Captain America

Yup, they've overpaid like hell there. Considering the money they've taken in this summer that's a properly shit signing.

They've overpaid for sure but he's not a shit signing.

He played pretty well by all accounts for Hull after signing in January and has been a good EPL player in his career.  Only knock on him is he doesn't score enough goals but he is a good all round striker that links decently for others to score.

Need to remember this is Southampton they're not going to be making the Champions league or realistically the Europa even so they can't exactly go out and get a huge name no matter how much money they make.  They need to be realistic.

So Scottish referees do it again with an abysmal performance from John Beaton in the St Johnstone v Celtic game. Highlights on BBC website for those who haven't seen it.

Jesus christ that's awful.  Scottish refs never seem to get demoted though, no matter how shit they are.

Don't even think you can give a red and a penalty for that, it was running away from him.  If he thinks it's a pen that's it.  Can't red him as well.

Here's the goal.

God bless Sheffield United's 86th minute winner.  My first coupon win this year.  Yas.  Min.

Cavani is a big lazy lump. Very much a mood player. Can't see him fitting in at Arsenal.

It's Liverpool he's being linked with today.  39 million bid French media said.

Sky saying Luke Shaw is out for a month.

Also lots of Cavani talk today again.  Depends if PSG can get Di Maria.

Running with the DevilMuhammed AliOzzy OsbourneThe QueenPete DochortyMargaret ThatcherStirling MossTerry PratchettLindsey LohanOprahMary-Kate OlsenCharlie SheenHulk HoganKeith RichardsMick JaggerBruce ForsythRobin WilliamsKate McCann (is she famous enough? Or just infamous...)Dave MustaineMel GibsonSteven SegallJoker is Robin Williams.

If it was 2010 I'd be fucking rolling in points.

Clowney will be useless in coverage, dude is a freak from the line after the snap.  He is so tight hipped running though I doubt he'll ever turn round to find the ball.  Him and Watt will still probably be the Texans only positives this season,

I think seeing how New England do is going to be interesting.  Do they have any wide receivers?  Does that even matter?

The NFC West as a whole is going to be fun to watch.  49ers and Seahawks are still probably the best all round teams in the NFL, Cardinals coming off of a 10 win season and the Rams who had ludicrous number of good draft picks thanks to Washington.

I really don't enjoy pre season games.  It's like one drive of your actual team then just a training session with pads.

Game 3 of the preseason you might get a half out of your starters.  Can't wait for the season to start, I've a feeling this might be Kap's breakout season throwing the ball and running with the WRs we have this year.

My voice is going. Away support was in great voice today!

Looking forward to the Arsenal highlights later too.

Who won last year?

I'm well up for Sunday though. Can't wait. Hopefully the ground is packed out again (without vuvuzelas please). united have apparently just about sold out their allocation. 

I think we've sold out now according to United.

He'd only be a back up at Barca I reckon. Still it's a big step down from others that they were looking at.

 

The dons can be very happy with the European campaign. A very professional victory against a team we should always beat easily (but previous dons teams have made a mess of those games), a very good win against a comparable team and a defeat without shame against one of the very best teams in the tournament.

 

Now the important thing is we take advantage of the sharpness gained from these matches to hit the ground running in the league. 

I'm not sure he'd leave if he didn't think he'd start.  Apparently he's getting a 5 year deal as well.  About 15 million is not bad considering his form and injury history, confirmed by the BBC man that knows all.

Think Aberdeen can be pretty pleased with how they played in Europa as a whole.  Looking forward to the game on Sunday.

In EPL news sounds like Man Utd are out of the Vermaelen sweep.  Arsene wanted a player swap deal if he was to go there and they've said no.  Off to Barca to form a roaming center back partnership with Pique?  That sounds like a nightmare for Barca fans.

Bit of chat on Twitter about Falcao going to Liverpool? I swear to God, that had better be nonsense...

Twitter was silly last night the other chat was that Arsenal are leading the race for Reus.  Be still my beating heart.

Front line of Reus, Sanchez, Wallcott with Ozil behind them.

Being a dick?

He missed half the season (played 21 games in the EPL)!  Was he just refusing to play?  That seems like a silly point to make.

Woah, that's probably the most in depth analysis of Chris Smalling I've ever seen!

In my opinion, most of his statistics are flawed in that they wouldn't make for the same reading if he had been deployed at centre half for his entire career. Getting extremely inconsistent runs in the team also contribute to this. I definitely think he needs a lot of game time this year, and shouldn't be judged too heavily on his form up until this point. If United are going to play 3 at the back then I think Smalling, Jones and a top quality signing would be the answer (Hummels?), whilst keeping Evans/Keane in the frame for the purposes of rotation.

Looking at the wing back positions, apparently Ashley Young has shone in pre-season along with Valencia and Shaw. Rafael can play there too, so there are options available. The weakest area is arguably central midfield, but with Fletcher back, Hererra in the team and a signing looking quite likely (hopefully Vidal), I'm optimistic about the coming season given the quality of the front line. No other team in the league has a group of forwards that are collectively as good as Mata, Rooney and RVP; and I include Man City in that.

Aguero, Yaya, Silva and one of Negredo/Dzeko/Jovetic is better.

You're a United fan but that front line is not as good as City's.  Especially as RVP had another injury plagued season last year. 

Some Arsenal fans are backing off the idea as it seems a bit off now with his wage demands, you know the way fans are.  Greatest player in the world when he's going to sign, garbage they dont need when he doesn't.

As you say stats can be made to fit almost any case.  The Real Madrid ones really dont mean much as someone already said Alonso does the real dirty work there but for Germany Khedira does more of that.

He'd really fit in at Arsenal in my opinion, able to play the DM role but extremely good on the ball and can pass as well as any midfielder.  Perfect for the football Arsenal were playing last season.  Arteta/Flamini just isn't a viable option for this season if Arsenal wan't to challenge.  With them it's just another top four finish. IMO.

Quite possibly, but then why are Arsenal wanting to buy him as a DM, if he doesnt really play as a DM? 

There is a chart at the bottom for the boy Kramer, who i believe is the starting Germany DM isnt he? 

They have also just bought Chambers, who started life as a DM and has been converted into a defender in the last couple of years. 

 

It just seems like a lot of money for a guy who may not really do the job they need. They have battling mids like Ramsey already there, what they really need is a good, disciplined sitting DM, who isnt Arteta. 

Khedira is the starting DM, Kramer played in the final when Khedira got injured in the warm up.  The only other game he played in was as an extra time sub.

Gustavo is a good option, I said in the WC thread what a nasty bastard he is.  He'd fit right in the EPL for most top teams.

I think Khedira would be good too though.  He does do some of the things they need and they really just need someone to sit and help the defence out a bit, Arsenal always get caught just being too gung who from the mid.

You certainly need another experienced center back, I watched some highlights of last nights game and the defense was pretty bad.  Lucky you didn't concede more.

The three in the middle like the Dutch did is great if your three are composed and moves well together.  Watching them with Jones and Smalling isn't really that.  Jones as you said is pretty mad and Smalling really needs games there before he'll be decent.

Yeah I was thinking that about the Citeh squad as well.  How can they even pick their champions league squad from that...

Well terrible might have been a bit harsh but two unproven kids to me doesn't make it that good.  Pre season means next to nothing as we all know.  Smalling and Jones even haven't played that much center back and are both pretty injury prone aren't they?