Captain Haribo

Lampard/Gerrard/Barry dominated themselves more than anything. That game wasn't further proof of anything. England were, on the day, the worst opposition Germany have played at the World Cup.

He's had a poor World Cup, icecool, but then this deal has been in the making all season so it's not as if Real are signing him based on that. He was very good for Benfica. Not quite at the Messi level where he almost never loses the ball - who is? - but very strong in possession and generally a big threat. Whether he develops beyond that or becomes a Quaresma type figure is another story but it's probably worth the gamble.

This game will barely have affected his price at all. He played quite well against one of the most abject England teams ever witnessed. Truly dreadful performance and the defence capitulated in a manner even worse than Australia. His goal against Ghana was very more worthy of praise than anything he did today, purely because there was actually somebody trying to stop him in that game.

I was making the point that goals in Eredivisie mean nothing by themselves, and so we have to assess their individual performances as you say. You're making the same point as those saying the goals alone mean nothing. Sneijder, and less so Van der Vaart, have proven themselves elsewhere have proven themselves at other top clubs, so I don't see how they're relevant.

Delighted with this news. Had my doubts about him before this season, but his work ethic and consistently high standards have since cemented him as one of my favourites at the club.

Let's hope we've learned after Kezman that goals in the Eredvisie mean very little. He's scored quite a few for Uruguay too but whenever I've seen him I've been very unimpressed. Has been fairly rubbish at the World Cup so far for somebody with his growing reputation.

This World Cup was always going to be either a chance for Ozil to prove he was as good as his reputation suggests, or to stink the place out a la Gomez last time around. Very pleased that his performances seem to be matching some of his best form for Werder. He looks a classy young player, obviously not the finished article yet but he's incredibly fast and seems quite bright on the ball. Would happily take him at Chelsea, especially over some of the players we've been linked with.

He is their captain, however, and apparently something of an icon there. It does sound ridiculous but the story seems to have a bit of legs to it. I want to think it's that because I don't rate him as a player and it eases the pain of the transfer for me. :(

Seriously, this signing is akin to Dong Fangzhuo at United. Almost purely for bizarre marketing purposes, with the slight upside that he might be useful when our good players are unavailable and we're really, really desperate.

Yeah, I got a little confused there, just ignore me.

Was actually very impressed with him against South Korea, and normally I'm quite critical of the lad.

Navas wasn't strictly speaking better than Silva for Spain, it's just that he offered genuine width which was what they were lacking. Silva hasn't played as a winger all season, instead playing inside with Mata in his old role, and seemed to want to do the same for Spain despite presumably being there to offer width. Still don't want him, though.

The new trend to try and snap up keepers at a young age is a strange one, as the deals almost never work out. I'd far prefer to just sign a strong, experienced keeper to give genuine competition to Cech.

Benayoun doesn't "keep the ball better" than many, from what I've seen. He's one of the worst for running into crowds and giving up possession, which seems to be why the ever thrify Benitez didn't like to start him. When it comes off it can be spectacular but I don't think he's cut out for our team and hope he's only been signed as cover.

I don't know if it's been mentioned but apparently this signing is largely an attempt to reach out to the "untapped" Israeli market. Jesus. :D Don't know what was wrong with Ben Sahar if there's any truth in that.