GermanBlue

Good thought, but I think you can't compare Serie A with the Premier League. Italian football is just way less physical and slower. I don't think Pirlo would be a success in the Premier League btw. But I think there's a difference. While Pirlo is an awesome passer with a wonderful vision, Oscar is more of dribbler than Pirlo is. Ofc, Oscar isn't better than him because of that, but Oscar is more complete than Pirlo, at least as a BPL player. IMO, his last weaker performances aren't a matter of his position, it's normal for a young talent, that he still has off days. He's just 21, remember that, we have to give him his time to develop. Playing him at a deeper position has effects on the rest of the squad. He needs a physically strong partner in the pivot like Mikel. Ofc, his defensive workrate is great, he's coming back a lot, but to have a decent and reliable defensive midfield, he can't partner with for example Ramires and Lamps (but especially Ramires). And honestly, as a deeplying playmaker, he does lack the "defensive skills" right now. Pirlo might have no problem with that in Italy, but in the Premier League it's needed. Lampard is a decent deeplying playmaker right now, but Oscar isn't IMO, at least not right now. He'll still develop, just look at other targets like Moutinho who is even 8cm smaller, but is IMO one of the best deeplying playmakers around.

Yup, especially when you consider the fact that Porto are one hell of business man when it comes to selling a player (Falcao, Hulk, ...).

Well, then I'd like to see us having a go on Moutinho who would be more expensive though.

I don't know if anybody's interested in this, but Jan Kirchhoff, a talented German defender, will join Bayern Munich next summer. He rejected offers from other clubs in the Bundesliga (especially Schalke) to probably sit on the bench at Munich being their 4th center back in their squad. Still a good signing for the future.

The starter of the thread didn't want to write his last name did he? I don't know much about Benat, but Torres can't get a much better service than he gets right now with the likes of Mata, Oscar and Hazard behind him.

Although he was quite bad in the last matches before Christmas as was the whole team of Schalke, Holtby's a very good catch for the Spurs. A very good talent who has still a way to go to make himself a name. I like his decision of going into the BPL, it's always exciting to have a German player there (well, partly English, but German international). Btw, he's hated so much right now by the Schalke fans announcing that in a difficult time for the team (they've been playing badly last weeks and just got a new manager), although he said a long time ago that he won't stay there. Sometimes, the fans in the "Ruhrpott" (location of Dortmund and Schalke) are just mad. Could be true, but Holtby's been on the Spurs' radar for a longer time as far as I know. Would be ironic though, as Freund spend most of his time as a player at BVB which is as you may know the cross rival of Schalke. But I agree with you, Spurs definitely had some great transfers this season. Great work there by AVB. Moutinho is still a target of him btw, but Porto already rejected a 27m offer in summer. Still hoping Joao to end up here at the Bridge one day.

My dream would be a striking force of Falcao, Ba and Lukaku next year, and or striker problems would be solved. We would be a lot more variable and could even play with 2 strikers if needed.

Well, I'm happy it didn't happen. I actually thought it was just a rumour to bring some pressure into the negotations with Ba. No one knows if that 17mil offer was by us though.

Yeah, let's play him against shit teams like QPR... But I certainly agree with you, I don't see how he can't be a cheap solution to give the midfield some depth.

I have mixed feelings about M'Vila. He seems a big talent, but lacking a lot of discipline, I don't think his attitude can change that much just because his joining a big club like us, especially when he's not getting so much playing time from the beginning. I don't know what kind of coach he has at Rennes, but he needs a coach that's sensible and knows how to treat such difficult players, that means not Benitez. It depends a lot on what manager we're going to get next season, Mourinho could be a guy for it, as he's ruthless with player's causing trouble, but the manager discussion doesn't belong here. Besides CFC, I think Wenger could do best with this kid, as he's French and has a feeling for his young players. Personally, as a young DM, I'd rather see us go for Victor Wanyama as he's just pure power in that midfield. I can easily imagine him being a new Essien or Makelele, just much taller. Apperently, Newcastle are interested in Remy and Aubameyang as a replacement for Demba Ba (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9778747/Newcastle-United-manager-Alan-Pardew-warns-owner-Mike-Ashley-they-could-go-down-unless-they-spend-big.html) I think that would be a good deal, as Djourou is about to leave to Hannover on loan with a buying clause.

Welcome! :blue scalf: :blue scalf: :blue scalf: Mission 1: Bench the sunshine-haired lady.

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/eden-hazard-tells-nieuwsblad-at-chelsea-id-give-myself-7-out-of-10-i-want-to-win-the-epl-europa-league/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Just how I feel now. We need him against Southampton.

Definitely gotta watch some Vitesse matches with PVA, Kalas and Kakuta there. Bony might be a target as well. Is Gael a starter?

Eternal talent, but never really became the player he could've become with that potential. He wanted to return to Brazil, because he felt uncomfortable and was unhappy in Milan.

More depth in defense would be fantastic I think, escpecially such a variable player like Richards. I don't know if we're seriously interested, but if we have the chance to sign him for a good transfer fee, I don't see a reason why we shouldn't get him. I don't think City will strengthen their competitors by selling players them players though. Maybe in summer.

Falcao's father said in September: I don't know, if there was a public reaction by Atletico fans or Falcao himself, but even if there wasn't, the fans should be ok with it. Real are their cross-rivals, yes, but all Atletico fans are probably happy that Falcao still plays there. Ofc it's frustrating, but it wouldn't be such a big surprise. I don't think it's true though as he mentioned he will stay at Atletico until the end of the season, so no need to get overexcited.

Honestly, I can imagine him being our future captain when Lamps and JT are gone, as I'm not a friend of goalies as captains. Give him 2-3 more injury-free season at this level, and he can do it. He's one of our most passionate players IMO.

What do you think are his chances to get a squad and a more or less regular starter place for us next season? I don't know the player good enough to evaluate.

I think he has to strengthen his body to get more out of his own potential. Look at Mata or Hazard, they're both approx. as small as Oscar, but they both seem to be more able to push their way through the defensive lines. I'm not impatient with him or anything, just pointing out what he's lacking atm IMO. It's his first season in a top league with 2 matches a week, it's normal he needs some time to adapt. He did that quite well though, but we could not have expected him to continue with these performances. We just have to be patient, in 3-4 years our team will be massive with an attacking midfield consisting of developed Hazard and Oscar and a Mata on top of his carrier.

As I said, I think he needs his private environment to get the best out of himself, and he'd only get it in Dortmund, so if he doesn't return to RM, a deal with BVB is probable. I don't think he'd sign at another (new) top club if he fails at LFC/RM.

Good signing for them.

From the first day I heard he'd come to CFC, I knew he wasn't going to be a starter from day 1, because he barely didn't make it in Bremen. Yes, he played in the national team a few teams, but he was disappointing there. He is a decent squad player, but don't expect much more from him, please. He's not like the "German Messi" as he was claimed to be by some people, when the transfer was announced and he won't be an option when it comes to solve serious problems in important games. I remember when we had that bad run in autumn and many were like "Oh, bring on Marin, he'll surely make it", no, he won't make it. Maybe, he'll develop into a more regular starter, but that's really the maximum, I don't expect him to start more often in the second half of the season honestly excluding that few weeks of injury.

Thanks for pointing that out, forgot that both played for Inter that season. But I think the two in their today's shape would still be a little better than back then.