JDY

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Looks like Spurs are getting Moutinho

GFNFrance ‏@GFN_France BREAKING: Etienne #Capoue has announced that he wants to leave#Toulouse. #QPR and others have been linked. 16 million euro price tag. BIG Please Roman, this guy would bring so much to the team. Would hate to see him join Arsenal/QPR

Gotta love Zabaleta though. Great professional.

du du du Nicolas Anelka <3

The FA have something ridiculous like a 99.5% success rate when faced with an appeal. They don't like to admit they're wrong, even if it's as clear as day.

Courtois told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I know that he has problems with his knees and his back. The goalkeeping coach at Chelsea told me that he does not know how much more time he can play at the very top. Quote from last season, whether it is true or not I don't know.

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It wouldn't be ideal, but if Hazard faces a lengthy ban do you think the club would consider recalling Kevin?

I'm guessing the Mail used this image to make it look like he kicked him in the head to. Instead there is a guy in the stand behind laughing, which completely goes against the 'serious' incident they are trying to show. Article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2267276/Eden-Hazard-kicks-ballboy-ribs-refuses-return-ball-cup-semi-final.html Probably the worst I've ever read.

But the media have gone with the story that Hazard kicked the ballboy, and no doubt there will be people who will be brainwashed by the headlines. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets booed by opposing fans.

Sky just said that the police are investigating the incident. What on earth is the world coming to?

Very highly. Most are hoping he stays for another year on loan!

The thing about Southampton and their youth players is that when they let them go they take into account which club would be best suited for the players development. Bale went to Spurs instead of United for this reason. I think tactically it makes sense to go for someone like Shaw, but not yet. After Cole leaves, I can see us and United going for him (unless they pay Everton's ridiculous asking price for Baines). Tactically at the moment Azpil is our most important player. In a formation and with players that naturally want to come inside, he offers the width and comfort on the ball that we seriously lack down the left side. It's strange that we've seen Cole bomb forward for years and years, but when on the ball in the final third he doesn't look at ease at all. From seeing Shaw briefly this season, he looks very good in possession, and his distribution is very precise. Not trying to overrate the kid but his style reminds me of a young Philipp Lahm.

Was reading the Bremen forums a while ago and most were laughing at Bild, as they seemed to have an agenda against KdB ever since his comments about Germans being 'stiff' (even though he says the translation was incorrect).

Étienne Capoue

Rofl. Kalou has 'Kalouinho' on the back of his shirt. Trying to secure a move back to Chelsea?

Yeah, was going to say it must take into account assists, key passes etc. I think Ramires' passing is really underrated for the role that he plays. Sure it could be better but I certainly wouldn't say it's weak. Regarding the Ba point, whenever I've seen him his hold up play has been good, but as you say Torres is woeful in this regard, and even previously Drogba could be clumsy at times when keeping it. I'm only going by his time at Bremen, and I would say 'very weak' is quite harsh (76% success is pretty good infact) I didn't see him at all at Genk so maybe he has improved since then, and the rating reflects his time there to? Don't get me wrong, I wasn't arguing because I think he should play in the pivot, I actually don't think he should (been back and fourth). He could probably develop and do a decent job there, but I don't think it will totally suit him or be worth the hassle in the end (when we have someone like Oscar more suited). De Bruyne's playstyle is too aggressive for the pivot, both with his passing and running with the ball. I'd like to see him on the right or behind the ST where he can utilize his strengths fully. I think a lot of people see De Bruyne and want to fit him in the team anywhere possible. We see the attack with the likes of Mata, Hazard etc and wonder how he would get in, and he's too talented not to be playing every week.

I don't know. Why does whoscored rate Ba's holding on to the ball as 'weak'? Or Ramires passing as 'weak'. Neither are true. De Bruyne's defensive contribution is not as bad as people make out. He's contributed more in a midfield 3 than Lampard has in the pivot.

That is pretty wrong then. They are confusing his tackling ability with his concentration when faced with an opponent. His tackling is pretty consistent, but he often gets bypassed too easily. Two different things.

His tackle success rate is 76%, not 25. Think you might have confused it with his unsuccessful rate, which is 24%.

Has looked dangerous every time he's on the ball.

Well if they had a long term manager in place I think Lampard and Cole would've been out. As it stands there is a real lack of options in the summer so it's possible that Rafa will remain but only for a few years until Roman finds that manager to completely rebuild the team. Would be stupid to get rid of Cole if no one was lined up in the summer (Just my opinion ofc).

He's still got a lot to give but I think this only hints at Rafa staying for atleast another year.

He'd still need to adapt to our team, and I wouldn't say it would be best as a young and learning player to come back in January. He's playing every week in Bremen and is playing well, but he still has his faults. In a way it's good for De Bruyne that Guardiola has ended up at Bayern. Kevin wouldn't be suited to Pep's style, gives the ball away far too much. His direct style is perfect for Mourinho however..