middleweight

Infact rooney had the highest conversion rate in the Prem last year. Its amazing how your opinion changes of a player when you actually look at the stats

http://www.eplindex.com/28614/wayne-rooney-premier-leagues-stats-comparison.html Worth a read

My concern was his conversion rate, but after doing some research he has a better conversion rate than RVP so happy days :)

I wonder why Jose is so keen to bring in Rooney. In my mind hes a number 10 who plays behind a striker, more direct and less creative than Mata but same position none the less. Do we not need a number 9, an out and out goal scorer?

If Craig Burley came round to my house with a briefcase with £1 million in for me, I'd still tell him f**k off

Plus the guy wanted to win, he wasn't here to pick up his money each week

Its players like Ballack who allowed the likes of Lampard to shine. He popped up with his fair share of goals, important ones as well and was incredibly consistent in the performances he gave (German DNA)

Ballack average? Now there's a disservice if ive ever seen one

He's desperate to go to Munich, he's called it his dream club and if rumours are to be believed has already turned down Madrid. He'll be in Germany next year, either at Dortmund or Bayern. Id love him here though

I agree on both players. My concern is they arent at the top of their game proven players like Cavani, Falcao, Lewandowski. I think they're a level behind, which I think Lukaku is as well and it would concern me going into the season without a world class striker. My heart says put Lukaku in on the first day and let him run riot, but can he handle the pressure. I guess the only way we'll see is by giving him a chance, but if he isnt up to it we'll be in trouble. We know Ba and Torres arent prolific

Is he prolific enough to be a top clubs main striker?

If rumours are to be believed we're not willing to pay the required amount for Cavani and it looks like he wants to go to RM anyway and Lewandowski has his heart set on Bayern and has already turned RM down. Who else can we bring in as the number 1 striker?

Its on the itv documenatry 'mourinho'.

Not to be a dick but its Joe-say, not hoe-say. Therefore that rap video is invalid. Oh god im a dick

Dont forget Jose vs Clarke, Jose vs Moyes, Jose vs Wenger. I think Jose v Holloway and Jose vs Di Canio are going to be interesting as well

http://i.imgur.com/39ACos0.png RDM vs FSW

Mourinho is the master manipulator and he has failed to win people over there. As Chelsea fans its easy for to put the blame on the Madrid side, because we know him, but the onus is on him to convince everyone his way is the right way and he's failed to do that. First season in 10 years JM has not won a trophy. Im fully behind bringing him back, just interested why it hasnt worked. Chelsea and Inter are also full of egos

What do you think is right here, that isnt right in Madrid for him?

Is anybody worried how badly things have fallen apart for Real under Jose? He's not lost his magic has he?

Posted this in the 'Purchases for next season' thread on the General Board, but there seems to be more discussion going on here. Heres my take on things. Ive ranked the players in their various positions Pos 1 2 3 4 5 GK Cech Courtois Hilario Turnbull Blackman RB Azpili Ivan Ferriera Wallace LB Cole PVA Bertrand CB Terry Luiz Ivan Cahill DM Mikel Luiz Romeu Chalobah Box2 Ramires Pivot De Bruyne Lampard Mceachran Piazon AML/R Mata Hazard Moses Marin Piazon CAM Oscar De Bruyne Lampard Piazon ST Ba Lukaku Torres GK - Courtois is too good for a number 2 so should be loaned out again. I would probably get rid of Hilario and bring in a better number 2 and possibly sell Turnbull and move Blackman to number 3 RB - Azpili is strong, Ivan is very strong cover there, Ferrieira is a solid back-up and wallace is an unknown quantity. If the club believe in Wallace, Ferreira should be let go LB - Cole picks himself, PVA at 2 based on his performances this year but still unproven in the Prem, Bertrand decent back-up but wont replace Cole. Should look to bring in a LB if PVA isnt the answer but not this season. Give PVA a chance CB - The CB order is pretty irrelevent, they could all be considered number 1. I dont think any of them have have cemented themselves as first choice. Terry is there on reputation, Ivan and Cahill have been poor and Luiz is inconsistent. I wouldnt sign anyone here we need to get these players playing well. They are all good players DM - Im unsure about Mikel, my opinion of him changes on a weekly basis. I dont think he's world class, but i dont think theres a desperate need to replace him this window. Although if theres an opportunity do to so with a better DM we should take it. Luiz is also a possibility in this position and can rotate in with Mikel. Romeu has been inconsistent but we should look to give him the opportunities next season. Chalobah has great potential, I would like to see him loaned out again to a Prem club. Box2Box - only Ramires fits this position. He isnt strong enough defensively to play DM. Has to play along side a DM so that would mean dropping the pivot. Pivot - Hopefully De Bruyne can come in and fill that role, but hes unproven so its a gamble. This is probably an area where we should strengthen as De Bruyne can be rotated in further up the field so his development wont be as stunted. Pains me to say it but I only see Lamps as a replacement next year. Mceachran and Piazon should both go out on loan to Premier league clubs next year. They wont get a chance next year. The following year Lamps out, Josh in would be ideal AM - Were strong here with Mata and Hazard, Oscar and De Bruyne can also fill the roles, Moses is a good impact player and replacement. Marin has been hugely disappointing and doesnt look like he'll make it here but who knows. Potentially loan him out. I see Mata-Oscar-Hazard starting with Moses and De Bruyne rotating in. Lamps can also play that central position albeit differently to how the others would play it. ST- Ba is first choice currently. We need to try and sell torres. It hasnt worked and we cant afford to pay him as much as he's on to play a bit part role. In the 3rd striker role I would sign a journeyman player who is happy to play 5-10 games when needed but sit on the bench for the rest, not a big name and someone who will retire in 1-2 years. We'll probably have to over pay to get someone like that in but i think its worth it to allow other strikers to grow. This would allow us to have the back-up if needed and not have to throw a youngster in who isnt ready. Then in my opinion we have two choices, we either sign a world class striker (Falcao) and loan Lukaku back out. Or we let Lukaku fight for a position with Ba. We shouldnt sign a world class striker and bring Lukaku back it will ruin him. He needs a consistent amount of games. Look at Ba, a senior professional who is struggling for consistency with constantly being changed. Lukaku would handle it even worse. Loans - Coutois - A Madrid - Chalobah - Prem Club - Mceachran - Prem Club - Piazon - Prem Club - Marin - Potential loan but would have to be a prem club to assess his ability - Lukaku - Prem Club (depending on what we choose) Sell - Essien - Benayoun - Malouda

Heres my take on things. Ive ranked the players in their various positions Pos 1 2 3 4 5 GK Cech Courtois Hilario Turnbull Blackman RB Azpili Ivan Ferriera Wallace LB Cole PVA Bertrand CB Terry Luiz Ivan Cahill DM Mikel Luiz Romeu Chalobah Box2 Ramires Pivot De Bruyne Lampard Mceachran Piazon AML/R Mata Hazard Moses Marin Piazon CAM Oscar De Bruyne Lampard Piazon ST Ba Lukaku Torres GK - Courtois is too good for a number 2 so should be loaned out again. I would probably get rid of Hilario and bring in a better number 2 and possibly sell Turnbull and move Blackman to number 3 RB - Azpili is strong, Ivan is very strong cover there, Ferrieira is a solid back-up and wallace is an unknown quantity. If the club believe in Wallace, Ferreira should be let go LB - Cole picks himself, PVA at 2 based on his performances this year but still unproven in the Prem, Bertrand decent back-up but wont replace Cole. Should look to bring in a LB if PVA isnt the answer but not this season. Give PVA a chance CB - The CB order is pretty irrelevent, they could all be considered number 1. I dont think any of them have have cemented themselves as first choice. Terry is there on reputation, Ivan and Cahill have been poor and Luiz is inconsistent. I wouldnt sign anyone here we need to get these players playing well. They are all good players DM - Im unsure about Mikel, my opinion of him changes on a weekly basis. I dont think he's world class, but i dont think theres a desperate need to replace him this window. Although if theres an opportunity do to so with a better DM we should take it. Luiz is also a possibility in this position and can rotate in with Mikel. Romeu has been inconsistent but we should look to give him the opportunities next season. Chalobah has great potential, I would like to see him loaned out again to a Prem club. Box2Box - only Ramires fits this position. He isnt strong enough defensively to play DM. Has to play along side a DM so that would mean dropping the pivot. Pivot - Hopefully De Bruyne can come in and fill that role, but hes unproven so its a gamble. This is probably an area where we should strengthen as De Bruyne can be rotated in further up the field so his development wont be as stunted. Pains me to say it but I only see Lamps as a replacement next year. Mceachran and Piazon should both go out on loan to Premier league clubs next year. They wont get a chance next year. The following year Lamps out, Josh in would be ideal AM - Were strong here with Mata and Hazard, Oscar and De Bruyne can also fill the roles, Moses is a good impact player and replacement. Marin has been hugely disappointing and doesnt look like he'll make it here but who knows. Potentially loan him out. I see Mata-Oscar-Hazard starting with Moses and De Bruyne rotating in. Lamps can also play that central position albeit differently to how the others would play it. ST- Ba is first choice currently. We need to try and sell torres. It hasnt worked and we cant afford to pay him as much as he's on to play a bit part role. In the 3rd striker role I would sign a journeyman player who is happy to play 5-10 games when needed but sit on the bench for the rest, not a big name and someone who will retire in 1-2 years. We'll probably have to over pay to get someone like that in but i think its worth it to allow other strikers to grow. This would allow us to have the back-up if needed and not have to throw a youngster in who isnt ready. Then in my opinion we have two choices, we either sign a world class striker (Falcao) and loan Lukaku back out. Or we let Lukaku fight for a position with Ba. We shouldnt sign a world class striker and bring Lukaku back it will ruin him. He needs a consistent amount of games. Look at Ba, a senior professional who is struggling for consistency with constantly being changed. Lukaku would handle it even worse. Loans - Coutois - A Madrid - Chalobah - Prem Club - Mceachran - Prem Club - Piazon - Prem Club - Marin - Potential loan but would have to be a prem club to assess his ability - Lukaku - Prem Club (depending on what we choose) Sell - Essien - Benayoun - Malouda

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http://i.imgur.com/pck3YjF.png In harrods today Edit - Already posted, page before.

Whisky nose won't retire at the end of the season, Mourinho will be in England next season, I'm sure of it. For me its city or us. I hope its us.

I think there's a strong possibility he could go to city. City probably wont win anything this year, they've gone backwards since last year. Mancini could easily be fired. I think City would appeal to Mourinho. Lots of cash, new place, chance of making history by winning their first European trophy, good underachieving squad. My question is how would people feel if he walked out at the Etihad next season as citys new manager? Is it an unforgivable betrayal or just one of those things?