Football/Futbol/Soccer thread

[AkydefGoldberg]

^If I was Allardyce, I would have offered to cover the West Ham fans' expenses for the 5-0 and 6-0 drubbings at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City respectively. It might have been abit see through but it's the gesture that counts and would have shown sincerity. But guess not.

[prophet]

We've signed Jordan Graham on loan from Villa. Porky, know anything at all about him?

[PorkChop]

We've signed Jordan Graham on loan from Villa. Porky, know anything at all about him?

He's somewhat decent from what I've seen. He's got caps for England at U16 and U17 levels, is a part of Villa's NextGen series team and has scored a few in the academy.

[SlightlyJames]

Back to Ibrox for the first time in months today, it's only East Fife but should be a good game regardless

[AkydefGoldberg]

^Speaking of Rangers, read McCoist has completed the process for his pay cut. £825,000 to be halved - still not a bad amount.

[Kyle]

Januzaj was on fire in the 2nd half today. Unreal talent he has.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Started off alot better in the first half but allowed Swansea to dictate possesion and get comfortable. Had Routledge not had two poor touches of the ball in the final third, they could have had more opportunities and made De Gea work. Our defence was pretty solid and DDG didn't have much to do.

Second half was so much better. Amazing how you can play well by upping the tempo and pace of the game. Evra/Januzaj pivotal to the turn around and Kagawa shows why he is more influential in the middle. Yes, he should contribute more from the left but I think with him it's a mental thing - he might just be getting ticked off being on the left most of the time but to not even play in the middle when RVP/Rooney are not playing must be a killer.

Welbeck's 8th league goal, I'd back him to get into double figures, possibly 14 until the end of the season going by his current confidence atm. Carrick/Fletcher were reliable and efficient. But for Chelsea, I do think Cleverley could return alongside those two. To counter Chelsea's trio attacking threat, we're going to need numbers when we don't have the ball.

[PorkChop]

Why are MOTD going on about West Ham's "extraordinary" and "phenomenal" performance today? I also love how they're talking of Andy Carroll like he's some sort of footballing messiah, it's hilarious.

It's as if West Ham just beat Chelsea 4-0 away.


Also, I despise how Steve Bruce signs his son Alex wherever he goes. Alex Bruce is shit. Get someone good instead and stop being a nepotistic twat.

[PorkChop]

Double post, but whatever. Enjoy my MOTD commentary

Gareth Barry is still hugely underrated. Always has been but finally started getting some recognition when Martin O'Neill put him as a central midfielder for Villa in the 05/06 season. He may not be the fastest but he's one of the best passers in the league, and if you disagree, you haven't been watching him play enough. He can knock the ball up and down the pitch like Scholes did. Plus, he's a great captain and penalty taker, and he's not bad at free kicks either.

Why do Chelsea keep loaning out Lukaku? He's quality.

Jason Puncheon's penalty was the worst I've ever seen, but not quite as bad as Marouane Chamakh's hair.

Tony Pulis... ugh. Horrible tactics, and always has to wear a club tracksuit and cap on the sidelines. He looks like one of those angry dads you see at Sunday league tournaments.

Why is Defoe leaving for Toronto? He's got a few years left in him over here. It'll wreck his World Cup hopes.

As much as I fucking hate Saints, if Lallana doesn't go to the World Cup I'll be livid. Lambert and Rodriguez should stay home, however.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Big win for Big Sam - expected Ole to get a home win.

But yeah, won't be long before Carroll has an injury or because they realise he can't score regularly as he should.

Steve Bruce, despised?! Hell no. He's got a dodgy nose but a very under-rated manager but tbh, signing sons is a common theme. Fergie had his son Darren on the books at United but wasn't great.

Lukaku, I thought would be given his chance this season but I'd love to see that loan rule changed that a player can't play against his parent club - would be hilarious seeing Lukaku dent his club's title hopes.

Defoe joining Toronto is a joke. Joke seems apt as that's what their club seems to be. Waste of a few years for someone as clinical as Jermain.

Agree - Lallana is a much better prospect playing on the left ahead of Welbeck who has a good goalscoring record for England. Shove him up top with Rooney behind and Lallana on the left.

[Romo]

You shouldn't dismiss the MLS it's a good league with some good players in it, ofcourse Defoe is a top class player who could play for many teams in the premiership but if he goes to the MLS and bangs them in for fun, his confidence will be through the roof and the players he'd play against at the world cup aren't a million miles better than the players he'll play against in the MLS, plus he'll be on £90,000-a-week which will do nicely for the next four years and he can then retire a rich man.

Barca - A.Madrid was pretty poor, a chess man between two tactical managers, Madrid just ran round kicking players really and closed of the gaps to stop Barca playing, I'll never understand why Tata took Alexis off instead of Pedro, the trio of Neymar, Messi & Alexis has worked so well together already this season and Pedro isn't all that good either.

Bolton are shit. That is all.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Towards the end both sides (Atletico-Barca) were happy for a draw. Would have dented Madrid's confidence for the title had they lost last night.

[Viazon]

This Chelsea fan at work keeps saying that their best striker is currently playing for Everton. If I was Jose, I would keep him on next season. The man is class. Could be the next Drogba.

[Kyle]

If I was Lukaku I would want to stay at Everton.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Mourinho wants Rooney. And IF that happens, I think Lukaku - considering how much he wants to play and develop and the frosty relationship he seems to have with Jose - might look elsewhere.

[Romo]

AC Milan sacked manager Massimiliano Allegri, not surprising really, has a wealth of talent in his squad but yet continues to dish out dogshite results.

[Viazon]

Hell, I'll take Lukaku.

[Romo]

Hell, I'll take Lukaku.

Cheeky.


I can't believe i'm even discussing this but it's worth making note of it, according to the twitter account @Barcastuff, who tweets all the gossip from reliable sources atc... this is actually a thing "The talks on a transfer of Barcelona midfielder Xavi (33) to New York Red Bulls in the summer are well-advanced."

I'm pretty sure Xavi is going to retire from international football after this world cup and I think he'll be looking to retire in 2/3 years time, Tata has been giving Roberto more and more playing time in recent weeks so this rumor may be an actually thing.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Milan's fall from grace is incredible. Feel for Allegri, not an easy club to manage with the pimp Berlusconi at the helm.

Xavi to NYRD? Moyes - get on the buzzer! I'd take him. He's 33 but still in good nick, would be amazing to have but think he'll retire after the WC and maybe still stay on at Barca but accept a lesser role because he's been there all his career.

[SKS]

Milan are 30 points behind Juventus, ridiculous.