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Would you spend €100+ on Paul Pogba??

  • Yup, still very young and filled with potential...

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  • Nah, no CM could be worth that much...

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Louis van Gaal says Anthony Martial 'bought for next United manager'
Last Updated: 10/09/15 1:09pm

Louis van Gaal admits the fee paid by Manchester United for French teenager Anthony Martial was 'ridiculous' but that the purchase was made with the club's next manager in mind.

And the Dutchman hinted his current assistant Ryan Giggs will be the man to benefit from the arrival of the 19-year-old, who cost an initial £36m in a deal which could eventually rise to around £58m, from Monaco.

Speaking to an audience of executive United season ticket holders at ********** County Cricket ground, Van Gaal said: "It was a ridiculous amount of money, but it's the crazy world we are in.

"United are routinely quoted £10m more for a player but I have not bought Martial for me. I have bought him for the next manager of Manchester United."

And sitting alongside Giggs, who made over 800 appearances for United during a 24-year career, Van Gaal added: "And I feel I am introducing the next manager of Manchester United."
He also admitted he was happy to have the Welshman as his assistant after meeting him for 90 minutes in the Netherlands last year when the former winger gave his assessment of every player in the United squad.
 
Louis van Gaal says Anthony Martial 'bought for next United manager'
Last Updated: 10/09/15 1:09pm

Louis van Gaal admits the fee paid by Manchester United for French teenager Anthony Martial was 'ridiculous' but that the purchase was made with the club's next manager in mind.

And the Dutchman hinted his current assistant Ryan Giggs will be the man to benefit from the arrival of the 19-year-old, who cost an initial £36m in a deal which could eventually rise to around £58m, from Monaco.

Speaking to an audience of executive United season ticket holders at ********** County Cricket ground, Van Gaal said: "It was a ridiculous amount of money, but it's the crazy world we are in.

"United are routinely quoted £10m more for a player but I have not bought Martial for me. I have bought him for the next manager of Manchester United."

And sitting alongside Giggs, who made over 800 appearances for United during a 24-year career, Van Gaal added: "And I feel I am introducing the next manager of Manchester United."
He also admitted he was happy to have the Welshman as his assistant after meeting him for 90 minutes in the Netherlands last year when the former winger gave his assessment of every player in the United squad.

I'm with LVG,the next manager's last name should start with a G...just not Giggs yet :lol:. Didn't have so much luck the last time a manager handpicked his successor for us...

*
Louis van Gaal: "Andreas Pereira to step into Januzaj's spot and J.Lingard will play a part."

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About damn time Pereira and Lingard got some first team burn :pimp:. I actually have a feeling that Pereira might become an even better player than Adnan in the future
 
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Apparently Fifa just suspended 11 more La Masia players after it was revealed yesterday that they were investigating Barca for "irregularities with minors" which could possibly lead to more severe punishments than they've already recieved...
 
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Poor kids. That are more harmful to them than Barca. Think about it. They must be excited when they were given the opportunity to play for La Masia at first. Now they are banned from playing for La Masia.



:x
 
Poor kids. That are more harmful to them than Barca. Think about it. They must be excited when they were given the opportunity to play for La Masia at first. Now they are banned from playing for La Masia.



:x

Good Lord! :x he's doing that at 11? It's VERY early, but he must have their trainers salivating.
 
So i've been reading up on this Pique and Spain thing and what it seems like is it kind of breaks down to a Catalan v. Spain thing again (I probably over simplifying things a little) maybe more Madrid v. Barca.

Is that accurate to people more in the know?
 
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that move by the 11 year old was mediocre. The defending there is horrible the ball is still on the outside of the body at all times put a leg out my dude and you win that challenge. Playing the back pass while dude is basically in the box :smh:
 
So i've been reading up on this Pique and Spain thing and what it seems like is it kind of breaks down to a Catalan v. Spain thing again (I probably over simplifying things a little) maybe more Madrid v. Barca.

Is that accurate to people more in the know?

What Pique thing?

But yea, the Catalan vs Spain thing has always been a huge issue. Before the Spanish dynasty from 2008-2012 they've always had very talented teams but I'm a firm believer the culture prejudice is what held them back so much for so long before that.

Half of th Catalan people don't care about the Spainish national team, they just want to see the Catalan players do well, that's not even taking into account the Galicia & Basque population of Spain who feel the same way.

I remember reading some article in 2010 World Cup, when Portugal was playing Spain in the knockouts, they polled the Galician people on who'd they rather have win the game and it was an astounding 70% of people of the region who were picking Portugal. But that could be because Galicia & Portugal are literally the same language and culture, Portugal came from Galicia so they're our brothers. It's comparable to N.Ireland & Ireland, quick reference.
 
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Götze in the WC, Messi against Mexico
Götze has a tighter angle, Messi nutmegs the keeper
One was the game winner in the World Cup final and the other a friendly... Why the comparison?
just the difference in split second analysis that both players did in that time. hence my description Götze goes near post at a tighter angle while Messi given more space I say takes a bigger risk attempting(and succeeding) to nutmeg the GK when he was given more space. but also having to put in mind that the Keeper's reactions in both are different, also in Götze's case the keeper looked indecisive so almost any other option might've gotten him the goal either way. again Messi played the riskiest. didn't mean to focus on the context of the goals (WC another friendly) I just thought it was interesting
 
What Pique thing?

But yea, the Catalan vs Spain thing has always been a huge issue. Before the Spanish dynasty from 2008-2012 they've always had very talented teams but I'm a firm believer the culture prejudice is what held them back so much for so long before that.

Half of th Catalan people don't care about the Spainish national team, they just want to see the Catalan players do well, that's not even taking into account the Galicia & Basque population of Spain who feel the same way.

I remember reading some article in 2010 World Cup, when Portugal was playing Spain in the knockouts, they polled the Galician people on who'd they rather have win the game and it was an astounding 70% of people of the region who were picking Portugal. But that could be because Galicia & Portugal are literally the same language and culture, Portugal came from Galicia so they're our brothers. It's comparable to N.Ireland & Ireland, quick reference.
Thanks for the info. I meet someone at my university last year from Spain I believe she said Madrid specfically and we where talking about footy one day and I asked her about the Catalan v. Spain dynamic. At the time I had like base knowledge of what was going on there and she elaborated and said a lot of the same stuff you said and how Catalonia really wants to be their own country and she believes they could and that they have a strong enough economy to survive without Spain.

Oh and the Pique thing i was referencing is apparently over the friendlies he was getting booed and jeered a lot by Spain fans, heres some articles about it

http://www.espnfc.com/spain/story/2...ll-not-step-down-from-spain-team-despite-boos

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...Real-Madrid-after-being-jeered-for-Spain.html
 
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Culturally & Ethically Spain should give Galica back to Portugal and have everything from Catalonia down to Valencia be independent as well. :lol:

Catalonia could easily be independent and most of the population wants to be but Spain rely so much on Catalonia man, they make so much more money over there - plus it's illegal and against the constitution so any referendum or vote by the Catalan people wouldn't be allowed. - Only way it would happen was if the EU or NATO pressed Spain to do so (that won't happen) - So Spain are going to continue to be major dochebags.

Basque deserves there own country the most tho (the most fascinating people I've ever read about in Europe, trancends any European civilization). I fear that Basque can become a dead language in 50 years much like how Gaelic is now in Ireland after they were ripped by the British.

Spain and Britian are very similair that way - Both countries rip your *** up (Portugal has done so globally as well so I can't sit here be a hypocrite), but Spain and Britian are ruthless man. If your interested in this stuff read up on Basques.
 
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Footy really has thought me a lot about Europe and its issues 
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, of course my country doesn't have it right either (USA) especially from my perspective on this country as a Black American 
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The whole world just needs to get its **** together 
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I'll give you a quick teaser, The Basque people are fascinating because its one of the only languages in Europe that has absolutely no connection to the Indo-European language tree - none. The Basque language and people can be traced back to before the Roman Empire, Arabic Empire, any other empire that influenced languages/culture.

In Lyman's terms, the Basque language and people are a caveman tribe that withstood every single empire and influence. They had the advantage of being geographically protected by mountains and for fighting off everyone, and it's still spoken today. It's amazing


I hear you tho bro, history can be fascinating stuff and a lot of it can be insightful but at the same time extremely depressing. For example, Being Portuguese is so important to me and I'm so prideful of our history and past (always beings such a small nation) - but it's absolutly shameful, disgusting, and humiliating to know that we essentially started the Atlantic-Slave trade and we played such a big part in it. I can't do **** about it and it'll forever be a stain on my nationality. :\

So I feel you on that perspective, and I too believe the world needs to get it together. It may take an extra couple hundred years, but I think we are all getting there, slowly. But cultures and history is always great to learn, I'm more familiar with North African, Ottoman, and European culture but I need to get my knowledge up on The Far East. It excites me to learn this type of stuff even tho I'll probably never use it :lol:
 
Agreed about our Portuguese history. While I do take pride in my Portuguese heritage, I never overdo it (not just because I'm half, but because of what Couplet88 mentioned). Besides, most of what people visit and celebrate in my dad's city today (Lisboa) is basically all built by the Moors, so we can't really take much credit for that anyway :lol:

Basques have one of the coolest languages, yet the Spanish and French refuse to let them use it in anything official, and it's pretty much dying out these days :smh: That's why when people hate on Athletic Bilbao for only having Basque players and call them xenophobic, you have to remind them that the Spanish government basically does nothing to support them in having an identity. Their team is just one of the ways they can actually preserve their culture in their own homeland (it's not racist either, they have black Basque players)

It's pretty funny to see Xabi Alonso's reaction sometimes when Spain wins something. Sometimes he has that confused look on his face like "I don't know if I should be celebrating this too much..." :lol:
 
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Yea I don't have a problem with what Bilbao does either, the Basque's have survived thousands of years; F trying to adjust to the political correctness of football and do the best to preserve the culture as much as you can. They're a tough group man.

I think Basque will make it tho, it's sort of making a small comeback and I think it'll continue. Catalan language grew so much post-Franco and the past 30 years I think the Basque's will follow that type of blueprint best they can. Can't expect all the Basque's to speak it in the region like The Catalans do, but they'll be good. Spain is more liberal now. Gaelic in Ireland is beyond saving, that'll be dead in our lifetime - it's a shame but it's the nature of the beast. Basque's will hold it down tho.
 
Thats crazy how things like geography could help nations survive centuries ago like how you described what helped the Basque survive. There are a few examples in history of geography playing a big role in a nations preservations and war in those days. And I never knew Bilbaos team was like that, usually people look sideways at a club when they structure the team that way on purpose but giving the Basque history you guys explained i'm not even mad at that 
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You didn't lie at all when you said this
 For example, Being Portuguese is so important to me and I'm so prideful of our history and past (always beings such a small nation) - but it's absolutly shameful, disgusting, and humiliating to know that we essentially started the Atlantic-Slave trade and we played such a big part in it. I can't do **** about it and it'll forever be a stain on my nationality. 
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Its hard for me to be completely prideful in my country because of the things its done. Especially the things that hit closest too home for me (slavery, segregation and jim crow etc. and its after affects to todays society
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). Its kind of like why my pride in being American most of the time extends to just sports (USMNT, USWNT, USA basketball and the Olympics). Really its part of the reason why I love sports so much because it gives everyone who follows a sport some time to get away from the screwed up stuff going on in the world for a few hours 
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Arsene Wenger ignores abuse and sets academy trend that no one appears willing to follow
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@Chris_Wood29 : Just read your tactics book. To your knowledge, which clubs’ academies in England focus on player development and are progressive?



I think you’ve made the distinction in your question already between academies that exist because the funds are there to put them in place, and they may turn out a conveyor belt of talent for other teams, and academies that exist to produce players for the first team.

I read some quotes from Bayern Munich AG chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who was warning German clubs that “the English clubs are going all out, also in terms of youth development.”

He also said: “I’ve taken a look at Manchester City’s youth academy and all I can say is it doesn’t get any better than that. I have also visited Tottenham’s, Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s and it’s the same wherever you go.”

The common mistake that people like Rummenigge make is that they become “wowed” by the facilities. If there is one thing that I know it is that facilities are no guarantee for success.

I will never forget legendary batsman Viv Richards explaining why the supremely talented West Indies side, of which he was a major star, played so well.

It was because, as kids growing up, they had practised on the beach (an unstable surface) bowling with baby coconuts (that were elliptical and not rounded so they bounced off in every direction) and using the thin stalks at the centre of palm leaves as a bat (half the size of a regular bat).

Richards said that when the money and the funding came in to West Indies, when the team began to win sponsorship deals and the facilities were moved to indoors on flat pitches with regulation equipment like bats and bowling machines, the players became worse because their reactions slowed down dramatically as everything was so predictable.

Did you hear England manager Roy Hodgson the other night after the 6-0 win in San Marino? “The pitch was worse than last time,” he said. “It was tough to get our passing game going.”

Of course it was because these kids have been playing on carpets since they were seven years old.

“Ah,” you say, “but that’s because they’ve played on carpets all their professional lives”. True … and what happens?

Their reactions are slower because they have chosen the easiest option from day one.

Why do you think the reactions of the South American and African players are so much faster? In particular, their strikers.

How is it that they can turn on a sixpence at full speed and Wayne Rooney looks like he’s pulling a plane behind him?

Because they’ve played on beaches or in the road or in the slums, where things are awkward and unpredictable with balls that are half-flat.

The other thing is coaching.

As I pointed out in the book, you can have all the coaching you like but if it is misdirected – as it was at Manchester City when I was there – where wingers were being asked to hit certain targets for crossing, strikers for shots and defenders for interceptions, that’s all utter nonsense.

As a winger, I could hit you 30 crosses from the halfway line; as a striker, I could hit 30 shots from 40 yards out. But what have I learned from doing that?

All I’ve hit is a number. I haven’t gained any knowledge of the game
All I’ve hit is a number. I haven’t gained any knowledge of the game from doing that, nothing that will help me become a first-team player.

However, the truth is that some of the kids coming through are going to be talented and, eventually, one club will flip ten heads in a row and produce a player capable of being around the first team.

But even that might be too late. Rummenigge also warned German clubs that due to TV monies vastly eclipsing anything in Germany, English clubs could simply allow the Germans to produce the players for them and then buy them.

German imports here have soared in the past few years, with players who you’d think would be playing at top German clubs for most of their careers – World Cup-winners even – coming to England for the money on offer.

Manchester City can produce all the inferior young English talent that they like or they can just buy the best young talent from everyone else – Raheem Sterling £44 million, Kevin De Bruyne £54 million, etc.

And that leads on to one dilemma that nobody in football has really worked out how to solve in recent years.

Related: Something fishy about Arsene Wenger’s ‘red herrings

How can the very top clubs give their own young players a chance if every season they have to put out their very best team in order to cope with the competition around them?

You’d have to be producing a Lionel Messi type player, the type of 18-year-old who comes along once in a generation. Nobody can do that. You can’t manufacture those players.

Arsene Wenger sees all of this. The Arsenal manager sees the futility of chasing all of this.

The one academy that is a constant, where young players really do have a chance of making it with their parent club or at another Premier League or top European club, is Arsenal.

Their academy is superb because the players are all trained to play the game in the right way, the Arsenal way, from day one to the day they leave. Because of that, they all have a chance of making it somewhere.

When kids step into the Arsenal team, they know that Wenger trusts them because he knows that they have been trained in the same way as the player they are replacing.

Now that is a dynasty. That is the closest that any club has got to incorporating young academy players in a top side.

And what has it got Wenger? Abuse from all quarters
And what has it got Wenger? Abuse from all quarters.

The other clubs can put as much money into their academies as they like.

It does not guarantee success unless you have a game plan at the outset, like Wenger, and, even then, success may be modest in comparison to the expectations of fans.

For example, Manchester United have effectively written off their academy for the time being, now that they have fallen down the pecking order of Europe’s elite clubs that consistently win trophies.

They are the best example of the chase for success.

“We aren’t winning any more. Shall we invest in our youth policy and produce another homegrown team? We’ve done it before?

“No, we haven’t got time. Let’s just buy as many top professionals and spend as much money as we can until we’ve got a squad that looks, on paper, as if it might possibly do something.”

If ever you wanted an example of a club desperately chasing success and casting aside all of what it stood for, look at United today.

While money talks, the kids will always walk.


Read more at http://www.thesecretfootballer.com/...ppears-willing-to-follow/#mMRao31G31YR2h28.99
 
English Premier League: League of Thrones
Posted By: Gillianon: September 04, 2015In: Columnists, Fun Stuff, Gillian, NewsNo Comments
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Yeah smarty pants, as you have rightly guessed from the title of the post, this is related to the hit HBO TV series we all love- “Game Of Thrones”- Are you happy? Can we move on now?

Okay?

Thank you.

So I had this awesome idea (we can agree to disagree, but it wouldn’t matter what you think because the idea would still be awesome regardless) of drawing a parallel between the houses in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones and the hit football series Barclays Premier League (see? I told you it was awesome).
Without further ado, let’s get right to it.

Chelsea, House Lannister: Surely it’s not hard to imagine why they would be considered so. The Lannisters are easily one of the most hated families in the show, they sure would be nothing without Tywin Lannister’s (Abrahimovich) money.
Geoffrey would fit right in as a Chelsea fan I would imagine, not hard to picture him being a racist tw*t. I mean, this family has incest, blood feud and Cercei could just as easily be Jose Mourinho.

Manchester City, House Tyrell: Given their unlimited funds and general likability, this seems like a perfect fit. Plus, they killed the worst of the Lannisters on and off the screen (3-0 mauling of Chelsea and the death of Geoffrey anyone?).
I believe most fans, with the exception of their neighbouring rivals Manchester United, would always rather the Tyrells sit on the throne rather than say, the Lannisters or Baratheons.

Arsenal, House Stark: Honour, financial limitations, fighting against all odds to do the right thing, dithering, injury crisis, all of this easily makes Arsenal the undisputed Kings of the North who never know peace. The family we all secretly root for but always know that some **** is going to happen to them.
The red wedding at the hands of the Lannisters two seasons ago comes to mind, the death of a Snow that occurred at the end of last season (Danny Welbeck). Really not that difficult to picture Wenger as Ned Stark – ever stubborn, ever honourable. We can only hope that George R. R. Martin has a happy ending planned for them this season.
Chronicles of the Cannon
Manchester United, House Targaryen: The pulling factor for this analogy was simple – Loius Van Gaal the Mad King. I mean they have dragons (great commercial sponsorship/red devil/the devil in the bible is called the dragon as well so…) and as such believe they can do whatever they want. What they forget is that the Mad King brought about the downfall of the family itself, so maybe history is about to repeat it self. *twiddling me thumbs and whistling to meself*
Or if you’d rather another analogy. After the death of the Mad King (Sir Alex’s retirement) the family have been unable to rise to the occasion.
In anyways, House Targaryen are struggling towards the sidewalks of the has-beens.

Liverpool, House Baratheon: The Baratheon family line is quite simply, as dead as dead can be, as Liverpool’s title hopes since the inception of the BPL.
Given that they reigned during the first season, for a few episodes and have since been done nothing for us to regard them as proper contenders except that one season where everything was going their way until Gerrard slipped, and now they are nothing; dead all of them! This is a family that has a man who killed his brother and sacrificed his daughter to sit on a throne. Peasants!

Tottenham, Brothers of The Nightswatch: Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t. No further explanations required.
If you have alternate analogies to give, I’d love to hear them. Drop me a line on twitter @gillianbaci or post in the comment section.
 
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