CHOULO19

But very few players can retire in their "home club" especially at a top club like Chelsea. Even the legend and the greatest cult hero, Del Piero couldn't end his career at Juve.

He just moved to Juve, and Fergie isn't happy about it: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/7863022/United-confirm-Pogba-exit I love it

Please, everybody looks better than Messi on youtube. I've watched Maicon more than 20 times last season. He had a couple of decent performaces and a single world-class performance vs Milan. Other wise he looked terrible, but then again so did all of Inter's defense, so I'm reserving my judgement just yet. But I can't see him replicating the form of 09-10 season. Milan didn't let Pirlo go, they were begging him to stay but he wanted to go to Juve to have a new challenge (and higher wages )

Not sure who "everyone" is, but as a Juve fan I was absolutely delighted by the signing of Pirlo because I know what he is capable of, and it has everything to do with experience because he has always had the ability to play accurate passing but with each season his decision making improved till he became the maestro that he is today despite loosing his pace. Ashley Cole is one of a kind, but he is no longer the player that could out-run C.Ronaldo. He is even becoming more and more selective in his forward runs because he knows he doesn't have the stamina anymore.

HUGE difference between Pirlo and Maicon. Pirlo's game is based on his vision, tactical awareness and passing accuracy, aspects that can only be enhanced by experience. What made Maicon world class, on the other hand, is his ability and stamina to keep making relentless runs up and down the flank for the whole 90mins; you can't expect that of him in his 30s.

I have no idea what that means but it sounds bad.

Works fine for me.

2xDebuchy+13=(Maicon) 2

Has anyone noticed that Own Goals FC is in the first place in League One despite not having a manager?

I've watched Maicon countless times. Defensively, he is an upgrade on Bosingwa but he's no Iva.

Not really, those have always been his weaknesses. But I get your point, anything is an upgrade over Bos.

Well since this looks a done deal, I just hope he regains his form of the 2009-2010 season. Last season he had a couple of good performances like against Milan but looked as shaky as all of the Inter defense most of the season. I wish him luck, but this signing reminds me of Deco more than anything.

I like you Andre, but I wish you the worst of luck, may they get relegated.

If true, it would be yet another good piece of business by the board. I'm shocked!

He took a pay cut? I'm pretty sure he was earning more at Inter.

I don't think we should buy him because we won't be doing him much good if we do unless we loan him straight back. For his own good he should stay at Wigan for a couple of seasons.

Almost 22.

AVB to Spurs looks a done deal, he flew to London last night to finalize it. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2168094/Andre-Villas-Boas-unveiled-Tottenham-boss.html?ITO=1490&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed I really don't like this move, I can see him doing very well at spuds.

But he plays much better at RB. I think that SeB made the point that it is very difficult to switch between the two positions, Iva has been playing at RB for a long time that he looked out of his depth when played at CB. In the few time that he played at CB he was less than average there which makes me think that there is no way he will start ahead of Luiz and Cahill.

Been there, done that

Only thing I'm not too sure about is his wages. Inter are known to pay outrageous wages, and if he's coming to be backup for Iva, should we match those wages?

Me too. But then again, I never thought Ryan will make it either, you never know.

Can't see that working too well tbh. If you are going to play with two strikers, even if one is slightly behind the other, you will wingers who can provide natural width.

I'm all for him leaving to the sates if he is happier getting more minutes on the pitch, but "cashing in on him" doesn't sit too well with me tbh. You don't just put a price on legends, if he goes it should be by mutual agreement to end or not renew his contract like with DD.

I was (obviously) joking about the song. What I meant by "implied on a couple of occasions that he does not want to play here anymore" is that he dismissed questions about his future at Chelsea more than once in interviews. I know you don't think too highly of Gael, but (with all due respect) we can't just take your word for it. He has impressed in France, I think he has earned a chance here and same goes for De Bruyne.