around. He seems passionate enough, if a bit psycho too. Cannavaro was player of the year at real and Woodgate got injured just sneezing it appeared. I'm supprised he is working out at Spurs. And to me Metzelder always seemed like someone Madrid got because they couldn't get anyone better.

Metzelder was pretty big time at one point, but he's had more injury problems than anyone, and always big time serious injuries it seems. I like Cannavaro but it did take him a couple of years to get settled. I remember when Man U signed Rio Ferdinand for 30 million both Nesta and Cannavaro moved clubs for roughly 15 mil each, I thought it was insane that United would spend 30 mil on one guy as opposed to getting the Italian national team central defensive pair for the same price. Of course Rio's now one of the best defenders in the World so I look pretty stupid there, but it would've been interesting all the same.

Vidic >> all

Btw, apparently Gojko Kacar (Serbian U21 player) has been signed by Man Utd. Spotted it in the newspaper today but can't yet find a link on the net.

Here's a scouting Report by the Red Devils on Kacar

[url]http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={83A644F4-1A7E-48B9-AF95-4605613A9A18}&redirectorid=news_story&newsid=6635097[/url]

Almost forgot about this thread!

So Madrid has been the talk of the town this summer and I'm hardly pleased about their dealings. I felt like someone stabbed me in my gut when they snagged Benzema because the deal just did not make any sense.

Raul is Madrid's angel, he isnt going anywhere. All the money invested in Benzema tells us he will start alongside him but the problem is what happens to Higuain?

As of right now Gonzalo Higuain is arguably a better striker than Karim Benzema and they are both 21 years old (birthdays are 9 days apart I believe). Think I'm crazy, just check their domestic statistics and consider the fact La Liga is a far superior league in comparison to Ligue 1.

In 34 La Liga games, Higuain scores 22 goals and produced 9 assists. He essentially accounted for 31 goals in 34 goals.

In 36 Ligue 1 games, Benzema scored 17 goals and produced 2 assists....that's 19 in 36.

This is what gets me upset. Its one thing if you go out and sign established goalscorers like Etoo or Villa, but you go out and pay 35m for another young kid who is arguably no better than the young kid you already have? Don't get me wrong, Benzema is potential a beast but thats what he is about...potential.

Madrid have a history of reaping the rewards of signing established players in their prime. They dont quite have that same track record as it relates to developing young talent. They just dont have that patience. In a squad with Huntelaar, Ruud, Raul, Higuain, Ronaldo etc etc...if Karim doesnt set the world on fire from his first match then it could end pretty ugly. Not just as it relates to his time at Madrid, but for his entire career.

If he was really as concerned about next year's World Cup as he claims to be he would be wearing Utd red. Utd and Sir Alex are known for their patience and belief in young talent, with the aid of an unselfish strike partner like Rooney and the leadership of our senior players he'd be on track to have a legendary career at Old Trafford.

Madrid's players arent about helping their teammates grow, its a cut-throat world over there. At the end of the day Its depressing to think players still flock to be a part of Madrid's madness. Utd tracked this kid for years and Madrid just wake up one day, said hello and he signed. Crazy he cant differentiate between what is honest interest and what is not. I suppose its Utd's fault though, Madrid would have never looked at him if we didnt build up his profile to such a level with our pursuit. Such is life I suppose.

If Madrid dont have adequate plans for Higuain, he can always come looking our way.

I don't think Benzema and Higuain is a fair comparison statistically, just because Benzema's Lyon team is no where near as good as Real. For arguments sake, Benzema's 17 goals could have come from nothing (I'm sure this wasn't the case but bare with me) and Higuain's could've been simple tap ins set up by his superior teammates (same again, wasn't the case). To be honest I rate Benzema higher overall, he's had more international experience (24 games for France vs Higuain's 1 unofficial cap) and has basically been carrying Lyon for a couple of years now, which is something Higuain's yet to encounter. I don't see Raul sticking around for much longer and I doubt he'll start all or even most of their games.

I don't see Raul sticking around for much longer and I doubt he'll start all or even most of their games.

You're right there... Ribery said "Madrid or nothing"... and Wenger said that he didn't make an offer for Benzema because he thought Lyon wouldn't sell him this year. I don't believe it

Owen signs with Manchester Utd

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={F9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114}&newsid=6635648

They lose one of the most exciting and skilful strikers in the World because they left him to rot on the bench for no reason, and the replacement is his slower, older, more oft injured clone... only without the dribbling, flair, skills or overall impact on the game. Good signing.

roflmao, so true

also, on Tevez looks like the deal to City will be completed

Carlos Tevez poised to agree four-year Manchester City deal by Monday

Nice pickup for city.
They recently released Mills, Ball, Hamann and Vassell.

The madrid boss said he wants 2 more transfers. Xabi Alonso and Ribery?

Interesting times for manchester supporters.

United signing Gabriel Obertan... good move I think. I don't know a huge deal about him but he is great in FM ... they should sign Henry Saivet, who is also great in FM.

I tried to transfer obertan to man u in my game, but I couldn't find him.

Kerlon a.k.a. the seal to inter. He doesn't look bad.

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80,000 pack the Bernabeu to see Ronaldo. Fucking crazy.

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City add another striker with Carlos Tevez.

Craig Bellamy (WAL)
Benjani Mwaruwari (ZIM)
Ched Evans (WAL)
Felipe Caicedo (ECU)
Jô (BRA)
Robinho (BRA)
Roque Santa Cruz (PRY)
Valeri Bojinov (BUL)

As Jo is at everton again and I have no idea who Evans is, I'd say they have 7 first team forwards now.

Ched Evans has alot of potential and was about as good as Sturridge for me, but he'll probably never break through at City now that they've signed their 9 millionth striker. I hate to say it but Mark Hughes is absolute garbage in the transfer market.. I mean Bellamy was a stupid signing, Benjani never played, Caicedo scored 2 or 3 goals on debut then faded into obscurity, Jo was never given much of a chance, Robinho wasn't even his signing and he's been the only real success out of all of them.

I think Santa Cruz was the only one of those that Hughes actually wanted.

According to ESPN:

Craig Bellamy (WAL) will stay;
Benjani Mwaruwari (ZIM), Redknapp is interested to sign him for Tottenham (already coached him in Portsmouth)
Ched Evans (WAL); will be loaned out
Felipe Caicedo (ECU); will be loaned out
Jô (BRA); loaned out to Everton
Robinho (BRA); will stay
Roque Santa Cruz (PRY); will stay
Valeri Bojinov (BUL); not sure yet
Carlos Tevez (ARG).

That leaves 4 strikers.

I give it six months before Bellamy gets sick of being on the bench and kills someone.

First Cristiano Ronaldo training in Madrid:



As everyone knows, he already had some of this signs in Man Utd.

I know Ronaldo looks good, but please stop the gay juice.

I know Ronaldo looks good, but please stop the gay juice.

Look good? I just hate him with my soul.