2013/2014 English Premier League Thread

[Bagor]

Leighton Baines is the Premier League role model for transfer window The Everton defender is setting the standard amid the rumours and shenanigans over players such as Rooney, Suárez and Bale

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ransfer-window

Robbie Savage is one of British football's most controversial and colourful characters. Now a successful football pundit, he enjoyed 17 seasons as a professional footballer, beginning his career at Manchester United and ending it at Derby County.
Here is his 11-point guide to the dirty tricks footballers will use to get the transfer they want:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23703265

[GirlySports]

Swansea have an amazing manager in Michael Laudrup but they play a bit too horizontal for my liking, especially in those often wet conditions like yesterday in South Wales.

I don't think they will make the top 10 this year as they might be distracted by the Europa League.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't think they will make the top 10 this year as they might be distracted by the Europa League.

yeah, that's always a concern for smaller clubs. However, they have done a good job this summer in terms of the squad's size, bringing in Bony, Canas (who was good yesterday), Shelvey, Amat and Pozuelo, while not losing any quality players. Their squad could be big enough now to cope with it.

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle3846538.ece

the writer of the article on twitter says his Spurs sources are confident Willian will chose Tottenham over Liverpool, put it at 80%

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think this is getting sidetracked with the Swansea thing, I think they're a tiny club with an OK squad list who overachieved last year. I can see how others would hold them in a higher regard, Bony looks a solid signing and we'll see where they end up, certainly don't wish them any bad luck.

My main point was, Rooney can sign for somebody else on a pre-contract in a year and a little bit. If he has asked to leave, it's bad for team morale and the balance books to keep him. You're losing money every window you wait and to me (which is subjective) he looks visibly unhappy on the bench and pitch. Cash in and move on.

Cash in with who? You keep skipping this part. Your biggest title challenger? That's idiotic if the bid isn't massive. Where are all those European bids? Don't give me this 'they don't exist because he hasn't been listed publicly' garbage, if a player is available those teams know it before the papers do, and they aren't bidding.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by valo403

Cash in with who? You keep skipping this part. Your biggest title challenger? That's idiotic if the bid isn't massive. Where are all those European bids? Don't give me this 'they don't exist because he hasn't been listed publicly' garbage, if a player is available those teams know it before the papers do, and they aren't bidding.

So the crux of what you are saying is that you think he's available already and there are no bids?

I don't think he's available at all but that's admittedly guesswork and I have no idea who specifically will bid for him... my argument that they are wasting his value has nothing to do with what specific clubs will enter the chase. I think you're absolutely crazy if you think a player like Rooney would have nobody making offers for him personally.

And regardless of the value they are going to realize, whatever they could get for him now, it's only going to get worse if they hang on to him all year.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Matty81

So the crux of what you are saying is that you think he's available already and there are no bids?

you do know that you don't have to transfer list someone in order to make a transfer happen, right? I don't think Barcelona transfer listed Cesc, but United made their offers nonetheless

Originally Posted by Matty81

I don't think he's available at all

I think he is, but United is waiting until they have brought in a CM before they sell. Plus they'll surely hope that there'll be bids from outside of England.

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think you're absolutely crazy if you think a player like Rooney would have nobody making offers for him personally.

- Barcelona have just bought Neymar for ridiculous money and now want a CB - they don't need Rooney
- Real has already spent a lot on Isco and Illarramendi, plus they're going after Bale - they don't need Rooney
- Paris already has an unreal duo up front in Ibrahimovic and Cavani - they don't need Rooney
- Monaco have bought Falcao and there's still uncertainty regarding their tax case - they don't need Rooney
- Bayern already has an embarrassment of riches up front - they don't need Rooney

sooo ... what's left? Which other club a) needs Rooney and b) has the money to realize a transfer? I can't think of any, and that's the real problem here. This probably would have already been sorted out if some of the big European spenders had a need for Rooney, but that's just not the case. It's just Chelsea and that's a horror scenario.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by devo22

you do know that you don't have to transfer list someone in order to make a transfer happen, right? I don't think Barcelona transfer listed Cesc, but United made their offers nonetheless

I think he is, but United is waiting until they have brought in a CM before they sell. Plus they'll surely hope that there'll be bids from outside of England.

- Barcelona have just bought Neymar for ridiculous money and now want a CB - they don't need Rooney
- Real has already spent a lot on Isco and Illarramendi, plus they're going after Bale - they don't need Rooney
- Paris already has an unreal duo up front in Ibrahimovic and Cavani - they don't need Rooney
- Monaco have bought Falcao and there's still uncertainty regarding their tax case - they don't need Rooney
- Bayern already has an embarrassment of riches up front - they don't need Rooney

sooo ... what's left? Which other club a) needs Rooney and b) has the money to realize a transfer? I can't think of any, and that's the real problem here. This probably would have already been sorted out if some of the big European spenders had a need for Rooney, but that's just not the case. It's just Chelsea and that's a horror scenario.

Exactly. Perhaps one of the Russian clubs, could as well -- but could you imagine Roonatic over there? lol.

There's only two other clubs, that he would play for that can afford him, and they are our two biggest rivals in City & Chelsea. Absolute stop-sell there.

[d_phaneuf]

Everton can confirm that it has received bids from Manchester United for two players. Those bids were immediately rejected out of hand as derisory and insulting.

The Club did not make public these details as it was vital Roberto Martinez’s preparations for the opening game of the Premier League season were not disrupted in anyway.

Alan Myers
Director of Communication

fellani and baines

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by devo22

sooo ... what's left? Which other club a) needs Rooney and b) has the money to realize a transfer? I can't think of any, and that's the real problem here. This probably would have already been sorted out if some of the big European spenders had a need for Rooney, but that's just not the case. It's just Chelsea and that's a horror scenario.

As much as I hate to say it: Arsenal. Nobody seriously considers us to be title contenders anymore so that's not a problem from United's end - it might be an issue for Rooney. We'll probably be willing to overpay at this point even though striker isn't really where Arsenal's problems are.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

As much as I hate to say it: Arsenal. Nobody seriously considers us to be title contenders anymore so that's not a problem from United's end - it might be an issue for Rooney. We'll probably be willing to overpay at this point even though striker isn't really where Arsenal's problems are.

Michu I think would be smarter of Arsene, and apparently they made a bid over the weekend.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

fellani and baines

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15...jected?cc=5901





How much do they expect for Baines? Although, I understand increasing the Fellaini bid, and I believe United should acquire.

Baines is a great player, but at 29 and with Evra, Fabio, & Buttner, United is strong on left back.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Michu I think would be smarter of Arsene,

I agree. Michu provides a different option than Giroud who has a similar style to Rooney. Arsenal don't just need to spend money, we need to spend it wisely.

[GirlySports]

Q. What time does the City v Newcastle game kick off?
A. Every 15 minutes.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15...jected?cc=5901





How much do they expect for Baines? Although, I understand increasing the Fellaini bid, and I believe United should acquire.

Baines is a great player, but at 29 and with Evra, Fabio, & Buttner, United is strong on left back.

ya Baines makes no sense to me, he's a good player, but he's going to cost at least 15m because of his worth to Everton, and even though Evra is 32 I think most people agree he has 2 seasons left

at that point Baines is 31 and hopefully either Buttner or Fabio can step in, if not you are looking for a replacement then anyway

Fellani would probably cost 25m anyway, just drop the bid a bit and get rid of Baines

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

As much as I hate to say it: Arsenal. Nobody seriously considers us to be title contenders anymore so that's not a problem from United's end - it might be an issue for Rooney. We'll probably be willing to overpay at this point even though striker isn't really where Arsenal's problems are.

[cam_wmh]

oh my god, Wenger just bid $20mil for Pogba.

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/up...ng-to-reports/

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by devo22

I think he is, but United is waiting until they have brought in a CM before they sell. Plus they'll surely hope that there'll be bids from outside of England.

Which other club a) needs Rooney and b) has the money to realize a transfer? I can't think of any, and that's the real problem here. This probably would have already been sorted out if some of the big European spenders had a need for Rooney, but that's just not the case. It's just Chelsea and that's a horror scenario.

Apologies for hijacking the thread here - if your right and they have made him available I'd fully admit to being wrong and say they haven't mismanaged it at all. For me that's the crux of it, if Moyes comments that he is not available under any circumstances are window dressing then maybe they didn't handle it badly and they put out feelers and felt they just couldn't move him. My beef is if they were resolute to keep him as they are claiming regardless of interest given his expiring contract, diminishing value and desire to move. I do believe that when very large clubs are vocally resolute about keeping players it dissuades quite a lot of potential bidders.

What does Rooney make, around 15-16 million a year? Assuming that any team with a payroll over 115 could fit him in add AC Milan, Inter, Juve, Schalke, Liverpool and Arsenal to your list as somebody mentioned. Some of the teams you've mentioned like PSG were looking for strikers earlier in the summer but have now set their roster. This late in the window chances of selling him are mostly gone, so they either already handled it badly or couldn't find a buyer depending on your perspective.

When you add up the 15-16 million in wages they'd free up and a potential 45-60 million dollar transfer fee from Chelsea (assuming they realize 30-40 million pounds based on Chelsea's initial 25 million offer), isn't it a little tempting though? j/k It's not like you're selling him to City!

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Apologies for hijacking the thread here - if your right and they have made him available I'd fully admit to being wrong and say they haven't mismanaged it at all. For me that's the crux of it, if Moyes comments that he is not available under any circumstances are window dressing then maybe they didn't handle it badly and they put out feelers and felt they just couldn't move him. My beef is if they were resolute to keep him as they are claiming regardless of interest given his expiring contract, diminishing value and desire to move. I do believe that when very large clubs are vocally resolute about keeping players it dissuades quite a lot of potential bidders.

What does Rooney make, around 15-16 million a year? Assuming that any team with a payroll over 115 could fit him in add AC Milan, Inter, Juve, Schalke, Liverpool and Arsenal to your list as somebody mentioned. Some of the teams you've mentioned like PSG were looking for strikers earlier in the summer but have now set their roster. This late in the window chances of selling him are mostly gone, so they either already handled it badly or couldn't find a buyer depending on your perspective.

When you add up the 15-16 million in wages they'd free up and a potential 45-60 million dollar transfer fee from Chelsea (assuming they realize 30-40 million pounds based on Chelsea's initial 25 million offer), isn't it a little tempting though? j/k It's not like you're selling him to City!

AC, Inter, & Schalke can't afford his transfer nor his salary.
Juve, have brought in Tevez in the off-season. I think they could afford him, although they don't have the need.
Liverpool? LOL. If they offered top transfer $, sure why not. When he says he wants to play in Europe, he better spell it with an a. And then when he thinks when returning to Everton was bad? He'd get tarred and feathered.

I fear worse of him going to Chelsea, than City, though both would be awful, due to hearing about it from their manager.

[Matty81]

i dunno what your source of information is, inter and milan both had bigger payrolls than United last year and Schalke was about 20 mil below them... http://http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7850531/espn-magazine-sportingintelligence-global-salary-survey-espn-magazine