The Skipper

I have personally never rated Oriol as high as some do on here, you can check my posts in his thread. I think Chalobah has a higher ceiling and with him coming from the academy and everything, if he actually made it which I think he can, it'd be fantastic.

Don't want him back here as a player. I want the fact that his last kick as a CFC player won us the CL to remain so.

If Mikel goes, I'd like to see Chalobah given his spot. That'll leave us with Matic, Ramires, Chalobah and MVG in the pivot (if Lamps doesn't sign a new contract). If we then sign a proper midfield playmaker like Kroos or Gundogan (someone in that ilk anyway) then we'd be set in there for years.

So WHS wasn't lying, Galatasaray supporters.

What a stupid picture.

He doesn't improve us whatsoever, rate Terry, Cahill and Luiz over him and Zouma also has a higher ceiling.

I've watched him in two CL games (vs. Arsenal) and he seems like a B2B midfielder with decent technique and a pretty nice left foot. I know two games aren't enough to fully judge a player but from what I saw he didn't seem too indifferent from Chalobah, plus if he's coming in to apparently replace Mikel - I'd rather have Chalobah take that spot.

I wish we went for Cavani last summer. Wouldn't mind Costa though.

Don't want him either, never wanted him even when he was performing at a very high level at Atletico. It would be a disaster IMO.

I agree fully with you, but I still think either of them (specifically KDB) could've stayed to help rotate with Oscar because I knew he'd burn out very soon, and because now we have Matic, we don't require our number 10 to do as much work defensively, so a guy like KDB could've perhaps been a good rotational player in place of Oscar but it doesn't really matter since we have Hazard and Willian who can also play there. I prefer seeing Hazard at number 10 though being flanked by Schurrle and Willian (and dynamically swapping with Willian).

According to Ranieri his recovery is going so well that he'll make the WC.

Can someone please translate the interview fully?

I'm not saying take him back but that doesn't explain why he wouldn't fit here as a striker.

Why is he not?

Which is exactly why I posted the above video - Gundogan could've easily come away with at least an assist and a goal in those legs. He provided the platform for Reus, Lewa and Gotze to run riot - most moves started through him. He was excellent in the CL in general for Dortmund, it's the main reason why he became so wanted across Europe before his injury. Kroos can definitely drive the ball but not like Gundogan does because he lacks that speed to comfortably beat a man or glide past him like Gundogan does. I think Kroos' USP is his ability to produce magic in the final third more than anything. He doesn't glide past players like Gundogan does IMO. I do agree that his lack of speed is over exaggerated though - he's not as slow as many make him out to be. To be honest, I would be ecstatic if we signed either, just slightly prefer Gundogan if he gets over his injury problems because although Kroos is more of a goal threat and marginally has better vision, as I've explained above I think Gundogan will suit the game we're trying to implement better.

LOOOOL.

Your opinion, but here's mine: I don't think Courtois is better than Cech yet. They're on the same level but Cech shades it because of experience for me. Don't think Godin or Miranda are better than Cahill either, certainly not Cahill on recent form. They are at most on par. Ramires is better than Mario Suarez and Babi, he's just not in form at the moment. I think he'd start over both. Willian and Koke are different players, not sure why you're comparing them tbh. We aren't just marginally better than Atletico, we're better full stop. Once you get down to squad depth too we're obviously ahead of them.

Well, since you play your best players together the rest of his goals this season (15) were scored with Suarez playing because Suarez hasn't been injured since. But, earlier in the season wasn't the first time Sturridge was scoring without Suarez. Last season after Suarez's biting antics he still scored 5 goals in 4. So in fact, he's scored 11 goals in 10 appearances without Suarez playing during his time at Liverpool. Of course Suarez playing affects his total tally; he's a quality player that makes his team better, it's inevitable, but to say that he's only scoring as many goals as he is because of Suarez is incorrect as him scoring 11 goals in 10 appearances without Suarez suggests.

Sturridge without Suarez this season: 6 games, 6 goals.

21 goals in 23 appearances. Having a brilliant season, plus bagged me an easy £20, betted with a mate who didn't believe he'd get 20 goals this season and said his first half season with Pool was a fluke...Easy money .

Are you sure you watched him against Real? Because he was very impressive in both games against them, excellent in fact. Was the heartbeat of the team, his playmaking and ability on the ball really drove Dortmund on and was on full display in both legs. Incase you want to rewatch his actions in those games, here's a pretty good video highlighting his every touch: I love Ramires, and if you go to his thread or just look at most of my posts in relation to him you'll see me defending him, but he isn't as good as Gundogan is technically. As you've said, work rate and speed wise Rambo beats him, but Gundogan's work rate and speed is still pretty good. Ramires beats almost every midfielder in that aspect anyway. Apart from that, Ilkay is better in every other aspect. We shouldn't be comparing them anyway because they are different type of players. Regarding his injuries, I'm not ignoring them at all, I wasn't even talking about who would be the better transfer between him and Kroos; I was merely discussing his abilities with you because first you sort of compared him to Matic and then you brought Ramires into the equation when he's nothing like either. A Matic - (fully fit) Gundogan midfield is better than a Kroos - Matic midfield simply because Gundogan complements Matic a lot more than Kroos does. Gundogan can drive forward with the ball, can waltz past players and is very comfortable in possession when surrounded by multiple players - these attributes of his which make him more compatible with Matic as Matic is great at the holding role, the more defensive role of the pivot which will restrict his abilities to go forward - but that'd be fine if a mobile midfielder with Gundogan's skills is next to him. Actually, a good player to compare Gundogan with is Modric.

He might win player's player of the year. He's had a great season though even though he's playing most of it out of position. If we do get Shaw next summer our starting fullbacks are sorted for a long time. Azpi will be the more defensively sound one with decent attacking instincts whilst it'll be the other way around for Shaw who'll link up with Hazard. So our left side (Hazard, Shaw) will be the more attacking side (naturally as our most talented player is there) and the right side will balance it with hard working players who are still decent offensively (Willian, Azpi).

Sorry mate just been wondering how you get this info? Do you have connections at Adidas or?

Seen him play once or twice at Marseille but didn't really pay much attention - however I would also rather give Chalobah a chance than sign him tbh as Mufassir said.

No way that's the only difference. Gundogan is a proper playmaker, has great vision, can control a game from midfield... Ramires can not. It seems like you haven't seen him play much at all.