Football (Soccer) Rumours

by **AroyFarang** » February 28, 2012, 10:02 pm

Interesting career hes had so far coming from a Japanese side if memory serves. I cant see even Chelski paying that much for him.

I must have missed how Torres has been treated as i didnt hear anything about that. Personally i just think he's crap! I saw motd the other night and they were doing a special on Torres and showing his positioning when the ball comes into the box, just awful.

I also read an article that if Villas Boas does make it to the end of the season AND Chelsea qualify for Europe, even in 4th place that he is safe and that hes been given cart blanche to get rid of alot of the old guard including Lampard. I did read it in a Murdoch publication though so unless they tapped someones phone who knows how true that is!

by **BobHelm** » February 29, 2012, 5:34 pm

I think that AVB rather was given the task of 'getting rid of the old guard' while the contract was being originally signed. That is why there has been zero criticism coming his way from the owner, as he is doing the task he was employed to do. What nobody expected was that the old guard have been the only ones performing & when they have been left out on mass (as in Europe first half a weeks ago) the team have looked poor in the extreme.
My take on Torres is that he is actually a very good player but only on his terms. He finds it impossible to adapt to the team, the team must play to him.
He had a fair record in Spain & an excellent one at Pool. At Pool though the complete team was centred solely around Torres scoring. Sadly he is also rather injury prone & so often didn't play. Then Pool were left floundering as they had no one with his ability to substitute for him & no 'Plan B' as a route to goal.
I can understand fully why Pool were not exactly gutted at losing him (although they bought poorly from Newcastle) as, for all his antics, Suarez is much more of a team player...
As far as Chelsea were concerned, the club made the fatale mistake of buying a hugely expensive player without having the manager involved in the decision. No past, or present, Chelsea manager has never had any desire to build his side around the player, why should they it is a dangerous thing to do...

: Torres.jpeg (14.34 KiB) Viewed 332 times

After the Arsenal good figures news, some disappointing ones from Villa.

Aston Villa announce £53.9m loss for 2010-11 financial year

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17197269
It is not quite as bad as the headline suggests as Ashley Young’s transfer fee (£17m) & Stuart Downing’s of between £18m & £20m have not been included in the figures...
Not bright for a side that are not exactly packing them in with their current manager though..

No talks with Fabio Capello successor - Football Association

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17199285
A reasonable person might well ask what the hell they are actually doing then...
You have to suspect that it is developing strategies that make the appointment of 'Arry or Big Sam, or anyone else with a personality an impossibility while attaching no blame to the FA.
A difficult, maybe impossible, task so wait & do nothing & pray that unforeseen future events rescue their bacon..

by **BobHelm** » March 1, 2012, 8:46 am

England played a friendly against Holland.
The first game played since the magician from Italy had left the set up. As his rabbits were always produced dead & doves featherless the new era was awaited with anticipation by the fans.

As always (well since 1966 anyway & even that was a roller coaster ride

) it was an up & down event.
Plenty of new faces in the line up, but also the usual last minute injury withdraws as well.
Eventually lost the game by three goals to two.

'Only a friendly' (so why do the FA play them...Ah yes, money

) & against a, currently, very good side who will certainly figure as one of the favourites in the summer European competition.
However the defence didn't fill itself with glory & they need to develop a swift understanding. But that can only happen if the side are allowed to settle down a little.
The FA should make a swift decision about what is going to happen for the European championship at least. Let someone formulate some plans, start to settle on what the squad will look like & how they will play.

There were some good, young players on display for their country & some green shoots of recovery so it is time to get a gardener in place, not just haul a guy in off the street when you think it is looking patchy!!

by **BobHelm** » March 1, 2012, 12:13 pm

I really hope that this was not what the FA were hoping for....
a compensation free Gary Megson

Gary Megson is sacked by Sheffield Wednesday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17214703

Sheffield Wednesday have sacked manager Gary Megson, despite the Owls winning Sunday's Steel City derby.

& they are now 3rd. in the League...bit harsh, maybe...However, of course, their Chairman is Milan Mandaric so anything is always possible...
He says...

he took the decision to give the club the "best chance of achieving our key aim of promotion".

They are currently 3rd, a play off place, and have just beaten their biggest rivals & second place United...pull the other one Milan!!

Admittedly everyone is far trailing race away leaders Charlton. Don't forget that they, Charlton, endured a not very good first season under Chris Powell, finishing 13th. They stuck with him though & now look at the result!!

England U21 4-0 Belgium U21

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17211368

While Mr. Pearce acted as play manager at Wembley his real team, the under 21s, did the business.
They are now qualified for the Under 21 2013 European competition proper, while they still have 2 qualifying games left in the group.
Belgium are in second place, even after this drubbing.
Arsenal fans will be pleased to note that it was two of their players who looked the stars, although to score four while conceding none means that it was a complete team performance.
Henri Lansbury scored 2 & Oxlade-Chamberlain had a late penalty but even débutante Wilfried Zaha of lowly Crystal Palace put in a performance that suggests Palace might struggle to keep him come the Summer.
It will be a tough old competition to win once it takes place (in Israel - a decision that is frankly shocking as it is bewildering :shock:

) with Germany so far looking a highly talented set up..

by **Brian Davis** » March 1, 2012, 3:31 pm

BobHelm wrote: but even débutante Wilfried Zaha of lowly Crystal Palace put in a performance that suggests Palace might struggle to keep him come the Summer.

Oi, steady on. Lowly, indeed. :lol:

A team capable of surprising a few, I recall - and with some exciting youngsters, including Zaha, from the Academy.

by **BobHelm** » March 1, 2012, 3:49 pm

Brian Davis wrote:Oi, steady on. Lowly, indeed. A team capable of surprising a few, I recall - and with some exciting youngsters, including Zaha, from the Academy.

You know what I mean Brian...

Mummm, via the Ivory Coast, but there since 14 so I guess more of a Palace product than Oxlade-Chamberlain is a Gunners one...

It is unusual for a Championship player to be given the chance though. How many players have cited a desire to play for their country as the reason for a move in the past...Yeah, OK maybe some would use any excuse..

I see that Bolton made a couple of bids for him right at transfer end & were turned away...
Their 7 or so million is starting to look like a bit of a no hoper now though!!

by **stattointhailand** » March 1, 2012, 3:52 pm

Brian, did you notice the bit on Eurosport about "The Special One" househunting in London.
One of the reporters suggested that the pics could have been taken in Croydon, and that Jose may be in line to become the next Palace manager.

by **BobHelm** » March 1, 2012, 6:48 pm

Port Vale hit by winding-up petition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17213691

HM Revenue & Customs are really flexing their muscles around the football clubs these days.
First Rangers, now Midlands' Vale.
It does seem that once clubs get themselves into these positions that they find it near impossible to get back out again. That is despite having points deducted & creditors often being paid peanuts on what they are owed.

Dunfermline hit by shortfall in wages

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17210537

Dunfermline are still waiting for £85,000 from Rangers for tickets sold by the Ibrox club to their fans for a match at East End Park on 11 February.

Yet another club that is obviously living life right on the financial edge.
While £85,000 might be a significant sum of money to me

it is really small change in football terms...maybe a couple of days of Tevez's wages for example!!

by **stattointhailand** » March 1, 2012, 7:04 pm

I thought you had been warned before Bob .... mentioning Scottish Clubs and FOOTBALL in the same sentance :lol:

by **stattointhailand** » March 1, 2012, 7:11 pm

Policeman stops a drunk driver and asks him to take a breath test.
Driver pulls out an NHS card that says "This man is asthmatic please don't take his breath".

Policeman asks him to take a blood test, the driver takes out another NHS card which says
"This man is anaemic, please don't take his blood".

Policeman asks him to take a urine test. Driver pulls out a third NHS
card which reads

"This man is a Rangers season ticket holder, please
don't take the piss".

by **Brian Davis** » March 1, 2012, 7:23 pm

stattointhailand wrote:Brian, did you notice the bit on Eurosport about "The Special One" househunting in London.
One of the reporters suggested that the pics could have been taken in Croydon, and that Jose may be in line to become the next Palace manager.

Well, that would make me fall off my chair! I see another post, separate matter, jokes of taking the piss and I imagine that reporter is a bit of a wind up merchant. Much as I have many intimate memories of following Palace as my local team, I somehow think the 'special one' himself would feel it rather below him. :lol:

Freedman as a new, young manager + support team is doing quite well within a tight budget and the owners seem to be running the Club sensibly, hanging on to youth if possible. And with due respect to Croydon and around, my home for many years, 'he' and what he'd be earning is more likely to be looking further out in leafy Surrey etc.

by **BobHelm** » March 1, 2012, 9:20 pm

No Brian, with his next Premiership contract I think he is looking at buying Croydon to live in...

Peter Taylor's Bahrain face Fifa investigation after 10-0 win

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17220640

Looks like it could be a nasty story in the making....
Needed a 9 goal improvement in order to stand any chance of qualifying...won 10 nil...
Feel sorry for Taylor to have got mixed up in all this....
Luckily they still do not qualify because of the other result.
Somewhat of Mr. Blatter's own making I feel...
FIFA rather started the rot with the disgraceful decision to play a World Cup in Qatar.

by **BobHelm** » March 2, 2012, 9:41 am

England boss search may take two months - Sir Trevor Brooking

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17223783

Well Sir T does not agree with me....so now I know that I am right!!
Media rumour has it that the FA think it would be unfair on Spurs to announce that Arry is their choice before season end as it might unfairly disrupt the sides push in the Premiership...
If you believe that, then you will believe anything.
The FA have zero desire to appoint Arry. If they make any sort of non Arry appointment (except for it being a temporary Pearce) at the moment then the media will be up in arms.
Time is their only friend & hope that the fates intervene.
Arry' sides have notoriously been poor finishers to a season. I think that the FA are hoping that a bit of an end of season slump will take the gloss off the 'Arry for England' campaign. It will also give Spurs chance to tie him up in a long term contract that will allow the FA to claim that he is now too expensive to obtain....

Robbie Fowler hoping to earn Blackpool contract

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17221794

Reading Muangthong United blogs I gather that Mr. Fowler & them did not exactly hit it off 100% - to put it mildly. See how he fares by the seaside in the North West of England playing instead of coaching, instead!!

Sorry to mention on this thread Statto.... :oops:

Rangers manager Ally McCoist fights to retain players

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17221172

McCoist was told that up to 11 players could be made redundant but he wants to cut that figure down by further cost-cutting across the business.

Having 2 clubs vying for all the honours every season has not been a success...if that will now just go to Celtic with the rest wrestling for second place it will be a further disastrous blow to Scottish football...

by **BobHelm** » March 2, 2012, 10:40 am

Dave Jones to manage Sheffield Wednesday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17226609

The former Stockport, Southampton, Wolves and Cardiff manager is due to be confirmed as the Owls boss on Friday.

Just failed at the final hurdle with Cardiff on promotion to the Premiership.
Could be a very good choice indeed as long as he can dance the dance around Milan!!

by **AroyFarang** » March 3, 2012, 12:44 am

Football (Soccer) Rumours