re: George John

He played for FC Dallas and has dual Greek/American citizenship, which is why the move was easier to make for work permit reasons. A lot of MLS/USMNT nerds have been upset John hasn't been called up yet when he's one of the best CB's in the league yet people like Tim Ream* keep getting calls and they're afraid he'll decide to play for Greece instead.

I won't pretend that I know anything about him but he's got a good rep and he's obviously worth something as an EPL club paid an actual transfer fee for him. I say call him in, what else do we have to lose?


*I've read quite a few rumors that Arsenal are interested in Ream and actually made some offers last season. I cannot believe that... Ream has not been impressive at all in the times I've seen him play.

[Edited on August 23, 2011 at 9:01 AM. Reason : new page]

8/23/2011 8:59:58 AM

If we finish off our transfers with Coates and Bellamy and get rid of the dead wood I'd be really, really, really happy.

8/23/2011 10:02:40 AM

I keep reading stuff like this regarding Arsenal/Wenger

Quote :

"Wenger has another problem – that of trying to replenish his squad without getting ripped off by opportunistic club bean-counters who know he's both desperate for players and sitting on a giant mountain of money"

Who cares if he gets ripped off? He had two players, he now has a shit ton of money. Why does he need "value" or to make sure he doesn't overpay? He wasn't planning on having that money available anyways so who cares if he uses all of it. It's not like Arsenal needs the money.

It's the same scenario as Carroll and why people making a big deal over his fee annoy me. They had the Torres money that was ridiculous, so who cares if they spend the ridiculous profit on a ridiculous buy?

8/23/2011 1:12:28 PM

is it ok for me to bandwagon into EPL in general and Liverpool in specific strictly /c i'm a suarez fanboy?

if not, too late!

goooooo soccer!

8/23/2011 1:16:51 PM

I've been a fan of the EPL for awhile now and still don't have a favorite team. Liverpool certainly looks like an exciting team to follow this year.

8/23/2011 1:20:58 PM

Liverpool is not the bandwagon they used to be. I don't think they even have bandwagon status as of now.

Bandwagons: Man U, City, Chelsea... the rest are up for guilt-free following.

8/23/2011 3:58:50 PM

Quote :

"I don't think they even have bandwagon status as of now."

Come on. Outside of Man U, this is probably the only other team your average American could name.

8/23/2011 4:10:43 PM

^ and don't forget, Lebron wears their gear in post game press conferences now!



They definitely have bandwagon status, especially now with Henry and the Red Sox connection.

8/23/2011 4:14:41 PM

I won't get into a bandwagon argument, but I was thinking in terms of all ready being world class.

8/23/2011 4:27:10 PM

^

Quote :

"Bandwagons: Man U, City, Chelsea..."

SHOW YOUR WORK, PLEASE

8/23/2011 4:33:10 PM

Damn it. Foiled by my own explanation.

I guess everyone is now free to follow whomever they want without fear of social stigmatization.

8/23/2011 4:57:48 PM

... except for heelfan.

8/23/2011 5:16:18 PM

Join me and be a fan of Everton football! You will be mesmerized every season by a team that wins when they should lose, and loses when they should win. The only thing they never fail to do is disappoint! Expectations be damned! And they're hemorrhaging money! Oh, to be a Toffee!

8/23/2011 5:28:29 PM

at least you can count on them disappointing. in a way, that's not a disappointment, right?

i'm just trying to be a glass half full kinda guy here.,

[Edited on August 23, 2011 at 6:17 PM. Reason : k]

8/23/2011 6:17:34 PM

monster Arselol bandwagon up here. worse than chelsea, on par with liverpool, of course not holding a candle to Man U.

8/23/2011 6:33:53 PM

honestly Arsenal has to be the biggest bandwagon I've seen



no one knew who they were prior that invincibles season



next up is Barca, of course

8/23/2011 7:58:09 PM

I hate on United fans just because I hate United, not because they're on a bandwagon.

We're all just randomly picking a team anyways so what's the big deal really. If you decide to pick a team that never wins only so you won't be on a bandwagon, then that's just as dumb as picking one of the best teams. Support whatever club that has players, history, fans, etc. that you like the most.

I'm a Liverpool fan but there's a lot of little clubs I "support" like Bolton/Fulham, and I always cheer for the newly promoted sides to be successful. And even though Liverpool fans are supposed to hate Everton, I'm typically a fan of theirs when they're not playing Liverpool too.


^Barca fans are an annoying bandwagon though, I will agree. Mostly because I know the majority of people that call themselves fans don't really give a fuck about La Liga and only watch the Real game and Champions League. Supporting any of the best teams in Europe is okay imo as long as you're a legit fan and follow all the games, in all competitions.

[Edited on August 23, 2011 at 8:07 PM. Reason : Barca]

8/23/2011 8:00:59 PM

^ actually a lot of the recent bandwagon barca fans are arsenal fans who are amazed to see a team playing beautiful footy but actually, you know, winning while doing it.

Would love to have Bellamy back at LFC...Not just because I love him as a player but cause he's batshit insane and you never know what he might do with a golf club in his hands.

8/23/2011 8:36:58 PM

well picking two top clubs is just cheating then so fuck em

8/23/2011 8:38:40 PM

Yeah it's not like most of us have any real connection to these clubs, we just follow them to follow them. I like Arsenal because I do, don't really know why. Same can be said for the Chicago Bears who I have been a fan of since I was 7 or 8 years old but have no connection to Chicago at all. Just picked them as a team to follow and have been a fan since.

Like aimorris I like many EPL clubs. I shouldn't like Fulham since I'm an Arsenal fan but I do. I like Stoke too, I'll pull for them in every game they play, even against Arsenal. Honestly I'd rather just see entertaining games more than anything.

8/23/2011 11:14:52 PM

Quote :

"On Tuesday Wenger claimed he feels no pressure to replace Nasri and Fabregas, because he has already purchased Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho this summer."

he can't be serious

8/23/2011 11:17:22 PM

You should all be Tottenham fans because they are my home team. Also, their rivalry with Arsenal is one of the oldest sports rivalries in the history of the world. The North London Derby is always fun.

[Edited on August 24, 2011 at 9:18 AM. Reason : ]

8/24/2011 9:12:09 AM

Fuck Spurs.

Ive decided I want to follow a big club that will always be around now that West Ham is relegated. That club will be... Arsenal. They hate Spurs just like I hate Spurs. They are being hated on by everyone and counted out just like the Mets always are. I also use them most on FIFA.. It's a perfect match. Snicker away at me...

Also, I am DVRing the game. Will I have the willpower not to check the score?

8/24/2011 9:37:37 AM

west ham went to the championship, they're still around

8/24/2011 10:00:44 AM

^^

8/24/2011 10:06:14 AM

^^ of course and I watch when they are on foxsoccer.tv but the EPL is obviously far easier to follow over here..

8/24/2011 10:08:20 AM

Quote :

"Fuck Spurs. Ive decided I want to follow a big club that will always be around now that West Ham is relegated. That club will be... Arsenal. They hate Spurs just like I hate Spurs. They are being hated on by everyone and counted out just like the Mets always are. I also use them most on FIFA.. It's a perfect match. Snicker away at me..."

Ribs and NyM410 mortal enemies EXPOSED?!?!?!?!?!

8/24/2011 10:43:44 AM

^It's cool, I've got your back, son.

8/24/2011 11:00:05 AM

Quote :

"he can't be serious"

Maybe Joey Barton is still available for a free transfer.

8/24/2011 11:10:04 AM

I'm not sure what Aldershot is but West Ham lost to them in the Carling Cup tonight.

Nice showing by Arsenal though...

8/24/2011 7:15:07 PM

Must watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vb9mP14Mt0&feature=related

8/24/2011 11:14:47 PM

Adebayor deal to Spurs is done

8/25/2011 3:00:17 PM

Finally, we have a goal scorer

[Edited on August 25, 2011 at 3:59 PM. Reason : To have to start with United and City back to back is just ridiculous.]

8/25/2011 3:58:04 PM

For kiljadn

http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/fourfourtwoview/archive/2011/08/01/meet-the-unreal-dimitar-berbatov.aspx

8/25/2011 6:40:59 PM

you guys read grantland's weekly recap?

http://www.grantland.com/search?query=reducer

8/26/2011 12:00:14 AM

I just don't understand this whole Aquilani business. He's miles better than any AM we have at the club except Meireles and an in-form Gerrard (which we havent seen since 2008). Meireles is injured and Gerrard is a gimp...wouldn't it make sense to keep him around for that depth?

We're talking about someone who in all likelihood will be a starting midfielder for the Italian nat'l tm and we are treating him like dogshit. He's gonna be starting at AC Milan and we let him walk cause we made him ride the bench behind Jordan Fucking Henderson? Seriously?

8/26/2011 10:58:38 AM

Henderson and Aquilani don't play the same position though. There's no real spot for a true AM because Kenny plays more of a 4-3-3 with midfielders/wingers that can all go box to box.

I'm with you though, I really like what he offers and think it's a shame it turned out how it did.

8/26/2011 11:04:54 AM

Barton to QPR.

8/26/2011 12:31:54 PM

Yep was coming in to post the same thing

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/948907/newcastle%27s-joey-barton-joins-qpr-on-four-year-deal?cc=5901

Barton is ood, on one hand I can't stand him but on the other I'm pulling for him to do well. Looks like QPR just signed Luke Young and are trying to pick up Shaun Wright-Phillips too.

8/26/2011 12:49:40 PM

in case you guys hadn't heard, it's official.
http://www.ibrahimasonko.com/flash.html

8/26/2011 1:40:31 PM

hahaha

8/26/2011 2:57:57 PM

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/949350/harry-redknapp:-samir-nasri-motivated-by-money?cc=5901

Harry's right. It's disgusting. So if this "fair play" bullshit ever going to actually happen? This is why I'm turning in to an Arsenal fan more and more every day...

8/27/2011 12:33:24 AM

better than Barca? please

8/27/2011 12:46:16 AM

It's 'arry talking, not the best at explaining himself. I think he means that they have the raw talent and arguably more depth than Barca with their many buying sprees.


[Edited on August 27, 2011 at 7:55 AM. Reason : .]

8/27/2011 7:40:00 AM

Joey Barton sighting at the Wigan-QPR game!

8/27/2011 8:00:44 AM

Quote :

""fair play" bullshit ever going to actually happen?"

They're being implemented still over this year, and next. However, currently ManCity are circumventing the rules with their new record 10yr-£400m stadium deal. For context, Madison Square Garden's naming deal was the previous record and wasn't worth half of what this deal is worth. Arsenal's deal from 6-7 years ago is worth like 1/6 of City's.

If City don't get busted for something then the Sheikh must be greasing some palms. The only good thing about his ownership (or bad thing, I guess, if you hate City like I do) is that he is also pumping a ton of money into the infrastructure of the club and facilities, so it seems like he's in this for the long haul, which a lot of sugar daddy owners aren't. When sugar daddies lose interest and bail on the club after spending a shit-ton they end up crippling the club because it wasn't solvent without the yearly cash injections to cover debts/wages.

8/27/2011 8:08:58 AM

http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2011/07/manchester-citys-incredible-deal-know.html

This is a good (but long) read on City's new deal

Quote :

"There may be a whiff of creative accounting around this incredible deal, but there’s also genuine substance and benefit to the community. City’s commercial growth might have been fuelled by money from companies that are at the very least “friendly” towards their owner, but when the deals are broken down the sums are not inordinately high, so are more or less in line with benchmarks. Furthermore, the proceeds will be invested in a state-of-the-art academy with the objective of producing homegrown young players who will ultimately replace the imported “mercenaries”. It’s a well-considered plan that seems to me to be within both the letter and to a large extent the spirit of FFP."

8/27/2011 8:32:37 AM

Holy shit! Looks like Drogba was out cold before he hit the ground

8/27/2011 11:22:49 AM

8/27/2011 11:32:34 AM

Mata... is good.

8/27/2011 11:58:31 AM