Zero

Our best and strongest XI should not be the same against every team, right? For the most part, yes it is. I certainly wouldn't be dropping Ben Arfa in fear of him getting injured, man. He's probably our best and most talented player, he should be on the bloody pitch if he's fit and available. Ludicrous suggestion in all honesty. Back to the time before Man City game, I have argued that while HBA performed very well so far, we should not risk him playing so many games against physical opponents because HE HAD NOT ADAPTED TO THE EPL yet. That's the key point. It is very hard for a player to escape from serious injury when he suffers an unexpected tackle. In comparison, most of the time when C Ronaldo get tackled, he actually anticipates very well and take a little leap before the contact. I would have no problem to play HBA against Man City now, but not at that time. He just have less then 10 games experience in EPL, that's very risky and it turned out to be a disaster. A further example for you, Modric also got a broken leg during his first season at EPL. I don't think it's just coincidence. He's not played any PL football since. Regular training, a pre-season, a few games against less physical teams would help. HBA didn't have enough of these last year.

Exactly, it's a tactical decision! What will hurt us the most? HBA out for months because we played him away against City and still lost or resting him in some matches which decreases the chances of injury and increases the probability of us taking three points away against opponents that's in the hunt for the same league spot (Everton, Villa, Tham) I understand their point of view that we shouldn't give-up any match. I agree with that, but to an extent that the risk isn't that high. We have more than 11 players and why can't we just make "one" change to our best eleven? Or just put him on the bench first?

Our best and strongest XI should not be the same against every team, right? For the most part, yes it is. I certainly wouldn't be dropping Ben Arfa in fear of him getting injured, man. He's probably our best and most talented player, he should be on the bloody pitch if he's fit and available. Ludicrous suggestion in all honesty. Back to the time before Man City game, I have argued that while HBA performed very well so far, we should not risk him playing so many games against physical opponents because HE HAD NOT ADAPTED TO THE EPL yet. That's the key point. It is very hard for a player to escape from serious injury when he suffers an unexpected tackle. In comparison, most of the time when C Ronaldo get tackled, he actually anticipates very well and take a little leap before the contact. I would have no problem to play HBA against Man City now, but not at that time. He just have less then 10 games experience in EPL, that's very risky and it turned out to be a disaster. A further example for you, Modric also got a broken leg during his first season at EPL. I don't think it's just coincidence.

Our best and strongest XI should not be the same against every team, right?

HBA should play against team like Arsenal. If that's Man City, we could play Barton instead. I don't understand why such a tactical decision can be criticized.

That's when you should blood in your youngsters, but not a 38.5m-rated player. Cesc is also a bench player and that's why you are unwilling to pay higher than 35m.

No, the whole point of this transfer is having 4 great attackers, not 3. 38.5m for a bench player? I know Real Madrid always do that, but not Barca.

Sanchez is a much more talented footballer than Pedro. However, Pedro is just too well-trained under the Barca system and that his performance at Barca is just phenomenal. He really outplayed Henry and forced Bojan to leave in order to find some minutes on pitch. I think Pedro actually performs quite bad for Spain national team. He is definitely not a world class player. Just that at Barca he is second to Messi. Not a good transfer I think UNLESS Villa is going to leave. In that case it's a good deal.

That's what I said prior to the Man City game and then that post was considered as the contender of the worst post of the year.

This. Same with the Woodgate deal, excellent deal just decided to replace him with Boumsong a player which SBR turned down a year earlier on a free. If my memory is correct, isn't the Boumsong's deal was investigated as Shepherd's son was involved in illegal dealing or rebates, something like that?

Can't say he is "overrated" as everyone would agree he is not on the same level as Xavi and Iniesta.

Brazil are a lot better than Argentina. They show great potential and just need time and match practice to gel together and you can expect them to be the hot favourite of the 2014 WC. Argentina, on the other hand, is very problematic. They had already use their best players at the moment, have a Messi at his prime, and still play like a 3rd tier national team.

If it's Sturridge, we should sign him permanently rather than on loan.

It makes you wonder what happens to the men's football. I really enjoy this match more than Holland vs Spain.

worst.penalty.ever

That's probably a good news.

:mackems: :mackems: I want to laugh as well. I just afraid it's true. I actually don't quite understand how can we spend only 48m on wages last season.

The problem is that Marveaux is unproven in EPL and I bet most of us here would prefer a 9m (or even as high as 15m) premium just to ensure that the new winger can perform in EPL. I am not disappointed that we give up N'zogbia after we signed Marveaux, because that makes sense. My question is just is it a good decision to choose Marveaux and ~10m over N'Zogbia?

Next. That said, I honestly think he will regret his decision. The chance of becoming a first team regular here isn't that small imo.

We end our interest due to the signing of Marveaux or due to high fee demanded by Wigan?

Ok, good, at least there's some progress.

I am not feeling well for that announcement. If it's complete bollocks, why the club need to deny that? To me it looks like an invitation rather than a rejection.

Not too surprised to be honest. The question is just how much faith you have on Ashley's bargaining ability.

So they are forcing Naylor to drop the case. Well done muthafucka.

That said, I think the top clubs are kinda correct that they didn't rate Jose's defensive abilities and passing skills. His 1 on 1 defending is excellent but his positioning and awareness are quite poor imo. For me everything about his defending is absolutely fine, if not brilliant, except when he gets square on to his man and can't turn nimbly enough. When people try to beat him for pace he devours them, but there were a few cases last season when a tricky player skinned him just by dropping the shoulder and changing direction. Yup, that's why I said his 1 on 1 defending is excellent. He will not be outpaced or muscled out, will not concede header easily, and has an above-average tackling sense. The problem is that he is individually an excellent defender but is also a bad unit in a defense line, especially when trying an offside trap. That is widely criticized when he was still at Villarreal and I think he hasn't improved much in this area.