Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Kowalski]

Ah.

Xavi and Iniesta are great players but have been nowhere near their best over the past few weeks. Zlatan has been shite for ages and showed his frustration the other night by getting sent off. Having watched the full 90 mins of each team's games over the last 3/4 weeks, Real Madrid are easily the form team. It's more less been Messi and to a lesser extent Pedro doing the business for Barca and I think a lot of that falls down to Zlatan. His link up play has been terrible. I'd go for Henry every week.

I'd go for Eto'o every week 

[rocket debris]

Ah.

Xavi and Iniesta are great players but have been nowhere near their best over the past few weeks. Zlatan has been shite for ages and showed his frustration the other night by getting sent off. Having watched the full 90 mins of each team's games over the last 3/4 weeks, Real Madrid are easily the form team. It's more less been Messi and to a lesser extent Pedro doing the business for Barca and I think a lot of that falls down to Zlatan. His link up play has been terrible. I'd go for Henry every week.

Pedro has been excellent this year, an unheralded piece of class. Agree with all of the above on what I've seen this year which is most of their games although I missed Barca on Saturday. After the first six La Liga games this season, FCB were different planet awesome whilst Real were struggling at the back particularly. They are definitely the form team now as FCB have been too inconsistent all season really, since their first six, and including a home defeat by a team most of us had never heard of in the CL. Set for a fascinating showdown. The Real fans are looking forward to getting Barca at home in La Liga but also want them in the CL final, this year at Santiago Bernabeu.

[glasgowdon]

I'd go for Eto'o every week 

Ditto.

Pedro has been excellent this year, an unheralded piece of class. Agree with all of the above on what I've seen this year which is most of their games although I missed Barca on Saturday. After the first six La Liga games this season, FCB were different planet awesome whilst Real were struggling at the back particularly. They are definitely the form team now as FCB have been too inconsistent all season really, since their first six, and including a home defeat by a team most of us had never heard of in the CL. Set for a fascinating showdown. The Real fans are looking forward to getting Barca at home in La Liga but also want them in the CL final, this year at Santiago Bernabeu.

Aye, I think Zlatan stopped playing after first six. He was particularly poor against Almeria and was only a bit better against Malaga.

I think the current Pichichi standings give a good idea of la Liga right now.

Scary to think that Spain is still producing midfielders like Pedro and Sergio Canales though.

[rocket debris]

Don't agree with him. He doesn't know what day of the week it is.

Getting rid of Eto'o had to be done for a couple of reasons. The fact that FCB paid a ridiculous amount plus Eto'o for Ibram doesn't detract on how superb Samuel was, nor is it a reflection of Zlatan being any better - it was just an insanely disproportional financial transaction. Eto'o developed an attitude problem. This was reflected in his returns two and three years ago. Football is a team game. Bye, prima donna,  nouveau riche boy from a poor family. This is the Pep show. If he was truly as good as he believed in his own mind (impossible), he would be proving it either this year at Inter or in the next couple of years wherever he ends up. He won't. He blew it. Definitely had the potential to be one of the world's best. He fucked up.

[Kowalski]

Don't agree with him. He doesn't know what day of the week it is.

Getting rid of Eto'o had to be done for a couple of reasons. The fact that FCB paid a ridiculous amount plus Eto'o for Ibram doesn't detract on how superb Samuel was, nor is it a reflection of Zlatan being any better - it was just an insanely disproportional financial transaction. Eto'o developed an attitude problem. This was reflected in his returns two and three years ago. Football is a team game. Bye, prima donna,  nouveau riche boy from a poor family. This is the Pep show. If he was truly as good as he believed in his own mind (impossible), he would be proving it either this year at Inter or in the next couple of years wherever he ends up. He won't. He blew it. Definitely had the potential to be one of the world's best. He fucked up.

What do his returns two or three years ago have to do with it?  He's been an absolute lynchpin in the team over the last three seasons, and he was a team player, no question about it.  Definitely had the potential to be one of the world's best?  He is one of the world's best!

As for Inter, we all know you don't get as many chances in Serie A as in La Liga.

[glasgowdon]

Eto'o didn't want to stay so he did have to go. That being said, the deal for Zlatan was a shocker.

Sell Eto'o, buy Villa.

Easy.

[rocket debris]

What do his returns two or three years ago have to do with it?  He's been an absolute lynchpin in the team over the last three seasons, and he was a team player, no question about it.  Definitely had the potential to be one of the world's best?  He is one of the world's best!

As for Inter, we all know you don't get as many chances in Serie A as in La Liga.

It's Wednesday. His form up until 3 years ago was awesome. Even you would have recognised a massive dip in form? He and Ronaldinho became bigger than the club in their
own heads, became lazy, skipped training and caused massive unrest in the dressing room. Ronaldinho was moved on, and has never recovered. Eto'o was moved on and will never recover. He is positively donkeyesque now, a shadow of the player 4 and 5 years ago. His meagre goals return in those two years was statistical evidence of his dip. In his final year, he had some extraordinary matches banging in 3, 4 and even 5 in a clutch og games against weaker opposition. But by then his situation had become untenable. He is a player now in his prime, the right side of 30, who is on a big slide. This all stemmed from the inside of his head when aged 24, 25, he was exploited by others. He's not even the best forward at Inter. Watch him play football. He is past it. 

[rocket debris]

Eto'o didn't want to stay so he did have to go. That being said, the deal for Zlatan was a shocker.

Sell Eto'o, buy Villa.

Easy.

Villa isn't looking nearly as sharp this season for me but with his best quality being his instinct and football brain - the only excellent feature of McCoist's game incidentally - he is in the right places to grab goals.

The striker positions are going to be a problem for Spain in South Africa. I didn't see Torres v. Wigan but heard he was mince but given the questionmarks over his full fitness and the fact that you really need your strikers to be at their best if you expect to win the WC, I think this is where Spain will come unstuck. Having said that, they could be so strong in creative midfield that they may well provide the greatest number of chances throughout the tournament.

[glasgowdon]

Villa isn't looking nearly as sharp this season for me but with his best quality being his instinct and football brain - the only excellent feature of McCoist's game incidentally - he is in the right places to grab goals.

The striker positions are going to be a problem for Spain in South Africa. I didn't see Torres v. Wigan but heard he was mince but given the questionmarks over his full fitness and the fact that you really need your strikers to be at their best if you expect to win the WC, I think this is where Spain will come unstuck. Having said that, they could be so strong in creative midfield that they may well provide the greatest number of chances throughout the tournament.

Still second in the Pichichi with 17 goals though.

Agree that Torres hasn't been near his best this season and Spain may recall Raul as I don't think Negredo is up to it yet and Guiza hasn't enjoyed the same form in Turkey as he did at Mallorca. I guess you could include Mata as a striker too. Wouldn't be surprised if they went with a Barca-esque 4-5-1 --> 4-3-3 though.

[rocket debris]

Mata I really like. Young and quick but don't know anything about his international career or not. Sometimes the WC throws up a star of the show, a Lato or a Schilaci. Mata could be ready to be the missing pin for Spain if their manager has the guts to play him in an unfamiliar role ahead of the easy options. Raul would be a terribly easy option but a bad one given his age and lack of match sharpness.

[Kowalski]

It's Wednesday. His form up until 3 years ago was awesome. Even you would have recognised a massive dip in form? He and Ronaldinho became bigger than the club in their
own heads, became lazy, skipped training and caused massive unrest in the dressing room. Ronaldinho was moved on, and has never recovered. Eto'o was moved on and will never recover. He is positively donkeyesque now, a shadow of the player 4 and 5 years ago. His meagre goals return in those two years was statistical evidence of his dip. In his final year, he had some extraordinary matches banging in 3, 4 and even 5 in a clutch og games against weaker opposition. But by then his situation had become untenable. He is a player now in his prime, the right side of 30, who is on a big slide. This all stemmed from the inside of his head when aged 24, 25, he was exploited by others. He's not even the best forward at Inter. Watch him play football. He is past it.

When was his dip in form?  I know he had some injuries but his goal scoring record for Barcelona is extremely impressive.

2004/05 P37 G25
2005/06 P35 G26
2006/07 P19 G11
2007/08 P18 G16
2008/09 P36 G30

(these are just La Liga stats)

[BobbyBiscuit]

Still second in the Pichichi with 17 goals though.

Agree that Torres hasn't been near his best this season and Spain may recall Raul as I don't think Negredo is up to it yet and Guiza hasn't enjoyed the same form in Turkey as he did at Mallorca. I guess you could include Mata as a striker too. Wouldn't be surprised if they went with a Barca-esque 4-5-1 --> 4-3-3 though.

I think that's a real possibility, in which case Torres will be sitting on the bench as there's no way you'd drop Villa from that side.  Would imagine if they go with that then Fabregas would be the player to profit.  I actually think they'd be best with three players in front of their defence. Not convinced by that back line at all and some of the better sides at the WC could find that spain have a bit of a soft centre.

[rocket debris]

When was his dip in form?  I know he had some injuries but his goal scoring record for Barcelona is extremely impressive.

2004/05 P37 G25
2005/06 P35 G26
2006/07 P19 G11
2007/08 P18 G16
2008/09 P36 G30


(these are just La Liga stats)

Why did Barca sell then? Why did they offer a ridiculously distorted amount to get rid and bring in another? He never looked as sharp as he did before his injuries, both of body and of mind. His last season was skewed by hammering in freak numbers against the Valladolids and Racing's in my recollection. He was disappointing in the big games. Either you don't see with own eyes his detioration over the last 3.5 seasons compared to when he really was the world's best, or you do. I would think Pep knows about this subject better than you or I and his actions suggest that he knew his best was past also. 

[Kowalski]

Why did Barca sell then? Why did they offer a ridiculously distorted amount to get rid and bring in another? He never looked as sharp as he did before his injuries, both of body and of mind. His last season was skewed by hammering in freak numbers against the Valladolids and Racing's in my recollection. He was disappointing in the big games. Either you don't see with own eyes his detioration over the last 3.5 seasons compared to when he really was the world's best, or you do. I would think Pep knows about this subject better than you or I and his actions suggest that he knew his best was past also.

I seem to recall him scoring in the champions league final.

I'm sure Pep has his reasons, I thought it was a poor decision (especially from a financial point of view).  Almost as bad as Winters for Dodds + cash! 

[rocket debris]

I seem to recall him scoring in the champions league final.

I'm sure Pep has his reasons, I thought it was a poor decision (especially from a financial point of view).  Almost as bad as Winters for Dodds + cash! 

He did indeed, with the first. Financially it was a nuts decision as we've already agreed on. It's whether he's still the best in the world or not that we're debating, and since 2005/06, he's lost that crown in my book.

[glasgowdon]

Eto'o wanted to leave. I don't think the way his departure was conducted was good business though. Think Laporta was reacting to Real Madrid's signings despite saying he wouldn't.

I think Spain's formation during the world cup will depend on Torres. I think their defence should hold up with a back four. Ramos - Puyol - Pique - Arbeloa/Capdevila with options such as Marchena and Albiol. Just looked at the team line up vs. France and it looks as though it would be a 4-5-1. Mata has scored 3 in 7 for Spain. A 4-4-1-1 is also a real possibility if they do take Raul. Can't see del Bosque not picking him. Looks as though he may have too much choice.

[rocket debris]

Eto'o wanted to leave. I don't think the way his departure was conducted was good business though. Think Laporta was reacting to Real Madrid's signings despite saying he wouldn't.

I think Spain's formation during the world cup will depend on Torres. I think their defence should hold up with a back four. Ramos - Puyol - Pique - Arbeloa/Capdevila with options such as Marchena and Albiol. Just looked at the team line up vs. France and it looks as though it would be a 4-5-1. Mata has scored 3 in 7 for Spain. A 4-4-1-1 is also a real possibility if they do take Raul. Can't see del Bosque not picking him. Looks as though he may have too much choice.

Eto'o wasn't wanted by Pep Guardiola I read, and given the history, it was an untenable situation.

I didn't know anything about Mata's international record but with those stats, it's a no brainer I would have thought. Mata, then Villa currently the first picks but with Torres to force his way back in with a good end of season. Raul would be a big error but del Bosque the Walrus's Real connection? Spain's midfield has got to be Barca-dominated but I wonder if internal politics come into play? The capital is still patrolled and policed to counter the ETA threat.

[rocket debris]

I'd go for Eto'o every week 

Apart from this week. HT Chelsea Inter and Eto'o has been shocking.

[Kowalski]

Apart from this week. HT Chelsea Inter and Eto'o has been shocking.

I was just wondering if this thread was going to get a bump.
Every player has an off day, even Foster.

[Kowalski]

Apart from this week. HT Chelsea Inter and Eto'o has been shocking.

Great first touch and finish for the goal!