September 2014 Football/Fútbol Discussion: The Aftermath of the Summer Transfer Window Edition

[Kyle]

I know I hardly know much, but it certainly looks like Chelsea is the team to beat this year. When you have game-changers in Costa, Hazard, and Fabregas, plus a ton of depth everywhere else and two world-class goalkeepers, the sky is the limit. By the way, Fabregas is incredible in FIFA 14. Signed him with Real Madrid in 2016/2017 and he has over 30 assists for me.

[Daz]

Bolton won, Bradford won & Norwich won... good day for the 3 of us @prophet @Daz

Undefeated since the first day of the season, and top of the league. Oh it feels so right.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Bolton won, Bradford won & Norwich won... good day for the 3 of us @prophet @Daz

Undefeated since the first day of the season, and top of the league. Oh it feels so right.

Shocked to hear that after seeing Norwich's relegation last season under Adam's reign (he didn't have many games admittedly). Thought his inexperience at Championship level might mean that you'd struggle.

[PorkChop]

Solskjaer looks like he's leaving Cardiff, haha. He's well and truly flopped in this country.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Solskjaer looks like he's leaving Cardiff, haha. He's well and truly flopped in this country.

I can see the headlines tomorrow "Ole Goner Solskjaer" "Supersnub"

I feel for him - I think he's probably abit too nice for management, lacking that cutting edge (unlike his playing career) and ruthlessness.

Probably call an end to his management career for punditry or go manage in Norway.

[PorkChop]

Solskjaer looks like he's leaving Cardiff, haha. He's well and truly flopped in this country.

I can see the headlines tomorrow "Ole Goner Solskjaer" "Supersnub"

I feel for him - I think he's probably abit too nice for management, lacking that cutting edge (unlike his playing career) and ruthlessness.

Probably call an end to his management career for punditry or go manage in Norway.

Yeah, I imagine he'll go back home. He's just not good enough for this country, especially the Premier League.

[SKS]

Fuck Jerome Boateng.

[PorkChop]

Fuck Jerome Boateng.

WOAT game ever. So disappointing.

[SlightlyJames]

Thoughts, @PorkChop?

[PorkChop]

Thoughts, @PorkChop?

I've called for Lambert to be sacked pretty regularly over the last couple of seasons, but this news doesn't actually annoy me too much.

Lambert seems to have ditched the idea of buying 21 year olds from League Two, at last. He made some truly woeful signings up until the last transfer window, the only exceptions being Benteke and Westwood. Everyone else he's signed has been pretty bad. He obviously didn't have a lot of money, but the money that he did have was wasted. He signed Nicklas Helenius for a couple of million and never played him. Yacouba Sylla was the best part of a million too, and he was utter shit. Same with Joe Bennett.

This year however, things seem to have changed. Lambert has an excellent partnership going on with Roy Keane, and brought back the guys he'd previously exiled in Hutton, Bent, N'zogbia and a few others. For the last few seasons Villa were crying out for experience and Lambert finally seems to have listened. He made some good signings over the summer too - in particular, Aly Cissokho has been immense, and surprisingly, so has Senderos.

Villa have started the season well but eventually the bubble will burst, though with Vlaar, Benteke, Okore and Kozak coming back into the team as well as Delph playing out of his skin, I feel Villa will finish higher than they did last season. Dare I say it.

[SlightlyJames]

^ I'm glad Hutton is back doing well for you guys, always rated him for Rangers and Scotland but he seemed to struggle to perform when he made the switch to the PL.

[Romo]

Hutton spending some time at Bolton getting game time saved his career you can thank us later!

[AkydefGoldberg]

I never really understood why Lambert went to Villa and without, it seems anyway, giving those players (Hutton, N'Zogbia, Bent) a chance and discarded them instantly. But tbf to him, brave call in giving them another chance but it's because he's had to and possibly down to Keane's influence.

EDIT: A piece on Keane's role. He's got a wicked beard - wish mine had a nice grey area on my chin.

[PorkChop]

I never really understood why Lambert went to Villa and without, it seems anyway, giving those players (Hutton, N'Zogbia, Bent) a chance and discarded them instantly. But tbf to him, brave call in giving them another chance but it's because he's had to and possibly down to Keane's influence.

EDIT: A piece on Keane's role. He's got a wicked beard - wish mine had a nice grey area on my chin.

Two-tone beards are the new 'in' thing. I wish I could just grow one as thick as Keane's, haha.

Also: Larry Ellison pls

[prophet]

I never really understood why Lambert went to Villa and without, it seems anyway, giving those players (Hutton, N'Zogbia, Bent) a chance and discarded them instantly. But tbf to him, brave call in giving them another chance but it's because he's had to and possibly down to Keane's influence.

EDIT: A piece on Keane's role. He's got a wicked beard - wish mine had a nice grey area on my chin.

I'd agree with this, never understood why Lambert chose to freeze those experienced players out at a time when Villa were desperately crying out for it. For the record I'd like to remind everyone that I was like the only person who said Villa would be alright this season from the beginning

[PorkChop]

I never really understood why Lambert went to Villa and without, it seems anyway, giving those players (Hutton, N'Zogbia, Bent) a chance and discarded them instantly. But tbf to him, brave call in giving them another chance but it's because he's had to and possibly down to Keane's influence.

EDIT: A piece on Keane's role. He's got a wicked beard - wish mine had a nice grey area on my chin.

I'd agree with this, never understood why Lambert chose to freeze those experienced players out at a time when Villa were desperately crying out for it. For the record I'd like to remind everyone that I was like the only person who said Villa would be alright this season from the beginning

You would have got good odds betting on Villa to stay up this year. I remember Llanlad used to bet on us going down every year, haha. I liked that guy but he hated Villa

[PorkChop]

Was genuinely surprised to see people picking Villa to draw or win today.

All things considered, a 3-0 loss to Arsenal isn't bad. The team were struck down with a virus this week which ruled first team players like Baker (MOTM against Liverpool) and Westwood (Another MOTM this season) out, and Weimann was subbed off at half time due to illness. There are reports that two players were sick before the game too, but no names have been confirmed. EDIT: It was Guzan and Delph.

A bad day for the mighty Villa, but onwards and upwards!

[AkydefGoldberg]

^I kinda hoped they'd prey upon Arsenal's tough midweek loss but had I known this virus, would have predicted the other way.

Big result for Pardew - his Newcastle obituary was probably being written as Hull celebrated their second goal.

[SKS]

Well at least Liverpool won't have a points lead to blow this May

[PorkChop]

@prophet - what do you think about the calls for Gerrard to be dropped?