Tricky

Thoughts? Seems to be a class act, big strong can play in defence as well as midfield, perfect holding player. Could certainly do a job for us and offers more than Mikel, whilst providing cover at center half.

Thoughts? Seems to be a class act, big strong can play in defence as well as midfield, perfect holding player. Could certainly do a job for us and offers more than Mikel, whilst proving cover at center half.

We are not going to spend 80-100 million on two players. We are not about to drop Ramires from our starting eleven. We are not about to add another 300k a week to our wage bill. Should all be realistic. We are looking to sign a world class winger (finally). We have Marin, KDB, Ramires and possible a new signing on the flanks with three strikers. Sounds good to me. Sign full back and possible a CM and we are good to go.

The debt is in the form of loans to Roman. If he sells the club he would either have to sell it with the loans or wipe them off the balance sheet. Technically he could call in the loan when ever he wants. But doing so would destroy an incredible valuable asset (we must be worth £600-800 million). Long story short is he is going nowhere, he doesn't need the money, he enjoys football, he probably loves the club (given how often he manages to attend).

Roman has for all intensive purposes loaned us the money, probably an elaborate tax avoidance scheme. ?

I agree we need to provide the youth with a chance off first team football. We do need a big name wide player though, with real out and out pace.

Dibt bet against it, of you want to play nice attacking football your first have to prevent the opposition from playing. You do this by pressing higher up the pitch and as a team (aka Barcelona an Chelseas under JM). If we defend deep like we have been it means our midfield drops deeper or the gap between them and our defence gets exploited. And we end up counter attacking or launching long balls. Pace at the back is not essential (though it helps), what's important is that you press as a team. Hence my comments about moral; it has a negative effect on team work.

And Barca cb are lightening? Playing a high line means closing the space between midfield and defence compressing play (like JM employed, with practically the same players) from the midfield and preventing opponents from finding space. We played this way for three years under JM. Difference this time around was that we never had the same personal. Maka, Essien and Lampard were an awesome combination. Ps - your example has nothing to do with team morale. My point was that changing a system requires player buy in, often achieved by player harmony / morale. Telling them your flogging them at the end I the yer then asking them to do something different isn't great man management.

Don't see anything wrong with playing with a high line, problem was AVB lost / destroyed player moral. And if the team don't want to play for you you have a problem. We use to press the ball all over the pitch under JM; difference between us and Barca was that once we one position we were very direct. Believe the philosophy was that this transition period between winning and losing the ball was vital. You could exploit this gap to create chances. Let's not forget defence starts from the front, you can't have players going "wild" and expect to keep clean sheets at the other end. It's a team game.

Despite there debt burden they managed to post a £12 million profit this year. It's a manageable debt, but one which was forced on them. But floating on the stock market provided them with much of the capital to grow in the early 90s. I believe they are currently intending to float on an Asian stock exchange. Wouldn't be surprised if some of that money was used to reduce the debt.

He isn't slow, he is not quick but JT he is not. Besides his ability to provide assists (specifically crosses) is why he was signed.

To be honest the best teams in the world (Barcelona) have solid defenses, in fact they defend very well, pressing the ball all over the pitch. No reason we can't combine that with a more fluid attack going forward. With the departure off the big man they are going to have to change there style. No more battering teams into submission.

Rofl he was paid handsomely for doing so, probably earned more than he could he anywhere else. He isn't a saint!! Having said that he was always a professional, think he understood his limitations (like Paulo) and accepted the pay check an the role he was given in the team. I wish him well, but I'm glad he is moving on.

Noooo....... You'll be phoning Maloudas next.

Really? Our style is not particularly eye catching. Would like us to be a little more expansive next year. Players are going to maximize their earnings. Hell JT did it a few years back when he flirted with Man City and I think you would probably do it given the chance. I'd just like a decision though, don't want it to drag out like the Nordic saga only for us to buy another meireles.

People's reactions are comical. He hasn't put a foot wrong. He is making a significant decision in his life, he wants to maxmisie earnings but also insure that he is in a position to get first team football and win things. Ohh and I forgot to mention he is also a nipper! Lay off him... Personally hope he signs for us, got 5 years on hulk, has bags of potential and from what his current club are saying is a lovely individual. Ps - would be a mistake to sign for city, purely mercenaries there at the minute.

So a young man wants to move to the UK to play football. Same young man wants to maximize his earnings and potential success in what is a relatively short career. And some of your issues with this are? Fair play to him, it's an important decision. Give him a break, hopefully he can appreciate the ambition of our club (new ground, owner wanting success) and our recent achievements. Whilst also realizing he would walk into our first team, and join up with three of his young compatriots. And let's not forget the draw of London. We are an attractive option, fingers crossed he chooses us.

Seems to me we need a full back, cm and a winger. Sure the signing of Marin and KDB provide us with additional width, but I'm not sure they are ready for the first team. And with a loos subtle 4-2-3-1 formation we could do with the additional AM/Winger in the squad. Why the push for a new striker? We have Torres, Lukaka and Sturridge for the 1 vacant spot up front. If we sign an additional one Torres walks, he won't stay for a second year of sub appearances. Give him his chance, we need to show some faith in our existing squad.

I'm going to assume that this bid is fictitious, wouldn't be the first time a director of a club has told the world we've bid an astronomical fee for a player. Hell we might even be playing games ourselves, applying pressure on Hazard and his supposed wage demands. I mean £32 million for a 19 year old who has never played outside of Brazil? At the same time media sources claim we have spent £30+ on Hulk and a similar figure for Hazard. You got to laugh, £50 million for Falcao. It's fantasy stuff, especially given FFP rules.