Tis the season before the transfer window! tra la la la la la

[jazzypom]

Comments

[lied_ohne_worte]

Well, I wouldn't say that there is really anything religious in "Jingle Bells" (or much of the rest of the Christmas nonsense you encounter in public), so whatever.

In Germany at least, the main Christmas action is on the evening of the 24th. January 6th is Epiphany (which most people don't know) or the day of the Three Saints (in Catholic areas).

As for the Liverpool curse, I suppose we know what is happening with Arsenal.

Seriously though, if just being against homophobia makes someone lose at football, one would imagine being gay would be worse? Someone forgot to tell say the German women's NT. There have been openly gay players in it for ages, yet they somehow didn't manage to be cursed.

Ah yes, Epiphany

[jazzypom]

Yeah, I remember that. Got caught short on that in Spain one year. No buses running! So we had to walk everywhere. I've gotten too lazy for Christmas. No lights, no wreaths, no cakes, no shopping. If I want something, I'll buy it myself, that sort of thing.

I'm desperate for LFC to take a turn for the better, but not that desperate!

[stageira]

Bayern Munich gets in on the Christmas cheer. Suppose you're agnostic, do you really have to go through all this malarkey?

While I detest this whole Xmas deluge every year (for personal reasons and not religious ones at that), each team seems to be doing whatever they think its wanted/acceptable for the country they are in (although Barca's vids about Catalan traditions made me laugh like a hyena LOL) why do they sing in english though? Couldn't they do something in German?

Besides, I thought most European countries didn't celebrate till January 5/6 or thereabouts?

I'm confused. With the exception of Old Orthodox countries (Russia etc), we all celebrate Xmas on the same dates. Eastern Orthodox christians also celebrate Epiphany quite a bit (it's a public holiday, yay!).

Bayern is trying to reach out to the American market

[jazzypom]

Just as the Bundesliga is, hence the English. I get that, both organisations want the American audience (and the English speaking one), so why not.

I thought most people on the continent either celebrated on December 24 (when you open your presents) or Jan 6th (various saints days). But again, I don't know, I don't celebrate the period (not religious, and far too lazy).

RE: Bayern is trying to reach out to the American market

[lied_ohne_worte]

If you encounter Christmas music from tape in Germany, it's quite a safe bet there will be plenty of English-language things in it. Children, too, will just love Jingle Bells. Most people have no clue what the lyrics mean, but who cares. So the "outreach" is only part of it, I'd say.

Re: Bayern is trying to reach out to the American market

[stageira]

That totally sucks if you ask me, they are german they should just keep doing things as it was.
But it is quite possible that I'm not their target and I'm multilingual. On the other hand as a Barca fan I try hard to get the catalan phrases right and I do want to get them right, I don't want them to be in english or anything though.

Speaking for my country (Greece) we celebrate the 25th and the night of the 31st and the 6th of January and every other day we can!! (We seem to have gotten polluted by the rest of Europe and gift giving has become important, when before it was mostly a religious and family celebration).

[mundodeamor]

Dying at the Fallon d'Floor 2014 and the nominations, the names are hilarious! I found it hard to decide who to vote for, but I had to go with someone who has been falling quite a lot lately. ;)

There is no way Mou is selling Costa, he's clearly super important to him, just look at his impact and all the injuries Mou has already made up in the few months of the season in order to protect him.

for real

[jazzypom]

There is no way Mou is selling Costa, he's clearly super important to him, just look at his impact and all the injuries Mou has already made up in the few months of the season in order to protect him.

Costa has the 'balls' that Mourinho said Chelsea were lacking last season. That being said, if Costa's people want him to go, he'll go. I think he's one of those players that has shares in his contract (rather like Falcao). I think he was rumoured to be linked to Liverpool, but LFC as usual, lowballed, didn't show the money, and Chelsea got him.

RE: for real

[mundodeamor]

I don't see why he would go, considering he has an important role at Chelsea and they're doing well, unless you are referring that his people (agent?) would make him go because of the money. What do you mean Falcao has shares in his contract? Shares from the club's earnings or shares for the agent? I googled about it and all I found was a twitter account ''whatfalcaoearns'', lol.

RE: for real

[jazzypom]

I'm talking about third party ownership where the player is owned by various football clubs. So you find that a player like Falcao or Diego Costa can't necessarily say where they want to go, it's where their owners say they should go. Each transfer is worth money, and the player is unsettled. For instance, Falcao is a player that's played for various clubs, and helped them to the Champions League, but has never played in a Champions League match, because he keeps getting passed on from pillar to post the next season. Back in the day, when Costa was at Atletico Madrid, Liverpool put in a bid for him, but Costa ended up going to Chelsea instead (due to more money, etc), but if he decided that he wanted to stay at Atletico Madrid, he wouldn't be able to, because he is not able to dictate where he wants to go.

I think come this year (2014), that sort of contract is illegal in football now. But you find a LOT of South American players (Costa and Falcao come to mind) are connected to this sort of contract.

[mundodeamor]

I was a bit weirded out when I saw Cesc making such a light-hearted about/after Zouma's injury, but Mou said Zoma is fine now. In the slow-motion replays you can see his tooth falling out, lol. :/ And apparently the medical staff can't run to the pitch?? I didn't know that - and I guess Cesc and Azpilicueta didn't either, considering they ran to them to help them carry the stretcher, hah.

Mou smiles under the most unusual circumstances ...

It was raining and slippery on pitch last night

[jazzypom]

So they would have violated Health and Safety!

It's one of those health and safety rules in England, I'm afraid! Especially if four people are holding the stretcher and one goes down with a twisted ankle or thereabouts, you'd only make it worse. At least Cesc and Azipilcueta would have had studs on their shoes, and would know how to make their way across the pitch with minimal injury. The stewards, not so much.

Ouch at his tooth falling out. Zouma got clattered, I'm sure Cech feels terrible, especially when it comes to head injuries. Courtois said that when he had his concussion, Cech sent him a message of support and then showed him moves how to minimize the damage next time. So.

Given all that, I just felt bad for Derby. Once they were down to ten men (that was a harsh call, I think), the game was over for them.

RE: It was raining and slippery on pitch last night

[mundodeamor]

Oh, I thought it was in general that they weren't allowed to run with the stretcher. Yeah, Cech must have felt awful, but at least Zouma is okay now. Honestly, it looked way worse than it is - since he was lying down and then being carried, I thought he was unconscious or something like that. :/

Re: RE: It was raining and slippery on pitch last night

[jazzypom]

Probably they're not in general? But I've seen the stewards briskly jog to players with stretchers when it's dry out, but if it's slippery underfoot, the byword is going to be caution. They also had a steward who came as soon as Drogba gesticulated, and they looked at the player, and made a decision to move him off pitch because he had blood in his mouth.

Re: the stewards, if you look at their stout shoes, they aren't wearing studs, so they'd have to move slowly because the pitch (smooth, and slick) would be slippery underfoot.

I would prefer Reus at RM than Barca tbh

[jesscp]

Because the thought of him having to play with Suarez is enough to put me off following Reus any longer ugh. If Reus were to go to RM, I don't think he would struggle for first team minutes, but his play certainly won't be as regular as it has been (ignoring this shambolic injury season) - I think he would be more suited to RM too, what with a couple of his NT teammates there already. BUT LETS NOT DEPRESS OURSELVES THINKING ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW?!

I remember loving Ochoa at the WC, then he cut his hair and went to Malaga and I'm assuming it hasn't gone too well?! Could he be any worse than the current offering at LFC, OP? Mind you I think you mentioned before, perhaps it's the coaching team behind the scenes that needs improving more than the current players?

In the minority here.. But I quite like the Everton Xmas jumpers!

Re: I would prefer Reus at RM than Barca tbh

[jazzypom]

I remember loving Ochoa at the WC, then he cut his hair and went to Malaga and I'm assuming it hasn't gone too well?! Could he be any worse than the current offering at LFC, OP? Mind you I think you mentioned before, perhaps it's the coaching team behind the scenes that needs improving more than the current players? It depends. According to people who watch La Liga, he's the same level as Mingolet, so the consensus is that Mingolet will stay and he and Ochoa will fight for first place. It's a bit disappointing, but yeah, if they're going to get Ochoa, they really should get some coaches for the goalies as well, because Rodgers isn't it (he seems to give pointers and move on, tbh. I'd laugh if it weren't so sad). We're playing Bournemouth tonight and Howe is doing pretty well for himself, in terms of how he's managing the club. I cry

RE: Re: I would prefer Reus at RM than Barca tbh

[jesscp]

Yeah I think coaching behind the scenes seems to be the main problem for a fair few clubs at the moment, the players have ability and talent, but no one there to nurture it.

Yep that's right - Barca are banned from transfers I think until January 2016? He's probably more likely to make a move to either RM or Chelsea in summer, although if he stays with Dortmund it'll be clear he wants to go to Barca halfway through the season. I'll be gutted when he leaves BVB, I will be so sad but I get why he would want to go. Ugh hold me :(

Re: RE: Re: I would prefer Reus at RM than Barca tbh

[jazzypom]

Yeah I think coaching behind the scenes seems to be the main problem for a fair few clubs at the moment, the players have ability and talent, but no one there to nurture it.

All of this. Especially if you're getting young players in their late teens, early twenties, they're still green, you need to 'prune them' so to speak.

I can't see Reus coming to the PL, to be honest. The German players really haven't sold themselves well here so far. Özil has been seen as over hpyped, Schurrle is not deemed Chelsea quality (has flashes but the complaint is that he isn't consistent by the Chelsea supporters? Idek), Poldi can barely see first team minutes (although that might be changing). That being said, Arsenal might be a better fit for Reus than Chelsea, I think*.