Barbara

My God, how many through balls assists he provided in those three years? I should have counted them while I was watching the vid. As I'm positive I'll watch again, I'll count them. Seriously, I know those vids mask a lot of things, but how could Barça fans hate him so much when he's so much class? His finishing got even better imo, his quick thinking is second to few, his vision is also very good, his pass quality is amazing, a neat and classy player all around and they hated him? They're indeed assholes as their names suggest. Not only the guy professed his love for that club - that should be reason enough to love him, but I suppose when you're a Barça fan that's not enough, but he also offered an excellent end product. Maybe the games he suck he really, really suck? Because, otherwise, what's wrong with this guy? I keep trying to find the answer and the only thing that came to mind is that up to now his club choice was awful, but even that has been properly fixed now that he's a Blue.

I voted for Alex, he's top class in everything he does - but my heart belongs to Choulo I'm sure he values my heart more than a vote in an award he's already going to win anyway, right? right? (I can still change it otherwise, Chou Chou)

I don't think Gotze grew a lot last season - as I expected him to grow considerably with one more season under his belt (and I blame that on his transfer). I rate him well, I see a lot of potential in the kid, but sort of stagnated at Bayern (I think it was a terrible move for him, especially with Pep there), but that goal will give this kid more confidence than anyone in the world of football. I think it will catalyze his development (as much as it can be catalyzed at Bayern and with Pep - which is a waste because if he was still at Dortmund he'd have a hell of a season, though I'm not ruling it out at Bayern) and he might pass both Neymar and Hazard in terms of growth in one season (I'm not comparing the end product of any of them, just saying this sort of things makes one career's launch and hit the sky).

the best part was see that Stingray voted for Stingray, lol!!!! He's a joker even when voting - or am I the only one who didn't vote on themselves for any of this?

your point about Azpili is very valid. In theory yes, but lack of pre-season detracts a lot from a players' form throughout the whole season - or at least that's what Lamps and Terry kept saying. I already think that's one of the things that detracted Willian's form last season. He was on vacation from Anzhi, haven't played in a while and had no pre-season or preparation whatsoever before joining us. I hope they both overcome it, but it normally affects a player and I think André isn't the best in the physical department - based in the problems he had last year about his endurance and strength. Oscar doesn't look like that strong either, so while I think Willian may have less issues than them (and Ramires even less), I still think the lack of pre-season will affect their season - at least the first half. Let's hope not, though.

it doesn't because Willian is turning back to the club at the same date. Let's not forget Will's last game was one day earlier than André's. I don't see how one can return to the team earlier than the other (the starting team, I mean)

I'm begging for him to become our own Pirlo. That's why I'll have him in my new kit - if I end up buying it anyway. High, high expectations about this guy. moved him to favorite player without him playing one minute for us, lol.

there's going to be one problem for him though (the same to Oscar and Willian as a matter of fact, as they played last in the WC just one day before): he's going to show up at the club nearly a month from now, with the team about to start the EPL season... he'll miss all of the pre-season and I don't see Mourinho throwing him in the team straight away without any preparation (physical) or training. I think this is going to detract a little bit his promotion to the starting eleven, but there's no guy playing for us that will be as motivated as him and with as much confidence (he's already one of the most motivated either way).

I don't know if I should stop writing 'my posts' or not, lol, because I'm not sure that's a good thing or not. Either way, guys, it means a lot all the mentions and votes - especially in this category. It's completely unexpected. I voted for Jason because he keeps bringing and posting all relevant news about the club and mainly because of the cats. Definitely more about the cats

I put you there. My vote in the nominations had weight 10Sidzeret LOL Don't remind of that. Or do, it'll make me remember why I should never bet things again

Squawka FootballVerified account ‏@Squawka André Schürrle scored or assisted a goal once every 63 mins at the 2014 World Cup. Incredible record. says it all. He's been decisive and immense for Germany - even as a sub

I really appreciate your words, Lex. They mean much more than the award. Thanks a lot!!! You forgot DJames in your list though She's amazing as well as Dee25 and remains of the day - both of which who contribute a lot in the threads. See? There are more girls around than you think

still better than the Messi throughout the whole thing.

I'm not a big fan of either kits, but if I buy a shirt this season is definitely his. Centauro has Premier League font, in case you may be wondering.

whoscored is on the same drugs as Luiz has been today... Luiz assisted Mata-squee Blind, and made a lot of mistakes and he's slightly worse than Oscar? Paulinho was awful, Jo was incredibly terrible, I swear this chart is as bizarre as it gets. edit: he didn't make a mistake that led to a goal as far as I can remember. It was Silva, Luiz and maybe Luiz again. He was dispossessed (with a tackle) before the third, in our attacking half and I'm not even sure he wasn't fouled. They CANT blame that on him.

that really comforts me. At least our manager knows how to use our players. I think Willian was decent today. But he's barely featured in this team (before and during the WC), so he was like an outsider trying to get a grasp of things. He did well, nothing exceptional, but I'm happy he was given a start. What really matters for me though is how he'll progress in his second season for us. I have such high expectations about him...

I stand by my point. He's been the only good player for us today. He linked up well, created, passed well, presented himself in the final third. The problem is when you link up with Jo, Ramires and Hulk... that's not his fault. *I* am the one who doesn't know which match you guys watched. It wasn't brilliant but it was the kind of answer that gives me hope that 1x7 didn't completely destroy him. But to each their own...

I think having a good match today was one of the positive answers we could have. I didn't know if he'd be able to recover mentally from the 1x7, but it seemed like he put it behind him and tried to play his best. It's a big blow in a player's confidence to play in your house, in a WC like that and he's young - it's unpredictable how the players deal with it, but it seems like he dealt well at first. Let's see how he comes back to us. If Oscar can be more consistent he's going to be a great player for us, so I'll keep holding onto hope for as long as I can, but I think he has to give more solid answers this season.

where did his display pic - the one in a red shirt (I suppose Serbia's?) come from? It's weird when you click current players and you see wearing that when he's been wearing our Blue for so long...

exactly my thoughts. If we have Costa keeping Lukaku makes no sense and if he's willing to be sold instead of loaned again, so sell him. I don't feel this is a Daniel Sturridge case. Costa and Lukaku are the same striker, Costa is only 25, so there's no point of keeping Lukaku unless Costa ends up being a completely flop - Torres' levels, but we have all agreed that's not quite likely (not to say possible). We need a technical striker, someone like Eto'o. I don't know if Eto'o is leaving because of the little spat with José, because the board doesn't want or because he doesn't want, but he'd be perfect to stay. He offers something else, I think he helped Hazard a lot this season, helped his development. That's the kind of striker we need as a #2. Having a carbon copy of Costa doesn't give us options.

Not even close. Especially if compared to one of the best keepers in the world. Lukaku isn't among even the best strikers in England imo, let alone in the world. He should shut up and let his football do the talking for him. If he does that, then maybe he'll indeed become one of the best players in the world. Also I explained it's different for a field player to be benched and a GK. Bench players can get 20-30 minutes per match if they often bring impact. A keeper can go months without a match. So I understand why one of the best keepers in the world wants to play, and I don't understand why a striker that is nothing special yet is demanding things in a club as Chelsea - where there's a lot of competition for positions.

No ego whatsoever from a guy that put them in the SF with a goal and an assist in the QF (or was it the previous round?). No arrogant remarks about what he deserves, just happy to be given the chance to be a part of it and hoping to do his best whenever he receives a chance. It's a breath of bloody fresh air to have a top player with such attitude. I love this guy and I can't get tired of saying so.

haven't we discussed everything there is about Oscar? I'm not saying he shouldn't get stick, I think I've said he deserves it in a lot of my posts here. It's the exaggeration I don't agree with. If you and are part of the bandwagon. Go your merry way with them then. We'll settle to agree to disagree. When I've had more than 5 posts in the last pages saying exactly what I think is fair criticism and what I think it isn't, I don't need to repeat myself again. Or do you want me to become lionsden in reverse? Coming here everyday - more than once sometimes - to say the same thing over and over? I don't feel the need to become a broken record. I've already said a lot more about it than was necessary, I don't want to say the same things again. I think he carried the team for a few months. Goals, assists, tackles, good performances when nobody else was stepping up in our attack. You want to reduce it to 2 matches, to 10 or to 20, it's up to you, it's your perception. Let's write the boy off completely, decide on the rest of his career because of 5 tough months for him and him being part of an inept, clueless, nonexistent even tactical system in a WC where he was sacrificed by a coward manager. I agree with the bold part. And most of the following two paragraphs. As for your posts, I'm just giving my opinion on them. When you expose your opinion in a forum, people can have an opinion on them. Didn't expect a different reaction. Brazil will hopefully be forgotten soon. Cheers, mate.

he's in the middle of nowhere in Brazil... remote areas and all where his family is from (last I've heard anyway, he could have gone somewhere else). If the agreement with Atletico is a done deal, and it was announced we reached the release clause, I don't see another issue - unless he has some physical issue that would stop the transfer. Then why would Atletico have signed Mandzukic if it wasn't a done deal? I don't see any concerning reason for this delay.

you definitely have a point in this whole second paragraph - something I haven't come to think yet. It was so clear for me that he had to interrupt his plans in December and adopt a more defensive and passive approach because we couldn't deliver what he wanted, that I've never thought maybe that was his provisional plan (the first tactics, up to december). Maybe his plans were to give some stability and go from there. You may be right about that and I hope we start producing a more polished football. As for Cesc, I don't know where Mourinho wants to play him. He's something between Oscar and Mata both ways: defensively and offensively. He's not as creative or has an amazing vision as Mata, but he's way better than Oscar on both. He's not completely inapt defending as Mata, but he works no closer as hard as Oscar defending and isn't as good tackling. He may be an answer, but I'm still holding hope we'll play a 4-3-3 with both Cesc and Oscar in the midfield. They can alternate a lot there and show their best skills and assets, making up for each other's shortcomings. It could be Cesc + Willian too. I'm a bit obsessed with us playing a 4-3-3 instead of the boring, predictable and repetitive 4-2-3-1, but definitely Cesc can be played as #10 as well. Great points all around.