6

Quote :

"top 5 strikers in the world"

Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Robin van Persie, Robert Lewandowski, Diego Costa. And these are guys who actually play "striker"; I'm not even including the more all-purpose forward types like Messi and Thomas Muller.

Rooney's a great footballer, of course, but listing him as a top 5 in the world striker at this point in his career is kinda ridiculous.

7/26/2014 11:07:58 PM

At this point in his career? What is that even supposed to mean? He is 28, not 38. Costa and Suarez wouldn't even make the list 2 years ago. Rooney is a proven goalscorer at a big club in the premiership. Even in the years where he hasn't been the main striker he still finds the back of the net. Short term memories here.

Yes you could argue he hasn't been a top 5 striker in the last two years but I am looking at it from a consistency standpoint and Rooney delivers consistently.

Also it seems you have missed the point. I am clearly pointing to Rooney's time as an out and out striker. Every time he plays in that role he is at his best. Rooney at his best is one of the best players in the world, let alone at striker.

Just to add to how ridiculous your opinion on Rooney is:

13-14
27 matches 17 G 10 A

12-13
27 Matches 12 G 10 A

11-12
32 Matches 27 G 4 A

10-11
25 Matches 11 G 11 A

09-10
32 Matches 26 G 3 A

08-09
25 Matches 12 G 7 A

07-08
25 Matches 12 G 13 A

06-07
33 Matches 14 G 11 A

05-06
34 Matches 16 G 10 A


Not a lot of players can boast of those kind of results. Its very clear Rooney's best years came right after the departure of Ronaldo when he was the fulcrum of the United attack. His Assists to Goals ratio speak for itself as to when he has been deployed deeper and when he has been chosen to lead the line. The man has been directly responsible for 20+ goals a year for at least the last 9 years. Nope definitely not a top 5 striker.

[Edited on July 27, 2014 at 12:58 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on July 27, 2014 at 1:00 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on July 27, 2014 at 1:10 AM. Reason : .]

7/27/2014 12:56:45 AM

Should have just saved yourself the trouble and said top 5 striker in the Premiership.

My top 5 EPL strikers, in no particular order.

RVP
Rooney
Sturridge
Dzeko (least appreciated striker in the world, imo)
Costa

7/27/2014 1:35:13 AM

you can't just bloody leave out Aguero

7/27/2014 2:16:31 AM

He's fucked.

7/27/2014 2:26:40 AM

Been going to Red Bulls games all season and they come apart defensively against virtually every team in the MLS (2 clean sheets in 21 matches), so of course Arsenal didn't produce jack shit against them with 20,000 Arsenal fans from all over the country in the stands today. It was an amazing weekend up until the actual match started.

[Edited on July 27, 2014 at 2:30 AM. Reason : .]

7/27/2014 2:30:43 AM

Quote :

"Arsenal's defense looks like shit."

Lol its almost like Nacho Monreal and Issac Hayden aren't their regular CB pairing.

*** Rooney is and will be better than Costa. He is going to flop big time for Chelsea IMO. But their back line is sick which is why their summer was A+.

[Edited on July 27, 2014 at 7:19 AM. Reason : Costa won't bully defenses in this league]

7/27/2014 7:17:50 AM

http://giant.gfycat.com/FlusteredCircularGrebe.webm

7/27/2014 8:15:31 AM

Quote :

"At this point in his career? What is that even supposed to mean?"

Quote :

" Yes you could argue he hasn't been a top 5 striker in the last two years"

So obviously, this is what "at this point in his career" is supposed to mean.

When you say "Top 5 strikers in the world," that's understood to mean "based on fairly recent performances." It would be ridiculous to use any other standard: otherwise we'd be including people like Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, etc.

7/27/2014 9:43:25 AM

Last year:

Ligue 1
Ibrahimovic
26 G 11 A

Cavani
16 G 1 A

Gignac
16 G 3 A

Bundesliga
Lewandowski
20 G 6 A

Mandukic
18 G 4 A

Drimic
17 G 3 A

La Liga
Costa
27 G 3 A

Benzema
17 G 9 A

Vela
16 G 12 A


So based on last year it is Ibra, Lewandowski, and Costa from the 3 other leagues. Benzema and Vela have similar results to Rooney. From England Suarez was undoubtedly the best. Sturridge, for all his endeavors and deserved plaudits, only created 1 more goal in 4 more appearances than Rooney did.

Mind you this was apparently an extremely shit year for Rooney. A player gives a team that kind of results after having an off year? I'd say when your off form player is giving you 27 goals its pretty good.

Top 5 for me last year
- Suarez
- Lewandowski
- Costa
- Ibra
- Rooney

Aguero, Sturridge, and Benzema make a strong case I will give you that but Rooney is consistently good.

7/27/2014 10:26:59 AM

Rooney also had the advantage of taking pk's,unlike Sturbridge and Aguero

7/27/2014 11:10:27 AM

Welp. Remy deal is off due to a failed medical. Guess that explains why the lack of interest.

7/27/2014 11:40:18 AM

Um wow Milan. Is this really how shit Series A has become. I know its just preseason but they look pub team bad. Their keeper is the worst I've ever seen at this level..

7/27/2014 4:27:36 PM

Took over a team in a PL keeper league. Should I gamble on Lukaku staying in the Prem or drop him? Gotta decide by tomorrow.

7/28/2014 11:04:09 AM

Sounds fun. What site do you play on?

[Edited on July 28, 2014 at 11:35 AM. Reason : ,]

7/28/2014 11:23:57 AM

A couple of players left and I was invited by a guy I "know" on the internet because I think they were desperate. It's kind of weird - it's through Fantrax but the commissioner is the one who tracks everything through google docs. Scoring system is also kind of wtf. For example, GK's get 2 points for a "smother."

I can ask if something's available if you want me to. $50 buy-in and they do a weird payout based on playoffs, final position, best players and other shit.

7/28/2014 11:39:23 AM

That post sold me.

I'm out.

7/28/2014 11:40:53 AM

haha

Okay so what do you think about Lukaku then?

7/28/2014 11:41:52 AM

Lukaku will stay. Either Chelsea sell him to Everton or keep him. Everton obviously needs Lukaku and if you look at Chelsea's strikers they lack depth. I don't know what Mourinho was thinking getting Drogba back in all honesty. Lukaku will most likely get his move to Everton, on a loan again if anything.

7/28/2014 11:52:08 AM

Give me Schneiderlin, Rodriguez, and another CB and I will definitely call this a successful window.

Maybe move Sandro and Bentaleb to make some room in the middle.

7/28/2014 1:27:59 PM

Wanted him at DM for Arsenal. Oh well.

WayVey said he turned down Arsenal because he wanted guaranteed startimg spot but Spurs have like 10 DMs so I don't get that. Then again it is Wayne Veysey...

7/28/2014 5:56:32 PM

Capoue and Sandro are our only true DM's.

We've got a log jam at that #8 midfield role though...

EDIT: Both of those guys were targeted by Poch before the window opened, and it actually tells me a ton about Levy's commitment to him that he's listening to the manager instead of just buying who he wants instead.

[Edited on July 28, 2014 at 8:48 PM. Reason : DL]

7/28/2014 8:46:15 PM

Obviously rumors but read a few places Vidal is on the verge of headed to United. Of course on absolutely absurd wages of 200k or something of course..

If they get him and a CB or two with no Europe they could be a title team this year again.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 7:20 AM. Reason : United philososophy is basically spend money at this point... but they can.]

7/29/2014 7:19:44 AM

Agreed. I said earlier that Vidal would be the signing of the window for anybody, unbelievable player. Not much depth to deal with potential injuries (RVP is due this year) though. Liverpool got pretty lucky with that last year.

7/29/2014 8:13:12 AM

RVP will be fine on the injury front this year. The only reason he got injured last year was because of dumbass Moyes overtraining him in the pre-season. He was fine his last year at Arsenal and his first year at United because people finally figured out how to not overwork him, and then Moyes came in and fucked it all up because he was an absolute joke of a manager. LVG won't make the same mistake because he's known him for years now.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 8:39 AM. Reason : also Vidal soon. yesssss]

7/29/2014 8:38:54 AM

After spending relatively little compared to any other big club over the last 5 years (besides Arsenal) we were clearly saving for a rainy day. Well its way past the rainy day now and there is a god damn hurricane over Old Trafford thanks to Moyes. About time United spend the money that has been chilling in the bank vaults.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 9:06 AM. Reason : .]

7/29/2014 9:05:51 AM

United is the new City (has to spend big to be relevant)

Liverpool is the new Arsenal (lose best player, has money & won't/can't spend it, jerks off over "net spend")

Arsenal is the new United (spend big when it's a player you need)

Chelsea is the old Chelsea (throw cash at everything)

City, taking a break this year, is pretty much the old Chelsea but restrained somewhat (buy what they need at any price)

7/29/2014 9:48:57 AM

7/29/2014 11:11:29 AM

Origi to LFC

So Liverpool has spent all the Suarez money and then some, but I look at those names and not one of them is jumping off the page at me...

It looks like they bought a bunch of good players, but no "big" names to speak of.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 1:21 PM. Reason : where's the headliner?]

7/29/2014 1:20:46 PM

Seems familiar right?

Also, lol at Luke Shaw being a fatass.

7/29/2014 1:26:03 PM

Yeah it does, but Spurs aren't even close to level footing with LFC who have greater pull in general, as well as CL to sell players on.

7/29/2014 1:29:33 PM

I'm guessing he wanted Spurs but Southampton said no? Otherwise it would make me lol...

@SchneiderlinMo4: 6 years of an amazing journey #saintsfc DESTROYED in 1 hour !!!

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 1:55 PM. Reason : X]

7/29/2014 1:54:37 PM

Quote :

"It looks like they bought a bunch of good players, but no "big" names to speak of."

You right. But they really needed to add 4-5 quality players for depth, which they did. Those wages all add up. What "big" name replacement was/is available right now in that position? Reus not happening. Di Maria not happening. They went for Sanchez and lost out to Arsenal.

I think most of their buys (Lovren, Lallana, Lambert, Can) would have happened even if Suarez was staying. They're really not using that Suarez money yet.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 2:09 PM. Reason : .]

7/29/2014 2:09:35 PM

^^ The chairman is playing hardball and trying to save face with the fans by making the player force his way out. It's a just a big public perception thing.

7/29/2014 2:30:55 PM

Quote :

"Liverpool is the new Arsenal (lose best player, has money & won't/can't spend it, jerks off over "net spend")"

Yeah, no.

7/29/2014 3:34:54 PM

Yeah, what?


"can't spend it" as in top players don't want to go to Liverpool. It's okay, you can agree with me just this once.

[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 3:37 PM. Reason : .]

7/29/2014 3:35:59 PM

Arsenal ran a virtual deficit in the transfer window. Liverpool are throwing their money at players currently. A lot like Tottenham last year. Not anything close to like Arsenal.

7/29/2014 3:38:45 PM

ok, check out the net spend for the last 5 seasons. I don't even know what you're trying to argue.

7/29/2014 3:41:12 PM

# Net Spend last 5 Years Purchased Gross Sold Nett Per Season

1 Chelsea £473,759,000 £159,400,000 £314,359,000 £62,871,800
2 Manchester City £405,950,000 £119,900,000 £286,050,000 £57,210,000
3 Manchester United £266,800,000 £49,600,000 £217,200,000 £43,440,000
4 Liverpool £313,950,000 £218,150,000 £95,800,000 £19,160,000
5 West Ham £84,850,000 £9,300,000 £75,550,000 £15,110,000
6 Arsenal £228,525,000 £141,300,000 £87,225,000 £17,445,000

08/09
09/10
10/11
Arsenal made a net total of 52 million pounds.

7/29/2014 3:47:28 PM

I mean, look at that average net spend in 5 years. They're almost exactly the same. And this is not true.

Quote :

"Liverpool are throwing their money at players currently."

Since FSG has taken over, they have to sell to buy up to a certain point (around £30 mil). I know Liverpool is not making £52 million from net transfers but I wasn't trying to be literal. The only point was that Liverpool's only move now, without consistent CL and higher revenues, is to play the youth/potential game like Arsenal's done for years when they lose a star player.

7/29/2014 4:03:43 PM

I didn't mean it in the literal sense you have the money to spend clearly after Suarez but its also hardly like Arsenal. I am just saying the comparison isn't apt because Arsenal literally spent very little money until the year they bought Cazorla. I don't think spending 25 million on Lallana and 20 on Marchovic is going down the route Arsenal went down. How many academy graduates does Liverpool actually have other than Sterling and Flanagan?

7/29/2014 4:29:54 PM

I didn't say anything about their academy. This is getting a bit out of hand at this point but the only thing I meant was that instead of trying to replace their star with a star (mostly because they can't), Liverpool is sticking what they've been doing since FSG got there - go for young players with a ton of potential: Coates, Ibe, Ilori, Borini, Sturridge (not quite young but he wasn't an obvious star when they signed him), Coutinho, Alberto, Markovic, Can, and Origi. Some have worked, some haven't.

It seems pretty clear to me that long-term Liverpool wants to operate similarly to how Arsenal does, instead of how the other big clubs operate. That's all I meant.

7/29/2014 4:43:49 PM

ffs wazza you just want to argue to argue

this is why no one takes you seriously in here


what fucking miniscule point are you trying to make? aimorris was just making conversation about general club behaviour and you come out trumpeting numbers that no one gives a slight shit about, and to what end?


In other news, I'm glad Nike's deal is finally over. the third kit for United is an abject abortion. I didnt think it could get any worse after the white away kit, but I was so very wrong.







[Edited on July 29, 2014 at 5:29 PM. Reason : ]

7/29/2014 5:26:49 PM

The shirt isn't that bad.

Those shirts, though.

7/29/2014 6:15:47 PM

Gonna watch United. They are basically playing their A team.

I guess I'm used to Arsenal who had a ton of players deep in the WC who haven't featured yet..

7/29/2014 6:48:07 PM

^^ wat

7/29/2014 7:46:54 PM

That was a ridiculous build up by United. Well played.

7/29/2014 8:13:10 PM

all 3 United sets are awful

7/29/2014 8:28:09 PM

Inter would be mid-table at best in England. Serie A has really gone to shit in a quick fee years...

7/29/2014 8:43:19 PM

kiljadn, Fuck. I meant, "those shorts, though".

7/30/2014 1:11:23 AM