UEFA Champions League

[David Beckham 23]

It's really hard to trust any football player when they say they are committed to the current club. But I always believe them for some reason.

Is this the beginning of the Galacticos part 2? Kaka officially signs with Real Madrid.

AP.

While Real Madrid did not disclose financial details of Kaka's switch from AC Milan, reports say the figure is in the region of $92 million (€65 million), eclipsing the largest previous transfer set by Zinedine Zidane when he joined Madrid from Juventus for €76 million in 2001.

 

[Big Michael]

It's really hard to trust any football player when they say they are committed to the current club. But I always believe them for some reason.

Is this the beginning of the Galacticos part 2? Kaka officially signs with Real Madrid.

AP.

While Real Madrid did not disclose financial details of Kaka's switch from AC Milan, reports say the figure is in the region of $92 million (€65 million), eclipsing the largest previous transfer set by Zinedine Zidane when he joined Madrid from Juventus for €76 million in 2001.

I wouldn't be too hard on Kaka, it seems like AC Milan wanted their hands on the money. I think if AC Milan said to Kaka that we want you play the rest of your career with us, he would have stayed. That team needs some serious rebuilding, a lot of players on the downside of their careers...Seedorf, Gatuso, Pirlo, Dida, Favalli, Nesta, Ambrosini, Inzagi, Shevchenko, and let's not forget Beckham

Yeah, I hope the new Galacticos evolve, it would make things in Spain interesting, we don't want Barca winning every year like ManU.

 

[ROGER O. THORNHILL]

Claro que Si!!!

, we don't want Barca winning every year

Actually, yeah, we do.

 

[scouser1]

football this week has been really interesting, on the one hand we have the good in Kaka a genuine great player and human being, I dont think this guy wanted to move to Real Madrid but the Italian financial football situation is a mess and AC Milan wanted to make some coin off of him in his prime.

On the flipside you get a twat like Gareth Barry, for 2 years we been hearing oh I want to play CL football, ohh how I long for Champions League, ohhh please let me go to Liverpool. Then the jackass goes and signs for Man City who finished 10th, yeah I guess top level was important to you Gareth hmmm??

 

[Big Michael]

Actually, yeah, we do.

Just heard Real Madrid has added CRon, things just got a lot more interesting in La Liga. As they say...Game on Barca...

 

[Big Michael]

football this week has been really interesting, on the one hand we have the good in Kaka a genuine great player and human being, I dont think this guy wanted to move to Real Madrid but the Italian financial football situation is a mess and AC Milan wanted to make some coin off of him in his prime.

On the flipside you get a twat like Gareth Barry, for 2 years we been hearing oh I want to play CL football, ohh how I long for Champions League, ohhh please let me go to Liverpool. Then the jackass goes and signs for Man City who finished 10th, yeah I guess top level was important to you Gareth hmmm??

I am not sure which side of the fence, good or bad, that Cron's transfer falls. The bad being money, loyalty, ego, etc. The good being that as of today, ManU is a weaker team.

 

[David Beckham 23]

Well the Galactico era is back. Real has signed French Striker Karim Benzema, to join Kaka and CRon. And the word is Ribery has stated he wants to Join Madrid. So far it's over 200 million.

First, not sure there's enough balls for the egos and second, this still doesn't solve their issues with defence.

 

[Big Michael]

First, not sure there's enough balls for the egos and second, this still doesn't solve their issues with defence.

Well they also signed Albiol from Valencia. He should form a pretty good partnership with Pepe. If they can find areplacement for the overrated Ramos, their defence could be sorted out.

 

[David Beckham 23]

Man U signs Micheal Owen today. Didn't see that one coming!!

 

[Big Michael]

Man U signs Micheal Owen today. Didn't see that one coming!!

One minute he is going to Hull, next minute ManU, wow. I am sure the Red half of Liverpool will be welcoming him with open hearts in his first game at Anfield. Have to watch this game.

Even if Owen is perpetually injured, ManU have some very good young strikers (Welbeck, Marchedo, Campbell) that might get a chance.

 

[scouser1]

Man U signs Micheal Owen today. Didn't see that one coming!!

wow didnt see that one coming at all, he can still get somewhere between 15 to 20 goals a season but is he the solution after the Ronaldo and Tevez losses? me thinks not. And he took a pay cut which is surprising for Michael, because his love of money is well documented.

 

[Insidious Von]

Since Real Madrid are the King's team, Florentino Perez has been given carte blanche with the Spanish Treasury. Except Frank Ribery and Maicon to be signed within the next few weeks. Still his reputation is overblown. He did sign Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but the nucleus of the team was assembled by others. It was Jorge Valdano who developed Real's youth system that produced Raul, Guti among others. It was Fabio Capello who stole Roberto Carlos from Inter, signed Claude Makelele and gave the captaincy to Hierro. It could be argued that Perez did more harm than good.

Still, if Barca sign Sebastien Frey (what are they waiting for?), Real will still finish second in La Liga.

 

[David Beckham 23]

It's really hard to say how good Real Madrid will be with all these signings. The good be fantastic or they good be a lot of great names on paper and be mediocre (yes that will be finishing second and not winning the Champions League)

On another note, does Real have the balls to release Raul?

wow didnt see that one coming at all, he can still get somewhere between 15 to 20 goals a season but is he the solution after the Ronaldo and Tevez losses? me thinks not. And he took a pay cut which is surprising for Michael, because his love of money is well documented.

The siging is just to have another experienced striker in their camp. Hopefully he can produce some of the fire that's left in him.

 

[the_big_E]

Note to Real Madrid - there is only one ball to play with. If they get Ribery, where all these guys going to play?

And they want to offload all their Dutch contingent...wrong move. They're building a fantasy team. No trophies for them next year, book it.

 

[Insidious Von]

A bidding war has broken out between Arsenal and Juventus to sign rising star Filipe Melo.

I was shocked when Brazil coach Carlos Dunga picked him over Anderson for his starting 11 for the Confed Cup. Melo had an outstanding tournament and his price has gone up to 25 million euros.

I don't know who owns the Gunners but the financial clout of the Agnelli family cannot be underestimated (they recently forced F1 supremo Max Moseley into early retirement). They've already signed Diego from Werder Bremen and Fabiano Santacroce may be next.

Juventus is on the ascendancy and if they meet Real Madrid in the CL, they will beat them home/away again.

 

[stealthbomber]

Juventus is on the ascendancy and if they meet Real Madrid in the CL, they will beat them home/away again.

But they still can't beat Chelsea or any other CL EPL team
for that matter. So it's a Moot point.

 

[Insidious Von]

But they still can't beat Chelsea or any other CL EPL team
for that matter. So it's a Moot point.

Granted.

Unlike the EPL and La Liga, the talent in Serie A is spread throughout the league. It makes for an exciting championship but is disasterous at the CL level.

Still, England should consider itself lucky not to have faced Italy in the Under 21 final. Even with a depleted midfield they were stronger than Germany. For the sake of argument, lets say Balotelli doesn't graduate to the Azzurri immediately; that would give the Azzurrini, for 2011, an attack of Balotelli, Palosci, Macheda and Forrestieri.

As Bubbles would say: "that's allota fuckin firepower if ya ask me"

Who does England have?

 

[Big Michael]

Who does England have?

Not necessarily an England fan (Just an Arsenal fan) but England had the youngest team at U21 Euros. I think there are 15 players from 2009 team that are eligible for 2011.

I can visualize an attacking force of Walcott (Arsenal), Sturridge (just signed for Chelsea from Man City ), WelbecK (ManU and one of the reasons why Purple Nose is not that worried about repalcing CRon and believes this kid has a shot at being at WC2010 and is ahead of Marcheda on the depth chart), and most importantly Jack Wilshere (remember that name).

Just saying

 

[Insidious Von]

Welbeck ahead of Macheda?

Since I dont know Welbeck, I had to do a background check:

Date of Birth: Welbeck (Nov 1990), Macheda (Aug 1991).
Goals at the Junior level: Welbeck (4 goals in 12 matches), Macheda (8 goals in 8 matches)
Goals at the Senior level: Welbeck (3 goals in 13 matches), Macheda (2 goals in 5 matches)

Again I reserve judgement since I havent seen Welbeck play but I did attend a Lazio Primavera match against Modena at the Flamminio. From what I've seen of Macheda he has Van Basten quality. No wonder Lotito was absolutely livid when ManU poached him.

 

[Big Michael]

Welbeck ahead of Macheda?

Since I dont know Welbeck, I had to do a background check:

Date of Birth: Welbeck (Nov 1990), Macheda (Aug 1991).
Goals at the Junior level: Welbeck (4 goals in 12 matches), Macheda (8 goals in 8 matches)
Goals at the Senior level: Welbeck (3 goals in 13 matches), Macheda (2 goals in 5 matches)

Again I reserve judgement since I havent seen Welbeck play but I did attend a Lazio Primavera match against Modena at the Flamminio. From what I've seen of Macheda he has Van Basten quality. No wonder Lotito was absolutely livid when ManU poached him.

Welbeck usually gets on the team sheet before Macheda. But that said, Welbeck will probably end being more of a wide player, much quicker and more tricks than Macheda. But as your stats point out, Macheda is better finisher.