JDY

Good luck to him. I remember the game specifically vs Villa when Heskey was all over him. Never really got going after that.

The numbers were once theirs, so they continued selling 12/13 shirts with those numbers, just like Kevin. Chalobah has never been given a number, neither has Courtois, Kalas, and numerous other players on loan.

I've heard he's similar to Reus in a sense that he has fantastic off the ball movement, direct & a cool finisher. Only really seen him in the CL last year so would like to see him at a Dortmund, or any similar team.

Lukaku who was given a number previously was part of the pre-season tour but not included in the squad, his shirt is on the website. McEachran who was given a number previously was part of the pre-season tour but not included in the squad, his shirt is on the website. Hutchinson who was given a number previously was part of the pre-season tour but not included in the squad, his shirt is on the website. The same for Essien, Kakuta & KdB. Chalobah who was NOT given a number previously and was a part of the pre-season tour but not included in the squad, his shirt ISN'T on the website. If they were selling shirts based on pre-season then Chalobah's would be there to. So would Blackman's, so would Saville's. (Sorry to go to such lengths but I'm certain he was given one, + I'm bored )

Completely missing the point. He joined the club and was given the number 14 shirt, which consequently was made official by the club selling his shirts with that specific number on the store. He then left on loan and the number was vacated. If he was never the number 14 then why did they sell his shirts with that number and not a different number.

If that's the case then it would be false advertisement on the official Chelsea store then. They wouldn't give him a specific number to be sold to the public if it wasn't his.

The point was it was his official number before, not just one he was handed for a few pre-season games. I wasn't referring to him not having a number now, none of the loaned players do IIRC.

I'm sure they wouldn't be selling shirts if it wasn't his number: http://www.chelseamegastore.com/stores/chelsea/products/product_browse.aspx?free_text=de%20bruyne

He only completed 2 dribbles vs. Tahiti, so those stats remain impressive IMO

Nah, Colombian playmaker that plays for Pescara in Italy. Inter rumoured to be interested in him.

When you have hardly any suitors with a player on ridiculous wages and 1 year left on his contract you take whatever you can get. City have saved themselves a lot of money.

What a strike from Quintero in the U20 WC

Good deal for both parties.

Has a fee been confirmed? Or have the English media made up one again

No one has even said that in here since he was confirmed

Welcome Andre!

Sigh. Was going to get de Bruyne 14 if I get the shirt soon, and I was always no.14 when I played in sports teams in the past.

Hopefully a nice loan to get him back into the groove.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8789142/Transfer-news-St-Etienne-defender-Kurt-Zouma-happy-to-be-linked-with-Chelsea-move I'm sure I saw a thread about him on here, couldn't find it

Negredo would be a better fit IMO but I wouldn't say no to Soldado. Valencia are in a position where they have to sell to.

I've seen a lot of Madrid fans complain to when he plays on the right. I guess it's a nice option to have, Di Maria still to come in on the right aswell.

That was Javi Martinez in the tournament where Mata was named MVP. We are not talking about just this tournament, but his season for Real Sociedad, where is role was different to that for Spain. But I agree, I'd like to see how he fairs in the CL.

- I didn't say I was correct, I just disagreed with you, like you disagreed with me. - Yes, backed up without context. Comparing him to players who are playing in different roles this season (the only fair comparison based on his season with Sociedad was Khedira). He was not playing as a DLP for Sociedad, but showed potential that he could have the right attributes to be a good one (which he demonstrated with Spain with his style akin to Busquets/Carrick). Some of the stats were also wrong. - Maybe I am, but I'm only calling it as I see it, just like you are. Like I said, clearly we have been watching a different player, because our opinions couldn't be more different.

I honestly don't know whether he's trolling or not. I disagree with just about everything said, throwing statistics in without any context and massively exaggerating what you consider flaws even though it's normal for the player in his mould. We've clearly been watching a different player & different Real Sociedad, so let's just agree to disagree.

There was talk of him on here before the tournament, his price was known when he signed a new contract last year. This is simply not true. His role throughout the season for Sociedad was different to the role he played for Spain at the Euros, anyone who watched him enough would know this. With Sociedad he played alongside Markel who was the deepest of the pair, akin to what Illarra was doing for Spain this summer, albeit in a 4-3-3 for Spain. Illarra for Sociedad had the freedom to join the attack and link the play knowing the he had Markel behind him to cover the space. It's illogical to compare the player that played for Spain to what he did for Sociedad all season. The two teams contrast in styles are totally different. Sociedad are mainly a counter attacking side, whilst Spain are the polar opposite. And as I said before, he played a different role. It's easy to just look at the stats and draw up your own conclusion, but they often don't tell the whole story.