The Prem Starts Soon

[Rishi]

I too loved the Coutinho signing, but it was in Jan. 2013, not in the summer.

re: Sturridge to Liverpool. Yes, hindsight is 20/20, but he didn't do very well at Chelsea and he was unwilling to sign an extension so he was going to leave on a free in the summer. He also basically didn't play at all for the 1st six months of the 2012/3 campaign due to all his injuries and when he did get healthy he couldn't outwork Torres in training. Plus Demba Ba was signed that same window so no point in him staying to be 3rd striker. He was (reportedly) unhappy at Chelsea at the end and didn't give his all in training (again reportedly).

I remember at the time of the transfer I was thrilled to get anything for him as he'd done very little in his 3.5 years at Chelsea.

Sometimes a change of venue is best for all involved and it clearly was for Sturridge.

 

[DC Nole]

Mario Balotelli. Man, that transfer rumor escalated quickly.

It goes without saying that this is a boom-or-bust situation, but for pete's sake the price is right at 16m. It's amazing to me that he just turned 24 this month. I feel like he's been around forever.

I, for one, am pleased we exchanged the world's craziest star footballer for the world's 2nd craziest. Keeps things intersting!

 

[seminoleed]

Boy, that one came out of nowhere and caught me by surprise. Great deal for the Peasants IF...

what kind of locker room presence is Balotelli? Psychopathology notwithstanding, everything I ever read about Suarez was that he was respected and a leader on the team. Balotelli? Meh, not so much, more of a "look at me" ego type.

Thoughts? I think if he keeps his head on straight and plays to his potential, Liverpool just made one of the best transfer deals ever in the EPL....damnit!

 

[kooterridesagain]

Balotelli is a renowned poor locker room guy. ANd off the field his ego makes Ronaldo look like Mother Theresa.

I predicted Liverpool to win the EPL with their wonderful chemistry, not anymore.
I hate this move, and i'm an Everton guy.

You gotta be concerned about a guy whos transfers the last few years, have gone from 30 mill, to 20 mill, to 16 mill, and he's only 24! There's a reason for that. Teams want to offload him quickly.

He'll have some great moments as we see with Italy from time to time, but man is he lazy out on the field and has a crazy temper. I just don't get this move or what Rogers is thinking. I'd have expected them to take a veteran who can help in bits like Eto.

 

[DC Nole]

Originally posted by kooterridesagain:
Balotelli is a renowned poor locker room guy. ANd off the field his ego makes Ronaldo look like Mother Theresa.

I predicted Liverpool to win the EPL with their wonderful chemistry, not anymore.
I hate this move, and i'm an Everton guy.

You gotta be concerned about a guy whos transfers the last few years, have gone from 30 mill, to 20 mill, to 16 mill, and he's only 24! There's a reason for that. Teams want to offload him quickly.

He'll have some great moments as we see with Italy from time to time, but man is he lazy out on the field and has a crazy temper. I just don't get this move or what Rogers is thinking. I'd have expected them to take a veteran who can help in bits like Eto.

Balotelli clearly has major temper issues, and he pouts on the field when things aren't going his way. He's the Terrell Owens of world soccer. But is Balotelli really a terrible lock room guy? Other than his famous blowout with Mancini (a coach) when has he ever clashed with teammates? For whatever it's worth, Andrea Pirlo backed him today:

"Mario has matured since he has been back in Italy. He will be the first to admit when he was younger he made some mistakes - but he is not that player anymore. Anybody who still talks about him in that way is living in the past."

Obviously it's easy for Pirlo to say that when Balotelli isn't joining his team, but Pirlo would be well positioned to know. And he's the about most respected football voice in Italy at this point. Who knows.

It is a fascinating move by Rogers because it is SO contrary to every other move he's made. He's put a huge emphasis on "buying not just the player, but the man" -- i.e. buying good guys. But Liverpool are dying for another striker, and Liverpool were also very much in need of a "fear factor" player. Biting jokes to one side, what Suarez did was scare the crap out of every opponent, and he kept coaches and centerbacks up at night trying to figure out how the heck they were going to mark him. Balotelli is nothing like Suarez as a player, but he does have that same element where he scares opponents with his skill and creative unpredictability. Maybe the potential of that at a position of critical need was just too much for Rogers to pass up at that price. Plus, at 16m, you can send the guy home if he isn't being a good boy. It's not like he's a 50m player who you HAVE to play.

Anyway, it will certainly be fascinating to watch.

Oh, and Eto'o may be coming too. Still rumors flying there. He's over the hill to be a key player in a team, but he's a rock solid sub/reserve. Has a surprisingly good goal scoring rate in the Prem, even last year. 9 goals in 21 games for Chelsea last year, and he didn't even start all of those games.
This post was edited on 8/22 1:21 PM by DC Nole

 

[Rishi]

I'm more interested to see if either Balo or Sturridge is willing to play wide the way Suarez did when they played both Sturridge and Suarez together last year.

 

[DC Nole]

Originally posted by Rishi:
I'm more interested to see if either Balo or Sturridge is willing to play wide the way Suarez did when they played both Sturridge and Suarez together last year.

It is definitely going to be interesting to see how the formation works out. Here's a link with a bunch of possibilities disagramed in easy to read images.

http://soccerlens.com/liverpool-will-line-mario-balotelli/149781/

My guess is they go back to the 4-4-2 diamond midfield with Sturridge and Balotelli up front and a midfield with Coutinho in front of Gerrard and Sterling and Henderson on the wings. That's pretty much what is depicted in the bottom picture in the above link and that's basically what they ran last year to greatest effect, with Balotelli filling the Suarez position. In that regard Suarez wasn't necessarily a "wide" player, although he had the freedom to roam.

The alternative would be the Brendan Rogers staple of a 4-3-3 (the 2nd to bottom pic in the above link), but that's when the debate about who plays wide becomes more complex. Sturridge is probably more capable of the switch, but I don't think it makes sense to force that upon him. A 4-3-3 is a much stronger formation for Liverpool without Balotelli (Sturridge flanked by Sterling and Coutinho in front of Gerrard flanked by Henderson and Can/Lallana).

On paper the 4-2-3-1 is appealing, but Gerrard and Henderson just don't seem to work together as a 2-man pairing infront of the back 4 (see: England in the World Cup) and Gerrard and Lucas as a 2-man midfield is a mess (see: 2010-2012, and last weekend before the subbed Lucas for Joe Allen).

 

[Manch.]

I think Balo is the biggest headcase in the game, he can turn it off real quick, and even though the price was right, I am not so sure this was a good move by Liverpool, and being a United fan, I have commended Liverpool on their transactions the past 2-3 years.

Suarez had his issues, but he was never a blink away from shutting his team completely down. I think Suarez created many chances, drew double and triple teams, was great at poaching and drawing fouls, especially inside the 18. Balo will show brilliance, but I don't think that opponents are bothered that he is on the pitch and not Suarez.

DC, how do you feel about Red Sox ownership opening the checkbook the past few years? I think they've made some great moves, and cashing in on Suarez like that, when it obvious his time was up at Anfield, was top notch, even better than getting ?50 million for a Fernando Torres, who's time had passed him.

DC, not being a smartass, but I know you loathe the Red Sox, how do you like the new Liverpool owners? Obviously better than the previous owners, but they seem to be making the right moves and have Liverpool headed in a pretty decent direction for the next 5-6 years, and they are operating at a profit, not a loss.

I believe Henry bought the team for ?300m when they were valued at over ?530m, excluding any debt, not a bad deal at all. Ownership can sell for a billion pounds right now, and walk away with some pretty decent pocket change.

Did anyone catch the end of the Villa/Newcastle match when the Villian fans were playing volleyball with the ball (the ball went into the stands) as Newcastle awaited a corner kick with the game all square at nil (89th minute), and then when they were about to kick to CK, the fans threw the ball back onto the pitch. My son and I were laughing our arse off. I thought Mike Dean was gonna stop his watch and clear that section of the stadium.

 

[Manch.]

Arse and Everton are on deck, but this guy, has to head out for my annual, crippling alumni soccer game, and even more crippling after game BBQ. I should be ripe tomorrow as I head out to go see Motley Crue!

 

[seminoleed]

Well, Manch, while you're nursing your bruises, be assured that to this point, The Arsenal is putting on their typical display of matador defense. Ole!

 

[Manch.]

Headed to the alumni game in a few minutes, but it's raining like a bastard here, so not sure if we'll lace up.

Ramsey with a lifeline to cut the deficit to 2-1.

 

[Manch.]

Giroud makes it 2-2 with 4 added on.

 

[DC Nole]

Shockingly poor defending from Everton in the final 15 minutes. They just went to sleep and allowed unchallenged crosses to be played to front of goal, and then didn't mark solo runs. Everton is the Clemson of the BPL.

 

[NoleLizards]

Originally posted by DC Nole:

Shockingly poor defending from Everton in the final 15 minutes. They just went to sleep and allowed unchallenged crosses to be played to front of goal, and then didn't mark solo runs. Everton is the Clemson of the BPL.

Tim Howard had to be apoplectic. Everton parked the bus and put on the parking brake, to boot. Never seen so much standing around and watching the ball. I'll give credit to the Gooners for not giving up, but sheesh.

 

[seminoleed]

I really don't know what to think about this game. As poorly as The Arsenal played for most of the match, one could say they got a very undeserved, but precious, road point. On the other hand, when you consider that Evertons second goal was so clearly offside that Stevie Wonder could have made the call, it almost feels like we dropped two points instead of getting one.

 

[Manch.]

Looks like Angel Di Maria to United is a done deal. of course gotta wait for the small details to be ironed out, but it appears all 3 sides have agreed to the deal.

Ed, is Arse still interested in Chicharito? I think AC Milan and Juvi are looking at him also.

 

[DC Nole]

Originally posted by Manch.:
Looks like Angel Di Maria to United is a done deal. of course gotta wait for the small details to be ironed out, but it appears all 3 sides have agreed to the deal.

Ed, is Arse still interested in Chicharito? I think AC Milan and Juvi are looking at him also.

Love Di Maria as a player, so I'm bummed to see him going to MUFC. But it's kind of a strange buy, IMO. United are already quite deep in attacking midfield/forward options. Rooney, Mata, RVP, Januzaj, etc. Seems like any money left in the transfer kitty should be targeted for centerbacks.

 

[DC Nole]

Originally posted by Manch.:
DC, how do you feel about Red Sox ownership opening the checkbook the past few years? I think they've made some great moves, and cashing in on Suarez like that, when it obvious his time was up at Anfield, was top notch, even better than getting ?50 million for a Fernando Torres, who's time had passed him.

DC, not being a smartass, but I know you loathe the Red Sox, how do you like the new Liverpool owners? Obviously better than the previous owners, but they seem to be making the right moves and have Liverpool headed in a pretty decent direction for the next 5-6 years, and they are operating at a profit, not a loss.

Obviously, Fenway Sports Group wouldn't have been my first choice owner in a perfect world, but not only was I a Liverpool fan years before FSG bought the team, but my dislike for the Red Sox doesn't prevent me from recognizing that their ownership has been very successful and capable from both a business and on-field perspective. And bringing that success to LFC was more important than anything. (Also, on a personal level, I've never disliked John Henry. My loathing was reserved for Larry Luchino, who is scum of the earth.)

Whatever my feelings about the Red Sox, I certainly appreciate that FSG has done a good job with Liverpool on the heels of the disasterous tenure of Gillette/Hicks.

 

[Manch.]

DC, I hear you on that. Being up here in New England, I hate the Patriots, but my sentiments for the Krafts and the way they have handled their franchise are almost exactly the same views you have with John Henry and FSG in regards to Liverpool.

When FSG bought Liverpool, I knew they would turn things around at Anfield. Some of Liverpool's incoming transfers have been some of the better and smarter moves by any team in Europe, and the young talent on Liverpool is reflected by how many Reds were playing for the Three Lions this summer. Mix the young players, with the incoming transfers, and that is a recipe for success.

 

[Rishi]

re: Arsenal/Everton,

I'll say I was surprised to see Sanchez as the top man. I think they should've started Campbell as at least they would have had a natural ST at the top that way.

This may be a strange statement, but IMO, right now Ozil isn't good enough to start for Arsenal. He's been poor this entire calendar year. I know he was dealing with an injury, but even for good chunks of November and December of 2013, he looked lost out there.

I think I'd start Giroud (when fit) with Cazorla in the 10 and Sanchez and Ox as the wide men right now. Ramsey and Flamini as the deeper MF. When Arteta recovers he displaces one of the deeper MFs and either Ramsey moves into the 10 or he stays deep and he can rotate Ozil into the attacking band along with Ramsey. Wilshere at this point should only be played deep IMO. When Walcott returns that just adds even more competition to the attacking band.

Arsenal is extremely deep in the attacking band but very thin everywhere else. Seems like I've heard that before though.

Yes Arsenal will be there all year for a top 4 finish and perhaps even a late campaign run at the title, but I see them being very similar to last year in that they will struggle against the top 7 teams while dominating the bottom of the table squads.

 

[seminoleed]

Originally posted by Manch.:
Looks like Angel Di Maria to United is a done deal. of course gotta wait for the small details to be ironed out, but it appears all 3 sides have agreed to the deal.

Ed, is Arse still interested in Chicharito? I think AC Milan and Juvi are looking at him also.

Manch, I haven't heard anything in quite some time about Chichi, and frankly, don't want him. Not because he isn't a good player, but the club needs midfield help on the defensive side. We have plenty of attack options.

Chichi WILL make whoever ends of getting him quite a surprise. He needs somewhere where he can play every day and show his stuff, not come off the bench occasionally.

 

[DC Nole]

?64 million for Di Maria?!?! Bloody hell. I like the guy. But not that much. That's damn near as much as Suarez cost Barca and more than James Rodriguez cost Madrid. And it isn't even a critical position of need.

 

[kooterridesagain]

Martinez 2/2 with the prevent defense. Idiot.

Di Maria's agent is his dad, and notoriously greedy, surprised even United agreed with him.
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[DC Nole]

Sunderland have to be gutted to drop 2 points at home against such poor opposition.

 

[DC Nole]

Took it on the chin from City yesterday. They were mercilous in their execution. Liverpool only gave up 2 real scoring chances in the first 60 minutes, and City finished them both. Meanwhile, Liverpool created a bunch of chances and just couldn't convert.

 

[NoleLizards]

Originally posted by DC Nole:

?64 million for Di Maria?!?! Bloody hell. I like the guy. But not that much. That's damn near as much as Suarez cost Barca and more than James Rodriguez cost Madrid. And it isn't even a critical position of need.

99 million. Wow!

 

[LesClaypool]

Di Maria is a game-changing player. There aren't many of those. I'm super bummed the Mancs signed him but glad he's in the Prem now.

 

[seminoleed]

Originally posted by LesClaypool:
Di Maria is a game-changing player. There aren't many of those. I'm super bummed the Mancs signed him but glad he's in the Prem now.

DiMaria is NOT what United needs, as demonstrated by the debacle at MK Dons today. They need defensive help badly, not more scorers.

They also need Ol' Whisky Nose to make a return to the bench. It's clear the refs have no fear of Van Gaal or Moyse.

 

[FSUdawg]

Originally posted by seminoleed:

Originally posted by LesClaypool:
Di Maria is a game-changing player. There aren't many of those. I'm super bummed the Mancs signed him but glad he's in the Prem now.

DiMaria is NOT what United needs, as demonstrated by the debacle at MK Dons today. They need defensive help badly, not more scorers.

They also need Ol' Whisky Nose to make a return to the bench. It's clear the refs have no fear of Van Gaal or Moyse.

1. I cannot believe they lost today.
2. I cannot believe they were essentially blown out 4-0 today.
3. I have to be honest and say it brought a smile to my face when I saw the score.
4. I have a bad feeling Man U fans will get a similar joy tomorrow when Arsenal struggle with Besiktas.