OT: Futbol chit chat

[spacedoodoopistol]

Nice! The thread is back.

Not that it was the greatest prediction ever.....but you guys know I have been calling Madrid's resurgence for a while. They have just been so good with personnel, not only bringing in great players, but young, versatile players at pretty reasonable prices. Look at their squad, the only key player close to being old is Alonso, and they've already bought a flawless replacement for him with Sahin. They are totally invulnerable to injuries, with the versatility and backups like Benzema, Kaka, Arbeloa. Top it off with the best coach in the world and they're just roaring. Only thing that could truly derail them is if something happens to Casillas. Barca is going to have to spend huge money in next few years to maintain their level, but Madrid is set for the foreseeable future.

 

[Yoshi]

Nice! The thread is back.

Not that it was the greatest prediction ever.....but you guys know I have been calling Madrid's resurgence for a while. They have just been so good with personnel, not only bringing in great players, but young, versatile players at pretty reasonable prices. Look at their squad, the only key player close to being old is Alonso, and they've already bought a flawless replacement for him with Sahin. They are totally invulnerable to injuries, with the versatility and backups like Benzema, Kaka, Arbeloa. Top it off with the best coach in the world and they're just roaring. Only thing that could truly derail them is if something happens to Casillas. Barca is going to have to spend huge money in next few years to maintain their level, but Madrid is set for the foreseeable future.

I don't know, if you look at Barca they still have some solid talent that aren't very old topped off with the best youth system in the whole world - i.e. Thiago Alcantara and technically Cesc Fabregas who came up with Barca before leaving for Arsenal at age 16 with that loophole in his contract. They also still have ties on Bojan Krkic and of course, Messi is still on that team.

Barca has played a lot of games over the course of the last few seasons, and that will take a toll on them. You're seeing tired legs and lapses in concentration. I'm not taking away anything from RM because they are a quality side in themselves, but Barca hasn't looked very solid at all. Of course, they are going to have to find that replacement for Puyol and Fabs was brought in to replace Xavi. The La Liga matchup should be fun and Barca has yet to play RM this season. They will also have no problem attracting players from other sides, with Sczesny of Arsenal saying a few months ago that he would look into an offer from Barca if it ever came, of course replacing Valdes if that were to ever happen.

For Arsenal, I just don't know about those guys. However, some of the blame if not most of it definitely points towards Wenger - not only has he not signed quality young talent for the most part, but he's not bringing in A+ players to the squad but more 2nd tier talent such as Mertesacker and Benayoun. I would really be surprised if Arsenal makes the top 4 and would actually hope that they don't so that the board will make decisions to make sure Arsenal doesn't become a feeder club. You lose Fabs and Nasri and replace them with Arteta, Mertesacker, Gervinho, Benayoun, Miyachi, etc. Quantity doesn't equal quality all the time.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

Milan 2-3 Barcelona: Xavi gets the winner | Zonal Marking

Another excellent piece on Barcelona tactics, from a week back. The extent to which they're bypassing conventional wisdom with some of these lineups is just great.......take a look at the defense. Its a three-man setup - rare to begin with - with only one guy playing his true position.......Mascherano is a midfielder and Abidal a left-back. They're not only very short for centerbacks, but he starts the shortest one in the middle against one of the world's best big strikers. Then he plays a narrow midfield, which would usually only be done if you have energetic fullbacks to run up and down the wings like Alves.....but not only was Alves missing - they weren't using any fullbacks at all. Then last, you look at the forwards...all short and small, the only real striker is playing on the left wing, and he's playing one of the world's great playmaker center mids as a center forward.

I mean, you couldn't make this stuff work in FIFA 11......and they can not only execute it, but beat one of the world's best teams doing so. Its a neat combination of individual talent and improvisation with superior squad discipline.

 

[Yoshi]

I have yet to watch the RM - Barca game, but I'm looking forward to the replay tonight.

 

[trancemeister]

I have yet to watch the RM - Barca game, but I'm looking forward to the replay tonight.

My God! You are in for a real treat! That was one of the best games I have seen in some time. Enjoy it bro and look forward to sharing comments with you (and others)...

 

[CalamityX11]

I have yet to watch the RM - Barca game, but I'm looking forward to the replay tonight.

Sad game... dont bother....

 

[CalamityX11]

What about Man U and Man City getting ousted in the CL???? WOW!

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

Yeah, definitely a good match. As you can probably tell, I think this site Zonal Marking has the definitive breakdowns of these big games.....so here you go:

Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona: Real press early on, but tactical switch gives Barca the upper hand | Zonal Marking

Not having grown up watching the sport, I feel like I'm just unable to pick a lot of this stuff up in real time.....even the most decisive or obvious tactical switches are hard to pick up until I read this stuff. Like with football, its a much faster and complex game.......but I know enough to see the important ideas, where the offense is trying to exploit, who is being beaten consistently. With soccer, no matter how hard I try its still all just going past me.

 

[CalamityX11]

In the end Barca is a team RM cannot beat... too many good ball dribblers on Barca and too many strikers from RM....

RM needs a freaking setup guy cause Kaka is done...

 

[trancemeister]

Space - the problem is that soccer is SUCH a fluid game that it is hard to pick up subtle changes in formation etc... Besides, there are so many different formations and sub-formation within each of them that it could offer a completely different look with just one player switching positions. Not being as rigid as say a football defense (3-4 versus 4-3) it can get quite complex. Having played soccer all my life, subtle changes still aren't obvious to me either until pointed out.

What makes it even harder these days is that we're seeing much more creative versions of the old formations. Take the Barca game for example. In the second picture on the report you posted, in essence they were playing a hybrid 4-4-2 system with some slight positional changes. Gone are the days when teams would pretty much stay true to form within the system (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-2-1 etc...). With players become more 'rounded' now and with a much larger skill set, you have these hybrid formations now.

Coming back to the game though, I still think Barca leans far too much towards the left wing. Most of the creativity and goal seems to come from the mid and left only. If there is one area for improvement, it would have to be on their right wing.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

ArsenLOL.

 

[Yoshi]

Had to resurrect this thread, but some good news for Arsenal fans. Lukasz Podolski is coming over with the possibility of M'Vila and Giroud also following suit. Would be nice for Wenger to get insurance for Sagna at that RB position.

Arsenal 'close' to Olivier Giroud deal - ESPN Soccernet

 

[trancemeister]

Had to resurrect this thread, but some good news for Arsenal fans. Lukasz Podolski is coming over with the possibility of M'Vila and Giroud also following suit. Would be nice for Wenger to get insurance for Sagna at that RB position.

Arsenal 'close' to Olivier Giroud deal - ESPN Soccernet

With Barca now joining the race for M'Vila's transfer, it doesn't look like Arsenal will be able to get him, knowing how tight their wallets always are in the transfer market. I'm hoping Giroud does end up coming over, since it looks more and more likely that RVP is going to be leaving this summer.

The latest rumor about RVP has been salivating though. With Juve being my favorite team, I will do cartwheels if he came over. There seem to be big transfers between the two clubs every so many years - Henry and Viera come to mind.

 

[spacedoodoopistol]

I don't know much about M'Vila first hand, but from everything I've heard and seen he'll be a massive addition to Arsenal. He and Song would both be able to play defense and pass giving them versatility, and along with Wilshire would make a fantastic midfield three.

And while I don't know that any players actually turn down Barca if given the chance, he would simply be Busquets' back-up there unless anything drastic happened, doesn't seem all that preferable to a starting spot at Arsenal. Barca never fields two defensive midfielders.....its why they let Yaya Toure go in the first place.

 

[trancemeister]

I don't know much about M'Vila first hand, but from everything I've heard and seen he'll be a massive addition to Arsenal. He and Song would both be able to play defense and pass giving them versatility, and along with Wilshire would make a fantastic midfield three.

And while I don't know that any players actually turn down Barca if given the chance, he would simply be Busquets' back-up there unless anything drastic happened, doesn't seem all that preferable to a starting spot at Arsenal. Barca never fields two defensive midfielders.....its why they let Yaya Toure go in the first place.

M'Vila will be a great addition I think! Being a stout defensive midfielder, I think he will be the ideal addition to the squad. The only concern I have with Giroud is that he played in the French league which most will admit is not the most competitive of leagues on the international front. If RVP were to leave, would he along with Podolski be an adequate enough replacement for RVP's output? Only time will tell I guess.

I just read a reported rumor posted an hour back that the transfer of Giroud has been accepted by Montpellier

As far as M'Vila goes, Barca is expecting to let Busquets go, so he is to be his replacement, thus giving him plenty of first team action. That might swing the pendulum in Barca's favor for his signature.

 

[trancemeister]

Take this rumor with a mountain of salt given the source ...

Arsene Wenger convinces Oliver Giroud to sign up for Arsenal | Soccer | Arsenal | Montpellier

 

[trancemeister]

Pretty much done now. Gives Arsenal a great vertical threat now. Still need to shore up the defense though.

BBC Sport - Arsenal set to sign Olivier Giroud for £12m from Montpellier

 

[trancemeister]

Another piece of great news for the Gunners ...

Gunners News (@arsenalnewsonly)
6/20/12 9:26
Arsenal boost as Bayern pull out of M'Vila chase - Bayern Munich have cleared the way for Arsenal to sign Yann M'V...

Football Courier

 

[Yoshi]

Trance you beat me to it about M'Vila. Also, Arsenal are going head to head with Chelsea for Hatem Ben Arfa. I hope AW has a RB in mind to back up Sagna.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/354421/20120620/arsenal-transfer-rumours-m-vila-giroud-van.htm

 

[yehyeh]

I am a huge France fan, but I do not want Ben Arfa. That guy has huge talent but also huge attitude problems. I don't really think Wenger would want to deal with him. If they do get him and M'Vila you could have French players at ST, CAM, DCM, RB and CB. Starting to look like the early 2000's in the amount of French players on Arsenal.