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Post by CalgaryPotter on Aug 1, 2017 2:46:29 GMT
You got much smoke up there youth?
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Aug 1, 2017 2:24:44 GMT
Guess................I'm lurking in the smoke
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2017 19:22:23 GMT
I'd like to stand with my mates and if the wife is coming, I'd like to sit.
I'm a big boy and can make these decisions.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2017 17:50:17 GMT
This is correct. He was in Bolton's academy really early then transferred over to Man Utd's. At 14 he moved to Berkshire school in Massachusetts and they pissed the league with him as star player for the next 4 years. In his final year he was Gatorade North American Soccer player of the year and then went to Wake Forest University where he impressed and was given a Generation Adidas contract to turn pro. He was then picked number one in the MLS draft by Chicago and immediately traded to New York who had the number 4 pick. New York had actually been trying to claim him as a home grown in court as he had been playing for Manhattan as well as school. We went to watch him the other week against Vancouver and it wasn't his best game, maybe he was conscious that family were watching. He was at fault for the second goal (defends like his dad ) and could easily have been sent off for a bad challenge in the second half. He'd left his shooting boots in New York too. He has put in some star performances this year and was made captain midweek but in all fairness, the standard of MLS defending is not good. The lad who he was up against in Vancouver was bigger, stronger and could match him for pace. It was a similar story when I watched him on TV against Toronto last year in the MLS semi's. They gave NYCFC a dicking yesterday too. We had lunch with him a couple of days before the game and he said there had been interest from the UK and France. Personally I think he would be fucking mad to leave a superstar life in New York to play in the championship or sit on the bench in the premier league. He's in the Man City group of teams, when he is ready, they may bring him back but as of now, in my opinion, he is not ready. I remember you posting about him when he got drafted No.1. He looks a real talent. I've watched him 6-7 times. Certainly good enough for someone to take a chance on soon you'd think. Hard to say what exact level. It sounds like he'd be available for considerably less than £10m - which in this market sounds reasonable. Maybe lacks express pace and isn't the biggest, but he seems to have a lot of stuff going for him. If you impress Lampard with your attitude, you're doing something right though. But, yeah, it'd have to be something very tempting to get you out of New York as a 20-year-old - at least for a couple of years. That said, with MLS you can see exactly how much cash each player is on, down to the last cent. And he seems to be on about £99,000-a-year. Not hard to see his head turned by someone offering him £1m-a-year+. Not sure how the MLS works exactly in practice, but isn't it the case that MLS itself effectively owns all the players, rather than the clubs themselves? So not 100% sure if the Man City link would come into it (although if they wanted him, they obviously could get him easily) Interesting to see how he progresses and what his next move is. Little bit surprised he hasn't got an U21 call yet It's all about opinions mate. I think he's playing against some piss poor defences where he shines. I think Championship would be a massive step up from MLS. He's got a great attitude and he won't go far wrong being managed by Viera and playing with Villa and Pirlo week in week out.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2017 15:32:11 GMT
This is correct. He was in Bolton's academy really early then transferred over to Man Utd's. At 14 he moved to Berkshire school in Massachusetts and they pissed the league with him as star player for the next 4 years. In his final year he was Gatorade North American Soccer player of the year and then went to Wake Forest University where he impressed and was given a Generation Adidas contract to turn pro. He was then picked number one in the MLS draft by Chicago and immediately traded to New York who had the number 4 pick. New York had actually been trying to claim him as a home grown in court as he had been playing for Manhattan as well as school. We went to watch him the other week against Vancouver and it wasn't his best game, maybe he was conscious that family were watching. He was at fault for the second goal (defends like his dad ) and could easily have been sent off for a bad challenge in the second half. He'd left his shooting boots in New York too. He has put in some star performances this year and was made captain midweek but in all fairness, the standard of MLS defending is not good. The lad who he was up against in Vancouver was bigger, stronger and could match him for pace. It was a similar story when I watched him on TV against Toronto last year in the MLS semi's. They gave NYCFC a dicking yesterday too. We had lunch with him a couple of days before the game and he said there had been interest from the UK and France. Personally I think he would be fucking mad to leave a superstar life in New York to play in the championship or sit on the bench in the premier league. He's in the Man City group of teams, when he is ready, they may bring him back but as of now, in my opinion, he is not ready.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 28, 2017 19:56:25 GMT
I just had lunch with a West Ham fan who is pissed off they have spunked north of 20m on him. In his words "he's scored 7 fucking times in 35 games and seems a right mardy petulant twat". It cheered me up so I thought I'd share it
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 28, 2017 16:40:53 GMT
If Hughes has an issue with Ramadan he should talk to Ramadan not the fucking Sentinel. I don't think a public shaming is motivational.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 27, 2017 18:50:58 GMT
If we don't sign another player before the window closes we still have good players who can compete and keep us up provided we play the correct formation which doesn't involve Pieters and Johnson tear arsing it up the wings i.e 4 at the back.
The defense from last season has improved with Zouma over Indi. Midfield is about even, we lost Arnie but have Sobhi, we lost Glen (and good luck to him) and replaced with a better player in Fletcher. Forward line - we lost SJW who most people did nothing but moan about but we now have a fully fit and integrated Berahino.
Potential upsides
Bojan - any return to form by him will be fantastic Imbula - still here for now and is looking a better player Diouf - if his head is now sorted from losing his mum Ngoy - lightening quick Campbell - seems to have a bit about him.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 27, 2017 3:12:16 GMT
I think we'll all feel much better after we've beaten Everton and Zouma's made Rooney his bitch.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 27, 2017 2:56:55 GMT
Haven't seen enough of these other youngsters but I am really looking forward to Ramadan replacing Arnie. I think we'll be singing Ramadan's name full bore when the snake returns.
I don't doubt Tymon will come good & be able to back up Pieters. Eric is not a bad defender. I just don't think the multiple formations suited him last year. He's a full back not a wing back, his crossing is dog shit, Tymon maybe the wing back option if we change shape mid game?
Edwards as back up to Johnson doesn't concern me either. Represented his country and is a prospect. Geoff can even cover if need be.
To be honest, I don't expect Johnson to be our #1 right back. If he is here, I hope he gets back to his first year form.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 26, 2017 19:08:37 GMT
With the business done so far, yes.
But I also think we are long way from being done this transfer window so expect better.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 25, 2017 6:06:51 GMT
Unfortunately not. Arrive on the 5th, wedding on the 7th, leave for Nice on the 9th then head back to Calgary on the 20th via Montreal. Watching us get tonked by those shitheads was not as exciting as sun, sea and kronenbourg. It is one of the first 6 games Ah, I'm working that weekend, never mind :/ luckily (???) off for the first two games and off to Sheffield tonight Have fun in Sheffield mate. Had a very strange trip there years ago involving a bag of mushrooms. If anything changes your end let me know. I'll be out on Satdee night for definite, lunch with mum, nan & grandad Sunday & maybe a couple on Sunday night.
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St Pauli
Jul 25, 2017 5:42:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 25, 2017 5:42:15 GMT
Jealous. If I'd have known about this earlier I could have been there but am now doing Stoke & Nice in August 😎 Haha, doesn't sound too shabby mate You going the Arsenal game? Unfortunately not. Arrive on the 5th, wedding on the 7th, leave for Nice on the 9th then head back to Calgary on the 20th via Montreal. Watching us get tonked by those shitheads was not as exciting as sun, sea and kronenbourg. It is one of the first 6 games
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St Pauli
Jul 25, 2017 3:07:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 25, 2017 3:07:23 GMT
some of the ones I found were smack in the reeperbahn and they state that its not quiet at night but its a good location and they are pretty cool rooms Yeh, just checked some out, plenty available, probably cos it's midweek, I'll probably go for one of them, I like meeting the locals All could change tho', just waiting to see if my eldest can get some time off work, he's coming with me if he can Youngest is gutted he can't get time off himself lol. Jealous. If I'd have known about this earlier I could have been there but am now doing Stoke & Nice in August 😎
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 19, 2017 14:26:33 GMT
Sad to see him go. It's good to have a mental in your team.
When he signed his contract, the talk from the club was all about how we could break into Europe. Last season we regressed significantly in terms of points and style.
I don't doubt he's gone for money and he should have done it more respectfully but you have to ask yourself whether he is disillusioned with the manager and his game plans. I would be for sure after last season.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 19, 2017 12:55:29 GMT
Good back up as far as I'm concerned.
Has a fee or salary been mentioned? I'd be pissed if we were shelling out too much.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 17, 2017 18:22:52 GMT
Players of his stature - in theory at least - come into their own playing against higher teams. Therefor, Chelsea loaning the likes of Zouma out to the likes of us weakens the likelihood of other top six teams catching them. They're allowing us to help them secure a top finish. Not a bad little earner if you're Chelsea. Good point. He's going to be playing against all the top clubs this coming season except Chelsea. As others have said this business model of Chelsea's needs looking at. Shades of 3rd party ownership here as well. Which isn't allowed here in other forms. Chelsea are stretching the rules big time if you ask me. I think I read somewhere that they have something like 30 players out on loan, most of which have zero chance of making it into the Chelsea first team so it does effectively translate to third party ownership in my book.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 17, 2017 18:13:58 GMT
I don't know how many times I have to say it but this will be the last, we won't be paying a one off fee of £7m. The amount of money we will pay in total will be made up of his wages and a monthly fee. It's basically £7m spread out over the year, which is fine by me. It's ok and we will be getting a good player but it does seem a bit pointless. We'll just need a CB next year and won't have the 7m to put to that. I don't quite get it but he is a very good centre back. I'd just rather we bought players. I hate to say it but I actually think its a good move by the club especially if they expect youth to come through. (You are much closer to that set up so will know much better who is likely to break through) We are renting an exceptional player for maybe 3.5m whereas the alternative is signing a player on a five year contract for say, 15m. Assuming wages are similar for both, annual cost is only 500k different and we are getting a much better player. The downside is turning your back on any potential resale uptick that may need to be split with the club your are purchasing from.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 17, 2017 17:43:01 GMT
Low cost gamble that may pay huge dividends. What's the problem? Not like Pulis can't put a defence together is it?
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 17, 2017 16:54:06 GMT
Is this alleged 'loan fee' we're paying Chelsea for Zouma out of the ordinary? Maybe it isn't? Could be that Zouma is on nudging £100k-a-week, so if we're covering that (which may be par for the course for a loan player who has lots of interest), that could account for £5m by itself. And any Prem-quality, experienced player brought in would get £3m-a-year in wages for the season anyway. Then the actual fee may be £2m - which again may be fairly routine. Seem to recall we paid something similar for Moses. It seems to have been presented as very unusual and over-the-top from the West Brom end in an effort to explain away his choice to come here If the loan fee of 7 million includes 100% of his wages then its a non issue given the fact that he has to be on close to 100k a week at Chelsea you would think. I wouldn't worry about what the Samba boys think of it all. Those fuckers can barely add up.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 16, 2017 21:09:10 GMT
Diouf will miss plenty of chances before he bags a goal but fact is, there are usually chances created in a game when he plays up front.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 16, 2017 21:03:04 GMT
Does the bastard ever age?
Great bloke who always made sure I had transport if I needed it to games when I lived down in London.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 14, 2017 19:59:44 GMT
Every time I see this picture in a post it makes me laugh
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 14, 2017 17:09:09 GMT
I wasn't going to bother but Cockney Ted being there has sold it to me.... Would have thought he'd be in Monaco supping Kronenbourgs?
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 14, 2017 16:58:18 GMT
I doubt the times journo would write that if it wasn't true so yes, it's crazy isn't it. 8.8 mill is a bargain. Amateurish. If the club are reading this...I am a lawyer myself and would leap at the chance to work for the club. If I get the job I promise to use my outlook calendar to diarise a meeting well in advance of option deadlines and sort these things out A lawyer? You're far too over-qualified to be a member of our transfer team, it seems to be entirely constructed by Remploy. I can be involved cause I've played goal, full back and winger over the years
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 14, 2017 16:35:19 GMT
How the fuck do you have an option to buy at 8.8m with a deadline of July 1, a massively important date in football, and let it expire? If we didn't want him we could have exercised the bloody signing and flipped him in January for a profit anyway. Absolute incompetence Stoke
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 14, 2017 15:27:08 GMT
I really am struggling to come to terms with how our club operates when it comes to transfers. Whichever side of the argument you sit on with Indi value its clear that the one area of the team that needs large investment in the defence with upgrades needed in all 3 areas of the defence and in today's value of players £13m is about right for you average run of the mill defender which indi is better than. What really fucking grinds me is how do you go from smashing the club transfer fee by a clear £6m+ on a complete unknown like imbula to penny pinching on arguably one of our most cosistant players of last year who everyone knows is a decent player ? It makes no sense. I hate bashing our club I really do but this stinks of incompetence and I'm pretty sure MH will be thinking exactly the same if he eventually does sign for the palace. Didn't Hughes leave Fulham after he cited they failed to have any ambition ? Some may see it as a blessing but if this happens he just might join Arnie in wanting out. Whichever side of the Mark Hughes fence you sit on he's currently doing his job with his hands tied behind his back and I feel sorry for him. Yet again premiership on the pitch and conference off it. Hughes left Fulham cause he thought he had nailed the Villa job if memory serves me correctly. Instead they chose the turncoat Scotsman from that Blue nose scum. And how you can consider Imbula a complete unknown after they saw him play for 45 minutes in a pre-season friendly is beyond me
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 12, 2017 20:09:42 GMT
Penalty in the game - Bojan looked like he wanted it and I think it would have made sense for him to do so too. I don't give a shit about Charlie's confidence but anything that gives Bojan a boost is good for me.
Penalty in the shootout - what the fuck was that from young Shenton?
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 12, 2017 19:24:23 GMT
Well thats different. I'm watching baseball now. Cool beans. Me too. streams do my tits in. EDIT : Went back to the link and got English commentary, first half was in Croatian
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 12, 2017 18:56:09 GMT
Whilst I understand this is mainly about fitness, why would you not go out there and at least try to get a performance going? And if that 'is' the performance, then Jesus, some of our play is amateurish. As you say its about fitness and only the second game back. It is but we are also playing against teams in the same position aren't we? When Burton gave us a pummelling last year its not like they were mid season. It should have been a sign that something was not right with our defence/midfield.
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