Spike

Well he doesn't bring anything special to the team really. Oscar has he long range shots, Hazard has dribbling, Terry has leadership, Ramires has stamina, Luiz has bravado. What does Mikel give to the team? Nothing out of the ordinary. Good at passing the ball around (sometimes), fantastic at slowing the game down and changing it's pace and he is strong at holding up the ball. He is by all means a decent player but nothing special. In a cantenaccio system where once that one crucial goal is scored, Mikel is probably a player you would want in your team. Strong, methodical and great at slowing down the game. Outside of a very defensive system I don't see his worth. A few seasons back however, I was convinced he was on the up and up. Improving everygame, becoming more dynamic on the ball but lately I think he has regressed greatly. I'd look for Mikel to shut down a game once it's won but he isn't a player that I necessarily want starting against a team that can leak in goals.

I agree with TOPTB. Throw Ruben and Nathan in the first team. If they perform, we get to watch to youth products make it good. If they screw up, well they screw up, too bad. They aren't magically going to get world class in the Championship, they only way to guage their ability is at Chelsea. A great season at Watford means nothing. What matters is how they could perform at Chelsea. Wouldn't complain about Pogba though...

@Stingray, Bon anniversaire. Passe uen merveilleuse journée.

Haha, suck it Juve.

Why are you so afraid of snow? Even I've seen it you mong.

Australian's are much less creative with nicknames. John because Johno. Johnathan becomes Johny. Dave becomes Dave-o. Jake becomes Jake-o.Trevor becomes Trev. Garry becomes Gaz. Guy becomes Guysy. And that's pretty much how we do it, save for last names, which is a different story. Indigenous Australians tend to be pretty creative though.

doge was never funny.

I thought this was a joke topic. It's Portuguese for lollipop...

I really doubt the loss was the reason. The man was obviously suffering from something else.

Too much emotional baggage. Would you date that man/woman that carves her name into your arm after three dates? Jose couldn't do it at Inter...

Prove that. He could have also been upset at the tactics being used? or perhaps he didn't like his man management skills? Well, I didn't play...anyway I'm almost sure that the 4-3-3 was used the entire match...I can't quite remember though.

It's not irrelevent. The formation against West Ham was a 4-3-3. It does matter. If they manager can't get the players behind him, he isn't worth the time.

The pivot is a terrible term and an average tactic. The 4-3-3 with a disciplined holding midfielder would be better for everyone. It would accomodate Lampard's strenghts, Ramires' and even Oscar could play there. The only player heavily marginalised by the 4-3-3 is Juan Mata who loses his favoured position behind the striker. Villas-Boas is a bit of a twit. He always came off to me as the type of person that easily annoys and offends other people. It doesn't surprise me if he ever gets on the bad side of players.

He couldn't be on that much, could he? I don't think there are any sources concerning his wages either.

How is that ego? I'm sure every football worth his grain wants to play as much as possible and contribute as much to the cause. Lampard wants to play, Mourinho wants to play him. I see no issue of ego here. I'm sure they could start with Lampard, it's not an impossibility. Mangala is a centre half.

Where does his ego fit into this then? Seems like it was Mourinho's decision to make use of Lampard, not give in to his ego, from what your saying anyway.

Given the circumstances of Marco van Ginkel it's unfair to say that wouldn't be in the starting XI if it weren't for his injury. It is uncertain that if he were uninjured that he would still be a bench player. Well you are the one that brought it into the conversation, I would have thought you would have the common courtesy to share the links. I don't see why I should have to go on a hunt for sources that you have used to justify your statements.

ENFP

And what does make this so apparent to make it an axiom? How does Gab Marcotti know? Did he himself speak to Mourinho and the board to ascertain if van Ginkel was bought to satiate Lampard's ego? Besides why don't you post the articles?

Wish me luck, I just applied for a transfer at university! Hopefully I get into my new course.

There are a lot of assumptions in that post. Can you prove that was the reason? Otherwise I don't really believe you.

We don't know that. We can't know that. His injury has created many what if scenarios. It's unfair on him to say that he wouldn't have improved enough to be a started by now, if it weren't for his injury.

The dimwit did buy, but it isn't the dimwit's fault that that particular player injured his knee.

My friend was mainly speaking of his passing and shooting. Mainly his shooting.

My friend who isn't a big football was watching this match with me. The only thing he could talk about is how pathetic Ramires was. He didn't shut up for the whole game about how useless Ramires was. A he was right...