Due to a breakdown in communication from both sides (Real Madrid & Manchester BS forums), your transfer has come to a stand still.
They were in contention this season. If they got some players who could handle the pressure of a run-in, you could see them winning it. A couple of seasons ago, Liverpool were in contention. However, before we get into the whole "my league title is open to one or two more teams than yours" debate, let's just get the facts out in the open: La Liga has, aside from a few short, sporadic periods of contention from the occasional other team, been dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid for most of it's history. England, while having lengthy mainstays in title races like Liverpool in the seventies and eighties, saw a healthy rotation of contenders, with everyone from teams like Arsenal and Man United to the likes of Watford and QPR having periods of involvement. Unfortunately, the Satellite TV deals meant that those teams in the EPL started getting a lot more money than teams in the divisions below, prize money got increased for the teams at the top and on top of that, the Champions League revenue ensured that those finishing regularly in the top four got even richer. So yes, this has created something of a glass ceiling that didn't exist before, which without the Chelsea and Man City buyouts, could have seen a rotation of United and Arsenal with perhaps Liverpool having a greater say in things. While it's good for me as a Man United fan, it's not a great situation for football in general. However, in England it's a recent phenomenon, while across Europe it's been an issue in many leagues for a very long time. I don't see it ever being fixed, because it only ever seems to be deemed a problem when people are griping about one another's leagues. After this, we'll go back to hoping our club signs the best talent available, regardless of what it does to the league's competitiveness. Then we'll fawn over Barcelona and what a great team they are, totally discounting that few teams that they face had anything like the resources to produce such a team.
Altintop injured for 4 months, had a dodgy back. Joaquin to Malaga for 4-5 m Euros. So Malaga so far -------------------?????? Gámez-----Demichelis-----Mathijsen-----Monreal ------------Apoño-----Toulalan Joaquín---------J. Baptista---------Buonanotte -----------------Rondón Subs: Caballero, S. Sánchez, Eliseu, Maresca, Fernando, van Nistelrooy
He really seems to have fallen out of favor at Totteham. Still remember a wide chorus wanting us to sign him not so long ago.
bullshit. not a wide chorus at all. i think one or two thought he was worth it and even those who liked him, questioned his ability on the ball.
Ummm wtf Peter Crouch??? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZB4StBaHRU"]YouTube - Peter Crouch caught on camera‏[/ame]
I read Arsenal are interested in Ricardo "Ricky" Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield. He's a very talented midfielder. Could play on the left wing, could play on the right and can play behind the striker. Could also play in a tucked in role on the left. Im not sure how much it cost, but this could be a very good signing by Wenger.
Arsenal thought they were getting him on a free a while back as his contract expired ,but turned out that there was some option or something like that in his contract which Velez could still use to not release him on a free and get a fee for him. They have been demanding 10 million since ,i think which Arsenal have not wanted to pay and he has been linked with other clubs too including us brifely too.
Diego will be allowed to leave Wolfsburg, watch out for Gladbach this season, excellent coach, and some good signing (once again...) with Wendt and especially Zimmermann, who seems to have tons of potential. And they managed to keep Reus. And I think that is the team King went to.
A little bummed that Bradley didn't get much of a shot at Villa. SirManc, was there a bust up that allowed Bradley to leave, or did he just fall out of the rotation? And will he get minutes on his way back? Incidentally, on other Yank midfielders, Owen Coyle said that Stuart Holden is back expected with Bolton around October. Really really hoping he gets back to being what he was, as he was one of the best midfielders in the EPL period before his injury.
I don't think the Premiership was the best level for him. For one, the move to Villa was probbaly a terrible choice. He came to the club during a lot of turmoil in a period where they didn't necessarily struggle to find a starting midfielder. Perhaps he would have been better off at a smaller Prem club that would have started him instantly. He did well in the Bundesliga because it's a far more attack minded and open league. It lent itself to honing his defensive and attacking game. He would gain stamina and a physical side to him that he would benefit from in the Prem but his game relies far more on technique which again, the Bundesliga is a better fit for him. Having said that he should hopefully be getting into a European spot at the end of the coming season. Will be tough considering Gladbach just pulled the greatest escape in Bundesliga history but their coach is good enough and anything can happen in that league.
Thanks. Also interested in Jermaine Jones' future. He did very well for Blackburn on his loan, and he's added quite a spark to the USA midfield. If I remember correctly, he was loaned out and then Schalke switched managers. So I wonder if Blackburn will try to keep him or if he goes back to Schalke.