The Football Thread; transfer hype + stuff

[Shadow]

I'm half-hoping we win by an awful refereeing decision just to see Jose's reaction.

[Codename 47]

You'd think so but if the team The Mirror have put as his probable line-up is the team he actually picks..then City won't be best pleased shall we say playing such an experimental back four away to Liverpool would certainly live up to the definition of a 'weakened' team.

They've got: Hilario, Kalas, Mikel, Christensen, Aka, Van Ginkel, Matic, Lampard, Salah, Ba, Schurrle. I personally don't think it'll be quite as weak as this.

[TigaSefi]

It's all mind games. Chelsea will put out 11 international players on the pitch. It'll be ruddy hard to beat them.

[Hypes]

Ally Cissokho showreel

[BTB]

[Dig Dug]

[JChalmers]

Some people have too much time on their hands

[RogueLeader]

sky sports just did a link where you can select your england squad . Here's mine

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/england/squad-selector/1f3d9525cd9c31dbde22639b752fe00c3dea086e

my only iffy area was the centre backs, cahill and jagielka are the starters , i'd have jones in as well. I picked smalling but there werent many options other than maybe caulker.

Brazil here we come!

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/england/squad-selector/4c8bfc9f808f2899777e3db04fabc6bae0ebd953

[Barley]

I hope he does, I hope we smash them, Then I hope Atletico smash them and he gets the sack.

Question for the United fans: If this were to happen how likely would Mourhino to United be?

[Shadow]

I'd say nailed on.

A year ago they didn't want a quick fix, they didn't want someone who'd only be there a couple of years and bail out. Now they absolutely want and need that.

[Barley]

Jose at United with an alleged £150 - £200 million to spend.

[Scotticus Erroticus]

I'm not a United fan, but the idea of having Mourhino there is just horrible. He should stick with his slimey Chelsea bunch.

[Mini E]

sky sports just did a link where you can select your england squad . Here's mine

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/england/squad-selector/1f3d9525cd9c31dbde22639b752fe00c3dea086e

my only iffy area was the centre backs, cahill and jagielka are the starters , i'd have jones in as well. I picked smalling but there werent many options other than maybe caulker.

Brazil here we come!

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/england/squad-selector/4c8bfc9f808f2899777e3db04fabc6bae0ebd953

[Herdanos]

Anyone but Chelsea for the CL for me too. (And most non-Chelsea fans, I'd say.)

As for this whole 'attractive' football debate: there is no such thing as objectively attractive football. There might be football that appears more attractive to you but that's entirely subjective. Football containing elements that are more difficult to implement - high levels of skill, accurate team interplay at pace, unexpected tricks, dribbling, etc. - are more likely to be considered 'attractive' or 'entertaining' simply because they're more impressive to see and thus managing to combine these elements might lead to a subjectively attractive style of play, but it's always dependent on the individual.

[Herdanos]

Also:

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cu ... ular-squad

Lampard and Glen Johnson in the most selected 23.

[TigaSefi]

Daily Mirror is talking about Arsene Wenger and his "£70 million warchest".

This bit tickled me.

Wenger is also keeping tabs on Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley who is a target for Everton this summer but his future is now unclear with a new manager set to come in at Old Trafford.

[Mini E]

If Wenger signed Cleverly, I think Piers Morgan might explode

[Saint of Killers]

That'd top the Silvestre transfer.

[Herdanos]

My squad = best squad.

[Glowy69]

Bork.

Nah, he said he thought Real weren't entertaining tonight, that he prefers teams who play passing football and it escalated from there. The only person who seems to have mentioned any right or wrong way to play football was glowy with an accusation towards bork. Should've guessed that cheeky scamp would be involved in an argument in here.

If you're in any doubt, he posted this yesterday. Perfect opportunity to take a swing at Mourinho's wrong way of playing/anti-football/negative tactics/etc but he seems fairly pragmatic about it. Allardyce will do that to a man I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of the style, but it's effective at what he's setting out to do. I'd love to see a game of passing football, with attacking intent from both sides, but at the end of the day it's a results business and Chelsea couldn't give a flying strawberry float if they end up winning the Champions League by being defensive to get there.

This thread is better with these sorts of discussions. It's great to see everyone's differing opinion instead of everyone just throwing abuse everywhere.

I started with bork after his "eeurgh" comment when Madrid scored.