Discussion The Football/Soccer Thread

[Lelo]

If I had to put money (which I dont' have now T_T) I'd bet on Spain losing in the quarterfinals. It's like in that saying "Old habits die hard". They'll win their 3 group matches and when everybody starts saying that they're the #1 candidates they'll lose. You can't even say that it's because they feel the pressure, beacuse most of these players are used to winning titles. It's like they're cursed or something.

Please dont start with the curses, theres no such thig unless ur name is Indiana Jones, lol

 

[Mendes]

England celebrated Trindade and Tobago's centenary by winning 3.0 there. I cant find any video record of the game :/ but its a good result for the british. How was the game?

 

[rtyd1]

Summary of the game here http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=719556.

Basicly England controlled the game mostly because T&T are terrible but if England were really playing well and took the majority of their chances it would have been +5 - 0

 

[Mendes]

Mourinho was presented as the new Inter Milan's coach. It was already public, now it's official. I think he and Inter's financial power will move the summer market. Etoo, Drogba, Carvalho, Deco, Lampard and Diarra(RM) are some of the names brought up by the press. I guess they need a center forward since Cruz is already old, Adriano's on loan and Crespo's remaining is uncertain. The center midfield is also a place where Inter needs to reinforce. They have many defensive players, but not much offensive ones, and Lampard could fit as a glove. I'd like to see a more technician player like Diego or Van der Vaart there instead tough.

 

[sk.nite]

Mourinho was presented as the new Inter Milan's coach. It was already public, now it's official. I think he and Inter's financial power will move the summer market. Etoo, Drogba, Carvalho, Deco, Lampard and Diarra(RM) are some of the names brought up by the press. I guess they need a center forward since Cruz is already old, Adriano's on loan and Crespo's remaining is uncertain. The center midfield is also a place where Inter needs to reinforce. They have many defensive players, but not much offensive ones, and Lampard could fit as a glove. I'd like to see a more technician player like Diego or Van der Vaart there instead tough.

You're forgetting about Cambiasso and Stankovic, i think they're good enough in the central offensive midfielder position. I agree that the position that needs reinforcing the most is the attack. He should keep Ibrahimovic as striker and sign two wingers, according to his style. Maybe Joe Cole and Quaresma. Signing Etoo or Drogba while having Ibrahimovic would be overdoing it imo.

 

[rtyd1]

Apparenly Mourinho wants Ibra out since he is terrible in big games (Outshone in the CL) and Eto or Drogba in.
Stankovic's role at the club may be more minimal next season since he hasnt had the best year and was outspoken about Mancini's sacking.
Its likely a centre back will be bought to replace Matrix and a central midfielder to partner Cambiasso like Essien or Lampard.
Inter seem very weak in the wings as well, ive seen Stankovic play there and they have Figo but who else.

From what i can tell Jose has a lot of work to do if Inter will be able to challenge for the CL

 

[Mendes]

Inter seem very weak in the wings as well, ive seen Stankovic play there and they have Figo but who else.

For what I've been hearing, quaresma is likely to fill that hole. I always saw Stankovic as a winger as well. Inter seems to use Mazwell or Zanetti in the wings when they play at 4-4-2.
As for Zlatan, I dont want to see him leave Inter. He's one of the most perfect footballers in the world imo.
I dont see cambiasso as an offensive midfielder. He's supposed to be a defensive midf, although he's been attacking good enough for one

 

[sk.nite]

WTF!? They'll sell Ibrahimovic? That's crazy. And the fact that Maxwell and Zanetti play on the wings shows how much they're lacking there, since both are defenders.

 

[rykarreolacr]

Ibrahimovic isn't going anywhere. They just extended his contract to 2012 and they will be paying him LOADS of money.

 

[rtyd1]

Maxwell and Zanetti are wing backs to be more correct, which makes the versatile enough to play in either defence and midfield.

Zlatan is not a big game player as we have seen in the CL when he was at Juve and Inter. Most recenty he was outshone by Torres in the CL. Torres had 1 chance in that match and took it, Ibra had a few chances that were better than Torres' but didnt score once. If Jose is willing to give Ibra a chance he'll stay

Cambiasso's role is defensive midfield but he plays that role with a lot of attacking flair and has the ability to shoot from distance and pass the ball around midfield and defences.

 

[sk.nite]

Maxwell and Zanetti are wing backs to be more correct, which makes the versatile enough to play in either defence and midfield.

What I meant is that they're essentailly full backs, and playing in a midfield position is improvised.

 

[Mendes]

What I meant is that they're essentailly full backs, and playing in a midfield position is improvised.

I agree, although I believe Zanetti was a won bet. That guys amazing wherever he plays.
I also thought Mourinho enjoyed playing in 4.3.3, like in Leiria, Porto and Chelsea, but I wonder if he'll keep that formation when Inter's being playing in 4.2.2 ever since I can remember. If he buys Drogba and Etoo and keeps Zlatan and Balotelli, I guess he'd be keeping Inter's original formation, but if he does buy Quaresma, then that wouldnt fit, since he's a offensive only player with no defensive skill or sense. In Porto, our coach tried the 4.2.2 and whenever he used that formation, Quaresma disappeared from the match.
Then again, I could see him do on Quaresma the same kind of tactic work Joe Cole got in Chelsea. Cole was a player similar to Quaresma but after Mourinho, he learned to defend reasonably

 

[Imperium]

What I meant is that they're essentailly full backs, and playing in a midfield position is improvised.

I agree, its kinda like eboue at arsenal. He is naturally a fullback but plays in the wings (and not very well to tell the truth) because of limited options. Zanetti is versatile but i agree he needs to go back to his natural position and play in defence.

Btw, Cannavaro is defintely out of the euro's. Which means you might as well say their is a huge hole in italy's defence, Gamberini is his official replacement (ahead of nesta for some reason =/). I guess it going to be matrix and barzagli as centrebacks then. And viera" might" also miss the euro's. So thats two captains from the group of death. Van de sar and chivu might be next. >.>;

 

[Mendes]

I'm almost sure Nesta renounced Italy some years ago.

 

[Imperium]

He has!? Oh well, then i guess there wasnt really any other choice.

 

[rtyd1]

Yeah Nesta has retired but Matrix is slightly unfit / injured / crap form. Its more likely that panucci will play CB

 

[◆ T.D.A ◆]

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Ancelotti, I wonder if Kaka can be signed.

 

[rtyd1]

Its 90% certain that Carlo will be at Chelsea from what i hear

Spoiler

Ancelotti has been strongly linked with taking over at Chelsea ever since the sacking of Avram Grant just under a fortnight ago.

Sky Sports News claims that the Milan coach's representatives held talks with Chelsea officials this afternoon which resulted in an agreement for him to move to West London.

Now all that remains is for Ancelotti to give his final go-ahead to the deal, and for the Blues to agree a compensation package with Milan.

This all follows reports in the Italian media that Ancelotti met with Roman Abramovich in Paris last night at the Four Seasons George V hotel near the Eiffel Tower, where the Chelsea owner offered the Italian a four-year contract.

The meeting was long and thorough, and the Russian billionaire offered Carletto 7.2 million Euros net per year, as well as 100 million Euros to invest immediately on transfers, with the first target being Kaka.

Assistant coach to Ancelotti will reportedly be former Chelsea playing legend Gianfranco Zola, who is currently working with the Italy Under-21 national team.

Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani has admitted that Ancelotti was in Paris last night but denied it was to have talks with Abramovich."I spoke with Ancelotti. He was in Paris, but not to meet Abramovich. He was in Paris for business," said the transfer guru.

Whatever the exact truth, it certainly seems that Chelsea are homing on their new manager.

I wonder who is going to manage AC Milan now

 

[◆ T.D.A ◆]

Its 90% certain that Carlo will be at Chelsea from what i hear

Spoiler

Ancelotti has been strongly linked with taking over at Chelsea ever since the sacking of Avram Grant just under a fortnight ago.

Sky Sports News claims that the Milan coach's representatives held talks with Chelsea officials this afternoon which resulted in an agreement for him to move to West London.

Now all that remains is for Ancelotti to give his final go-ahead to the deal, and for the Blues to agree a compensation package with Milan.

This all follows reports in the Italian media that Ancelotti met with Roman Abramovich in Paris last night at the Four Seasons George V hotel near the Eiffel Tower, where the Chelsea owner offered the Italian a four-year contract.

The meeting was long and thorough, and the Russian billionaire offered Carletto 7.2 million Euros net per year, as well as 100 million Euros to invest immediately on transfers, with the first target being Kaka.

Assistant coach to Ancelotti will reportedly be former Chelsea playing legend Gianfranco Zola, who is currently working with the Italy Under-21 national team.

Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani has admitted that Ancelotti was in Paris last night but denied it was to have talks with Abramovich."I spoke with Ancelotti. He was in Paris, but not to meet Abramovich. He was in Paris for business," said the transfer guru.

Whatever the exact truth, it certainly seems that Chelsea are homing on their new manager.

I wonder who is going to manage AC Milan now

probably lippi or rijkaard

 

[rtyd1]

Lippi ruled himself out saying it would be an insult to Juve if he managed one of their rivals in the italian league. Rijkaard is looking likely

EDIT : AC Milan dont need a new manger but chesea still do, Carlo says hes staying