Football

[Antman]

I don't think it will make any difference. The problem at Arsenal stems higher than Arsene. Board level not supporting, they're running as a business, balance sheets etc. His backroom team are on the cheap compared to most other top 10 teams.
I'd even say they are overachieving when looked at on paper alone, I'd put at least 9 teams above Arsenal on paper.

I understand what you're saying but I don't see how things could get any worse, he's got to go at some point so why not just get it over and done with? I don't know if it's arrogance or just damn right selfishness on his part but he seems to have become bigger than the club and if he really cared about the club he would step down gracefully. If he won't then the club should take the decision out of his hands. I also wonder what Steve Bould's role is? A top defender in his day but the defending at Anfield was shambolic.

As for a replacement, the club are going to have to start showing a bit more ambition if they want to get a top name in, the club seems to be run purely as a business at the moment.

 

[Darandio]

It gets better. Now, this all probably stems from the famous 'Sky Sources' but it is funny nonetheless that they have let the Alexis Sanchez situation get so out of control that they are open to him moving to Manchester City, but Arsenal effectively pay for Raheem Sterling with Sanchez as a makeweight!

http://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre

Details of the negotiations which have taken place between Manchester City and Arsenal are becoming a little clearer this afternoon...

We understand Manchester City are keen on a simple cash-only deal for Alexis Sanchez.

Arsenal, however, are considering a deal which involves Sanchez heading for Manchester City, with Raheem Sterling heading for north London. Interestingly, we understand that the deal would also include Arsenal paying a fee to City as a makeweight.

So, to confirm, that's Arsenal paying City a fee for Sterling, with Sanchez also going to City. Wow!

 

[507021]

Looks like we may well do so.

I'd get rid of him, personally. No player is bigger than the club.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd get rid of him, personally. No player is bigger than the club.

Events later yesterday saw no movement in position on a number of high-profile transfer possibilities, so perhaps brinkmanship is being displayed by both the clubs and the players.

 

[507021]

Events later yesterday saw no movement in position on a number of high-profile transfer possibilities, so perhaps brinkmanship is being displayed by both the clubs and the players.

I'm guessing he will be sold next summer instead, personally. Hopefully the club can bring in a decent replacement before he goes.

 

[507021]

Sheffield Wednesday have signed Dutch defender Joost van Aken from SC Heerenveen on a four year deal.

Well, at least The Owls have signed a defender...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well, today is the final day of this most unusual transfer deadline period, so I wonder how many of the signings that appeared to be currently at stalemate will actually take place by the end of the day.

 

[Antman]

Well, today is the final day of this most unusual transfer deadline period, so I wonder how many of the signings that appeared to be currently at stalemate will actually take place by the end of the day.

All sorts of rumours flying around about the whereabouts of Riyad Mahrez. He has been released from international duties.

 

[Darandio]

All sorts of rumours flying around about the whereabouts of Riyad Mahrez. He has been released from international duties.

Apparently he is sat in Paris airport in a scene reminiscent of Tom Hanks in 'The Terminal'. He is using it as a staging point once bids are accepted.

In terms of Coutinho and the protracted situation with Barcelona, there has been a lot of media clamour from ex-players stating they should accept the bid. They are conveniently ignoring some of the terms of the bid, namely that it isn't £130+million up front and that much of the bid consists of future clauses that are near impossible for both the player and Barcelona to meet.

 

[507021]

I think it's been a very underwhelming deadline day, personally.

I am astounded Liverpool have yet again failed to improve the defence. Beyond poor.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Been a while since we've had a deadline day where someone like Wilfried Bony is centre stage to be fair, makes a change from the endless wibble over someone like Alexis Sanchez or Coutinho.

 

[507021]

Been a while since we've had a deadline day where someone like Wilfried Bony is centre stage to be fair, makes a change from the endless wibble over someone like Alexis Sanchez or Coutinho.

I was fed up of hearing about Coutinho to be honest, I was (and still am) at the point where I couldn't really care any less if he stayed at the club or went to Barcelona. I think it's a certainty he will be sold next summer though.

Sheffield Wednesday haven't brought many players in during this window, but at least we've managed to bring in two much needed centre backs. Another midfielder would have been nice though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Glad we got our business done early, deadline day gets pretty crazy. I'm more concerned about the January window, as if we keep up our form we're likely to have silly offers coming in for the likes of Mooy, Van La Parra and Schindler.

I did enjoy seeing Ball Street managing to create false rumours of Ryan Babel to Newcastle though!

 

[roversfan2001]

We've had a fairly successful window, most of our good signings were made early on with reserve players signed more recently. Kept hold of everyone important too which bodes well for an instant return to the Championship, given that it's hard to argue against us having a better squad now than this time last year.

 

[507021]

Sheffield Wednesday haven't brought many players in during this window, but at least we've managed to bring in two much needed centre backs. Another midfielder would have been nice though.

We did indeed manage to bring in a midfielder, albeit on loan. Derby midfielder Jacob Butterfield arrives on a season long loan in exchange for Sam Winnall, who went the opposite direction, also on a season long loan.

I'm pleased with Wednesday's window, particularly as I didn't think we needed to strengthen anywhere other than at centre back and bringing in an extra player in midfield. I think Boyd and Butterfield (on loan) are decent signings, although I can't comment on van Aken or Venancio (on loan, with option to buy) because I haven't seen either of them play yet. Hopefully we can start getting some decent results after the international break.

I'm not as satisfied with Liverpool's window though. Best signings for me were Salah and Keita (albeit a year in advance), Oxlade-Chamberlain was a decent signing and I think Robertson and Solanke look promising so far. I'm very, very disappointed we failed to sign a centre back though, that spoils it a bit for me unfortunately. I just hope Can signs a new contract soon as he's playing really well lately, although I fully expect Coutinho to leave next summer.

 

[SteveP29]

I did enjoy seeing Ball Street managing to create false rumours of Ryan Babel to Newcastle though!

Where Newcastle are concerned, our lack of business at the end of the window is ALWAYS shocking. Mike Ashley simply doesn't want the club to progress, we've allowed 16 players to leave/ be released this summer and brought 6 in, with only 2 of those signings (Lejeune and Murphy) being Rafa's first choices.

Whenever there's a lack of action, we ask ourselves 'Is Shefki Kuqi available?' he seems to be our version of your Ryan Babel

 

[RichmondCommu]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-41123148

Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink driving. This beggars belief. If I'd been blessed with his ability to play football at international standard I would not be drinking and nor would I be smoking. Absolutely astonishing.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Where Newcastle are concerned, our lack of business at the end of the window is ALWAYS shocking. Mike Ashley simply doesn't want the club to progress, we've allowed 16 players to leave/ be released this summer and brought 6 in, with only 2 of those signings (Lejeune and Murphy) being Rafa's first choices.

Whenever there's a lack of action, we ask ourselves 'Is Shefki Kuqi available?' he seems to be our version of your Ryan Babel

I agree that Ashley is a tool of the highest order, but I'm not convinced that Benitez is the tactical genius he is claimed to be. It can't help team morale when every interview he gives is him moaning about not having the right players, needing more money etc. He seems very set in his ways about tactics, and often produces soporific anti-football which I thankfully haven't seen since the days of Chris Powell. In fact, those two are very similar in that it's never their fault when they lose, but it's always their good work when they win.

In other news, Danny Drinkwater is apparently worth more than four Aaron Mooys... and thousands of left-leaning football fans wrestle with the cognitive dissonance caused by accepting the reality of the amount of money in the modern game.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Oh to have another Nahki Wells. We'd be top of the league if we still had that wonderful Bermudian traitor striker.

Remember making that posting last December. What do you feel about his transfer?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Mike Ashley simply doesn't want the club to progress

Well, since they are now back in the top flight, where do you suggest the club makes an upward progress move from there?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Remember making that posting last December. What do you feel about his transfer?

He'd turned down a contract extension last summer (understandable, as nobody expected us to win promotion) but also turned down an improved offer after the play-off win. I'd rather he'd stayed but his chances would've been limited and he'd have left for nothing next summer. Not sure about selling to a side we may well be fighting with for 17th place, as that might come back to bite us.

I do wonder if he thinks he's a better player than he really is, but he always gave 100% and you can't ask for more than that. He was part of a team that achieved the impossible, so he will always have a place in the hearts of many Town fans. The memories, be it the crafty free-kick against Blackburn or the sheer confidence with which he despatched his spot-kick in the shootout at Wembley, will stay with me for a long time.

Him describing Burnley as "a step up" stings a bit, but I'll let that go...

 

[roversfan2001]

the crafty free-kick against Blackburn

With Jason Steele in goal anything on target was destined for the back of the net.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

With Jason Steele in goal anything on target was destined for the back of the net.

That point ended up being pretty important in the end!

Surprised I didn't get a response from yourself from my wee dig at your neighbours...

 

[Butts]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-41123148

Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink driving. This beggars belief. If I'd been blessed with his ability to play football at international standard I would not be drinking and nor would I be smoking. Absolutely astonishing.

Being a multi-millionaire I'm sure he'll be able to afford the fine and the cost of the odd Taxi or indeed a Chauffeur to ferry him about if he is banned.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-41123148

Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink driving. This beggars belief. If I'd been blessed with his ability to play football at international standard I would not be drinking and nor would I be smoking. Absolutely astonishing.

Many great footballers have had their demons:- look at George Best; Diego Maradona; Paul Gascoigne; Frank Worthington(!)... it isn't a new thing, though with the amount of money these (basically) kids are getting these days, the game has a responsibility to ensure it doesn't go to their heads.

 

[AlterEgo]

Many great footballers have had their demons:- look at George Best; Diego Maradona; Paul Gascoigne; Frank Worthington(!)... it isn't a new thing, though with the amount of money these (basically) kids are getting these days, the game has a responsibility to ensure it doesn't go to their heads.

In my mind the days when you could expect a footballer to be an a***hole by default have gone. That kind of thing peaked in the 1990s.

Nowadays most footballers are very clean-living, and mostly they are good role models for children (off the field at least). So when someone like Rooney gets caught drink-driving it's put into much sharper relief against a background of his otherwise decent colleagues.

I have always disliked Rooney and his complete lack of self-awareness. He's a fat lout who drinks and smokes, and he wasted a great deal of potential.

 

[96tommy]

HT here where Chorley lead us 2-0. Performance from us is embarrassing.

 

[roversfan2001]

HT here where Chorley lead us 2-0. Performance from us is embarrassing.

I may have seen you there as I also went (stood in the big terrace nearest the turnstiles). I was expecting a York win but until 75 minutes there wasn't any serious pressure on the Chorley goal.

 

[roversfan2001]

That point ended up being pretty important in the end!

Surprised I didn't get a response from yourself from my wee dig at your neighbours...

That point could have kept us up (and so could Huddersfield playing their first team against Birmingham ) .

Burnley are a small club punching above their weight. So are Huddersfield

 

[familyguy99]

Oldham 3-4 Charlton

Oldham lost for fifth consecutive league matches as Charlton beat Latics in seven goals feats. It sound like changing point of this match came just after Oldham got themselves equaliser goal to made it 2-2 when Latics player Fane got sent off for second yellow card knowing he won ball fairly.