Leif

I personally think he's currently as good as Hazard, just its not widely agreed because he's less of a flair player etc. I think. If Hazard is/was ready for us after Ligue 1 then De Bruyne certainly is after time in the Bundesliga.

SOMEONE TRANSLATE SO I KNOW THIS BONER ISN'T FOR NOTHING!

Today I'm reading that Schurrle's dad has said he'll be joining us for £14m. Probably just rubbish but that I would be happy with.

Well that was odd.

Looking at him in particular he should be a key player in this squad but isn't treated as such. I do think the formation needs a revamp. I'd put a 4-1-4-1 with Chalobah in that holding role with a box-to-box player and a playmaker in front of him. Zaha on a wing, Redmond on the other, and a proper striker up front (Bamford should be given a shot but we know that won't happen.)

By using his stamina. Like Ramires. His job was to win the ball back using his main asset which was stamina.

I can do the same for Mikel But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be in our squad based on that.

Were they not Essien's main assets in his prime?

Err is that Mourinho quote real? It'd seem odd if he's already been asked about Boateng. I don't remember any PC's being held with him involved since the Boateng rumour was announced.

One thing not being mentioned much: He's a good leader. I don't mean a 'leader' like Lampard or Terry who are 'nice' on the pitch etc. But he's a 'cunt leader' like Roy Keane (again using this example since they share a few traits) who'll keep his team motivated with or without the armband. It's something we're missing. His 'fuck up the opposition if they dare tackle you hard' mentality will rub off on players, and sure, he'll get a few red cards probably during his time here, but I miss that passion.

Some quotes from an AC Milan forum. The rest of quotes or posts on various Milan forums are a split between "I want him to stay for at least another season" and "Let's sell him because we need the money." I don't think any posts are saying they want to sell him just because they want him gone. Everyone on these forums though agree that if he's to play behind the striker at times he needs creativity near him. Hazard on the wing is perfect for that, and I'm sure anyone we play in a deeper role will have decent creativity too. That may not be a problem though if we were to put him in a deep midfield role to start with which seems to be what Milan fans wish Allegri would do.

Not sure if posted or not but his agent is apparently in London today. Diamanti or Andrea Poli expected to replace him at Milan as they're trying to make the team more Italian.

Chalobah + Ake = Ball winning players with decent distribution who sit in front of the defence with very occasional runs forward. Not the best finishers, but Chalobah is known to take accurate pops at goal every now and then. KPB = A player who now mainly plays behind the striker while liking to track back and take accurate long shots at goal. When deployed in a deeper, more 'central midfield' role, he can become a 'destroyer' type player who while not the best tackler, will one way or another win the ball back. Incredibly strong, aggressive and often reckless, he could be described as a shit De Rossi in this role but it works. Think Roy Keane actually. That's what he's like when he's central. His passing is underrated and if nurtured could be a genuine candidate for the 'playmaker' some of us want. Mata = A silky player who's now known for efficiency in front of goal and splendid through-balls, flair, above average dribbling and incredible vision amongst the best in Europe. How are #1 and #3 being compared to #2? Regardless if he'd play in one of their positions or not, he's a completely different style of player to anyone we have in the squad currently.

Well "lazy" to "hard working player" is quite a gulf so it's only normal to assume one of them doesn't watch the player. It's like someone who mainly follows Serie A saying "Hazard isn't good at dribbling" and then the next Serie A follower saying "Hazard is very good at dribbling and tricking opponents." Wouldn't you assume the first person clearly doesn't watch Hazard, or at least, doesn't watch enough to make a decent opinion from what they've seen?

Mourinho knows what he's doing here. It's rubbish IMO to think that if we sign a striker like Cavani that he'll play every game etc. Lukaku will be used in probably almost every cup game, that I'm positive of; and if Cavani isn't providing the goods in the league or CL we all know Mourinho likes a half time sub, so Lukaku could pop on for a second half, score a brace, start the next game and score another goal, then go on a run of starts. Simple. In theory.

One post: "Boateng is lazy!!!!" Next post: "Boateng's game is all about his work rate and stamina." This is the case with over half the players we're linked to. People comment without watching the player.

Has it been posted that Paris-based (I think?) radio station Le Parisien have now also said Cavani's agreed a move to us? Apparently they were covering and following the story avidly ever since there was reported PSG interest.

It really is unfair to say he's had a 'bad' season when you take into account he's played as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger, trequartista and false-9. He hasn't been 'exposed' this season. He's been 'misused'. Not every player we sign can be a 21 year old 'Next Ronaldo/Beckenbauer/Zidane' I've convinced myself though so I won't try force my opinion on others like in the Schurrle thread. If we do indeed have real interest I trust Jose with this particular deal and will try hide my joy if it goes through.

Makes sense this deal would pop up right after it'd been revealed Napoli want Ramires in part exchange. Perfect replacement for him despite being more attacking. Boateng is like 3 weeks younger too (it makes all the difference) - and 3 times better (on his day).

I bet if he'd opted to play for Germany instead of Ghana he'd currently be at one of the bigger clubs currently. Not sure why but I always pictured him at City or even Arsenal (but are they really bigger than Milan right now? Probably not.) He's one of the more well-rounded midfielders playing at a top level in Europe and I think some people, myself included, forget he's not actually old. Just turned 26. The reported price would be a steal. It'd be like signing Gullit in terms of versatility and the Milan link.

mMmmmmmmmm tricky. I think we'd still go for De Rossi if we are indeed in for him but then stop there in terms of midfield. I have a gut feeling we won't be touching the defence but I guess i'll discuss that another time. Boateng originally started off as a central box-to-box sort of player and that can work in a midfield "2" like Ramires has proven a few times; only Boateng is far more capable, better at shooting and better at passing. I could see a pivot of De Rossi - Boateng next season and I could see it working really well despite how much they both like to contribute to attack. He's also really strong, like Essien of old, so it'd be hard for him to not win almost every aerial duel or physical battle. So in short - Yes. I think we'd get De Rossi still. But I think that'd be it, with us then just chasing the other rumoured targets up front like Schurrle/Cavani etc.

He's not bloody Ake or Chalobah and he's not bloody Hazard. He'd be a utility player as just stated above and a damn good one too. He's actually played (rather successfully) a lot of false-9 games before the arrival of Balotelli at Milan so there's yet another position he can play successfully.

He is not an average player lol. He's just had an average (by his standards) season since the introduction of a new formation. He works best in a midfield "2" or in the hole behind the striker and not as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3. Allegri has taken away his creative control on the pitch and his form has suffered as a result. Every other season at Milan he's been one of their best players. It's just stupid to write him off already. That makes - Boateng Hulk Sneijder Cavani (now according to some) and so many more 'not good enough' etc. Who is good enough?

If everyone else is injured, definitely. Should never start out wide though. Kinda like Ramires out wide but a bit of an upgrade.

OH GOD YES!!! Allegri has fucked him up this season but oh. my. god. Occasional cuntishness aside, when he is on top form, he is simply unplayable. He is an absolute engine like Ramires despite favouring an attacking midfield role like Mata. He can play anywhere in midfield really. It'd be a luxury signing but I would prefer this to Sneijder. Milan are already trying to sign Diamanti as his replacement.