In order to keep the forums clear of meandering football conversations, all footie stuff can be posted here.
Non following Americans, I wouldn’t bother reading this, it’ll ultimately involve talk of ‘4-3-3’, ‘more width’ and ‘rag scum’, and other coloquial talk that’ll leave you more confused than Micheal Jackson at an all boys school.
Anyway to start-
Darius Vassel and Andy Cole - good purchases?
IMO, average, I’ll reserve judgement ‘til Pearce signs a midfielder, that way I’ll better understand the way we’ll play next season. As it is at the moment, we have little flair in the centre, and we need a proven playmaker, that’ll be critical for us.
come on you got cole on a free and vassell for probable peanuts. At least their proven goal scorers and on top of that you have vassells pace. I’m sick of this Batista rumour going on and on. It sounds like a smokescreen to me. When I heard Arsenal where interested in Dacourt I felt like jumping out of the window.
Cole was good business, free, 20K per week, 1 year contract, he’ll probably weigh in with 12 goals next season. Vassel was 2.5M, I don’t know what the deal is in term of wages and contract, but he only scored 3 in 22 games last season, and he’s been pushed out of the team by Kevin Philips. That’s not a great deal, he reminds me of Darren Huckerby, all pace no end product. Fowler and Cole could be a decent partnership, but you look at the midfield and you wonder where the service is going to come from, the only out and out attacking midfielder we’ve got is Musampa, who I actually think is pretty decent, other than that there’s Sibierski (too slow), Reyna (not enough vision), Sinclair (beyond shite) and Barton (can’t pass 10yds to save his life, and he’s a defensive midfielder). Unless Pearce has a diamond in the youth academy waiting to come through (Croft and Flood - juries still out), we’re going to have absolutely no creativity in midfield, thus no service to the 2 front men, that’s why I am waiting for the midfield purchase. I’d like Koumas or Dioup, we could probably get either for reasonable money.
Maybe you could loan young Bentley from Arsenal....he could probably use another season playing consistently for a premiership side. He has got a lot of talent, no question.
Towards the end of the season last year yo where playing really good football, surely that was not just down to SWP?
I could never keep up with you guys on the Premiership, but I try to watch as much over here in the states as possible.
But how about the USA moving two spots ahead of England in the new FIFA World Rankings?
I don’t think you could honestly say that it was either side’s normal top 11, but it was a good game either way.
Do people in Europe give any credit to those rankings anyways? Just an honest question since we don’t have anything else to measure our side by other than the games against sub-par teams like Honduras, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago etc.
I don’t think you could honestly say that it was either side’s normal top 11, but it was a good game either way.
Do people in Europe give any credit to those rankings anyways? Just an honest question since we don’t have anything else to measure our side by other than the games against sub-par teams like Honduras, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago etc.
I actually watch some MLS, and the quality is alright, but they are predominently American players, so technically they aren’t up to the same standard as European leagues, where most teams are represented by a variety of countries.
If I had to pigeon hole the level of MLS (and subsequently the American National team) I’d say they are Championship level, but in fairness you have some quality players, Freddie Adu for one, but he’s still young.
And no, we give no notice to the FIFA rankings, the whole system is screwed, you don’t get a fair like for like comparison.
Maybe you could loan young Bentley from Arsenal....he could probably use another season playing consistently for a premiership side. He has got a lot of talent, no question.
Towards the end of the season last year yo where playing really good football, surely that was not just down to SWP?
SWP is an exceptional player, but our best spell (7 unbeaten) came when he was injured, but I think that was the Pearce effect, whether he can galvanise the players again is the issue, I’d rather he did it with more quality. We will miss SWP, but not as much as a lot of City fans are implying (relegation, doom and gloom), I think we need a quality striker (Robbie Keane) and a quality playmaker, and the team will be balanced.
Bentley? Is he a centre forward? We have a load of young talent who need experience playing, Flood, Birmingham, Richards etc, but the premiership isn’t the place for bedding in, we need to get them out to Crewe or Rochdale for some experience.
To be honest you had an excellent World Cup in the far east. What I did notice about your players was that they seemed almost too polite. You need more trash talkers and hardmen. I know that it’s not viewed as one of the main sports in the states so considering the numbers involved you do pretty well. With a number of your players currently performing ineuropean leagues I have no doubt that your on pitch naivette will become a thing of the past.
Englander, Arsenal consider Bentley to be the player most like Bergkamp. He can play in the middle, on the wing, behind the striker or up front. Norwich used him mainly on the wing last year. Sadly he was injured so missed a lot of the season. He has excellent potential. However if you think you have the talent their already then fair enough.
Let’s hope so… and we did have a good showing in Korea. Hopefully we can put together another good tournament next year. I already have my tickets bought for Germany.
Have you guys been to any World Cups before? If so, what’s it like?
Englander, Arsenal consider Bentley to be the player most like Bergkamp. He can play in the middle, on the wing, behind the striker or up front. Norwich used him mainly on the wing last year. Sadly he was injured so missed a lot of the season. He has excellent potential. However if you think you have the talent their already then fair enough.
Ah right, the Bentley who was at Norwich, decent player. Speaking of Norwich, Dean Ashton looks useful, I wonder how much he’d go for?
But yeah, Bentley would fill the hole, although I’d prefer a out and out playmaker, like Ali Benarbia, without doubt the most visionary player I’ve ever seen live, seriously, phenomenal ability to pick out and execute passes, I’d say (controversially) he was better than Cantona in that manner, just a pity he was slow as hell.
BGK11 - Never been to a world cup, mainly because the England fans tend to cause trouble (it is getting better). You will have a fantastic time, the real buzz funnily enough is the cultural mix. From the Samba of the brazilians to the mopey, depressed french, you cannot beat it. Stear clear of the scots if they get there, they will drink you to death. I was considering going next year but the ticketing seems like a nightmare. Usually best to take time off work and watch the box. I take it you have qualified?
Englander - Bentley has a lot of vision but needs to build himself up a little physically. He seems to be doing quite well in the pre-season games. Suprised about your Huckerby comments, he had a stormer for Norwich last year?
As for that tank who resembled Cantona?...never heard of him.
BGK11 - Never been to a world cup, mainly because the England fans tend to cause trouble (it is getting better). You will have a fantastic time, the real buzz funnily enough is the cultural mix. From the Samba of the brazilians to the mopey, depressed french, you cannot beat it. Stear clear of the scots if they get there, they will drink you to death. I was considering going next year but the ticketing seems like a nightmare. Usually best to take time off work and watch the box. I take it you have qualified?
Englander - Bentley has a lot of vision but needs to build himself up a little physically. He seems to be doing quite well in the pre-season games. Suprised about your Huckerby comments, he had a stormer for Norwich last year?
As for that tank who resembled Cantona?...never heard of him.
You’ve never heard of Ali Benarbia? The Algerian Wizard?
We’ve all but qualified… something like one more win in the next half dozen games and we should be in… From what I’ve heard it’s basically a foregone conclusion
Not sooooo......why I probably no more about City players than Tottenham.....Tottenham Vs City....what matches you had....of course i preferred the recent match at spurs as opposed to that F.A Cup final in the eighties.....ahhhh yes...that fantastic cup match you had at white dog lane.....4-3 i think?...Classic viewing.
That 4-3 was incredible, 3-0 down at half time, Barton sent off, and we battered ‘em second half. It’s only my faith in City that stopped me from turning over.
Thats a lie....you had to watch the highlights programme because you had given up on City at half-time, watching the game live on sky. You felt very guilty that you had not backed your beloved city in their hour of need. Unlike me in 1989 at Anfield....Michael Thomas...ahhhhh.
I was so excited by the 1989 Anfield result that I re-created the goal on a computer game, copied the image onto a video tape and then dubbed a local radio stations commentary on top of that. I then played it to a friend of mine who was a Liverpool fan....He was stunned and then not to pleased....petty I know....but I was a young lad who had to cope with a fair amount of banter.
That 4-3 was incredible, 3-0 down at half time, Barton sent off, and we battered ‘em second half. It’s only my faith in City that stopped me from turning over.
I had the fortune to be there. Very funny indeed. The weirdest thing I have seen (in person) in sport.
Those Spurs supporters are horrible. The worst. They got what they deserved.
Thats a lie....you had to watch the highlights programme because you had given up on City at half-time, watching the game live on sky. You felt very guilty that you had not backed your beloved city in their hour of need. Unlike me in 1989 at Anfield....Michael Thomas...ahhhhh.
I was so excited by the 1989 Anfield result that I re-created the goal on a computer game, copied the image onto a video tape and then dubbed a local radio stations commentary on top of that. I then played it to a friend of mine who was a Liverpool fan....He was stunned and then not to pleased....petty I know....but I was a young lad who had to cope with a fair amount of banter.
I was a big Liverpool fan myself at the time, and I remember watching it live in New Zealand. The horror. Luckily once I switched it off I could happily return to rugby-land, where soccer is a foreign game played by big girls that hug and kiss each other.
Yes not unlike my treatment of the recent Lions tour....5 minutes of commentary....All Blacks score......switch over to another station and pretend it does not matter.
