bluelion111

I confess I got the idea from browsing RedCafe

I should have said I fell out with excitement, when he scored against Barca I dislocated 2 of my fingers punching the ground in celebration.

Another pair: 1) Despite being part of it, I despise the whole Twitter/Fifa/Football Manager generation of fans. 2) Social media has ruined the transfer window. With every little movement being so scrutinised there's no excitement anymore and only disappointment when Bale/Pogba/Greizemann??/Varane/whoever fails to turn up. I remember falling out of my chair pretty much when we seemingly nabbed Torres from out of nowhere.

In a strange way, it was kind of refreshing to go out to a team that played better than us over the course of the tie and not to some ridiculous controversy which seemed to happen every year.

I also prefer 433 over 4231, but who would be better suited to play alongside Matic/Fabregas out of Willian and Oscar. I think Willian could replicate Ramires' workrate and tenacity whilst being far superior technically, but how marginalised would Oscar be out right?

Is this because of how easy it is to crowd him off the ball? Not that I'm slating your opinion just genuinely curious why.

I think most people agree, but thats hardly a criticism when Ronaldo's one of the best of all time. I'd compare him more to Iniesta with his dribbling and the way he conducts the attack.

I thought it was an option, just that it would take a long recovery period?

I get more frustrated by his positioning, but I think having had Cech for so long we've become accustomed to having someone who has always been one of the top 5 in the world in goal, with over a decade more experience than Courtois. I think he'll come good, but right now I think Cech is still better.

Agreed, but aside from Toure who City would never sell to us and Vidal whose just gone to Bayern, there isn't a goal scoring CM of Lampard's quality about.

So with the constant back and forth surrounding Ramires, Mikel, Falcao etc., I thought we needed a dedicated thread in which we can all express our opinions which don't tend to fit in with everyone else. 1) I like Rio Ferdinand as a pundit. I don't blame him for backing his brother in the Terry affair and find him like Neville to be far more objective than the Scouse pundits. 2) Courtois has potential but right now is a tad overrated. However I realise that much of his game will come with age and its unfair to expect him to be the best in his position so young.

Tbf, whilst United are bigger from a brand and reputation perspective I would rather play United than PSG who have actually got one hell of a team. Wouldn't at all be surprised to see them go deep in the CL this year.

This 100%, never thought it would happen but their Twitter fanbase is pushing them past Liverpool in my books.

This and the PSG game could come in handy on Sunday. Let Arsenal make all the boasts they like about pre-season and being the masters of playing when there's nothing on the line. When the chips are down we 100% have the mental edge over them. Thought we looked really good with 9 of the first eleven on the pitch, especially Hazard/Oscar/Fabregas. Still unsure whether I would go with out of Zouma/Cahill and Willian/Moses but thankfully it is in the safest hands we could wish for.

Thought Moses looked really good coming on btw

Where's Torres for a late counter where you need him?

Cahill (claps)

HAZARD WHAT A GOALLLLLL

Isnt't Lampard still injured?

'Courtois nails it harder than De Bruyne's bird' Not mine, just thought it was good :P

HOLY f**k THAT PEN FROM COURTOIS

The Azpilicueta singularity draws closer

Whilst the criticism so far has been valid, let's remember how poor Zouma looked in our pre-season last year, especially in his positioning. After just a few months of the season however he had improved markedly and with the competition behind Fabregas/Matic being relatively light, lets hope for a similar development on his part.

PRE SEASON

This should be about 6-1