The Skipper

Thanks mate. Saved me the trouble. These stats illustrate exactly why Mikel and Dembele would compliment each other in midfield. He'd be a great link man in that pivot. If we sold Malouda and Benayoun to make room in midfield I'd be delighted if we brought him in to replace them. He'd provide further cover for the three in the 4231 as well as he's adept at playing there too. Would be an astute signing. Shame the board aren't looking into though.

I wouldn't call Berba a flop.

What happened? R.I.P. Always sad to see this, condolences to his family and friends.

Although I rate O'Neill, I think the gap between Sunderland and Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, Man Utd & City and us is a bit too big to bridge over.

Dembele's defensive contributions are just as good as Modric's. Even better IIRC. He's a very hard worker as well. I'll try and get stats and do a little write up in a bit.

Dembele has been rated by many since last season, it really isn't a bandwagoning thing. Regardless, a Dembélé - Mikel pivot would be quite sexy.

The movement from Torres is class.

You know what, I wish Ramires was at least as comfortable with his passing as Meireles is. He'd be perfect in that pivot with Mikel.

I just hope that the same people that are loving him now, won't be the same people cursing him or slagging him off when he goes through a bad spell or has a really bad moment.

Mikel haters where you at?

Because our wingers have been as well.

Might as well sign Mulumbu from WBA. Seriously still don't get this obsession with Tiote.

Maybe all the Chelsea managers before RDM and RDM himself need to be enlightened by your statement. They must all be shit managers if they can't see Mikel is shit. The club must be shit as well for not avidly looking for a Mikel replacement. Everyone is shit.

Not a dig on you mate, but seriously, why does every thread turn into a Torres or Mikel slagfest? Malouda is a decent squad player, if he's happy to stay to lend out his experience then cool.

Frank shouldn't be dropped that's ridiculous. Our best pivot pair is the Lampard-Mikel pair. All Frank needs to do is make himself more available as the outlet for the team, especially for Mikel. If Frank concentrated on that, he'd become vital for this new team. Frank has the ability to be the link man in the team, I believe he just needs to acclimatise, both him and Mikel.

Tiote is not a holding midfielder. He's a midfield destroyer. Nor is Cabaye, Biglia or Capoue. If Mikel is so shit, why haven't the club been avidly searching for a replacement?

Sunderland building a decent squad. Good front three of Fletcher, Sessegnon and Johnson. Could be a surprise threat this year, will probably finish top 10.

Updated. Check the first page.

Well done CFC!

Hearing that Julio Cesar might be off to QPR. Doubt it'll happen though.

Right, so Cavani has never been hyped up? That smirks of hypocrisy to me. Only a couple months ago people were crying out for Cavani, calling him the best striker in the world etc... If that's not overhyping is it? How is it laughable to say it's either Torres or Cavani? How can you compare that with people rating Pirlo after his Euros? You seem to think your opinion is more valid and superior than everyone else's, fair enough that's your choice, but to then act as if people don't know what they're speaking about because they don't see the point in signing Cavani is just as ignorant. And then to say Cavani would be a worthwhile signing because he can defend and because he's a good pen taker? Just lol.

I don't think it's either. I believe it's more with it being his natural instinct as he's a striker. Plus I think that AVB instructed him to shoot as often as he could IMO. It's what inside forwards do.

Lol! Everyone's wrong yeah? Sorry god.

How is Sturridge overhyped?! Please explain how Daniel is overhyped? He wasn't even taken to the Euros. How are the English media overhyping Sturridge. Brainless? Please explain how Sturridge is brainless. It's funny to throw out accusations but I want you to actual back them up. Why are you even bringing Welbeck, Oxlade and Walcott into it? None of them play for Chelsea. To compare Sturridge with them is irrelevant too. He was the one that missed out on the Euros, so I have no idea where you're even getting that from. Do you really think people rate Sturridge because the English media says so? When was the last time you've seen the English media hype up Sturridge like the likes of Walcott or Oxlade have been? Your argument is flawed. How can you say we need a striker and then start to talk about Ben Arfa and Tiote? I don't rate Tiote at all, don't think Ben Arfa would improve our squad. Cabaye would be a decent addition, no one has denied this. How exactly is he underrated? Many people wanted him here as an option in the pivot but it's clear the club isn't after him so people have stopped talking about him. Doesn't mean he's underrated. Jonas?! How exactly would he even improve our team? Sturridge hasn't even been given a chance at the CF role for Chelsea yet you chose to right him off, saying he's overrated like Walcott or Oxlade. I guess Sir Alex Ferguson is dumb too, playing Welbeck over Berbatov and Hernandez. He's sooo overhyped isn't he? Ridiculous. Replacement for who? Torres? Yeah, because this is FIFA where we can just sell off our players without giving a damn about the squad harmony. Let's sell Torres for Cavani because Cavani is rated 90 and Torres is rated 85. Bores me.

Wow, squad is pretty much complete now. All we "need" is one more quality player for the pivot who's great at linking up play, but I think we can manage for now. Perhaps we could do with a proper third option at CF but I don't think we'd lose much if we didn't. The squad is about 2 signings away from being the actual perfect squad. It's been a long time before we could actually say that. What a transfer window. Hats off to Roman, Gourlay and Emelano who deserve tons of credit for pulling it off.