***Official Premiership, FA Cup, Carling Cup, Champions League etc. Thread***

[whodat]

I have to think scheduling would be a nightmare for the EPL. Once FA and League Cup games involve the top clubs, then you have to toss in replays if needed, plus mid-week UCL or Europa games or makeup games if something was cancelled. Ugh.

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by johnsonc1

Happy to be tied for second in our fantasy league after week 1. I am slowly learning how everything works. One free transfer a week. Any additional transfers and you get -4 from your overall score. If players on your bench outscore players in your lineup they will automatically be subbed in The only question I have is formation. It seems like some of you have 3-4-3 formations allowing you to get more midfielders on your team. Midfielders are more likely to get higher amounts of points than defenders imo. Can anyone explain how to change your formation?

Just sub a defender for midfielder/forward or vice versa. Your formation will automatically change.

[jrkarger]

After denying it yesterday, Milan confirmed discussions on Balotelli to Liverpool are taking place.

http://www.espnfc.us/story/1995647/a...ario-balotelli

[johnsonc1]

Originally Posted by clayj41

Just sub a defender for midfielder/forward or vice versa. Your formation will automatically change.

Thanks.

Transfer Market is starting to get crazy. Balotelli to Liverpool? Di Maria to United? Arsenal are desperate for a defensive midfielder now that arteta is out. Should be interesting

[sdmc229]

There are now reports of a 16m fee agreed

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport...ee-16m-7650058

[DaveHead36]

I just don't have a good feeling about this signing. I really think Balotelli is going to be a disruption in the locker room. I hope I'm proven wrong and he ends up scoring goals, but something just doesn't feel right.

[sdmc229]

Originally Posted by DaveHead36

I just don't have a good feeling about this signing. I really think Balotelli is going to be a disruption in the locker room. I hope I'm proven wrong and he ends up scoring goals, but something just doesn't feel right.

I am on the fence as well. I am hoping BR can keep him under control.

On the bright side, maybe he will dye that mohawk red

[whodat]

Originally Posted by DaveHead36

I just don't have a good feeling about this signing. I really think Balotelli is going to be a disruption in the locker room. I hope I'm proven wrong and he ends up scoring goals, but something just doesn't feel right.

There is no denying his talent, but he has always been a loose cannon. I would expect nothing more or less then what the past has shown, gotta take the good with the bad with Mario.

[whodat]

Originally Posted by panini2001

Yep I'm looking at 7,8 or 9 for the Potters made some strong signings Bojan, Diouf, Bardsley, Sidwell. I'm in NYC from Aug 22 Ben. Obviously I'm only there until Tues 26 so I've got a full itinery for my days the usual touristy stuff Top of the Rock, Circleline Sightseeing thingy on the Hudson, Pedicab Central Park etc etc but would like to catch up if its possible at some point

Craig, if you see this prior to hopping across the pond, I sent you a PM here with my contact info. I am free this weekend to meet up, so let me know if you got the time.

[Ascf33]

I'm mixed on the signing but hopefully BR can tame him. Either way, Liverpool just got a lot better in FIFA15.

[johnsonc1]

I would rather have a striker who set his own house on fire than one who bites the opposing teams players. I think Balotelli is hilarious.

Within days of joining Manchester City, Balotelli was involved in a car crash. It was reported that Balotelli was carrying £5,000 cash at the time – and that when a police officer asked why he had such a large sum of cash Balotelli replied: "Because I am rich".

[Ascf33]

Red Mohawk FTW.

[42graystreet]

If 16 million is the price ($26 million), I think you have to take it. The upside is too high to not take the risk that he becomes a locker room cancer.

[DaveHead36]

Interesting that it's rumored there will be a behavior clause in Balotelli's contract. Guess they are learning after Suarez.

[whodat]

Originally Posted by DaveHead36

Interesting that it's rumored there will be a behavior clause in Balotelli's contract. Guess they are learning after Suarez.

That and his past. When he was with City, he was head case. All over the tabloids. One would hope with age he would mature, but sometimes it is part the man that they never shake.

[42graystreet]

He's matured a little bit while back in his native Italy. You have to wonder if going back to the north of England will bring out old habits.

[cornjob81]

Quiet in here this weekend. No thoughts on any of the games?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DynastyDrummer1]

Stoke got a little bit lucky to get that tie against Hull.....

[dmbmuskie]

I think Everton is going to stick as my team. Love Howard and Lukaku, and yesterday hurt.

[42graystreet]

Originally Posted by dmbmuskie

I think Everton is going to stick as my team. Love Howard and Lukaku, and yesterday hurt.

That's a good sign that you may have "a team." When a game like that really kicks you in the shin. Should've been 3 points.

[dmbmuskie]

Might have just been who was playing, but there were a lot of Everton fans at the bar too. Felt at home.

The last thing I needed is an excuse to drink at 8AM on a Saturday.

[42graystreet]

Originally Posted by dmbmuskie

Might have just been who was playing, but there were a lot of Everton fans at the bar too. Felt at home.

The last thing I needed is an excuse to drink at 8AM on a Saturday.

Ha. Just wait for when you're drinking at 7am on Sunday.

[DaveHead36]

Originally Posted by 42graystreet

Ha. Just wait for when you're drinking at 7am on Sunday.

Or your friends look at you like you have three heads when you say you have to call it a night on Friday or Saturday because you have to be up at 6 to watch the match!

[johnsonc1]

I don't really understand what LVG is trying to do with united. Clearly his system does not work with the players he has. I understand it might take some time but as a manager of any sports team i think it makes more sense to create a system around the players you already have. Obviously its more complicated than that but it just seems like he is making it harder for himself

[whodat]

Originally Posted by cornjob81

Quiet in here this weekend. No thoughts on any of the games?

As a United fan, not much to be happy about. It is plain to see that this team is not equipped to run the system that Van Gaal wants to put in place. If they can secure Di Maria (as reported will be done soon) and Blind, then maybe the level of optimism will rise. Right now this group is doomed. The drop off in quality from Rooney, RVP and Mata is huge. There is no service to Mata, which in turn means no service to Rooney or RVP.

Speaking of Rooney, he can't play the role that Robben plays in this system. Robben is that unique talent that can stretch the field, thus keeping the opposing defense on their heels. Rooney doesn't posses that speed or skill to make that happen. This puts more pressure on the holding midfielders and wings to push up field. Rooney has to figure out his role as this will help the overall attack with RVP.

Currently the skill in the holding midfield is not there to maintain and they keep dropping back too deep creating a back 5, and the wings defensive responsibilities are being a skewed by their own shortcomings. Young is not good on defense and his panache for diving will be his down fall. Valencia could develop into the a very good wing player in this system from what I can tell. He played defense in the past and has pace to move the ball up field and has good delivery from the edge into the box. The wings just have to keep moving and spreading the field to be more successful.

Defensively it can only get better. Lots of injuries all the way around, but the guys being called upon have to step in the mean time. I can see Phil Jones moving to a more holding midfield roll once Johnny Evans comes back. The idea of Evans, Rojo and Shaw on the back is very inviting, just need to get them all on the field. Also, the defensive group as a whole is vey young, only Evans is over 25, so this is a very green group, working in a new system and they will get picked apart by the better teams in the EPL. Games against Chelsea and City could get ugly.

We have a League Cup match on Tuesday followed up with a trip to Burnley to keep working on the system. Van Gaal said to give it at least 3 months, but from what I can see this will be more like a year long process. The guys are not confident, it shows in their play, passing and execution. Hoping for some confidence boosts this week heading into the international break in few weeks time.

[42graystreet]

Chelsea have played 2 games against lesser competition. In one, we found ourselves down a goal. In the other, we were held 0-0 at HT. These are the types of games we dropped points last year when we would get frustrated at not being able to break through, thanks in part to having no capable striker.

This year we went on to win both of those games by 2 goals, with our new striker scoring in each game. It's a new season, and a new Chelsea. Can't wait for the next game!

[cornjob81]

Originally Posted by 42graystreet

That's a good sign that you may have "a team." When a game like that really kicks you in the shin. Should've been 3 points.

Agreed. That's how I knew I was a Spurs fan. A 1-0, last minute goal and I was jumping up and down and cheering like a girl at a One Direction concert. This team that plays all the way in North London caused me to do this? Yep, they are The One for me.

[cornjob81]

Originally Posted by DaveHead36

Or your friends look at you like you have three heads when you say you have to call it a night on Friday or Saturday because you have to be up at 6 to watch the match!

It's tough living on the west coast because of this. Yesterday, the Spurs were on at 5:30am. I just couldn't do that, so it had to be DVR'd. Still, I hate risking that because you never know when your DVR will F up on you. But the Friday before the opening day I did go to be quite early so I could get up and watch MU lose at 6.

Who's watching City/Liverpool this afternoon??

[clayj41]

Originally Posted by cornjob81

Who's watching City/Liverpool this afternoon??

I'm leaving work early for it.

[DaveHead36]

Working from home today. I really need to get cable Hopefully I can find a good stream today.