Thread: English Premier League 2014/2015

He didn't consider Arsenal's offer very carefully because they never made one.

So if Arsenal and Barcelona don't want him, something must be up.

Personal problems?

Well Barcelona won nothing and need to rebuild and Arsenal's priority can't be midfielders, surely?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Personal problems?

More likely Barca just don't consider him a key player in a champions league and spanish league winning side.

He's no Iniesta.

People seem to forget, he won us feck all.

Well that's what i was saying, basically.

Not sure who's forgotten it - you're the guy going on about 'personal problems' possibly being the reason few clubs competed with Chelsea for him.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Well that's what i was saying, basically.

Not sure who's forgotten it - you're the guy going on about 'personal problems' possibly being the reason few clubs competed with Chelsea for him.

I think it's a combination of reasons, but there is a tiny minority of anti-Wenger tweeners who seem to think it's worth 30m + 200k a week to bring a player in to provide cover for Ramsey, just because he *used* to play for us.

Naturally the red tops are blowing them up into a story that in reality does not exist.

FWIW Southend suffered from a goal drought last season so the manager plans to buy a new striker.

Hopefully not someone with a zimmer frame and arthritis.

Gutted, Salisbury City FC relegated from the Conference for not paying their bills before the deadline.

The new Moroccan owner, who promised to provide camels for supporters who wished to travel to the ground has been quite rightly banned from the club.

Conference South here we come

Ronald Koeman: Southampton name Dutchman as new manager


Southampton have appointed Ronald Koeman as their new manager.

The former Netherlands international has agreed a three-year deal to replace Mauricio Pochettino who took over at Tottenham last month.

Koeman, 51, resigned from his job at Feyenoord in May after guiding the club to second place in the Eredivisie.

"Southampton have a talented first-team squad, a world-class academy and the infrastructure to sustain success in the Premier League," he said



Ronald Koeman will be joined at Southampton by his brother Erwin and Jan Kluitenberg</SPAN abp="474">


"From my very first meeting with executive director Les Reed, I could see clearly that this was the right club for me. We share the same philosophy of football and the same belief in how to develop the club.

"The opportunity to continue the development of this famous football club was simply too good to turn down. I cannot wait to get started."

His brother, Erwin, has been appointed as assistant after he left his coaching role at Dutch club RKC Waalwijk.

“The club, the players and the fans will all be excited to have a man of Ronald's experience at the very highest level joining our club” - Les Reed

The pair will be joined by Jan Kluitenberg, who takes up the role of assistant first team coach/physical coach. Kluitenberg worked with Koeman at Vitesse Arnhem, Benfica, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord.

The trio will be assisted by Southampton's existing first-team support staff, while the club will be recruiting a high-level goalkeeping coach in the near future.

Koeman already has a list of players he would like to bring to St Mary's, with BBC Radio Solent reporting Feyenoord midfielder Lex Immers, 28, as his top transfer target.

However, keeping players at the club will be one of his immediate challenges, with England pair Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana the subject of interest elsewhere.

The search for Southampton's new manager was led by Reed, who hailed the arrival of the Dutchman.

"We are extremely pleased to have secured a new manager of Ronald Koeman's calibre and status within the game," said Reed.

"From the moment we met with Ronald, it was clear he had the vision and ambition to take our club forward, that he shared our football philosophy and could see the opportunity to move our club to the next level.

"The club, the players and the fans will all be excited to have a man of Ronald's experience at the very highest level joining our club."



Koeman will discover his first opponents in English football on Wednesday, when the 2014-15 Premier League fixtures are released.

His honours as a player include winning the 1988 European Championship with the Dutch national team, the European Cup - now the Champions League - with PSV Eindhoven in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992 as well as domestic league titles in the Netherlands and Spain.

He played 763 games for club and country, scoring 253 goals, including the winner for Barcelona against Sampdoria in the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley.

His managerial career has taken in spells at Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia and AZ Alkmaar, before he joined Feyenoord in July 2011

Bit disconcerting that there are no big signings at Old Trafford yet.

Hope we aren't repeating last seasons mistakes

Originally Posted by Dandyhole

Bit disconcerting that there are no big signings at Old Trafford yet.

That means they aren't queuing up to go there...isn't Van Gall otherwise engaged...smart move that...run the ship without a manager during the off deason

The fixtures are out:

Premier League Opening fixtures - weekend of August 16
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Burnley v Chelsea
Leicester City v Everton
Liverpool v Southampton
Manchester United v Swansea City
Newcastle United v Manchester City
QPR v Hull City
Stoke City v Aston Villa
West Brom v Sunderland
West Ham v Spurs

Man U have a much easier start to the new season, there first 6 games being
Swansea
Sunderland
Burnley
QPR
Leicester
West Ham

Should be off to a flyer


Fixtures here:
Fixtures: Manchester City open Premier League title defence with Newcastle clash | Football News | Sky Sports

There are some cracking fixtures in the first 6 games.

Man United sign midfield Ace Herrera from Bilbao

"Signing for Man United is like a dream come true"

Man United sign England left back Luke Shaw on 4 year deal.

Luis Suarez is said to be worth $150m

according to the tooth fairy.

Trying to buy success erm..back.

So far our dynamic leader at Southend has managed to sign...a midfielder from the youth team.

Most of last season's first team are staying on.

Help us, please.

Looks like Liverpool are signing up some major talent this summer with the expected Suarez money.

It'll be interesting to see whether it comes off or they 'do a spurs'.

Huge test for Rogers and his recruitment team.

...and yes, again Phil Brown astounds Roots Hall by signing a striker, Jason Williams, from the youth team.

So far Southend have the same hopeless lot from last season plus a couple of teenagers.

Alexis Sanchez: Barcelona forward signs for Arsenal

By David Ornstein
BBC Sport
Chile international striker Alexis Sanchez has signed for Arsenal from Barcelona on a long-term contract for in the region of £35million.
The 25-year-old scored 47 goals in 141 appearances for Barca and netted two goals in the World Cup in Brazil.
He said: "I'm so happy to be joining a club which has a great manager, a fantastic squad of players and huge support around the world.
"I'm looking forward to playing in the Premier League and Champions League."
The Gunners also remain on course to sign French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, 28, from Newcastle United.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Looks like Liverpool are signing up some major talent this summer with the expected Suarez money.

Major talent ? Where ?

I just read on The Mail Online that Suarez has been sold to Barca for 75 million squid.

Bollox!

THE RAP SHEET: THE FULL LIST OF SUAREZ'S CONTROVERSIES


February 2007: Makes his international debut for Uruguay against Colombia but is sent off in the final minutes after being shown a second yellow card for dissent.
November 2007: Joins Ajax from Uruguayan side Nacional but is later suspended by the Dutch giants after a half-time dressing-room altercation with team-mate Albert Luque.
July 2010: During the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals, Suarez prevents Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring in the final minute with a deliberate handball on the line and is subsequently sent off. A penalty was awarded but missed by Asamoah Gyan and footage showed Suarez celebrating on the sidelines. Uruguay eventually went through to the last four on penalties.
November 2010: Handed a seven-match ban by the Dutch FA and fined by his club for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ottman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match.
October 2011: Following his move to Liverpool in January 2011, is involved in a tackle with Everton's Jack Rodwell and goes down with apparent minimal contact. Rodwell is then sent off.
October 2011: Alleged to have racially abused Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Later found guilty by an independent regulatory commission, banned for eight matches and fined £40,000.



December 2011: Seen making an offensive gesture towards Fulham fans. At this time he had already been charged by the FA over the racism incident, although not yet punished, but was handed a further one-match ban for the gesture.
February 2012: United and Liverpool meet again at Old Trafford and more controversy ensues as Suarez refuses to shake Evra's hand before kick-off.
October 2012: Celebrates a goal against Everton by diving in front of Toffees boss David Moyes, who had earlier claimed that "divers" such as Suarez were putting fans off the English game.
January 2013: Handles the ball prior to scoring Liverpool's winner in the FA Cup third-round tie at Mansfield.
April 2013: Bites Branislav Ivanovic on the arm but escapes punishment on the pitch as the referee fails to see it, and scores Liverpool's equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time as they draw 2-2 with Chelsea at Anfield. Fined by club the following day and charged with violent conduct by the FA. Subsequently handed a 10-match ban by an independent regulatory commission, which Liverpool opt not to appeal against.
June 2014: Television replays show Suarez moving his head towards Chiellini, who responded by swinging an arm before chasing the referee to apparently insist he had been bitten on his shoulder. Banned by FIFA from all football for four months, as well as nine international matches, and ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs.

Read more: Luis Suarez completes £75m transfer to Barcelona | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Happy for Liverpool FC. It was odds on he would/will embarrass his employers again before long.

Football is quickly becoming a joke the further up the food chain you go.