DYC.

Noticed that too. Very strange. Maybe because of fear after conceding.

The cockroaches of football. They'd survive a nuclear blast.

Messi in old man mode... not feeling it. Brilliant ball to set up the goal, another amazing pass played into Neymar's path right in front of goal but he couldn't reach it. Nice dribbling attempt at the end. But he's just been walking around, playing short passes to the nearest man for the most part. Either he's not fully fit or he's been having a good time the past week. He was so energetic against Bilbao. Iniesta with a moment of magic on the big stage yet again. Love that guy. Juve lucky not to be trailing by two or three goals. Incredibly sloppy play as well. Midfield is not functioning. Only dangerous when striking from distance. They could get a goal from it though.

Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Alves vs Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon for me. Majority of personal favs play for Barca so I'm behind Barca for this one. Xavi and Pirlo face off again. This is probably the last time both of them will feature on the big stage. It hasn't really sunk in yet. Iconic players. I will miss them. I would like Buffon to get that CL medal, but this is Messi's year. He keeps evolving, he keeps finding new ways to raise the bar. He has to cap it off with a win. Hoping he astonishes me again tonight and scores a goal as well, making him the first player to score in three CL finals, and this year's top scorer. It will most likely be a very tight game though, so it will have to be a few moments, a couple of flashes, but that's enough. I have a feeling Neymar will score.

Where do you find those stats? That show how the goals were scored?

Rather take a gamble with talents like Firmino, Fekir or Ferreira-Carrasco.

Watching some old football footage I came across some Eto'o plays. It's kind of scary how many similarities Suarez and Eto'o share. But since they don't share the same skin colour, Suarez will never get the tag the new Eto'o. Wayne 'White Pele' Rooney being the exception.

Wolfsburg usually pay good money. If the Atletico interest is true, he could be included in a deal (and Luis) for Griezmann...

I think that's what Chelsea want, but the article states Monaco want a fixed deal. Kind of like the Ibrahimovic deal with Barca and Milan. He officially joined on loan, but Milan already agreed to buy at the end of the season. For that kind of money, they'll end up sending him out on loan until his deal expires. Like we saw with Crespo back in the day.

So if he were to join on loan, they want £35m after the season is done. For a 30 year old striker. They're having a laugh. I can't imagine anyone accepting such a deal. They bought a player for a huge sum of money and it didn't work out. It happens. Take the loss and move on. Torres went for nothing. So did Sheva, same goes for Kaka. The deal could break down because of this.

Good player for Liverpool. If they manage to keep Sterling and buy Benteke and a solid RB, they have a team that can grow and challenge for a top 4 spot after one or two seasons. Mignolet New RB/Flanagan Skrtel/Lovren Sakho Moreno Can Henderson Milner Coutinho Sterling Benteke/Sturridge That's a decent team but top 4 is unrealistic unless they somehow make some excellent signings. 13/14 did more damage than good because the expectations are too high now.

I'd rather have Costa who led two sides to league titles, in the two most impressive leagues in football, than Falcao who led his team to Europa League glory. Falcao's departure was supposed to weaken Atletico, but Costa stepped up and his presence made them better. Falcao is now an even lesser player than he was before. Granted, Costa was terrible in the CL but he was great in 13/14. Falcao has barely played CL football so it's hard to make a case for him. It's different when you have technique and vision to fall back on if you're no longer in prime physical condition because of a major injury. Suarez for example would suffer less if it ever happened to him, because of his all-round game. But when you rely on physical attributes, you're level as a player really takes a hit. That said, who knows how he'll do as a back-up. But he's never taking Costa's spot.

26.5 mil pounds wasn't even that bad a deal. But I understand why no move was made. Signing a player for 50 mil is a major investment, so you allow him some time to perform.

I've read things like this before. Why would this matter if I may ask? Because Falcao would score 25+ goals here with Costa here? Unless you're suggesting Falcao would displace Costa in the starting line-up.

Any links? I know Falcao's been linked forever but I don't remember the club turning him down. Torres was signed in the winter of 2011, AVB joined in the summer. Signing Falcao wouldn't have made sense.

When was this?

A player that has proved himself to be a stand out player over a number of years. Costa was brilliant in 13/14, but it was one season. Edit: Remember the good amount of skepticism when he first joined? I really don't know how many clubs wanted Costa. I don't think it was host of clubs though. The likes of Real, Bayern, PSG, Utd, City were set, Barca went for Suarez. Juve don't make big money signings like that (not like before), don't remember him being linked to Arsenal at all. Leaves you with Chelsea. Edit: I should rephrase that statement though. Torres was a superstar signing but he flopped. He wasn't in his best form when he joined (I remember terrible World Cup performances), but people thought he'd find his old form again. Same goes for Sheva. So rather a succesful one.

Obviously. He would add a lot more to the team with his power and technique though. But it was merely a personal wish rather than a real option. Edit: While he's not at his best, he's still one of the best strikers around btw. I do wonder if we'll ever see some superstar striker joining the club.

Shevchenko, Torres, Eto'o, Falcao. Big name strikers. All world-class at one point in their career. None signed at the peak of their powers. If only this thread read Zlatan Ibrahimovic instead.

Roman! You possess fine taste in players.

Get Griezmann and you have new AM/RW and a third option up top in one.

Ivanovic hands down. Rapist/serial killer/Russian mobster alert!

It's his rep/name/status. It's not fancy enough for some. To think some suggest bringing in Falcao to replace him or that Falcao would be ahead of him in the pecking order... Boy did I underrate him at first. I knew he was good but not this good. Liking him more and more every time he plays.

Stats whore. I'm so in love with this guy. The kit he's wearing and the club he represents only makes the whole Hazard experience more enjoyable for me. I'm gonna name my kids after him. All 13 of them.