OneMoSalah

Silvestre is so average its unreal. He was too shit to get a game for Inter whos CBs consist of Ranocchia (who was shit last year), Juan Jesus (wasn't great), Samuel (old experienced CB no idea how he did), Chivu (no idea either but an older experienced CB). If he starts next to Mexes I'd put my house on us scoring at least 3 or 4. Poli looks a decent signing for Milan, they just need to find the right midfield in terms of balance and creativity and they could do with sorting their CBs out, since they lost Nesta he has never been fully replaced but yet again how do you replace Nesta? He was simply too good. Its the same with us, how do you replace Drogba? Its virtually impossible.

Was out and I seen a baby seagull, have its head crushed by a car. I don't know why that is important but I felt the need to say that.

best thing on the internet

Got my new phone, no more pishy block phone thing... should have gotten an Iphone first as opposed to a stupid blackberry, wow blackberrys are shit.

Thats because thats where the space is, Ronaldo's so far up and doesn't come back so there is a massive gap between himself and Marcelo/Coentrao which forces the number 10 player (Ozil, who has atrocious defensive work rate too) or a central midfielder (Modric/Alonso) to come across and cover the fullback which ends up in more spaces for the opposition to expose. Thats what happened with our pivot at times too, ultimately Hazard or Mata wouldn't come back, means Lampard/Mikel/whoever had to come out to the player exposing spaces and leaving a 2 v 1 in midfield.

Evidently you don't watch him enough then if you think he just passes it sideways/backwards. Last season about 60 something percent of his passes went forward. Also for the passes he does play backwards/sideways, what's wrong with that? He plays a role in the team where hes always on to be passed to, he always retains possession and then moves it on. Defensive midfielders are their to provide an option for their team mates, break up play and fill in the gaps. Nothing more, they aren't supposed to score 56949 goals a season or create 15 goals a season.

Never liked Campagnaro since that Napoli games, typical Italian defender always being a cunt! Was it him who tried to intercept that pass that eventually looped over him for Mata's goal in that 3-1 game in Naples or was it someone else? Would be fitting if it was him tbh.

Best player on the park tonight. Marco - Ramires is a great partnership, they are both athletic players capable of defending and attacking. They have a good understanding, when Ramires goes forward, Marco sits and covers and vice versa. Both are good at breaking up play as well which gives us a much more balanced midfield as opposed to Ramires - Lampard or Mikel - Lampard. I'd like to see Mikel play next to Marco as well, it would give Marco more freedom to get further up the field and get into goal scoring positions.

I said a few times after the Asia tour games, we need to use MvG and Ramires in the pivot, they compliment each other so well and they can both switch roles. For a 20 or 21 year old Marco has a presence in midfield. He reminds me of Michael Ballack so much as in hes an round midfielder, capable of defending and attacking.

I love Marco van Ginkel. He was a boss before he was subbed, fucking immense.

If Bale goes for 80m plus I think we'll see AVB make a few great moves. Soldado already looks like a Spurs player and I can see them looking at Willian (rumors about him wanting to leave Russia) and possibly AVBs good old friend Hulk. Also theres rumors Spurs want Papadapolous from Schalke and well if the rumors about Spurs wanting Madrid to throw Modric into the Bale deal then they simply have the best MF in the league in my eyes: Paulinho, Sandro, Dembele, Holtby and Modric. Spurs also need a better LB so with that 80 plus m they could get a good striker, good center back, replacement for Bale and a good LB they will be an allround better team due to selling Bale.

RIP Chucho. Sad to see someone die so young.

Mate go do one. Ok maybe not the nicest of starts but Oscar is extremely talented. He is the undisputed #10 for Brazil. Why? Because hes better than Hernanes, Ganso, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Bernard, Thiago Neves and Jadson in that role, who all are/were good players. To say he'd not get into Spain (a team blessed with arguably some of the best MF players on the go right now that players like Mata, Silva, Thiago, Illarramendi, Isco, Santi Cazorla, Javi Martinez, Cesc Fabergas are forced to be on the bench sometimes) and Germany (another team blessed with class midfield players, to such an extent that Ilkay Gundogan, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos don't start most of their games) isn't exactly a valid argument as better players than him can't get into those teams. Oscar in my eyes is a very good player already. He has a very good skill set. He is good at dribbling (completing 1.1 dribbles per game), has a good shot from distance as we've seen (20 on target, 26 off target - 43% shot accuracy - out of 46 shots but he has a 8.7% conversation percentage, he only scored 4 PL goals last year) and he's capable of setting chances up for his teammates (he created 47 chances last season in the PL and ended up with 5 assists). Defensively for a number 10 player he is very good, he averaged 2.5 tackles and he made 0.9 interceptions per game. In comparison: his teammates Juan Mata, averaged 0.9 tackles and he made 0.6 interceptions per game and Eden Hazard, averaged 0.8 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game. Actually in the PL, Oscar averaged more tackles than David Luiz (1.5), Branislav Ivanovic (1.8), Gary Cahill (1.1) and John Terry (0.9), our 4 center backs. His work rate is incredible and his attitude towards defending seems positive, he doesn't just walk around like you've seen with other #10s in the past. I've not even mentioned his Confederation Cup stats... he averaged 2.8 tackles per game (14 tackles all tournament) and 1.4 interceptions per game (7 interceptions all tournament), he probably made more tackles and interceptions than some of the central midfield players playing for other teams. He assisted 2 goals in the tournament too. For that being his first season in European football, he has made a very good start and hopefully can kick on and get better like his compatriot Ramires did in his second season! You also have to remember hes nearly participated in 100 games of football in the course of 12 or 13 months.

I honestly hope this reports are bullshit. Ramires is a better player.

Apparently Shaqiri was through the middle as hes more effective when it comes to pressing in comparison to Mandzukic. This 4-1-4-1 is shit though, Pep is not wanting to replicate his 4-3-3 false 9 obviously, hes trying to show hes not a one trick pony!

Rauls beard > Baines bumfluff beard (can't believe I called it a beard, fucking poor excuse of a beard)

Good. I hate to say it but there were times last season where Frank looked lost in certain games. As its been said before, sometimes he'll win you a match and sometimes some dodgy positioning/lack of tackling/shutting down or whatever will cost you a match. He isn't a defensive midfielder, he isn't a playmaker. Hes a goal scoring midfielder, 'the super sub' is the best role for him. In the bigger games against City, Arsenal, Spurs, United we need to go for energy and legs in midfield, which is why Rami - Mikel or Rami - Van Ginkel /whatever new duo will more than likely start those games.

I don't think Schelotto will play, I'm sure Mazzarri has told him he can find another club. So it will probably be Nagatomo on the right. Kovacic is a interesting player for Inter, he has a big future and will be cause us problems but I don't think he'll play in a 3 man attack, maybe he'll play in midfield next to Cambiasso or Guarin or maybe Inter will play a 3-4-1-2 with him as a number 10? Their defense is there to be gotten at though, Ranocchia has been shocking for a year or so and Juan Jesus seems to struggle at certain times too. If they play Samuel or Campagnaro in a three man defense with them two I'd expect us to score a few. Still they are unpredictable in attack with Icardi and even Belfodil and Palacio are both good players. Anyway I'm hoping that Mazzarri gets time at Inter to try and restore their reputation this upcoming season though, I'm not exactly an Inter fan but I prefer Inter over all Italian clubs. Last season they finished 9th or something, was a shit season for them. Also isn't Moratti selling his 70% share?

If we sign Khedira, I will lodge my foot up somebody's arse. Hes fucking shit. The only upside Khedira has on Mikel is that he can score headers from corners/freekicks.

Looks like a midget Fabergas as opposed to Mata...

He has the greatest goal scoring midfielder in history as a teammate, I'm sure he can pick up some tips

Yes but they'd have a player with similar qualities, both players have good long and short passing.

Gala was so shitttttt wow, also wheres the pub gone?

Direct replacement for Asier Illarramendi probably.