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Yup. The same guys who have claimed not to believe the media BS, now claim we've refused offers for Mikel based on... the same media BS... Really can't see us keeping both Mikel and Essien if we sign Rossi or any other holding mid. TBH, don't feel strongly about either atm. Before recurring injuries Essien was IMO twice the player, but right now, I'd prob keep Mikel (as a sub never starter).

All these different opinions and I can't seem to disagree much with any of them. Guys, Oscar is a kid! He's 21 right now and will turn 22 in September. Chelsea don't know what type of player Oscar will become (hope Mourinho can provide the right insight), Scolari doesn't know either. I reckon even Oscar doesn't know what type of player he will be when he grows up. I for one find it exciting that we've got players who are so young and with so much potential. Just remember he is a starter for Brazil at 21, and historically, that means a lot even when questioning the current generation of Brazilian footballers. Only very special players managed that. I also find it exciting he shows signs of aptitude in different aspects of the game. IMO he is shaping up as a very rounded player, and will bulk up a bit naturally. I am surprised by his contribution last season, considering it was his first season in England.

"agree with everything.." how boring! We ought to (respectfully) disagree more. Seriously though, here's what I was talking about: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/rooney-could-good-ronaldo-bothered-gym-093958084.html So, I did not question his dedication on the pitch (work rate isn't the same), but his dedication in training. I don't think it's enough a professional player these days to give 100% during matches, but not practice. Honestly, suffice to look at Rooney to know that what the coach above states is true. I reckon he'd probably improve our squad, but not sure if enough.

Because (some think) both Uruguayans are a lot better than him. United have better in RVP, hence why they'd let Rooney (on long term contract) go to a rival. Because (some think) while Rooney has had some amazing matches, and scores great goals on occasion, he does vanish from games from time to time. His work rate is nowhere near the aforementioned Uruguayan strikers (RVP is a different animal). And I think the reason for that is his lack of dedication--as showcased by an interview from former United fitness coach I posted a few pages back--where he states Rooney doesn't like the Gym; essentially questioning his dedication. BTW, I do understand you (and others) don't agree, which is OK and not the point of my post. I'm just answering your question.

It's not about what he did or how many goals he scored... that's the mistake we made before. Standards are different, styles too, so are requirements. Newcastle can play to Ba strengths, but we can't afford that. Even Liverpool (without so many options) let go of Carroll because they can't use him. Benteke is a lot younger and seem to be an overall better footballer, but I haven't seen him enough to know for sure. So the real question is, "is Benteke a significantly better footballer than Ba right now, or perhaps in the near future?"

I share your pessimism. And by young and get better you all mean Oscar, Hazard, and Lukaku right? Because most if not all others are either not that young and/or close their full potential. *aside from the new/unknown/youngsters who have joined the club. Especially in the striker position, we've got Ba and Torres, and that alone will put us outside of any contention IMHO. Although Lukaku has immense potential, it's really difficult to predict how he's going to develop, and what type of player he will become. De Rossi would change things for sure, but can we honestly expect a different outcome from any city face off with the same midfield we've used before? I can certain see a replay of Toure just outmuscling and outrunning Mikel all over again. Although Ramires can match Toure in aggression, he loses out strength wise. There is zero chance Ba recaptures his newcastle form, because he has been playing as good as always. The key differences are standards and style. Both of which make him surplus to requirements. I'd have more faith in Torres has this not been his 3rd season at Chelsea... Haven't really paid much attention to Benteke, but I'd welcome him if he is a better footballer than Ba (doesn't take much - finishing aside).

Completely agree. You can just send them my way. Thanks! Like I wrote on the Suarez thread, you need some bad boys so you are not bossed in big matches, and Meireles fits the description just fine. Helped us tremendously in the CL win.

double

Thiago PLUS 30m and we start talking... I will take a straight swap for Messi as well... other that that, we are not in the business of strengthening the opposition. I want to beat them, not help them. Funny David: http://footballfunnys.lockerdome.com/articles/108441462

Fantastic name for a musician.

He's only 25... thought he was older than that. Great buy if not a fortune. Hope someone (who's paid to do it) is keeping tabs on the # of homegrown in the squad though.

Anyone can summarize his characteristics? I haven't seen him play, so I'd welcome any info. My understanding is that he is not the same player as KDB. So, KDB would be more of an AM then? While Van Ginkel a center mid?

So, are you saying that diving is worse than racism?! Did Ivanovic show the horrendous "bite" marks after the match!? It was a pathetic incident, and yet harmless! that made great headlines. Sorry, but that's being very naive. He is a defender! So, you think defenders don't pull shirts, don't use elbow, arms, hold the player down when he's going to jump, kick the same ankle repeatedly, or worse?! They do it ALL the time in every match. It's a contact sport with constant physical disputes, and all players test the limits of what is legal very often. How many times do you think a defender or a midfielder go to the ground on a challenge, because they rather get the foul than allow the opponent to regain possession so high in the pitch? Again, very often.

Ironically, the worse thing Suarez has been accused of is very similar to what our own John Terry has also been accused of. In Suarez' case, culture could have played a part, especially language (by analogy with Portuguese I think it did). So, what do people here think of John Terry? I'm consistent and wouldn't want to play *against* him either.

Your analogy does work for me. This has nothing to do with being a criminal or not. One can argue, and I have, that the punishment did not match the "crime" at all! 10 games for what?! A tentative of a bite? Disgraceful acts?! Like trying to get your club or country the result? This is football! Roy Keane was a fucking cunt who did despicable things on the pitch, and yet I wouldn't want to play against him. Toure runs over our midfield every time because our players are too nice to take him down. You've been taken by the English media "false" morality; or should I say their own version of morality. It's a place where a career threatening challenge is OK. If a player dives to get a PK, which more often than not is given, he is a 'diver.' If the player is overly physical and fouls other players all the time, that's OK because it's part of the game. Diving is also part of the game, regardless of what the purists believe (and it doesn't take place inside the box exclusively). You can either take advantage of it, or be taken advantage of. Think many are just naive about what players think and do on and off the pitch. BTW, players in general don't give a shit about media and their opinions. "Nice" teams with naive players rarely win. If he misses a few games, so what? We have the strikers we currently have to cover for that. Having Suarez on the roster would be an improvement over what we've got.

sure, but the punishment, in that case, did not match the "crime." FA punished the man, not his act. The act itself was pathetic, but really, there was no harm aside from (Ivanovic's ?) embarrassment. Now Mcmanaman did not get a single game, not even a red card, for a tackle that could've ended a career. Sorry, I just can't take FA seriously with these standards. Consider that if Suarez did not have problems with FA, there wouldn't be any rumors about his sale, aside from an outrageous offer from RM of course. Liverpool would never agree to sell him in such case. The fact he does have problems with the FA makes him acquirable.

If Suarez joined, what would be his job at the club? a) your daughter's husband Church minister c) Motivational Speaker d) Security guard e) footballer It's really a simple one. We all agree he's a stupid cunt; we just don't agree on how relevant that is. Perhaps the guys just does not have a good education?! I know nothing of his personal life and really don't care. BTW, same guys who complain about him being a diver, say the same about Barcelona and United. Perhaps we ought to dive move, since that seems to be working so well for them.

That's the type of signing I wanted to go for. He's nothing like Lukaku--completely different player. Damiao is older and more experienced too. It's very difficult to acquire players, especially strikers, when they are at their peak. As we've found out, not only with the Torres flop, but with our attempts to get a replacement. The top clubs just don't want to sell them, and when they do it becomes a freaking auction. So, gotta find the targets before they become stars. Yes, it's a risk, but not as high as signing a 50M striker who was showing early signs of retirement. -- On characteristics, I see Damiao as being a rounded striker, because he does not excel in any specific skill, but is good in all of them. The only exception could perhaps be pace, though I'd not categorize him as slow. He's tall, pretty strong, and can shield the ball very well. He's got pretty good technique and can even dribble in very small spaces, which I can't say for Ba for example. Although he is not, obviously, at the same level of the prior Brazilian great #9 (though aside from Romario and Ronaldo, don't consider the others that great), Damiao is fairly inexperienced for a player with already as many caps as he's got. In other words, although he is not the player we need at the moment, hence some harsh criticism for being Brazil #9 (not his fault btw), he's already a very good player with potential to become a great striker in the future.

Regardless whether we think he deserves a chance or not, personally I've seen enough, what you suggest would put Lukaku as a 3rd striker. After the season he's had as a 2nd striker, I feel Lukaku is the one who deserves that chance this season.

I see absolutely no evidence of him having good mentality, and by that I mean winning mentality. Actually, I think he is WAY too nice when he plays... A guy of his build should be making the life of defenders a living hell, if for no other reason to help his teammates find space. Yet, when I watch him play I see a player who plays fair, composed, but does not go the extra mile to help his team. He also goes to the ground way too often. That's not the type of player you need to win the big matches. I'd be extremely surprised if Mourinho uses Ba in any significant way next season. Hardly a player of the caliber or characteristics he's been using lately.

^^ fact we bring Torres so much into this discussion is not good for Ba. Fine with your other points, but disagree on Ba's potential. What you see is what you get with Ba. As bad as Torres has been, Torres was, once, world class, which is something Ba will never be. I don't need a season or two with Mourinho to find out our 27-28 squad player cannot develop much further. I'd be more willing to believe, however unlikely, in a Torres' return to form than on Ba becoming a world class striker. Lukaku is 19/20 how much he can develop is unknown to most people--not really comparable to the other two. I don't even rate Ba that highly as a Target Man; he goes to the ground too often and does not cause enough trouble, physically, to opponent's defense. If we rotating Ba, that means he'd be starting matches, which is exactly the problem IMO.

yes, Rooney leaving would've been news; Rooney staying certainly ins't. Sports media...

Yeah, sorry, I just don't see it. I see him as a good striker for a mid size team and one who should be nowhere near Chelsea starting XI. He's so poor on the ball for me; his first touch is poor, as is his link up play. Yes, he is a good finisher, which includes movement and positionion, but that's about it. We keep going back to Torres every time we talk about Ba, which should be very telling. Neither is good enough, and we are going to sell the one that can be sold, so our younger (huge) prospect gets more games; it's that simple.

good point, but we know we are stuck with Torres. And TBH Torres has better technique, even though not as good as goal scorer (as Ba). Yes, we did win a few matches with Ba, until he stopped scoring, in which case his contribution to the team is worse than Torres'. Lukaku is too good a prospect not to give him games. So, Ba is going to go because we can sell him and we need to sell one of the two 'not good enough' strikers we've got.

Suarez, if he comes, will play football for the club. Nothing more, nothing less. And as a footballer he is world class. I'm sure Ba is a nice guy, but I couldn't care less about how nice he is. Yes, it is a cynical view, but that's the right one IMO concerning teh very competitive world of football. Suarez' problems with the FA only makes signing him a better deal, involving less money. Especially if the #1 reason he wants out is not the Media (players typically don't care about media), but the lack of CL football at lpool. ANd honestly, I've always thought the FA ban was a huge overreaction to the incident, which was more pathetic/sad than bad. Suarez (over)aggression, which is all there is, needs to be controlled by the right manager/coaches, but he is one hell of a football player and that's what I care about. Players with certain issues can provide the best return for the money.