European Soccer Part XIII

[Bob Gray]

Originally posted by Terrierbyassociation
Viera to Real Madrid.

It's official. Arsenal better get 25 million plus for him.
There is no announcement of it on the Arsenal club's official website, so I don't believe it is official, if it is happening at all, which I still have my doubts about. It was official last summer too, according to some sources, but it never happened. The Arsenal website actually shows him on the training field with a big grin on his face. Hardly what you'd expect if he's on the field with the players he's been with for quite a few years and leaving them soon.

Now he did sit out training today, reportedly for a slight knock, so read into that what you will.

Soccernet is reporting that some Spanish rag says Vieira has agreed to terms with Real Madrid, but the clubs haven't worked out a fee.

No report of the deal being done on Fox Sports World site.

What is your source?:confused:


There is a part of me that, as much as I think he's great on the pitch, I wouldn't totally mind seeing Vieira gone. He'd bring a lot of cash in, he's been out for pieces of the last two seasons with injuries, at times he has seemed not totally interested in matches, and his failure to put an end to this annual speculation is more than a little annoying (a feeling quite a number of Arsenal fans share). I wouldn't read to much into his silence right now, regarding whether he'll go or not, as his practice has been to let the rumors swirl in past offseasons, without saying anything to quash them.

[Jon]

EPL Fans: (aka, everyone)

Is Liverpool going to be any good this year? They were unbelievable last night? :mad:

[Bob Gray]

Liverpool looked pretty good, but Celtic looked about as good as Stoke-on-Trent or Watford or some such team, so I don't know who was more the cause of the blowout. Cisse showed some nice flashes, and I can't help but think that Liverpool will be better now that Houllier was finally shown the door. All in all, I think the EPL will be tougher and the top 2-3 teams won't have the distance on the field they did last season.

[Terrierbyassociation]

Originally posted by FerrisLives
FC Porto is going to become rich taking all of Chelsea's money. They've signed away Carvalho for 30 million Euros. What a rip off. Chelsea also paid a fortune for Paolo Ferreira to Porto.

Mourinho wants all his divers together again for the Chelsea 11. What he fails to realize is that the diving his players are so good at are going to be frustrated when they don't get the calls they want, because the EPL is a tough league.

[ColbyWMHB]

Originally posted by Jon
EPL Fans: (aka, everyone)

Is Liverpool going to be any good this year? They were unbelievable last night? :mad:

I was there last night, too, and it didn't really look to me that Liverpool was awesome as much as it looked that Celtic were brutal. That squad is REALLY going to miss Henrik, as they were lost offensively, generating precious few chances. Then again, they weren't very good anywhere else, either.

[Jon]

Originally posted by ColbyWMHB
I was there last night, too, and it didn't really look to me that Liverpool was awesome as much as it looked that Celtic were brutal. That squad is REALLY going to miss Henrik, as they were lost offensively, generating precious few chances. Then again, they weren't very good anywhere else, either.

Celtic had absolutely ZERO offense. I can remember exactly three instances where Thompson was on the wing and suddenly found himself surrounded by red jerseys. Whatever they were doing was NOT working. Hartsson looked horrible as well.

But the defense was hideous. Marshall had no chance on any of those goals.
It should be noted that Liverpool started their A squad and Celtic was using reserves. But no excuses... ;)

[Terrierbyassociation]

Liverpool IMO should run a 3-4-3.

Owen- Cisse-Baros
Gerrard-Murphy-Kewell-Hamann
Riise-Henchoz-Biscan?
Kirkland

That midfield can play with anyone, and Murphy healthy will be dynamite with the set peices. Kewell should have less pressure now that the scoring will be squarely on that formidable three, which I consider the best trio of strikers in the EPL.

Arsenal has Henry and Reyes, ManU has Horseface, Saha, and a very overrated Smith.

Baros turned it on in Euro 2004 and brimming with confidence will be amazing. Owen will get rest and I think Liverpool has a good shot at coming in either second or third.

But three strikers would be a brilliant idea for Benetiz to implement.

[Bob Gray]

Don't forget the Master himself, Dennis Bergkamp. His pace isn't what it once was, but he showed last year that his exquisite touch is still there. They had the replay of the Arsenal win over Chelski late on the season on FSW last night and Bergkamp's setup of the Vieira goal was stunning.

Frankly Baros hasn't done much since he came to Liverpool, and Cisse's ability to cope with EPL play is unknown. Plus Owen is always getting hurt. But Liverpool should have a good chance of at least having two solid strikers on the field, which is more than they've had in a good while.

[Nathan]

Just watched the replay of the Bayern-United match from Sunday.

Not a bad performance by the United youth squad.

As much as I hated Alan Smith at Leeds, he was awfully good on Sunday. Bellion on the other hand was terrible.

[Craig P.]

Any observations on Jonathan Spector (U20 USA) from that match?

[FerrisLives]

Originally posted by Terrierbyassociation
Mourinho wants all his divers together again for the Chelsea 11. What he fails to realize is that the diving his players are so good at are going to be frustrated when they don't get the calls they want, because the EPL is a tough league.

It was probably a downer for Porto fans for a few weeks. But, from a stockholders viewpoint Mourinho going to Chelsea is one of the best things to ever happen to the club. They won a UEFA Cup, Champions League, and 2 Portuguese titles and then are going to the bank with over 50 Million pounds of Chelsea's money.

[Jimjamesak]

Originally posted by Craig P.
Any observations on Jonathan Spector (U20 USA) from that match?
Holy crap I forgot about him! I'll have to watch for another replay on FSW.

[nubobcat]

The EPL officials are very good about letting most of the rough stuff go unless it is getting dangerous. They also seem a lot better then the rest of the world at noticing "simulating" and also spreading the word about what players go down to easy.

When Pires first joined Arsenal he would go down at first contact. He is still a sort of sissy about it but he never gets calls even we he is fouled because he has the reputation.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Viera because he was a yellow card machine with his rough play in the EPL. He will have a lot more problems not getting booked when he starts on the mainland...i have a feeling after a few suspensions he's going to regret leaving Highbury.

[BigPieps]

Soldier Field is a neat place to watch a soccer match. Over the weekend I ran into a few ManU fans at Pizzeria Uno. One of them was Irish. In his eyes, Roy Keene is infallible.

I asked the English guy..."Is anyone good going to be playing for Manchester United tomorrow night?"

His response, "To even be on Manchester United you have to be good. Everyone who plays is a great football player."

There was no bias there ;)

[Nathan]

Spector actually shocked me. He played very well, better than McShane, in my opinion. You have to realize though, that the only first teamer on the pitch was Roy Keane, and he was playing a CD/DMF position. Well, that is until John O'Shea came in.

Here was the United lineup:

Carroll
McShane
Keane
Spector
Bardsley
Djordic (Jones, 69)
Djemba-Djemba
Richardson (Chadwick, 81)
Eagles (O'Shea, 69)
Smith
Bellion

[BigPieps]

I also thought that Djemba-Djemba was off the hook. He was everywhere.

[Nathan]

Originally posted by BigPieps
I also thought that Djemba-Djemba was off the hook. He was everywhere. I've always liked the way he plays when he gets an opportunity. With Butt on the way out, and Kleberson likely gone as well, this should give Djemba a much bigger role.

Bellion, however, was crap yesterday. He should have been feeding Smithy on at least three occasions where Alan would've buried it.

He's still too young and too light. He needs to toughen up, but man is he quick.

[Bob Gray]

The latest Vieira news, providing further evidence of why they call this time of year the "silly season".

No Vieira Deal, Agree Agent And Madrid (http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/040728/4/5aib.html)

There are few teams I dislike as much as Real Madrid, and I get more reasons to dislike them all the time.

[Jon]

Real/Bayern/ManU are the only teams I'd want Rangers to beat. :)

[ColbyWMHB]

Originally posted by Jon
Real/Bayern/ManU are the only teams I'd want Rangers to beat. :)

You watching tonight, Jon? The Celtic-Man U game is on FoxWorld. I'm just wondering--4 goals allowed to Chelsea, 5 to Liverpool? Will they stay sequential, and give up 6 to the Red Devils tonight? :)

Personally, I'm hoping Celtic wins this one, though....