LDN Blue

Good to hear you're more positive. My thoughts are with you & your family. It gets easier.

Aguero cost Athletico €23million & Pato around the same for Milan. The prices these Brazilians command today are, in keeping up with current trends, extraordinary. They can afford it because TV rights for Brazilian football are increasing, so clubs like Santos can afford the wages these stars command. The problem is how unproven they are. Factored in with what their clubs charge, and the wages they command, makes these players very high risk. The Premier League isn't the most accommodating for Brazilian talent either. Ramires & Anderson, as squad players, have made it. Other than that I can't think of other Brazilians that have seeked fortunes here. It's why Serie A & La Liga are often their "dreams".

25

If we're going by the earliest number that's not filled.. #13.

Key word: Return

Indeed. While we can criticise him sometimes, it's important we retain faith in him. If we, as fans, give up, how can we even begin to expect the players to? The first step, with any coach, is for them to get the players to believe in the philosophy! Here's what Joe Cole said today about Mourinho.. Now to me, that sounds like the players have fully believed in Mourinho. We saw that for 3 consecutive seasons, be a success. We saw the players play for the manager, not for their pockets. This is why André's shipping out certain players and bringing in the ones he wants. While also maintaining belief in some other. I'm sure Sturridge is very grateful to André right now.

Love people from NZ! They're great banter

He is one of those with ability, without heart.

Total co-sign my friend. Sir Bobby Robson is no idiot. As he did with José Mourinho, he has recognised the talent of André Villas-Boas. Their comparisons are what lets André down, everyone is holding him to a candle that is Mourinho. It's fully understandable why this is the case. André, unlike Carlo, is thinking about all the logistics of the club. From restructuring our scouting network, so different approaches to training, to even the seclusion of those who want to leave, he is revolutionising the way the club functions. This is what will set him apart from all our previous manager, and also draw away the ghost of Mourinho. He's shunning the players that Mourinho relied on. Where Carlo, Scolari, Hiddink & Grant reverted to Mou's team.. André is re-establishing his team. Now we rely on Juan Mata & Daniel Sturridge. Not Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard. The former duo, outshining the latter is the epitome of what André is trying to achieve. He's also showed player-power is being reduced when he shunned Anelka & Alex from the rest of the team.

Indeed. Networking's how Ferugson's kept his loan's, for the majority, successful. As André looks to establish. More signs of long-term thinking from our young manager

Fair enough, if it's more convenient for the majority then it's all good.

Hope the new coach will keep him as their primary keeper ahead of Asenjo.

Not that I'm trying to make excuses, but he did have to deal with that pre-season tour which didn't give him the best indication of the squad's state. I only hope he'll be given the opportunity in the next 2 windows to correct the flaws in this team. He must remember, we have an oligarch funding this team. Take advantage.

Barcelona said themselves, when they reported the deal, that they had inserted a buy-back clause. And to be honest, even if they didn't, he's a Barca boy. I don't know any ex-Barca players who haven't wanted to go back. Why wouldn't you? It's the best club in the world right now. All we can do is hope they're not as big of a force in 2013 so that he'll consider this the place to stay. It's a loyalty we can't really attack, because we'd expect the same from Josh for example. All this really is, is a loan deal. A loan deal where we'll make a profit regardless.

Sad reality indeed.

Why the change from 17:00?

Latest reports say he's going to Bolton now, as part of the Cahill deal.

He's not worth £10million though! Wenger had it right when he bid £6million when Bolton had the nerve to ask for £20million in the summer. £20million!! No top club was stupid enough to think that's a good offer. We hold all the cards when it comes to making the deal for Cahill, we should've gone for £6m too and if they didn't want in.. I'd be glad for Tottenham to take him. I'm not saying he's a bad player, he could surprise us all. But economically, this is a shoddy deal. ESPECIALLY because they get Josh on loan!

Lmao! I maintain some hope he'll impress us, though it's a slim thread of hope I hold on to

Think of the shirt sales

Perhaps. But you could also argue that next season Terry's playing time will be considerably reduced. This means Cahill & Luiz will form a relationship but any manager will know that there must be competition in these places. So if we recall Bruma, Kalas or resign Rajkovic, they'll all have a direct chance to get game time ahead of Terry. Bruma's failed to make an impression on most managers though, it must be said. It remains to be proven if he's even up to the task, but I believe Andre will use a youth player to directly compete with Cahill for Terry's place next season.

Oh don't give me that! That's based on their opinion. To suggest a 26-year old with 6months left on his contract is worth £10million is unbelievable. What a stupid website that is

I still think Cahill could be cheaper if we negotiated properly But yes, Chalobah is still very young and he's still developing. As good as Fergie is, even he wouldn't take such an enormous gamble on someone so young. Chlaobah is still growing in the academy and with England too. His time is approaching, but it's not now. We don't want to make another Josh out of him, where we recognise his quality and demand he plays in more games than he should Hutchinson has only just begun his come back. Like we heard when Chelsea announced it, he's stepping up his training in January, which means he's still not match fit yet. We have a good crop of young defenders. From Sam to Kalas. But we can just throw them in the deep-end considering the pressure we play under this season. Give them time and patience.

Could be a lot cheaper.

I don't agree. Cahill's 26 & Terry's not getting any younger, Bruma still has a future here.