The Soccer Thread

[davie]

Again, Ashley Young ISN'T "Little Messi"?! I wish I had your knowledge of soccer, because I would have believed Young was at worst Messi's equal...thanks for the continuous updates on this situation.

As an aside, is it really possible for someone to be "Little Messi"? Would that make Ashley Young 3 feet tall then?

It's an example of the kind of things that get said over here by pundits and commentators.

"Jamie Carragher is the best defender in the world over the last 5 years"

I'm so lucky I get to watch little Messi and the world's best, most consistent defender among other massive talents.

[Senser81]

It's an example of the kind of things that get said over here by pundits and commentators.

"Jamie Carragher is the best defender in the world over the last 5 years"

Agree, that can't be right. Cannavaro has been the best defender in the world over the last 5 years.

What's your point? No one is arguing with you. Ashley Young is nowhere near the player as Lionel Messi. Should I hate soccer now, like you do?

[Bigpapa42]

It's an example of the kind of things that get said over here by pundits and commentators.

"Jamie Carragher is the best defender in the world over the last 5 years"

I'm so lucky I get to watch little Messi and the world's best, most consistent defender among other massive talents.

Its called hype. It happens in sports. If it bothers you to that extent, you might want to avoid sports as a whole...

[Archer]

Agree, that can't be right. Cannavaro has been the best defender in the world over the last 5 years.

What's your point? No one is arguing with you. Ashley Young is nowhere near the player as Lionel Messi. Should I hate soccer now, like you do?

Hes trying to make the point that alot of english pundits say shit like "Young and co are better than any young talent in other leagues " , "Jaime Carragher is the best defender in the last 5 years" .

It can get annoying but i choose to ignore it , Davie just had a hardon for Italian football

Im sure that kind of hype is the same in most countries

[Archer]

Serie A is going down in flames.

Some rumours and news:
-Steve Bruce new manager of Sunderland: He changed Birmingham's season around so I expect good things from Sunderland this season with the money they have now.
-Tevez goes to City - apparently this all depends on whether Real signs Kaka or not. Real will go after Tevez if Kaka bid is unsuccessful. But Tevez will definitely leave Man Utd
-Ancelotti wants to trade Essien for Pirlo and Seedorf. I would personally kick his ass if this happens and then cry afterwards.
-Zhirkov very very close in becoming a new Chelsea signing.
-Kaka.Nuff said.
-Lorik Cana to Arsenal?
-RM will pursue Xabi Alonso and David Villa in the off season.

He was the Wigan manager last season

[davie]

Agree, that can't be right. Cannavaro has been the best defender in the world over the last 5 years.

What's your point? No one is arguing with you. Ashley Young is nowhere near the player as Lionel Messi. Should I hate soccer now, like you do?

I don't hate it. It's the best sport in the world.

I was giving examples of things that have been said on television over here about players who are overrated.

Why do you keep referring to Cannavaro? He won player of the tournament for the last world cup. Is it just because he's played badly alongside Sergio Ramos?

[davie]

Its called hype. It happens in sports. If it bothers you to that extent, you might want to avoid sports as a whole...

Or I could call it retarded and have my own opinions?

[Archer]

Right but he did remarkable things at Birmingham, basically turned their season around.

They were up and down all the time , hardly a remarkble job

He turned Wigan round but with Birmingham he was very meh

[Senser81]

Why do you keep referring to Cannavaro? He won player of the tournament for the last world cup. Is it just because he's played badly alongside Sergio Ramos?

I thought Zidane won the player of the tournament?

I thought Cannavaro was deserving of the award, though. He played extremely well in the World Cup. I think its rare that a defender could get so much acclaim in a tournament, but Cannavaro was THAT good in the World Cup. He was like Deion Sanders intercepting passes.

I don't know why he struggled so much with Real Madrid. It appeared to me that he had an aggressive, gambling style. It worked for Italy in part because he had Buffon as his keeper. IMO, Casilles is probably as good as Buffon, so I don't know what is holding Cannavaro back.

[calgaryballer]

Serie A is going down in flames.

Some rumours and news:
-Steve Bruce new manager of Sunderland: He changed Birmingham's season around so I expect good things from Sunderland this season with the money they have now.
-Tevez goes to City - apparently this all depends on whether Real signs Kaka or not. Real will go after Tevez if Kaka bid is unsuccessful. But Tevez will definitely leave Man Utd
-Ancelotti wants to trade Essien for Pirlo and Seedorf. I would personally kick his ass if this happens and then cry afterwards.
-Zhirkov very very close in becoming a new Chelsea signing.
-Kaka.Nuff said.
-Lorik Cana to Arsenal?
-RM will pursue Xabi Alonso and David Villa in the off season.

If Ancellotti dumps Essien, he is immediately the stupidest person alive

[1ke]

Second that, I think Essien is top 3 box to box mids in the world. I wouldnt give that dude up for anything. And CB, i wasnt goin on goal amount, it just seemed like Elmander was the one shining everytime I watched Bolton. Dumb call.

And Archer, remember now it doesnt take much to outbid AW. He wont go very far in that area. And I guess its how you value price. I consider Owen to be a fair value, not only because of how and where he played in the final against Chelski, but also because of this year and seeing how he was missed at times. And I think Carricks play speaks for itself this year, goals and pasing he was ver solid game in and game out. We can agree to disagree about how much they cost and if it was too much.

[T.Dot]

That can't be serious?

Seedorf is what 34? He doesn't have any goof football left in him and while Pirlo is still an elite centre mid, his glory years haev passed him by. Essien is easily one of the best mids in the world and Ancelotti would be stupid as fuck to do that.

I guess you could argue that Ancelotti is more comfortable with those guys but still, watch ONE Chelsea game and you'll see how valuable Essien is.


Also reeally like the Berry signing for Man City, Jo was a big dissapointment in my mind through to tell the truth no one on that team blew me away. I think Robinho saved them from falling to 14-15th in the table

[Bigpapa42]

Or I could call it retarded and have my own opinions?

Congrats. Then why bitch about it? If you know better, why bother even acknowledging the hype, if you recognize it as nothing but that?

[calgaryballer]

That can't be serious?

Seedorf is what 34? He doesn't have any goof football left in him and while Pirlo is still an elite centre mid, his glory years haev passed him by. Essien is easily one of the best mids in the world and Ancelotti would be stupid as fuck to do that.

I guess you could argue that Ancelotti is more comfortable with those guys but still, watch ONE Chelsea game and you'll see how valuable Essien is.


Also reeally like the Berry signing for Man City, Jo was a big dissapointment in my mind through to tell the truth no one on that team blew me away. I think Robinho saved them from falling to 14-15th in the table

Well, Jo was also pretty darn good at Everton while on loan. So was that his fault or Hughes'?

[davie]

I thought Zidane won the player of the tournament?

I thought Cannavaro was deserving of the award, though. He played extremely well in the World Cup. I think its rare that a defender could get so much acclaim in a tournament, but Cannavaro was THAT good in the World Cup. He was like Deion Sanders intercepting passes.

I don't know why he struggled so much with Real Madrid. It appeared to me that he had an aggressive, gambling style. It worked for Italy in part because he had Buffon as his keeper. IMO, Casilles is probably as good as Buffon, so I don't know what is holding Cannavaro back.

Maldini was meant to win FIFA world player of the year in 1995 or 1996, but FIFA rigged the vote so George Weah would win. They wanted an African to be recognised. FIFA have admitted it to Maldini since and he said he thought George deserved it anyway and doesn't hold any grudges.