SOCCER SPORT !

[tribe125]

[Raza]

Mourinho has basically told every young player, including Januzaj, that they have no future at United. Seems like Martial, Rashford, and Lingard are the only ones he's planning on keeping.

"Last week, Adnan Januzaj, Andreas Pereira, James Wilson, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Will Keane, Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett were also reportedly told they are not in Mourinho's immediate plans and are available for loan."

No more youth development in Manchester.

[93EXCivic]

Jamaal Lascelles to captain Newcastle this year.


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[Raza]

Liverpool is playing Barcelona this Saturday at noon. That should be a good match to watch. Can't say I'm expecting much, but it'll be nice to see how they're starting to gel.

[93EXCivic]

Is it just me or is there a major lack of quality center and full backs available right now?

It seems like all the big teams weakest areas are in defense. Chelsea has the creaky backline as last year. Liverpool has about one billion attackers ranging from world class to pretty good but except for Clyne I don't think they much better then any other mid-tables team. Tottenham has a good defense but not much depth. Man City has a good defense but if you were to pick out the weakest part of the team I am pretty sure you would say defense and Man U is probably about the same.

[Raza]

Yeah, there's been a lack of defensive quality for a few years now. We've got Matip, who is probably one of the best in the league based on what I've seen so far (but of course he's still unproven in real competition). I mean, look at how desperate the situation is when someone pays £50m for David Luiz.

There's a crisis in what people want in a defender. Do they want a David Luiz, a "ball playing centerback" who often forgets that he's a centerback or do you want a solid defenseman, one who tackles and heads the ball out, like Kolo Toure. As such, players and teams are caught between two minds.

Even players like Otamendi, who come with a big reputation and a deserved one, have come and struggled in the EPL.

[93EXCivic]

There's a crisis in what people want in a defender. Do they want a David Luiz, a "ball playing centerback" who often forgets that he's a centerback or do you want a solid defenseman, one who tackles and heads the ball out, like Kolo Toure. As such, players and teams are caught between two minds.

Yeah I am sure that starts at the youth level. Personally I'd rather have a mountain of a man at the back with great positional awareness and good tackling then a "ball playing" centerback. I mean obviously if he can pick out a defense splitting pass that is great but I don't think it is the first thing you should look for in a centerback but I am old school like that.

I see that to some extent with fullbacks as well. It seems like if a player isn't quite cut out to be a winger he gets turned into a fullback so you get fullbacks who don't seem to know how to defend (see Janmaat or Moreno). I mean fullbacks need to be able to get forward but they are in defense first.

[shameless]

don't forget for those that haven't and might want to join the IWL fantasy league - ONLY A WEEK TO GO FOR SEASON START!Thread: are we having the fantasy football league this season

[shameless]

first game tonight in the Championship tonight with would be favourites relegated Newcastle losing to Fulham - its a hard walk in the Championship and needs a completely different attitude than the Premiership - going to be a scrap for them both as the other teams want to beat them so badly -every game is hard work -they are now going to get whipped by teams like Rotherham and Preston North End !!!

[Raza]

Liverpool v. Barcelona in the ICC in 3 hours!