He's a quick, big lad, who strikes the ball really well and has great close control. I'd definitely back Pochettino to get the best out of him. Never seen him as a centre mid, let alone defensive mid. I think Martinez got that all wrong. A few of our fans were a bit unimpressed with us signing Wanyama last season and if we got Barkley I'd back him to prove a few wrong again. My only concerns are his wages and that we already have 3 great choices for his positions, plus Lamela perhaps returning next season. Might be either he or Son is used as second choice striker.
And in addition, he always comes across as thick ON the pitch as well....... He is no Dembele and (IMHO) never going to be another Alli. We should leave well alone and pursue a more proven talent at CL level to be able to provide the skill and experience that we have lacked for the past 2 seasons!!
I don't think you will get another Dembele, someone who has that burst, powerful and can dribble. Any ideas who you have in mind and what you would pay? Theres not many cheap CL proven targets really. Maybe you could prize Isco with a bid between 35/40m but i think Real may want to hang onto him as he's been scoring some crucial goals to them lately. Off the top of my head, when i see people like Benteke, Mane (whos brilliant but wasnt CL proven), Kante (could have been a 1 season wonder), Bolasie, Xhaka, Mustafi, Pogba, Higuain, Draxler all going for 30+ (well bolasie 27), i don't see how you can someone with proven class for less than that. I think C.Kane has the right idea, someone to introduce into the team whos quick and direct. Is Zaha your man? I'm not sure especially as he's a winger who isn't great at passing but a fantastic dribbler. We know Pochy doesn't really do out and out wingers and likes them to drift in and cut inside and how would it also work when this year you have looked great in a 3-4-3.
There is a very complex argument about the pros and cons of buying Ross Barkley which I do not think is being very well presented on this thread by posters who are simply taking pot shots. So in order to fully put both sides of the argument I have provided a simple summary. Firstly, no thank you Secondly, nein danke Thirdly, hec спасибо Fourthly, No Graize Fifthly, non merci Once this has been understood we can then look at the other side of the coin Firstly, seriously? Still a no Secondly, no gracias Thirdly, Nee, dank u Fourthly, Não, obrigado Fifthly, nie, dziękuję So after fully looking at both sides of the argument it can be summarised best by "Yo Ross...sign the fecking contract FFS"
Other accepted answers include... いいえ、結構です 아니요 괜찮습니다 不，谢谢 هیچ با تشکر از شما नहीं धन्यवाद નહીં અાભાર તમારો לא תודה όχι ευχαριστώ Ne hvala Hayır teşekkürler Nu, mulțumesc E leai se faʻafetai Kahore whakawhetai koe Nach raibh maith agat Chan eil tapadh leat Nee dankie 01101110 01101111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101
Other than a concerted try for Isco - who I agree will most likely be staying with Los Ladronos - I don't have anyone in mind. However I think we have enough 'potential' at the club already and fully accept we would need to spend north of £30m to find the right creative CMF. Just as long as we don't have to buy Sissoko again........ Groundhog Day in extreme!!!
I think that it's pretty much done that Barkley's leaving Everton. I'd say it's a toss up whether he takes the money at Citeh or Pochettino's challenge at Spurs. Everton will be keen to see him go to Citeh. They'll pay a Stones size fee and Everton won't want to have to deal with a club they see as being on their level, come and take one of theirs. Citeh have been taking their better players for years and it'll just be more of the same. If he chooses us and sticks out for that against the pressure he'd doubtless come under, then such a level of commitment would impress me. Still reckon it's highly unlikely.
There's a few options out there (most of which I've mentioned in passing on here) such as... Naby Keita (Taurine FC Leipzig) Jean Michael Seri (Nice) Leon Goretzka (Schalke) Franck Kessie (Atalanta) Of course, with the possible exception of Goretzka (who is entering the last year on his contract) none of those will be coming for less than £20m, and every last one of them has three or four other clubs running the rule over them - and it's been strongly suggested that Kessie is headed to Milan. Essentially our main hope is that, with various clubs expected to battle it out to sign Tiemoue Bakayoko all summer long, we can conduct our business elsewhere without being in the spotlight.
Kessie would definitely be my choice. Closest thing to Dembele in my eyes. Beastly, skilful, can tackle and has an eye for goal. Still very raw but I think Poch would be an ideal manager for him.
but save your breathe, you cant expect a normal working class bloke like Diego to understand that. (sarcasm)
Our chances of signing Douglas Costa appear to have improved from "unlikely" to "possible" with news that Costa got involved in a training ground bust-up with Franck Ribery that stemmed from Ribery clattering him in training and Costa not being too happy with it...leading to several teammates not being too happy with having to break up a potential punch-up. What's telling is that, after it had calmed down, Ribery remained in training but Costa did not.
Italian, but same difference. Apart from food, art, design, sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order...
Who is Italian here? They play for Bayern Munich and the team (German team) sided with Ribery (French) and not Costa (Brazilian). Not for the first time, you have me confused?
