(UEFA) Football Thread - Football not Soccer

[HRHTheKING]

I can't believe all this boardroom stuff.

It's so un-Liverpool like to vent all this in public.

All disputes at the management level should be kept in-house and utterly secret.

I just hope Rafa and the players can push all this crap out of their heads and focus on the Prem and of course the Champions League.

[oojason]

^ aye mate - completely agree.

The sooner Hicks is gone the better. Seems he just refues to even try and embrace The Liverpool Way.

Plus - what a comedown for all the Liverpool fans still celebrating the win vs Arsenal. I had this season written off for us due to all the crap going on behind the scenes and with Rafa's position under threat - credit to him and the staff for doing so well this season.

(and then Parry can go after Hicks )

[HRHTheKING]

The saddest thing is, in the midst of all the backroom conflict, not a single brick has been laid for the new stadium.

We should have had a new stadium about 10 years ago.

[Jax]

Arsenal are out of the title race after losing 2-1 to Man Utd and I think Utd have all but wrapped up the title. Even if Chelsea beat them, Utd have a better goal difference than Chelsea.

I think in 2 weeks if Man Utd get at least a draw at stamford bridge, then Man Utd will win back to back PL crowns for the first time since 2001.

[Daedalus12]

C. Ronaldo, what a show off

[Jax]

Daedalus12 what do you think about the face that it looks like AC Milan has won the race for Ronaldinho.

Personally a waste of money IMO and you need to buy defenders before attackers.

[Angel4576]

What formation do Milan play these days? I'd imagine that it would have to be 5 in the middle to accomodate both Kaka and Ronaldinho.

[Daedalus12]

NX_01 Mark wrote:

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Daedalus12 what do you think about the face that it looks like AC Milan has won the race for Ronaldinho.

Personally a waste of money IMO and you need to buy defenders before attackers.

Angel4576 wrote:

---

What formation do Milan play these days? I'd imagine that it would have to be 5 in the middle to accomodate both Kaka and Ronaldinho.

It's nowhere near a done deal as people like to think. It can backfire any moment until he actually signs the contract.

If we get R10 for 20 million euros then it would be a very good gamble. If R10 recovers his form in a new environment then it'll be the buy of the year. The fact is he is still only 28 so there is a possibility of some good years left in him.

Our defense has some issues (like unreliable goalkeeping) but our most pressing concern right now is actually the forward position. The CB pairing of Nesta/Kaladze are very good and with Zambrotta almost certainly arriving this summer the fullback position will be fairly covered. However our attack has been quite stagnant this season. The goal scoring output will be lowest in about 8 years.

So basically Milan is looking for Zambrotta, R10, a big forward i.e. Drogba, and a GK i.e. Frey.

Our formation of the last 6 years has been alternating between a diamond 4-4-2 and a Christamas tree 4-5-1. IN recent years the team has been playing mostly in the Christmas tree formation.

Diamond (2005 CL final)

------------Dida-----------
Cafu----Nesta----Stam---Maldini
-------------Pirlo---------------
---Gattuso------------Seedorf--
--------------Kaka-------------
----------Sheva---Crespo-------

Christmas Tree (2007 & 2008)
-----------------Dida-----------------
Oddo----Nesta------*Kaladze----*Maldini
-----------------Pirlo--------------------
---Gattuso-----------------Ambrosini----
----------Kaka----------Seedorf-------
-----------------striker---------------

*Maldini also played a lot of CB with Jankulovski at LB

If Ronaldinho arrives he takes the Seedorf position in the Christmas tree formation.

[HRHTheKING]

AC Milan should sign Drogba.

He's been unhappy at Chelsea for a while.


Probably didn't get enough hugs or something.

[Jax]

HRHTheKING wrote:

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AC Milan should sign Drogba.

He's been unhappy at Chelsea for a while.


Probably didn't get enough hugs or something.

I would personally sign Drogba over Shev but it seems AC Milan wants to bring Shev back. Do AC Milan have the money to get both or really the need ?

[Daedalus12]

NX_01 Mark wrote:

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I would personally sign Drogba over Shev but it seems AC Milan wants to bring Shev back. Do AC Milan have the money to get both or really the need ?

Il Presidente Berlusconi wants the "English Student" (Sheva) back but Ancelotti and Galliani don't want to.

As far as the money issue goes nobody knows the actual financial state of AC Milan except for the accountants at Milanello and of course the Milan management. However if Berlusconi wants to open his pocket then there is no doubt that we can afford Drogba, Ronaldinho, Sheva, Benzema, etc.

[Jax]

I've been wanting to talk about the ENGLAND captaincy because it seems Capello will hand the armband to Rooney and has not decided on when or if Terry should have it.

I was wondering who do you think should be captain or is it really that important in your view ?

Personally I feel TERRY should NOT be captain because his behaviour at times is appalling and he seems like one of the mob when he harrases refs. Also he strikes me as the kind of player who chooses money over pride of playing for his club or country. I want the captain to be someone who is passionat about the sport and not his wallet so he can buy his half wit wife new shoes.

I do think Ferdinand might make a good leader...I would say James because he does work hard but hes prone to mistakes and would not be the right model for England captain.

Am not sure if there is a real leader there in the team at the moment ?

[Daedalus12]

Ferdinand should be the Captain. He is a CB and Capello usually leans towards a defender being the captain. Also Ferdinand will soon be the Captain of Manchester United. After Beckham and Neville retires he'll also be the player with the most caps on the England NT. Technically Owen has more caps than Rio but Owen won't be a regular under Capello.

By Italian NT tradition though Beckham would still be the captain.

[HRHTheKING]

Rooney will be captain.

And his instructions to the team will come with subtitles.

[Jax]

^ I do think Rooney will be captain...but not just yet.

Capello will choose:

Ferdinand, Terry or Hargreaves, IMO though I expect Capello to do what all ENG matches do and fold in and do the easy thing, In this case leave the armband to Terry who for me on recent form is not even a 100% starter.