European Football Thread- Season 2011-2012

[Bolaberlim]

Hulk managed to get himself red carded this week. In a friendly. He protested a ref decision and got a yellow card for it, and then he clapped and got another one. Really. In a friendly. I mean, come on! It was actually funny, because even the oponents players and the oponents coach put a word against it, the coach seemed pissed off. No wonder, it's a training match. Not much use training if the players get expelled for stupid things, right? Still, things are looking up. Falcão has made a new contract with Porto. He signed for one extra year and increased his clause to 45 million. It's less likely he'll go now. On the downside, in copa America Uruguay has won against Argentina. That means that Messi is going back to barcelona and our left back is still in the competition. We're playing Barça, so it would have been great if it was the other way around. Still, Alvaro Pereira must be happy, at the very least I hope he comes back motivated.

[Bolaberlim]

Champions League playoffs. Benfica is Playing Twente. Are they any good? We are still waiting for Barcelona. A few more days to go. So far the team is still in one piece. I am VERY surprised.

[Lester Burnham]

Twente are a side that should not be underestimated. Champions in 09-10, second last season. They've got lots of quality players, as good as Ajax and PSV, on some positions even better. Bryan Ruiz is the player to watch, incredibly gifted, didn't make a summer transfer due to an injury. Would otherwise have been playing for a huge team this season, he's almost world-class. Best player in the Dutch competition.

And I believe you already know their new trainer

*Co Adriaanse

[Le Vin]

That's also partially true. They don't need to buy young due to financial reasons. But guys like scholes and giggs played for United since as long as I remember. They need players that will make United their life. Future captains of the team. If they become one more team of players with no allegiance to the history of the Club, they'll be another Manchester City, with no cohesion in the locker room. Right now there's still Giggs, Rio, and a few other players, but the're all getting old. It's time to prep the future and get a good, solid, young player, preferably from the UK.

BUYING young doesn't seem to get Arsenal much allegiance. Other EPL clubs need to step up their youth programs rather than buying from West Ham. Alex Ferguson seemed to stress this after the CL final against Barcelona...though it seems Chelsea have almost given up on their youth team and many of their most promising appear to have followed Arnesen to Hamburger SV.

[Bolaberlim]

Twente are a side that should not be underestimated. Champions in 09-10, second last season. They've got lots of quality players, as good as Ajax and PSV, on some positions even better. Bryan Ruiz is the player to watch, incredibly gifted, didn't make a summer transfer due to an injury. Would otherwise have been playing for a huge team this season, he's almost world-class. Best player in the Dutch competition.

And I believe you already know their new trainer

*Co Adriaanse

Yes. I think he's a bit crazy. But it was a wildly entertaining season. We were probably the only team in Europe that played with only three defenders almost the whole season. The Central defenders ( three excellent ones as it usually happens in Porto) and the rest was in the attack. It was a crazy system that got us a title :D

[Steelhead]

Funny thing I noticed is how many of the season-opening "Supercups" are rivalry games: ManU-ManC in England, Barca-Real in Spain, Milan-Inter in Italy, Dortmund-Schalke in Germany.

[Ray MacDonald]

Watched a lot of ugly Premier League football this weekend. (Right now we have a free preview for a month of Setanta Sports so we get to watch the Sunday schedule as well as the usual Saturday stuff on Sportsnet Canada.)
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea played in unsatisfying draws and even mighty Man U needed a West Brom own goal to escape with a win.
Man U goalkeeping looks shaky - wonder if they'd be interested in swapping Nani for Gomes?
Guess I shouldn't say too much more - given that Spurs were rioted out of their home opener. Luka Modric please stay home.

[Le Vin]

What an ugly affair this El Classicos have turned out to be.

Personally, I would like to see both Real Madrid and Barcelona knock each other silly so Valencia could have a go at the title. Chances of that happening is next to none really, but still.

[Bolaberlim]

2 matches- 2 wins, Falcão is gone for 40 million, one of our subs is gone too for 4 million. Word is there is a 55 million offer from Chelsea. If it's true I bet it's going to rise to 60-65, looks like this summer is going to be big on sales once more. Crap!

[ryben]

Painful loss to Liverpool. Our squad is painfully thin and we need reinforcements badly. Get it done Arsene.

AFC - Keep the faith.