Everton are paying more than 20 million for someone? Really? Blimey. Quite pleased actually as they were another club heavily linked with Troy Deeney so they won't want him now.
Apparently Liverpool are in for some young Spanish fullback. Fee will be north of 20million. He's played 60 league games and has 3 caps for his country but he didn't make the World Cup. He's Spanish so it's a great signing, unlike Luke Shaw (younger, same amount of league experience albeit in the PL, same number of caps although he did make the World Cup).
He also played for the team that came 5th in La Liga & won the Europa League, scored 3 goals and is £10m cheaper and wages will probably be half of Shaw. I don't think you can say one is better based on the fact one made it into Englands WC squad (as 2nd choice and wouldn't have made it had Cole played more football) and someone that didn't make it into Spain's (who before the WC were one of the best teams in the world). But apart from that, yeah
True, I overlooked the fact that he failed to be selected for a national team that used to be good. Excellent point.
Better than only qualifying as 2nd choice (and should have been 3rd behind Cole) for a team that were and have been crap for the last 40 years I guess Moreno's team came 5th, Spain's first choice LB (Alba) plays for Barca who came 2rd in the league. Are you suggesting Shaw would have gone into Spain's team ahead of Alba
In fairness, in this pre-season we haven't really played any strong teams really. We had one bad day at the office against Werder Bremen (who themselves are decidedly average) but other than that, we have looked really good against average teams. Which goes to prove my theory that Pre season means **** all, except getting match fitness back, bedding in new players, and testing new tactics. None of this will mean anything if Costa cannot continue his form once the season starts, but I think he will if I am honest. Liverpool and Man United fans are creaming their knickers at their pre season performances........its getting embarrassing.
Indeedio milad. There are a couple of people who are getting a tad excited, and pre season can make people optimistic or pessimistic, but I dont really subscribe to it all that much. In 2010 Chelsea lost EVERY pre season game, then did the double! Damn it, I just want to season to start. My MD is killing me and I cannot concentrate because I'm on too many painkillers and I keep writing bullshit.
United fans are optimistic. Not surprising really. Liverpool fans are overly confident and are trying their best to pretend everything is great despite being weaker than last year. I dont think anyone is creaming their nickers though. we've probably had the toughest pre season f all PL clubs and come out almost perfectly but it means very little.
I'd still be concerned going into a very competitive P.L season having still not replaced your 2 main stay centre halves for the last god knows how many seasons. Smalling, Jones etc will get found out in the long run. The United squad also look unbalanced to me. Still no decent combative midfielder and the full backs are weak (or unfit ). You'll blow away most teams with the forwards you have but over 38 games, it looks an ask for top 4 against more settled, balanced squads (save for perhaps the unknown that is Liverpool). . We will see I guess.
