Today's Football 2015 / 16

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

he's an american citizen? wasn't there something american about him.

He might be half American

Possibly, I'm not sure of the exact details

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I think Chico said he's American, so we've got an American living in Switzerland supoorting a Spanish team, seems pretty standard stuff

It's a natural combination really

 

[LinekersLegs]

I do think it would be fine and I think he'd get plenty of minutes but I also appreciate the value in him getting enough minutes so I under Oscar Garcia's POV...Of course, it's important to note that not only does Garcia know him, certainly not more than any of his other coaches at Barcelona, he is also persona non grata at the club due to being a Cruyffist

As for what the player would be content with, I would counter that most Everton fans would have far less insight into that than Barcelona fans who have followed the player for far longer and understand what it means for a Catalan kid to succeed at their boyhood club...But it's true that it's unlikely Lucho has changed his opinion of the player over Munir/Sandro atm, despite Gerard's current run of form...As I have said many times before, no one questions his talent at the club...It's always been about other things

Whether those things change or have changed is difficult to gauge but it's also improbable that the club would consider giving up on a prized asset like Deulofeu for the pittance he was 'sold' for...Also why I contend it's really a form of an incentivized loan IMHO...The caveat, which I've also mentioned before, is whether the player has been damaged by what has gone on in the past year to refuse a return which I conceded is not out of the question

Oscar Garcia knows Deulofeu much better than either of us, he is certainly more likely to listen to career advice from him.

Obviously it means a lot for a Catalan kid to succeed at their boyhood club but Gerard's isn't the same character as some other La Masia players such as Iniesta - Deulofeu absolutely adores being the star of the show and visibly thrives on it. I haven't followed Deulofeu since he was a kid but I have tracked him very closely for the past couple of years including most of his interviews in both Spanish and English - whereas once he talked a lot about fulfilling his dream at Barcelona now he talks about having his own career, his own ambitions separate to the the club.

You seem to think that would only happen out of bitterness or because he is upset with Barcelona - he might an anguished soul inside but tbh he is hiding it extremely well! Personally just think he has matured and realises that, lovely as Barcelona is, life is short and there is a world outside it that can be enjoyable/successful so he'd like to try it for a while and then reassess what his options/desires are. His whole demeanour has been different from last summer when he clearly felt that he was being banished without being given a chance - naturally it was the club's final decision that he was sold but it appears one he was in full agreement with, even agitated for it rather than a loan, and was singleminded in his choice as to whom he wanted to be sold to.

If he was so desperate to fight for a place at Barcelona in the near future why did he come back to Everton rather than stay in La Liga and prove he was adapted to that style of play? We weren't the only club in for him and it certainly wasn't because we offered more money or because we could give him European experience this year that might be valuable in returning quickly.

 

[Fuleco]

Just gutted that @FCBarça didnt want to do my Barca quiz

 

[Robertor]

I do think it would be fine and I think he'd get plenty of minutes but I also appreciate the value in him getting enough minutes so I under Oscar Garcia's POV...Of course, it's important to note that not only does Garcia know him, certainly not more than any of his other coaches at Barcelona, he is also persona non grata at the club due to being a Cruyffist

As for what the player would be content with, I would counter that most Everton fans would have far less insight into that than Barcelona fans who have followed the player for far longer and understand what it means for a Catalan kid to succeed at their boyhood club...But it's true that it's unlikely Lucho has changed his opinion of the player over Munir/Sandro atm, despite Gerard's current run of form...As I have said many times before, no one questions his talent at the club...It's always been about other things

Whether those things change or have changed is difficult to gauge but it's also improbable that the club would consider giving up on a prized asset like Deulofeu for the pittance he was 'sold' for...Also why I contend it's really a form of an incentivized loan IMHO...The caveat, which I've also mentioned before, is whether the player has been damaged by what has gone on in the past year to refuse a return which I conceded is not out of the question

As you say, we will see...I am happy for the player as I have waited for years to see him play 1st team football and entertain

Completely disagree with this. I'm a Catalan by birth, all my dads side of the family are Spanish Barcelona fans and not one of them has more passion for their football club as i do about Everton, so it completely dispels this nonsense about Barcelona being more than a club, when English fans tend to have a lot more of a closer relationship with their fans than the Spanish do, it's much more of a spectator sport in England and my Dad used to find it ridiculous that I'd follow Everton away from home even if it was just a short trip to a Manchester club. My point being that Catalans aren't as passionate about their club in my experience as Evertonians are, you might have to be better to play for Barcelona than for Everton but I think it'd definitely mean more to an Evertonian to play for Everton.

 

[bicycleheader]

Just gutted that @FCBarça didnt want to do my Barca quiz

are they easy questions?

if they are easy I will do it.

if they are hard, I have to go fix the thing over there.....

 

[summerisle]

Class

 

[Professor Toffee]

I see Derby County are sponsored by some pro obesity lobby group

 

[FCBarça]

Completely disagree with this. I'm a Catalan by birth, all my dads side of the family are Spanish Barcelona fans and not one of them has more passion for their football club as i do about Everton, so it completely dispels this nonsense about Barcelona being more than a club, when English fans tend to have a lot more of a closer relationship with their fans than the Spanish do, it's much more of a spectator sport in England and my Dad used to find it ridiculous that I'd follow Everton away from home even if it was just a short trip to a Manchester club.

You're arguing a different point, said nothing about fans in general but what it means for developing players to succeed at their birth club...A Catalan kid growing up and playing within the club, rarely leaves the club...How is that comparable to your comments?

My point being that Catalans aren't as passionate about their club in my experience as Evertonians are, you might have to be better to play for Barcelona than for Everton but I think it'd definitely mean more to an Evertonian to play for Everton.

Meanwhile, I never remotely made an audacious claim like that about Barcelona...And for a Catalan you apparently know little about Pep, Puyol, Xavi et al to claim lack of passion for their club

 

[FCBarça]

Completely disagree with this. I'm a Catalan by birth, all my dads side of the family are Spanish Barcelona fans and not one of them has more passion for their football club as i do about Everton, so it completely dispels this nonsense about Barcelona being more than a club, when English fans tend to have a lot more of a closer relationship with their fans than the Spanish do, it's much more of a spectator sport in England and my Dad used to find it ridiculous that I'd follow Everton away from home even if it was just a short trip to a Manchester club.

You're arguing a different point, said nothing about fans in general but what it means for developing players to succeed at their birth club...A Catalan kid growing up and playing within the club, rarely leaves the club...How is that comparable to your comments?

My point being that Catalans aren't as passionate about their club in my experience as Evertonians are, you might have to be better to play for Barcelona than for Everton but I think it'd definitely mean more to an Evertonian to play for Everton.

Meanwhile, I never remotely made an audacious claim like that about Barcelona...And for a Catalan you apparently know little about Pep, Puyol, Xavi et al to claim lack of passion for their club

 

[FCBarça]

Completely disagree with this. I'm a Catalan by birth, all my dads side of the family are Spanish Barcelona fans and not one of them has more passion for their football club as i do about Everton, so it completely dispels this nonsense about Barcelona being more than a club, when English fans tend to have a lot more of a closer relationship with their fans than the Spanish do, it's much more of a spectator sport in England and my Dad used to find it ridiculous that I'd follow Everton away from home even if it was just a short trip to a Manchester club.

You're arguing a different point, said nothing about fans in general but what it means for developing players to succeed at their birth club...A Catalan kid growing up and playing within the club, rarely leaves the club...How is that comparable to your comments?

My point being that Catalans aren't as passionate about their club in my experience as Evertonians are, you might have to be better to play for Barcelona than for Everton but I think it'd definitely mean more to an Evertonian to play for Everton.

Meanwhile, I never remotely made an audacious claim like that about Barcelona...And for a Catalan you apparently know little about Pep, Puyol, Xavi et al to claim lack of passion for their club

 

[FCBarça]

Oscar Garcia knows Deulofeu much better than either of us, he is certainly more likely to listen to career advice from him.

I never suggested otherwise, just that Oscar is one of many coaches the player has had at Barcelona & the NT. Apart from being persona non grata at the club due to the current board, he's also an example of a youth player from Barcelona who never made it at the club with the first team...Ironically, there are similarities between the former coach & his pupil which would explain the basis of his comments

Yet, Oscar also said this on Deulofeu:

For sure he has all the qualities to be a Barcelona first-team player. It depends on him.

No es pot deixar escapar un jugador com Gerard Deulofeu.

Obviously it means a lot for a Catalan kid to succeed at their boyhood club but Gerard's isn't the same character as some other La Masia players such as Iniesta - Deulofeu absolutely adores being the star of the show and visibly thrives on it. I haven't followed Deulofeu since he was a kid but I have tracked him very closely for the past couple of years including most of his interviews in both Spanish and English - whereas once he talked a lot about fulfilling his dream at Barcelona now he talks about having his own career, his own ambitions separate to the the club.

Not every cantera kid is going to have a personality of Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta or Messi...Some will be like Pique or Cesc, or LSW who bears some similarities to Deulofeu as well (personality wise)..It doesn't preclude them from playing at the club

And a couple of years?...Cules who have followed the club for more than a decade know the star youth players and no name other than perhaps Bojan (And obviously Leo) comes close to Deulofeu

The part about his ambitions being separate from the club, is more of wishful thinking...or at the very least the consequence of very recent events...Whether that holds longterm remains to be seen

You seem to think that would only happen out of bitterness or because he is upset with Barcelona

Absolutely...Did at any time during his first loan spell did he sound like a player itching to stay at Everton or return to succeed at Barcelona (Even with Neymar)?...There are quotes, easy to find, that support my point...Moreover, the very famous mocking of CR upon his return to the club from Everton underscored his excitement to be with the 1st team - even if was short lived and ultimately a painful experience before being discarded to Sevilla...So bitter?...I'm sure he is, all you have to do is look at his expressions on the bench upon his arrival and how Emery tried to pick his spirits up initially

It was obvious, he was very upset

If he was so desperate to fight for a place at Barcelona in the near future why did he come back to Everton rather than stay in La Liga and prove he was adapted to that style of play? We weren't the only club in for him and it certainly wasn't because we offered more money or because we could give him European experience this year that might be valuable in returning quickly.

You get rejected from your boyhood club after being the top Segunda player, then benched & humiliated by a mid table club in Sevilla - where else could he have gone in Spain?...A lesser club?...Not for a player of his ambition...It was only logical that he'd crave a return to where the fans supported him and the coach showed confidence...Lest Toffees forget however, he complained about his lack of minutes that first season on loan with Everton as well

 

[Prevenger17]

all you have to do is look at his expressions on the bench upon his arrival and how Emery tried to pick his spirits up initially

Do you reckon his body language was all off?

 

[The Mighty Quint]

Christ, got Fletch and Sav on, discussions already about can the RS or Spurs win the title...

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

You have to laugh, Gillette soccer Saturday starts, and they have a title up with 'title contenders' at the beginning, with pictures of the managers of the teams in the title race, and surprise, surprise, Klopp is there.