World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It is a bit puzzling. It's also puzzling that the deal went through smoothly and quickly, with Wenger putting up no noticeable defense to losing what a lot of people have said was one of Arsenal's better players last season. I saw quotes from someone with the club saying they got tired of Song's attitude, being late for team meetings, not following instructions, etc., but it's hard to know if that's just spin at this point.

I've seen internet chatter that Song could be turned into a CB, something that some Arsenal fans have talked about at times in the last season or two when Arsenal were almost out of CBs.

Yeah, sometimes with a guy who's an attitude problem, you just want to let them go.

That's a possibility I hadn't considered. Barca really like their center backs to have good skill on the ball (witness their use of natural midfielders like Busquets and Yaya Toure and Mascherano, or converted full backs like Puyol and Abidal and, going further back, Frank de Boer, in that role in recent years), and Song would fit that bill with better physical presence than Mascherano.

[Drew S.]

It is a bit puzzling. It's also puzzling that the deal went through smoothly and quickly, with Wenger putting up no noticeable defense to losing what a lot of people have said was one of Arsenal's better players last season. I saw quotes from someone with the club saying they got tired of Song's attitude, being late for team meetings, not following instructions, etc., but it's hard to know if that's just spin at this point.

I've seen internet chatter that Song could be turned into a CB, something that some Arsenal fans have talked about at times in the last season or two when Arsenal were almost out of CBs.

I think he's one of those flavor of the week types. Arsenal have a lot of other guys in midfield who are more talented. You think Wenger spends any of the £15M?

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I think he's one of those flavor of the week types. Arsenal have a lot of other guys in midfield who are more talented. You think Wenger spends any of the £15M?

Arsenal do still have a good number of midfielders, but are pretty lacking in DMs, which Song at least was supposed to be. Being relatively late in the transfer window, I tend to doubt Wenger will spend the money. Maybe if Arsenal have another poor result, there'll be some pressure to make another move in the market before the window closes.

[UNH GH]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Pompey got it's 2nd point today with a draw against Colchester.

Their newest player, Obita, who just arrived at the club Tuesday morning, scored less than 60 seconds after being subbed in, scoring in the 85th minute to salvage a point on the road.

I am thrilled with how the season's started. From what I hear (I listen to the radio broadcasts), the defense is shaky, but that's to be expected with a brand new club who haven't had time to play together yet.

The attitude has been great and guys are scoring clutch goals. While I think promotion is out of the question this year, I think they have a shot to stay in League 1 despite the 10 point deduction.

Oh and I don't know what to make of this road/alt kit:

*****http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/378201_472034739481409_518920624_n.jpg******

[manurespreader]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I guess we'll find out if West Ham is for real later this week.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I guess we'll find out if West Ham is for real later this week.

"For real" how? A 1-0 home win over a mediocre Villa side doesn't really mean much, does it? What that match will tell us is whether SWANSEA is for real.

[pirate]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

"For real" how? A 1-0 home win over a mediocre Villa side doesn't really mean much, does it? What that match will tell us is whether SWANSEA is for real.

I'd love to get really angry about the mediocre reference for Villa, instead I'll just look at my shoes.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I'd love to get really angry about the mediocre reference for Villa, instead I'll just look at my shoes.

I don't mean any disrespect to Villa's history, but the current version of the team is a far cry from the one that finished sixth three years in a row not that long ago. I hope Lambert can get them turned around; I'd much rather see them threatening the big-money teams in the top four than Newcastle or Sunderland or (god forbid) QPR.

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Good news is, if round 1 is any indication, you don't need to worry about QPR.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Fulham have filed an official complaint with the Premier League over the tapping-up of Clint Dempsey by Liverpool. If that's what Brendan Rogers is trying to do, he's doing it wrong: after you unsettle the player (mission accomplished on that front), you're supposed to make an offer to buy the player. So, get on with it. It's unfortunate, and it's confusing that Dempsey wants to go to Liverpool if he wants to play in the Champions League, but it'd be nice if the whole saga could just be resolved already.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Well, Swansea just embarrassed West Ham on ESPN2, and the Fulham-Manc Utd match on FSC is looking pretty interesting. Not sure why Fulham isn't even dressing Dempsey. Might as well play him while you've got him.

[UNH GH]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Pompey just dropped their first match, 4-2 away to Carlisle.

It was 2-0 Carlisle when Pompey's Long got sent off with his 2nd yellow in the 84th minute. Then all hell broke loose.

Harrison scored in the 90th to make it 2-1, Carlisle struck right back to make it 3-1, Clifford scored right off the restart to make it 3-2, but Madden finished it for Carlisle to make it 4-2.

4 goals scored in stoppage time, unreal. A blast to listen to.


Even though Portsmouth lost, the fight in this team is unbelievable. Down a man with 6 minutes left down by two, you would think they'd just mail it in. But they didn't. Hopefully this young squad can start to gel with more time together, so far I've been impressed with the results.

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Blackburn looking better after giving away a draw to start the season. They've now beat Hull and Leicester to sit tied for 2nd on points with 7.

[pirate]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I don't mean any disrespect to Villa's history, but the current version of the team is a far cry from the one that finished sixth three years in a row not that long ago. I hope Lambert can get them turned around; I'd much rather see them threatening the big-money teams in the top four than Newcastle or Sunderland or (god forbid) QPR.

I don't think anyone can overstate the current woes...4 managers in 4 years will do that to a team...not to mention 4 completely different styles and a sell to buy philosophy.

One problem would be to think the last few guys could recruit and/or develop on par with MON...sure we had Milner, Downing, Young, Barry at one point but the idea of selling them and bringing up young guys only works if you have a great academy or are really good at signing the right guys.

With 4 managers in 4 years it would be highly unlikely they would all be good at the latter...or they would still be there. So instead we have the team of misfit toys. They should have let Given go (get it???) and just let Guzan be the man.

Ireland and N'Zogbia are expensive but don't produce...their young guys are hard to read because they are a rag tag collection of guys who fit various schemes at the time and now look like a bunch of guys thrown together on a Saturday in the park.

One thing we expected was to play a more aggressive game and at least make it exciting, hence 1 goal by a defensive mid-fielder on a 30+ yard shot.

So, Gabby is hurt, and probably praying for the next transfer window to open.

The issue is they really needed to strip it down to the wood and rebuild...the effort to avoid relegation causes short-term decision making that keeps a team like the current villans stuck in spots 14+ until they get a new owner or Randy takes the proceeds from the Browns and puts them into the wage bill.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

*sigh*... Why did Dembele have to go and have a stormer at Old Trafford in the last (league) match before the end of the transfer window? I don't think there's any way Fulham keep hold of him now, and while the Norwich match showed that maybe we can cope without Dempsey, I'm really worried about what a post-Dembele season will look like. And I LIKE Steve Sidwell, but he's no substitute.