ponsaelius

Juventus getting Douglas Costa and Bernardeschi

Thing is I don't think as of right now we'd get anything but nominal fees for Krul or Elliot. Darlow we could probably get 5 or 6 million for, and if we're bringing in a first choice then it's going to be the most valuable backup that gets sold.

They have had MRI testing in the u-17 tournaments since 2008 or so and since then Nigeria has won both the 2013 and 2015 u-17 titles. In fact, I believe they are tested before both the African and World level events so that players like Wilfried Ndidi who passed once can still be barred from competing. Maybe your hypothesis is that the NFF, which recently was unable to find funds to fly the players to the Olympics or provide match balls for a senior-level international, is using new age technological advances to defeat these measures, I don't know. Fwiw, they have also have had plenty of success at u-20, Olympic, and senior level since the mid-90's, with good players worldwide. This is not Sri Lanka winning youth tournaments. Well success in U-20 can be achieved using age cheating too. There is a clear and obvious disparity between the dominance of Nigerian U17 sides and the failures of the senior side in comparison. Now, maybe the 2013 and 2015 winning sides are going to lead onto a new golden generation for the Super Eagles. However I'd argue that what is more likely is that the vast majority of the players will disappear off the face of the earth and Nigeria will continue the recent joy of failing to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 major international tournaments. http://www.eurosport.com/football/nigerian-u17-team-wiped-out-as-all-but-two-players-fail-age-test_sto5707677/story.shtml Failures for 2015 and 2017 are irrelevant when compared with a victory in 2013 and consistent success in the tournaments previous to this. Nigeria has underachieved of course, but they have been at five of the past six World Cups and to the second round thrice, so the idea that they are a disaster at world level is laughable. Our players also do quite well abroad. Nigerian football is extractive (no serious local league or infrastructure) and corrupt and will probably fail until this not the case, but what does that have to do with Kelechi Iheanacho? He is clearly the age he states, and you are talking rubbish. Fwiw, the boys from 2013 are already doing quite well abroad, probably better than their Mexican or Swiss counterparts before them. All of this may be true, but again you're ignoring the point that Nigeria goes from being THE dominant force in world football at youth level - to being a top 30/40 team at full international level. There is quite clearly something amiss there, more than simply a lack of infrastructure and solid local league. What's to say Iheanacho is the age he's saying he is? I bet a google search would return a load of Nigerian bloggers speculating that he's older. Simply can't take anything for granted considering track record.

I do like Iheanacho from what I've seen. Thing is he has a cracking record of goals scored for when he's on the pitch. However, like was mentioned, they're often coming in games that are killed off and in a side with amazing creative players. It's really hard to judge him as a player because of that, but he's probably a very reasonable gamble.

They have had MRI testing in the u-17 tournaments since 2008 or so and since then Nigeria has won both the 2013 and 2015 u-17 titles. In fact, I believe they are tested before both the African and World level events so that players like Wilfried Ndidi who passed once can still be barred from competing. Maybe your hypothesis is that the NFF, which recently was unable to find funds to fly the players to the Olympics or provide match balls for a senior-level international, is using new age technological advances to defeat these measures, I don't know. Fwiw, they have also have had plenty of success at u-20, Olympic, and senior level since the mid-90's, with good players worldwide. This is not Sri Lanka winning youth tournaments. Well success in U-20 can be achieved using age cheating too. There is a clear and obvious disparity between the dominance of Nigerian U17 sides and the failures of the senior side in comparison. Now, maybe the 2013 and 2015 winning sides are going to lead onto a new golden generation for the Super Eagles. However I'd argue that what is more likely is that the vast majority of the players will disappear off the face of the earth and Nigeria will continue the recent joy of failing to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 major international tournaments. http://www.eurosport.com/football/nigerian-u17-team-wiped-out-as-all-but-two-players-fail-age-test_sto5707677/story.shtml

Nigeria have won 5 U17 World Cups and been runner up 3 times. Way more than any other country. That success never translates to U20 or full team, and the significant majority of the winning players disappear into thin air. If they aren't fiddling the ages I'd be amazed.

He's a former Nigerian U17 star, which means he could legitimately be significantly older than 20.

No thanks. I am happy with Diame and Gouffran.

Pretty much paying their fee for Gabriel Jesus. Good business from City.

Costa and Griezmann, sheeit.

They're signing Mathias Jorgensen from Copenhagen too. Questionable quality of their signings, but they're only Huddersfield and getting 9 players in by now is good going. At least they'll have them in from first game of pre-season to settle in. I think it's disappointing that we don't have more in at this point.

FWIW I think £52 million for Lacazette is absolutely mental. I know he offers a totally different kind of skillset, and is probably the kind of player they need, but Giroud is about 5 players ahead of him in France's striking pecking order.

Completely disagree. The problem with the current Arsenal side isn't anything like what people think it is. As opposed to 5 years ago, they now drastically lack technical ball players in central midfield, attacking midfield and wide playmaker. The positionless playmakers that became Arsenal's cliche have almost completely disappeared. Coquelin, Elneny, Xhaka, Ramsey in the centre. Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Iwobi as wide options. They basically have a load of sort-of destroyers in the middle (save for Ramsey, who flatters to decieve) and speed merchants out wide. I'm not necessarily saying any of these are bad players, but they're certainly not title winning decisive players. If they were to lose Ozil their squad looks desperately lacking in this area. Signing a world class centre back and midfield destroyer would improve them but nowhere near as much as people make out. They more clearly need an injection of flair, creativity and skill. And FWIW, there's absolutely no chance Bonucci would sign for Arsenal.

I was gonna say, West Ham are the exception to the rule.

The market is only inflated when players are in demand and the selling club doesn't want to lose them. Hart, because of his age and wages, and because City actively want rid, isn't going to be in huge demand in terms of the actual transfer fee. It'd likely be a low fee to whoever is willing to pay him the money, or if City can subsidise his wages. Same story with them shifting Nasri too. I'd be very surprised if Hart went for anywhere near £15 million.

Torino played with a free can opener every game. It was like a science experiment from the few games i caught, I'm not saying I wouldn't be open to seeing him here, but £15 million is way over his current stock when you also consider his wages.

Mirror also says Dummett and Lascelles are getting 5 year deals.

£15 million would be a fucking scandal after his season last year for Torino. He'd be worth it if we could get him cheap and his wages subsidised by City.

So many Hull players linked, when they were pure shite last season.

Sick fuck.

Sensational battle going on in the poll like.

As do team mates Wanderson, Natanael, Juninho Quixadá and Marcelinho (7 caps, 2 goals for Bulgaria). Nothing dodgy going on there clearly.

He has Bulgarian passport according to transfermarkt.

Hugill, fucking hell.

2-0 now Going out unless they score.