Soccer/football thread 2022

Jayv said:
Amazing transfer window. Too much talent is my only fear.

Man City get Donnarumma, United taking a gamble with their goalie signing, although anything is an upgrade on Banana.
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They need time to get these people settled in and playing as a team. Wirtz is only just starting to show what he can do. He's looked a bit nervous up to now. Kerkez is doing well. Ekitike seems like a class signing.
 
This was by far the craziest transfer window I can remember, and not just for Liverpool. Despite Liverpool breaking the British transfer record twice in the same window, Arsenal managed to spend nearly £40M more net because they had very few sales, but somehow Liverpool is the one buying the league.

There was the various striker deals that got insane in value (Woltemade for €80+M was topped by Munich somehow agreeing to buy Jackson from Chelsea for roughly the same), the various holdouts (Isak and, ironically, Wissa), David to Juventus for what turned out to be a song, Newcastle trying to buy Strand Larsen from Wolves mere months after Wolves bought him, ManU spending big for strikers but ignoring massive holes in midfield and defense, ManU selling players they only bought at year or two ago for pennies on the dollar (but keeping their biggest cancer, Fernandes), a goalie who can't handle the ball (Donnarumma) going to a side where the keeper is expected to handle the ball more than any other, the fact that keeper was instrumental in winning PSG the CL but what's then frozen out, and then all capped with the on-again-off-again-on-again-off-again Guehi deal.

As a Liverpool fan, I wanted the Guehi deal done more than Isak, as he would be an ideal fit for their long-term needs. I have to imagine there is anticipation to get him in January, and Palace have had a nightmare of a window. Turns out they got gazumped by West Ham (West Ham!) for a defender from hated Brighton (even though nobody really understands why Palace and Brighton hate each other), so Glasner had a fit and told the owners if they sold Guehi he would walk.

Ah well, hopefully the massive Italian kid Leoni (who tore up Serie A in the last half of last year) can step in if needed, as Konate and Gomez have both struggled to play a season without serious injury.

Now comes the fun bit where Slot shows us his plan to somehow incorporate Kerkez, Frimpong, Bradley, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike, and Isak into a coherent system. If the first three games are any indication, it'll be f**king exciting. Having watched Arsenal, I pity those fans who have to watch that anti-football every week. Liverpool might be frustrating as they develop whatever system Slot has in mind, but it'll never be boring!
 
Priller said:
for a defender from hated Brighton (even though nobody really understands why Palace and Brighton hate each other), so Glasner had a fit and told the owners if they sold Guehi he would walk.
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Closest team to Brighton is palace, i guess it's the closest thing to a derby match for them that they have. Also Palace play a 3-4-3 and Guehi is instrumental for that formation to work.
 
Priller said:
This was by far the craziest transfer window I can remember, and not just for Liverpool. Despite Liverpool breaking the British transfer record twice in the same window, Arsenal managed to spend nearly £40M more net because they had very few sales, but somehow Liverpool is the one buying the league.

There was the various striker deals that got insane in value (Woltemade for €80+M was topped by Munich somehow agreeing to buy Jackson from Chelsea for roughly the same), the various holdouts (Isak and, ironically, Wissa), David to Juventus for what turned out to be a song, Newcastle trying to buy Strand Larsen from Wolves mere months after Wolves bought him, ManU spending big for strikers but ignoring massive holes in midfield and defense, ManU selling players they only bought at year or two ago for pennies on the dollar (but keeping their biggest cancer, Fernandes), a goalie who can't handle the ball (Donnarumma) going to a side where the keeper is expected to handle the ball more than any other, the fact that keeper was instrumental in winning PSG the CL but what's then frozen out, and then all capped with the on-again-off-again-on-again-off-again Guehi deal.

As a Liverpool fan, I wanted the Guehi deal done more than Isak, as he would be an ideal fit for their long-term needs. I have to imagine there is anticipation to get him in January, and Palace have had a nightmare of a window. Turns out they got gazumped by West Ham (West Ham!) for a defender from hated Brighton (even though nobody really understands why Palace and Brighton hate each other), so Glasner had a fit and told the owners if they sold Guehi he would walk.

Ah well, hopefully the massive Italian kid Leoni (who tore up Serie A in the last half of last year) can step in if needed, as Konate and Gomez have both struggled to play a season without serious injury.

Now comes the fun bit where Slot shows us his plan to somehow incorporate Kerkez, Frimpong, Bradley, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike, and Isak into a coherent system. If the first three games are any indication, it'll be f**king exciting. Having watched Arsenal, I pity those fans who have to watch that anti-football every week. Liverpool might be frustrating as they develop whatever system Slot has in mind, but it'll never be boring!
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Leoni reminds me of Paulo Maldini. I hope that's who he grows into. You also forgot the 16 year old wonderkid that won the game against Newcastle.

If Liverpool can mould a team from these individuals they will be unstoppable.

Exciting indeed.
 
Jayv said:
Closest team to Brighton is palace, i guess it's the closest thing to a derby match for them that they have. Also Palace play a 3-4-3 and Guehi is instrumental for that formation to work.
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Haha, I've read about the history of the so-called A23 Derby, it still doesn't really make any sense. I think my favourite detail about the rivalry is that the Seagulls moniker for Brighton came about as a way to take the piss out of Palace calling themselves Eagles, but then stuck enough to make ita way onto their crest.

As for Guehi, I understand why Glasner wants to keep him, but there's two problems with that for Palace (and not Glasner): first, Guehi's either going to leave in January for less than half the agreed £35M or next summer for nothing, and second, I don't believe for a second that Glasner himself wouldn't be off like a shot if the right big club came calling for his services.

In other words, much as I like Glasner, it's actually a selfish move rather than one made for the good of the team. Palace wouldn't pay the player £35M plus their salary for a single season, that would be the equivalent of a £175M transfer if spread over five years. Granted, Palace have had ages to figure out a replacement and haven't, but that's not Guehi's fault. The only lesson Palace is giving other players is if you are a professional and don't force your way out like Isak, Wissa, and any number of players before, you can get screwed. Add the risk to Guehi that he could get seriously injured in the meantime and see any future earnings totally destroyed, and it takes on a much more sinister tone.

JC99 said:
Leoni reminds me of Paulo Maldini. I hope that's who he grows into. You also forgot the 16 year old wonderkid that won the game against Newcastle.

If Liverpool can mould a team from these individuals they will be unstoppable.

Exciting indeed.
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I watch a fair bit of Serie A, and Leoni was on my radar last year when he appeared seemingly out of nowhere to help Parma to dodge relegation. The way he absolutely crushed Lukaku was seriously impressive, and he has a bulk and strength that's unusual for a teenager. I knew he'd move somewhere this summer, but I never thought he'd leave Italy, let alone for Liverpool. Apparently his idol is van Dijk, and that was the motivation.

Still, between him and Ngumoha, I've seen enough wunderkids show what seems to be limitless potential between 16 and 18, only to fade from greatness as they get into their 20's. Only recently we've had Nyoni, Doak and Danns show huge potential without being able to take the next step. Bajcetic is another one who looked incredible but still has a lot to prove, though it sounds like they're keeping him with the first team this year in hopes he can move forward from more promise last year on loan.

Still, you can see how Liverpool are building the framework for the next generation from Klopp's group, and as it stands, only van Dijk doesn't have a clear successor. Guehi could be that (hopefully paired with someone taller like Leoni to help with clearances, though...)
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