Leif

Well Ramires clearly doesn't give a shit about this game then

Sparta Prague seem to play the exact formation which I wish we would use when we're using Mata + Hazard. I think they'll be incredibly hard to break down with a packed midfield. I'm expecting a really boring game, especially considering how good they are at home defensively, but will watch anyway.

It's kind of sickening to me though I must concede that Mata is playing yet again. Poor guy. No reason why Benayoun couldn't play instead IMO.

And just like my post in the Marin thread, it looks like he starts on the right

I think I'd change my mind about him if he was deployed on the right wing instead of left. Does anyone know why he's always deployed on the left anyway? That puts him on his weak foot, which of course means he does that predictable cut-in and shoot nonsense. Surely we'd see better from him playing on his right foot so he can take on opposition players with more confidence and precision and start floating in crosses? He's got a decent work rate too, so him and Azpi would probably form an alright partnership in my mind.

What a pleb.

He's basically a Belgian Schweinsteiger I feel...but much more special and technically gifted. Both started as attacking midfielders/wingers, both had incredible potential to play deep, both have an amazing passing range and great long shots, both are leaders, and both are quite crap tacklers! (Schweini is good at intercepting though!!) De Bruyne however has more flair, more pace, better vision (in my opinion) and in general slightly more potential.

Can't sleep!! So excited. Such an epic match coming up which could change our history forever yet again!......is what we should be saying but nooooo we just had to half-ass our games in the Champions League and be the first holders to get kicked out right away Going to be humiliating playing in the Europa League. Must avoid Twitter tomorrow.

lol, Neville comparing Ronaldo to Michael Jordan.

Are we rooting for United or Madird!? Obviously we hate United, but is there really a chance of Mou Mou being sacked if he gets knocked out by United? Argggghhhh.

Best moment of his career

I don't believe it personally. Only around 1 in 25 transfer rumours regarding us are true. Also if it's been in place since December, why release the info now? Probably because they just need something to talk about. If it is true though our board have sunk to new lows. It just doesn't seem our style to agree a fee with a club etc. and then just say "he can join in the Summer. you can keep him for the rest of the season" especially given how our season has been going. It's not exactly the most reputable site in the world reporting this, guys, and I don't really understand how a TV show would get confirmation from clubs or agents for a deal like this.

I didn't say we need to have a holy grail of youth players. We already have a fan-chosen one in Josh which I think long time followers of the club can't deny at all, so since we already have a holy grail in place, I was putting forward that perhaps Chalobah deserves that title more than Josh when we compare the development of the two. I wasn't at any point saying having a holy grail type player is a good or necessary thing.

I said "just because you're young" while referring to something in relation to age and development not being set in stone and coinciding with eachother. I didn't say "it is impossible to be a late bloomer in life. it does not exist. no one has ever been a late bloomer in history" or anything of the sort, or did i? "Lol".

Chalobah... Musonda... arguably Piazon depending on who you ask...Feruz (see the former)...Kalas...I wouldn't say there is 'no doubt' at all.

I feel violated.

Guys, this is the definition of irony, is it not?

Messi has only come off the bench for Barcelona 50 times in his career. 3 years ago and further back had him starting 100 games exactly.

So Henrique and Justin are suddenly "everyone"? Lucky them! So we've gone from "No one" gave him a chance, to the minority of the forum AKA the Belgians giving him a chance, to 'most of the forum' not giving him a chance. Heh. I also didn't say McEachran was an average player... and now you're implying that I should judge him from a game he played almost 3 years ago? That's like saying "Torres is world class because of that game 3 years ago vs. Blackburn", isn't it? The point of the academy at this club is to produce profit first and foremost, since you asked. WHAT!? KAKUTA ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!? BUT HE IS STARTING FOR A TEAM PUSHING FOR A EUROPA LEAGUE PLACE! YOU FOOL! I BET YOU DON'T EVEN WATCH HIM DO YOU?

Atletico are ahead of Real more down to Courtois keeping them in games rather than Falcao finishing off games. Even to them Courtois seems to be the bigger asset. Doesn't that say a lot?

Find me one post on this entire forum where I've said we should get rid of a player, bar Torres. I certainly haven't said that about Josh, have I? Or maybe I have. Please quote whatever you're referring to. People constantly did and still do comment on Lukaku's 1st touch - because it was awful. He was always given chances by our fans though. In that same very thread you'll see posts constantly saying "He should start ahead of Torres"; "I want to see Sturridge and Lukaku start together"; "Bring him back, he's better than Torres and ready to start games." Sure, some people didn't give him chances, but saying that no one did is a lie. I've watched a few games of Bertrand playing on the wing but that doesn't make him a winger, does it? Oh he does cover, definitely, but he doesn't take this deep role you're talking about at all. He plays central. Not advanced, not deep, central. He doesn't have no goals just because he sticks back lol. He's been right in front of goal numerous times and simply failed to finish. You can't say again with conviction THE reason why he has no goals when you've just confessed you've only watched a few games. If there is nothing to mock, how on earth am I attempting to mock you? I'm also assuming the comment about not being a good poster is sarcasm given your history of lying to the entire forum etc. A little name change doesn't change that. Edit: Just noticed what some would call a 'personal attack' at the end of that post of yours. I'm pretty sure that shows the way this is going and which poster is actually posting more substance here.

Nani was once 19 and showed potential. He's not exactly Figo or Ronaldo now. Aquilani was once 19 and showed potential. He's not exactly the Xabi Alonso type of player he was tipped to be. That American kid hardly anyone can even remember was once 19. Age is absolutely irrelevant. You don't just have a hidden ability because you're young. There's no such thing as 'peak' years for players or 'breakthrough' ages. Messi turned into the world's best in his early 20's. It could be argued that Xavi or Pirlo turned into the world's best in their 30's. Get what I'm saying?

@Kojo, This isn't Fifa or Football Manager. Just because you're young doesn't mean you have special hidden away powers which are only unlocked once you reach a certain level/age. He's not 12. He's not still learning about football. "No one gave Lukaku a chance" is probably the most false statement I've seen on here this year so far. "We are way too impatient no wonder we don't have any good youth products recently, we just want rid of our young players." - I doubt my or any other fan's patience has anything to do with the board deciding which young players get their chance here or not. The comment about him being a very good player if he leaves and joins somewhere else is a complete guess and variable. As for being a deep player, he's played deep probably less than 10 times in his club career, so that can't really be said with such conviction. He's not even playing a deep role at his current club. He's either been used out wide, behind the striker or in a normal central role. I see this post as one of those ones which sound very nice and supportive of a player with the typical "HE SHOWZ SKILLS AT YOUNG AGE SO HE WILL BE BEST IN WORLD SOME DAY, JUST GIVE HIM TIME." but with little to no substance, sorry.

Match fixing.............

ANELKA !<3