The Official Soccer/Football/Futbol/Calcio thread

your boy Macheda has scored some important goals here lately.

[TheRiddick]

Looks like Tevez is gone this summer for sure, and as a ManU supporter I say, Thank you for your contribution, but its time to move along. I think Ronaldo will be gone as well, I just need to see Tosic in a few more games to see what he can do. Not sure Ribery will be available, but I'll gladly would do the trade.

Chelsea looked like its a game done with, have no idea why Bolton spent the entire first half playing behind the ball, by the looks of it they could have done much better if they actually brought the game to Chelsea from the get go. 'Pool looked impressive. Arsenal? Same as ManU, I had doubts.

At least we have some great young guns coming through ManU youth team, although we still need a real striker, Berba ain't it IMO. Macheda will do great, the kid has no "mental block" playing the big league, and his direct running is new for ManU finesse game. A few of my soccer buddies play fantasy league, last weekend (before Macheda's first outing) I told them to look out for the kid, they gave me a strange look and asked, Who the hell are you talking about? They know now :-)

I am still worried about Porto game, ManU really need to step up.

I think united will pull out the stops at Porto. I got to watch The last 20 of the United-Sunderland fixture, and that kid has got some serious talent, he will be a force soon enough. I wouldn't mind ronaldo leaving, and I think his "mild" year will help him want to move, he gets beat up pretty bad in the EPL, and he would live longer in Spain. Only problem with him leaving, is who united get to replace him with (multiple)

[TheRiddick]

Well, Tosic is in, and from what I saw of him so far, he will fit well, he just needs better conditioning, up to EPL standards, plus some more weight and muscle, same issue Fletcher had when he was brought in years ago. Rumors are that Ribery will be Ronaldo's replacement and although Germans kep saying No, with a new coach to be installed soon enough their resolve to keep the guy plus Uniteds ability to pay a lot (using the proceeds from Ronaldo's sale) could change people's minds. Tevez is gone and I see Berbatov as a sub next year, no team in EPL can play 10 men in every game Berbatov is on, he's got more talent than most anyone around, but his laziness eventually costs the team, 10 men on for most of the season catches up quickly and makes the 10 men very tired and spent (we see it now). Welback will be loaned out, so will Frazier again, or both sold to bring one more true striker (Macheda is one). And one more central defender, they have a great young kid in the academy, but will probably go for one more experienced body, should have kept Pique, but then again we'd never find out how good Evans can be. They are set in the middle for now, hopefully Hargreaves will come back healthy (yet another option to replace Ronaldo, although risky due to Owen' on-going medical issues). Scholes is gone next year, Anderson will step up. And I still need to see Ljajic, supposedly he's the real deal and another option to replace Ronaldo.

I expected Everton to step up today and they did, away at a great team. Moyes needs more funds this summer to make next year's EPL more interesting beyond the usual 4-5 teams and out, I really hope team's management gets him the mney required. Arsenal could be scary next year as well depending on injuries. Chelsea must start bringing young blood in, this year shows they are getting old fast. 'Pool? Get rid of Benitez and start buying strikers to help out Torres, Benitez's expenditures, over 200M pounds and counting, have so far failed to bring in any trophies, that's the poorest ROI I have seen so far at any team in EPL or Europe for that matter.

While, I can't say I agree entirely about getting rid of Benitez, Jason has mentioned the reek Parry issue, which according to Rafa da Gaffa, will straighten things out. Although I thought he was outside his mind when he was considering losing Alonso to pick up Barry. I think Rafa is a pretty good coach. Time will tell. Personally I think the Gerrard/Torres combination is a pretty decent one at WORST. While Gerrard isn't a true striker, I think he pairs well with Torres. I think Benitez has made some good buys in the past bit, Skrtel, Reira, I think Ngog will do acceptably, and Insua as he has pretty much proven. A good manager must have time, I think 'the hackman' needed more time, but wasn't the best fit for Chelsea. Yes, hiddink has done well, and should be kept if possible by the chelsea boardroom. I think If Benny can keep his defensive corps together(AGGER DAMNIT). I have trouble with complaining about kuyt on the wing thing, because he has the knack for popping up with goals on the occassion and the man will flat run until he cannot move. I think Benayoun is a better fit there and would produce more but I'm not the boss. TO refute your "trophyless claim" 2005 CL Cup, 2006 FA Cup, 2006 (or 7) Charity Shield. Lost by 1 goal in the 2007 CL Final. Not exactly poor returns. Wouldn't have minded picking up a piece of silverware in between, especially the FA cup last year. Trophey's take time, and I think Benitez is what's best for Liverpool.

[TheRiddick]

2005/2006 wasn't really Benitez's team, he inherited most of the players. Now that Liverpool are stretched financially, he will need to sell before he buys. Should be interesting. Yes, I know they bring in the money from TV and other competitions, but as is, unless a miracle happens on Tuesday, they only have one to play for this year (EPL) and it won't depend on them, either. Kuyt is another Tevez, huge charge of energy, but I'll take someone with football smarts (Benayun in 'Pool) any day of the week.

Still, for a 200M+ pounds outlay, Benitez has to show much more than he has so far. Imagine Moyes with that much cash available. Or O'Neill. Or Bruce. I would bet any of them would show much better results. There is no way in hell I would be signing Benitez to a 5 year extension without certain guarantees and pay for performance written in. His entire team and season depend on just 2 players, way too little to show for that 200+M expenditure.

Let's see what happens in Arsenal game, although they are without 2 central defenders now. If they draw or loose to Arsenal with United having 2 games in hand, its a done deal (and season for Liverpool) whether United loose to Arsenal or not.

Go liverpool!

[4WheelVFR]

I just picked up Directv with Setanta Sports this month. I can finally keep up with this thread a little bit.

[mastershogun]

wow, perfect start for 'pool

Well boys, I told myself I wouldn't check scores, I wouldn't fast forward to the end, I would turn of my phone so as to ignore the texts/calls with score updates, and I couldn't handle it. I checked about 2 minutes before Drogba scored, and was overjoyed. I was ecstatic. then Drogba, then alex, and now lampard. I can't decided if I even want to see the goals. I hear Aurelio's was cheeky and that the Penalty was soft as lotion layered toliet paper. But, shogun and riddick I will need your addresses. *unless there is a repeat of istanbul with 5 minutes to go* but I bet on my team and lost, and you gentlemen have won. but I still point out that I called for a barca - MU final... and that's still a possibilty. Congrats.

[Lumpold]

Oh.My.God.

Originally Posted by Lumpold

Oh.My.God.

yeah. too bad it didn't finish my way... but Good luck with barca... really.

[aldukes]

That game was like watching a bunch of 8yr olds play.

bunchball from one end to the other? or just stupid sloppy?

[aldukes]

Originally Posted by theycallmedan'lboone

bunchball from one end to the other? or just stupid sloppy?

Both keepers were terrible. Cech was all over the place, except on his goal line. If Chelsea plays like that against Barca- we could see 7-1 agg.

[Lumpold]

Originally Posted by theycallmedan'lboone

yeah. too bad it didn't finish my way...

or mine, mate.

[TheRiddick]

As a long time stopper/left back all I can say is that a defender always thinks his goalie got his back. Actually, trusts so. The howler Chech let in, from way out there in the boondocks seriously altered the game for Chelsea, defense at that point had to think twice about making any minor mistake seeing how Chech cannot be depended upon.

Great game. One thing that strikes me about this Chelsea team is how primadonna like most of them are, not just in this game, but this entire season. They score a goal or two and all of a sudden switch it off thinking the other team is done with. Pretty arrogant and self defeating, IMO. And as much as I thought they may give Barca a decent game or two, I am not at all sure now.

Speaking of Barca, what a team of divers. Jeeezzz... With so much talent they should play like true professionals. Oh well. At least Chelsea is way more physical than Hamburg, so there is hope. I felt really bad for Ribery, he had no one to pass to.

[TheRiddick]

2 great games to day, IMO. United seem to be back, complete control of the game (Porto had their first corner at the 74 minute mark), defense back to its normal self save for 1 or 2 mild scrambles. Arsenal did as they were supposed to.

As much as I hope Chelsea will kick Barca's ass, I am not sure of that pairing. ManU and Arsenal should give us great games. So, how many times will ManU and Arsenal play this season? Crazy.

[Bubba - NJ]

While I'm no expert , it seems to me that Man U. dressed there B squad against Everton and lost the game in the FA Cup . It was an entertaining match for 0-0 after 120 minutes . Are they not as good as they're thought to be ?

[mastershogun]

Originally Posted by Bubba - NJ

While I'm no expert , it seems to me that Man U. dressed there B squad against Everton and lost the game in the FA Cup . It was an entertaining match for 0-0 after 120 minutes . Are they not as good as they're thought to be ?

i wouldn't go as far as to say B-team. he did field some great players, maybe not the best team available to him but certainly not a B-team.
props to howard