The Summer Transfer Thread

population

mike65 wrote: »

Napoli for the CL might worth a cheeky punt!

Defence is still a bit of a problem position for Napoli though. Losing Campagnaro was a kick in the teeth and I don't see Reina as an upgrade on DeSanctis. Maybe Fernandez can come good or Albiol will turn out to be a solid acquisition. The team really needs a solid dependable defensive leader. Although Cannavarro is captain and local boy he really is not the type of defender who inspires confidence in those around him. Prone to a clanger or two is Paolo.

prettyboy81

population wrote: »

Defence is still a bit of a problem position for Napoli though. Losing Campagnaro was a kick in the teeth and I don't see Reina as an upgrade on DeSanctis. Maybe Fernandez can come good or Albiol will turn out to be a solid acquisition. The team really needs a solid dependable defensive leader. Although Cannavarro is captain and local boy he really is not the type of defender who inspires confidence in those around him. Prone to a clanger or two is Paolo.

They have also signed Raul Abiol from Real Madrid I think or another club.

population

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Juventus, Napoli, Milan, Roma and Fiorentina all have much stronger squads than they started last season with. Should be an interesting year!

Do you really think the Milan squad is stronger than last year? Just curious to hear it from a Milan fan's perspective.

population

prettyboy81 wrote: »

They have also signed Raul Abiol from Real Madrid I think or another club.

Yup. I mentioned him above.

GTR63

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Juventus, Napoli, Milan, Roma and Fiorentina all have much stronger squads than they started last season with. Should be an interesting year!

Fiorentina continue their shrewd transfer business. Getting Gomez was great business considering they aren`t in the much ballyhooed Champ League, lets just hope he suits their style of play(Just stand up in the box Mario & kick the ball when Cuadrado, Valero or Ljajic give it to you ).
Inter are stronger too I am hoping the rumoured investment comes in September and for their sake if Leonardo goes back he learns how to negotiate again.

Smithwicks Man

population wrote: »

Do you really think the Milan squad is stronger than last year? Just curious to hear it from a Milan fan's perspective.

Fair question and I can see why other people would think we haven't improved at all! I would have to admit that we would be the least improved side out of the 5 I mentioned but I'd feel we're definitely stronger than when they started last season.

Balotelli is a big improvement in the attacking department and El Shaarawy has proven himself more than capable whereas at the start of 12/13 Pato and Robinho were our main attackers. Pazzini has also proven he can do a job for us with 15 league goals (mostly from the bench)

Montolivo has exceeded my expectations and Poli is a good addition to the side as well. De Jong is also back after missing nearly all of last season.

The defence is still a worry but I'm more optimistic about the squad entering this season than I was last season after the sale of Ibra, Thiago Silva and Cassano.

The addition of Honda and/or Eriksen would really boost things (don't seem to be linked with a CB) but then again, the standard of the other teams looks to have improved as well.

Smithwicks Man

GTR63 wrote: »

Fiorentina continue their shrewd transfer business. Getting Gomez was great business considering they aren`t in the much ballyhooed Champ League, lets just hope he suits their style of play(Just stand up in the box Mario & kick the ball when Cuadrado, Valero or Ljajic give it to you ).
Inter are stronger too I am hoping the rumoured investment comes in September and for their sake if Leonardo goes back he learns how to negotiate again.

They also have G.Rossi fit :eek:

Gomez could be a good shout for top scorer although so could Balotelli, Higuain (if he signs) and the much loved Di Natale

Yeah Mazzari will make Inter better himself without having signed anyone. Wouldn't be hard to improve them though I suppose :pac:

Hidalgo

Bit of smoke today on Aly Cissoko joining Liverpool on loan with an option to buy.

population

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Fair question and I can see why other people would think we haven't improved at all! I would have to admit that we would be the least improved side out of the 5 I mentioned but I'd feel we're definitely stronger than when they started last season.

Balotelli is a big improvement in the attacking department and El Shaarawy has proven himself more than capable whereas at the start of 12/13 Pato and Robinho were our main attackers. Pazzini has also proven he can do a job for us with 15 league goals (mostly from the bench)

Montolivo has exceeded my expectations and Poli is a good addition to the side as well. De Jong is also back after missing nearly all of last season.

The defence is still a worry but I'm more optimistic about the squad entering this season than I was last season after the sale of Ibra, Thiago Silva and Cassano.

The addition of Honda and/or Eriksen would really boost things (don't seem to be linked with a CB) but then again, the standard of the other teams looks to have improved as well.

Ah I see you were talking about the pre season stage. Completely agree they look in better shape compared to that period.

Morzadec

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Juventus, Napoli, Milan, Roma and Fiorentina all have much stronger squads than they started last season with. Should be an interesting year!

Top teams in the Premier League are getting mixed up too, stronger maybe but with new managers. Everything all set up to be very interesting, very difficult to predict where everyone will finish.

Then you look at La Liga where the big 2 have strengthened big again and the trailers (Atleti, Real Sociedad, Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga) have all got weaker.

In essence you only really have 2 massive games a year as far as deciding the title is concerned. In England and Italy you could have one every couple of weeks.

carlop

The managerial changes at Barca and Real Madrid could make La Liga interesting for a while.

Smithwicks Man

population wrote: »

Ah I see you were talking about the pre season stage. Completely agree they look in better shape compared to that period.

My bad, should have made that more clear!

In terms of the squad that finished last season and the squad now there's not that much to talk about

Out: Ambrosini, Flamini and some deadwood.
In: Poli, Saponara, Vergara and then De Jong is back too but that's about it.

Juventus sound to be more focused on the CL than the Scudetto so that could be a plus for the others.

Morzadec wrote: »

Top teams in the Premier League are getting mixed up too, stronger maybe but with new managers. Everything all set up to be very interesting, very difficult to predict where everyone will finish.

Then you look at La Liga where the big 2 have strengthened big again and the trailers (Atleti, Real Sociedad, Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga) have all got weaker.

In essence you only really have 2 massive games a year as far as deciding the title is concerned. In England and Italy you could have one every couple of weeks.

Agreed! City and Chelsea have particularly improved and Spurs have done some tidy business. I think United and Arsenal would definitely be lacking if the season started tomorrow but I'd expect them both to do some business before September 1st.

Pity Falcao left Atletico. They could have made a good push this season with him and maybe one or two signings.

klose

Hiddink has resigned from anzhi, i imagine he was on a huge contract so to gove that up there must be a very lucrative job on offer

miralize

Errr.. hmm... eek...

Not sure how I feel if Hiddink comes to Barca.

Smithwicks Man

Down from 66/1 to 1/4 in a matter of hours to be the next manager. Somebody will have made a tasty profit if it goes through

Blatter

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

Down from 66/1 to 1/4 in a matter of hours to be the next manager. Somebody will have made a tasty profit if it goes through

Haven't seen a thing from a Barcelona related source that they're even considering Hiddink, never mind on the verge of appointing him.

Might be worth a lay, trading at 1.65 on BF.

Smithwicks Man

Blatter wrote: »

Haven't seen a thing from a Barcelona related source that they're even considering Hiddink, never mind on the verge of appointing him.

Might be worth a lay, trading at 1.65 on BF.

It is all speculation at the minute yeah. Don't think there's any value in laying it at that price though. Who are the supposed contenders for the job?

LostBoy101

I think Barca would want to recruit someone unknown or from their own ranks just like they did with Tito.

Blatter

Smithwicks Man wrote: »

It is all speculation at the minute yeah. Don't think there's any value in laying it at that price though. Who are the supposed contenders for the job?

Martino and Luis Enrique.

I've seen plenty of Barca related sources mention Martino in particular, he's meant to be having a video conference with Barca reps today. Have heard nothing on Hiddink, who would be an odd choice given his style and age.

GTR63

Hidalgo wrote: »

Bit of smoke today on Aly Cissoko joining Liverpool on loan with an option to buy.

But will he pass the dental part of his medical ???

DM_7

GTR63 wrote: »

But will he pass the dental part of his medical ???

Hello Clare Balding

elefant

Hidalgo wrote: »

Bit of smoke today on Aly Cissoko joining Liverpool on loan with an option to buy.

I am totally baffled by this. Cissokho is an excellent left back and Valencia just splashed out on him last summer. Not happy.

Corholio

Some stuff coming out about Falcao lying about his age. Apparently some school records show he is 29 and not 27 that he has on record.

elefant

Word that Spurs are very close to agreeing a fee for Roberto Soldado- believed to be around 30 million.

GTR63

elefant wrote: »

Word that Spurs are very close to agreeing a fee for Roberto Soldado- believed to be around 30 million.

:eek: in €€€ Surely. I think Madrid need to put in sell on clauses with their cast offs at this stage

elefant

GTR63 wrote: »

:eek: in €€€ Surely. I think Madrid need to put in sell on clauses with their cast offs at this stage

Oh yeah, sorry, euro

If Higuain is going for 35 million, 30 for Soldado is good deal. Has more than a goal every second game for Valencia- not exactly the most free-scoring team either.

Hopefully someone can do the same as Soldado did when Villa left because Goldado will leave big boots to fill.

Paul Tergat

GTR63 wrote: »

:eek: in €€€ Surely. I think Madrid need to put in sell on clauses with their cast offs at this stage

He didnt move from Madrid to Valencia. They would be a % of the €10m paid to Getafe



lol at wiki

'Tottenham Hotspur===
In July 2013, Soldado joined Tottenham Hotspur for a club record €26m. He is yet to make his debut, but will hopefully be scoring againts the Gooners soon! #COYS'

GTR63

Paul Tergat wrote: »

He didnt move from Madrid to Valencia. They would be a % of the €10m paid to Getafe

I know but if him and Negredo get sold for a combined €60m they`d want to add a paragraph or so into the new contracts now.

carlop

Soldado is a great signing for Spurs. I think he'll suit the Premier League quite well.

If Stoke think he's just another wimpy Spaniard that they can push around the place they're in for a fairly sharp shock.

EdenHazard

carlop wrote: »

Soldado is a great signing for Spurs. I think he'll suit the Premier League quite well.

If Stoke think he's just another wimpy Spaniard that they can push around the place they're in for a fairly sharp shock.

They signed muniesa soooooo

astonaidan

carlop wrote: »

Soldado is a great signing for Spurs. I think he'll suit the Premier League quite well.

If Stoke think he's just another wimpy Spaniard that they can push around the place they're in for a fairly sharp shock.

I think with big Mark in charge, Stoke will quickly become the Barcelona off the league.
Finally see Peter Crouch in the false 10 it will be magic

everdead.ie

I would think it is very open to change re soldado as literally any champions league club could come in and he'd be mad not to go to them.

DenMan

Hiddink resigns at Anzhi Makhachkala. Barcelona bound?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23411365

Amirani

DenMan wrote: »

Hiddink resigns at Anzhi Makhachkala. Barcelona bound?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23411365

Barca appointed their new manager last night: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/22/barcelona-gerardo-martino

miralize

NiallSparky wrote: »

Barca appointed their new manager last night: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/22/barcelona-gerardo-martino

Not confirmed by the club yet

T-b0n3

miralize wrote: »

Not confirmed by the club yet

Looks like it has just been confirmed there.

EDIT: here is the tweet:

FC Barcelona ‏@FCBarcelona 2m

Gerardo Martino, new coach of @FCBarcelona #fcblive

Jax Teller

miralize wrote: »

Not confirmed by the club yet

Has now .

miralize

Xavi6

T-b0n3 wrote: »

Looks like it has just been confirmed there.

EDIT: here is the tweet:

FC Barcelona ‏@FCBarcelona 2m

:pac:

Dempsey

Xavi6 wrote: »

:pac:

better negotiating skills than woodward!

Headshot

strange appointment for Barca, Paraguay played awful boring stuff under him and Newell's the same

Moneymaker

Very strange appointment.

If he's a student of Biesla's footballing philosophy I wouldn't be too confident of a great season for Barca. His teams are notorious for suffering burnout.

I'd have gone for Hiddink myself.

miralize

Happy with the appointment, hopefully he gets our team back to pressing effectively.

carlop

What odds would you have got two years ago on predicting the next three people to take charge of the first team being Villanova, Roura and Tata Martino??

Andersonisgod

I don't know much about him, all I remember is his Paraguay side were very well organised and functional. That being said apparently the pressing game is important to him, if he can bring aggressive pressing back to Barcelona then this can only be a success.

MD1990

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I don't know much about him, all I remember is his Paraguay side were very well organised and functional. That being said apparently the pressing game is important to him, if he can bring aggressive pressing back to Barcelona then this can only be a success.

Barca will have to buy a quick CB or they will be badly exposed on the counter again this season

Moneymaker

You can't press effectively if most of your team is exhausted and burnt out.

Andersonisgod

MD1990 wrote: »

Barca will have to buy a quick CB or they will be badly exposed on the counter again this season

Ye a centre back is surely a priority. That being said having Mascherano and Puyol back are big additions.

GTR63

I'm gonna guess Hiddink may end up in Monaco, I am suprised Ranieri is still there tbh.

Moneymaker

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Ye a centre back is surely a priority. That being said having Mascherano and Puyol back are big additions.

Why on earth they passed up Thiago Silva is beyond me. They could have gotten him at any point in the last 2-3 years. Perfect for Barca imo