The Football Thread

[zophar]

Off topic, but,

 

Zophar my man, what plans for the new year?

Stay at home, and play God of War Collection

 

you?

 

Is there a hero somewhere, someone who appears and saves the day

Someone who holds out a hand and turns back time

Its ironic you quoted an image that says "Aguero Stays" ..

 

Chelsea sure could use him.. should be an interesting January , Carlo has gone on record to state they are not signing any players but we know that Roman wants Aguero

[Nemo]

Its ironic you quoted an image that says "Aguero Stays" ..

 

teh f**k

 

[shekdown]

I thought Di Santo moved permanently. He couldnt get a starting berth at Chelsea, so he moved. Or Im horribly wrong and its still a loan deal.

 

As for Chelsea, they could easily shift to a 4-5-1 and accommodate the Sturridge at the helm. The midfield will do all the battling, anyway, and I dont think it will be half as much as a tough period as it is being made out to be. They've got enough quality to overcome the teams they are playing against.

 

 

@Zophar,

 

Still planning, most places are charging such exorbitant rates for entry. Pasha is charging 10,000 buck per stag and 8000 bucks for couples, bloody mentalists. Thought we could have a meet up of some-sort at blur or some place which is more economical, then.

Edited December 25, 2009 by shekdown

[zophar]

I thought Di Santo moved permanently. He couldnt get a starting berth at Chelsea, so he moved. Or Im horribly wrong and its still a loan deal.

its a loan, when Chelsea played Blackburn, Di Santo was sitting on the Chelsea bench

[Nemo]

it was a loan. Originally till jan 1, but 3 weeks or so ago chelsea increased the loan period to the season end. now i am wondering if they can go back on the new agreement

[shekdown]

its a loan, when Chelsea played Blackburn, Di Santo was sitting on the Chelsea bench

 

Could have been a gentleman's agreement, where he doesnt feature against his former club in the first meeting.

 

However, a quick look on google has proven me wrong, he is, infact, on loan.

[Superfrag]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=71...ade&cc=3888

 

Enjoy! ( or get angry )

[rad2689]

so they put henry in the top 10 best players but they put van nistelroy as the striker for the best team. what's up with that?

[Superfrag]

No idea. lol. Other soccernet pundits' teams are also listed..

[dabba]

so they put henry in the top 10 best players but they put van nistelroy as the striker for the best team. what's up with that?

different ppl, different opinion's??

[Superfrag]

Im downloading the matches I could find. ( best 10 )... will see them tomorrow!

Edited December 25, 2009 by Superfrag

[zophar]

i dont know why/how I forgot to post this earlier but --

 

Real Madrid 6 - 0 Real Zaragoza!!

 

The last 3 goals were absoultely spectacular, (especially Higuain's!) , and remember, this is the first year for the new team !!

 

And we are shoring up defensively over January

[shekdown]

The Core Players For Their Respective Clubs

 

Most players of the list below were made by me, at the start of the new season, before the transfer window closed. I have updated the names of the players wherever I think it was necessary and the description for the balance, who I think still remain the same, have not been updated. Hence, you may find some minor deviances in statistics such as goals or appearances.

 

A list takes immense time and effort in its preparation. With over 350 players to choose from, only one has to be picked, for each club, it is a very tedious task in preparing it. I have taken all care and possible efforts through continuous reading and re-reading of the article and analysis done, and despite all these efforts, it is quite possible that I may have missed out one or two player. Please provide me your inputs and we could, with a discussion, update the list and make necessary amendments, if required.

 

Criteria For Selection:

i) Contribution to the team over the last 5 years.

or

ii) Drastic impact contributed even if it is less than 5 years

iii) Role played to effectively change the perspective and stature or state of the club.

 

Chelsea:

 

Frank Lampard

 

The former West Ham youth player has done exactly what he has been doing consistently for the blues. Put in match winning performances, contribute to the overall play and lead the team from the midfield.

 

Lampard has come out and silenced his critics, who after the World Cup, went overboard, questioning the Englishman’s quality. The 30 year old midfielder has scored 81 goals for the club and has made a record 277 appearances for the blues. The central midfielder has an amazing average of 18 goals per season over the last 6 years for the blues. His different style of controlling the midfield of Chelsea cannot be gone unnoticed, as he has shown unbelievable commitment and consistency to this club. Contrary to many argumentative discussions, Lampard has proven him to be a brilliant passer of the ball and has shown a range of his passing skills.

 

With an absolute engine as his stamina, Frank James Jr. will without a shred of doubt go down as one of the greatest players of Chelsea’s history, if he hasn’t already. Frank Lampard – Giving consistency the proper shine in blue.

 

 

 

Liverpool :

 

Steven Gerrard

 

Captain Fantastic. The Merseyside boy oozes the Liverpool red colour as he continues to consistently wow the world with some of his matching-turning performances.

 

Largely criticized for his lack of technique, Gerrard’s engine and traction of a foot doesn’t go unnoticed. Gerrard has become the most important and influential player of the reds over the last 5 years and has not let the respect from his fans for him drop even one kink. With over 477 appearances for the club, the captain of the red part of Merseyside looks to be set to lift his first Premier League trophy for the club. His inspiring performances that helped his team lift the Champions League in 2004-05 and his heroic goal in the dying minutes of the FA Cup Final against West Ham in 2005-06, will give hope to all Liverpool fans across the globe, as long as there is Gerrard, there is hope. He has instilled such a solid faith in the fans that this man deserves to be on this list.

 

Aston Villa

 

Ashley Young

 

Ashley Young is turning out to be England’s most cultured midfielder with a bag full of tricks, amazing ball control, great acceleration and very sharp awareness. I have no doubt we are looking at a future England core player and he has been one of the main reasons Aston Villa have catapulted into the lime-lighted over the last few years. Young will play a pivotal role in the ongoing season, as he will help steer his club to a Champions League Finish. My predictions? I think Villa have an incredible and bonding squad and they certainly have the ability. It’s the lack of depth upfront and, arguably, in the back, that worries me. If their defence manages to stay relatively injury free and the attack sees the lesser of Heskey, the better their chances of pipping Tottenham Hotspurs to the 4th place spot.

Edited December 26, 2009 by shekdown

[shekdown]

Manchester City

 

Stephen Ireland

 

The egg headed central midfielder has shocked the EPL in his last 3 years for Manchester City. Stephen Ireland might be an eccentric character off the pitch, but on the pitch, this guy has shown his goods. Severely underrated, Ireland has been a massive part of Manchester City’s sudden success and Joey Barton’s departure from the team has helped this guy to shine out. Despite several views that Ireland would be knocked out of the main squad, the central midfielder played a massive part in City’s brilliant performances. Though the results may not show it, City have sometimes played some strapping football and Ireland has been a rather pivotal part of this. Now, having cemented his place in the fast growing Manchester City team, Ireland looks to be leading his club to their first piece of silverware since 1976, the UEFA cup.

 

 

 

 

Tottenham Hotspurs

 

Aaron Lennon

 

Its hard to choose when it comes to Spurs actually. At the end of last season, before the transfer window opened, I said Robbie Keane was their most important player and it was more to have held him in the team than Berbatov. But the sucker punch was delivered when both the most influential Spurs players were sold. However Keane has returned but only to find his core competency displaced by this man, Aaron Lennon. Lennon has been rather inconsistent over the last 4 years. He has largely been good but many a time, he has had the slump in form and been absolutely abysmal sometimes. But he has made the significant impact needed for Spurs this season. Looked like dogs fighting for relegation, Aaron Lennon has helped his team, through has absolutely magical cheetah-like runs, fight and beat the tougher teams and get important points. He remains their most important players as Spurs somehow try to get a European spot. I think it will be very difficult for them to secure this, but I certainly feel Aaron Lennon has finally made the mark.

 

Ledley King has always been good for Spurs when he has played, however his injury problems keep him out of the side for too many games to be considered a core player.

 

West Ham United

 

Matthew Upson

 

After a very torrid time since he debuted for Luton Town, Upson moved from club to club, on loan or otherwise and never really settled till his spell at Birmingham. He established himself as the top center back in the Championship and showed he was good enough for the Premier League as well, making over 100 appearances for the Birmingham Blues. He then moved to West Ham United in 2007, for 7.5m, many people said it was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on someone like Upson. And again, the player was injury plagued, moving out of the field less than 1 half into his debut for the Hammers. But since his return, Matthew Upson has won the hearts of all fans, West Ham or not otherwise. He has been very solid at the back and quickly established himself as their first name on the team sheet and has been an absolute rock this season. A lot of people point towards Carlton Cole, up-front, for West Ham’s better form this season. But I say, look back, look at Matthew Upson. Matthew Upson, the Central Back Hammer.

 

 

 

 

Fulham

 

Brende Hangeland

 

The Norwegian moved to Fulham after lot of speculation surrounding his transfer, in 2008 January. He then debuted for Fulham against Bolton Wanderers at Reebok Stadium, immediately being named the man of the match. Following a series of good performances he quickly became a fan's favorite at Craven Cottage. After surviving relegation and forming a formidable partnership with Aaron Hughes at the heart of Fulham's defence the American born Norwegian has become one of the most sought after center backs in the league. His quality and towering strength has helped Fulham to keep the average no.of goals conceded per game, this season to just 1!

 

 

Blackburn Rovers

 

Christopher Samba

 

This man has been an absolute beast for the club since he was signed from Hetha Berlin in 2007. A brilliant piece of transfer business from the then Rovers boss, Mark Hughes, Samba has gone on to establish himself as one of Blackburn’s best defenders. His physical ability not only allows himself to defend strongly but also be a handful in the opposition’s half. Surprisingly agile for a person of his physical stature, Samba has quickly become one of the Rover’s most important player, along with Roque Santa Cruz. Blakburn have done better since Sam Allardyce signed for them as manager and, now, Samba certainly looks like the player that the new man in charge will love to nurture.

 

 

Arsenal

 

Cesc Fabregas

 

Need there be more to be said? Captain Fabregas. At the tender age zone of early twenties, the Spaniard has been made the captain of Arsenal FC. At this stage of the season, Fabregas has matured into an absolutely monster of a player for the Football Club who is sorely missed in his absence, in any match. Having formed a sublime partnership with Alexandre Song, Fabregas is leading the young gunners to their first piece of silverware after a long wait of 5 years. Growing in passion and desire, the young Spaniard seems all set to latch on to this season’s amazing start by the gunners and propel them onwards to glory. His amazing vision, passing ability and profoundness to be in the right place to score, will assist immensely in the gunners pursuit for silverware.

 

Manchester United

 

Wayne Rooney

 

After the departure of the worlds best player, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United are deprived off a magic man, that is the large opinion of football analysts. Not so, I say. Wayne Rooney is a player of an extremely rare and unique ability. Despite his diving, play acting, swearing and several other negative aspects in his game and personality, Wayne Rooney strikes every club, any club, as a player they would desire, no matter their current squad. His engine, technique, foresight, awareness and finish, by god that clinical finishing, is being witnessed in England by an English player after a long long long time. Since the departure of Thierry Henry, Rooney looks to be the only player who will step to the mantle of reaching the dizzying heights of breaking goal scoring records. Will the young Englishman make up for the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and help his team win the title yet another time? My prediction? I think not. Despite all his ability, I think Ronaldo offered the club a lot more, something Wayne cant do at his position and if shifted to a winger, loses his currently contribution also. He, nonetheless, will be the key-man for his club.

 

 

Everton FC

 

Tim Cahill

 

Tim Cahill, the man, the mountain, the little runt who will go non-stop just like that Hilton Hotel fountain. Tim Cahill has always been an important player for Everton, right from the start. Despite his little height, he is one of the most dangerous players in the EPL, at heading and set pieces in general. Despite a consistent and very good squad Everton possess, they simply don’t have the squad depth to be a champions league club, this player however, manages to drag his team along with some tireless runs and performances, which earns him the star badge as the no.1 man of the Everton team.

 

Portsmouth

 

Kevin Prince Boateng

 

This incredibly gifted and talented youngster will be this season’s man to watch, in a Portsmouth side, battling to stay afloat. As Avram Grant takes charge of the club, he will be, already, burdening the former Spurs man, with the responsibility to be the magic man to change games. I believe he has the ability to do that and has excellent technique on the ball and a sublime vision and awareness that is largely underrated. KP Boateng would have done excellent at Tottenham, had they retained him, however, he has been let go. Its only a matter of time before he moves to a bigger club again. Maybe Villa or Everton or Sunderland.

 

Sunderland

 

Lorik Cana

 

Oh my, what a signing by Sunderland, here. Cana was linked to a host of top champions league clubs and other European heavyweights like Arsenal, Olympiacos, Villareal, Spurs, Everton and others. However, he was snapped up by Sunderland at a minimal price of 5m pounds. Now the captain of Steve Bruce’s team, they look to be heading for their best ever finish, this season, as Mr.Cana is propelling the team forward using his fine breaking up ability in the center of the midfield. A type of player not big on technique but certainly big on brains, Cana has the uncanny ability of making the right tackles at the right times, marking the right players and breaking up counter attacks and the opposition’s flow in attack by fouling their players in the middle of the pitch, without getting a card. Cana is almost singlehandedly the reason for Sunderland’s surge in confidence. He will be the reason why they will finish above Liverpool, in my opinion.

Edited December 26, 2009 by shekdown

[shekdown]

Honourable Mentions

 

1 Chelsea - John Terry

2 Man Utd - Vidic

3 Arsenal – Alexandre Song/Tomas Vermaelen

4 Aston Villa – Stewart Downing

5 Tottenham – Luka Modric

6 Man City – Carlos Tevez

7 Birmingham – Lee Carsley

8 Liverpool – Fernando Torres

9 Fulham – Damien Duff

10 Sunderland – Darren Bent\

11 Stoke – Robert Huth

12 Wolverhampton – Andy Keogh

13 Blackburn – David Dunne

14 Burnley – Steven Caldwell

15 Everton – Louis Saha

16 Wigan – Hugo Rodallega

17 Hull - Geovanni

18 Bolton – Gary Cahill

19 West Ham – Scott Parker

20 Portsmouth - David James

 

 

Nationality Analysis – Including Honourable Mentions

 

Nationality Total

Albania 1

Argentina 1

Australian 1

Belgium 1

Brazil 1

Cameroon 1

Columbia 1

Congo 1

Croatia 1

England 15

France 1

Ghana 1

Ireland 4

Norway 1

Serbia 1

Spain 2

Grand Total 34

 

 

 

 

 

Position Analysis – Including Honourable Mentions

 

Position Total

Center Back 8

Central Mid 12

Goalkeeper 1

Striker 9

Winger 4

Grand Total 34

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I welcome all discussions, both healthy and unhealthy. Your inputs will be well appreciated

Edited December 26, 2009 by shekdown

[zophar]

Reserved

 

 

Reserved

 

Reservations?? For 2??

[Nemo]

wow, great write up.

agreed with all, except if you are going by current season then its drogba for chelsea and kyut for liverpool.

[shekdown]

wow, great write up.

agreed with all, except if you are going by current season then its drogba for chelsea and kyut for liverpool.

 

Drogba and Kuyt have been very good for their respective clubs this season, however, they dont fall into the criteria, prescribed in the first post, for making this list.

[Nemo]

yeah read the 5 year rule later.

[zophar]

Aquilani and Torres start vs Wolves ! FINALLY get to see Gerrard/Aquilani/Torres combo