Germany boss Joachim Low has praised Per Mertesacker's attitude after dropping the 29-year-old Arsenal defender from the starting XI for the World Cup quarter-final victory over France. (Source: Evening Standard) I can just imagine the conversation... LOW: "I hef decided zat zer is to be no starting place in ze team for you, in ze ker-vawter Finals, Herr Mertesacker." MERTESACKER: "Habe ich etwas falsch gemacht, Mein Fuhrer?" LOW: "Nein. Sie sind eine klasse Kicker, aber nicht Weltklasse." MERTESACKER: "Sie sind richtig, Mein Fuhrer!" It is comforting to know that these Arsenal players know their limitations.
Premier League champions Manchester City are weighing up a £25m move for Everton's England international midfielder Ross Barkley, 20, using former Toffees midfielder Jack Rodwell, 23, as bait. (Source: Daily Mirror) In whose dreams is that ever going to happen? If Goofy is worth £68m, then young Barkley has got to be worth at least that, probably considerably more, if one factors-in the mark-up for Brit players.
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 26, says he does not have to prove himself as a footballer. (Source: Independent) Er.....
Wow, how generous can they get. This is like saying "we took your last prospect and ****ed him up, now we will swap him for your latest prospect"
I wonder if Everton will ask City if they kept their receipt? "I bought this product from you and it appears to be broken. It's still under warranty, so I'd like to exchange it for your latest model."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28188589 So he's definitely off - hence 'Pool splashing the cash on loads of 'B' list players.
Looks like Origi is that worst kind of signing, one of those made off the back of a World Cup. That being said, for less than £10m, they can recoup the money if the signing goes south.
"torres and Suarez were b list when we bought them. we make superstars, we don't buy them" Spurs only make CL winners.
He'll probably be top notch over there. Less rapid league and he's joining a very good side. Seems to be something of a problem position for them.
The only downside for Cole is the racist abuse that's common place in Italian football but I'm sure he's used to that after playing with Terry for so long.
Also, if he nearly swerves off the road when hearing about his "insulting" wage increase, he'll fit in with the Italian drivers.
Cole's a great signing for them, still a top LB and the Serie A will be a perfect transition for him. Roma also got Salih Ucan on a loan deal with option for a 2nd year + purchase, according to my Fener mate he's a star of the future for the Turkish national team.
We sadly take all this for granted now, but actually it sums up a lot of what's wrong with the modern game. City collecting players that (considering I believe 11 is still the official limit) will rarely play, almost to stop their rivals from having them. Ruining prospects (Rodwell who?) and completely ignoring their FFP "punishment" because of course it appears to have been no punishment whatsoever.
They;re nowhere near the first team to do this: Chelsea did the exact same thing with Parker, Sidwell, SWP, Ba and Moses, Man Utd did it with Smalling and Zaha, while Factitious' stockpiling borders on the ludicrous.
