GatewayRedbirds.com

Richie Allen wrote:Cazorla and Gervinho looked impressive.

Cazorla is good. He's a vet. He'll be ok. Gervinho drifts too much.

Richie Allen wrote:Tough debut for Giroud. Do guys recover from that?

He won't be that bad, but they overspent for him.

Richie Allen wrote:Mertesacker? Is 6'6" too tall to look coordinated on a soccer field? He looks like I imagine I would if I ever played soccer, which isn't a good thing.

He was a panic buy last year for them. He's past it. Lost his first step.

Richie Allen wrote: So what is this transfer period? Teams can still bring in players from other teams around the world? Is Arsenal going to make a move with the RVP/Song money?

June-August and then the month of January. Arsenal had better spend that cash or they're not going to contend for a Champions League spot.

bob thrill wrote:

Richie Allen wrote: So what is this transfer period? Teams can still bring in players from other teams around the world? Is Arsenal going to make a move with the RVP/Song money?

June-August and then the month of January. Arsenal had better spend that cash or they're not going to contend for a Champions League spot.

Are there top players out there? I wouldn't have a clue but I get the feeling from what I've heard that there are.

Richie Allen wrote:

bob thrill wrote:

Richie Allen wrote: So what is this transfer period? Teams can still bring in players from other teams around the world? Is Arsenal going to make a move with the RVP/Song money?

June-August and then the month of January. Arsenal had better spend that cash or they're not going to contend for a Champions League spot.

Are there top players out there? I wouldn't have a clue but I get the feeling from what I've heard that there are.

There are, but Arsenal, despite their proud standing as a huge club and their massive profits, don't swim in the kind of financial waters that other huge clubs do. They rely on Wenger finding young talent and turning them into world class players like Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie and going back to their glory days of the early 2000's, Thierry Henry, Freddie Llunjgnerg, Patrick Viera and Andy Cole.

The difference between Arsenal now and Arsenal then is that they never sold their players in their prime. That's all they seem to do these days because they are fiscally responsible and choose not to compete financially with the huge money clubs like City, Madrid, Barca etc.They might find a useful player or two, but they're not going to sign any established stars.

Portland may be about to become a lot more handsome.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/es/news/articl ... -luca-toni
Luca!
Toni!
Luca!
TOONNII!

I'm sure Toni would be great for some team, but I really strongly doubt it would be us. I hope this is baseless and given that they think it could happen this year (why in the world would Portland do that this year?), I think it is.

If we were to gather guys at other areas like we do forwards (we've needed an attacking midfielder since inception, our wings are among the least productive in the league (though that has gotten better since Spencer left) and our defense lacks leadership, it took forever to get decent fullbacks who haven't turned out to be that decent) maybe we wouldn't suck so bad.

I would like to see Boyd go. He hasn't been great, but it's hard to even judge him because the attack around him has been so poor. Though in his last two games he has missed shots on an expletiving tee, as well as that PK in the incredible loss to an amateur team. I do think he could be successful in this league, but I'd rather have the cash and the DP slot clearing him out would bring for the Timbers trying to rebuild.

Toni and Boyd are essentially the same player. Slow target forwards who can finish but can't create or stretch the field.

bob thrill wrote:Portland may be about to become a lot more handsome.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/es/news/articl ... -luca-toni
Luca!
Toni!
Luca!
TOONNII!

Toni hasn't been good for 4 years or so.
Worst player I've seen in a Juventus uniform in a long time(Felipe Melo obviously excluded).

robbotis wrote:

bob thrill wrote:Portland may be about to become a lot more handsome.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/es/news/articl ... -luca-toni
Luca!
Toni!
Luca!
TOONNII!

Toni hasn't been good for 4 years or so.
Worst player I've seen in a Juventus uniform in a long time(Felipe Melo obviously excluded).

Luca Toni has had a remarkable career. He was pretty average early at some unremarkable clubs, became really good out of nowhere at some huge clubs, and then he lost his legs and the bottom fell out instantly. He's never stayed at a club longer than 4 years and he hit his peak really late in his career. He wasn't called up to the national team until he was 27 but he still got capped 47 times. That's almost unheard of on strong national sides.

Not sure what I'll do if Arsenal actually ever score or give up a goal.

Richie Allen wrote:Not sure what I'll do if Arsenal actually ever score or give up a goal.

Are you familiar with the popular among young mormons sex act of "soaking?"

Arsenal is the soccer equivalent of that. They are to soccer what soaking with a beautiful woman is to a man.