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^^ yeah maybe he can flourish in a CDM position - he's a lot better than Gustavo, Paulinho as a CM. And it could free him from the positioning responsibilities he sure struggles with. I don't care about Silva's reaction when he did not play, when he was consoling his teammates after the trashing. I cared a lot about his reaction when it mattered most, at a crucial time against chile! The time we needed him most he failed as a leader. This is not just my opinion, but the entire country as well as Dunga's. Funny that I see David Luiz in a very different way: his technique is superb! that freeckick goal against colombia only VERY few players are capable of. His deficiencies all lie in the mental aspects of the game. I agree he has the attitute, the right determination and aggression, but that's about it. He's very poor in positioning, tactics, attention, which limits him as a defender. It's silly to call him a terrible defender though, because then we go into the "I know better than the transfer market/world/professionals" type of thing. I digress we should really be talking about our 22-year-old star who will very likely determine whether Brazil is a title contender or not in the coming years.

Silva was one of the crying babies against Chile. Sat on the football all by himself while others rallied the players. That's never a capitain in my book. David Luiz we know well... He can barely position himself let alone instruct others about what to do and how to proceed. He needs to be instructed, not instruct. He's better than the other Brazil CMs so I reckon he should be play there as well. However, Neymar also does not have the personality of a leader/captain. This's just yet another area this Brazil team lacks: leadership. The list itself is slightly better than the WC one... No Fred, Jo, Dante, and Bernard, but also other local players who have no business at this level. ----- Unsurprisingly, Brazil is still believing in the 22-year-old star. He's got all the attributes to become a dominant player in the position. While people see his defensive abiliity as a merely "nice" albeit unnecessary trait, I think it's huge and makes him a far more rounded player in that position.

Top GK for 10+ years.... Almost feel bad for the other clubs...

I have to disagree with the majority here on blaming individuals when the team fails at some specific task such as defending. As pointed out already by some, Matic had a good technical game: produced his usual tackles, pressurised opponents, but could not - alone - contain Everton. This happens a lot to midfielders and defenders: the sector gets exposed/overwhelmed and then players struggle because they literally cannot find the opponent - when they are about to apply the tackle ball the has moved. We were wide open and that was a concern for Jose during and after the match. I thought William was very poor esp defending, while Fabregas was poor when defending... We really miss Oscar work rate and movement esp playing away from home.

Why do you try so hard to make it as a bad thing that Alexis can also play out wide and that City has Dzeko and Aguero as options? Over the last 2 season Dzeko has sat on the bench for VERY LONG stretches and has become delusioned at times... Last season Aguero was injured for a long time and even now isn't that fit. Dzeko will sit on the bench like he has before. We can wage on that. I know what liverpool did and I hope they keep on doing the very same thing.

That has been repeated here until believed to be true... Giroud was on the bench for Sanchez.... When Aguero is fit, Dzeko sits on the bench. When RVP is fit, Falcao will sit on the bench. If Liverpool plays both Daniel and Balotelli at the same time - well then they are fucking crazy!

Have nothing to say about your rant on City, Rules, and people who compare one play with another?! Cheaper signings are riskier by definition... that's how the market works. No it doesn't sound silly to me at all because like I said, in my very personal opinion, all other top clubs in England have better options to replace their lead striker. Our lead striker is as good as anyone's, but not our subs.

I am not disagreeing he can do what you say above; what I am pointing out is that come Feb/March and Costa is unavailable for a long stretch - it could cost us silverware. First City won the league having their own problems - like their best striker missing for most of the season?! All of the above aplied to Demba Ba as well. Do City care about cheap or not? While I also find commendable that the club is abiding by the FFP, FFP rules only work if all abide by them. Otherwise it could give a competitive advantage to who doesn't. It's not a horrible signing by any stretch and I am not against it. However, I just don't see reason to be as enthusastic about it as most here are. Well, perhaps this is just my way to cope with the possibility of disappointment.

Why are you so sure Remy was a bargain?! Was he a bargain or it was just his valuation? Remember Demba Ba? People called him a bargain and I was never as enthusiastic about him - decent player just like Remy. About the same price too... There would be too many alternatives to list... City lost Aguero for most of last season and won it with Dzeko playing a pivotal role in their title win. Some have argued we cannot have a top striker on the bench, but Dzeko spent a lot of time on the bench when Aguero was fit, and it's up to the manager to earn his fat paycheck and keep the stars happy. We will be 100% reliant on Costa as I don't think Remy can remotely come close to him and Drogba is not looking sharp at all. Hey if Costa plays regularly throughout the season, then Remy can indeed become a good signing, a cover like you say, but that's a bet other teams aren't willing to make. If Costa picks up a long-term injury, say a couple of months, then Remy automatically becomes our lead striker... I don't rate Welbeck that highly either, just realize he is still 23. BTW, they are all bets, Remy as well. Arsenal already have Sanchez and Giroud, so there won;t be that much pressure on Welbeck. Remy's shots go in more often than Welbeck's, which is what the stats show. However, as Welbeck develops, his finishing may improve, and he may become a better attacker. He's still 23 and there is time for him to improve. He's not a quack and seems to be able to play footy; has nice physique and pace. I owuldn't rule him out as easily as others here have. Oh well, all left now is to hope our bet works out for us and/or Costa remains fit.

I was referring to posts on this thread - such as the one immediately above mine. It's clear some here are suddenly (or not) big fans of Remy. Well, I am not! He's a decent player who vanished one too many times while I watched. It's really a binary thing: either he provides cover for costa or he does not - we shall see. However, if he manages to provide competition for Costa, again, like some here have suggested, then I'd be very disappointed in Costa.

Welback is 23 so he can and should improve. By how much? That's the waging part if that deal. Remy is or should be at his peak right now. Decent player but there is no fucking way in hell he is competition for costa.

Good game by mikel. Was sharp and specially played quick which was what the game demanded.

We've got ourselves a top striker... It's been a while.

Yeah saw your second reply but I'm on pad...Like others I am worried that both of our options are not remotely close to costa in terms of quality. One is powerful and still good in the air, and the other is pacy but lightweight. We will be very reliant on costa... Perhaps over-reliant

Quality post!So you think remy is better than giroud? Ok...

We obviously disagree on Remy and that's fine. I truly hope you are right on this one. All other top clubs have better sub for striker than we do. Daniel/Balotelli, giroud/Sanchez, dzeko/Aguero. Rvp/rooney. They are all better IMO. I don't think costa is injury prone btw but he can still pickup a long term injury and ruin our chances. Just can't imagine the likes of remy and old-drogba doing anything special in the cl semis for example. The other teams have better options in the position.

I'm missing something here... Are we cheap now?! Are we looking for bargains only? Fact is city has dzeko and Aguero regardless of their valuation. Or do u think they care how much they costed... Are you all so sure remy is an upgrade over Torres? Because I'm not. We got exactly what we paid for with Ba so why do people suddenly think the world missed on this 27-fantastic player? He's ok just ok.

Some call realism, but hey whatever works for you.

Nah for me if costa picks up a long term injury we are fucked. Dzeko is twice the player than both remy and 36-drogba.

Is there any difference between not having to pay $175 and getting $175? Just saying it's not that simple. Even FFP rules take wages into account not merely acquisitions and sales.

If Torres has indeed waved the payout, then he has to win a few points with Chelsea fans. Certainly a nice professional attitude if true. No practice! no gym until the medical!

You both can quote me on this too: he won't! That's exactly my point - he's too reliant on pace for a team that pressures like Chelsea. If that's the player we wanted, we should've kept Lukaku.

Not a fan of Remy. Just a cheaper Fernando Torres - just as inadequate.

right, but Conf Cup are friendlies. Honestlly we've overemphasized what Brazil did in that "competition." Against, as we know now, very poor opposition.Employing an immobile striker, such as Fred, also worked there. In a far more dynamic and demanding competition, WC, Fred vanished; taking the spot of a real player and making Brazil weaker as a result.

This! Jose is right and Scolari was wrong - about how to utilize Oscar as well as everything else