Tomo

Simeone isn't that much of a miracle worker, there have been many theories about what could get Torres back. Benayoun returning from injury as they had a connection at Liverpool, didn't happen. Signing a creative player, signed Mata, he was still shit. Sign more attacking mids, Hazard and Oscar came, still shit. Bring in Benitez, nothing. Get Jose to try, still nothing. Nothing will get Torres back, he's just completely lost it and if Simeone spends tol long trying it will seriously damage results.

He is struggling to get ahead of Didier in the pecking order (credit must go to Didier for good performances too) if we get in some serious competition for Costa he will play even less than he already is. I can see him sticking it out this season and hopefully getting a PL medal for his troubles but beyond that I think he will want to start playing week in week out again and Jose will want to free up a space for a longer term option.

Remy was signed because we needed a cheap, decent enough striker at short notice. I will be amazed if he is still here come August, he's a stop gap until we find a striker who can seriously push Costa.

It's win win for both parties, they get on the books at one of the top clubs in world football, get a decent wage and more often than not a decent loan. Us on the other hand can sell them on for a profit if they are not quite good enough (best example so far was KDB basically funding Matic) and one's that do reach the level come into our team, look at Tibo for example, by all intents and purposes we signed a 25m plus keeper for free last summer. Furthermore this signing is a bit different to our usual youth signings, he's not only 23 and played numerous games at his current club he is having a 6 month loan at Leicester so if he impresses, shows he can cope in England and keeps them up he will be in a great position already. Furthermore i don't think Remy is in Mous long term plans, that mixed with Didiers retirement likely to be this season or next means striker spots are up for grabs.

That's ideal then, a further more Willian will be an ideal rotation option for both him and Hazard, he is almost the perfect winger to sub on when defending a lead.

If he was signed with the intention to be back up then ofcourse, but like I said the circumstance can easily change things, like those examples in my previous post. And even with Luis we are light at the back, he's our only senior back up, after that were down to teenagers.

We weren't really covered tho. Ash just didn't cut it any more and the fact he is having a hard time at Roma supports that, and I have been there re Bertrand before. Who knows what Mous plan with him was, maybe the plan was to have him as our new LB but circumstance (him taking longer to adapt, Azpi getting even better and Ivan hitting form) dictated otherwise. After all we had to put up with player's getting picked on reputation (Carlos second season especially) or because of price tag (Torres) for years, I for one am glad those type of politics are a thing of the past down King's Road.

Im sorry but there is no comparison to PVA, Aanholt is the most tactically and positionally inept defender I have ever seen (at a high level) and considering I/we had to suffer with Bosingwa for years, that's saying something.

I will be amazed if Remy is at here when we kick off next August, he was never a long term option, we needed a cheap squad player with decent quality at short notice and Remy ticked that particular box, if Torres fuked off earlier in the window we would have probably got someone else. He will never be serious competition for Costa and that's what Mou will look for and maybe in this guy he's found it.

If we sign him he will need to play his part on off the ball pressing, maybe not to the relentless extent Willian does however Mou won't sacrafise team balance for any one.

The only danger of dropped point's for City in those is Trafford and maybe Goodison if Eto'o and Barkley show up. They will thrash Liverpool at Anfield.

If we won City would have held on.

That's a point, maybe if he knew he was coming back he should have signed Torres for Real that January

Which also makes me wonder if Mou had anything to do with Sturridge leaving, if Jose wanted to work with him he would have probably told him to hang on in there for 6 months.

Not everything is mind games, I think criticism of the ref was telling it how it is, however going as far as saying people are building a campaign against us does have some ulterior motive to it.

Yeah for sure but he would have never been worth what we could have got for him after the WC. I think Jose might have had that thought at the time which makes me think there was actually something in those Atletico rumours.

The summer would have been the perfect time to sell him if we wanted too. On the back of the World Cup hype we could have got upwards of 30 mil for him.

He was initially second choice, he started both the Palace and Marinbor games but then he picked up an injury and since then Didier has been playing well.

There must be a high chance Atletico will do what Milan have just done aswell come the summer barring politics with the emotional attachment. Simeone doesn't take any prisoners, ill give it 3 month's until he gets sick of him.

We should be aiming for about 17 home wins, do that then 5 more away wins should be enough.

Same lineup from West Ham please.

The fact people genuinely judge a winger through goals is mind blowing. Give it ten years fill backs will getting judged on goals.

Tbf, even during 04-10 we rarely scored late goals to win, has never really been our strong point.

But Hazard doesn't take responsibility

If I remember rightly Bogarde atleast had the self respect to carry on training and keep himself in a decent shape for Ranieri to have a u turn if he ever choose to. If Torres was ever put in the same situation it would surprise me if he even did that given his attitude with us.