Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:44 am  

Cazorla, Sneijder and Pastore have all been the subject of reported interest/bids by Malaga but I'm a little sceptical. More realistic signings are Borja Valero, Piatti And Pedro Leon. Piatti is a favourite of mine and would be a quality signing for an ambitious club like Malaga.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:22 am  

Catalancs wrote: Manchester United are unlikely to sign Samir Nasri "I don't think he is coming to United," said Ferguson. "That is all I can tell you. I think that he has agreed to go somewhere else." I think we will definitely sign a midfielder. I'd prefer Schweinsteiger as I think we're okay with players that go forward. I would love Nasri or Senijder though.

Catalancs wrote: Manchester United are unlikely to sign Samir Nasri "I don't think he is coming to United," said Ferguson. "That is all I can tell you. I think that he has agreed to go somewhere else." I think we will definitely sign a midfielder. I'd prefer Schweinsteiger as I think we're okay with players that go forward. I would love Nasri or Senijder though.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:55 am  

Mark wrote:

I think we will definitely sign a midfielder. I'd prefer Schweinsteiger as I think we're okay with players that go forward. I would love Nasri or Senijder though.

With every day it seems less likely either will be on their way to OT. I wouldn't want to pay over £22 million for Nasri and I reckon £35 million is about right for Sneijder. Could Nasri see out the last year of his contract then walk out on a free? I think that would be a disadvantage to United as both City and Chelsea could offer him daft wages on top of Champions League football. Schweinsteiger is contracted for another four or five years and Munich aren't going to sell him for anything less than £30 million. You know Daniele De Rossi is out of contract next summer
Riccardo Montolivo at Fiorentina is ooc after this season and has impressed when I've seen him, but I think he's more of an attacking midfielder. Maybe someone like Robbie would know more about him.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:55 pm  

I actually do know a bit about Montolivo. Seen him a while back for one of the Italian U20whatevers, and he was played in the '10' role at the top of the midfield. He's struggled for consistency but has shed loads of ability, when I last seen him play he had moved deeper into the midfield. He could end up being like Pirlo, i.e. moving from the top of midfield to the deeper part, but I still feel he has too much skill and flair to sit in front of the defence like he was doing. Not sure if a move to a big foreign club would suit him, Serie A's definitely his league, for me. Montolivo has one of my favourite shooting techniques ever ever, absolutely fab.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:06 pm  

Just seen on Twitter it's two years now since Everton paid money for a first team player.

Bizarre stat given we take 6 points off City every season.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:18 pm  

Fee for Downing to Liverpool supposedly agreed now.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:21 pm  

Guerrier wrote:

Fee for Downing to Liverpool supposedly agreed now.

The phrase 'you get what you pay for' won't count with this one. A player who never has been near the upper echelons of talented attacking midfielders. Decent player on his day, but not the caliber of player I like to see us spunk vast sums over.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:24 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

The phrase 'you get what you pay for' won't count with this one. A player who never has been near the upper echelons of talented attacking midfielders. Decent player on his day, but not the caliber of player I like to see us spunk vast sums over.

But a player who was voted Villa's player of the season over a certain newly signed Man Utd winger, bought for roughly the same price.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:56 pm  

inside_man wrote:

But a player who was voted Villa's player of the season over a certain newly signed Man Utd winger, bought for roughly the same price.

Are you attempting to justify the signing, or are you simply highlighting insignificance?

Downing is what he is. Decent - brilliant on days, but inconsistent, incomplete and carrying a grossly inflated price tag on his shoulders, something we seem determined to meet.

Re: Football Chat Thread : Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:52 am  

inside_man wrote:

But a player who was voted Villa's player of the season over a certain newly signed Man Utd winger, bought for roughly the same price.

Young has pace though. I'm quicker than Downing. United's game has always needed an injection of pace. Liverpool, less so - particularly if you go back to King Kenny's glory days 20 odd years ago when it was all about patient build up.