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[ajiiiplatinum]

Lol...clasico

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[MetalMario]

Humble messi is humble

 

[Thierry Henry]

firepower isn't everybody in Europe an AM head though?


My gawd these guys are all dressed terrible.

 

[AZwildcats]

Its weird how much American culture traveled worldwide. Alves and Neymar dressed like NBA players

Rafa looking clean though

 

[firepower]

@Firepower isn't everybody in Europe an AM head though?

Yep pretty much lol... I guess it's more the size of his collection that surprised me.

 

[ajiiiplatinum]

Its weird how much American culture traveled worldwide. Alves and Neymar dressed like NBA players

Rafa looking clean though

Messi dresses like i do on a casual friday LOL

And plays like I do at a saturday morning pickup match [emoji]128064[/emoji]

 

[Kimchi Papi]

I see the FA & the Prem bout to institute some quietly racist changes to restrict non EU players.... If these rules were in place previously, American players couldn't come over either.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32024808

Interesting viewpoint on how American players would've been blocked from coming over.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ules-to-curb-foreign-soccer-imports/70331200/

Stupid is as stupid does...

 

[steamin beamin]

Easy win for Arsenal? More breathing room for Man U?

We all know Kolo will play a blinder against Arsenal and ruin the weekend for us Gooners

 

[trunks206]

Wow, didn't know Kyle Walker was a secret member of the AMFam lol. ...I wonder if he lurks NT? 

*Quickly backtracks through all posts in this thread to see how many times I've slagged him off 

As a AM1 head myself its pretty dope to see his wall of runners.



I wonder if he has a pair of the Arsenal 125th anniversary AM1 in there somewhere...

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Spanish media is reporting Cholo has signed an extension keeping at Atleti through 2020. Unless he falls back in line, this likely means Mandzukic will be on his way out. Look for Atleti to be looking for a new striker. It was reported last month that Cholo had expressed his desire for the club to get Cavani from PSG.

 

[jking0821]

Spanish media is reporting Cholo has signed an extension keeping at Atleti through 2020. Unless he falls back in line, this likely means Mandzukic will be on his way out. Look for Atleti to be looking for a new striker. It was reported last month that Cholo had expressed his desire for the club to get Cavani from PSG.

Cavani or Falcoa would be great fits there. As an RM fan i don't want to see that but both are skilled forwards with great work rates. Would fit the system well at Atletico

 

[dlo13]

I see the FA & the Prem bout to institute some quietly racist changes to restrict non EU players.... If these rules were in place previously, American players couldn't come over either.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32024808

Interesting viewpoint on how American players would've been blocked from coming over.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ules-to-curb-foreign-soccer-imports/70331200/

Stupid is as stupid does...

I saw quipped elsewhere...Premier League got all the TV money now they're gonna put out an even worse product.

Won't do **** for England. The homegrown rules will only cause more situations like have happened with Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell. Any marginally talented young English player will get bought up by City/Chelsea/etc. and still won't be able to get a game. Lower teams will meet the quota fine, but will have even less of a chance to hold on to young players.

As for young Americans being locked out....cool with me, let them go to Germany or Spain.

 

[8pm at msg]

Agreed. Germany is already laying a foundation here anyway and they create complete footballers. England is still stuck in the stone age.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

The larger problem is the football culture at a youth level in England. It's gone a wayward. The coaching is subpar & the organization just isn't there like it had been in years past.

Since the turn of the century, Germany invest apprx $2 billion dollars in their youth football programs nationally. It even provides funding & infrastructure in economically depressed areas (called solidarity fund) so that kids will have access to top-rated academies while also covering the costs of coaching and facilities.

The DFB has a nationwide program that boasts 366 centers nationwide where 1,000 coaches work with roughly 25,000 boys and girls at an annual cost of at least $13 million.

Schalke was at the forefront of building better infrastructure/academies by working with local schools within the local imprint of the club to turn physical education classes into world-class training. If kids show aptitude, they progress higher. This program is called Knappenschmiede. They jokingly call the Schalke coaches/trainers as miners because they "dig for talent". An example of some of the talent coming from the club's efforts is Manuel Neuer.

Germany & the DFB also embraces it's immigrant population & specifically targets them in an effort to make sure these kids are included as not to let any talent slip by. As an example, kids of Turkish decent and examples of players coming through the ranks are Ilkay Gundogan, Ozil, & Khedira to name a few.

The English FA's answer to fixing it's football problem? Build St. Georges Park. They haven't done relatively anything substantial at a grass roots level to get kids the proper coaching & access to great academies that will help them flourish.

Such infrastructure is few & far between while also not readily accessible in the birthplace of football. It's shameful really.

Instead they want to institute a xenophobic policy that's meant to exclude people they think shouldn't be included. You also have to wonder if the FA is catering to some of the racist underbelly that is still effecting English football. The whole Good Ole Boy network making sure they're taking care of their own.

The British media doesn't seem to be talking too much about how prevalent it still is (racism & the hooligan racist acts that still occur in droves). In fact, it may even be worse than it ever has.

Edit - if this was here in the states, I'd accuse the FA & it's chairman of possibly wearing white hoods in private...

Edit pt II - BBC 5's Steve Claridge saying 20 years ago, all EPL bosses would've picked Stevie G over the likes of Ronaldo, Henry, & Cantona...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mn536

Edit pt III - The FA can't even see that Roy Hodgson isn't the answer as manager of the 3 Lions. That in it of itself speaks volumes.

Edit IV - Here's a graphic showing the number of "English" players on each Prem team. Notice the 3 teams with the most "home grown" players are currently sitting in the relegation zone.

Also keep in mind, the number of "home grown" players on each team would go down under the proposed changes the FA will make because approx 1/4 (possibly 1/3) of the players considered "home grown" would not be considered so under the new guidelines.

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[Kimchi Papi]

BTW, this Neymargate thing may get a lot worse... Spanish media is now reporting the monies Barca has paid for Neymar maybe closer to €158m with a lot more money having been paid to Neymar's father through shadow companies. Not sure what to fully believe yet because most of these reports are coming out of Madrid & those that know will understand these have to taken with a grain of salt (at least for now).

 

[rolaholic]

The FA seems to be taking steps backward 

You think jail time may be handed out in relation to Neymargate psk?

It's looking more and more like next years United team will be fully revamped,the ADM exit rumors are picking up steam while Falcao is also set to leave for a place where he can play *read as: a less physical league* 

. There's also been chatter about this being RVP's last season at OT.

I wouldn't mind losing either strikers as they haven't been the best contributors this season and aren't getting any younger but ADM still brings a lot tot he table,when he wants...

I still doubt Woody's gonna be entertaining offers unless he receives a truly exceptional one.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Not sure about jail time...

The political climate has been turbo charged leading up to the non-binding vote for Catalan independence that resulted in 80% saying yes to independence last fall. 2 million out of an estimated 5.4 million eligible voters took part in the non binding vote.

That's when all these tax investigations began with Barca players & now this investigation into the Neymar transfer.

It's a witch hunt aimed at the club from the politicos in Madrid since Barca is such a big symbol of Catalonia.

 

[eiddyfouw]

The FA seems to be taking steps backward 

You think jail time may be handed out in relation to Neymargate psk?

It's looking more and more like next years United team will be fully revamped,the ADM exit rumors are picking up steam while Falcao is also set to leave for a place where he can play *read as: a less physical league*  . There's also been chatter about this being RVP's last season at OT.

I wouldn't mind losing either strikers as they haven't been the best contributors this season and aren't getting any younger but ADM still brings a lot tot he table,when he wants...

I still doubt Woody's gonna be entertaining offers unless he receives a truly exceptional one.

I still think ADM will be used in a player + cash deal. We've seen the rumors for Pogba. I'm sure they'll try that bid. When it fails, they'll probably try and run it for another quality CM.

 

[rolaholic]

Hmm that's a little too coincidental with the timing 

,damn so how do you see things playing out? Neymar's Dad has brought on so many unneeded problems for his son and the club 

 

The FA seems to be taking steps backward 

You think jail time may be handed out in relation to Neymargate psk?

It's looking more and more like next years United team will be fully revamped,the ADM exit rumors are picking up steam while Falcao is also set to leave for a place where he can play *read as: a less physical league* 

. There's also been chatter about this being RVP's last season at OT.

I wouldn't mind losing either strikers as they haven't been the best contributors this season and aren't getting any younger but ADM still brings a lot tot he table,when he wants...

I still doubt Woody's gonna be entertaining offers unless he receives a truly exceptional one.

I still think ADM will be used in a player + cash deal. We've seen the rumors for Pogba. I'm sure they'll try that bid. When it fails, they'll probably try and run it for another quality CM.

As long as they stay away from Vidal/Strootman and other injury prone cm's then I'll be happy

. Just hope they can get somewhat equal compensation for him if they do end up parting ways.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Hummels to United rumor is ramping up again. Fee is rumored to be €45 mill. He's going to be an unmitigated disaster if signed. Aside from the decent form in the WC, he's played badly for the better part of 3 years. Nothing in his recent resume should ID him as a fix at CB for any club that needs defensive help.

With regards to Barca, I don't blame Neymar or his father. I put the blame solely on Sandro Rosell, Josep Bartomeu, & the current board.

 

[rolaholic]

I've read some of those about BVB being open to let him part but I wouldn't do it for the close to 50m euro price they're asking for 

,as you said,he hasn't looked like his WC self at all this BDL season. I'd much prefer they make the other rumored deals for Otamendi + Varane. They'd both come cheaper too

 

[Kimchi Papi]

That "Madridista" that punched & kicked at Bale & Jese's car has been ID'd & suspended by the club. Madrid apparently has a discipline panel that is considering a ban too.

He's going to possibly face criminal charges too. Dude spat, kicked, & punched at Carlo's car too. What kind of po dunk security does Perez have that allowed this dude to accost 3 players & the manager.

He should've been forcibly removed after the first go around.

 

[MetalMario]

Talk about long term deals
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[User 37837]

Been saying Hummels isn't a good fit for United. With Boateng he looks brillant without a world class CB beside him....not so much. Not worth 45mil

 

[Coupé It]

Are we honestly surprised that some English pundit said he and other managers would choose Steven Gerrard over Henry, Cantona, or Ronaldo?


That type of thinking explains the state of English home grown football.