Rmpr

My last post about Pele, this is Neymar`s thread still... Pele is the greatest player of all time, no denial. I mean, with Messi's age he had already 3 WCs and almost 1k goals. I (as any other Brazilian) will be forever and immensily grateful for what he has done. However, there is no need for false patriotism, his personality is horrible (cocky, selfish, etc).

1. Agreed 2. Pele is a cunt, no need for eufemism. I love to see his amazing videos, but he has a stupid character!

Neymar`s father is his agent, so he does a lot of trash talk (just like anyone). Pele is (to me) really bothered with the fact he is being compared to Messi and I guess he wants Neymar to outshine him so the comparissons end.

Same here.

Oh, now I feel much better!

What I am saying is that Negredo is not good enough to be our senior striker. The very small example of Torres in good form is just as good as Negredo, that is where the comparisson comes from.Negredo really knows how to position himself, so he is able to score a lot of goals (a very much needed quality for a striker), but he is indeed limited (movement, skills, etc). I am against Negredo deal because we would be buying a player that would request a 3-4 year deal and would not come for less than 10-15mi(?), but will be only useful for 18 months (at the most), until we buy more strikers and he falls down to the reserve team. The main reason I like Villa is because it is for the very short term and the reason I like Ba is because it will be much more cheaper. None of them will last long though...

Ba is only unlikely at the moment because we havent talked to him. About Ba being a 2nd option next season, anyone besides Cavani or Falcao will get down at the picking order. I don't care who comes for the second option (Villa, Welliton, Ba, Bony, etc), but Negredo is not good enough for us. Why spend big on a player that won't add much more than this more commited Torres...

I very much prefer Villa or Ba over him. Demba Ba has a decent chance of happening (if we aproach him).

No, I don't nedd stats, I watch every Sevilla game because of Cicinho (former Palmeiras player that I like). Negredo won't solve our problems, he is not good enough and will be expensive, buy Llorente (much better player and for free). Also, if we are going to buy a second tier striker, get Bony or Welliton.

I am very dissapointed to see Benitez in front of the transfer deals. He won't be here for the next season (hopefully), so just piss off! Negredo is shit and he is just looking for Spanish players (while there are some good options out there). But I guess only Belgians and Brazilians are biased...

IF Manure had draw on the 26th I would consider us title contenders already. I know both Manchester teams would still be favorites, but we would be in the race! This is the most important game for Rafa (in England) yet, it will be a really good game to judge him. A draw is a good result for a top4 aspiration, but a win is a must if Benitez honestly believes we can be champions. I do fear for our chances though, each week there are less games for our rivals to lose points. In my opinion, it depends more on Manure losing than us winning. I am expecting a very open game, Everton 1-2 Chelsea.

Can't you see the mad face bro?

NOOO!

When Puyol, Pique and Mascherano are out he plays as a cover for CB

For me, Rafa will always be an acceptance and denial situation. I grew up hating the man and I cant believe he is now coaching Chelsea. I will always view him as the bad guy (for the things he said and did) and the fact he did not appologise and replaced a true legend made things get even worse. I will never forget his rubbish performance at CWC and that he is a FSW. However, I wont deny Benitez is the best our team (at the moment) and he is a much more experienced and a better manager than Robbie. Our team has vastly improved and the rotation has been interesting. I definetly feel top4 is much more secure with him. That is me, a very contreversial person when it comes to Rafael Benitez. So, if I piss you off, just accpet it and move on!

@Henrique, I definetly agree. I can't stand a Liverpool fan comming here and saying Benitez is the second best coach in the world and that he is showing how outstanding he is by beating Villa 8-0 and Leeds 5-1 though. I also think it is too early to give him a long contract (if we can find no one)... Plus, I wouldnt want to imagine what the reaction would be if RDM didnt get the job! Even with everything you said about Benitez, I still hate the guy. I know he is the best available option, but I still want him to fuck off!

OMG, I AM SO HAPPY! I thought (after the CWC thing) that you would ignore me forever or only quote with offensive words... Anyways, I didnt understand it. Are you backing my point that Benitez beating pub teams doesnt mean much or the other way around?

Alright, I will have to start from the beginning: Mikel is a very important player for our squad, who plays at a key position. Chelsea needs him to maintain a reasonable depth at DM to say the least. He will be very missed and will most likely cost us a few points (we haven't the easiest of schedules). Also, we will only have Luiz and Ake to cover for him and both arent prepaired to perform during a full month at such a high level. David Luiz can easily handle strong physical teams, but yellows come easy for him and if we pair Ake or Ramires with Oscar or Lampard against the likes of Stoke and Reading, I fear it wont be very pretty. Yes, I dont like ACON. For two obivous reasons, it is in the middle of the european season and is biyearly. Nevertheless, I do understand both of those reasons. Africa calendar year ends in December (which makes things easier to the everyday fans and students to follow the competition) and the temperature is way better for playing football at that time of the year (we are talking about Africa here). About it being every 2 years and not 4, it is because they wanted to keep with the tournament`s tradition and format (of giving the winner a place in the World Cup). CAF has all the right arguments (excuses) for doing what they think it is best for their own public. What we also have to take into consideration is that the majority of the population lives a very though life and football is a very happy escape valve. It is vital that the interest in the cup stays very high and that is why they are changing the even numbered years calendar to an odd numbered one, so they dont compete with the FIFA's and UEFA'S event (hence we will have two ACONs in consecutive years). It gets even worse when you realise (just like South Americans) it is basically the only opportunity they have to see their own players, since they all play abroad. Africans are probably the most fanatic football fans, they go abosutely crazy when Brazil (or any other top team) visits their countries. Nice that every other year they have something to look for. With that in mind, it is pretty easy to see why this "shit" cup is very important and how much it means to the players. Just look at Drogba, he even asked FIFA to let him be loaned to some club so he does not lose his form. Everyone wants to play in a World Cup and to become heroic and respected by their own people. I bet any of us would feel extremely proud and overjoyed if we had the chance to become a national legend. How can anyone criticize or judge it as a wrong decision? I want to be as respectful as possible, but your opinion about him having to place his team above anything else is very selfish, maybe even stupid. Players always want to serve their national team, it gives them prestigue and gratification and, most importantly, its not their fault they have to play at inconvinient moments. African players have the right to attend their international duties just as any other European has. I honestly dont see how leaving in the middle of the season to fight for his country is a disrespect towards his teammates and coaching staff. No one said a bit about Mata losing preseason and entering a very challenging season with his tank low. Things should not change just because the major leagues around Europe will be affected, they have no business in Africa's Cup of Nation. This is not even your worst argument though… What deeply irritates me is that you mentioned we (as a club) should not buy players in similar situations. That opinion, in my point of view, is highly unethical. I wouldnt be bothered (and would actually agree) if you said we should analyse that aspect when buying a player or that it is a huge downside of having top African players, but that wasnt what you said. Suggesting it (to ultimately choose between club or nation) to any professional footballer should never ever even cross the mind of a single member of our Board. It is like asking for a parent to choose which child he wants to save. All players must have the chance to be able to participate in both ends, period. Treating Mikel or Moses with prejudice because they chose Nigeria over Chelsea is also immoral. As a fan, there is not much consequence to how we think, but imagine Mikel's feeling if Gourlay said anything similar to what you just said. In resume, I am not liking the fact we will miss two players that were regularly at the starting eleven and I do wish ACON gets a reformulation so it stops interfering with CFC. However, I really hope none of the above happen, it would be a very sad day, such an atrocity would tarnish our bright history! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anyways, you have earned a response (after such long post), but all I had to say is in here, so I wont quote and derail this thread anymore...

51°28′54″N 0°11′28″W

But what about Ferreira then?

I surely think so, it is immoral to criticize a player or say he shouldnt join CFC because every 2 Januarys he will leave for ACON. Again, I was nicely debating with you, but when you said that - I honestly needed some time to quiet down!

Because it is highly unethical to say you dont accept players that pefer to represent their own countries in the middle of the season. I wont post arguments on why ACON is very important, because @CHOULO19 has done it brilliantly already.

The debate was open and it was a good one until you said we shouldnt buy players that prefer to play for their national teams in January. There you lost my respect for you (over this matter)...

I can't believe so many good members are waisting their posts with a very dumb and selfish opinion (not member, to make it clear).

OMG! I wont even respond, you win. I dont want to end up getting a warning in my last days as MOTM... I just cant believe some of the things I am reading.