Football Season - 2017/2018

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:52 am

Well the summer transfer window formally opens today .... so for now

Who would you like your team to buy (and why)?

Who do you think they will buy?

Who would you like your team to sell (and why)?

Scooter · Post by **Scooter** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 9:08 am

Red Chris wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:52 am Well the summer transfer window formally opens today .... so for now

Who would you like your team to buy (and why)?

Who do you think they will buy?

Who would you like your team to sell (and why)?

Forgive me my cynicism but it sums up football nowadays, how do you buy a title! It's not so much a sport more of a business.

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 9:30 am

Scooter wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 9:08 am Forgive me my cynicism but it sums up football nowadays....

It's been about the money for years.

If you talk to lower league managers / owners it is just the same. Money can get you promotion, but that brings more expense - so there is a trade off - teams can throw money around and probably get promoted but is it worth it?

The difference at the moment (ironically) is that more Premiership clubs now have more money to spend due to the lunatic amounts paid by TV (I think they all get a basic of £140,000,000) and on occasions dodgy owners, so actually the playing field is not quite so unlevel (if that makes sense)

MHmusic · Post by **MHmusic** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am

The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here

. I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't

RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Post by **Dan Steel** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:26 pm

MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here . I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Had my doubts about De Boer when he was touted to be the next Everton manager. We ended up with Keoman and Frankie went to Inter Milan and lasted 85 days. I watched their games under him and they were awful. I hope it doesn't rub off at Palace.

As for new players Koeman is spending a lot but he's also getting rid of all the shite Martinez bought.

MHmusic · Post by **MHmusic** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:53 pm

dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:26 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here . I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Had my doubts about De Boer when he was touted to be the next Everton manager. We ended up with Keoman and Frankie went to Inter Milan and lasted 85 days. I watched their games under him and they were awful. I hope it doesn't rub off at Palace.
As for new players Koeman is spending a lot but he's also getting rid of all the shite Martinez bought.

I don't think the Inter experience is much to judge by. Only 85 days at a club in turmoil, new owners, no say over main transfers and those that followed him struggled too until things eventually settled down behind the scenes. His mistake was going there I think. His 4 Championships wins in 5 seasons with Ajax who hadn't won anything for the previous 7 years is relevant. Very different league and raw material and so no guarantees but at this stage it's best to be optimistic. The problem is more likely to be that like Koeman he will never stay for the long haul - 3 years tops but that nowadays is a lifetime, so ....

Post by **Dan Steel** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:55 pm

MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:53 pm
dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:26 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here . I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Had my doubts about De Boer when he was touted to be the next Everton manager. We ended up with Keoman and Frankie went to Inter Milan and lasted 85 days. I watched their games under him and they were awful. I hope it doesn't rub off at Palace.
As for new players Koeman is spending a lot but he's also getting rid of all the shite Martinez bought.

I don't think the Inter experience is much to judge by. Only 85 days at a club in turmoil, new owners, no say over main transfers and those that followed him struggled too until things eventually settled down behind the scenes. His mistake was going there I think. His 4 Championships wins in 5 seasons with Ajax who hadn't won anything for the previous 7 years is relevant. Very different league and raw material and so no guarantees but at this stage it's best to be optimistic. The problem is more likely to be that like Koeman he will never stay for the long haul - 3 years tops but that nowadays is a lifetime, so ....

12 months is a lifetime these days

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 2:55 pm

dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:55 pm 12 months is a lifetime these days

Well Palace have had 3 managers in that time, and de Boer did say that his short time at Inter felt like 12 months

Post by **Dan Steel** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 3:10 pm

Red Chris wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 2:55 pm
dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:55 pm 12 months is a lifetime these days
Well Palace have had 3 managers in that time, and de Boer did say that his short time at Inter felt like 12 months

And Moyes lasted 10 months at Utd and Hodgson lasted 6 months at analfield.

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 3:25 pm

... I felt a bit sorry for Rwoy - he was doing a good job

Post by **Dan Steel** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 3:34 pm

Red Chris wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 3:25 pm ... I felt a bit sorry for Rwoy - he was doing a good job

Yeah....For Everton

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 01, 2017 6:20 pm

Chelsea have signed ex-Manchester Citeh goalkeeper Willy Caballero on a free transfer. Good business or will he make a [fool] of himself

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:02 pm

Well it took a while but John Terry has signed for a big club

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Thu Jul 06, 2017 8:40 pm

Manchester United have apparently agreed a fee of around £75m with Everton for striker Romelu Lukaku - senior club sources have told the BBC

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Sat Jul 22, 2017 5:12 pm

Liverpool have signed Hull's defender Andrew Robertson in an initial £8m deal. Robertson is Liverpool's third summer signing following the arrival of Roma winger Mohamed Salah and Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke.

MHmusic · Post by **MHmusic** » Sat Jul 22, 2017 10:41 pm

Loved Salah when he was at Chelsea TBH and was amazed that they wanted to offload him. Such an exciting player and the thought of Salah, Mane and Coutinho is super scary. But they still need to sort out their defence. As much as I admire Robertson's attacking play, I really don't think he will resolve their defensive issues. They have bought a Scottish Moreno rather than an Ashley Cole.

Post by **Dan Steel** » Sun Aug 13, 2017 9:40 am

dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:55 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:53 pm
dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:26 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here . I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Had my doubts about De Boer when he was touted to be the next Everton manager. We ended up with Keoman and Frankie went to Inter Milan and lasted 85 days. I watched their games under him and they were awful. I hope it doesn't rub off at Palace.
As for new players Koeman is spending a lot but he's also getting rid of all the shite Martinez bought.

I don't think the Inter experience is much to judge by. Only 85 days at a club in turmoil, new owners, no say over main transfers and those that followed him struggled too until things eventually settled down behind the scenes. His mistake was going there I think. His 4 Championships wins in 5 seasons with Ajax who hadn't won anything for the previous 7 years is relevant. Very different league and raw material and so no guarantees but at this stage it's best to be optimistic. The problem is more likely to be that like Koeman he will never stay for the long haul - 3 years tops but that nowadays is a lifetime, so ....

12 months is a lifetime these days

Great start from Frankie.....

MHmusic · Post by **MHmusic** » Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:15 am

TBH having watched it, it had more to do with our old players than our new and nothing to do with the new formation. Just basics. Sloppy marking and defending.

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:25 pm

MHmusic wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:15 am TBH having watched it, it had more to do with our old players than our new and nothing to do with the new formation. Just basics. Sloppy marking and defending.

I enjoyed my trip to Old Trafford yesterday

Off to Wales on Saturday

Dave J · Post by **Dave J** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:37 pm

I bet you did, Chris.

Trying not to get overexcited about the result but it was a superb performance. Who was your
Matic Man of the match?

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:51 pm

Dave J wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:37 pm Who was your Matic Man of the match?

Indeed Matic was superb - early days though and the team will need to be just as good without him if they are going to be succesful

Dave J · Post by **Dave J** » Wed Aug 16, 2017 8:30 pm

Agreed, early days.

Some of the comments after the game were over the top but, hey, it was a cracking performance and you do get a sense that there is a level of confidence that has been missing for a while.

Red Chris · Post by **Red Chris** » Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:22 pm

I agree - and I did not have the nervousness that I have endured for a few years. We will know more on Saturday

Dave J · Post by **Dave J** » Thu Aug 24, 2017 10:09 pm

And now we have Zlatan...

Post by **Dan Steel** » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:37 pm

dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:55 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:53 pm
dan steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:26 pm
MHmusic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 01, 2017 11:29 am The amount of cash flowing into the game now is beyond obscene and the amount immediately flowing out into agent and players hands is probably worse. With average squad players costing £10m and weekly wages for some exceeding 100k per week there can be no rationalisation of the situation. There is no doubt that there have been some great improvements to the game I love and watch as a result of that influx but it can't be right. One thing that has been interesting is that the TV money has been shared out far more evenly across the clubs. The top names are trying to change that back again and this may eventually trigger a horrible European League which will probably see the death knell for some smaller clubs.

To the original question, being a Palace fan, and I am fairly sure the only one here . I am still getting over the nning news that we have replaced Allardyce with Frank De Boer! De Boer at Palace is a pretty unreal step. Hope this works out because it's his first UK role but a bit of Ajax magic would be very nice. On one of his off days Big Sam could be as miserable as anyone in press conferences but Frank can be so intense and serious that I suspect he will make Sam look like Mr Giggles.

So, now we turn to transfers. We have no choice but to recruit a CB, a midfielder and a forward but ideally there would be wholesale changes. We are being linked with every Dutch player that can still walk and a couple that can't RVP has been linked since FdB's announcement but i think a younger striker is more likely. Re names, I would like Sakho, Iheanacho and Siggurdsson but expect a lot less. It seems fairly certain that some favourites will be leaving. Lot of noise re Cabaye returning to France (hope not), Macca to one of the promoted clubs etc but who knows. .

Had my doubts about De Boer when he was touted to be the next Everton manager. We ended up with Keoman and Frankie went to Inter Milan and lasted 85 days. I watched their games under him and they were awful. I hope it doesn't rub off at Palace.
As for new players Koeman is spending a lot but he's also getting rid of all the shite Martinez bought.

I don't think the Inter experience is much to judge by. Only 85 days at a club in turmoil, new owners, no say over main transfers and those that followed him struggled too until things eventually settled down behind the scenes. His mistake was going there I think. His 4 Championships wins in 5 seasons with Ajax who hadn't won anything for the previous 7 years is relevant. Very different league and raw material and so no guarantees but at this stage it's best to be optimistic. The problem is more likely to be that like Koeman he will never stay for the long haul - 3 years tops but that nowadays is a lifetime, so ....

12 months is a lifetime these days

I'm not one for rubbing it in, but I did warn you and I think you've gone from bad to worse appointing Hodgson.

HiFi Kabin