Quote :

"You just pish-poshed the idea but never backed it up with facts or statistics..."

It's hard to quantify what makes a winger good tracking back aside from what we watch with our eyes. I'm not aware of any advanced metric/statistic that ranks defensive-helping wingers or forwards, but then again I've never really looked.

Valencia was obviously very good the second half of last year but it's hard to make that claim when he didn't start in the biggest game of the season to me.

7/8/2012 3:12:33 PM

I'm chalking that up to SAF frankly outsmarting himself.

Valencia was ridiculous last year. That's a fact. He's an elite winger, impossible to say who's the best.

7/8/2012 3:18:44 PM

Quote :

"What a joke you are."

Someone's a joke here, and it's not me. You need to go do some research on what the difference between a forward and a winger is. You might also do some research on formations, as well, since this whole concept seems to be completely out of your league.

Basing your reply to a pedantic interpretation of the question TO THE GUY WHO FUCKING ASKED THE QUESTION is the #1 way to come off looking like an absolute twat. i know what i meant by what i asked, you know what i meant by what i asked, and you're acting like an incorrigible shit about semantics when you know good and god damned fucking well I wasn't asking about players that 99.9% of the planet consider to be forwards.

But again, that goes back to my point - you don't have an answer, so you act like an asshole. Probably really close to "shut the fuck up" and "you don't know what you're talking about" time for you at this point, I'd say.

[Edited on July 8, 2012 at 3:33 PM. Reason : ..]

7/8/2012 3:25:06 PM

Oh shit guys... I'M the one action all pedantic about semantics. I can't think of a single person outside yourself and JT that have such a stupidly narrow interpretation of what a winger is.

7/8/2012 3:53:07 PM

Ahem - that could be because "you don't know what you're talking about" so you might want to "shut the fuck up" now.

7/8/2012 4:05:26 PM

7/8/2012 4:08:25 PM

Like I said before. Valencia is the only winger in the world, thus he is the best.

7/8/2012 5:28:49 PM

Where does he primarily play again?

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/16886/

Quote :

"Kleber (11) was signed for just a couple of million Euros and has taken the role of the departed Falcao as the lead striker, with Hulk (12) continuing in his spot barraging in from the right wing as he did so successfully last season."

http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2011/10/11/scout-report-fc-porto/




[Edited on July 8, 2012 at 7:50 PM. Reason : Please keep telling me how wrong I am]

7/8/2012 7:44:18 PM

true wingers are kinda out of style these days...most teams run a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 and rely as much on their fullbacks as anyone else to provide the classic duties of the wide man

I'm not saying that the right-sided players in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 don't cross the ball...but more often than not they're holding midfielders/goalscorers rather than wingers per se

Dani Alves...now he's a winger, despite being a fullback

I guess my point is that being "the best winger in the world," if Valencia is indeed that, is not as impressive a feat as it would have been 10 years ago, say. Ronaldo could easily be the best winger in the world, but he has better things to do.


[Edited on July 8, 2012 at 8:03 PM. Reason : rw]

7/8/2012 7:53:27 PM

I'm glad we have so many knowledgeable FC Porto fans on here.

7/8/2012 8:09:29 PM

I never made the claim that he was the best winger in the world, i asked for someone to name me ones who were better



and Stoned420 - you just fucking proved how much of a goddamned idiot you are. Look at the fucking chart you posted. Where does Hulk play? Inside the width of the 18. As blanks said ON THIS PAGE, Hulk is an inside forward. Your own chart shows that and you are STILL too fucking stupid to understand. Jesus (Navas) I am done with you.

7/8/2012 8:25:58 PM

He also plays back and to the side. Just because he cuts in from the wing, doesn't mean he doesn't play on the wing.

7/8/2012 8:37:46 PM

Your argument is that Robben is a winger and Hulk is not?

7/8/2012 8:42:57 PM

doesn't messi kinda play right wing? positions on barca are hard to tell, but he usually attacks from the right side, so one might call him a right winger.

7/8/2012 9:02:49 PM

I'll trust him based on user name.

7/8/2012 9:05:19 PM

Honestly, I think Berbatov was the best winger I've ever seen. And don't even try to argue with me. Every time he stepped on the pitch he was most certainly winging it.

7/8/2012 10:02:35 PM

^ I lol'ed.


Also, lols at that Andy Carroll to Milan loan rumor.

7/9/2012 9:17:12 AM

Mancini re-signs with City for another 5 years.

7/9/2012 1:25:23 PM

Looks like Deuce to Liverpool

Congrats aimorris

7/9/2012 6:26:17 PM

Hope it happens, even though Clint wished to play Champions League this year.

7/9/2012 6:47:27 PM

He really deserves a move to one of the Big 8 clubs though.

7/9/2012 8:59:20 PM

Spurs are apparently going after Hugo Lloris. I like the aggressiveness so far this offseason.

7/10/2012 8:57:37 AM

haha big 8 clubs, nicely done sir.

I actually want CL for Dempsey too but I'll take him at Liverpool no doubt. I think he's exactly the type of player to fit into a 4-3-3 since he's so versatile. Plus, he's a proven PL goalscorer which Liverpool need desperately.

It's so cliche and I know that's half the logic in FSG wanting a high profile American on their team, but I will definitely be buying the new kit if he signs.

7/10/2012 9:18:36 AM

RVP uturn? Sky Sports says so.

Lloris is being tracked by Spurs and Arsenal. Certainly less competition going forward at Spurs given ages of current first choice.

7/10/2012 10:26:38 AM

That's a waste if Arsenal spend money on a high profile goalkeeper right now.

7/10/2012 10:30:43 AM

Quote :

"RVP uturn? Sky Sports says so."

I must have missed that one on Sky Sports.

Quote :

"That's a waste if Arsenal spend money on a high profile goalkeeper right now."

Yep.

7/10/2012 10:36:20 AM

Quote :

"That's a waste if Arsenal spend money on a high profile goalkeeper right now."

Not really. Who is on the roster that can back up Szczesny? Rumor is that he was playing part of the end of last season injured, which resulted in a dip in form. It could be that he is still injured and they want some competition in the net, so a good time to bring in another young, talented keeper.

At this point, as much as an RvP fan as I am, I would rather him move on to a non-EPL club and be done with it. It was a jerk move to release that statement and even if he stays, everyone knows he really doesn't want to be there. Make some decent money while he's still valuable and invest it in a physio that can keep Arteta, Wilshere, and Walcott healthy for an entire season.

7/10/2012 9:19:03 PM

Lloris is quickly on his way to becoming one of the premier keepers in the world and Scezney is easily on of the top 5 young prospects at that position. It makes absolutely no sense for Arsenal to be splashing a ton of cash on a position that they probably already have locked down for the next decade or so. Buying a young prospect or bringing in an old, experienced keeper to keep Scezney sharp are the only prudent choices. Having two top class keepers on your team is a really stupid move when you have so many other holes that need to be filled.

7/10/2012 9:47:00 PM

Gareth Bale is a better winger than Antonio Valencia

7/10/2012 10:57:30 PM

Sorry, we're only specifically discussing the best right, two-way, black, Nicaraguan, non-first-team-choice winger in the world.

If you try to argue otherwise, you'll be chastised about how you don't know anything about soccer.

7/10/2012 11:26:31 PM

I've not really watched enough of Hulk to form an opinion as to whether kiljadn was talking out his ass or not
so I'll refrain from posting an lol or making some snide comment of agreement
but I really do think Bale is a better winger

7/10/2012 11:47:36 PM

^ Bale plays on the left.

7/11/2012 7:35:24 AM

Lol, is Liverpool really contemplating loaning Andy to West Ham?? £35M!

7/11/2012 8:02:44 AM

Quote :

"Not really. Who is on the roster that can back up Szczesny? Rumor is that he was playing part of the end of last season injured, which resulted in a dip in form. It could be that he is still injured and they want some competition in the net, so a good time to bring in another young, talented keeper."

Yeah, your best player wants to walk right now and you're looking to drop a sizable transfer fee on a BACKUP young goalkeeper. That makes total sense. And because Arsenal was only just one backup goalkeeper away from winning the league (or any trophy) last year.

Find a serviceable veteran on the cheap and move on to more important matters - not losing your best players every year, finding a good LB, get some more midfielders, add depth, etc.

[Edited on July 11, 2012 at 8:45 AM. Reason : dur IMStoned already addressed this, my bad]


^ new manager, new system, new players. Not that surprising. I think Carroll's a lot better than people on here give him credit for and while they won't get the 35m for him, they can definitely find some people willing to take him for 15-20, instead of a loan. I hope he stays though.

[Edited on July 11, 2012 at 8:47 AM. Reason : Carroll]

7/11/2012 8:44:40 AM

PSG is offering €40M for Modric. Would be surprised to see him sign with them but at least the price is moving above £30M. Still think Spurs should have pulled the trigger last season if the Chelsea offer of £50M was true.

7/11/2012 11:34:53 AM

Two years without Champions League football for Modric, how long until he formally puts in a transfer request?

7/11/2012 2:42:48 PM

Wow.

Sky Sport 24 is reporting that PSG have reached an agreement with AC Milan to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva for €65 million.

7/11/2012 3:08:06 PM

they ain't fuckin' around

7/11/2012 3:40:24 PM

"Fuck it, I'll go to West Ham."

7/11/2012 4:09:23 PM

Chelsea never offered above £40 last season and Real wasn't offering more than £30 so far this summer. If Real or PSG bid £40 for Modric, I say let him go. The longer this goes on, the more distracting it gets and Spurs have a ton of positive momentum at the moment.

7/11/2012 5:55:16 PM

FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

7/12/2012 1:18:39 PM

ouch

7/12/2012 1:30:46 PM

I'm loving our away kit

7/12/2012 2:11:36 PM

lol at Gareth Bale trying to look manly/scary
he's a damn good footballer, but he'll always look like an elf

7/12/2012 2:15:19 PM

Here's a post from reddit with all the kits for this year.

http://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/wft97/premiership_kit_thread/

I actually like Arsenal's tops, I think the one above is just a bad picture.



I think United's are the worst, especially if that away kit is for real.

7/12/2012 2:36:26 PM

um, United's home is worse than the away.

Arsenal shirts are also ugly.

Spurs did well for themselves.

Liverpool's home is solid but the others, especially the 3rd, are tuuuurrrible.

7/12/2012 2:48:46 PM

That pool 3rd might be ok if it wasn't for the tribal tattoo sleeves

7/12/2012 3:31:50 PM

I actually like the Man U white kit posted above, and the Liverpool blacks.

7/12/2012 3:36:54 PM

looks like a wet suit

7/12/2012 3:38:03 PM

I think the Man U aways will look a lot better on the field. But nothing is saving the homes.

WTF is up with Arsenal and purple? That sleeve stripe is terrible.

7/12/2012 4:38:32 PM