The English Football Thread

Bulldog · 07-20-2010, 11:12 AM

I'm just looking forward to Vic Moses and Ben Watson growing into the boots of England internationals next season. Might be a while for the latter, but as I've said before Moses has looked very sharp since coming in from Crystal Palace. Mauro Boselli got 32 goals for Estudiantes last season, somehow missed out on the Maradona's world cup squad, and could be another really interesting South American import to Wigan. Same for Alcaraz.

When all's said and done though, we're in for another tough season. Lower mid-table via a quick spell in the bottom 3 I reckon.

Mojo · 07-20-2010, 12:05 PM

I think we have some potential England internationals at Sunderland too but i have to say, potential is the key word. I'm not expecting them to be integral first team regulars any time soon, if ever, but i am excited to see if they continue to improve and then who knows. Jordan Henderson especially is worth keeping an eye on but he's still a young lad so it's early days.

As for Sunderland, i would love to see us push for a top half finish. 10th or higher would be a fantastic finish for us. We werent far away last season and i want to see some improvement. Lorik Cana leaving will hurt us and Craig Gordon breaking his arm is a bit of a shocker as well, especially so close to the start of a new season. But Riveros looked great at the world cup so i'm hoping he can give us more of a threat in the midfield. I'm hoping Cattermole stays fit as his role is now even more important. I am also looking forward to seeing who he manages to bring in. Rumour has it there are more signings to come and we have been linked with Sol Campbell and Danny Welbeck among others. It looks like Campbell may be going to the toon instead but a solid centre back and either a proven or promising striker wouldn't be such a bad idea!

Bulldog · 07-22-2010, 04:36 AM

BBC Sport - Football - Titus Bramble set for move from Wigan to Sunderland

Shit.

What with Caldwell being out with a hip injury 'til October, I worry for Wigan's defence next season. I've got a feeling we'll lose Figueroa before long too, in which case we'll definitely need a solid pair of full-backs and an extra (proven) central defender or two. I'm still a huge fan of Emerson Boyce and Alcaraz looks very promising, but they definitely won't be enough for the whole season.

Also, if Bobby Martinez could get rid of Jasons Koumas and Scotland before bringing in a proven goalscorer, that'd be exceedingly lovely.

Mojo · 07-22-2010, 05:07 AM

Bramble? Bruce had said he had a approached a few players but I had not expected this at all. If he needs a solid central defender, he could do alot worse than Bramble these days. £1m? Bargain!

I wonder how the Geordies will react to this if it goes through.

Bulldog · 07-22-2010, 05:14 AM

Bramble's a great player these days. Being at Wigan's really revived what was quite simply a joke of a career, a bit like how things went for Heskey here when he signed.

I'll be very disappointed if we don't get another top-drawer central defender to replace him though.

Mojo · 07-22-2010, 08:43 AM

Hehe i'm already loving the Geordies reaction to this. Here is one quote from a guy i used to work with.

"I think its funny how mackems used to say that Titus was gash, thats all changed now though."

Firstly i had to change it slightly to make any sense out of it and also change the spelling of the word mackem to the correct one. Secondly, i think its funny how selective a Geordies memory is. Yeah, cause OUR fans were the ones giving Titus grief when he played for the toon!

TheCunningStunt · 07-22-2010, 09:23 AM

To be fair everyone gave Titus stick when he played for the Toon, he was shite

Mojo · 07-22-2010, 09:31 AM

Exactly. But the fact that their own fans gave him more stick than anyone seems to have escaped the minds of a lot of Geordies today. It's alot easier to insult us if they forget that part.

TheCunningStunt · 07-22-2010, 09:44 AM

To be fair... Newcastle fans are a bit thick. I p*ssed myself when they went down, it was a nice day and I was round at a friends house and we were getting drunk and laughing at them. I missed them after they went down though.

People like Newcastle and Leeds should be in the league. Rather than the likes of Bolton and Blackburn.

I think that's a bad signing for Sunderland anyway. Then again, for 1m.. it's either gonna be (almost) nothing lost, nothing gained. Or a pleasant surprised.

Mojo · 07-22-2010, 09:52 AM

If he can be worked into a system, whatever system Bruce decides he want this season (our back four changed every week last season) then i think he's a solid enough centre back now to be a good signing, especially for that kind of money. I'm not entirely sure if he and Turner are a good partnership but it could work.

I was so happy when Newcastle got relegated. I was in one pub that day with a few mates watching our game and the rest of the group were in the pub next door watching the toon game. They lost the feed for our game so we all went next door with the Geordies and watched them get relegated. Their arrogance was completely wiped from their voice and their smug faces and they were miserable. They were inconsolable. Then once the game was over the jukebox came back on and played "I'll Be Missin' You" in one final moment of ironic glory.

It was a fantastic day.

07-20-2010, 12:05 PM	#2832 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I think we have some potential England internationals at Sunderland too but i have to say, potential is the key word. I'm not expecting them to be integral first team regulars any time soon, if ever, but i am excited to see if they continue to improve and then who knows. Jordan Henderson especially is worth keeping an eye on but he's still a young lad so it's early days. As for Sunderland, i would love to see us push for a top half finish. 10th or higher would be a fantastic finish for us. We werent far away last season and i want to see some improvement. Lorik Cana leaving will hurt us and Craig Gordon breaking his arm is a bit of a shocker as well, especially so close to the start of a new season. But Riveros looked great at the world cup so i'm hoping he can give us more of a threat in the midfield. I'm hoping Cattermole stays fit as his role is now even more important. I am also looking forward to seeing who he manages to bring in. Rumour has it there are more signings to come and we have been linked with Sol Campbell and Danny Welbeck among others. It looks like Campbell may be going to the toon instead but a solid centre back and either a proven or promising striker wouldn't be such a bad idea! __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

07-22-2010, 05:07 AM	#2834 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Bramble? Bruce had said he had a approached a few players but I had not expected this at all. If he needs a solid central defender, he could do alot worse than Bramble these days. £1m? Bargain! I wonder how the Geordies will react to this if it goes through. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

07-22-2010, 08:43 AM	#2836 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Hehe i'm already loving the Geordies reaction to this. Here is one quote from a guy i used to work with. "I think its funny how mackems used to say that Titus was gash, thats all changed now though." Firstly i had to change it slightly to make any sense out of it and also change the spelling of the word mackem to the correct one. Secondly, i think its funny how selective a Geordies memory is. Yeah, cause OUR fans were the ones giving Titus grief when he played for the toon! __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

07-22-2010, 09:23 AM	#2837 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	To be fair everyone gave Titus stick when he played for the Toon, he was shite __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

07-22-2010, 09:31 AM	#2838 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Exactly. But the fact that their own fans gave him more stick than anyone seems to have escaped the minds of a lot of Geordies today. It's alot easier to insult us if they forget that part. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

07-20-2010, 11:12 AM	#2831 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	I'm just looking forward to Vic Moses and Ben Watson growing into the boots of England internationals next season. Might be a while for the latter, but as I've said before Moses has looked very sharp since coming in from Crystal Palace. Mauro Boselli got 32 goals for Estudiantes last season, somehow missed out on the Maradona's world cup squad, and could be another really interesting South American import to Wigan. Same for Alcaraz. When all's said and done though, we're in for another tough season. Lower mid-table via a quick spell in the bottom 3 I reckon.

07-22-2010, 04:36 AM	#2833 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	BBC Sport - Football - Titus Bramble set for move from Wigan to Sunderland Shit. What with Caldwell being out with a hip injury 'til October, I worry for Wigan's defence next season. I've got a feeling we'll lose Figueroa before long too, in which case we'll definitely need a solid pair of full-backs and an extra (proven) central defender or two. I'm still a huge fan of Emerson Boyce and Alcaraz looks very promising, but they definitely won't be enough for the whole season. Also, if Bobby Martinez could get rid of Jasons Koumas and Scotland before bringing in a proven goalscorer, that'd be exceedingly lovely.

07-22-2010, 05:14 AM	#2835 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Bramble's a great player these days. Being at Wigan's really revived what was quite simply a joke of a career, a bit like how things went for Heskey here when he signed. I'll be very disappointed if we don't get another top-drawer central defender to replace him though.

07-22-2010, 09:44 AM	#2839 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	To be fair... Newcastle fans are a bit thick. I p*ssed myself when they went down, it was a nice day and I was round at a friends house and we were getting drunk and laughing at them. I missed them after they went down though. People like Newcastle and Leeds should be in the league. Rather than the likes of Bolton and Blackburn. I think that's a bad signing for Sunderland anyway. Then again, for 1m.. it's either gonna be (almost) nothing lost, nothing gained. Or a pleasant surprised. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

07-22-2010, 09:52 AM	#2840 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	If he can be worked into a system, whatever system Bruce decides he want this season (our back four changed every week last season) then i think he's a solid enough centre back now to be a good signing, especially for that kind of money. I'm not entirely sure if he and Turner are a good partnership but it could work. I was so happy when Newcastle got relegated. I was in one pub that day with a few mates watching our game and the rest of the group were in the pub next door watching the toon game. They lost the feed for our game so we all went next door with the Geordies and watched them get relegated. Their arrogance was completely wiped from their voice and their smug faces and they were miserable. They were inconsolable. Then once the game was over the jukebox came back on and played "I'll Be Missin' You" in one final moment of ironic glory. It was a fantastic day. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust