tmonkey

I liked the way his play became better as the game wore on. Neat/tidy in possession, good close control, ability to play under pressure, and decent to good distribution. Need to see more, but he reminded me a little of a young Redondo (no comparison of course). Looks a classy player potentially if he can develop, although I've gotten used to NUFC as a club castigating/refusing to develop young central midfielders who show a bit of promise and opting to stick with grafters who we know are shit. Which is why we desperately need to keep Rafa so we can have natural footballers (like Merino seems to be) signed and developed, and a team made out of them, instead of going with the status quo and opting for grafters because that's all we and a big chunk of our fanbase seemingly know/appreciate. On an ironic side note Rafa is the manager who signed Mascherano for Liverpool from West Ham, back when Pards had binned Mascherano to the reserves because he wasn't good enough (and Hayden Mullins was too good).

Merino looks class.

Perez is gash. Hayden with his usual thick has mince long range leaning back shot into row Z.

They can't Well f*** It was a nice fantasy while it lasted. Loan him with a fixed fee for next season. A club did that recently. But then he'll be back once they see how shit he is.

Spurs were cutting through the mediocre Premiership teams like a hot knife through butter in the second half of last season. I'll be very surprised if they don't win this comfortably.

For some reason I imagine Perez to be the one taking it up the arse in that triangle.

Based on what, 4-5 games where he started in the role (not even full games, a few were 45 minutes) over 4 years? Where he was randomly thrown into the position with no visible tactical drilling or coaching once in a blue moon, in a hoofball team no less under a mong like Pardew with one day of attacking tactical coaching by John Carver per week? With no other wingers in the side? Of course it wasn't going to work. There are so many factors to consider that it's really premature to judge based on past performances. Yes, he was alot more effective on the wing back then, but that's only to be expected in a half arsed coached hoofball side. If Hatem was to play as a genuine number 10 in a passing team where he's not the only source of creativity, where there are good wingers on either flank, have him drifting wide to either flank whenever he wants, and given a proper run in the role, there's no reason why he can't be effective there. What's more, many of his best moments in a B&W shirt were straight down the middle of the pitch (Everton debut goal, West Brom away, Bolton wondergoal). It's a natural area of the pitch that he used to drift into when things weren't working on the flanks. I also remember a couple of games where he just went into that central role during a game after doing nothing on the wings and did well, running the game for us, just without any memorable match winning moments. Norwich away (can't remember which season) was one where in the second half he played the number 10 role very well. The one thing that counts against him in the role is his lack of willingness to make forward runs off the ball. But then that's why he isn't a team player and needs to be at a club surrounded by teammates who don't mind that. I'd still want to see him given a run of games in the role before writing it off.

Ben Arfa will do well wherever he goes next if, and only if, he has a team built around him where he's the main man and a manager who isnt going to bench him every time he has a quiet game. Big fish in a little pond. NUFC would be ideal as that little pond, we need a real attacking star to add flair to what is a Championship attack, but not with Rafa here unfortunately. It's ironic that Rafas system needs, maybe even relies on, a creative goalscoring number 10 to drive the team forward, and here we have HBA on a free (like Beardo's return) who im sure could fill that role as well as we could realistically hope, and yet it can't and won't happen. Typical NUFC luck. Same sort of luck that had an amazing natural manager with a perfect fit and passion for NUFC in Keegan playing golf in Portugal for the past two decades when he should have been our manager for this entire time, whilst we've had to watch Fergie and Wenger build legacies during this same period.

U better get gud Florian.

Giroud is possibly underrated imo. Not really sure, but always thought he'd do better in a team that provides more service from the wings as he has this very impressive knack of getting onto the end of crosses (good movement in the box and anticipation/reading of the flight of the ball). Never really seemed to be the right type of striker for Wenger's teams given the lack of pace, dribbling, etc. Having said that, he's one of those who frequently gets his shots/headers on target but doesn't quite do enough with the ball to score, so it always seems like he needs several good chances to hit the back of the net.

Is this cheese eating surrender monkey joining or not ffs.

All Rafa needs to do is bend over, relax his sphincter muscles a little bit and let Ashley ride him till kingdom cum.

We'll have left the EU by the time everything is agreed, at which point the transfer will collapse when his work permit is rejected.

It's an English team in the latter stages of a knockout competition. This team is apparently good though. Certainly looked a strong side against Mexico, even with 10 men. Will be interesting to see if they can make it to the finals.

Anyone going to put any money on the England U20s? They look to be in good form on paper whilst Mexico have struggled. Odds of 2.15 for England to win seems good, unless I'm missing something.

That's an insane clause if true, but if we agree it it means we're very confident that this lad is good, since if he flops in his first season it means hanging on to him/loaning him out for 4 years due to the risk of him ending up back in Portugal.

Is Caseimeiro retarded shooting from there?

Dybala scored a cracking free kick a week or so ago.

This final has been amazing so far. Knobs out, no messing around.

Juve hooligans warming up.

How can I help you my child?

Mandzukic. GOAT.

That's it Juve, park the bus. Disgusting tactics.

C.Ronaldo. GOAT.

Juve are a bunch of diving spivs.