Tomo

It's all going quiet hopefully it's a good sign.

Indeed, it always frustrates me when people say manager's don't make that much difference, theirs examples for good and bad across the country every single season, in fact we have had demonstrations on both ends off the scale as well.

Actually I think we have 2/3 players in the first Xl who are better off as squad players like Oscar and Cahill.

If Costa goes on the wing to accommodate him..........

Finally someone on the same page, he isn't incapable in attack he's told to stay back because Ivanovic basically plays like a winger.

He wanted to come but Stoke blocked the move, he refused to play a Carping Cup game because of it.

Any other club would get praised for proactive buisness sense but because its us its a cruel evil plan.

Indeed, if there is one negative about Cesc arriving last summer is that we had to town down Matic's attacking game to make up for Fabs not so great defensive game.Hopefully if we find another CM this summer and we go 4-3-3 or push Cesc up we will see a bit more of it next season.

Kind of how I see it, I don't think Chelsea fans will ever turn against him, he will most probably get the same applause Lamps did both times last season every time, but even subconsciously in years to come who will be thought off more favroubly when it comes to talking about Cech, Terry, Lamps and Didier, the two that went to a rival club or the two that didn't? One of which went out of his comfort zone to avoid it. I bet many supporters who's favourite player was either Cech or Lamps have changed to JT or Didier without even thinking. Ultimately there's no easy decision in life, Cech choose not to uproot his family which is fine, Didier choose to make sure there never be any even temporary or even little change to his legacy, even if it was easier for his life to stay in England. The service Cech did gave will never be forgotten, but every time he makes he saves that win Arsenal points is going to leave a bad taste, if Jose's unbeaten record against Arsenal goes at any point in part thanks to Cech, especially at The Bridge, that will leave an awful taste that will make Lamps scoring against us feel like nothing in comparison. Also for the people who think he should have gone Spurs instead, in a sentimental level that would have been just as bad, if not worse!!!!!!

In 2005 only Del Horno was done at this time. Getting transfers done (or as good as done) early is very rare.

Apparently Rafa is going to give Varane guarantee of an important role, if he does then that's game over.

Two thing's I love about Matic. When a pass isn't on he always dribbles forward instead of passing back to defence. He always seems one step ahead, he seems to clock the opponent's next move and when it happens he is there to sweep up and take the ball, happens a few times in that video As well.

Liverpool's the worst place he can go, he will not do well there purely because the manager can't coach defending to save his life. Even Thiago Silva would look shot under Brendan.

Why does doing well mean automatically we should regret it? Yaya, Sanchez, Ibra and Cesc all left Barca and shined in their new destinations but I bet very few Barca fans lose sleep with them. Player's can leave and do well without it being a mistake, KDB wouldn't have worked in this side, we have basically honed down Matics attacking abilities (which are very underrated) to accommodate Cesc's not so great defence game, so can you imagine how overworked Nemanja would be if he had Kevin in front as well? Stamina isn't his strong point as it is.

Because he is a complete fraud. The youngsters being in the hands of him and Pearce before him is criminal.

Makes him perfect for Brendans "brand" of football then

England need to completely overhaul the coaching set up, the seniors in the hands of Hodgson and U21s in the hands of Southgate is a lethal combination for all the wrong reasons. Get some tactically astute coaches, even if we have to go abroad, it amazes me how manager's like Southgate, Warnock, Irvine get top level jobs, they are complete frauds.

If we sign Pogba I can see him playing AM vs lesser sides but I can see Mou training him for a more disciplined role in big games. Or maybe a 4-3-3 with Cesc and Pogba interchanging who is the furthest forward?

A few years ago the same argument being used for not signing Neymar is the same for not signing Pogbs now, only difference was his name was Kakuta and not RLC.If Ruben turns out to be as good as people think he can be he will make it whether we sign Pogba or not.

I guess were find out then won't we.

LDN is spot on, anyone who thinks we could have milked Arsenal are kidding themselves in fact if anything we have got the better if the deal. Cech is 33, he hasn't got that many years left, before someone hits me with VDS he was a one off, the keepers stay great until their late 30s is a massive urban myth, Seaman was letting goals in from corners late on his career, the great Dane was floating around in mid table. Schwarzer and Freidel were not a 3rd as good as their prime at us or Spurs. Given Cechs injury record and he was one of a triplet (which apparently weakens bone structure or something along those lines) the chances of him being in his prime for that much longer isn't very likely let alone doing a VDS, in fact I heard that the fears that Cech had to retire early was the reason we got Tibo in the first place, in fact the Belgium himself said it. So all thing's considered we were never going to get huge money for Cech.

The arrogance of Brendan and all the other purists are amazing. They just roll out their default tactics because it's the "right way" and whenever manager's counter those extremely arrogant tactics they throw their toys out of the pram and scream anti football. Manager's like that is what will ruin this sport, not one's who adopt and appreciate tactics, as much as the fans hated Rafa, I'll sooner have him back at this club than appoint any member of purist FC.

Very rarely do manager's have the ultimate say. Also Jose and Roman clearly have a much better working relationship this time, they spent 6 year's apart, people underestimate just how long a time 6 year's is.

Thankgod, one of my best mates is a Birmingham fan and i saw a lot of games Butland played for them and lets just say, i would actually have expected Ross to save some of the shots he let in, would have been an awful signing in my opinion, i genuinely shit myself when he was linked. Re Begovic, yeah in 2010, wanted it to happen then and do again now

I seem to be in the minority but i think Hilario wasn't anywhere near as bad as was made out, that City game unfairly tainted what was overall a decent if not spectacular 5 years as no 2-3 keeper (he played his last game in 2011). He struggled a bit when he had to play a run of games like in Christmas 2006 we started to concede goals for fun, but to come in for a one off game, or a run of 3/4 (like against Barcelona and Liverpool) i never had an issue, certainly not in the Cudicini, Begovic bracket off back up, but certainly head and shoulders above Turnbull.