Joshybizzle

World class winger? no Likely to walk straight into our first team plans? nope Finished article? nahhhh Happy we signed him? Yuuuuup! The way i see it he's a bit rough around the edges but at 21 that's to be expected (I was 23 on Wednesday and damn am i still feeling rough around edges) he couldn't ask for a much better place to develop though, it always used to seem like me we'd sign a player (usually world class and for the big $$$) and he'd slot straight into the first team and we'd essentially just use them up and throw them away when they started to decline and that worked for us. This time i feel like we're signing players who CAN be world class and Mourhinio is bedding them in very very well, just look at Willian, he's come on leaps and bounds, hopefully this is our new transfer policy! Mohammed Salah does the same kind of thing as hulk, right winger, left footed, and quick, that's where the comparisons end though, where Hulk has got a blockbuster of a left peg, Salah has incredible speed, where Hulk has the strength to barge players out of the way, Salah has the guile and ingenuity to get in behind them. Both are very accomplished dribblers and now i've said all this i realize maybe Hulk wasn't the best choice of comparison... This isn't one of my better summaries of a player.. All in all i think Salah will take a very Willian approach and i genuiely think he play a bigger part for us than Mata had been sat on the bench looking unhappy, even if he's just something of an impact sub to start with Also be nice to see the number 15 bombing up and down the field, Malouda has that one incredible seasons and i always liked watching him get forward, more of the same Mohammed!

This one just doesn't seem to go away, its not a big transfer saga but it seems to keep popping up on the edge of all the big transfer news going on this month. More likely than not caused more by our glaring need for a striker and Mou and Mario's history (which if you've read Dkim2's list, isn't great), this is all amid whatever the hell is going on over at AC Milan and Balotelli wants out apparently, how much truth there is to that i don't know. Although he was definitely funny to watch for Man City i'm not sure how much i'd enjoy being on the other end of his exploits, racking up bans, good/bad/weird publicity and of course, as it standard with Mario, the bans. He's an explosive player who can make something from nothing and a lethal finisher to boot, acrobatic, strong and powerful with both feet and i don't doubt he could spearhead our attack quite ably. But quite ably isn't what Mr. Mourhinio is after, if he's willing to sell our player of the season for the last two seasons because his work rate isn't 100% why would he ever consider someone like Balotelli who's as likely to track back and defend consistently as he is to have a fight with a training bib.. no wait.. wear a chicken hat.. no wait...

Looked really solid against Stoke today, won the ball & distributed it time and time again, seems to like to switch the play too which could be interesting with who we can have bombing up either flank Based on that £21m seems a bit of steal, these are early impressions of course but against one of the more physical sides in the EPL he stood out for me

One thing that confuses me with when it comes to Mourhinio's system is why David Luiz isn't a slightly more key part of it, i know as well as you chaps do that he can be prone to the occasional error (sometimes completely of his own making) but he's a world class CB that's obvious to everyone otherwise you wouldn't have the likes of Bayern and Barca keeping a very close eye on him! He's solid defensively and the way he can win the ball back, dip a couple of challenges (this is where his impulsive side tends to come out) and spray some pretty spectacular passes forward and with José's focus on the transition between defense and attack i can't see where Dave falls over. He's got incredible passing range and isn't afraid to try the spectacular, which he's pulled off quite often! He's comfortable with the ball and he can on occasion read the game very well, he loves the club and the city and he's got a very good work rate. I hope José decides to take the same approach with Luiz he took with Hazard, instead of benching a player for not having the qualities you want (like Hazard's defensive work rate) you drill into them what you want them to do, use a bit of that José magic! Because with Mr. Mourhinio's guidance i can't see why Luiz couldn't work a couple of kinks out of his game and be a huge player for us going forward Off topic How awesome is it to have a manager of Mourhinio's stature who can just ring up players like Matic and Zouma and say he wants them and their response is simply, 'Mourhinio is Mourhinio'.. says it all!

Pay up

Rami's played as a RB a couple of times i think? On our way to winning the champions league due to suspensions if i remember rightly? (Which i might not) I can't see José leaving us short in an area he knows we're a bit light so he must have something up his sleeve? Is it £20-25m for Luke Shaw this window?.. I hope so

I know a lot of people fancy Rooney in the summer (not going to happen this month) and i can see why with his all round action displays, he can press for 90 mins, score from anywhere within 30 yards of the goal and has an incredible range of passing along with his determination, all in all, everything Mourhinio would look for in a striker especially considering the link up play he's expecting from our striker i can see why we're chasing him But all things considered i'd take Falcao in a heartbeat, hes a clinical finisher, a poacher in the box and a proper two footed direct, powerful number 9 to spearhead the attack. Falcao's defensive work rate isn't up to Rooney's or even Cavani's so our system might need a bit of tweaking at the top of the pitch, but not a complete re-working as he's got bags of experience playing up front and holding the ball up, he's also very powerful in the air (despite being 5'10) so if our fluid passing game doesn't work we've got the option of plan B, keep hoofing the ball into the box until Falcao gets a head on it! Imagine how devastating a forward he can be with our incredibly creative trio (who ever's selected) in behind him playing through balls into him on the break or a neat one two on the edge of the box followed by one of those trademark clinical finishes. He's a forward that doesn't need introducing, as soon as the opposition see that number 9 on his back (he'd HAVE to be number 9, sorry Nando!) they know what they're up against. Could even end up with him being marked out of the game on occasion but that opens up the channels to our creative players, who we've seen this season can bang in goals when they need to. All in all i'd like to see a world class striker leading the line behind what is steadily becoming Mourhinio's team, someone the opposition fear like Didier, but someone who can really deliver when it matters.. like Didier.. Price-wise, we're talking about silly money here, like.. really silly money maybe £60m + maybe? Especially if, as someone (sorry i can't remember!) mentioned, Real Madrid come in with their "we love Falcao, the team loves Falcao, Ronaldo voted him first for the ballon d'or over his own team mates" and start throwing their weight around. How good would it feel to steal a future Galactico from under their noses? I'm not convinced the move to Monaco wasn't just a stop gap (and a helluva pay day) between Athletico and somewhere else TLDR; Gimmie gimmie gimmie Falcao

Feels like everything is kind of falling into place for this to happen, i'm a little confused about letting Bertrand go, unless as 'The only place to be' mentioned.. This makes a lot of sense to me, who's going to pay a decent price for a LB who's played a couple of hours over the whole season, or there could be another motive, he could just be out on loan so Jose can see how he is in action. But in all honesty i think if Jose had any intention of bringing Bertie into the first team we'd have seen him lining up for Cole instead of Azpi (which Bertie has got to take as a bit of an insult, considering he's playing someone out of position as opposed to a natural left sided player). My opinion is that Mourhinio has told Betrand he won't be here next season, so go and put yourself in the shop window at Villa, why won't be here next season? Because we're going to be tabling offers for Luke Shaw from now to the summer i'll bet, so even if it isn't during this window i think the club must be confident of landing him to a degree Or i could be completely wrong, but i'm not, nope, never Ever.

Just one out of curiosity here, which player (currently still playing) would you compare to Ballack? He's a special kind of midfielder I know and I don't mean ability wise, I'm talking style of play because I can't think of anyone off the top of my head

I kinda feel like the stage is set for this one to happen, Cole on the way out, Shaw on the way in, him being a Chelsea boy, our increasing need for a new left back and lack of English first teamers (personally I couldn't ever see Bertrand being a first team regular) I'd like to see Luke around for a while with Ashley Cole still around, could you ask for a better teacher for a brighter talent? So in an ideal world we'd get him this month and maybe even keep Cole on for another year, especially if Bertrand moves on Price-wise, I'd say as mad as it sounds £20m considering his age, potential, contact at Southampton and the usually overpriced English talent. A lot I know, but considering his potential we could be looking at our left back for the next decade I'd pay it, his values not going down for a while Just throwing in my opinion!

Wow you really hate Mikel Also Are you high?

Thanks Sounds like he's gotten a fair bit more defensive. Can't say that I mind but it's not as exciting as signing a top class box-to-box player. Now that depends how José decides to use Mr. Matic, while certainly not a box to box midfielder he's got all the qualities to be something of a dynamic player! He's a CDM with pretty immense defensive abilities and that's the position and role he's going to play of the two in the midfield pivot. Having played A bit further forward (with us at one point I think he was considered a CAM?) I don't see any reason he can't put his strength, technical ability and athleticism into action further up the pitch, again, but this is a role more likely to be filled by Ramires in all likelihood. Like I said, depends on Mr. Mourhinio but he's not a one trick pony by any stretch of the imagination

It's no slight on you! It's the French FA who seem to have a problem. Maybe they wanted to set a precedent because he's young or something, I don't know. I do think you've a great point when you talked about his determination though. Judging from that tackle alone he seems to have it and it's very important to have in a Mourinho team, especially in one so young. We only have to look at KDB to see what happens when Mourinho's players don't have enough determination. Ok maybe he didn't get enough chances, but when he did get them he never really seemed to put his heart in it to make the manager think. He never really looked up for the fight. His appearance in December (A cup match I think? I'm not so sure.) made him look like his foot was already out the door. Yeah I think the French FA have ballsed up a bit there, but like you say it shows some determination to go flying in there and that's the kind of thing Mourhinio's team build on, that 'never say die' attitude (that, it has to be said, Man UTD had under SAF). He's been touted as a future captain of the French national side which Is saying a lot when you look at players like Varane & Pogba! In terms of KDB I think you're right there, the lads got talent, can't argue with that and I think he could have made a serious push to get into the first team but something put José off and I wouldn't be surprised if it was exactly that. For instance Carlo Ancelotti said when he got to Real Madrid that he was amazed by Ronaldos work ethic which had been drilled into him by José, some players bend and become more complete (Mr Eden Hazard lately anyone?) and some break (ala KDB) Sorry that's a little off topic guys

Vieira. Also a good shout! Even better if he starts making those barnstorming Vieira-esk runs up the pitch like a pile driver in the middle of the park, but alas I don't see him as that kind of player myself, I think we'll see Ramires continue making his lung busting runs up the pitch while Matic sits back and does what Matic does

I wouldn't jump to such a conclusion before actually seeing it: There is now way he meant for that to happen. His momentum took him through the player and it was unfortunate because if Zouma's trailing leg or the opponent's leg was at any other angle it probably wouldn't have happened. You can say he wasn't really in control because of his momentum, but I think it's harsh to say he was completely reckless. It's not his fault that he's much bigger than his opponent either. Ok, he did jump of the ground a bit, but there's no intent there. 10 game ban is way too much for what looks like an honest accident from a very young player. Having seen the incident (my bad) looks like you're right, I can't see him having eyes for anything but the ball there, it was a forceful tackle, but the type we cheer In the prem, It looks like his momentum made it a bit rash but I think you hit the nail on the head there Mr. Mak

Hi guys I know about as much about Nemanja as anyone else who's goggled & youtube'd him (along with the limited glimpses we got a couple of years ago) and be does look like a technical CDM in his prime, winning headers (you'd hope so at 6'4) keeping possession with the occasional turn and swivel, using his body strength and some fairly crisp passing If I was to pick a player he reminded me of I think it would have to be a more defensive Yaya Toure maybe? That kind of midfield general, a solid base to build from, not as much of an attacking threat (save maybe getting his head onto set pieces) I think what's more interesting from my perspective is what, with Joses tutelage, he can become rather than the complete player he already seems to be! Either way fantastic bit of business for us and a complete steal at the prices being touted Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Keeping in mind he's into a 10 match ban for breaking someone's leg (I don't know much about that incident but I'm guessing he must have shown some intent to do it, otherwise 10 matches seems a bit extreme.. Could probably bite someone for a 10 match ban...) he's got to have a bit of fire in his belly, which is a good thing for a centre back and maybe something Jose could harness. I think he'd be a tidy bit of business in the summer and I can see him spending a season on loan (premier league side preferably) especially if JT gets his contract extended and taking into consideration he's supposed to be developing right now but he missed the first half of the season I really think our next serious first team CB signing is going to be quite a surprise and I'm not ruling Mr. Zouma out Edit: Spelling