LucaAltieri

Do you accept handshakes from people not even looking at you? In those glasses I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to.

I always look over my shoulder before accepting a handshake, like.

What do you see in him? Lovely beard, that voice, and a sense of charm not usually associated with PL bosses. Can't argue with that.

What do you see in him?

It is just guess work. Whether I'm right or wrong I still don't rate him. We'll probably never find out.

That's rubbish imo. It's mourinho being a c*** as per usual to anyone who disowns him. Maybe. I have no inside knowledge. It's just a gut feeling. But it's well known the reason AVB left was because he wanted more responsibility. Jose had him working as a scout and refused to promote him. Then they had a falling out. The fact Mourinho didn't want to promote him speaks volumes to my ears. or shows that Mourinho is a complete c*** since AVB has hardly been a complete disaster and utterly clueless since he became a manager. Maybe it was all ego. Who knows? All I know is Mourinho didn't promote him and, to me, AVB comes across as a chancer. He hasn't been a total disaster, no. But he has his UEFA licences. He's had his training to the point where he can manage professionally. But outside of that I can't see anything that separates him from the bloke on the street. I think he's very fortunate to be where he is. Jose Mourinho always had a local assistant where he went - Clarke (Chelsea), Baresi (Inter), Karanka (Real), Steve Holland (Chelsea). Unfair to whack AVB with 'he's not good enough' when it's clear Mourinho has his preferences when it comes to appointing his assistants. Jose was happy giving him a scouting role but wouldn't promote him. Obviously I can't know what his reasons were but the long and short of it is that he didn't want AVB heavily involved in the team. As a result AVB left and they're no longer mates. Jose knows AVB way better than most and he either didn't like him, didn't trust him, or whatever. Also worth noting that AVB has alienated the squad in both of his last two jobs. Jose is very into his psychology and motivational techniques. My guess (and it is only a guess) is that AVB is a massive prick who does not play well with others.

Neymar and Pogba? How do they unearth these gems before anyone has heard of them?

That team is destined for a better 2014. Not that it could have been much worse. Still, strange to see DC spending money. What changed?

Makem mate on FB: The optimism is back. This is going to be beautiful.

Own goal specialists.

That's rubbish imo. It's mourinho being a cunt as per usual to anyone who disowns him. Maybe. I have no inside knowledge. It's just a gut feeling. But it's well known the reason AVB left was because he wanted more responsibility. Jose had him working as a scout and refused to promote him. Then they had a falling out. The fact Mourinho didn't want to promote him speaks volumes to my ears. or shows that Mourinho is a complete cunt since AVB has hardly been a complete disaster and utterly clueless since he became a manager. Maybe it was all ego. Who knows? All I know is Mourinho didn't promote him and, to me, AVB comes across as a chancer. He hasn't been a total disaster, no. But he has his UEFA licences. He's had his training to the point where he can manage professionally. But outside of that I can't see anything that separates him from the bloke on the street. I think he's very fortunate to be where he is.

That's rubbish imo. It's mourinho being a cunt as per usual to anyone who disowns him. Maybe. I have no inside knowledge. It's just a gut feeling. But it's well known the reason AVB left was because he wanted more responsibility. Jose had him working as a scout and refused to promote him. Then they had a falling out. The fact Mourinho didn't want to promote him speaks volumes to my ears.

I think AVB is overrated, if anything. There's a reason Mourinho wants nothing to do with him. Makes it perfectly clear AVB was NEVER his assistant. I reckon he knows that AVB is going to be found out.

By the way, what the fuck happened to Fredy Montero? Has scored about 1 goal every 3 games his entire career, gets loaned back to a Colombian side, does about the same 1 in 3 ratio there too. Somehow gets a move to Sporting Lisbon and bangs in 13 goals in 12 games. Ludicrous.

Hope so.

Espindola, Rosales, Convey are pretty interesting. David Ferreira and De Rosario must be about done, you'd have thought. I'd definitely put-in a claim on Sean Franklin. DeRo is toast. Shell of his former self last season. D.C. came out swinging, picked up Franklin and Bobby Boswell in the re-entry draft. Much needed help for the backline. Timbers reunited Zakuani with Porter. If he can get back to full health, he's a dangerous player. Though they shipped Andrew Jean-Baptiste to Chivas for the 2nd pick (also got Jorge Villafana in return). Chivas also picked up Rosales. Rosales was a decent move for Chivas. He can change a game when fit. Just oozes quality. Zakuani, with the money he is on, is ridiculous. The guy can't get fit and on the rare occasion he has played he's been a headless chicken with no end product whatsoever. Sometimes his speed is enough to make things happen, but in a league of very athletic and physical players being quick just isn't enough. That cap money is better spent elsewhere. Still not so sure about DC's moves but I'm pretty happy with Chad Marshall moving to the Sounders. Since he was available DC probably should have picked him up ahead of the Franklin and Boswell. For the Sounders, ideally I'd like another starting centreback to come in, too. Our midfield is reasonable. We could use a couple of wide players to replace Rosales, Burch, and Zakuani... presumably Dempsey will be pushed to wide left meaning we could use a right-winger and someone more versatile - perhaps the return of Martinez. If we manage to offload Johnson then we'll need another forward. Relying on Oba Martins & Lamar Neagle isn't going to be a successful strategy. Martins is another giant waste of money. Would rather we dumped him than Johnson. And we sign Kenny Cooper. I'm just glad Moffat is gone. Was a waste of space for the 10 minutes he was here.

While there's still a salary cap I find it hard to care about NYCFC. If that were to go away then I'm sure I'd despise them.

Espindola, Rosales, Convey are pretty interesting. David Ferreira and De Rosario must be about done, you'd have thought. I'd definitely put-in a claim on Sean Franklin. DeRo is toast. Shell of his former self last season. D.C. came out swinging, picked up Franklin and Bobby Boswell in the re-entry draft. Much needed help for the backline. Timbers reunited Zakuani with Porter. If he can get back to full health, he's a dangerous player. Though they shipped Andrew Jean-Baptiste to Chivas for the 2nd pick (also got Jorge Villafana in return). Chivas also picked up Rosales. Rosales was a decent move for Chivas. He can change a game when fit. Just oozes quality. Zakuani, with the money he is on, is ridiculous. The guy can't get fit and on the rare occasion he has played he's been a headless chicken with no end product whatsoever. Sometimes his speed is enough to make things happen, but in a league of very athletic and physical players being quick just isn't enough. That cap money is better spent elsewhere. Still not so sure about DC's moves but I'm pretty happy with Chad Marshall moving to the Sounders. Since he was available DC probably should have picked him up ahead of the Franklin and Boswell. For the Sounders, ideally I'd like another starting centreback to come in, too. Our midfield is reasonable. We could use a couple of wide players to replace Rosales, Burch, and Zakuani... presumably Dempsey will be pushed to wide left meaning we could use a right-winger and someone more versatile - perhaps the return of Martinez. If we manage to offload Johnson then we'll need another forward. Relying on Oba Martins & Lamar Neagle isn't going to be a successful strategy. Martins is another giant waste of money. Would rather we dumped him than Johnson.

Talk of Oba Martins moving on loan to West Ham. Dempsey linked just about everywhere.

Yup, twiddling his thumbs for a year. Presumably he'll play a role in getting the team ready for MLS.

I know right. Isn't this guy the same one she's been with since college or something? Were both at Seattle together.

You realise that footballers are actually people - albeit overpaid and under educated - and have personality and moods that exist outside of the football bubble? There are some days I go to work and my boss dangling a couple of grand in front of me couldn't motivate me to the top of my game. Particularly if I'm comfortable and know my job isn't at risk. Pardew probably has about as much to do with motivating our players as my boss does motivating me, ie not a fucking lot. By the same logic, if he wants to light a fire under them he needs to enlist the help of their wives.* *Might not be effective with Colo.

If you can stop bumming long enough?

Espindola, Rosales, Convey are pretty interesting. David Ferreira and De Rosario must be about done, you'd have thought.

Sounders also declined Gspurning. Not eligible for the re-entry drafts.