Non-Chelsea Transfer Pub

[Gorando 184]

Vermaelen did well for Belgium recently. He just needs to play alongside someone who can lead a defense (like Kompany).

[Jype 6,398]

£5m is an absolute steal for a player of Vermaelen's quality. If he can stay fit, he's one of the best centre-backs in the league.

If Jose thinks we need a new CB, I wouldn't mind taking a cheap punt on Vermaelen. We already have good defenders at the club if he was to be a flop signing but if he played anywhere near as well as he did for Arsenal before 12/13 season, our defence would be the best in the league. It would also piss off the Arsenal fans.

Can see Barca going for him. They can't get the likes of Luiz, Hummels, Kompany and they couldn't afford them even if they could so Vermaelen for that price is surely next on the list.

[Stingray 9,441]

So surprising how he went downhill last season..

I think Vertonghen is going places, not Vermaelen. What do you think?

[Leif 6,006]

Verm has been played a bit at left-back instead of his usual centre-back position this season, yes? Especially before Monreal signed. I think around 10 or so games. Anyway, the rotation between left-back and centre-back must have impacted his form somewhat.

Last season I thought he was one of the leagues best defenders in general and I feel he can easily get back to that. He used to boss things at Ajax and he's been used slightly different at Arsenal. He should be given more freedom. He's actually a rather creative player. Kind of like Luiz with less of the roaming.

I'd actually take him for anything under £10m.

[Kojo 4,676]

Mats Hummels has been going downhill also, especially this season, I wouldn't have him here.

He can be such a sloppy defender at times, did you also see that stupid penalty he gave away in the last game of the season? What was he even thinking there, also injured himself in the process.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Strike, you like bringing up clubs that usually play with two strikers (some out of position). WBA, United and City always play at least two strikers for the majority of the season. Their strikers are versatile enough to play other positions rather than out and out. You can't say the same for Chelsea simply because the positions their strikers play in when playing out of position are already occupied by Hazard and Mata, our two best players.

Man City usually at least play a two-combination of Dzeko/Tevez/Aguero. At least two of those are starting usually, sometimes all three even. United are pretty similar in the sense where they can play Rooney in behind RVP or Hernandez, or on the left or in midfield - similarly with Welbeck. WBA are similar in that aspect where they can shun out the likes of Fortune, Odemwingie, Rosenburg and even sometimes Lukaku or Shane Long out wide.

It's not the same at Chelsea, that's pretty obvious. Do you really expect us to play Torres or Ba out wide regularly? They're out and out strikers.

More than 3 strikers is impractical for us, you're naive if you think we'd be able to keep four strikers at the club happy, especially if we're going to continue with the 4-2-3-1. You just have to look at this season where Torres and Ba split minutes quite effectively. Adding a third striker to that is just about pushing it (he'd have to be versatile e.g. Rooney to get more minutes) but adding a 4th striker is completely impractical. Waste of squad space. Waste of money.

[Leif 6,006]

Rumour regarding Porto players to Monaco. Cheeky Porto if true:

Apparently Porto have sold Moutinho to AS Monaco for €1 million because his former club Sporting Lisbon have a 25% sell on fee. However, they are apparently selling James Rodriguez to Monaco as well for €69 million; so AS Monaco have basically bought two players for €70 million while Sporting Lisbon only get €250,000 back from the sell on fee.

Smart that is considering Sporting are potentially a title challenging team.

[Jype 6,398]

Rumour regarding Porto players to Monaco. Cheeky Porto if true:

Apparently Porto have sold Moutinho to AS Monaco for €1 million because his former club Sporting Lisbon have a 25% sell on fee. However, they are apparently selling James Rodriguez to Monaco as well for €69 million; so AS Monaco have basically bought two players for €70 million while Sporting Lisbon only get €250,000 back from the sell on fee.

Smart that is considering Sporting are potentially a title challenging team.

If that's true, I have lost all respect I previously had for Porto. Absolutely disgusting business to rip off Sporting for the +/- 10m they rightfully deserve. Hope Sporting sue those cunts and get what's theirs and more.

Hope it's not true though, don't need any more bad publicity for the sport after all the match fixing scandals and everythings.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Rumour regarding Porto players to Monaco. Cheeky Porto if true:

Apparently Porto have sold Moutinho to AS Monaco for €1 million because his former club Sporting Lisbon have a 25% sell on fee. However, they are apparently selling James Rodriguez to Monaco as well for €69 million; so AS Monaco have basically bought two players for €70 million while Sporting Lisbon only get €250,000 back from the sell on fee.

Smart that is considering Sporting are potentially a title challenging team.

Sporting can go to FIFA because of that and they would have a grood chance of getting 25% of the whole 70mi if Porto doesnt watch out!

But I dont even believe Monaco will buy any of those players, total joke of rumours flying around. Ask Málaga (who are a bigger club already in La Liga) how FFP turned out!

[Strike 7,250]

Strike, you like bringing up clubs that usually play with two strikers (some out of position). WBA, United and City always play at least two strikers for the majority of the season. Their strikers are versatile enough to play other positions rather than out and out. You can't say the same for Chelsea simply because the positions their strikers play in when playing out of position are already occupied by Hazard and Mata, our two best players.

Man City usually at least play a two-combination of Dzeko/Tevez/Aguero. At least two of those are starting usually, sometimes all three even. United are pretty similar in the sense where they can play Rooney in behind RVP or Hernandez, or on the left or in midfield - similarly with Welbeck. WBA are similar in that aspect where they can shun out the likes of Fortune, Odemwingie, Rosenburg and even sometimes Lukaku or Shane Long out wide.

It's not the same at Chelsea, that's pretty obvious. Do you really expect us to play Torres or Ba out wide regularly? They're out and out strikers.

More than 3 strikers is impractical for us, you're naive if you think we'd be able to keep four strikers at the club happy, especially if we're going to continue with the 4-2-3-1. You just have to look at this season where Torres and Ba split minutes quite effectively. Adding a third striker to that is just about pushing it (he'd have to be versatile e.g. Rooney to get more minutes) but adding a 4th striker is completely impractical. Waste of squad space. Waste of money.

Still wouldn't go into the season with Lukaku-Ba-Torres as the only strikers.

[jeronimo 130]

Still wouldn't go into the season with Lukaku-Ba-Torres as the only strikers.

I wouldn't either but having them 3 plus 1 more world class striker is too much.

We should buy one world class striker, then either sell one of Ba or Torres, or send Lukaku on loan for another year.

[DDA 9,691]

I wouldn't either but having them 3 plus 1 more world class striker is too much.

We should buy one world class striker, then either sell one of Ba or Torres, or send Lukaku on loan for another year.

This could be debated for weeks to come and probably will but it is as simple as jeronimo says.

I reckon we will buy one striker, keep Torres and Ba, Loan out Lukaku to a Prem club and go into the season with three strikers which is more than sufficient for our system.

[communicate 2,703]

Strike, you like bringing up clubs that usually play with two strikers (some out of position). WBA, United and City always play at least two strikers for the majority of the season. Their strikers are versatile enough to play other positions rather than out and out. You can't say the same for Chelsea simply because the positions their strikers play in when playing out of position are already occupied by Hazard and Mata, our two best players.

Man City usually at least play a two-combination of Dzeko/Tevez/Aguero. At least two of those are starting usually, sometimes all three even. United are pretty similar in the sense where they can play Rooney in behind RVP or Hernandez, or on the left or in midfield - similarly with Welbeck. WBA are similar in that aspect where they can shun out the likes of Fortune, Odemwingie, Rosenburg and even sometimes Lukaku or Shane Long out wide.

It's not the same at Chelsea, that's pretty obvious. Do you really expect us to play Torres or Ba out wide regularly? They're out and out strikers.

More than 3 strikers is impractical for us, you're naive if you think we'd be able to keep four strikers at the club happy, especially if we're going to continue with the 4-2-3-1. You just have to look at this season where Torres and Ba split minutes quite effectively. Adding a third striker to that is just about pushing it (he'd have to be versatile e.g. Rooney to get more minutes) but adding a 4th striker is completely impractical. Waste of squad space. Waste of money.

Every team that play with 4-2-3-1 has at most 3, in fact most of them have 2

- Bayern : Mandzukic, gomez and 35 years old st pizzaro

- Real : Benz,higuain

- Dortmund : Lewa , - not sure who is their other striker

- Arse: Podolski,Giroud

- Manu : RVP,welbeck (play on the wing), chicarito, Rooney -> yap he is happy that is why he requested for transfer

[Stingray 9,441]

Benteke just said in the belgian press - in response to the possibility of playing with Lukaku (2strikers) for the NT :

Maybe we can convince our coach once we play together for the same team in the competition .

Wtf? Must be kidding - funny man !

[didierforever 7,349]

this friendly just tells me that even if we buy messi & ronaldo, we will still get dominated. NO.1 priority has to be the pivot. also the other priority has to be that we have to let go off the DEADWOOD. mikel, marin, benayoun should go.

[Strike 7,250]

If that's true, I have lost all respect I previously had for Porto. Absolutely disgusting business to rip off Sporting for the +/- 10m they rightfully deserve. Hope Sporting sue those cunts and get what's theirs and more.

Hope it's not true though, don't need any more bad publicity for the sport after all the match fixing scandals and everythings.

As a neutral, I'd say it's smart business.

[Thomas Williams 166]

Don't you guys think spending BIG on a pivot player and perhaps a CB and then keeping Lukaku would give us a better team than spending big on a striker and having to purchase a mediocre pivot player?

Of course, if we could somehow do both, then no problem.

[magic weeds 446]

Here we go again:

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/jose-mourinho-looks-to-bring-in-safe-pair-of-hands-8630599.html

Diego Lopez to Chelsea.