abdulaziz1

Hard luck. I still think there is a good chance to qualify for England. I couldn't watch the games. Only 4 games I haven't watched most of it, two England games, Japan Vs Ivory Cost and Cameron Vs Mexico. But I heard England played very good. Especially in their first game.

The defence of Colombia is not very good, Need to play Guaren and Martinez too.

Croatia is one of my teams in this cup. Hoping for a win against Mexico. Very hard game though !

From what I think as I said before it's in the last stages, and might be even just finalizing things. I'm trying to figure out about the partners. how long might it takes and wether it's already sold (or agreed on everything) or not yet. Because I read here in VT that Man City when they were bought it took some time to finalize lawer papers and these kind of things. Abdul are you getting your info from your local media or do you have inside knowledge with potential buyers camp? Inside knowledge, The media haven't said anything other than quoting what Al-Baltan said about buying an English team. I don't remember it saying more (maybe a prediction as the only PL team for sale is Villa). I don't usually take anything from the media seriously unless it had quotes (either locally or internationally). I've put a post couple of pages ago about which makes me thinks that this deal is on with more details.

Is Lescott any better than Vlaar ? I haven't watch him a lot, and didn't notice a special thing on him other than his usual scoring at Villa (Same goes with many players) !

From what I think as I said before it's in the last stages, and might be even just finalizing things. I'm trying to figure out about the partners. how long might it takes and wether it's already sold (or agreed on everything) or not yet. Because I read here in VT that Man City when they were bought it took some time to finalize lawer papers and these kind of things.

No problem, I'm trying to look at it from all the views and try discussing it too. Same goes with me, I also fear that he would do the same as Lerner did. I'm hoping if things went through that he get's advices from Faulkner and the whole board. We don't want to go through the same mistake. I also think that we're in a very good position to push on. Unlike many fans, I think we have a reasonable to a good squad. We lack couple of players that would cement us as a Top 9 side. But avoiding injuries and some bad tactics, I think we're around Top 10 squad with a reasonable wage bell. So getting two to three quality players in areas we need could do better than getting 6 players from what we used to get under MON. I think we need to have a plan that in 2-3 year's we're a top 6 side (atleast to compete there). And I think our current board understand that, but they understood it lately.

Any idea on how much he's/his partners are worth? When you say you're unsure about his money, do you mean his financial power to fully back us and push us on? I don't know who are his partners until now, I'm trying to figure out. I think he's going to have about 48% from what I've heard. I'm not sure how many partner nor who're they. And about the money, most businessmen here have an unknown wealth. Usually more than what it's said. That's why I'm unsure about it. He's for sure not super rich. I'm sure doesn't he have more than let's say 5billion pounds. I think he isn't far from Lerner (By himself). But all of that is just my thinking. He spend 500 million Riyals for Al-Shabab from the reports. Which is about 80m. And they don't get benefits from it here. So throwing this amount of money suggest that you're wealth. but it's a case of how much exactly? Which I couldn't know.

We have a hard fixture in the first 10 games, And as usual a December Man Utd game. Need to win our first couple of games to gain some confidence to push on.

I was thinking of talking little bit about Al-Shabab club from what I know (because my team which I support have relegated the season before the last). Anyway, Al-Shabab is one of the most successful team here in Saudi, yet it lacks fans. I'd say more than 80-90% of the fans are between (Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli). I think Al-Shabab fans won't be more than 1-2%. Yet they're the third successful team in the last couple of years, And they've began collecting trophies since the ninetees I think. Anyway, those days they were collecting trophies they've been something like Arsenal or Spurs, strong team but they're forced to sell their best players. When Khaled Al-Baltan came, They've started collecting more trophies (Like their old days) but without selling player, They started also buying from the top teams. Until maybe last year when he was thinking of leaving I think he hasn't signed some new deals with player, Yet he got couple of signings too. He likes challenging, and he's confident and like to success. I'm not sure if he's coming here for a challenge or business in the first place. But might be combined together. Sometimes I fear because he doesn't have the experienced out there and I'm not sure about his money, The other time I feel he won't take a step to fail. Anyway we have nothing but to wait and see how things will go exactly.

Thursday 19th June Colombia v Ivory Coast 2-1 England v Uruguay 2-1 Japan v Greece 2-1 Friday 20th June Italy v Costa Rica 2-1 Switzerland v France 1-1 Honduras v Ecuador 0-2 Saturday 21st June Argentina v Iran 3-0 Germany v Ghana 2-1 Nigeria v Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-2

Thanks, Something which I haven't seen by my eyes, not finalized yet, not knowing more details or having more details which I couldn't say won't make me encourage to claim anything.

I think so, Even if I didn't hear of Al-Baltan thing, I know that the club doesn't announce thing unless they're sure about. I think it's just finalizing papers and finishing everything, I'm not sure how long it takes exactly.

I think the Belgian team is one of the best 5 if not 3 as individuals. But we still don't know how they'll do as a team. I'd say only Germany I could say that is better than them, Not sure about Brazil nor Netherlands. Spain lack physicality and have a Villa type defence ! One of the best Keepers around, almost 3rd best back 4, + a very strong midfield with good strikers ! I play with them in Fifa, they are a physical team and also talented. Although in these cup tournments and specially national team you don't know who will perform his best.

Haha. Let's see how things goes then, Hoping for the best anyway. lol.

Yes, I'm just trying to get the exact informations with more details. But I'd say from what I know it's either Al-Baltan finalized everything with Villa, or atleast he's in front of the race. Anyway they've been negotiating for about 6 months or more from what I knew. Is it possible that this could have even been the reason for Al-Baltan announcing he'd leave last year? Sorry for the questions pal, it seems you're our only link! No problem mate. I'm not sure they've been negotiating since that time, I think he had plans to but an English team (But I think it was a championship team) But I don't know why he didn't, still trying to gather more informations.

I'd say yes, It's somehow related. I've been told last time that it's in the last stages, Which could go with what "midian" said. Cheers bro, it looks like he flew in to London and did the Arsenal tour/saw a member of the family (judging by the photos). Following that, he stayed in Birmingham for a while before going over to Manchester for a stadium tour. Wonder if he has flown home now. I know it could be a holiday per se, but the Birmingham leg doesn't make sense. Family here? Sure, viable, but that would mean Al-Baltan has family here too which we surely would have known about already. It all just seems too coincidental to me: Al-Baltan states he wants to leave his position at Al Shabab and purchase a Premier League club, then the rumours begin about Lerner selling up before he eventually makes a statement saying he'll be doing just that. Al-Baltan leaves his position at Al Shabab not long after and now his nephew, who is also involved in Al Shabab, pops up in Birmingham. This combined with what Abdul and a few other Saudi folk on Twitter have been saying for a while makes me believe that this is the real deal. I heard he have a house in Birmingham but I'm not so sure about that. Anyway I think there is more than 80% chance for Al-Baltan to finalize the takeover, That's if it's not yet finalized. Put it that way, I'm sure Al-Baltan is interested + I'm sure he's negotiating and in the last stages and it took began months ago. But I don't know details which would let me say more things. Details about who's his partners, What's his plans, When would the takeover finalized? .... etc I think the price is near to 150 than the 200.

Yes, I'm just trying to get the exact informations with more details. But I'd say from what I know it's either Al-Baltan finalized everything with Villa, or atleast he's in front of the race. Anyway they've been negotiating for about 6 months or more from what I knew.

I'd say yes, It's somehow related. I've been told last time that it's in the last stages, Which could go with what "midian" said.

Tariq Al Nofal is the Nephew of Khaled Al-Baltan.

Although I wanted Bosnia and Honduras to win, But Yesterday was my best prediction day! Before that I've only had two points !

Oops , I haven't realized that ! I might have been sleepy lol. Australia 0 v Netherlands 3 ! Sorry for the mistake. >_<

Iran v Nigeria 1-2 Germany v Portugal 2-1 Ghana v USA 2-1 Belgium v Algeria 2-0 Russia v South Korea 2-1 Brazil v Mexico 3-0 Australia v Netherlands 3-0 Spain v Chile 2-1 Cameroon v Croatia 0-2

I wanted Honduras to win, But it's a good result atleast would give me couple of points in the prediction thread.

Great win from Costa Rica.