US Soccer! Gold Cup Tonight

[jterrell]

I hate Clint coming back to MLS where he is unlikely to grow... and Jurgen wants his top guys over in Europe.
He did great things in the EPL.

BTW, as to the Lukaku stuff good lord try google it isn't hard.

https://www.google.com/#bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=74b0786e8a9bf449&q=lukaku+to+borussia+dortmund

returns over 700k hits. Many suggesting BVB buy him outright as the Lewy replacement and others suggesting he go there on loan.

And if you read the articles there are 3 or 4 EPL clubs wanting him on loan and offering 1st team duties.

BVB 1st reached out to him (his agent) last year during their CL league run and now BVB are really the only place he'd play this season other than Chelsea.
He wants 1st team minutes and Chelsea may still not offer that so he could be loaned out. BVB is in the CL league again this year. As is Chelsea of course.

Despite Chelsea being linked with a number of attackers, Mourinho is said to be keen to persuade Romelu Lukaku that his immediate future lays at Stamford Bridge. The young Belgian flourished in a loan spell with West Brom in the past this past season when he scored 17 Premier League goals and is keen to continue to get regular first-team action ahead of next year’s World Cup. Yet, Mourinho is a long-time fan of the 20-year-old and wants him at his disposal for the upcoming campaign, reports the Guardian.

 

[jterrell]

We'll need to agree to disagree regarding those 3 walking into the England team because none of them in my opinion are near good enough, albeit I've not seen a great deal of Bradley since his move to Roma so he may have improved massively since then.

Bradley is the best defensive midfielder of the group amongst the US and England.
It really isn't close. I am a Chelsea fan but Lampard is just holding on now. Carrick is overrated and Phil Jones is just not very good at all.
Now the defense for England is stout. Striking is meh at best. Sturridge has to add more to his game and well long hair dont care is heinously devoid of pace.
Everton tried to get Bradley as a replacement for Feliani but was turned away by AS Roma.
He is nicknamed the General over in Italy for his style of play and being a Yank.

Anyways we'll see what these guys bring between now and WC 2014.

 

[joseephuss]

I hate Clint coming back to MLS where he is unlikely to grow... and Jurgen wants his top guys over in Europe.
He did great things in the EPL.

BTW, as to the Lukaku stuff good lord try google it isn't hard.

Google doesn't bring back any hits regarding teams offering $60 million for Lukaku. As I said, your statement of Chelsea would turn down an offer for $60 million is quite easy to say because it just won't happen. It is the same as saying Dallas would turn down a team offering two 1st round picks for Dez Bryant because that ain't happening, either.

 

[jterrell]

Google doesn't bring back any hits regarding teams offering $60 million for Lukaku. As I said, your statement of Chelsea would turn down an offer for $60 million is quite easy to say because it just won't happen. It is the same as saying Dallas would turn down a team offering two 1st round picks for Dez Bryant because that ain't happening, either.

BOTH of those scenarios are absolutely true.

Dallas isn't trading Bryant for even 2 1st rounders because he is the best young WR in football.
Chelsea isn't selling Lukaku because he is the best under 21 Striker in Soccer.

Not sure why you are struggling with those very true facts.

Teams aren't making those offers because they have no shot right now to complete those deals.
If Lukaku gets sat on the bench that will change and people WILL be making offers.

And those offers will end up staggeringly high.

 

[joseephuss]

Chelsea isn't selling Lukaku because he is the best under 21 Striker in Soccer.

If that is what you said I would agree, but you threw in the $60 million figure. Chelsea would gladly accept that and go out and bring in a top stiker for less money. They would also go get one of Mourhino's favorite sons Drogba and bring him back for a season for chump change.


I found something I finally agree with you about. I hate Clint Dempsey coming to MLS.

 

[jterrell]

If that is what you said I would agree, but you threw in the $60 million figure. Chelsea would gladly accept that and go out and bring in a top stiker for less money. They would also go get one of Mourhino's favorite sons Drogba and bring him back for a season for chump change.


I found something I finally agree with you about. I hate Clint Dempsey coming to MLS.

No Chelsea would not because Lukaku is the future. That's why he isn't for sale.
Has nothing to do with who they'd rather have starting THIS season.
Find the last good young player Chelsea sold?
I'll help. It doesn't happen unless the player proves he can't play or forces his way out.
They wouldn't sell Lukaku for even 60m was what I said and what I meant.

The young Belgians are Chelsea's future: Courtois, Hazard and Lukaku. DeBruyne is in there as well.

Drogba isn't at Chelsea because of playing time and nothing more.
He could have retired in blue if he wanted to accept a sub role.
Paying him wasnt an issue.

Money is NOT an issue for Chelsea on any level.
They are the only club in the world laughing at Barca offers.

I understand you have a hard time grasping basic soccer facts but Lukaku is 20 and has already finished an EPL season as a top 10 scorer.
His value is immense!

 

[UKCowboysFan]

Find the last good young player Chelsea sold?

Daniel Sturridge, 8 goals in 12 games at Bolton when on loan from Chelsea and 10 goals in 14 games since being sold by Chelsea to Liverpool.

He didn't get much of a look-in at Chelsea due to them wasting £50m on Torres (15 goals in 82 games).

You are right in saying that Chelsea don't need the money, they along with Man City are (financially) the worst run clubs in England because they have the richest owners

 

[joseephuss]

They wouldn't sell Lukaku for even 60m was what I said and what I meant.

!

The simple concept you can't grasp is there is no team out there that is willing to offer $60 million to Chelsea for Lukaku.

I know plenty about soccer. I never said anything negative about Lukaku. You are the one who doesn't understand basics in this conversation. Chelsea will never have to face the decision to sell Lukaku for $60 million because it will never be offered. No team will offer half that much at this point, which is why the statement you stand behind is ridiculous. A basic fact is if Lukaku is already as good as you think he is, then teams would be making the outrageous offers you are suggesting. Then Chelsea could rebuff them with a laugh, but those offers are not being made and won't be.

My Drogba comment was a joke. I know why he isn't still with the blues, but you missed that basic concept.

 

[daschoo]

On an entirely unrelated note Celtic have just been drawn against the champions of Kazakhstan in the playoff round of the Champions League. Should be a comfortable enough tie although they did knock out BATE Borisov to get this far and we always seem to struggle travelling to Eastern Europe never mind Kazakhstan. Artificial pitch over there as well which we struggled with in Sweden. 18 hour, $1100 flight from Glasgow so doubt there'll be much of a travelling support!

 

[jterrell]

Daniel Sturridge, 8 goals in 12 games at Bolton when on loan from Chelsea and 10 goals in 14 games since being sold by Chelsea to Liverpool.

He didn't get much of a look-in at Chelsea due to them wasting £50m on Torres (15 goals in 82 games).

You are right in saying that Chelsea don't need the money, they along with Man City are (financially) the worst run clubs in England because they have the richest owners

Sturridge isn't good. Struggles for England as well as he did at Chelsea. Part of the problem for England as he was for Chelsea.
Lukaku is a far superior athlete and player as the 17 goals to 11 goals detailed just last season.

Good try I guess....

BTW when a kid has passed through Man City and Chelsea (as you mention the richest clubs) he can't play.

Sturridge doesn't share the ball at all, doesn't defend at all and generally lacks any play when not the central focus of the offense. Other than that he'd be fine.
Physically he has good pace and nice height but need sot get much stronger for the Drogba role he so badly wants.

As to Torres he scored a 'few' more than 11 goals when he was at LFC.

 

[jterrell]

On an entirely unrelated note Celtic have just been drawn against the champions of Kazakhstan in the playoff round of the Champions League. Should be a comfortable enough tie although they did knock out BATE Borisov to get this far and we always seem to struggle travelling to Eastern Europe never mind Kazakhstan. Artificial pitch over there as well which we struggled with in Sweden. 18 hour, $1100 flight from Glasgow so doubt there'll be much of a travelling support!

I am planning a trip to Stamford Bridge but good grief is it costly....
Plan was initially just myself and maybe one buddy but its so expensive I pretty much have to make it a family vacation....

 

[jterrell]

The simple concept you can't grasp is there is no team out there that is willing to offer $60 million to Chelsea for Lukaku.

I know plenty about soccer. I never said anything negative about Lukaku. You are the one who doesn't understand basics in this conversation. Chelsea will never have to face the decision to sell Lukaku for $60 million because it will never be offered. No team will offer half that much at this point, which is why the statement you stand behind is ridiculous. A basic fact is if Lukaku is already as good as you think he is, then teams would be making the outrageous offers you are suggesting. Then Chelsea could rebuff them with a laugh, but those offers are not being made and won't be.

My Drogba comment was a joke. I know why he isn't still with the blues, but you missed that basic concept.

The awesome thing about the soccer threads is they stand the test of time.
Let's see how this plays the next 3 months... because typing what you did above is likely to make you very wrong sooner rather than later.

 

[joseephuss]

The awesome thing about the soccer threads is they stand the test of time.
Let's see how this plays the next 3 months... because typing what you did above is likely to make you very wrong sooner rather than later.

I won't be proven wrong. No team will offer up $60 million for Lukaku who I do think is a good player with the potential to be very good.

 

[daschoo]

Only pre-season but in a sold out Aviva Stadium in Dublin a Celtic team that finished with 8 teenagers on the park beat a Liverpool team only missing Suarez. Particularly impressed with the young Aussie in the middle of the park Jackson Irvine who held his own against Gerrard, Allen and Coutinho. Nice to see two of the new recruits Mouyokolo (a free agent after injury problems the last few years) and Amido Balde (young centre forward brought in for under 2 million from Vitoria Guimares who took his goal well and held the ball up against experienced centre halfs) doing well.

 

[jterrell]

Only pre-season but in a sold out Aviva Stadium in Dublin a Celtic team that finished with 8 teenagers on the park beat a Liverpool team only missing Suarez. Particularly impressed with the young Aussie in the middle of the park Jackson Irvine who held his own against Gerrard, Allen and Coutinho. Nice to see two of the new recruits Mouyokolo (a free agent after injury problems the last few years) and Amido Balde (young centre forward brought in for under 2 million from Vitoria Guimares who took his goal well and held the ball up against experienced centre halfs) doing well.

Lots of teams after apparently Irvine. That kid can play. Don't know if he ends up in the EPL int he next season or so or not but he's got the chops to.

 

[daschoo]

Lots of teams after apparently Irvine. That kid can play. Don't know if he ends up in the EPL int he next season or so or not but he's got the chops to.

I think you've got him confused with someone else. This is a boy who has played a grand total of 1 1st team game in his career and the only transfer speculation has been possible loan moves to Notts County or Kilmarnock.

 

[daschoo]

BTW when a kid has passed through Man City and Chelsea (as you mention the richest clubs) he can't play.

Wait are you saying that if a youngster has been signed by two clubs with two of the most expensively assembled squads in the world but doesn't make the breakthrough at either then that is proof that he isn't very good? For the record I don't rate Sturridge particularly highly either I just find your reasoning bizarre.

 

[jterrell]

I think you've got him confused with someone else. This is a boy who has played a grand total of 1 1st team game in his career and the only transfer speculation has been possible loan moves to Notts County or Kilmarnock.

He starred with the u20 Aussie team and is on radar of many English clubs.
Many lower tier EPL clubs raid that league for talent.
I expect that happens with him soon enough.

 

[jterrell]

Wait are you saying that if a youngster has been signed by two clubs with two of the most expensively assembled squads in the world but doesn't make the breakthrough at either then that is proof that he isn't very good? For the record I don't rate Sturridge particularly highly either I just find your reasoning bizarre.

yes, that is what i am saying.

when clubs can afford any talent they want and decide they do not want you that means by necessity something is lacking.
man city and Chelsea huge investments in talented youth and can just loan guys out for PT.
when they move on from you it is a judgment that you can't really play.

i was a minor fan of sturridge and watched him play for both england and Chelsea. he just played worse the more he played.

not sure what rational you use but good clubs having you then not wanting you is generally a negative.

selling you to a rival is well pretty much the ultimate kiss off.

 

[daschoo]

He starred with the u20 Aussie team and is on radar of many English clubs.
Many lower tier EPL clubs raid that league for talent.
I expect that happens with him soon enough.

I will absolutely guarantee that Celtic will not be losing any promising young talent to what I assume you mean Championship clubs. Not sure where you get your information that he's on the radar of all these English clubs, your beloved google search brings up the same Notts County and Kilmarnock loan rumours that the Scottish press covered.

Regarding the Sturridge thing I would imagine most people would look at teams with that financial muscle being amongst the hardest in the world for a youngster to break into and might suggest that the fact they had you in the first place means they obviously rated you. Surely when clubs have to be careful with their money and decide they don't want you that's more worrying than a team that can go out and bring in an established international player instead of you? Man City and Chelsea can afford the vast majority of players on the planet. I think its a bit much to say that if they decide to let you go you're *****.
There are plenty of examples of players who don't work out at one club for one reason or another but are outstanding elsewhere. It doesn't make them a bad player.