The General Football Thread

They can't defend to save their lives. Stones is not worth a fraction of what they paid for him, Kolarov is pretty much past it, and they are crying out for a player of Kompany's class to calm things down. Going forward they are breathtakingly good, but, as they demonstrated tonight, they can't hold on to a lead.

 

Sssh.! Don't say things like that. Don't you know where that kind of talk can lead.?

BTW, I thought Monaco were superb going forward at times.

 

I know, I know.

 

Man City have some quality attacking players, but not much else. They need a big clear out. New GK, back 4 and defensive midfielders. But then that's been the case for a few seasons now and they're yet to rectify their problems.

 

Not that I'm terribly interested in Manc, but I think they've sat back, to a certain extent. They play a fair few young players who are a little too young, too often, and they've kept their older players too long, so the balance of the side is skewed. Also, as Chilco mentioned Stones, they sign players in key positions who simply aren't good enough. Whilst they don't have the draw of say Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, they certainly have equal or greater spending power. In the PL, they shouldn't even be in trouble. Yet they are messing around in a fairly distant 3rd or 4th. It's not really good enough. Is this FFP in action.?

 

So Leicester have done the best of the English sides in the CL.

That's the Champions Leicester, who were in a relegation battle until a couple of weeks ago when they sacked their title winning manager.

Absolutely bonkers.

 

Also, kind of worringly, a top cb will certainly be on the agenda for City come Summer...

 

Laporte Well that's what Beefy says anyway. Aguero is done at City, so I wonder who will replace him.

 

Interested to see where Aguero goes too. They need so many players it's unreal.

Must admit I'm enjoying seeing Pep struggle.

 

Hello.? Excuses.? It's my fault but it's not my fault.? Hmm, Guardiola: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39287162

 

The prima donnas of Arsenal and Manchester City should feel ashamed of themselves that it is only "workmanlike" Leicester of this year's PL contenders remain standing in the CL. It might do both clubs a favour if they somehow finished 5th and 6th in the PL, allowing both a bit of breathing space to purchase and nurture the players required, for another assault on getting to the late stages of this tournament.

 

I could see Sanchez replacing him. The Arsenal one, not Dirty.

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...ing-the-frenchmans-red-card-against-leicester

Vardy being Vardy yet again.

 

They have been rushed into purchasing young players, for big money, so that in a few years time when they come good, they have them and not some other big team. Rather than address their issues defensively:

Poor GK options. De Gea/Cech/Courtois/Lloris all far better.
Stones will come good but desperately needs an organiser/some decent players next to him. Kolarov is totally past it, is a left back anyway. can't defend. Clichy/Sagna/Mangala not good enough. Kompany (made of glass - career is effectively over as a world class defender). Zabaleta is not the future. Fernandinho their only fit CDM. Gundogan is made of glass. Fernando not good enough. Money is no issue (obviously).

 

And Pep, after all the hype seems very fallible.

 

If I was a City fan I would be saying to the owners to pay whatever it takes to prise Virgil away from us. But I'm not so please **** off City.

 

"For me he's a cheat because if he was a foreign player you, the English press, would be saying he's a cheat. For me he is a cheat," said Nasri."

It appears that Vardy has learned his professional skills rather well from his exposure to European football then. I'm sure he's done his research on players like Suarez and indeed, Nasri, to see how to gain an advantage. It's wrong certainly, but it's a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.

 

He must be the exception because English players rarely roll around, faking an injury, after a tackle and are generally honest on the field of play. IMO the Scandinavian and US are the most honest.

 

Vardy is kinda different to the norm. I've never seen a player try to perfect the 'running into, legs tangle' foul award. He does it every game. Got sent off for it last season, and still does it. Drives me crackers. If I played against him, I'd want to kick him ten feet into the air, which wouldn't do my team much good....but I'd clearly dine out on the satisfaction forever-ever!

 

I'm rather inferring that as well.