Leif

The thing with Pellegrini is he's overachieved. Not 'made great achievements' (although with Villarreal he did do something special). Causing upsets with smaller clubs doesn't mean you're ready for the big time. I have no doubt he's a good tactician, but I have doubts as to whether he can manage a squad with huge ego's - which you get at every top club. He certainly didn't manage at Madrid. Mancini rotated too much - Pellegrini doesn't rotate enough. His players often play with niggling troubles in their legs and it's evident on the pitch. He's too stubborn like AVB was at his time here. I do believe that, in the long run, Pellegrini would be good for City - calm, collected, suave - but in the short-run, he hasn't got that fire in his belly to get the Man City players back on their feet and fighting like champions. He gets attached to clubs quickly and emotionally invested, but the City players don't want a 'daddy' like our players got with Mourinho I don't think. They want some hard bastard to come in with a whip and just motivate the hell out of them. On a note regarding City and away from Manuel - I find it great that while we won the title around a decade ago, we've continued playing at the top despite our low league finish last year. City have done nothing of note in the Champions League. They've choked in the FA Cup this season and can't get into their highest gear in the league for some reason. I think what we've done and continue to do is special. Clubs with cash injections - City, Anzhi, PSG, Monaco, Malaga (well, at a point) - I don't see any of them having the top-status longevity we've managed to achieve. We have a special owner. We have a special and at times questionable board. We just have 'something' the others club don't have. This will be evident when we win every domestic trophy available next season.

The thing is - When Bale's career is over, will he be considered better than his native Giggs? Probably not. And this is despite Giggs offering very little when it comes to goals, pace, tackling - all things Bale excelled at this season. Would Giggs in this market in his prime go for anywhere near what's being reported for Bale? Again, probably not. This is because goals mask things so well. Loads of players have their 'it' season and I believe this was it for Bale. I don't even think he was that good! The start of the season for him was very inconsistent and he only performs under pressure - which is great in big or meaningful games - but it means he doesn't give his all and perform in the 'smaller' games which is where Spurs dropped so many points last season. To get the best out of Bale, it seems your team has to pretty much revolve around him. If your team is revolving around him however and he doesn't perform vs. the small teams - how are you going to win titles? Will you bench him in small games? If so, why pay so much money for him? I think there's a huge question mark over him. There's only one player in the league worth the amount being reported for him. Mikel.

Mourinho has always had Wenger figured out. He won't be a problem next season especially considering his squad is laughable now. Then there's David and Manuel - That's laughable compared to Sir Alex Ferguson and whoever else he may have competed against around the top 4 when he was here (such as Benitez). I doubt 'smaller' managers will be able to figure Mou out; I only think Laudrup will get the better of him due to his understanding of continental styles which a lot of managers in our league currently lack; and by 'get the better of him' I mean tactically matching us when we meet and earning a draw. Next season I think all eyes will be on Mourinho and AVB. Both have had similar career paths when you take into consideration they both did great at Porto then jumped over to London and obviously they both know eachother extremely well. Regardless how good/bad Tottenham's squad is next season, I think if AVB is still there (which is most likely) they will be our team to beat.

I really think he's actually been one of Madrid's worst players this season. His crossing & passing has been horrific. However, with that said; he has had a few decent games at right back with around 2 acceptable performances in midfield. But is decent enough for us now? Would he accept being a deputy? I'm sure he could do the job vs. a League One team for us if they're not full of energy etc. (I think an enthusiastic Championship side would run him over) but I'd only accept this as a possibility if his wages dropped to something like £35,000 a week - which I can't see happening.

That should be an instant ban IMO, but maybe I'm harsh.

Regarding the Champions League next season, the likes of Milan, Barcelona (even with Neymar IMO), Madrid (unless they get some proper top in like Ancelotti), Arsenal, Dortmund etc. all seem to be falling while our players our only getting better. Even PSG have looked weak in the league this season and with Monaco now in Ligue 1 they'll have to focus even more on the league. I think if we were to get lucky and avoid Juventus + Man City/United later on in the competition we could be having another Chelsea - Bayern final.

Apparently 2 certain transfers are Nani to Monaco and Di Maria to PSG. It'll be exciting watching them up against eachother next season.

I actually genuinely thought he'd never return. He currently needs us more than we need him. Hope this works out.

Cannot explain my delight for Real Sociedad!! Remember Athletic Bilbao being the 'cool' club to support last season in the Europa League? Time for this Basque team to have that for a season. Undoubtedly the most exciting team in the league in my opinion. So many young skillful players! I believe their manager is departing however for Rennes(?). They must replace him with a good coach. Valencia fans will be heartbroken after such a scoreline against them. Can't hide my joy though after following Real all season (well, for the most part!)

Comparing a skill. You know how people compare Rooney's finishing Torres? Should they not do that considering they've played different positions this season? Should Messi not be compared with Ronaldo since they play different positions? Should Gerrard and Lampard not be compared considering they've played completely different roles throughout their careers? No. This is more of a message to everyone now: If you can't comprehend the fact that 2 players don't have to have identical DNA/genetics to be discussed and maybe, just maybe your opinion is wrong or should be reconsidered, you shouldn't be 'contributing' to a topic you know little of, especially when it causes derailment which the very same people complain about in other threads. Just had to fit that in before this becomes 3 pages of insults like in the Mourinho thread. Voila.

What a great, constructive post to add to a discussion

Arbeloa knows what's up!!! The Madrid job is plagued. Why? Because they go and buy the best players - and since they're already the best players - they have huge egos. I'm sure even such a seemingly calm Alonso has an ego the size of a car, while Ronaldo's ego would take 5 hours on a plane to go from one side to the other. Casillas has proven to be a bit of a dick this season, Benzema seems a dick and even Ramos a dick. But they're all Madrid's best players. The only way Madrid will start performing again IMO is if they get a 'yes man' in.

How much of him do you watch? Can you prove that? He's in the opposition box and in his own box far more than Ramires is. He really, really is. Check out his goals from this season on Youtube. They're all in one video if you search "Cavani". Simply watch how he dominates the air. Drogba would too often try and push his opponent away before chesting the ball; Cavani gets his head right to it and it works every time. I know and I didn't say he was. He has the same poacher's instinct that Falcao is; As-in being in the right place at the right time. Like a 6th-sense. I didn't make out he's the best at anything or everything lol. My whole post is saying and explaining how he's the best all-round striker which you've just said yourself, but not the best at any particular abilities.

Going to get a lump in my throat when he's announced. When he was originally announced I was in bloody hospital and missed one of the biggest moments in our history. This time, I'll be ready, with tissues by my side (not for tears )

What lol. He made 0 tackles today. ZERO. AS A DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER. WITH 5 FOULS!!!

Nice touch to play Carvalho.

De Rossi with a perfect slide tackle breaking Van Persie's body in half followed by a long ball to Cavani's head and then a goal which blows De Gea's hands off leaving him with stubby arms with blood squirting out all over the back of Ferdinand's head Could imagine that happening next season.

Best striker in the world. I just don't understand how it can even be up for debate. I really do not. He's not just the most complete striker, but I think he's the most complete player in the top 5 or 10 leagues currently. He's got the engine of Ramires, hold-up play of Drogba, aerial ability of, well, Drogba again, finishing of...Drogba in his prime, the passing any striker is really expected to have (better than any of our current options), instinct of Falcao, pace which rivals any player not in the 'elite' speed class such as Walcott, Ronaldo, Lennon, Doumbia etc; the audacity to try shots we wouldn't even think of like Ibrahimovic or perhaps Cisse of last season; the strength of 3 tanks combined; a first-touch which could rival Mata's and most importantly to me personally you simply don't see him not give his all in any club game. (He seems sad when playing for his national team but still gives a lot.) On top of all that, he's a beast whether defending or attacking set pieces. Our most important player from set pieces (defending) over the years was Drogba. He would simply win the ball back in the air or hassle opponents, hit the ball to Malouda, Mata or whoever's available, then try his hardest to counter-attack. This is exactly what Cavani does also - only Cavani has more stamina and pace. I think he's got what cannot be calculated or presented with stats. Just a special aura which only special players have. These players so often end up at Chelsea. When I look at Cavani, I see everything which represents this club which is slowly being lost with the decline and loss of our core. I think we need him. Oh, and just keep in mind he's achieved all that and hasn't been managed by a single top class manager in his career while also playing with no more than 3 top players at once at club level (Hamsik, Lavezzi when he was there and, well, okay make that 2 players.) Just imagine what he could do here under Mourinho. Edit: Other important traits:- He's a masterful penalty taker. He's as composed as they come. He's got above average dribbling for such a strong, physical striker. His ball control is something to be admired. He always gets the ball in place inch-perfect when he wants to round the keeper or fool a defender. Also unlike so many players we get linked to, he always performs in the big games.

In an ideal world, I'd have us sign Shaw to replace Cole, someone in the Joe Cole (of old) mold who can just be called upon when needed (Sterling? Sterling reminds me a bit of Joe Cole, he really does) and I'd focus on getting Loftus-Cheek into the first team somehow. Although I don't think he'd work too well in our 4-2-3-1. He could work in that formation but only if roles were changed. I think he'd be more important to our team than Chalobah, at this point, personally. I want to see Chalobah back as a defender but not many people seem to share this feeling. As for purchases, Max Clayton (18, striker) of Crewe has interested me for a while. It'd take balls and some cunning (Jose) to pull it off, but I think given a season out on loan to a top Championship side to evaluate him properly would do us good and then decide if we want him in our team or not. Oh, and then there's the player I thought McEachran was going to be (oops) - Will Hughes of Derby. Tracked by probably every top club in the world at some point. Oh and then let's splash £40m on that random Sturridge kid, he seems good.

I could be wrong here having not seen too much of him, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but in case you're completely clueless about this guy, he's basically the player Carvalho used to be I believe. I think he's got more strength on him however but not quite as good positioning. His tackling and interceptions are pretty much the same technique and to the same standard. He's generally believed to be one of the paciest centre-backs currently in professional football. He's yet to be capped for the senior France national team (he turned 22 this year) but the idea is that he will one day form a rock solid partnership with Varane. Varane - Mangala will be like Terry - Carvalho basically. He is a threat from attacking set pieces when it comes to headers, however he pulls players too much in his own box when defending a free-kick. His pace, and the fact that he played there for some of his career, meaning he's perfectly capable of filling in at left-back. This is the sort of deal where you're getting a player who could be one of the best in his position in 4-5 years. He'd be worth whatever we pay.

Monaco have a very fine history and have had some of the greatest players - simply ever - play for them. They've knocked plenty of 'giants' out of the Champions League before and have done more for football through bringing players into the spotlight than people care to learn about. They shouldn't be disrespected and labeled a small club. They're not. They've not got a huge fan base and a rather crap stadium, but that's it. They're one of France's biggest clubs. In fact they have the 4th most amount of top-flight league championships in French history.

I think he's below average. Perhaps demonstrated by how few league games he's got for Malaga despite all their games meaning nothing since they can't compete in Europe next season no matter where they finish.

If he could adapt to the right wing I feel he could be our version of Bayern's Muller. They possess very similar qualities; Only Muller is probably better at heading whereas De Bruyne is better at passing + crossing. Both have a great work rate and while not being the past tacklers they will win the ball back one way or another. They're probably both level when it comes to finishing too.

AND De Rossi is Italian. They seem to have the most longevity out of all European players. Probably because they eat so much fish & seafood and have well groomed beards. He hasn't even been used properly this season It has to be said btw. He's been deployed as a central midfielder while being given defensive duties. He plays far better in an actual defensive position with license to roam forward when needed.