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What happens with him for England then?! Isn't it just less protection and a slightly higher defense line?Disagree. Cahill scores because of his impeccable positioning, not his technique or lack thereof. You don't need overall technique to score goals - some very successful strikers can attest to that. Cahill's the opposite of what I would describe as a ball-playing defender. He cannot run with the ball or hit long balls, which imply his tight control is lacking as is his range of passing. Seen him lose possession or show too much of the football when running with it. Now, contrary to most here, I don't think Zouma has much better technique. They are on par technique wise IMO. Zouma is far more mobile and quick, which allows him to defend up and be a bit more proactive. The same reasons that made Luiz a good midfielder make Zouma a poor one.

You are mistaken. I am not advocating one way or another, even though I tend to dislike teams who utilize too many specialists - they are by definition more predictable and easily contained.My critique is mostly concerning ignoring the evidence. I see the best teams playing a very different style and similar to one another. Do your own research and change your mind or not. My opinion remains that the way we currently play is not competitive against the elite teams bc they always have more players involved at a given time - they multiply and dominate esp the middle.

Certain other players get awards and are made fun of... This is a philosophy discussion where some folks here think you can have specialists like Cahill Mikel who are completely inapt at other aspects of the game va folks who want more rounded players in every position. Some are the same who use stats as facts but choose to ignore the most obvious one: how do the top elite teams play? What type of players do they have? The very best one employs a (very good) DM as a cb and successfully so.

Alex is originally from gremio side - southern Brazil my hometown Porto Alegre. He's good going forward and poor defending. Gremio has produced 2 great left backs in last 4-5 years. The better one is Wendell who is at Leverkusen now. Same characteristics as telles but overall better player with great tight control and dribbling. Unless telles improved a lot in last couple of years he is not Chelsea caliber

Well it's not like his career has just started. This is what I have seen from him before spec in tough games. Honestly Jose threw away all profit from Luiz and lukaku overpriced sales on this one.

Oscar in terms of performance can indeed do better than he has, esp towards the end of the season. Concerning characteristics, Oscar is what he is and whether he plays as a creative CM or a defensive CAM is really up to the manager and his strategy. Now, people are nitpicking on details that esp nowadays aren't that relevant as players move about and exchange positions far too often - he's prob both CM and CAM during a game. I just take the hint from the number on his back - I honestly believe that's the role the club has for him and I am fully confident he can do it. He just needs to resume his development for club and country.

It's pretty believable that stones told Everton he wants out-perhaps even handed in a transfer request. Good signing now and good prospect for the future.

If pedro coming means I don't have to watch Cuadrado trying to control a football... come to papa little pedro! best signing ever!

ugliest fucking tshirt ever seen in my life... is it a corinthians or santos jersey? but he's from Fluminense...

I didn't say my view was closer to the truth just that your 'facts' were crap. The second is chicken and the egg. You think it's just how Jose works, but I think he rotates in the o my positions he can actually rotate... Oscar and Willian bc they are players of similar level w diff characteristics. Mikel has played a lot more under diff managers. First thing Jose did as he came back was to sign matic ... Coincidence?

I will give you an example to illustrate how much your 'facts' can be be misleading.Imagine a world where the stats about long passes were just not kept and someone only used the number 'passing'. So short and long passes would be counted and valued equally. Mikel would rank as the best passer in the world. Now image again that assists are mere passes, so in a world... you get it... Mikel would lead in assists! My point is that when I watch him play, his long balls are of the safest kind - same as his passing in general. Surprising?! Should his long balls be adventurous when every other aspect of his game is the safest I've seen?! Concerning your second point, well I could not disagree more. Reckon Jose disagrees with you as well because whenever fit Matic plays. So, if there weren't a gulf separating the players, Mikel would be able to rotate with Mikel on occasion. Matic plays in more contentious areas of the pitch and his ball retention is a lot better than Mikel's esp because of his better mobility - e.g. he can actually run in possession. Honestly I don't think it's asking too much to get a player who could rotate with Matic. Again, not as good as Matic, just someone who could start against a smaller side instead, so that Matic can be given a rest.

Obviously he is no cuadrado, who was poor before we signed him, but I have to say that I am not a fan of Pedro. Have my doubts whether he will be effective in a more physical league and our system. Barca upgraded on him, big time, and now he's going to give us the edge against them? Btw once again the how ppl worry about Romans money is truly moving. City won't care one bit though.

Well we clearly have a very different view of what a successful long ball is, but I will just point out the obvious that such stats lack qualification.I believe my very own eyes, thank you. Btw did you just compare Mikel to Matic?! As far as I am concerned Matic is the superior player in every aspect of the game. And there lies the problem.

Agreed. Peace expecting Neymar and Oscar to be physically equal is beyond me to be honest - not even considering, like you said, different leagues and styles. In addition to all that, Neymar has a free role in the NT while Oscar is asked to do what he's asked to do at Chelsea. Take Fabregas for example, he ended the season for us the same way he ended all the seasons in his career - tired.

fair enough on the 'retiring' part, but we can call it 'retiring from the elite' then. Matter of opinion and we go back to the "making no mistakes" vs "lacking ability" discussion. Same with Cahill who makes few mistakes, but lacks in a number of areas (pace and technique). I see Mikel similarly, as a player who makes few mistakes, but his lack of quality is a mistake in itself. It's a bad comparison since Cahill is far more adequate than Mikel. Besides, back to my point, I want a better player than Mikel - being more expensive is really irrelevant to me (so is age). Give the squad a couple more options and the best plays! Whoever wants a spot has to show in training. I know what Jose says about Mikel, but I believe more in how Jose used (or not used) Mikel - not much and not often. Overplayed Matic was also one of the players whose form suffered by the end of the season. So, Mikel is not a fit replacement for Matic, at least not in Jose's mind - well go get one then!

He's worth as much as what someone is willing to pay him and offer for him. Right now, that is less than his current valuation (current wages/status). Agree with someone who wrote that the top clubs won't come for him, which means he will prob retire at chelsea - the smaller sides will have trouble matching his wages. Esp considering he's a DM after all. I'd not be as displeased by relying on a poor player like Mikel if we had a large squad with a lot of options, because right now I know that whenever mikel plays, there are certainly things that will NOT happen: forget about goals and assists, he cannot even hit long balls which is pretty sad for a DM. How can we give a chance to youngsters when we have 28yo backup players who offer as little as mikel does?

interesting point on the finance as many here care so much about Roman's money - point taken. I don't (care about wages and the like), but I know some here do and that's why i mentioned his wages. I'd be very content in offering one of the many DMs who are far superior to Mikel 100k+ for a rotation role. The clubs who win the CL do have expensive players sitting on the bench. And they don't have a player as simple and pedantic on the ball as Mikel is. On a personal note, I just don't enjoy watching him play. One of the most boring players I've ever seen play the game. On a more serious note, isn't it a bit delusional to expect to compete in CL without the spending of our opponents?

Arteta is the poor man's Arteta... It's one of those players I cannot believe play for a top club... even if it's Arsenal.

true... one out of eleven... However it's just as silly to say he's useful because he does a job (close out a game) when a vast number of players are capable of doing the same: the so called defensive midfielders. Honestly, for 75K reckon we could do better than Mikel... other clubs have better options on the bench.

This guys is a very good player and at 27 still has got a few years left of playing at the highest level. After paying alsmost 30m for Cuadrado, this guy at 15m seems like a bargain. He will add options to rotate fabregas in both AM and CM, so he (Fabregas) and Oscar will not end up the season the way they did. Characteristics wise I would say he's something between Vidal and Fabregas: more creative but not as combative as vidal. Not very powerful, but high workrate. Interesting player for sure, but I have to say I'd be more excited with Witsel or Morgan from soton.\ BTW, ignore all reports saying he can play as a DM, because he's awful there.

WNDS beat me to it, but I was also unimpressed by Costa. Showed too much of the football when in tight spaces and did not hold to it well enough when Brazil needed it. Still, he's young enough to make these mistakes. I thought Brazil got overrun in midfield after WIllian left the pitch and thought Dunga was going to do the obvious and stick David Luiz in midfield, but I guess the Brazilian "coaches" don't know David Luiz plays (better) there. Yet he was just swapping similar players... weird. Like or dislike Jose, he always sees the game.

There is not much of a long term for Cuadrado as he is 27 and should be at his best. They are both insufficient players, but Costa is younger. Douglas Costa was the worst player on the pitch against Paraguay for me. Subbing Willian for Costa ruined Brazil midfield, but that's the current crop of managers we've got.

They do exist and are legally shaky. They verge into workers rights (aka freedom) territory.

We had him at his best and now Arsenal will have him at his second best - very fitting really.

Would not mind Can at all... he goes from shocker to OK with a brilliant showing in a blue moon, but that's what youngsters do esp in that position... BTW, Gremio, southern Brazil side, has a pretty good DM prospect in Walace: tall and strong 20yo who has sublime technique especially in passing. One of those players who dominate the midfield. Should already be in this very average Dunga side. Hope someone is watching him...