Internationals

Boruc was replaced by Szczesmy at half-time. It's now Ireland 2-0 Poland.

So he will we back safe and sound. Same with Steve Davis who played the full 90 in a 0-0 with Malta.
 
Mr. Nice said:
He does build a lot of his game around providing for team mates and creating attacks through flair, why are you talking about him him as if he's a Ruud van Nistelrooy-esque poacher?
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I'm not suggesting he's a poacher or that I think he's a poacher, quite the opposite in fact. I'm saying that if he stopped dividing his loyalties between playmaking and goalscoring and focused purely on the former he'd be a far more effective player. Not sure he's quite good enough to do both although very few players are.
 
tomw19 said:
But TTSF said Champions League standard centre backs. Neither Cahill or Smalling are of CL standard IMO.
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Cahill had 98% passing accuracy and won 100% aerial duels in the final last year amongst other things. He's a Champions League winner.. He's a top centre back and proved it in the Champions League already whether you like it or not. He played 90 minutes in the first leg against Barcelona when they kept a clean sheet. Smalling has plenty to prove however.
 
tomw19 said:
But TTSF said Champions League standard centre backs. Neither Cahill or Smalling are of CL standard IMO.
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So a player who has made 9 champions league appearances, and won the entire competition doesn't constitute as a "champions league standard" to you?
 
ThatThereSaintsFan said:
I'm not suggesting he's a poacher or that I think he's a poacher, quite the opposite in fact. I'm saying that if he stopped dividing his loyalties between playmaking and goalscoring and focused purely on the former he'd be a far more effective player. Not sure he's quite good enough to do both although very few players are.
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He's been in double figures for assists for three seasons running now, and consistently banging in goals while doing that - at the level he's at currently (which isn't to be sneered at, the Brazilian league is underrated) he's having no problems dividing his attention. Perhaps for a top European team he would need to adapt.
 
RickieRickie said:
Cahill had 98% passing accuracy and won 100% aerial duels in the final last year amongst other things. He's a Champions League winner.. He's a top centre back and proved it in the Champions League already whether you like it or not. He played 90 minutes in the first leg against Barcelona when they kept a clean sheet. Smalling has plenty to prove however.
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He's a good centre back no one is denying that but he's not of the quality of the centre backs I previously listed. This is dangerously close to the "world class" debate that occurs every now and then on this forum that always ends in arguments so I think it's best if we agree to disagree on this one.
 
Jose Fonte baby said:
Putting it simply: Cahill's good, Smalling's average!
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I'd say Cahill's very good, Smalling's good. Smalling might not be deserving a place in the England team just yet, but he shows a lot of promise. Also I like him as a right-back.
 
Mr. Nice said:
He's been in double figures for assists for three seasons running now, and consistently banging in goals while doing that - at the level he's at currently (which isn't to be sneered at, the Brazilian league is underrated) he's having no problems dividing his attention. Perhaps for a top European team he would need to adapt.
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Thats what I'm saying it's all well and good ripping up an underrated but still not brilliant brazilian league but he'd struggle to replicate that form in a top team against top players. That's why he needs to concentrate on playmaking in my opinion as I think his play making skills are more useful in Europe than his goal scoring ability.
 
If Barca sign him, he'll presumably play up top. They're looking for someone to replace Villa aren't they. Personally I think he'd be best suited as a striker, but I don't think he's quite as good a finisher as, for example, Suarez or Aguero. Not that it matters when Messi and Iniesta put it on a plate for you.
 
Joe Steinberg said:
If Barca sign him, he'll presumably play up top. They're looking for someone to replace Villa aren't they. Personally I think he'd be best suited as a striker, but I don't think he's quite as good a finisher as, for example, Suarez or Aguero. Not that it matters when Messi and Iniesta put it on a plate for you.
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If Barcelona did sign him he'd play LW I'd imagine. Barcelona obviously base their game around trying to set Messi up at a false 9 with high possession tiring the opposition physically and mentally. I don't think he'd suit them though. They prefer players on the left and right wing that are more interested in playing short passes than taking players on or shooting.
 
RickieRickie said:
If Barcelona did sign him he'd play LW I'd imagine. Barcelona obviously base their game around trying to set Messi up at a false 9 with high possession tiring the opposition physically and mentally. I don't think he'd suit them though. They prefer players on the left and right wing that are more interested in playing short passes than taking players on or shooting.
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Surely he'd struggle to get into the team at LW. They've already got it nicely covered. I don't think they'll be looking for anyone other than a direct replacement for Villa.
 
Joe Steinberg said:
Surely he'd struggle to get into the team at LW. They've already got it nicely covered. I don't think they'll be looking for anyone other than a direct replacement for Villa.
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True but personally I can seriously see Bale becoming one of the best players in the World, if he gets the hell out of Tottenham (and preferably the Prem). Any team would want him.
 
Barca have Pedro and Alexis Sanchez, they get plenty of games. I think Neymar would be on par with them at least if he fulfils his potential.
 
pass the football said:
They have Pedro and Alexis Sanchez, I think Neymar would be on par with them at least if he fulfils his potential.
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Certainly Pedro.

In fairness, Barca rotate their front three quite a lot during games to the point where it'd be fruitless to say which position he'd play. They all play that false 9, free-role stuff. Villa found himself wide quite often.
 
Qwerty said:
True but personally I can seriously see Bale becoming one of the best players in the World, if he gets the hell out of Tottenham (and preferably the Prem). Any team would want him.
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I suspect he may end up in Manchester.
 
pass the football said:
Barca have Pedro and Alexis Sanchez, they get plenty of games. I think Neymar would be on par with them at least if he fulfils his potential.
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Mr. Nice said:
Certainly Pedro.

In fairness, Barca rotate their front three quite a lot during games to the point where it'd be fruitless to say which position he'd play. They all play that false 9, free-role stuff. Villa found himself wide quite often.
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With those facts in mind, would it not serve Barca better to make a move for Falcao?
 
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