Martinez wouldn't want Fellaini to stay at Everton? I've heard it all today. Skint Everton who start Anichebe up front?

Seems like the football purists on here think Fellaini is basically the midfield version of Heskey.

CBarca wrote:> Plays ugly, underdog football with Madrid while players like Khedira and Di Maria are preferred to Gundogan and Isco
> Dressing room becomes disarrayed
> Blames Perez for not getting the signings he wanted
> Quotes: "These signings are the ones we deserve, but not the ones we need right now"

> Still beats Barca with the B team.

Gil wrote:Martinez wouldn't want Fellaini to stay at Everton? I've heard it all today. Skint Everton who start Anichebe up front?

Seems like the football purists on here think Fellaini is basically the midfield version of Heskey.

no but he is certainly not the belgian version of Javi Martinez.

Martinez will prob cash in on him then sign James Mcarthy and Maloney

Mr Nick09 wrote:

Gil wrote:Martinez wouldn't want Fellaini to stay at Everton? I've heard it all today. Skint Everton who start Anichebe up front?

Seems like the football purists on here think Fellaini is basically the midfield version of Heskey.

no but he is certainly not the belgian version of Javi Martinez.

Javi Martinez doesn't have the technical ability you seem to think he does. Even Wenger has acknowledged this.

His most impressive qualities to me are his defensive abilities. He's a monster in the air, he has unbelievable stamina and his defensive nous is off the charts. He can man-mark, press, win tackles, intercept balls, close down passing angles...literally everything.

The reality is technically, he isn't even on the level of Sergio Busquets let alone Xavi and Iniesta and his passing range is quite limited compared to the other Spanish midfielders.

So yes, Fellaini could have a similar impact for Arsenal as Martinez did. His passing ability is the one major problem as he lacks consistency but nearly every player that plays under Wenger improves in that area.

I agree that Javi Martinez is not that impressive technically and he is a very good ball recovery midfielder. Busquets is in a different league than him imo.

cavani very close to chelsea

Mehbaye has better technique than Martinez ffs. I'm actually serious about this lol.

Gil wrote:Mehbaye has better technique than Martinez ffs. I'm actually serious about this lol.

I meant the football purists part brah, you gave yourself away there

Nobody is trying to say that Fellaini is a bad player Gil ffs


But if you're a new manager who favours possession football would you rather have a 6 foot 5 big, strong player who has ok technical ability but has the main strengths of being a target and a threat in the air when you know you will not be playing to his strengths.

Or, would you rather have 20-25Million to get a handful of players who you will use to the best of their abilities?

2nd one looks much more likely to me.

Now if Moyes wasn't leaving or they employed somebody like Tony Pulis, then the club would be desperate to hold on to him.



Pirlo is world class. But if I wanted to play a physical, direct game I would rather buy a pair of decent hard working CDM's.

It's not about his ability, it's about what role he's going to have to play.

Javi not impressive technically? Why is this myth recurrent in GL?

He played DLP for U-21 Espana (with Thiago advanced) and showed marvellous range of passes and dribbles in tight spaces.

Within Athletic, he was played in the back solely for his ball playing skills outside his reading of the game. When Iturraspe was injured or benched, he played DLP alongside Gurpegui to protect him and evolved transcendently technically and literally controlled tempos of some of their game.

There is a reason he is so highly reverred, its not just because he is an excellent defender. There is a reason he was bought from Bayern for Euros 40M and starting over Gustavo. Javi is a supremely intelligent defender yet always was clumsy in his rare slide tackles and is too slow even when his reading is off the chart. His passing is two-footed and shows marvelous range at times and of course, what he is known for is his indomitable composure in tight spaces. Sergio Busquets is more of a technician yet Javi has shown far more completeness than Busi in his shooting and crosses and some powerful bursts through the centre.

It is the reason why Javi is rated so highly. A technically blessed DM who is very complete.

I think his UCL change in role v Barca etc as an off the ball courier gave the idea that he isn't. In the Bundesliga it was original Athletic Club Javi for all to see.

Fiorentina midfielder David Pizarro has set his sights on a move back to England this summer, Sky Sports understands. Pizarro had a spell on loan at Manchester City during the second half of the 2011/12 season.


_________________________________________________

Tevez or Higuain to Juventus.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports the Italian champions are continuing talks with Manchester City regarding the striker. Juventus are also in negotiations with Real Madrid about Gonzalo Higuain, and will only sign one of the Argentina internationals.


________________________________________________


Ruhr giants Schalke are tipped to be pondering a loan deal for young Barcelona forward Cristian Tello, according to Voetbal Primeur.


_________________________________________


Xabi Alonso could be set for a reunion with his former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, according to SportItalia.


__________________________________________________


Cabaye on Man Utd:

"Yes of course. I've liked this club for a long time, I like what they do," he told Canal+. "The boss has left but they have appointed a very good successor and he did some good things with Everton.

"They are always well played among the big clubs. Yes for sure, it would be an interesting challenge."

Monaco and PSG have also been reported to be chasing Cabaye, but he says he is unaware of any interest from his homeland.

"I have no direct contact with anyone; maybe my agents are currently in the know.

"As for me, I am here listening. I like England as well. I will need to look at the situation but you never know."

_______________________________________________________


Napoli’s pursuit of Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has taken the next step forward with the Reds setting a €14m price tag on the Slovakian, according to Italian daily Il Mattino.


______________________________________________________


Premier League side Southampton are believed to be closing in on signing Lyon’s defender Dejan Lovren, according to Tutto Mercato.


____________________________________________________


According to Sport, Celta de Vigo and Real Sociedad would like to obtain on loan from Barcelona 20 year old forward Rafael Alcántara aka Rafinha.


___________________________________________________


Southampton are ready to let their €14.4 million record signing Gaston Ramirez leave St. Mary’s this summer.

The Uruguayan had a relatively successful first season with Southampton successfully avoiding relegation.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the south coast club are looking at a price of €18 million for a player who they signed only last summer from Bologna.

Ramirez played 26 games for Southampton last season scoring five goals.

The feeling is that Ramirez could stay in the Premier League for at least one more season, but Fiorentina and Inter closely monitoring the situation, Juventus too have also been rumored to be in interested in player’s services in the past.

Lizerazu and Wenger both said it while commentating the CL final for french tv too Arqi... they were describing the players before the game. For Javi Martinez, they both said that he's not the most technically gifted but he brings toughness and ball recovery to Bayern, which is what they lacked the previous year. Lizerazu even mentioned that Javi is destined to become a CB under Pep because of this...

I completely agree with them.

Surely we're picking 2 out of Higuain, Tev and Jovetic.

If we end up with 1 of them it WILL be cheap Carlos Tev. And that is *bleep* unacceptable.

Finish top of the league AGAIN

Go far in the CL

Own your own Stadium

Spend less than the clubs below you who have less balanced books because you fear FFP.
dat logic

Gil wrote:
His most impressive qualities to me are his defensive abilities. He's a monster in the air, he has unbelievable stamina and his defensive nous is off the charts. He can man-mark, press, win tackles, intercept balls, close down passing angles...literally everything.

i agree, but Fellaini cant do those things. he just cant, maybe you are assuming that he can but no. He has impressive physical presence down the middle yet his movements are nothing impressive. he certainly doesnt have the mentality to hound the ball like Martinez do, and to play a defensive role ala Javi. It's no surprise he is played in higher positions with Belgium most of the time and at everton he reached his best level playing trequartista.

Yeah, Javi, in the midst of DM is in the higher echelon technically. he is comfortable enough with the ball that he doesnt choke out when in possession. I dont know why people say that he isnt good technically, is he busquets? of course not, but who is. although, Busquets would die to have the range of defensive abilities Javi possesses.

Tom... Juve have to spend for a top striker or you fans need to call them out a bit. That shows a lack of ambition for CL, not Serie A obviously. Pirlo and Buffon aren't going to be around forever.

I agree.


Why bother spending more than any club bar like 2 when you're 7th placed and not even in your own stadium when as soon as you get back to the CL, you cut out investment.

There is not a doubt in my mind the money is there, but the obsession with being a self-sufficiant club (Which we nearly are again anyway) seems all too strong.

25M for Higuain and a further 7-10M for Carlos. Add a few Mill plus the players Torino want for Ogbonna and call it a day whilst selling some unwanted players too.

Deeper CL runs = more money. The investments would pay for themselves eventually.

This is the provincial mentality us fans are sick of in the market.

We respect that we're never going to spend 40M in each department.

A) That's reckless

B) We don't need to.

But if we're not willing to spend £25M in one area. Then that is a big lack of amibtion right there.

It's not like you spend that £25M every year, the player could play for us for 10 years ffs.

Why are people taking the bait?

I'm not sure Gil could have made his trolling more blatant.

If anyone's interested...

screw Fellaini, someone needs to rescue Witsel from the black hole that is Zenit.

save him moyes

Gianluca Di Marzio ‏@dimarzio
Chelsea (@Chelseafc) make 50 millions bid for Cavani

http://t.co/5hBORvq8R2

According to François Gallardo, an agent, Real Madrid have secured the signing of Gareth Bale for €90m

urbaNRoots wrote:Gianluca Di Marzio ‏@dimarzio
Chelsea (@Chelseafc) make 50 millions bid for Cavani

http://t.co/5hBORvq8R2

As legit as they get.

RealGunner wrote:According to François Gallardo, an agent, Real Madrid have secured the signing of Gareth Bale for €90m

If that's true then I aint even mad

90m lol

He will be back at Tottenham in 2-3 years for 15m