Men's Soccer (Football) Thread [Archived] Soccer • Page 634

Beautiful goals from Ronaldo, Witsel, and Lamar today. Mbappe's wasn't too bad either.

 

Seeing the combined attacking talent of Uruguay and Argentina play to a 0-0 draw should be proof enough why there shouldn't be a fifa break this early into the season

 

One of Argentina/Chile/Uruguay to be the playoff game for New Zealand is kinda hilariously sad

 

They really need to make the qualifying play-off AFC vs. OFC and CONCACAF vs. CONMEBOL

 

Doesn't it rotate?

 

Also Iran and Japan qualified for the World Cup this morning

 

It does, but OFC-CONMEBOL is such overkill, might as well give them the extra spot in the qualifying cycle

 

I guess by 2026 it won't matter anymore haha

 

You mean with the team expansion or the fact that there's a chance that the OFC nations will be underwater due to global warming? #Downer

 

apfc saves tahiti

 

APFC saves OFC, renames it APOFC

 

liberate french polynesia from france, get rewarded with a private island

 

Wednesday loaned out Sam Winall, a potential 20 goal a season striker if played regularly, to Derby and in return bought in their midfielder Jacob Butterfield, who will presumably be demoted to the bench when Lee is back from injury.

Not best pleased.

 

Newcastle sent Krul out on loan to Brighton and despite clearing out multiple players in the last 10 days, signed nobody else. If Rafa is still with us by October I will be shocked.

 

Wayne Rooney arrested for drink driving. Wanker.

 

Really? Fuck. Good thing his England career is already over or it would be for sure after that.

 

Also, now the window is shut, if you had to score your team's transfer window (like a school report card) A - F, what would you give it?

I'd probably give United a B. We filled the biggest hole on our squad (Matic), replaced Ibra's goals (Lukaku), added some quality depth at the back (Lindelof). Just get the feeling we could have done with another fullback and that it may bite us in the ass.

 

I'd give Chelsea's an E

Morata is good, new wingback is good, Drinkwater ok but selling Matic to Manchester United is a stunningly bad piece of business, the way they've handled Diego Costa has been awful and the fact Oxlade-Chamberlain and Barkley (and others in the past) turned us down suggests something is majorly wrong in the way the club approaches transfers in general.

The above, and the loaning out of several players who are capable of contributing to the squad is why it's been probably the worst window I can remember.

 

I'd give Newcastle a D.

I like the look of some of the players we've signed. Lejuene looks like he's got some quality, Merino has definitely got some talent too. Murphy looks a good youngster and while not defensively great, Manquilo gives us a lot of energy down the flank.

However, we've not strengthened in key positions. We don't have a fit left back (our first choice left back is Dummet and he's never looked that comfortable there), we didn't get a new GK, sign a quality proven forward or another creative midfield player. Our first 11 might just be good enough to avoid crashing straight back down, but we lack depth (as usual) and we've gambled on players not proven at this level/in this division.

Mike Ashley's bullshit is really wearing thin as well. If clubs like Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Watford, West Brom and Stoke can all out spend us, then the fault lies with his shitty chain of command. The guy is using Newcastle as a marketing vehicle and it means we have no cash for the playing squad. He covers the ground in Sports Direct banners, but there's never been any suggestion that he pays any sort of going rate for that. On top of that, he refuses to invest, so we're hamstrung by (presumably, because I can think of no other explanation) an owner taking us for a ride and us missing out on revenue streams that other clubs easily generate.

Long post. Apologies. I'm pissed off.

 

No need to apologise, I'd enjoy a 10,000 word post slating Mike Ashley - awful piece of shit owner/human being.

 

Swansea gets a C. Barcelona gets a D-.

 

It doesn't matter who Ipswich sign we'll still finish 10th.

 

E.

Lacazette is a great signing but if we don't start him in big games, why even bother? Kolasinac is also great but we've played him out of position every single game so again, it's pointless.

Selling Ox was a smart move for that amount of money, as was getting rid of Gibbs, and loaning out Perez, Campbell and other deadwood or players not favoured.

Mostly though, keeping Sanchez and not swapping him to a team abroad early in the window and buying a replacement like Lamar/Draxler/Mahrez was stupid. He'll ruin the dressing room.

 

Fun fact, "E" means excellent in all my American schooling

 

Tottenham C+

Davinson Sanchez was the first signing and he looks very promising. His skill-set looks like a perfect fit for Poch's 3-CB system. Size, speed, strength and isn't scared to move forward with the ball. Appears to be a great distributor of the ball as well. Only thing that worries me is his lack of experience. He's young and he's only played one-year of European soccer. If he lives up to his potential and hype the 3-CB system of Sanchez-Toby-Vertonghen will be dominant.

Serge Aurier is a pretty controversial signing due to him being a complete asshole off the field. It's very clear he's had some issues and it makes it hard to cheer for him even in a Tottenham jersey. I'm hoping that since Poch feels comfortable bringing him in means he's learned from his mistakes and has become a better person. However, until I see the change it's still going to be hard to root for him specifically. From a strictly soccer perspective he is a great signing. Many people rate him on the same level or better than Kyle Walker and he was half the amount we sold Walker for (and he's younger). Not bad business from a soccer perspective.

Fernando Llorente was a surprise to me due to Poch typically focusing on youth, but I'm glad he made an exception here. We desperately needed another striker with PL experience. Although I still believe in Janssen he has been a big disappointment. Llorente should be able to make an immediate impact off the bench. And the fact that we pissed off Conte by swooping in for this signing makes it even better.

Juan Foyth is another young CB and appears to be more of a signing for the future. From what I've read he's very skilled for a CB and distributes the ball very well. He probably needs to hit the gym for the rest of the year before he sees much time on the field. I don't know too much about him but I know PSG wanted him badly so maybe there's a bright future for him.

It was disappointing to not add a CM or wing player this window but I also don't think the club was as desperate for one as the fans. Adding Sanchez allows Dier to focus on CM, which gives us a rotation of Dier/Dembele/Wanyama/Winks at CM. However, we are a little thin with our attacking mids. Gomes would've been a nice addition. Hopefully Lamela will be able to return soon and make an impact.

Sanchez - Alderweireld - Vertonghen
Aurier - Dembele - Wanyama - Rose
Dele - Eriksen
Kane

Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Dier, Winks, Son, Llorente (Sissoko, Lamela, N'koudou, Janssen)

Very strong starting XI and a fairly strong bench.