The Skipper

Yeah, Fernando adds a lot of tactical flexibility for Pellegrini. In the bigger games I can see him going for that trio in midfield.

Both. Fernando is a big upgrade on Javi Garcia so City have added depth and quality to their midfield. Won't miss Yaya or Fernandinho as much if they get injured or suspended and it gives MP a lot of tactical flexibility.

Apparently:Yaya Fernandinho - Fernando

No one is hating on Neymar... It's just people are saying ridiculous things like Neymar being the second most talented player in the world and him being the best player at the World Cup that people are scoffing at.

One thing I absolutely used to hate Robben for is how he'd falter in the biggest games, but since our CL final win against Bayern, Robben has pretty much consistently come up with the goods in pretty much every big game. He's been a man on a mission since then, so I think it's unfair to now call him a choker when he's pretty much done the business since 2012. Who knows what will happen if he keeps up this consistency for this World Cup?

They are. Messi and Ronaldo basically highly impact games every game - Bale doesn't do it as consistently as either. No one is on their level or close to it IMO.

They're on the same level for me, because IMO Bale isn't on Messi/Ronaldo level. No one is.

That's fair, but he's got quality around him in Di Maria, Aguero, Mascherano etc... As you said, the whole team aren't really performing as well as they should be but that's more due to whatever their coach is doing than actual individual quality I think. Messi shouldn't rely on every team that he's on to play like Barcelona, he has to adapt himself too. Robben for example has embraced his new role up front for Holland and has excelled. Messi is more talented obviously but he can't expect everything to be put in place for him just like at Barcelona. He needs to adapt.

Which is fair enough. Everyone has their opinion. IMO Messi hasn't been that great this WC because even though he is single handily winning games for Argentina with brilliant moments of individual actions, he's been average himself for the majority of both games. I can't legitimately say he's been better than players such as Neymar, Benzema, Alexis, Robben, RVP, James just to name a few because those players have just performed better in the competition at the moment IMO. That's just a discredit to what they've been doing at this WC.

I'm not really comparing either players, just anyone saying that Neymar has been a better performer than Robben and James is obviously just being biased. For what it's worth, as I said in the same post, I still think Neymar has been one of the better performers in the competition but basically saying he's been the best player at the WC is delusional. Edit: In regards to Oscar - I was merely saying that if we sold him, James would be a great replacement. I'm not advocating whether we should sell Oscar to make room for James because I don't think we'll even sell him to begin with.

Alexis has also been very good, must say. Would include him with Neymar on that list.

How has he? Come on man, that's your Brazil bias coming through. He hasn't. Whilst he had a good game, Neymar wasn't even MOTM against Croatia IMO, that was clearly Oscar. The Cameroon game... Whilst he had another good game and scored some nice goals, IMO he wasn't MOTM there either - I'd have given it to Fernandinho. Robben dominated Chile & Spain, both better than any team in Brazil's group, whilst James has been outstanding in every single Columbia game. James and Robben have been the best so far followed by Benzema and Neymar.

FIFA are the world governing body and the likes of UEFA, CONCACAF, CAF etc. govern their respective regions like Europe, Americas and Africa. FIFA should have the power to overrule any bodies and implement a lengthy, global ban (i.e. Cantona when he kicked that fan) but will they? I sincerely doubt it. Even though this is the 3rd time Suarez has bitten someone, will they take that into consideration or will they simply view this as an isolated incident? Realistically speaking; biting isn't worse than a horrific tackle, or a bad elbow thrown, or a vicious headbutt, but it is really one of the oddest, cannibalistic, primitive things to do, even more bizarrely one a football pitch. It isn't a one off thing either, it's the third time he's done it. We'll see how everything conspires over the next few days. I really hope they make an example of him but IMO we won't see any domestic banning I'm afraid.

He won't get a global ban IMO, will just be banned internationally. Dude needs help.

Well, I firmly believe Cesc was bought for the deeper positions so I don't think about it in that way, and unless we're moving to a 4-3-3, if we required another CAM James would be a brilliant buy.

If we are selling Oscar, James would be the best replacement we could make.

They already are - some are saying the only better central midfielders they can sign are Modric, Pogba or Vidal.

Mexico

He's back again guys

There is a difference between wanting to become the complete striker and thinking you already are when you really aren't.I actually want Romelu to stay but the guy thinks he's got the right to be a number one striker at a top club like CFC, and that is delusion because he isn't already one of the best in the world unlike someone like Courtois. He needs to humble himself and accept that he still has a lot to learn. There's a massive difference between being the top dog at WBA or Everton and being the top dog at CFC.

Classes apart? How did you deduce that?

MBia is not better than Mikel...

It was. Ray Wilkins said that Torres was a Carlo buy.

Haven't seen much of this Origi kid at all but he does seem a lot more technically astute (not that hard I know but still) than Romelu.He's a much better fit for Belgium against defensive teams.

Suarez to Barca rumours seem to be picking up a bit...