Heard about the nextgen game. Apparently Yesil was a beast. Ibe was very highly rated, and it was considered quite a coup for us to get him ahead of United, Spurs and Arsenal at the time. Future does look bright, HOWEVER, similar things were said about Adjarevic, Nemeth and Pacheco, and they didn't exactly pan out, so you never know.

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Two things come to mind about this deal. Either it is true about the financial restrictions Arsenal's board had being lifted, or Arsenal are finally standing up and keeping their best players. Now 90k does seem a bit steep for someone who has a ton of inconsistent moments like Walcott, so if he does sign it, then he better keep up the form he's been in since Wenger started using him as the up-front striker a bit more and not go back to his showing up for 3 out of every 15 games kind of form. As for the other players Arsenal let go of, we all know that Nasri and RvP obviously are being paid well over 100k, so they wanted more money than what Walcott is asking for, and Fabregas, I feel the main factor was him wanting to play for his boyhood club again and Arsenal were not exactly in a favorable position to convince him to stay cause of that. Walcott is obviously not demanding an absurd amount of money, but it's still a bit much for a player with his playing history.

What was your favorite Nuri Sahin moment? After a drawn out loan race with Arsenal the Madrid midfielder has been optioned off back to Dortmund in a permanent move with Liverpools blessing.

Such a strange and disappointing term. I was hoping he would help Allen in the 4231 and let Gerrard roam. But one goal, 4 appearances, an apparent injury and questions of effort and ethic in training have led to his departure. Overall not too bothered by it. 90k a week off the books. And for sahin he is back where he started (and probably wishes he never left)

Odd situation all around. Henderson and Lucas preferred over him, so there wasn't much 1st team time to be had. Hopefully we can use some of the freed up funds to bring in some more goal inspiration.

Do you hear that? It's the sound of West Brom and Swansea dropping like a rock. We all kinda knew it was going to happen, but still painful to watch.

You know fellas I wouldn't bet my house on it, but if City beats Arsenal, and Liverpool pull the upset at Old Trafford mighty Arsenal and Liverpool will be tied on points.

It's a proud day for Stoke's Jonathan Walters: 2 own goals and a missed penalty. It's just a shame that it all happened against Chelsea.

The good and bad of Daniel Sturridge....

After 60 minutes of giving the ball away like it was infested with an STD the Reds finally settled in. The adding of Sturridge changed the attacking ideas of Liverpool. They midfield played with more confidence and began winning the ball easier and finding gaps through the middle zone.

Adding Borini dropped Suarez underneath into a CAM role and the group really looked threatening. I like this option going forward (unless Sneidjer really does come)

Still, wasteful in front cost them a point

I didn't watch the Arsenal match due to having to work, and somewhat glad I didn't. I'm seriously starting to think about cutting off any and all Arsenal news feeds I'm on cause it's become one of two things, empty promises and "Wenger Out" pricks. It's becoming more and more irritating, more so than Arsenal themselves. And it's no longer reasonable, or sane, to blame a single person for Arsenal's problems because it's really everyone at the club as well as the bastards who turned their backs on Arsenal and left for more money and "to win trophies".

not sure where to post it, didnt warrant a new thread, but I was just given the top h.s. soccer program in the state yesterday. Very excited.

and now commence twisting Gate's myriad emotions into a nicely wound rubber ball and bouncing them off the pavement....

Congrats!

Well done! What level have you been coaching until now?

Eight year olds, dude....

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You're out of your element, Peaches. Mark it zero.

I am the Jesus!

We have two youth soccer systems here. Basic high school and club. High school is what it is. This is my second program. I had another for 8 years but left it this past season. My new program is different, twice as big, has a club (that I work in) prepping players, has tradition (state titles, etc) so I'm excited, nervous.

I also coach Academy/Premier soccer teams from u12 to u19 for our club.

Both are different. High school is lights, letter jackets, cheerleaders... and 3 months. Club is developing highly competitive players traveling the region, nation and prepping for collegiate (and sometimes professional) levels of play.

Both are involved, different and great in their own way. With this hs team though I inherit a top 3 team each year. Excited

Chelsea definitely mucked it up today. Drawing with Southampton hurts them, especially seeing as this was their game in hand on the clubs ahead of them.

Man U slipped past West Ham in Rooney's return to action. And Arsenal finally dominated a match from wire to wire and won, albeit it took them 26 shots to score 1 goal, that's a bit frustrating but I can handle it seeing as they didn't screw it up and lost.

Any thoughts on Pep Guardiola signing with Bayern Munich to become their manager after this season ends?

As much as it makes my German club- BVB Dortmund- have to work even that much harder to overtake them on a yearly basis, it is AWESOME news for the Bundesliga.

I love Everton don't get me wrong but the Bundesliga is so far above the EPL in entertainment. The league is doing it right in allowing it's German youth plenty of chances to play. The ticket prices are kept at a reasonable level plus they still have safe standing terraces which I have experienced various times during my travels over there. There is no way you will ever see some rich oil baron or shiekh purchase a team as a toy. The system is set up that it can't happen.


As for Pep, I think he picked a great team for him. The culture there in Munich is one that should work for him.


Much wiser move than going to the cluster%^&& that is Chelsea and going to Money City.

I agree with you about the Bundesliga, it is far more entertaining, regardless if it's 1st place versus 2nd place or 1st place versus 20th place.

I also think calling Chelsea and City a clusterf*** only begins to describe it.

It's official now. He Signed Da Ting!

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... m-contract

Also I'm almost 100% certain Si and ISWT aren't reacting to the news like this Liverpool fan:

Don't know why any LFC fan would be arsed by Walcott signing with Arsenal. Its good for Wenger. Was interested its only a 3+ year contract. So basically he will be 26 and subject to massive speculation again in 2015 (winter, maybe summer going into 2016 season).. but he's theirs now.

Pep to Bayern is interesting. I disagree that the Bundasliga is anywhere near on par with the PL in terms of interest. However they have 4-5 teams that are well constructed and stylistic. Dortmund is easily my 2nd favorite. Peps influence in the German league could be groundbreaking. Could be all to do about nada as well. But its interesting. Should shape their transfers this summer

Gate, I keep telling you this isn't the shack. I'm not gonna rat you out to the mods, but since younger readers access this site and Rock's trying to keep it all above board and stuff, please watch the language in non-shacked forums.

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Don't look at me, it wasn't my tweet. You're upset at me cause I didn't censor it, is that it?

Walcott signs with Arsenal? Don't care.

Of course he's upset that you didn't censor it. He's most upset that you chose to post a tweet included that language. No need to get aggro about it. Just make a mental note and move on, after editing your post to remove the f-bombs perhaps.

As for Walcott, probably a pretty good signing. He's shown flashes of greatness. Now he and Wenger need to work out how to get his best in each game. And as for Liverpool: signing Sturridge made Walcott unnecessary. Both clubs did well with these signings, I think. Of the two I'd rather have Sturridge, but Walcott, from what I understand is showing signs of improvement at the Arsenal so keeping him could well be a good move.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everton- ... 77?fref=ts

Gate IT'S AGAINST THE RULES. I'm trying to look out for you. No F-bombs in non-shacked forums. Just remove the tweet and move on.

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5-0 To Liverpool which was about as well as Liverpool have played this year. Team looks like it has much more fluidity throughout the pitch. If we can continue to play like that in the league, (against teams in the top half) we are going to make some noise.

If. I'm not holding my breath. Every time they look like they've turned a corner this year, they put up a shite performance like against Villa or Stoke. We'll see how the next few weeks play out. Big one against Arsenal should show us what we'll be able to do in the league this year.

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Not really aggro about it, just felt like pointing out the obvious.

I'd rather have Walcott, not so much cause he's on Arsenal, but rather cause he has indeed shown what he's capable of, and we've all seen what happens when he's inform. He does still has plenty of places in his game to improve, namely his consistency, but that's obvious to everyone. A lot of people have started comparing him to Henry, but I don't think he's at the point to start doing that and we should at least wait a few more years before really doing that.

I just managed to watch my first game of this brand of football in 6 weeks and it was a pretty good one.

Kyle Walker is having the very definition of a sophomore slump but Spurs would have been desperately unlucky to finish without the late point. I'm really not sure how United are winning this league. They're just not that great.

No they're not, but neither is anyone else. United are winning it because they've been more consistent than everyone else. Oh, and RVP is carrying them like he carried Arsenal for years.

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Bacon face at it again complaining about the refs. What a sad old twat.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... d-by-Spurs

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I'm sure that later in the interview he must have been full of praise for Dempsey for when he fought to stay on his feet rather than go down when he was clearly fouled in the box. No?

It's sad when probably the greatest manager in the history of football is also the most classless. Worse that the FA continually lets him get away with it.

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Hold on a minute....why has no-one ripped the utter piss out of Gatehawk for Arsenal losing to Chelsea on the weekend?

Level on points with Liverpool now (albeit with a game in hand), and a big showdown next Wednesday night looming....

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Are you including the years he spent on the treatment table? Which would be every season he was at Arsenal until last year.

Because there's no real reason to sound like a broken record?

I've seen some Liverpool fans, not Si or ISWT, that have bitched and moaned about Sneijder going to Galatasaray, and claimed he did it for money. This picture kinda shows it's not just that.

LOL Gate, you're such a muppet. Liverpool wouldn't pay those wages for him. Comparing trophies in the EPL to the Greek league is shaky at best and nonsensical at worst, but you've never really been known for your knowledge of how football actually works.

And as for the broken record comment, shelve it. Arsenal have been pretty poor for a while now, and things don't look like improving any time soon. Another year without trophies and another year where the better Arsenal players start looking to take their talents elsewhere. Arsene has been getting by on qualifying for CL football for the last several years, he won't have that luxury this year. Two big matches coming up for Arsenal - West Ham and Liverpool. Lose both of them and it's squeaky bum time for Arsene.

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Gate... there is no comparison between the two clubs. Don't be ridiculous. And as for Sneijder, wasn't all that into him coming to Liverpool. I'm very excited about the youth movement in the club and don't see the need to bring in a wounded, aged midfielder that noone but the Greek league seemed to really want. To clarify (and feel free to educate the iliverpool fans you seem to be discussing) Liverpool offered to take Sneidjer on loan at 90k a week. Inter wanted a full transfer, and those wages are less than half of what he was earning. So both he and Inter chose another path. More power to him

What a dumb chart. What exactly are those trophies that they are winning? The Turkish cup? Liverpool is still one of the top 7-8 biggest clubs in the world. Sneijder can take the extra money and go play in obscurity.

Philip Coutinho?

Yes please. Fantastic young talent.

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Picking between one of the "Top 8" clubs in the world and a team that's actually in the Champions League last 16 must've been a real tough call.

Wanna try and railroad Arsenal now? The only thing you can possibly question about this game was: Where was this Arsenal in the last 2 league games?

I still stand by what I said. Galatasaray is only relevant when they are playing in champions league games against bigger clubs. I wasn't all that excited for Wesley to come play for Liverpool, as I don't think he really had a place to win. I'm happ for him, but when the lights turn off on the UCL, I don't think he will be too excited to play against Besiktas (The only other Turkish club I can think of)

Knew you'd do this. You're insane if you think beating shitty West Ham 5-1 at home means that all is well at Arsenal. Wise up.

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Doesn't mean Arsenal are world beaters, but that was the real Arsenal playing yesterday, not the half and half team from the last two weeks. Easily that was their best overall performance of the season, you thinking that I think all's well and fine and dandy after only 1 win is more insane than what you said. Maybe you'll wise up next week if and when Arsenal beat Liverpool, who I just so happen to love how everyone's claiming has finally found stability after essentially doing an identical thing to Norwich(who's pretty much in the same position as West Ham). We'll certainly see who's more stable after next Wednesday, won't we?

On a serious note. Who's more at fault here:



In one corner you've got the Chelsea nimrods who are vilifying the kid and in a way condoning what Hazard did as what the kid deserved. On the other side you've got the people who are demanding the kid be left alone and draging Hazard's name through the mud. And then in the middle is the people who are saying that are blaming the kid for instigating it but not letting Hazard off scot free in the least.

Gate, we won't see who's more stable after Wednesday. Arsenal are underperforming this season. Liverpool have been inconsistent. It is what it is. Arsenal will not win a trophy this year, and probably neither will Liverpool. No-one said that Liverpool are now suddenly 'stable'. What does that even mean? Your results are your results. Arsenal are off the pace of the leaders by a mile and are on the outside looking in for the last CL spot.


To your second post, Hazard needs a pretty hefty ban for this one. The kid should never be a ball boy again. The ref is the one who would need to sort out the time wasting on the ball boy's part, it is NEVER appropriate for a professional player to lash out at someone like that during a game. I'm thinking at least a 5-match ban for Hazard, and well deserved.

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