Leif

What I see in De Bruyne is a more versatile David Beckham with more pace, not quite as good set-pieces (but close enough to that godly level Beckham once possessed) and better shooting. Both were never very good defensively but manage to make it work if deployed in a central or deep role. Both are gods at crossing. Both are magicians with long passes. Both have an awareness and vision which is oh-so rare. Only 1 inch difference in height. Both are incredibly 2 footed. Sure, Beckham was deployed as an actual right-sided midfielder where-as De Bruyne has been deployed as more of a proper winger, but I really think they have uncanny similarities. Feel free to compare De Bruyne to another 'great' if there's someone he's more similar to, but I think it'll be a struggle coming up with someone.

Just want to say for anyone who cares, I've kinda been reading up on AS Roma's whole transfer policy and business model for around a season now (it's very easy to do, ask any Roma fan). Like us in the past, the manager gets little to no say when it comes to transfers. Their manager could say "I'm not going to sell Pjanic" and then the next day he could be sold to Arsenal in exchange for an U12 player. Their transfer dealings are amongst the worst in Serie A. Or at least, they were before this transfer window (they've made some smart signings in Benatia, Strootman, Maicon.) That said, and my point is, regardless whether their manager says he wants to keep/sell a player, just dismiss it. It means absolutely nothing at the club. Whoever the board don't like will be sold or frozen out of the team even without the manager being told. While it's true that De Rossi's problems were mainly with the previous manager, he does have direct problems with the people on the board and, like Osvaldo, they want him gone. De Rossi unlike Osvaldo however has a lot of self respect and won't let them give him the Osvaldo treatment, thus he is likely will leave.

Monaco apparently set to sign Hulk.

The exact reason I was originally against the Schurrle transfer was being repeated over and over by the co-commentator (who was rather pessimistic it must be said) throughout the first half. Predictable player (cut inside to get on his right every. single. time.) and constantly tried too much when he should have just made such a simple pass. It was infuriating. I hated it. It was like watching Sturridge during his time here with less flair but more work rate. I am not having a jab at him. It's just my view from this one game. I know someone will pop up and mention a fancy flick he did within the opening 5 minutes but if you look at it with a broader view I think it was a below average game even for a pre-season game for him. That said, I did welcome his tracking back. Cole looked incredibly comfortable with Schurrle ahead of him because of the cover they gave eachother. If this game is a preview of a pattern which will repeat itself, I'm thinking Schurrle should be a squad player with our '3' being Hazard - Mata - De Bruyne. Anyway, My top 3 from the game: 1: De Bruyne 2: Wallace 3: Essien (more because he surprised me with his performance than anything else) 3 biggest let-downs (from least let-down to biggest let-down): 1: Moses 2: Schurrle 3: Ba

Kalas looked much more comfortable than Cahill. Kalas had better passing and positioning than Cahill. Kalas is better than Cahill. Cahill should be behind Kalas in the pecking order for that right central spot.

Wallace getting a penalty to top off one of the best debuts he could probably imagine

I don't think I've ever seen a better passing game from Essien.

It's nice finally having a great set-piece taker (De Bruyne)

Lukaku has such odd positioning at times.

Wallace would make a tidy winger you know.

I'm loving Wallace so far. Incredibly eager. Not long before he'll get Dani Alves comparisons.

Shows how important it was having SaF as manager. Just this week they've lost out on 3 top targets: Strootman, Thiago, and I guess you could say Fibreglass. Now with this 'stunt' they've completely embarrassed themselves. Rooney will leave, Moyes will be sacked within 2 seasons. The United ship is sinking. Fun.

It's on Sky Sports. It was on the scrolling "Breaking News" thing before the "Manchester United reject Chelsea bid for Wayne Rooney" news took over.

Good gracious. An Email sent in to Sky Sports from a United fan saying Rooney never filled his potential. How much more could he have done there?

It was known in the very early hours of the morning/last night that we'd bid for Rooney. The Daily Mail will have got the same info from the same or similar sources and then decided to make the Luiz/Mata trade story out of thin air. Ben Smith at the BBC doesn't know shit. The BBC aren't reliable when it comes to their own actual journalists. He constantly posts whatever rumour has speed adding to it regardless whether it's concrete or not. Nothing to worry about.

Sky Sports reporting Mourinho has dismissed the links saying that we're after De Rossi.

^^^ That's yet another (FUCKING) fake quote which was captioned alongside the clearly (jokingly) put together picture of De Rossi at an airport. Not coming back in this thread now til the season starts.

The last time our players talked up a player this much we signed him. That guy was Hazard. A repeat of that please

Sky Italia have reported nothing. Originated from a Twitter account with around 900 followers. "Chelsea3Updates" or something.

Nothing about the actual transfer or real world of football, more of a fun thing of course, but guys - Purchase this guy on Fifa 13 (career mode) if you haven't already Bought him in the 2nd season and he's almost pushed Hazard out of the team

Anyone know if the apparent quote from him saying he wants to spend his entire career here is true? If it is I'm more than happy with that regardless how good or not I think he may or may not turn out to be. It's the right mentality.

Kinda hope he won't finish his career in Turkey. He is appreciated there but I doubt he considers it 'home' like here or, where I think it would be more fitting to retire, Marseille.

Napoli's president has said that Cavani and Ibra won't be playing together as the latter has been promised a transfer.

"Have many contacts in the game". Yeah, sounds like a reliable account. Is there a face to show genuine anger on here? All the emoji things are too comical.

Without Rooney dropping into midfield, picking up the ball and hitting a through-ball or one-two with the main striker (in this case Welbeck) United look like an average team - which they are without him. Even with Van Persie they'd be above average but not elite like ourselves, City, Madrid, all that lot. They're missing their dictator on the field. Guess Carrick would help too.