Segun Oluwaniyi

He was at worst average today, and yet we are still gifted with continuous discussion of how poor a player he is.

Nah, I understand that, I just believe that is a foolish system given the things the rankings are used for...i.e. comparing teams in tournament/qualification draws. It is fine as a form guide, but in international football, tournaments are the beginning and end of everything and need to be weighted more heavily. The rankings are based on a four year window and if you fail to qualify for both of your major tournaments in that period, it should be very detrimental to your ranking.

Tbf, though, Mourinho is pretty decisive about his players. If he doesn't like something about the player or believes he isn't up to standard, he won't hesitate to dump them. It isn't limited to youth players at all. He dumped Mata because he didn't run enough and shipped off De Bruyne and Lukau because he didn't like their attitude. Those were big money players who were coveted across Europe and it didn't matter. I'm not sure it is so much youth he hates. If you don't fit, he won't play you.

I have been yelling about this for ages, and every time I mention it people think I am crazy or justify the ranking because it is mathematical. It is simple, Romania and Wales haven't qualified for the last two major tournaments and are ranked among the top ten team in the entire world on the back of a few recent good results in qualifiers that are amplified by the artificially high rankings of European teams. Romania are especially ridiculous. Their biggest competitive accomplishment over the past four years is beating Turkey and Greece in qualifiers, yet they are 7th. Such a ranking shouldn't be used to seed World Cup or determine work permit situations.

I guess Azpilicueta was "young", but he had well over 100 appearances in Spain and France top flight with Osasuna and Marseille including 180 minutes in a Champions quarterfinal tie before arriving at Chelsea, never mind the experience he gained under Di Matteo/Benitez. Definitely not some youth player. You could replace him with wor Santon, or John Obi Mikel who Mourinho converted to defensive midfield and gave minutes to fairly immediately. Fwiw, I think Chelsea are doing a very good job of using the system to their advantage. They generally turn a profit on these young players and the loans (especially to clubs with which they have a good relationship) is a very good way to evaluate the young talent. The problem is that the club's actual strategy of integrating players to the first team seems confused. Integrating players whoare actually bought for the first team seems to be no issue, but the loan returnees are often left stranded and have more connection to the clubs they have been loaned to than Chelsea. Step up from Mbeki for sure. What a bizarre and fantastic time for ANC humour.

As evidenced by him not hitting the target even once?

Conservative, tbh.

These are opinions, obviously, but Portugal is not better than England on paper. I think England have been unlucky, tbh. They lost close matches on penalties in Euro 2004 and 2012 and well as World Cup 2006. Even the 2014 WC, which is generally considered a disaster, England were competitive. It is fair to say that English players in general are technically inferior to some of their counterparts and they have lacked a true star, but they are still a good side who generally do well. I would struggle to think of ten teams that are consistently better than them, tbh. After the top 5-7 teams in world football, everyone vacillates wildly with cycles of talent, coaching, team unity, etc.

Bolasie is homegrown and good, so he is a valued commodity amongst the bigger clubs. His price could easily surpass 20 million if he sold, tbh. The figure for Aarons would be similar if he had a productive season this term, imo.

I don't care enough to look it up, but I wonder if he played with Oba at Levante? Maybe he has recommended the team/leaue to him. Valbuena is laughably tiny, tbh. :lol:I saw OM play live once and he is demonstrably smaller than the other footballers, who are a small group of people to begin with.

That's weird. Wonder why he isn't enjoying Russia. Dynamo are banned from Europe entirely due to FFP, so maybe that plays a part. Good signing that assuming he's replacing Gourcuff. Yeah, Valbuena is a great, little player. One of my favourites. Lyon should challenge PSG this season, tbh, though obviously the big money capital side are still very likely to take the title.

L'Equipe are claiming Mathieu Valbuena has gone on loan to Lyon with an option for permanent transfer.

From what I know is available, I would start: Krul Janmaat Taylor Wiliamson Haidara Colback Wijndalum Sissoko Perez Aarons Mitrovic --------------- The defense is fairly terrible, but there are two injuries at centreback and Mbemba is just arriving. There isn't much one can do. There are a lot of selection headaches and options when picking the midfield, wide positions, and upfront. This is a fantastic thing. Hopefully McClaren is not the type to give people automatic places in the squad. Colback, Georginio, Moussa, Aarons, Perez, and Mitrovic all have players to challenge them. De Jong especially would be unlucky to miss out. The fullbacks are not good enough attackers for it (diamond midfield often end up quite narrow). Well, Janmaat maybe is, but Haidara is wasteful and out of control when going forward, imo.

Until about two games in when you realise he's crap now. Haidara hasn't convinced me of anything and Dummett is a better centreback than left back. If a loan was available, it would be a good deal, imo. No one is expecting him to recapture the 2009-2011 form, but I don't think he is just finished as a player. I've always supported players being ambitious about their careers and Jose is no different. What would he have gained by staying here? He has increased his pay and one exactly one more trophy (even starting in the final) than the zero he would at this club.

The ease with which Wendt walked past Williamson.

Only natural people want to see as many of the talented players we have as possible IMO. Sure, but I am saying that the players people are clamoring for will have played the vast majority of the game against York. They may get half and hour in the second half, but it makes no sense to start them, imo. Why burnout legs on the first day of August?

I've only seen the last fifteen minutes or so, and it seems fine enough. The match is just a bit sterile and slow-paced in general. I don't understand people complaining about the team. Perez, Mitrovic, Aarons, and De Jong all started a match three days ago and Mbemba just arrived. Frankly, Obertan has earned his spot as fourth choice wide player, ahead of Gouffran (RIP), as well.

I actually believe Wickham has it in him to be a good player. It is not a bad signing. The price is not too clever, but he is an English attacking player, so it is expected. Two years ago, Dwight Gayle was older than Wickham is currently and playing for a side that was relegated from the Championship. He cost eight million pounds. The market is very silly.

Without accounting for attrition by injury/suspension, I really believe that Cabella will be the "odd man out" in terms of the more attacking players.

Pace is not equivalent to lateral movement and general agility. He is definitely way too "high", though. It is not a proper defensive stance at all, he is almost standing up straight. The second goal is a great finish by that random trialist, btw You can tell he wants this contract.

According to Wikipedia, 99 foreign countries (in FIFA terms, I doubt all these players were born/raised in these particular nations) have produced a player that has played in the Premier League. I am interested to see what the 100th will be. There is that Traore boy at Chelsea, who will be the first Burkinabe if he plays, but it is Chelsea so he will probably be loaned to Red Star Belgrade. Maybe someone will sign Mkhitaryan and bring Armenia into the fold.

http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/293259diaby.jpg A fantastic player, but there is no reason to think his problems will stop now. They have been so consistent over the years. From most accounts, he is an intelligent guy, so hopefully he has his finances set well. Have there been serious updates on Aranguiz? I've really been hopeful he would come to OM as a replacement for Imbula, but I see Leverkusen are now heavily linked.

"Any professional analyst who equates footballers to actual soldiers should have their larynx forcibly removed from their throat with a set of scissors"-the statement is no less ridiculous than the rubbish Wright is spouting from his mouth.

Yeah, Jordan is just OK. Good pace, aggressive player, and decent dribbler, but he isn't a particularly good finisher, imo, has very little physical presence and is not very intelligent at all. I think he will contribute at Villa, tbf, and is young enough to improve quite a bit, but it is an underwhelming response to selling their two best players. Amavi has a lot of talent, though I'm not sure moving to Villa is the best option for his development. It is an insult to compare the two. I think Andre could contribute for a title contender in central midfield. One of my favourite players today.

Shawcross is unattainable I am sure, but he is the exact model of the player this club needs to sign. As things stand (with the Congolais boy still being sorted out and Tiote seemingly diminished), there is not one physically imposing player in the back 7 (Krul is not a physically dominant keeper). Even further up the pitch, there is only really Sissoko, unless Mitrovic adjusts and starts immediately.