The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - - - Part 12

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[Van Petrol]

Btw, sounds like the Giroud-Chamakh deal is the usual Twitter BS started by some toolbox playing silly buggers. :csad:

[Scrandy Randy]

Originally Posted by Darthphere

And that worked out very well for them.

Doesn't really matter how well it worked out. Abramovich owns the club and can do whatever he wants at the end of the day.

Originally Posted by Darthphere

I don't buy that approach at all. He may want to influence everything but at the end of the day results are what matter. I mean, Roman single handedly ruined their season as I think Chelsea were on course to win the league.

Which season? This season? Chelsea weren't on course to win it this season at any point really. If AVB wasn't sacked there's no way they would have won the CL or the FA Cup. I don't think sacking AVB was some master stroke but it did help and gave the players a boost in morale. I don't think RDM is a great manager either but some times just a change of scenery does the trick with players. Things get stale and players need change, SAF and Wenger lasting as long as they have is pretty crazy.

Originally Posted by Darthphere

EDIT: Lets put it this way, you think Chelsea are going to attract any big names if Roman is giving out tactical instructions?

Most managers know coming in that Abramovich has the potential to go over their head in matters and they've still attracted the best managers in the world since he came in. The fact that there's even semi reliable talk that they're pursuing Guardiola and might actually land him is a testament to that.

The only real question marks quality wise in managers since Abramovich has come in are Grant, Scolari, and AVB although you might be able to dismiss AVB's tenure at Chelsea due to the idiotic players and the lack of the right personnel if he comes back to the PL or any other top league and does well. With so much promise im hesitant to throw him(AVB) in that category so soon as it's very likely it wasn't his fault.

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

(All Kagawa goals and assists this season)

Shinji Kagawa is really quite the player. If Kagawa is as good as he is at Dortmund with United I really won't feel that mad about missing out on Hazard. Kagawa has better stats, in what I believe to be a better league(most would say the Bundesliga is better then Ligue 1, no?), and he'll cost about 1/3 as much as Hazard if both players said fees are true(12-17m for Kagawa and 40m for Hazard).

I can't see him doing bad at United either. He'll have a better striker to work with in either Welbeck or Rooney, and United have real width with their wingers opening up the field for him to play the final ball in front of the eighteen where all of Dortmund's wingers are prone to moving inside when they get close to the eighteen making it more difficult to play that final sharp pass.

Now if we can get a midfielder to pair with Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, etc like Banega, Martinez, Modric, Valero, Felliani, Rodwell, etc then I think we'll be set to win a title and beat out City.

[Darthphere]

Originally Posted by Scrandy Randy

Which season? This season? Chelsea weren't on course to win it this season at any point really. If AVB wasn't sacked there's no way they would have won the CL or the FA Cup. I don't think sacking AVB was some master stroke but it did help and gave the players a boost in morale. I don't think RDM is a great manager either but some times just a change of scenery does the trick with players. Things get stale and players need change, SAF and Wenger lasting as long as they have is pretty crazy.

No, the season they bought Torres in January.

[Van Petrol]

So...

- Hulk to Chelsea is 90% done.

- We've switched our attentions to Nigel De Jong as a contigency plan to M'Vila.

- Bayern are interested in Dzeko, with some outlets in Germany already stating personal terms have been agreed.

- And both United and City are interested in Cisse from Newcastle.

[Poeman]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

So...

- Hulk to Chelsea is 90% done.

- We've switched our attentions to Nigel De Jong as a contigency plan to M'Vila.

- And United are interested in Cisse from Newcastle.

Hey Man U...Stay the **** away from Cisse

[Dr Lee]

We are? I've heard that we've made an official £5M bid for Powell and Kagawa is an all but certaincy in a MUFC shirt.

[Parker Wayne]

I'm glad that Kagawa is almost certain. We get a boost to the midfield.

[Van Petrol]

Originally Posted by Poeman

Hey Man U...Stay the **** away from Cisse

It's United and City, I forget to add in City first time.

[Van Petrol]

It looks as though Rooney will be pushed up as the main striker with Kagawa incoming, but hasn't he always preferred playing the role just behind the main striker?

[Van Petrol]

Btw, it looks as though Newcastle could be ripped apart this summer, as most of these clubs who seemingly overachieve and perform surprsingly well often do, which is sad.


It also looks as though City and Chelsea are trying their best to turn the PL more into La Liga (i.e. being dominated by only two teams). I bet Fergie will likely have something to say about that though. :cink:

[Poeman]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

Btw, it looks as though Newcastle could be ripped apart this summer, as most of these clubs who seemingly overachieve and perform surprsingly well often do, which is sad.


It also looks as though City and Chelsea are trying their best to turn the PL more into La Liga (i.e. being dominated by only two teams). I bet Fergie will likely have something to say about that though. :cink:

That would be totally messed up...One of the reasons its so hard to root for these teams that have barely any money to spend.

Its easier being a Padres fan then a Bolton Wanderers fan

[B]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

So...

- Hulk to Chelsea is 90% done.

I think he is gonna be a beast in the Premiership, fast, powerful frame, has good feet & can score goals.. on paper I can't see a reason why he wouldn't fit perfectly in England.

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

- We've switched our attentions to Nigel De Jong as a contigency plan to M'Vila.

Again, another good partner for Song that would give Arsenal some power & security in the middle.. something they've probably lacked since the days of Petit/Vieira arguably.

Although he is a dirty bastard..

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

- Bayern are interested in Dzeko, with some outlets in Germany already stating personal terms have been agreed.

City would be foolish to let him leave unless he had declared he is unhappy.. which I don't think he has. In my opinion he was City's 2nd best striker last year & looked a good partner for Aguero.. moreso than Tevez & Idiotelli did anyway.

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

- And both United and City are interested in Cisse from Newcastle.

Interesting.. He looks like he has slotted perfectly into the Premiership, hes a powerful striker & I imagine if he was playing with better players around him he could be even more troublesome for defenses...

Although it's highly unlikely he will be sold seeing as he has only been at Newcastle since January.. if he is sold when he is content to stay then Mike Ashley should have questions to answer on the clubs ambition IMO.

[B]

Originally Posted by Poeman

Hey Man U...Stay the **** away from Cisse

How dare you.. after all we have done for Newcastle over the years with the likes of Butt, Simpson & especally Obertan..

[Hunter Rider]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

It looks as though Rooney will be pushed up as the main striker with Kagawa incoming, but hasn't he always preferred playing the role just behind the main striker?

Yep but his erratic short passing and lack of nimble footwork often hinder him in the role.

[Van Petrol]

So would you be happy with him being pushed up and Kagawa being played just behind him?

[RKO]

Originally Posted by Scrandy Randy

Hazard wants to play in the hole and I have no doubt that was one of the deciding factors when it was said he agreed to terms with three clubs and had to make a decision.

When did he say that? I just read he wanted guaranteed play time.

[Hunter Rider]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

So would you be happy with him being pushed up and Kagawa being played just behind him?

Yeah, I think Rooney will be like a false 9, he can drop in when Kagawa goes beyond him, allowing us more movement centrally as I often felt we were too static last season.

[Scrandy Randy]

Originally Posted by RKO

When did he say that? I just read he wanted guaranteed play time.

It was mentioned in passing during one of the articles that talked about him agreeing to terms with three clubs.

Mata is also extremely average playing in the hole. Much better on the wing cutting in. Couldn't play in the hole for Valencia after Silva left and played in the hole for Chelsea this season on the odd occasion and was average.

[MultipleJesuses]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

- We've switched our attentions to Nigel De Jong as a contigency plan to M'Vila.

That would be a horrible deal for Arsenal (assuming that's who you mean) imo.

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

- And both United and City are interested in Cisse from Newcastle.

I hope we don't accept anything under £25m for him.

[Van Petrol]

Originally Posted by MultipleJesuses

That would be a horrible deal for Arsenal (assuming that's who you mean) imo.

I'd prefer M'Vila, but De Jong would be better than nothing. In the very least, he'd add a shield to our defensive whilst also giving us a bit more steel in the middle.

[MultipleJesuses]

Originally Posted by Van Petrol

I'd prefer M'Vila, but De Jong would be better than nothing. In the very least, he'd add a shield to our defensive whilst also giving us a bit more steel in the middle.

I'd take him if he was free but other than that I'd keep De Jong away from any club. But then again I'm probably biased since he intentionally broke Ben Arfa's leg last season.

I think M'Vila at Arsenal fits perfectly. Truth be told I think Yaya Toure at Arsenal would be perfection but M'Villa isn't far behind.

[Van Petrol]

Yeah, I can understand that. Don't ever mention the name of Ryan Shawcross to me..

Of the available and likely options, M'Vila is the ideal, I agree. The Yaya ship sailed long ago though, sadly.

[Hunter Rider]

Apparently Brendan Rodgers is the new Liverpool manager.