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Football Thread 2014/2015 |OT11| This Is Our Year!

For a period of about 2001 - 2009 he was consistently brilliant in a lot of very shit teams.

He carried an average Liverpool team to every trophy possible except the league in that period.

Like I say, it was just my opinion and I know you guys watch a lot more Liverpool than me. I enjoyed watching him when he was on form because he was a very unique player and always was one for the occasion.
 

Yurt

il capo silenzioso
Let's focus on Juve - Inter instead. Our mercato dealings make me wanna end it right here and now.
What's there to focus on, we'll fucking do them and Dissonance will fucking love it.

L
O
v
E

I
T
We're getting Rolando and Diamanti.
Was there any doubt? I never get hyped for our first targets, since we almost always go for the third in line.
 
Let's focus on Juve - Inter instead. Our mercato dealings make me wanna end it right here and now.

We're getting Rolando and Diamanti.

Diamanti is such a Juve signing.

Why can't Juve just spend the money on a truly world class striker who can lead the line for 3-4 years. Instead the plan always seems to be to buy someone who can do a job for 6 months or a year. Even Tevez was a questionable buy at the time, although he has been the best player in the league over the last two years.
 

Blablurn

Member
Inter has such a weird squad. Its like a noob on his first try with FM. Just buy names you heard of before. But they dont match in the end.
dt8VE4X.png
 
For a period of about 2001 - 2009 he was consistently brilliant in a lot of very shit teams.

He carried an average Liverpool team to every trophy possible except the league in that period.

08-09 is the only team that feels like the culmination of a plan in all areas. Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Torres when fit. None of them have since been as good as they were that season aside from Reina. Last season's team was boss, but not in the same way

That team falling apart so quickly is depressing
 

Yurt

il capo silenzioso
Inter has such a weird squad. Its like a noob on his first try with FM. Just buy names you heard of before. But they dont match in the end.
dt8VE4X.png
forget about the final

I can't believe a dead Inter led by Pandev knocked LVG's Bayern again

Dark times indeed
 
Inter has such a weird squad. Its like a noob on his first try with FM. Just buy names you heard of before. But they dont match in the end.
dt8VE4X.png

Both Milan teams are a disgrace.

AC more so. A team that from the mid 80s to late 00s had one of the greatest defences ever, now has Mexes, Rami, Alex, and Zapata in defence.

All Italian teams are so short sighted it kills me. It has always been that way to be fair, but in the 90s they could afford to buy the best players in the world, now they scan the free agent and transfer listed markets.
 

Yurt

il capo silenzioso
Both Milan teams are a disgrace.

AC more so. A team that from the mid 80s to late 00s had one of the greatest defences ever, now has Mexes, Rami, Alex, and Zapata in defence.

All Italian teams are so short sighted it kills me. It has always been that way to be fair, but in the 90s they could afford to buy the best players in the world, now they scan the free agent and transfer listed markets.
I think Juve's problem is that they really aren't. And we blow way too much on youngsters. Edit: blow MONEY, jesus.

Unlike Conte (and let's face it, us) who wanted everything NOW
 
Gerrard has been one of the Premier League's most complete players. Maybe even the most complete.

I understand (and agree) with a lot of what people say about his erratic passing and positioning and the like - Stevie Hollywood Me etc.

But football is simple enough and Gerrard has delivered results, almost single handedly, like few others. Maybe not the purest of players but he's had a pretty remarkable career all things considered.

Delighted he's going to finish without a league medal.
 

Yurt

il capo silenzioso
Why did everyone hate The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy btw? I mean, it had Martin Freeman and Sam -makes everything better- Rockwell! And Zooey, but, okay.

Or was it shit compared to the books?

I want a new Zidane,
not Sneijder and Diamanti.

I WANT A NEW ZIDANE
A new cunt that saves his best for his national country? Aint nobody got time for that

Why can't we just go for Mimmo HE'S RIGHT THERE
 
I think Juve's problem is that they really aren't

Unlike Conte (and let's face it, us) who wanted everything NOW

Juve have made some great moves, but up front has been one poor buy after the other for 5-6 years, and I would argue stretching all the way back to Trezeguet. Juve got lucky with Tevez, but they always seem to go for someone who is either cheap or useless.
 

Yurt

il capo silenzioso
Juve have made some great moves, but up front has been one poor buy after the other for 5-6 years, and I would argue stretching all the way back to Trezeguet. Juve got lucky with Tevez, but they always seem to go for someone who is either cheap or useless.
Unfair to go that far back, Marotta and Agnelli are not responsible for Secco's shit buys
 
How much is Llorente worth?


edit: Jesus, he's nearly 30.

Looks like his great goalscoring coincided with the average peak of a player, 24 to 29.
 

King_Moc

Banned
Why did everyone hate The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy btw? I mean, it had Martin Freeman and Sam -makes everything better- Rockwell! And Zooey, but, okay.

Or was it shit compared to the books?

It changes too much of the already established story. It's also nowhere near as funny as either the books, or the TV or radio series. In isolation, I imagine it's probably fine.
 
I sold him for 25 million to Napoli after six months with Juve in FM13.

Napoli then won the league :(((

That's an alternate reality I could get behind



Wonder if we've put any thought into Hyypia as defensive coach

1) Most of his defensive ability was in his head
2) He could do with some time in the backroom game, without the managerial pressure after 2 sackings
3) We need a defensive coach, and he couldn't make things much worse
4) I want Hyypia back in some form


Courtois is better than Cech now, and will become one of the GOATs if he plays constantly. Cech is unfortunate that he's still good enough for Chelsea, but bringing in Courtois made more sense
 

Wilbur

Banned
There is talk about De Gea being best PL keeper

What do people think about Forster though?

Stats would show he is better:
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...cy/errors_leading_to_goal/defensive_errors#90

I haven't seen enough Saints games to form an opinion.

Also, what do people think about Courtois? Is he that much better than Cech?

Forster plays behind a better, settled defence.

Courtois is as good as Cech, I'd say better. Certainly had a better season last year.
 
That's an alternate reality I could get behind



Wonder if we've put any thought into Hyypia as defensive coach

1) Most of his defensive ability was in his head
2) He could do with some time in the backroom game, without the managerial pressure after 2 sackings
3) We need a defensive coach, and he couldn't make things much worse
4) I want Hyypia back in some form

Would he want to downgrade from manager to coach though? It's a big step down in his career.
 

Wilbur

Banned
Would he want to downgrade from manager to coach though? It's a big step down in his career.

Keane did it, I think McClaren did too when he came to us? Walter Smith came to United as a coach as well. Hyypia's been sacked twice now. Needs to restore his reputation.
 
There is talk about De Gea being best PL keeper

What do people think about Forster though?

Stats would show he is better:
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...cy/errors_leading_to_goal/defensive_errors#90

I haven't seen enough Saints games to form an opinion.

Also, what do people think about Courtois? Is he that much better than Cech?

Not much difference between Courtois and De Gea IMO.

All I know is that I rank Wojo as the worst keeper in the league. The guy is still making the same basic mistakes that he made four years ago when he was first coming through. That tells me that there are big problems with our training, although i think everyone knows that.

Talking of goalkeeper training. During a Serie A broadcast this season a commentator said that the training program Italian keepers undertake is insane, unlike that anywhere else in the world and one of the main reasons Italy has produced so many good keepers. I kinda wonder what what the program is like at Athletico Madrid for them to have nurtured the two best keepers in the PL. Their goalkeeping staff must be world class. I really wish Scuffet had signed with them.
 

Wilbur

Banned
Not much difference between Courtois and De Gea IMO.

All I know is that I rank Wojo as the worst keeper in the league. The guy is still making the same basic mistakes that he made four years ago when he was first coming through. That tells me that there are big problems with our training, although i think everyone knows that.

Talking of goalkeeper training. During a Serie A broadcast this season a commentator said that the training program Italian keepers undertake is insane, unlike that anywhere else in the world and one of the main reasons Italy has produced so many good keepers. I kinda wonder what what the program is like at Athletico Madrid for them to have nurtured the two best keepers in the PL. Their goalkeeping staff must be world class. I really wish Scuffet had signed with them.

I had this Twitter conversation yesterday about Sczeszny - https://twitter.com/nathanrb_61/status/550797724963323905 (thats my first tweet about it, conversation carries on after that)
 
Keane did it, I think McClaren did too when he came to us? Walter Smith came to United as a coach as well. Hyypia's been sacked twice now. Needs to restore his reputation.

All three of those were Assistant Managers. I don't think Hyypia would want a role that didn't have manager in the title.

Although McLaren was a coach for a short time at QPR so what do I know.
 
Not much difference between Courtois and De Gea IMO.

All I know is that I rank Wojo as the worst keeper in the league. The guy is still making the same basic mistakes that he made four years ago when he was first coming through. That tells me that there are big problems with our training, although i think everyone knows that.

Talking of goalkeeper training. During a Serie A broadcast this season a commentator said that the training program Italian keepers undertake is insane, unlike that anywhere else in the world and one of the main reasons Italy has produced so many good keepers. I kinda wonder what what the program is like at Athletico Madrid for them to have nurtured the two best keepers in the PL. Their goalkeeping staff must be world class. I really wish Scuffet had signed with them.

Not to downplay it, but Courtois arrived in Madrid with a reputation as the most promising young keeper in the world iirc



That Gerrard pass against Fulham last season is mental. Didn't even realise what he was doing until Sturridge ran onto it
 
My mate sent this this to me earlier. Apparently it's from RAWK or some other forum. Either way, it's amazing.

“I’ve made up my mind, I’m leaving” and with that Steven Gerrard walked out of Anfield for the last time, leaving Rick Parry, Rafael Benitez and David Moores crestfallen having lost their skipper. The press were full of the stories about Stevie’s decision to leave, and the move to Chelsea seemed imminent, as Benitez began planning a replacement for Gerrard in earnest, Stevie returned to his humble home on Merseyside (ok, not so humble, but its kinda fitting in with the original story….)

As Stevie put himself to bed that night, with his fiancée away for the night (it wouldn’t make sense with someone else there) there was a restlessness in the air, and as Stevie tossed and turned, unable to sleep, he felt an ice cool breeze slip in through the open window, he immediately got out of bed and as he headed to the window he felt a firm, strong hand grip his shoulder. He turned around sharply to face the intruder and was flabbergasted by what he saw, for he was faced by none other than Bill Shankly. Stevie opened his mouth to speak but with his typically strong Scottish voice Shankly simply declared “Keep your questions for later son”, Stevie belligerently replied “but you’re in my house” to which quick as a flash Shanks replied, “this isn’t your house son, this is Liverpools house” (ok, that’s clutching at straws a bit perhaps…) “I’m the ghost of Liverpool past, and you’re coming with me…”

Before Stevie could complain, he was stood on the Kop surrounded by thousands of Liverpudlians singing their hearts out for their team,
“Where am I?” quizzed Stevie,
“You,” Shanks replied, “are at the home of football, you should recognise it, it’s the greatest ground in the world, and those boys wearing that shirt recognise that it’s a privilege not a chore” the crowd suddenly erupts as Iain St John plants a simple finish into the kop goal past the Inter keeper as Shanks joins in the crowd singing “Oh, Inter, one-two-three Go back to Italy”
“We should’ve beaten this lot, cheats they are” Shankly explained to Gerrard who didn’t seem impressed,
“Why am I here” he retorted, “I’ve made up my mind I’m going”
“Oh aye son” quipped Shankly, “You’re here because I say so, and you aint seen nothing yet” Shankly clicked his fingers again and the Kop disappeared and the pair reappeared in Shankly’s office alongside a man who Stevie recognised from somewhere but couldn’t quite pin his finger on it.
“You recognise him sonny?” Asked Shanks, Stevie pauses for a minute before realising, “Its Keegs” he remembers,
“Yes it is,” replies Shankly, “and he’s just decided to move onto bigger and better things, and you wanna know what, people said Liverpool FC couldn’t survive without him, just as they said they couldn’t survive without me, just as they’re saying they couldn’t survive without you, but you know what sonny, he couldn’t survive without Liverpool, neither could I, and neither I don’t think, can you. Liverpool was made for us and we were made for Liverpool”

Stevie suddenly awoke in his room, a dream, it must’ve been a dream, he reassured himself, he stood up and headed downstairs to the kitchen to get himself a drink to calm himself down, when all of a sudden, another, colder, harsher breeze emerged from the still open window, Stevie turned around, and was shocked to be faced by his manager Rafael Benitez, a man who he’d told he was leaving just hours before, Stevie angrily approached his manager,
“What the hell are you doing in my house at this time, I’ve said I’m leaving”
“Firstly, this isn’t your house, this is Liverpool’s house, and I am the ghost of Liverpool present” Rafa replied, Stevie gave Rafa a quizzical look and replied,
“What yer doin speaking in a Scottish accent la, who d’yer think yer are, Sean Connery???”
“Sorry signor,” Rafa replied, “I just thought it fitted in with the tone of the evening, now then, come take a trip with me” Stevie sighed as he once again left his room, it was turning into a fascinating day…

Stevie re-emerged in the dressing room of the Attaturk stadium in Istanbul, surrounded by his dejected teammates, heads down, down and out.
“Why am I here gaffer?” Stevie asked, by now rather frustrated, “I know what happens, we go on and win”
“You are here,” Rafa replies, “to witness the epitome of Liverpool football club in action”
“Yeah,” Stevie replies, “it was one helluva second half, but I’m still on me bike, I’ve done it, I’ve won the cup at Liverpool but I don’t wanna stay nomore.” Rafa shakes his head,
“Non signor, you are here to watch Liverpools captain lift his team, to watch what this means to a true Liverpudlian, see what this club means to its fan, you seem to have forgotten” Gerrard watches himself go round to every member of the team, telling them to get their act together, encouraging them that the game wasn’t over,
“While you’re wearing that shirt, anything can happen, anything is possible, we’re Liverpool FC, and don’t you forget it” he heard himself say, in a worryingly Scottish sounding voice to each player and Stevie, for the first time, felt a surge of regret at leaving the club, coupled with a surge of pride at the memory. He paused for a moment before turning to Rafa,
“Listen gaffer, thanks and all, but me minds made up, I wanna go to Chelsea” Benitez smiled for a second, perhaps, but just look how you managed to raise this team at half time, and the rest, as they say, is history…”

Again Stevie was back in his room, and as soon as he found himself in these familiar surroundings, he marched up and slammed his window shut. Dreams or no dreams it was creepy enough, and the last thing he wanted was to freeze to death on such a strange night. He headed towards his open door to go to the kitchen, when all of a sudden his window flew open, and he was greeted by an elderly looking scouse man who he recognised down to the core but couldn’t pin his finger on him. Stevie sighed,
“Lemme guess, you’re the ghost of Liverpool future?” The elderly man sighed and replied,
“No, I could’ve been, I’m the ghost of your future.”

And with that, Stevie reappeared in the Liverpool interactive museum about 30 years in the future alongside his older self, armed with a mop and smoking a pipe.
“What’ve yer brought me here for? Stevie asked angrily, “and what the hell are yer doin with that mop?” Stevies older self sighed,
“Things didn’t work out perfectly at Chelsea kidda, I won a trophy or two, but I was never at home, all that apples and pears bollocks just wasn’t for me, I’m at home here in Liverpool, I just wish I’d remembered that.”
“Yeah yeah mate,” Stevie replied sceptically, “you’re another part of me dream who doesn’t want me to go, but I’ve made up me mind, Chelsea’s the right move for me, now whats with the flipping mop?” Stevies older self sighed,
“After the move at Chelsea, I didn’t wanna be in football anymore, so I invested my money and made my own company, it went belly up and now I’ve got this job as a cleaner here to pay the mortgage, a few people still recognise me as “the guy who won us our fifth European cup” but when you’ve won 13 the 5th aint that important. Take a look over there.” He said, motioning to the trophy cabinent, going on as far as Stevie could see.
“That’s all the trophies we could’ve won if we stayed, Rafa’s men won everything going for over a decade, it all came to a bit of a halt when Parry was arrested for accepting Abrahmovic’s yacht as a bribe to give him Peter Crouch, but still we went on and on and re-wrote the history books again, look at that” Stevie’s eyes turned to a ludicrously big picture of Rafael Benitez,
“Whats he wearing a sombrero there for?” Stevie asks, by now very confused.
“I dunno, that’s what the painter bloke, Collymore I think he was called, wanted him to wear, he asked Rafa and his missus to go down to the car park afterwards, dunno why, anyways that’s besides the point, you’ll be making a big mistake if you leave Liverpool.” His elder self paused for a minute before looking Stevie in the eye and saying (in a broad Scottish accent naturally),
“Some people believe playing for liverpool is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

Stevie awoke with a bang, and instantly picked up his mobile and dialled Rick Parrys number, it was the middle of the night, but anyone with hair as curly as Parry’s surely didn’t sleep, Parry answered the phone and before he could so much as try and persuade Stevie not to leave, Gerrard uttered four priceless words,
“Rick, I can’t leave.” And the rest, as they say, is history.

(This is a work of fiction, any relation to any events real or otherwise is purely coincidental ;))
 
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