European Soccer Part XIII

[Nathan]

It's official.

Rooney

[MavrckMngr]

It's official.

Rooney

You're happy about this why? Mark my words, Shrek will be a journeyman by the time he turns 20.

[Bob Gray]

Time will tell whether Rooney's signing was a stroke of genius or not. When he's healthy he certainly will be a formidable weapon in ManU's arsenal, but he's still too young to know how good he will turn out and he has had troubles with injuries and he's a bit of a hot head (though on this one, moving to ManU should help since they usually manage to avoid being carded). What we do know now is ManU won't be making any more major signings to bolster the backline or midfield, the areas they needed the most help, particularly midfield.

[Nathan]

United (when RvN is healthy) has the most formidible strike force in the EPL.

3-1-3-1-2

RvN and Saha up front
Rooney in support
Ronaldo and Giggs on the Wings
Scholes playing in CM
Keane in DM
O'Shea - Rio - Silvestre

Smith, Djemba, Eagles, Fortune, Richardson on the bench.

[Bob Gray]

Well, they've got a steep hill to climb to approach the goalscoring of Arsenal. 16 goals in four matches so far is an incredible pace (and 7 more than any other team) and the same team led the EPL in goalscoring last season (and the season before). ManU's strikers are definitely top drawer. But after that I'm not sold that they get enough scoring support from the rest of the squad. Ronaldo is good and Scholes has his streaks where he'll score a few goals, but Giggs seems to have slipped a bit and beyond those three nobody is much of a scoring threat.

[Nathan]

Well, they've got a steep hill to climb to approach the goalscoring of Arsenal. 16 goals in four matches so far is an incredible pace (and 7 more than any other team) and the same team led the EPL in goalscoring last season (and the season before). ManU's strikers are definitely top drawer. But after that I'm not sold that they get enough scoring support from the rest of the squad. Ronaldo is good and Scholes has his streaks where he'll score a few goals, but Giggs seems to have slipped a bit and beyond those three nobody is much of a scoring threat.
Actually, the way Smith has been playing, I think it'd be tough to take him out of the lineup when Ruud comes back, maybe push Saha to the bench.

I agree that the Gunners have looked awfully impressive offensively, and I think it's mainly due to the incredibly play they've been getting from the midfield. United needs to figure out a way to get the best of the play from the middies. Maybe Giggs needs to start playing less of a role and Eagles or Fortune can step into that spot, or move Scholes to the wing.

[Bob Gray]

I think the quality of play ManU gets from its midfield is the number one key to how they do this year. Looking back it seems that their midfield dropped a notch or two right around when Beckham left and has never really attained the level they used to play at. There was a time when ManU's midfield of Beckham, Scholes, Keane, and Giggs was simply the best around. Beckham is now gone and I don't see any of the other three performing at the same level.

[Terrierbyassociation]

England ties Austria 2-2 because David James is a wanker and deserves to die.

[MavrckMngr]

England ties Austria 2-2 because David James is a wanker and deserves to die.

He's cute when he's bitter, isn't he?

I agree though, Sven wil probably shoulder most of the blame but that last goal was absolutely James's fault.

[FerrisLives]

And to make the fans of England feel better here were some other chokers of the day.

France 0, Israel 0
Albania 2, Greece 1
Turkey 1, Georgia 1

[DBenz]

England ties Austria 2-2 because David James is a wanker and deserves to die.

Sven seems really set on James as his number 1. How many more times does this have to happen before he even considers giving Robinson or Green a shot?

[MavrckMngr]

What's everyone's thoughts on Souness to Newcastle?

[3W]

It kind of amazes me how easily coaches and managers jump teams across the pond, like Souness did to Blackburn. It leaves fans and players abandoned.

[Jon]

What's everyone's thoughts on Souness to Newcastle?
Better him than Martin O'Neil. *phew*

[Terrierbyassociation]

England beats Poland 2-1, we take 4 points back, Robinson played decently. Much better than David James.

4 Points is what we thought we would take back from the two away games, but it should have been 6.

Defoe played brilliantly. Owen played like butt.

[Terrierbyassociation]

Wales ties North Ireland 2 all.

The big story is that North Ireland had 9 men in the end and the Welsh had 10. The North Ireland team was up 2-0 and barely missed having a 3-1 lead at a point, but their play was outstanding,they'll take the one point with glee. Savage will miss the England game. :)

[Bob Gray]

Saw the highlights of the US - El Salvador game last night. Quite the wild event. The El Salvador coach was just out of control and that spiking by the El Salvador keeper of Beasley was just stupid and should be punished, though it certainly could have been much worse. It seems that our matches with central american teams almost always have some amount of controversy.

[Terrierbyassociation]

Celtic down 1-0 in the first half against Barcelona. Arsenal 1 up on PSV(I mean Chelski East) and Chelsea is 2 nil up on PSG.

Come on Celtic!

[Bob Gray]

Celtic will be very fortunate if they can escape the group they are in. Arsenal hanging onto a 1-0 lead late at Highbury. I've seen that situation too many times in European play to be comfortable!

[MavrckMngr]

Celtic will be very fortunate if they can escape the group they are in.

I'm heartbroken. :D

Rumors are abound that Keegan is out at Eastlands if Man City loses at Selhurst Park on Saturday. I understand he's always in on managerial rumors, but Venables may be in line to be the next City manager, which would be a good sign. Wardle still needs to look at the long-term, even if we need to stay up this year.