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No, not particularly. Ideye is a good all-around player, tbh, but not a great athlete (for Nigerian striker standards, anyway. he has above average strength and quickness) or someone with any real outstanding attributes. He is a hard working, mildly intelligent player, with an eye for goal. West Brom have brought him at a strange point of his career, though. Last season, he was fighting with his manager, who essentially discarded him after Kiev signed Mbokani (he really didn't get to play much last season). Also he has been in fairly horrendous form for the national team for a bit of time and Keshi dropped him from the squad entirely. The move will be a success if he rediscovers his old club or ACN 2013 form, but I would definitely not make him my record signing based on recent results.

To be fair, he didn't do them at NUFC (as far as I know) and I think he slowed down with them after breaking his leg or something similar doing one, and I'm sure the obvious fatness during his stay here did not help. I agree, btw, with your first point. I still love Aghahowa to this day. Guy scored in the World Cup and just simply did seven consecutive backflips. He should have been at the Olympics.

How did you feel about Babayaro?

If he goes on loan, it is simply to raise the price when he eventually departs. He'll do very well at FCGB and re-enter the minds of those clubs that scout Ligue 1 for players. Right now his value is low after 1.5 wasted seasons.

Hope he does well. Stoke actually have a stockpile of forwards, Osaze, Crouch, Arnautovic, Diouf. Definitely will not be easy to get into the side. Great young talent. It is a shame he's gone to that club. It seems as though Kalou has decided to skip training at Lille. Presumably to force/facilitate a move back to the Premiership.

Chelsea took Atletico to their home and mande them their wife, so I doubt this will happen.

I don't entirely disagree with your point, but Sturridge has had more than one season in the first team. He had a half season with Bolton when he was the main striker, was an important part of Chelsea's squad the year they won the CL, and walked into Liverpool's first team after being injured for most of the early season (at Chelsea).

Atleast 2 years too late. As much as 4 years imo. I never understand such comments about international retirement. He is a once great and still very good player that made himself available for selection. There was no contractual obligation to pick and start him continuously. I'm interested to see what sort of player Barkley will be molded into, someone more attacking, or one dictating from further back. He's a rough, uncut diamond and an extraordinary talent.

Mourinho doing favours for his mate. From what I've heard he was great there last season and I thought he was decent during the WC. It is annoying and he is better than the Championship. He's shown his class and ability for his country while also excelling at every level at which he's played. Should be testing himself in France or at a lower PL side, if Chelsea don't want to give him matches. Boro should be strong defensively. I think Ben Gibson is also a player who will be above that level quite soon.

Lukaku has started one competitive match for Chelsea in his career there, and this was when Mourinho managed Real Madrid.

I predict he knocks less Premiership goals next season than last season.

It makes no sense whatsoever, imo, given that they have Lukaku who is significantly better at this point and fifteen years younger. Jose seems determined to sell him for reasons I will never understand.

I think they'll finish fourth. Remy did well here, but as a signing for a side trying to win a title/CL he's very underwhelming, imo. He won't do anything special at Anfield.

It's madness, that. I'm not sure. Sunderland are in a pretty desperate position, and Borini was their best player for the majority of last season, imo. There isn't likely to be an adjustment period, he has proven he can be a success there, and they are not likely to get anyone better. It would be the equivalent of NUFC overspending for Remy or Everton for Lukaku.

You would have to ask Keshi in his infinite wisdom on both counts. He was a starter in the Cups of Nations and CC, had a few bad games for the SE and was completely discarded. It will be interesting to see what he can accomplish, he's shown himself to be an all-round contributor and hard worker for the national team and has a decent record in two slid leagues. The Premiership is always different, though.

I think Manu will be just alright in this league, tbh, nothing special, which is unfortunate because we've struggled under Pardew whenever there hasn't been one striker in incredible form.

Gouffran should be playing upfront or as a genuine wide-forward, not imitating the role that Kuyt played in the World Cup. You'll see a marked improvement.

Perfect club for Ba, tbh. Turkey and Russia are definitely the spot for talented African strikers who would star in midtable sides, are motivated by money, would fail at top clubs, and still want a competitive league/environment. See: Sow, Emenike, N'Doye, Doumbia, Musa, etc. Add Ba now.

Hmm, from what I remember I enjoyed Germany v Ghana second half The second half of that match was easily the best of the tournament, imo, anyway. Two strong teams that just continually exploited each others weaknesses ruthlessly and gave everything. Was typified by Ayew yelling for a maniac for about five minutes after his goal, Kroos looking completely exhausted over the free-kick at the end, and Muller sprawled out the pitch covered in bllod after the whistle. This was my favourite day of the tournament (second Saturday) in general, tbf. Argentina-Iran nearly being the biggest upset in the history of the WC, probably (and terrifying me in terms of the group), aforementioned German-Ghana match, and Nigeria-Bosnia an open, exciting match between two strong, talented, but ultimately flawed sides decided by thinnest of margins. I also thoroughly enjoyed the first Saturday with four matches. Dominant Colombia, stunning Costa Rica, two European powers battling with traditional English fall/hysteria, and CIV coming back.

Based on what? Have you seen a lot of Riviere? Yes. Very good athlete and a hard worker, but not a great amount of quality, imo. The word "average" is just about fitting for him in terms of a Premiership striker. In fairness to him, he did seem to improve from his form at Toulose and St. Ettiene and was impressive in the first half of last season with some big goals, tapered off a bit towards the end. He'd be fine as an option, just not too exciting.

That's something I've noticed about Messi before, and cannot remember another player that was similar. He often looks like he can barely walk, then gets the ball and beats three defenders with ridiculous ease. It makes it difficult to tell if he really is fatigued or just resting during the match.

Riviere is inferior to Gouffran. Not particularly interested, but depth is something the side lacks up front.

I agree but clustered together? I'm looking forward to it, especially as Brazilians don't need a visa (at least for now). I just mean that all the cities and host sites are in Europe, with none in Asia/Siberia (not logistical genius or anything, just the way of things tbf), so the travel will be relatively comparable to Brazil despite Russia being probably more than twice as large.

I really do not understand the problem people have with Russia in 2018. Great football history. Host cities clustered together to make travel less difficult. Fantastic match times for Europe/Africa. Culturally, it is very different to Brazil, but this is the same with every tournament. Like South Africa and Brazil before it, Russia has many blemishes it will need to cover up, but there is no reason to think it won't be successful in this cause. Qatar logistically makes no sense whatsoever, but an incredible sum of money will be thrown towards making it palatable if we ever even get to that stage.

Messi looked tired throughout the entire of the season, imo, and is back playing high pressure football at the highest level in little more than a month. He has carried so much on him the last 6+ years. Fatigue is very natural. Their attacking players outside of Messi generally just did not perform well in this tournament at all, given the standard they set at the club level.