Tomo

Sorry to bump this, but what i have noticed these past couple of years is their seems to be something in the water when it comes to Manchester City, they get over-rated so much it's borderline silly. Now are they a very good team? yes. Will they be there or there abouts next season? yes but they are not going to run away with it and they are so over-rated. Last season i heard and read a lot of people calling City the best team in the league despite the fact United ran away with the title. They are really good as i have said but are they a raise the bar side like Chelsea 04-05 or Arsenal 03-04? not even close. They had an incredible start in 11-12 where they looked the business but in the second half of that season didn't look as good and won the title because of that start they made and they have been living off the hype of that form ever since imo. I have never seen a team hyped up so much for so little reason, you would think they are dominating England and taking Europe by it's neck.

If Mourinho signs Rooney and plays him, Lukaku and even Ba more often than Nando, not even playing for Chelsea will get him picked for Spain, and now with Negrado and Soldado playing for top teams in the PL (Soldado to Spurs is as good as done from what i keep hearing) and likely to be regular starters, any lack of game time will be curtains to his chances of playing in Brazil next summer. He already has enough money to set himself up for life, would i do the same in his shoes? well, if i cared about my career probably but if i wasn't that bothered ill take the money, like i said Torres was considering his future last summer before we gave him assurances of playing time, so i guess he will be open to it, if Jose tells him his game time will be limited. There's still a chance of him leaving, because like i said he was thinking about it last summer

He took a paycut to leave his boyhood club and turned down an offer for Man.City that was even higher than what were paying him now. For all his other faults he loves his football, if he had the choice of money or a place in next summer's world cup, im pretty confident he will choose the latter, he was considering his future last summer before the club made him assurances he would be #1 forward.

The only true shocker he had for us imo was against Man.City, where the over-reaction's to that performance were borderline ridiculous, the forum i was on at the time suddenly he was one of the worst keepers we ever had and suddenly Turnbull was better was him. My problem with Hilario is he isn't great when he has to play a run of games for a while, the longer he went on in 06/07 the dodgier he looked but (Man.City the exception) he is proven capable of coming in and winning us points (where as Blackman isn't). On the top of my head Barcelona, Liverpool, he also came off the bench against Fenebache in the 07/08 quarter final and made a match winning save that would have dumped us out if it went in and against Blackburn the same season at Ewood Park where about 2 minutes after his arrival made a unbelievable save to keep us 1-0 up. Which was the match Hilario got sent off in ? because i can't recall any tbh.

Sorry for the late response, maybe between matches we could get an emergency goallie, but we certainly cannot do it during, if Cech's out for a match then Schwarzer gets injured during the game or worse during the warm up for a Champions League final against Barcelona, Blackman makes his debut in one of the biggest games in the clubs history. Hilario has proven he can step in for some big matches (Barca, Liverpool) and i would be happier with him than Blackman, imo its only Blackman's youth and home grown status that it's even a debate.

Hummels? He's completely over-rated, if we payed big money on a Dortmund defender i would want it to be Subotic. There is a reason clubs are prepared to play in excess of £40m for Luiz, because he is one of the best defenders in the world.

I said exactly the same when i saw that picture

I think he could surprise us next season, Anelka struggled initially after joining us then had a great season in his first full one.

Remember what happened in 2006? we could be relying on a 3rd keeper at any given moment.

Assuming Rooney stays on 250k a week with us, his wage package will be £65m (assuming he gets a 5 year contract). So his overall contract and transfer package will be borderline (if not exceeding) £100m If we got Cavani for £53m and paid him 150k a week, his overall package would be £92m.

I would actually play Lampard ahead of Ramires for this one, Hull will be parking the jumbo jet infront of their goal so this game would be suited to Frank more than Rami. I agree with your line up apart from that.

We can slowly integrate them, there's no need to rush. I don't think Bir has an issue with Kalas being in the squad and fighting for his place, more that it's too early to pin any hopes on him, same with Lukaku in that respect.

Not to mention the fact that because off our not great record recently people seem to get desperate for any Tom, Dick and Harry to come from the academy, some genuinely slagg off the club for not giving Micheal Mancienne and Scott Sinclair chances, despite both being painfully average.

He did a good job at Everton but im not sure it was the miracle work a lot make out, Everton are usually around the 7th biggest spenders in the league and usually finish around 7th.

I can see why it would be tempting but not even Jose is that special imo, if he couldn't revive Kaka i can't for the life of me see how he would bring Torres back to life.

I remember thinking after that game and a few others that he was one of the worst keepers ive seen, i nearly cried when we signed him.

Its seems some think the only way Lukaku will "get a chance" is if we make him the number 1 forward. There is a huge difference between giving a young player a shot and pining your hopes on them.

or Roy, and every pundit around.

Exactly, im bored off this perception in this country that defenders have to be hoof it away merchants.

Liverpool won't loan him, that would be as good as an admission on their reduced status.

In 04-06 we could do that because Drogba sacrificed himself for the good of the team, meaning the players behind him could hit silly goal figures, but since Mourinho left we have only had one season off an fully in form forward and that has coincidentally been the only season since we have won the league.

Mata reminds me of the mate you briefly forget about when someone new and flashy comes along (Hazard last year, KDB this) but eventually you realize he's the best mate.

Ofcourse i hope, im not petty enough to actually want him to flop just to be able to say i told you so. He maybe better options than what we have, but we will be after half of Europe if we base strikers on that (Lukaku has a great future, but he is too raw to be #1 right now).

Im resigned to this happening now. All im going to say is i hope you are all feeding me humble pie come May.