The other games today - 2010/11

[Ronaldo]

I honestly don't think there's a striker in the world i'd swap for Carroll. Especially given his age in comparison to most of the big guns.

 

I don't consider either Ronaldo or Messi to be a striker, before folk start.

 

David Villa?

 

He's 29.

 

He's also the best striker in the world.

 

I wouldn't swap him for Carroll. Would make little sense considering the difference in age.

[ElDiablo]

I honestly don't think there's a striker in the world i'd swap for Carroll. Especially given his age in comparison to most of the big guns.

 

I don't consider either Ronaldo or Messi to be a striker, before folk start.

 

David Villa?

 

He's 29.

 

He's also the best striker in the world.

 

For how much longer?

[Nobody]

Pato

Villa has scored the same amount as Carroll this season, playing for fucking Barcelona and having played more games.

Then we've got the age difference, the fact that Carroll is a local lad, that he's used to the tempo of the Premier League and that we haven't got anyone who could play the through balls (bar Barton on occasion) for Villa that he'd need. That last bit is essential for me when comparing the two, Villa is a master of timing his runs and finding space, but that won't do you much good unless you've got the players who can see this.

Still, this is not me saying Carroll is a better striker than Villa, but rather that he's better suited for us.

[Village Idiot]

I'll keep Villa for now, thanks. Not sure we are capable of lifting a ball more than 6 feet high anyway.

[ponsaelius]

I'll keep Villa for now, thanks. Not sure we are capable of lifting a ball more than 6 feet high anyway.

 

The only thing you lack is a genuine target man option. I think the idea behind the signing of Zlatan was to obtain this, however the management clearly didn't realise that Zlatan is actually a pretty poor headerer of the ball and has never in his entire career been a target man.

[Tachikoma]

Carroll is in great form at the moment, but I remember James Beattie being in a similar vein of form once upon a time <_<

[Village Idiot]

I'll keep Villa for now, thanks. Not sure we are capable of lifting a ball more than 6 feet high anyway.

 

The only thing you lack is a genuine target man option. I think the idea behind the signing of Zlatan was to obtain this, however the management clearly didn't realise that Zlatan is actually a pretty poor headerer of the ball and has never in his entire career been a target man.

 

I don't think it was the heading power what we were after. In his first (good) days at Barça we'd lump the ball in the box and he would bring it down to his feet with amazing technique.

 

If we need a target man option it has to be a squad-ish player, the problem with Zlatan is that he ultimately didn't fit the way we played and he was meant to start every game. Seeing Villa buzzing around making runs and switching seamlessly with the other frontmen has really made me realize what we were missing last year.

 

Larsson was a great target man for us on this mould.

[Rich]

Just saw the extended highlights of Real Madrid and Barcelona from the weekend and I've got two words: fuck me.

 

Very different performances in terms of style, but both had me buzzing after watching them. The hunger of each team to win the ball back high up the pitch was fantastic and then what they did with it when they had it barely needs any more superlatives than what I assume people have thrown at it already.

 

Lassana Diarra and Dani Alves in particular were awesome to watch.

[Village Idiot]

Just saw the extended highlights of Real Madrid and Barcelona from the weekend and I've got two words: f*** me.

 

Very different performances in terms of style, but both had me buzzing after watching them. The hunger of each team to win the ball back high up the pitch was fantastic and then what they did with it when they had it barely needs any more superlatives than what I assume people have thrown at it already.

 

Lassana Diarra and Dani Alves in particular were awesome to watch.

 

Lass had a great game. I expect him to start for Madrid regularly again. His biggest weakness has always been tactical indiscipline (he tries to do too much) and if somebody can hammer some sense into him on that regard is José Mourinho.

 

When I saw Alves in the f***ing central striker position for Messi's goal I had a total football-gasm.

[Rich]

Just saw the extended highlights of Real Madrid and Barcelona from the weekend and I've got two words: f*** me.

 

Very different performances in terms of style, but both had me buzzing after watching them. The hunger of each team to win the ball back high up the pitch was fantastic and then what they did with it when they had it barely needs any more superlatives than what I assume people have thrown at it already.

 

Lassana Diarra and Dani Alves in particular were awesome to watch.

 

Lass had a great game. I expect him to start for Madrid regularly again. His biggest weakness has always been tactical indiscipline (he tries to do too much) and if somebody can hammer some sense into him on that regard is José Mourinho.

 

When I saw Alves in the f***ing central striker position for Messi's goal I had a total football-gasm.

 

On the Alves point, that goal was absolutely outstanding. Was it three one-twos between them? He was in the six yard box by the time Villa tucked in that first goal too. The mazy dribble he went on at another point (when he had chances to do his usual long shot but faked it two/three times instead) was awesome as well.

 

I know it's "easy" when you have such a world-class team to play with your fullbacks so advanced and with a defensive midfielder dropping in to turn the backline into a wide three, but man it's beautiful to watch. I love how the fullback position is becoming so, so key these days. They are regularly the players who spend the most time on the ball/get the most touches of the ball in any given match (even in the slightly lower levels of English football) and so when you get a particularly good one who can actually do something with that opportunity and contribute to much to the attacking schema of a team, it makes me a happy happy man.

[Neil]

The thing is when watching Real or Barca, especially the latter, I often see them passing it about themselves and think, "what the hell, there's not one player in the final 20-25 yards of the pitch", and yet, nearly always, they suddenly develop their seemingly harmless passing move into a clinical attack. It's superb to watch.

[Village Idiot]

Just saw the extended highlights of Real Madrid and Barcelona from the weekend and I've got two words: f*** me.

 

Very different performances in terms of style, but both had me buzzing after watching them. The hunger of each team to win the ball back high up the pitch was fantastic and then what they did with it when they had it barely needs any more superlatives than what I assume people have thrown at it already.

 

Lassana Diarra and Dani Alves in particular were awesome to watch.

 

Lass had a great game. I expect him to start for Madrid regularly again. His biggest weakness has always been tactical indiscipline (he tries to do too much) and if somebody can hammer some sense into him on that regard is José Mourinho.

 

When I saw Alves in the f***ing central striker position for Messi's goal I had a total football-gasm.

 

On the Alves point, that goal was absolutely outstanding. Was it three one-twos between them? He was in the six yard box by the time Villa tucked in that first goal too. The mazy dribble he went on at another point (when he had chances to do his usual long shot but faked it two/three times instead) was awesome as well.

 

I know it's "easy" when you have such a world-class team to play with your fullbacks so advanced and with a defensive midfielder dropping in to turn the backline into a wide three, but man it's beautiful to watch. I love how the fullback position is becoming so, so key these days. They are regularly the players who spend the most time on the ball/get the most touches of the ball in any given match (even in the slightly lower levels of English football) and so when you get a particularly good one who can actually do something with that opportunity and contribute to much to the attacking schema of a team, it makes me a happy happy man.

 

It's beautiful isn't it? Commiting your fullbacks allows your wingers to cut in while keeping width and crossing options while packing the box with players that are going to stretch and confuse their backline. Plus they are great counterattacking outlets. You can do so much with a good/great fullback.

[Village Idiot]

The thing is when watching Real or Barca, especially the latter, I often see them passing it about themselves and think, "what the hell, there's not one player in the final 20-25 yards of the pitch", and yet, nearly always, they suddenly develop their seemingly harmless passing move into a clinical attack. It's superb to watch.

 

That's what Del Bosque's Spain lacked. He was too conservative (fair enough, he won us the damn cup) and we never commited so many midfield players into the last third as Barça or Madrid do. So our passing didn't really go anywhere.

[rocksammy]

I honestly don't think there's a striker in the world i'd swap for Carroll. Especially given his age in comparison to most of the big guns.

 

I don't consider either Ronaldo or Messi to be a striker, before folk start.

 

kun aguero ?

[Neil]

Pato

Villa has scored the same amount as Carroll this season, playing for fucking Barcelona and having played more games.

Then we've got the age difference, the fact that Carroll is a local lad, that he's used to the tempo of the Premier League and that we haven't got anyone who could play the through balls (bar Barton on occasion) for Villa that he'd need. That last bit is essential for me when comparing the two, Villa is a master of timing his runs and finding space, but that won't do you much good unless you've got the players who can see this.

Still, this is not me saying Carroll is a better striker than Villa, but rather that he's better suited for us.

 

Mate, I know you're just saying Carroll is well-suited to your team but take out the last line and you sound like you're on fucking acid, man.

[Toon Hoser]

Arsenal piss me off.  When you want them to win most, they go and sit on their thumbs. 

 

Thanks Arsène and the lads, good job today, some sarcastic applause for the lot of you and your weird mustard shirts. 

 

[Delima]

I would be extremely interested in hearing ronaldo's assessment of aguero, Rooney and pato.

[Delima]

And also benzema, llorente, nilmar, Rossi

[Nobody]

Pato

Villa has scored the same amount as Carroll this season, playing for fucking Barcelona and having played more games.

Then we've got the age difference, the fact that Carroll is a local lad, that he's used to the tempo of the Premier League and that we haven't got anyone who could play the through balls (bar Barton on occasion) for Villa that he'd need. That last bit is essential for me when comparing the two, Villa is a master of timing his runs and finding space, but that won't do you much good unless you've got the players who can see this.

Still, this is not me saying Carroll is a better striker than Villa, but rather that he's better suited for us.

 

Mate, I know you're just saying Carroll is well-suited to your team but take out the last line and you sound like you're on fucking acid, man.

Fair enough, but I genuinely don't think Villa would have scored ten goals for us so far this season had we got him in the summer. Now I know that's a daft thing to say, because a) it's David Villa, we were never ever ever never ever never ever never going to be anywhere near to even getting his agents fax number and b) it's fucking David Villa, arguably the best striker in the world.

 

I'll just keep my mouth shut from now and not make a bigger arse out of myself.

[Flip]

Guys come on, don't start comparing top players with Andy Carroll just yet.

 

There was James beattie once upon a time and also Andy Johnson and Crystal Palace. He has a long way to go.

[Guest]

Hearts should be ahead here. That Templeton's class on FM, looks a talent in real life as well!

[Guest]

Tell you what, for cheap cover for Jonas he could be worth a shot. Just won a penalty.

[Guest]

That was even more a pen than the first. Templeton again.

[Disco]

Jambos seem to be doing well at the moment. Always fancied going up to watch them some time.

[Guest]

What a prick of a ref. Never a red.