The FOOTBALL thread

[Archie]

OMFG I forgot to write Diego Simeone nooooo

[Sawyer]

I saw two coach rates and didn't saw the legend DAVID MOYES....HE IS THE BEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD...WHERE IS HE???? PLACE HIM ABOVE 1 st place..at the Hall of fame :P

Go ask Utd fans about Moyes.

[Alsatian]

Go ask Utd fans about Moyes.

I thought that United's continuing predicament would have highlighted the fact that Moyes is not as bad a manager as people are making out. He was a fantastic manager at Everton. You don't simply lose your ability to manage when you switch club.

I don't think he did a particularly good job at United (the fact that he never played the same XI is ridiculous) but I think the majority of the blame on United's failure last season  should be rightfully placed on their poor squad; there's only so much you can do as a manager when your veteran players are all but gone and the new crop are simply not good enough.

[Sawyer]

I thought that United's continuing predicament would have highlighted the fact that Moyes is not as bad a manager as people are making out. He was a fantastic manager at Everton. You don't simply lose your ability to manage when you switch club.

I don't think he did a particularly good job at United (the fact that he never played the same XI is ridiculous) but I think the majority of the blame on United's failure last season  should be rightfully placed on their poor squad; there's only so much you can do as a manager when your veteran players are all but gone and the new crop are simply not good enough.

Poor squad? This poor squad you mention used to be even weaker when Sir Alex was the coach before. I think Moyes was good enough for Everton. Good enough though. Since he left to become Utd's coach, Everton actually got better than weaker. Moyes was not a right move for Utd. What were they thinking? Replacing a world-class coach for someone who has never really accomplished nothing big than a permanent 7-8 place in Premier League? Please.

And yes, he's a decent coach. Not that good not that bad aswell. My opinion here is that he was definitely not ready to handle the heat going on Man Utd and its demands.

If I was Utd's chairman and had to pick a new coach I would go for Alan Pardew. Maybe sign Tiote and Coloccini aswell.

[Alsatian]

Apart from Mata (who has underperformed anyway) the only other signing they've made is Fellaini who has been a massive flop. Other than that, they've lost the old guard in Scholes and Giggs - who were well past their peak but still offered a lot of experience in a team desperate for it - and their defensive core in Ferdinand and Vidic. What's left is a very hollow side who are extremely vulnerable defensively and lacking a clinical, killer instinct on the attack.

Rooney and RVP are two of United's best and most important players, yet playing them together in that formation is not working as was evident today against Burnley. However, van Gaal is almost forced to play it out that way because he needs both of them on the pitch because the squad cannot compensate for either of their absence.

Maybe when he makes a few more signings, and with the arrival of di Maria, he'll finally change the formation. Rojo and Blind will make a difference, but I can still see teams like City and Chelsea annihilating United.

If I was Utd's chairman and had to pick a new coach I would go for Alan Pardew. Maybe sign Tiote and Coloccini aswell.

Oh, I absolutely wouldn't.

[Archie]

If I was Utd's chairman and had to pick a new coach I would go for Alan Pardew. Maybe sign Tiote and Coloccini aswell.

Then change club name to Newcastle United.

Got assassinated by some of Man Utd fans, the end of your life. What a happy ending, isn't it?

[Antonio.]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7899615.stm

Unfortunately for them, they're not going to have it so easy this time.

However, good luck to Liverpool, as they are one of my favourite clubs in England.

[Kaze]

Unfortunately for them, they're not going to have it so easy this time.

However, good luck to Liverpool, as they are one of my favourite clubs in England.

Yeah obviously but I just had to point that out cos im a cheeky bastard

Real Sociedad though?

[Alsatian]

The Sociedad vs. Madrid game really highlighted how unbalanced and defensively frail Madrid's team is. Kroos, Modric, Rodriguez, Isco, Benzema and Bale all started and they're all attack minded players. Of course going forward they're going to be a wrecking machine (even with Ronaldo's absence) but with that kind of line-up teams are always going to be able to create chances against them. They may get away with it occassionally against some of the weaker sides in the league, but stronger sides like Atletico, Barcelona and other CL teams are going to expose them.

They lost a brilliant defensive mind and distributor of the ball in Alonso. With him gone, they're going to need Khedira to anchor their midfield and cut up opposition play. Why they finally brought him on at 4-2 down is beyond me.

[Sawyer]

Iker
Carvajal
Pepe
Ramos
Coentrao
Khedira
Kroos (Modric?)
Ronaldo
Bale
James
Benzema

Counting Khedira in the squad, they'll have to pick rather Toni or Luca.

[Alsatian]

Indeed, and I'd personally go with a Modric/Khedira partnership. That isn't to say Kroos isn't a world class player, but that the other two give a more dynamic balance. Also, the sooner they get Varane back to replace Pepe the better.

[Antonio.]

Real Sociedad though?

Shit happens. Our midfield is still under construction, and the new players need to adapt. Just like the beginning of last season, the team is struggling.

Losing to Sociedad isn't a bad thing, as they are a strong side, especially at home, but it's the fact that we were two goals in front which makes it look very bad.

It's true that the loss was an embarrassment, and that it was a defensive problem, but I don't think the loss should be taken so harsh, because it's the first time in seven seasons that Real Madrid lost a match to Sociedad at their stadium, whereas Barcelona has been losing to them for three seasons in a row.

The season Liga season still has 36 more games, so anything could happen. I'm confident that Real Madrid can pick up their game.

[Tiny]

Manchester United is delighted to announce that Radamel Falcao has joined the club on a one-year loan deal from AS Monaco, with an option to buy at the end of the loan period.



I hope this works and United is back to the top, where they should be. 

[Luke]

And we ended up with Welbeck lololololol.

[Tiny]

And we ended up with Welbeck lololololol.

He's good, man. You'll see that he'll fit well in Arsenal.