Hughesy

Twitter quotes from that guy who was/is a director of football (think he had been at Monaco but before Riviere): Tor-Kristian Karlsen ‏@karlsentk 4m Very much looking forward to seeing Cabella in the PL, quality player. Though slightly surprised Newcastle are set to sign Rivière as well Tor-Kristian Karlsen ‏@karlsentk 3m Rivière is powerful and quick, but never struck me a likely target for a club aiming to finish top half. Hope he proves me wrong

How much would Doumbia from CSKA Moscow cost? I assume too much.. Would the same apply to Rondon?

I'd be very very surprised if we end up signing Riviere and a more proven striker. I can't see Ashley agreeing to have Cisse, Riviere and Other Striker on our books if a) we have de Jong who I am sure they see as a potential striker in a crisis and b) we end up playing a 4-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 variant. Would be delighted to be proved wrong.

Remember watching him play for Napoli on BSkyB when they had Italian football before C4 had it. Trying not to come across as an arse (genuinely not the intention), but how many games do you think you saw and (if you don't mind me asking) how old were you? Maybe 15 over 2 years and I'd have been 21 or 22. Cool.

Is Beckenbauer and Cruyff informed enough to make that decision? Because none of them think of Messi ahead of Maradona or Pele. I suspect better placed than us! But you would definitely have to factor in the potential for bias for players of that generation to venerate players around in their era. I have to say that I do find it odd that in nearly every other sport, performers have generally improved - but football appears to be different. There's absolutely no reason why this should be the case.

Remember watching him play for Napoli on BSkyB when they had Italian football before C4 had it. Trying not to come across as an arse (genuinely not the intention), but how many games do you think you saw and (if you don't mind me asking) how old were you?

People still won't have seen anywhere near as much of Maradona as Messi. I mean - not even close. So I not 100% convinced that people are as well informed on Maradona and/or Pele as they might think.

I know I shouldn't even engage... but who is the French centre forward from Auxerre?

If you ever watched Fantasy Football in the mid-90s, you would know that Pele was shite.

In the four years between 1982 and 1986, Maradona played 125 games for his clubs, Messi has played 211 since the last WC. Of those games, 7 of Maradona's were in European competition, Messi has played 43. For goals in that period, it's 68 for Maradona and 227 for Messi. Good advice for any future player wanting to be called the "best ever", just really turn it on at a World Cup instead of knackering yourself out by becoming the leading goalscorer for one of the world's greatest clubs. Stat on twitter saying that for the last 8 seasons, Messi have averaged 49 club games per season. Maradona peaked at 36 club games per season.

Remy, but there again i find it highly unlikely a CL club doesn't come in for him. It really doesn't seem like there are many other options though, unless we start to spend £12 million plus. Which seems unlikely.

Are there any 'proven' strikers available for the paltry sums we are likely to spend?

I still feel meh about the future, but can't help being slightly excited about these new lads. Yep - nothing like a new signing to make you feel a little bit optimistic, despite the wider depression.

The 90 side wasn't good mate. They got to the final on the back of their reserve keeper Goicachea coming in after injury to the first choice, Pumpido if I recall, and him being a bit of a penalty saving specialist. Fair enough - I was only seven at the time, so my footballing knowledge wasn't great. This was more based on what I had read. Feel free to make sweeping comments on zero knowledge tho. Napoli did have 2/3 good players in the Maradona side but had never won the league and never have since. They were up against the powerhouses of Inter, Roma and AC Milan. He lifted the whole city not just the club. They won the league twice while he was there. Messi will never be able to do that at a midtable Spanish or Italian club...Ever. I never made a comment about the Napoli team that Maradona played for. As pointed out, I am basing my discussion on what I have read about the '86 and '90 Argentinean teams that Maradona played for (I think that having looked again, what I actually read about the '86 team being pretty good rather than the '90 team - think the most recent interview was one done recently with Linekar). I would, however, question exactly how much football the older posters on this forum actually saw many of these greats play. Probably not even 2-3% of the amount of football that one can now see Messi, Ronaldo etc play? I sometimes wonder if familiarity breeds contempt with today's stars and that there is an element of mysticism that stills surrounds the legends of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The 90 side wasn't good mate. They got to the final on the back of their reserve keeper Goicachea coming in after injury to the first choice, Pumpido if I recall, and him being a bit of a penalty saving specialist. Fair enough - I was only seven at the time, so my footballing knowledge wasn't great. This was more based on what I had read.

I agree (and to clarify - this is from what I have read than what I saw), but it appears to have almost become one of those football myths that the Argentinian team of '86 and '90 was useless, when they really weren't.

Spot on.

What Maradona did at Napoli will never be matched. Complete myth that Maradona carried Napoli, they had a great team. Same with the Argentinean team - it was a good team when Maradona was playing.

Agree with this completely. Far too much weight is placed on the World Cup, when so many other factors are relevant.

I don't think it is possible to judge players from different eras - so while a fun debate, it always becomes a bit pointless. However… I don't really get why such a great focus is placed on 1) winning the World Cup (given the huge disparities in the teams in which these world class players have played or currently play in and 2) having to put in a 'performance' in the final - not all great players happen to have a great game in a final. Shit happens.

Selling MYM would be a terrible move.

Really hope Haidara gets a run in the team - can't bear to watch Dummett chugging up and down the touchline.

Brilliant planning by us - let everyone know how much we are getting for Debuchy and that we want a replacement. Shock - asking price goes up.

If you can't take a goalkeeper sledging you, you really shouldn't be playing international football.

I would like to describe it as mawkish sentimentality.