I thought between the Terry and Gerrard goals they played very well; lots of nice first touch football and ball retention which is key at that level. But the USA were awful. I agree about Defoe. Oh for Dean Ashton to have Michael Owen's pace!
Nil nil vs. Paraguay. Thought Malouda couldn't stay on his wing, and kept gravitating to the centre. Evra was conspicuously absent on that wing as well. Real questions at the back with Gallas having a down year at Arsenal, Sagnol still trying to find his form, and Thuram being on his last leg (still world class though). Dangerous Clerc and Ribery mariage on the right. Benzema might have passed Henry as that first target. Gomis who did well once again, looks like a fresher and more active option than Anelka as the third forward. Viera is out, and should miss the first game against Romania. You can't replace Maka. In the second half, Diarra tried, as did Toulalan, but he's still the boss back there. Next up Colombia. Wonder if we revert back to a 4-2-3-1 that served so well against Italy in qualifying (3-1). Henry up front, Ribery behind him, Malouda and Benzema - or Govou who had a surprisingly consistent year with Lyon - on his wings, with Viera, and Maka behind them. After 45, you can sub Nasri in place Henry who isn't fit for 90 anymore, shift Ribery to the right, and place Benzema as the lone striker.
Zambrotta officially to the ACMilan. Nothing yet about Eto's, accordindg to Galliani, Milan can't spend 35 mill.
Thanks bro, Here's the link from the official site: http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=67404
It seems it was just a matter of time before he went there. We all knew he would end up there, I would look for Dinho to end up there as well and likely Eto'o. I see Drogba now going to Inter or staying at Chelsea.
Yes, and according to 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', Galliani said Eto'o is too expensive but didn't say nothing about Ronaldinho. . Now we need to reinforce the attack, also heard Dida will stay
The reason Galliani said that is because they don't have any money and they have been trying to sell players the past month I believe. His problem is that he fails to sell players and then keeps buying them (i.e. Flamini and Zambrotta). I think they will eventually end up with Eto'o because from what I understand is he doesn't want to go up there and the only other "real" suitor for Eto'o was Tottenham I think or one of the PL teams and they said they aren't interested anymore. Dida may stay because he may tuitor the new keeper. I don't know whats up with the Dinho deal. There was so much talk about them agreeing on everything and now hes not even metnioned. God the fudbal world is so confusing when it comes to transfer season lol.
You're probably right about the selling but remember Cafu and Serginho are gone, wich saves some money and we're going to pay a lot to Dida for just to be a tutor. JMO but maybe we are keeping him just because he could have a kind of influence on the Dinho trade in the future. (Dida, Kaká and/or Pato, you know, feeling more comfortable with fellow brazilians, I don't know)
Yeah, sometimes i get too excited about a trade but at the end, nothing happens, that's why i take that rumors with a grain of salt untill it's official.
Wish I could say the same. I get so excited about every off-season move and I take it like its official then they announce it won't happen and brings all my hopes down.
Since now officially Fiorentina got Gilardino, I'm not sure what ACMilan is going to do. I still believe that Eto'o most likely will be in Rossonero...... even if 35 mill is a lot of money.
Logba will go to AC Milan unless he goes to Inter first. Whoever doesn't get him will end up with Eto'o
Cannavaro:Euro 2008 is over. In the first training session the Azzurri captain has injured his left ankle, an operation may be needed. Gamberini will replace him.
While I agree that Gerrard is a better player than Lampard, I think he's hardly overrated. There's a reason why Mourinho will do everything in his power to lure Lampard to Inter. And if there's anyone that knows the sport and its players, it's Jose. From a neutral observer: Frank Lampard is a great football player, and I think he'd find first team football on just about every club in the world.
I suggest we agree to disagree. He's a media darling who isn't half the player that people think he is. Calling him a "great" player is laughable, but it's a term thrown so easily at mediocrity these days, I'm not surprised. The first player Mourinho wants/wanted to buy was Michael Essien, which should tell you everything you need to know about who the best midfielder at Chelsea is. The second midfielder on Mourinho's list is Mahamadou Diarra and the third midfielder on his list is Marek Hamsik of Napoli. As for finding first team football; he wouldn't find it at Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool for starters. And he won't find it in Fabio Capello's England team either. As for lauding Mourinho, again, not sure I'm buying it. Good manager, but overhyped and not tactically astute. Mourinho's answer to a crisis at Chelsea was to throw Robert Huth up front and resort to hoofing it upfield. He played a desperately bland brand of football and were it not for Abramovich's money, he would have been just another manager. Brilliant personality and the majority of his players clearly adore him, but in football folklore, much like Frank Lampard, Mourinho isn't a great deal more than a journalistic hype machine.
I agree that Lampard is overrated. I think Gerrard is a great player though. Btw, Essien is one hell of a player. Guy can play anywhere. I hate Chelsea but I love Essien's game.
Yes bro. Well he is a tried and tested experienced manager at both club and national level. He just might do a better job than Huguito Sanchez (former coach) Im excited to see what new things he can bring to us but most importantly, a different style. I hope that it all works out positively for Mexico. http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=722194
he might? he has too, it is not hard to do better than Hugo Sanchez. All you got to do is win something, beat the US, not choke against guatemala and Honduras, and keep your goddam mouth quiet. I am pretty sure he can manage all of those. Hugo was a travesty, I can tell you one thing, we might actually beat the US now, because for once we will not have the handicap of Hugo Sanchez or Ricardo LaVolpe. We got the better players we just got severely outcoached.
Ancelloti won't leave AC Milan. Chelsea may wend up with someone like Cesare Prandelli because the guy that Kenyon and Bruce Buck wanted, Mark Hughes, will sign on the dotted line for Manchester City today. They could have had him yesterday, but they chose to waste time with Ancelloti's advisors.
I like Prandelli, very innovative coach, I was reading that he wants to learn English very bad and he will take private lessons.
According to The Sun: Ancelotti says no to Chelsea http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1242567.ece
I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote "might", I'm sure Eriksson will do a better job, like you said "it is not hard to do better than Hugo Sanchez." I agree with you compadre about the Sanchez/LaVolpe handicap.
BBC Sport: Porto lose Champions League place http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7435898.stm