manpe

I fear that 'pool will be looking for "revenge" and will be up for it while we will have problems with concentration after and before big finals. I just don't want to lose to the scum a draw would be passable.

Not to mention that he could easily become a key player or at least a starter taking into consideration that our wings are comprised of Kalouda (hopefully departing), a hot n' cold Sturridge and an out of position midfielder (Ramires). If KDB joins us and isn't sent on loan, then Marin will be competing with him for left wing position, both being risky signings and far from established. Although De Bruyne's favoured position is AMC, so he might be competing with Mata instead, giving Marin even a better chance to promote himself from 'squad player' status.

They just played a cup final a few days ago. Some rest would still be needed regardless of the variables, that's why we have a squad of 25 members instead of 11. I expect Bertrand to play, he's been very good when picked.

Not to worry, we will try to sign him in 4 years for 40 million. If we succeed, then it could be thought of as an expensive loan deal. He's ours!

forum=life

If he moved to Arsenal, he'd instinctively start scoring own goals.. law of physics.

Why would they need to lie? A simple "he's not in the travelling squad" or "he's being rested" would do, or not?

So we won the bid for battersea?

man, politics have never been more entertaining.. i'll go grab my bag of chips. carry on.

We should've got Modric before Spurs did anyway, somewhere around 2006-2007 before he fucked off to a rival who wouldn't sell for a ridiculous price. It's the club's fault. Train well missed. Joao Moutinho on the other hand rhymes with Jose Mourinho, so he must be good.

shiiiiiiet Strike has overtaken him after finish line has the poll been closed yet?

"The number of men pushing women out of the way to get into the ladies' toilets was a bit rubbish. I don't mind men using the facilities, as there aren't enough for you lot at Wembley. But still, not need to beat women down to take a piss. Fighting among our supporters doesn't surprise me. Try going to the away games." role models

kompany 6 million? shocking

TOM & JERRY!

So you essentially want Mata to play the Lampard role back in the 4-3-3 days. Fair enough, I guess I'll just have to disagree with you on that one, I don't think he'd be suitable there.

Hmm, that's another question already. You want to convert Mata into a more restricted central midfielder to benefit Rami's game, while just a second ago you wanted to sell him. Tbh, our defensive game would take quite a damage because Mata can't defend. 4-2-3-1 has been working well for us, I don't see why we would need to start tinkering with it and totally fucking up Mata's game.

In 4-3-3 Mata doesn't have as much freedom, he'd need to be more defensive and more one sided. I believe AVB and Robbie never played Mata in a 4-3-3 midfield three, but rather as a false winger. And when they did play him centrally, the middle park was always clearly in a 2-1 shape, leaving Mata more advanced in the free trequartista role, which he couldn't be in in a 4-3-3. What you described, I believe, is still the 4-2-3-1 formation, and you placed Ramires in the double pivot role. Okay, but I maintain that ideally there should be a deep passer, a la Lampard under Robbie. Rami can play there but it doesn't benefit his or the team's performances much, our possession and penetration would suffer. He's a rather one dimensional player, very direct, not as universal as Essien was.

The thing with Ramires is that he doesn't really fit into 4-2-3-1 formation.. he's been shoved to the wing, but it clearly isn't his favourable position. He will be pushed out from there eventually. He can't play the trequartista role, it's Mata's. The double pivot should ideally contain one deep playmaker and a defensive midfielder who sits back. Rami doesn't fit into the double pivot, it would restrict his game too much, hence his average performances there... he's all about box-to-box and counter-attacks. He can't be the deep-lying passer and he isn't very good as a defensive mid. So we would either have to accomodate our formation to 4-3-3 (unsuitable for Mata), keep using him as a winger or force him into the double pivot, where he doesn't excel and our overall performances would suffer. I can see a problem for him once we get our wings sorted.

gotta admit I'm kind of a Sloth.. I said we had lost when napoli won 3-1. I even missed the 2nd leg, not on purpose though, but I was pissed at myself for missing it. Before that game I was all sloth no ollie (is he the optimistic one?)

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Don't tell me you realistically thought we were going to win the FAC and qualify for CL final back in the dark days?

That's a bold statement. Even if he used to be, then he isn't anymore.

Dunno if it's a bug, but my profile song randomly disappeared.

Are you sure you're not confusing van buyten with titus bramble?

I dunno why but this, accompanied by the jizzy picture above, made me laugh like crazy

kicking arse out of the UCL would be more satisfying.. Wenger would probably go on a hilarious rant about injustice