manpe

So we extend his contract some half a year in and a few months later scrap that whole thing and offer a new contract? I don't understand it, what was the point of extending then?

My word, those guys are still in our books? Especially Delac, wasn't he here 10 years ago already? I thought I'd never hear that name again.

We see 4 seconds on our tellies without any context at all and that is enough for the media and people everywhere to start treating pure assumptions as facts. We saw him smiling, fact is we don't know what made him smile and these people who instantly jump at him for that are no better than what they claim Sanchez to be.

That coat tho It's wearing Wenger, legendary piece of fashion that. Are we sure he's not hustling crack from under the lining? That would explain something.

Why does this always 10-2 happen to Arsenal?

Wow, just wow. Wenger should just resign. That was painful to watch. They started well, but imploded beyond imagination. Kinda represents how their seasons go year after year.

It's terrifying to think of City having Sanchez, Agüero and Sane in attack. The pace, technical proficiency and sheer predatory power to score goals would be challenging to stop to say the least. Pep brought Sanchez to Barca so who knows... I hope it doesn't happen. Imagine we went on to buy Sterling if it happened Must not think about that.

Or one of the wet spams had forgotten to wipe spunk off his hand, because you know, they're

10/10... 8/10 is him having a bad game.

Nowhere did I say he is supposed to start off attacks, it happens from the goalkeeper up not the other way around. Pay attention to what we are discussing or it is hard to converse. And yes of course it is your right to be content with him simply scoring and not much else, you prefer a more archaic striker and that's fine. I don't, I prefer a player who can get the basics right. He becomes a "striker" in its purest sense when we are in the final stages of building an attack, when he positions himself in the box to be on the end of a chance to score and he does that brilliantly. My concern is when we are further away from their goal, then in my eyes he is simply an attacker part of the front-3 who are responsible of getting us further upfield or at least retain possession. He did all that well earlier in the season, but since he was dropped he's been getting worse in that aspect imo. Yesterday's game was pretty bad, take away the goal presented to him on silver platter and he would have nothing to redeem himself. As I said, your opinion is valid, but I know Costa is better than what he has been showing lately despite scoring and I want him to start showing his true quality again. In this current overall form (not goalscoring form) for every goal he scores he prevents two, imho.

It was, but at that time Abramovich didn't have the perspective that he has now I believe. Having gone through incredible highs and lows during this time that we didn't go through before I think he won't be this trigger happy again.

Clearly missed the point of my post. Read the second sentence.

A nuisance in the box, useless outside of it. In this form it's getting more and more difficult to use his goalscoring record to defend him, when he may well be a reason why we don't score more. Exile of Michy also is weird, Diego has no competition and he's clearly struggling, yet he's automatic to play full 90 every game. This is one mistake Jose did, give a sense of security to underperforming players.

Okay, so I take it you would agree to pay 100 million or more for Belotti? Even if it meant we lose out on another player or two who would improve our squad? Not to mention the indirect consequences of making such purchases normal, like rising ticket prices for example.

At least with proven players you know what you are gambling with. Investing over 100m, a large chunk of your budget on an unproven product is just reckless business. He's even not nearly that marketable to justify such money. Ridiculous prices being quoted and if it came through the market would be fucked for good.

So another Azpi you say? Wouldn't mind that, in theory. He's not that tall though, how does he fare in physical and aerial battles? I think if we want to replace Cahill it should be with another tower. You have players like Carroll, Llorente, Crouch, Kane, Giroud, Zlatan and others in this league, I'm just not sure who would be marking those guys in set-pieces if we replace our strongest defender with another Azpi.

Oh man losing Zlatan would be such a boost to us. We can handle their other strikers, they aren't that good nor are they physically imposing, I reckon we'd struggle with Zlatan' physicality more this time. Take the man away from a one-man-team and suddenly they are even more average than they have been so far.

Good point, that is true. He has either been at hopeless clubs (Udinese, Arsenal) or a rotational player in a big team (Barca). He has only won one major title in his career, La Liga in 2013. He'll be thinking he's 28 not getting any younger and looking at other teams likes us or whoever can promise success and a prominent role. He is an idiot if he stays at Arsenal even if Wenger leaves, at his age he needs to go to a club that is stable and can offer titles. If Wenger leaves I don't think everything will be rosey, they might struggle even worse like is the case with Man United. It will take a few years at least to sort out the mess and if he's ambitious he doesn't have that time.

Just curious, how many outstanding seasons has he had so far? I'm checking his stats throughout the years (not a lot because he's young) and this seems like his first truly worldie season. If that's the case then 100 mill, not to mention the ridiculous 130-150 mill being quoted by newspapers is laughable. You pay that kind of money only for players who have established themselves as more than one season wonders, bringing world class performances throughout a few years at least. If 100m is the new norm for up and coming players who haven't achieved anything and have everything to prove, then football has really turned to shit in terms of money. In a few years we'll be paying 1 billion for truly established wc players.

Worth a read indeed. I always liked Lewis, he reminded me of Lampard (past tense because I saw him mainly in youth games, don't really know what he's like in Holland but the article convinces me he's the same, just better). So it doesn't surprise me to read that Lampard is his inspiration. There was a time when I thought he might be the real deal, but then came the incredible hype over RLC and some others, so I didn't entertain the idea of two graduates breaking through. He's always been kinda in the background and I believe this might work for him just as too much exposure could work against him. This writing rekindled my faith in the idea that Lewis might eventually be the one, RLC and co. are fading just as fast as they rose, meanwhile Baker is catching all the right attention with his feet.

He is playing very well, better than anybody thought he would. The problem is that he is our only LWB, he needs competition and backup (or become Ghoulam's backup).

Thought this video was really sweet.

Chelsea confident Antonio Conte will not be tempted by Inter Milan millions with his family ready for London move Reports in Italy suggested Inter Milan are keen on Chelsea boss Antonio Conte Chelsea are unworried with Conte's family set to move to London this summer Premier League-leading manager is on good terms with Roman Abramovich Fuck off Inter, we will not be bullied by some inferior team in an inferior league. He is under contract, we will throw him to coach the reserves if need be but Conte stays I am more than sure.

Not a spectacular creator, but a very capable destroyer. Well deserved extension.