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[Kimchi Papi]

Wow, Barry cut his hair. Looks much better... Now if only Gervinho would get rid of that awful thing he has on his head...

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[Kimchi Papi]

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov (net worth $14 b & also owns share of Arsenal) had to loan the Russian FA £3.5 m to pay national team coach Fabio Capello.

Not sure why they hired him to begin with. Russians are hoping Capello resigns as the Russian team has struggled under his watch. Capello is due €21 m if he's fired before the term of the contract ends.

Usmanov is one of many Russian oligarchs that lost a ton dough when the Russian market crashed. He lost $809 m in 48 hours earlier this year. He's also been a savior for the Russian FA this year because he loaned them money earlier when it was unable to pay Capello for 6 months.

This is all coming on the heals of Russia slashing $500 m from the WC budget...

 

[d3si]

City, Raheem and £50 mill.. Oh geez

- Midfielder John Obi Mikel wants to leave Chelsea this summer after not featuring enough at Stamford Bridge last season, according to sources at Sky. However, the Blues are understood to want to keep the Nigeria international in west London, despite interest in the 28-year-old from Al Ain in the UAE.

- Chelsea is considering a shock move for QPR striker Charlie Austin, but only if the club sells Loic Remy. The Frenchman is ready to leave Stamford Bridge for first-team football and the Blues will fight West Ham to land Austin as his replacement.

 

[ajiiiplatinum]

how'd you like it??

It was great. Its the size of the galaxy stadium but it seems more intimate and closer to the field. My seats felt like they were on the field but they were actually a level up. There are literraly seats right on the field where people can reach over and touch the grass. Definitely going back...even though its our rival's stadium lol
#GaLAxy

 

[rolaholic]

These rumors got everybody from RM going to MU

The predicted Man U starting XI based on this summers transfer rumours so far...

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[Sinner]

 

[d3si]

BREAKING: ARSENAL AGREE CECH FEE

Sky sources: Arsenal agree £10.9m fee with Chelsea for goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Farewell and good luck Petr (only a bit)

 

[eiddyfouw]

Cech is a major come up for Arsenal.

Solid deal for them no doubt.

 

[QU!K]

Whose Arsenal's 1st string keeper now that Petr Cech is there?

 

[DeadsetAce]

Cech, huh? alright

 

[eiddyfouw]

Whose Arsenal's 1st string keeper now that Petr Cech is there?

Cech

 

[AZwildcats]

Whose Arsenal's 1st string keeper now that Petr Cech is there?

Has to be Cech. Dude is still a top 10 keeper in the Euro game

 

[rolaholic]

Unquestionably Cech,he's a top 5 keeper in the world imo

Also Jackson Martinez to Atletico?

 

[noskey]

Sczcesny can't want to sit on the bench behind Cech and possibly still Ospina. Wonder if he's going to be sold this summer now.

Regardless, Cech

 

[eiddyfouw]

Sczcesny can't want to sit on the bench behind Cech and possibly still Ospina. Wonder if he's going to be sold this summer now.

Regardless, Cech

From what I've read, he's gone.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

I think Jackson Martinez will do better at Altetico. Looks like Porto got €35 m for him.

If they just got Martinez & Luciano Vietto (from Villareal), I think they would've done ok in the transfer market fortifying their attack but it looks like they're not done.

Kudos to Koke for not wanting to go anywhere but to see the project through at his childhood club.

@ Laporta saying he has telepathy with Messi.

@ Abi saying he's going to find the next Messi, Xavi, & Iniesta...Ya'll are laying it on a little too thick...

 

[dragicon]

After watching the USA game last night, I still cannot get how much of an abomination the USNT's home jerseys are.  The fact that they have volt socks is pretty awful.  I am a huge Nike supporter when it comes to their gear, but that is just terrible.  

 

[Kimchi Papi]

LA Galaxy are putting some weekly webisodes of Stevie G's arrival.... Here's the first ep.

 

[mastamind89]

@football_oranje Breaking: PSV will sign defender Nicolas Isimat-Mirin permanently from Monaco on a 5-year-deal. €2.5m fee. (via @RikElfrink )
@SkySportsNewsHQ BREAKING: Sky Sources: Liverpool agree deal with Hoffenheim to sign forward Roberto Firmino.
Pereyra completes permanent Juve switch
@s04_en #Schalke have completed the signing of Germany U21 international Johannes #Geis! More soon on http://schalke04.com

 

[rook]

Don't like that Liverpool signing of firmino..

 

[mastamind89]

Don't like that Liverpool signing of firmino..

He deserves better...deal can still collapse. If the deal does go through, I guess that just means Sterling is gone...to City, idk of any other clubs that have bid

Sky sources understand Liverpool have held talks with forwards Roberto Firmino, Carlos Bacca and Salomon Rondon - and a deal for Firmino could be completed in the next 24 hours.

The club have widened their search for a new striker to three South American targets after deeming Christian Benteke's £32.5million asking price too expensive.

 

[nomadicsole21]

Proud for the Galaxy and it's a huge signing for the MLS but with that said, can't wait for my Timbers to ruin the parade down there in Carson tomorrow

 

[tomdiginson]

He deserves better...deal can still collapse. If the deal does go through, I guess that just means Sterling is gone...to City, idk of any other clubs that have bid

cats always wanna throw stones.

 

[rook]

Ronaldinho next for Galaxy?

 

[mastamind89]

Saw this on an Arsenal subreddit

Not much really happening outside the Cech deal. Let's have some discussion and speculation over our rivals squads for next season. First up - Liverpool!
Strikers
Sturridge Ings Balotelli Lambert Borini Origi
They had 4/6 of these strikers last season but still played a lot of games without any. Sturridge was injured for the majority of the season but for the others it shows that Rodgers doesn't rate them and I doubt they will get much playtime.
Ings will probably be their starting striker for the majority of the season with a few appearances from Sturridge. He is a solid option and still young so will improve. Nothing special but a big upgrade over last season.
Origi hasn't had a good season and doesn't look good enough yet but they are in the Europa league so he might play there.

Wingers and Attacking midfielders
Coutinho Sterling Lallana Markovic Ibe
Probably their strongest area. Sterling, Coutinho and Lallana are all good options and they have Ibe and Markovic as young promising back ups. Unfortunately it looks like Sterling will be leaving though so they will have to find a replacement or rely on Ibe or Markovic to replace him.

Midfielders
Henderson Milner Allen Lucas Can
Lucas is their only defensive midfield player but I suspect that Rodgers might try to play with 3 hardworking midfielders instead, like how England play. This would make why they bought Milner make more sense as they already had enough cover in this position before.

Fullbacks
Moreno Manquillo Enrique Johnson Flanagan
Moreno is good going forward but still needs to work on his defensive game. Flanagan has a long term injury so unlikely to play next season and it looks like Enrique and Johnson will be sold. Not sure what's happening with Manquillo. Liverpool basically only have 1 fullback so will definitely be getting more.

Centreback
Skrtel Sakho Lovren Gomez
Skrtel and Sakho are both decent centrebacks and Lovren is a decent back up. Gomez is a young player who might play some Europa league matches. They aren't the greatest centrebacks and Liverpool have already spent a lot of money on them but there are other areas of the squad that are in more urgent need of improvements first.

GK's
Mignolet Bogdan
Mignolet is good when in form but still inconsistent. Bogdan was free and only a back up keeper but I'm surprised they didn't spend money on a new first team keeper and make Mignolet the back up instead.

Potential Starting 11's
4-1-2-1-2 4-3-3
Ings Balotelli Ings
Coutinho Lallana ------- Coutinho
Milner ----- Henderson Milner ----- Henderson
Can Can
Moreno Sakho Skrtel ??? Moreno Sakho Skrtel ???
Mignolet Mignolet
4-1-2-1-2 Similar to Swansea's 4-1-2-1-2. I saw somewhere that Rodgers chose the 3-4-3 formation that was successful in their run of form after the match against Basel where they lost. After they bought Milner and seem to be rumoured with Benteke I was wondering why? They don't need either. They had problems against Swansea as well and Swansea play with a different formation so maybe he is building his squad based off of theirs now. I don't know but seeing as Milner moved here to start in the middle and Henderson will likely be captain and start as well it looks possible.
4-3-3 Similar to the 4-1-2-1-2 but up front they play with wingers and only 1 striker instead of an attacking midfielder and 2 strikers. I think it's Rodgers ideal formation.
3-4-3 4-2-3-1
Ings Ings
Lallana Coutinho Lallana Countiho Ibe
Moreno Milner Henderson Ibe Milner Henderson
Sakho Skrtel Can Moreno Sakho Skrtel ???
Mignolet Mignolet
3-4-3 It got found out last season so it's unlikely to be seen again but if they don't get any new fullbacks they might still play it.
4-2-3-1 I don't think Henderson and Milner are disciplined enough to play together in a 2 man midfield but it's Rodgers. He plays Gerrard as DM and Can at RB, who knows.

Questions
What needs improving?
Who do you think they will buy this transfer window?
Who do you think will leave?
How will they do next season?
What position do you think they'll come?
Next - Tottenham...
e: Looks like they're signing Firmino. Would be an amazing signing for them, looks like a replacement for Sterling.