The Skipper

It's not the same pragmatism as Jose's. It's different. I wouldn't necessarily call Conte pragmatic per se. Fancy football isn't just possession football. Conte implements Juego De Posicion very well at CFC, and with more quality players we'll be able to play better football, it's simple. You look at Napoli or Dortmund this season for example. Not possession based or fancy sides at all but they have one of the best transition football in Europe. And it's mostly based on Juego de Posicion. Their attacks can be stunning. This is what Conte is trying to implement. You can certainly have superstars that play in this way. You're seriously under rating the likes of Verratti and Dybala if you think they can't play well in Conte's system. Also, seriously demeaning Conte's philosophy. That Juve team Conte created was amazing and he wanted to push it even further with more superstars, but couldn't, hence resigned. Even Griezmann. You're totally ignoring that he plays for the most pragmatic top team in Europe. Of course they'd thrive under Conte.

Nowhere close. Only bonafide world class players we have are Courtois and Eden. Costa, Azpi and Kante are just the level below but we need more players like Eden or Courtois who are or have the potential to be at least top 5 in their position. If we look at Mourinho's CFC, we had bonafide world class players all over the pitch. Cech, Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Essien, Makelele, Lampard, Drogba, Ballack when he joined. 9 top top players. We need at least 3/4 bonafide stars before we can compare it to the best CFC team.

Ibra is an enigma. Guy makes a team so dependant on him, that its almost bad. His positioning and off the ball is still world class. He gets himself into many, many great positions but isn't clinical enough. I think he has a conversion rate of like 13% at the moment which is really bad. If he scores more of the chances he's missed United could've been even been 2nd right now. I think I'd rather play vs. Ibra tbh, I have more faith in our defenders handling him than handling Martial or Rashford. Not to discredit Zlatan who is of course a threat, I just feel like our back 3 struggles more against pace/trickery.

Guys like Pep, Conte, Klopp, even Pochettino will do their upmost to improve their teams and bring it in line with Europe's elite. They're all too good as managers for the top teams in the league to stay behind Europe's elite for too much longer. United will continue to spend heavily too. Next season we'll see the quality of the PL evolve as it's a big big transfer window for a lot of clubs. Honestly, if Eden went to a club with top class quality forwards and midfielders and the right manager, he'd probably still have kept up. It's up to us next transfer window to bring in these sort of players.

I agree with all of this and know that, wasn't disputing otherwise tbh. My main point was more about the quality in the top teams of each division I mentioned. They're ahead of the top teams in the PL. Also agree with the fact that Neymar has had better conditions which I did state. It's unfortunate but it's one of the reasons why Hazard is behind.

Are you having a laugh? Don't confuse me with someone else. Have a look through the Mourinho thread. I have argued with lots of people over Mourinho for a long time. Don't let the truth get in the way though. I know the truth hurts but it is what it is. Literally, quick search brought up this. Been criticising Jose since 2014, boy.

I definitely wasn't an ardent Mourinho supporter... doesn't suit your narrative unfortunately. If Neymar isn't an alpha what's Hazard then? You're saying Neymar isn't PL material just because the truth hurts. Wow. Almost as bad as those that think Messi can't cut the PL. PL isn't superior to La Liga at all. Even German and Italians clubs have been consistently doing better in Europe for years now.

But he isn't in that Barcelona team. It's part of the reasons why Neymar is a level ahead of him now. We have forums to debate things like this. It's not that deep. Nothing wrong with me comparing a player to Hazard in the Hazard thread, to open a debate up. Hazard hasn't had a performance like that in his CFC career yet and he won't have the opportunity to till next season so...

Eden hasn't dominated the PL like Henry yet though. He's been the best player in the EPL but he's never been as clear as Henry was at his best.

Every night before I sleep I thank God for us not buying K2.

I think he's no slouch on the defensive side of his game though. He affects both sides of the pitch very well. He's a complete midfielder, can do everything at a good level. He wouldn't be shackled in the system imo.

+1

I actually disagree. I would rather play against Ibra because I know we can contain him. Martial/Rashford however is another story. Martial's ability and Rashford's pace could be more of a problem.

Eden is very good domestically. He needs to elevate his level in very crucial games though. Like Didier, Lamps etc. used to do. Like Messi does. Like Suarez does. Like what Neymar just did. Eden hasn't done that here yet. @DYC. said it perfectly in his earlier post, Eden is basically still a 'talent' who still needs to add more to his game to get to that level. Neymar has already reached that though. Neymar has evolved his playmaking skills and tactical discipline, whilst retaining his goalscoring ability (not so much this season) and dribbling ability. He's complete now. Eden still isn't due to various reasons (not talent per se though). I wouldn't say either were so poor particularly either earlier in the season on Busquets and Neymar. Barcelona have had lots of ups and downs, and their form have both reflected that. They've both also had some injuries so that affects form naturally too. Their latest down was a bit longer but they've roared it back now, and are in contention to actually win the treble.

This is probably true, but he's at Chelsea, and sadly Neymar has left him.

Right now? It's difficult outside the top 3 [Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo, in this order], as it gets quite close in terms of ability then. For me I'd probably complete it with any of Suarez, Kroos, Modric, Lewandowski and maybe Neuer, Busquets or Ramos, and then you have the likes who are on a similar level as Eden like Alexis, Bale, Griezmann, Thiago, KdB, Courtois, De Gea etc. In fact, some could argue he's not even top 10.

I'm saying this because Hazard hasn't had anywhere near as many great European performances against top teams as Neymar has. Also, internationally we know who's better. Neymar has better team mates yes, Hazard is supremely talented, and they used to be on the same level until about 2015. Since then Neymar has left him. The biggest thing Eden had over him was playmaking ability but now Neymar is better than him in that regards too it seems. Better goal scorer, better creator... It isn't a debate at the moment in my opinion. Neymar is arguably the 2nd best in the world right now, due to Ronaldo's decline. Hazard isn't even top 5 at the moment.

He obviously didn't read your post properly. Some are very offended by the truth. You represented your argument well.

@Blue-in-me-Veins I think Oxlade's greatest strength lies in his 1 v 1 dribbling ability. He uses his pace, power and good ball control well to evade challenges. Not too much unlike Victor Moses. My thoughts behind him possibly being an option an option at RWB doesn't just restrict him playing there. Of course he'd be an option at CM and RW as well. Particularly at CM as well as you mentioned. IMO he'd essentially be a rich man's Moses on the RWB if he could learn the role defensively well. Oxlade would utilise the space given to our WBs a lot better than Moses would. I think he has the tools for the role anyway. On Willian, always thought he could possibly do a job at RWB but I'd let him go if it meant signing Ox.

Does anyone think he could do a good job at RWB here?

Very strange comparison again. Trumpesque. Neymar has always mainly been a left forward, since academy days at Santos. Essentially saying you can't compare Hazard and Neymar. How ridiculous.

That doesn't matter much to me, guy performs in the biggest games all the time. For me that's one of the most important qualities in a player. @DYC.'s post sums it up perfectly.

Neymar > Hazard. Not even close now. Sorry guys.

If we're going for a Portuguese FB it has to be Semedo.

Dahoud plays for BMG, where Christensen plays. Just because you haven't heard of him doesn't mean others haven't. I mean BMG were even in the CL this year lol.