2011-2012 European Football Thread.

**gallden** · 08-20-2011 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Remember The Alomar

Agree to disagree. RVP, Walcott, and Nasri were all non-factors. If Vermaelen didn't have such a great game we'd all be singing a different tune.

I saw this tweeted earlier:

http://fourfourtwo.com/statszone/share.aspx?i=0r4w

I don't really think we were hoofing it that much. From that chart it's safe to say that Carroll can be a part of a pass and move team. He didn't play great, but he's going to be fine in the long run. However I will say that he goes down much quite easily. It's not that he's diving per. He just needs to use his strength to his advantage.

Nasri was Arsenals only threat. But that's the point though everyone thought Carroll was going to rip Arsenal to shreds and he was in Vermaelens(he was immense all game) pocket all day. I'm not saying this is at all fair to Carroll, it is what was paid for him that is the problem. We paid 35 million pounds for someone who had 20 some premier league games under his belt.

I'm not writing him off by any stretch and I really do hope he proves me wrong.

**Remember The Alomar** · 08-20-2011 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by gallden

Nasri was Arsenals only threat. But that's the point though everyone thought Carroll was going to rip Arsenal to shreds and he was in Vermaelens(he was immense all game) pocket all day. I'm not saying this is at all fair to Carroll, it is what was paid for him that is the problem. We paid 35 million pounds for someone who had 20 some premier league games under his belt.

I'm not writing him off by any stretch and I really do hope he proves me wrong.

I agree with you about the price. He'll never live up to that tag. I just think he'll end up being a pretty good player when all is said and done though.

**gallden** · 08-20-2011 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Remember The Alomar

I agree with you about the price. He'll never live up to that tag. I just think he'll end up being a pretty good player when all is said and done though.

Exactly. He's going to be compared to a 35million pound player, when at this point he's not near that.

**Remember The Alomar** · 08-20-2011 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by McNulty

No way dude, I'm going to continue to be irrational.

Congratulations! You passed the test! Sign up here to collect your prize!

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In all seriousness though it's a pretty good forum. It's like the OH if the OH wasn't moderated, had a politics section, and featured 10,000 JTrea's from Singapore.

**Remember The Alomar** · 08-20-2011 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by gallden

Exactly. He's going to be compared to a 35million pound player, when at this point he's not near that.

You always have to factor in the circumstances in which he was bought though. We probably could have gotten him for 20-25m this summer our situation hadn't been so dire.

**Scrat1** · 08-20-2011 10:07 PM

The important thing to remember here is, whether Carroll cost 10 million or 50 million, Hangeland is still going to steamroll him when we face off.

**atom_25** · 08-21-2011 02:02 PM

I will weigh in on the Carroll debate, while he is not the best 'footballing center forward' in the world, if that is what you are asking him to be is kinda missing the point with him. He is not the best with the ball at his feet but you could see the marked improvement in that area of his game just last season as his confidence grew and he was scoring goals. In my opinion for him to be fully effective you need 2 wingers who can cross the ball and just whip crosses into the box all day long. When he is on his game there is not a defender in the EPL that can match him for 90 minutes in the physical side of the game. Also having someone play off Carroll in the hole who can reach his knockdowns and can finish worked brilliantly last season with Newcastle. Kevin Nolan scored 12 goals last season and I think 9 of them were while Carroll was there. Carroll is a good player, but right now you have to play a certain way for him to be fully effective I think. As time goes by and his movement and handling improve, I think he will improve as a footballer, but for now he is still kinda raw in that department, but the potential is there and the reason for his price tag last winter, that and he is English.

**Scrat1** · 08-21-2011 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Scrat1

The important thing to remember here is, whether Carroll cost 10 million or 50 million, Hangeland is still going to steamroll him when we face off.

And then concede two goals to Wolves...

**Remember The Alomar** · 08-21-2011 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Scrat1

And then concede two goals to Wolves...

Love me some Mick Mcarthy.

Looks like Aquilani is gone.

**Bosibus** · 08-21-2011 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by gallden

Lulz at everton.

Sad, this is what happens when you decide to not spend money. I cannot even see them being a Top 10 team when everyone else seemed to get better this offseason and they are basically rolling out the same exact squad as last year.

**McNulty** · 08-21-2011 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Remember The Alomar

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http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php

In all seriousness though it's a pretty good forum. It's like the OH if the OH wasn't moderated, had a politics section, and featured 10,000 JTrea's from Singapore.

Tons of Reds in Singapore? I find that bizarre.

**gallden** · 08-21-2011 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Bosibus

Sad, this is what happens when you decide to not spend money. I cannot even see them being a Top 10 team when everyone else seemed to get better this offseason and they are basically rolling out the same exact squad as last year.

Two bright spots for you I saw when watching. One was Baines he was excellent as always, and the other Barkely (sp?) he was the engine, I thought he was excellent, never heard of him before.

**gallden** · 08-21-2011 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by atom_25

I will weigh in on the Carroll debate, while he is not the best 'footballing center forward' in the world, if that is what you are asking him to be is kinda missing the point with him. He is not the best with the ball at his feet but you could see the marked improvement in that area of his game just last season as his confidence grew and he was scoring goals. In my opinion for him to be fully effective you need 2 wingers who can cross the ball and just whip crosses into the box all day long. When he is on his game there is not a defender in the EPL that can match him for 90 minutes in the physical side of the game. Also having someone play off Carroll in the hole who can reach his knockdowns and can finish worked brilliantly last season with Newcastle. Kevin Nolan scored 12 goals last season and I think 9 of them were while Carroll was there. Carroll is a good player, but right now you have to play a certain way for him to be fully effective I think. As time goes by and his movement and handling improve, I think he will improve as a footballer, but for now he is still kinda raw in that department, but the potential is there and the reason for his price tag last winter, that and he is English.

A side is pretty predictable that way, as you stated.