BaneIvanovic

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You know what owners are like though, Montpellier's one claimed that Giroud was worth 42m Euros in January and it looks like he's off to Arsenal for a third of that (due to a clause in his contract after they won the league iirc) so I'd take their valuation as a pinch of salt. If he goes, it'll be for £10-15m, which would suit both Dnipro and the buyers.

By whom? A commentator? I don't think Arsenal would be interested/linked with a player that would cost more than £15m tbh knowing Wenger's transfer policy.

Yarmolenko is more of a goalscoring winger for club and country (averages a goal every other game-ish for Ukraine and 1 in 3 for Kiev) as he can also play upfront so is a general 'forward'. I like the prospect of him as he's what you'd ask in a wide player (ie. fast and can dribble well, will take the man on and provide width, can pass well and cross and has a very good left foot - which he tends to use often as he cuts inside from the right). Konoplyanka's an out-and-out winger in the sense that he is very direct and possesses all the attributes you look in a winger (pace, acceleration, dribbling, agility, passing, technique) and offers something different than Yarmolenko as Konoplyanka likes to run at the full backs and look to find a way in behind the defense. He's been linked with Arsenal prior to the tournament, apparently. He's right footed so can play on either flank due to the nature of his play (ie. more of a provider) I'd take either (or both).

On the subject of Ukraine - they've got two bloody good wingers with bags of potential in Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka (some may remember them from the Ukrainian U21 side last summer)

Shevchenko is one of the greatest players I have seen in my lifetime. Those two goals brought an incredibly warm feeling in my heart, I idolised the guy when I was growing up, just looking at how much it meant for Ukraine and the guy should rightfully go down as a legend of the game and have the streets and squares of Ukraine named after him. The standing ovation he got was awesome.

Wrong. Weak point is the pivot in that team.

He bases all of his tweets on paper talk/things he's read in foreign papers with regards to anything

Müller's only had a statistically 'meh' year this year though (09/10 season he had 19 goals + 10 assists, 10/11 season he had 19 goals + 16 assists too and this season 'only' 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Bayern) and is a better player than Sturridge (btw, Sturridge has 13 goals and 5 assists in all competitions so it's not as if there is a chasm between how good a season the two players have had). Müller's natural position isn't on the right either and that's where he's spent a good part of the season due to Robben's injury and Kroos' breakthrough and his form for the National Team is also an asset for Germany (7 assists and 3 goals in qulifying iirc) Sturridge can (or has done) play LW and ST before AvB stuck him onto the right so he has played as a winger but not on the right side but yes, he is most comfortable/natural when playing as a ST. Unfortunately, I don't see him playing there for club or country that much in the near future

Josh is nowhere near ready for us. KDB could do with a loan spell but I'd prefer it if he stayed as a squad player

Buffon isn't a world class keeper and still one of the best around for no reason. Many keepers would've gone to ground there when Torres was going to round him which would've resulted in a goal or a penalty and the lob was unlucky (could've probably passed it to Navas who was free but if this was the Torres with 'no confidence' or whatever, both situations would've have arisen and the runs he made for the chances wouldn't have been made) I hate the English media (ie. ITV and the papers) who have been quick to slaughter Torres after yesterday's cameo because he's an easy target yet a certain Dutchman who won the Golden Boot had an absolute shocker of a game and was 10 times worse (which contributed to their loss to Denmark) and all is forgotten/forgiven/given a pass and not mentioned at all which is disgusting how the media have double standards.

Sturridge definitely isn't superior to Müller. He wasn't played 'out of position' on the right, it's just the attributes he possesses allow him to play there (ie. he's able to play on the left but AVB played him as a RW so he could cut in on his left foot and it was working) however there is a difference in the role of a RW in a 4-3-3 and the RAM/RW in a 4-2-3-1 as in the 4-2-3-1 there needs to be a greater degree of discipline, defensive work (ie. tracking back) which Sturridge doesn't have currently (in comarison to Ramires who excelled there). Add to that the shoot first policy Danny operates at, whether or not the angle favours him, you can see why he doesn't start (the frustrations probably added to his greed). Saying that, I have no doubt that he'll learn how to be a team player over the summer (ie. he should take notes from Torres, whilst Torres could learn to be a bit more selfish at times too) as soon as Robbie has words in his ear.As for Romeu, I don't see him leaving/don't want him to leave even though he's not been great recently. I would much rather see Romeu being given a chance ahead of Essien because, imo, Essien is gone as a player and it's become painful to watch him (lost his mobility, physicality, can't pass or shoot) and I hope we offload him in the summer as all the other options for CM contribute a hell of a lot more to the game than he does. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a good chunk of this season as he's coming back from lengthy injuries but it's clear to see that he's eroded drastically as a player and the only way is down for him.

He made a few openings given Portugal had 11 men behind the ball. Yes, there was a nick off Moutinho (I think) but there was still a lot to do for Gomez so it was a well taken goal.

He was very effective on the right. He made a lot of dangerous balls into the box, it was just a shame Gomez is a donkey who is not mobile and he also did his part tracking back and maintiaing their pressing game throughout.Oh, and lucky goal :laugh2:

I can't believe people are saying he can be worse than Bosingwa. I've seen 7 year olds with a better positional awareness and defensive positioning than Bosingwa will ever have. Porto mugged us off royally for Bosingwa (16 f**king million). VdW will be - 1. A backup to Bane and is already better than Bosingwa 2. Not in his prime, so will have time to learn and develop and improve as he reaches his peak 3. Relatively cheap given his position and there aren't many RBs of his calibre for that price that can be backups. 4. Has a better attacking game than Bosingwa (which is his apparent strength) and can actually cross a ball (whereas Bosingwa can't cross a bridge) 5. Whilst he's not the most defensively sound, he will provide the overlap and an added dimension to the right whenever he features and will be able to improve on the defensive aspects of his game (see point 2). Whilst he won't be a world beater, he will become a very good RB in the future (might verge onto world class if he improves defensively)

Messi's not a game changer (edit, For Argentina). Messi's never the best player for Argentina. Messi never plays well for Argentina. Messi can't score without Xavi or Iniesta. .... oh. Hulk was average today, but the goal will make it seem like he was good. Well worth 65m, whilst a certain German RW was tearing Coentrao a new one tonight. EDIT - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMPK5DLEXk&feature=player_embedded

Hardly unproven, he's played in La Liga for 4/5 years before his move to City and had obviously played in the CL and EL. Excluding his first season at Atléti (when he was just 18) the rest of his seasons at Atléti resulted in at least 19 goals (27, 21,19, 27) in all competitions so I wouldn't say he was unproven to any extent to be perfectly honest. I still think City overpaid for Aguero but they don't mind as they've got money to piss away really

I think he'd be the perfect successor to Lampard, tbh. It would mean we could sell Essien (and possibly Meireles) this summer too

Given we have Ashley Cole, who is the best LB in the world and has been for a good half decade or so, I think you ought to have looked closer to home when picking that position.

He plays the role every time he puts on a Russian shirt (has done since Advocaat came in) so he must've gotten used to playing at RW by now, but I understand the point you're making

It definitely isn't like putting Meireles on the wing, ffs.The reason he does well at RW is due to the attributes he possesses and due to his ability not the fact that he's played with the Russian side for so long

Not extensively (for the whole 3 years, moreso in the last 18 months), but generally enough games to gauge his talent level and his potential.The only problem with him, is that he plays as a No.10 for CSKA (ie. á la Mata for us) so the only thing I might criticise is that he might not provide as much width as Hulk would. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZDbSmJ0HWA Here are his goals and on the whole him and Arshavin were giving their fullbacks nightmares cutting in from their respective wings

Worst diver?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Arshavin had a good opening 18 months at Arsenal and even statistically he had a good last season (2010/11) before having a torrid season that just passed. Zhirkov was never unfortunate because he had to 1. Pray that Cole got an injury so he could come in at LB and 2. Somehow displace Malouda who was in the form of his life on the left in our double winning season and Zhirkov would probably do well at a club that would actually need/use him. Pavlyuchenko showed his class, but he fell victim to 'Arry's mismanagement (á la Giovanni Dos Santos, Kranjcar etc who are all good players but Arry couldn't use them correctly).I don't see why Dzagoev should be hung up to some stereotype about not being able to succeed due to previous Russians in the Prem, he's clearly talented enough to play at that level. Arshavin was sublime tonight, Arséne must be crying tonight. It's not based on 1 game. He's been class for the Russians at National Team level (whilst playing at RW) and he's incredible for CSKA, and has been so for 2/3 years.