One player you would reluctantly sacrifice..

Fellaini is much better going forward, can't argue with that. Has a real presence in midfield and can dominate/win you games on his own in a way. Overall he is better than tiote, as in his all round game. However, if you purely wanted a defensive mid to protect that back four and keep it simple, tiote is better as he's more disciplined in that role.

Admittedly i don't watch fellaini week in, week out, but just my opinion from when I have seen him...I'm sure everton fans may well say something else.

 

EXACTLY THIS! They should definitely buy Fellaini. Not Tiote. Fellaini. FELLAINI. FELLAINI. NOT TIOTE. Glad we agree on that!

 

Got to agree on that Obi,FELLAINI is definitely the way forward.

 

All opinion I suppose but they are probably slightly different. Tiote is more a midfield destroyer. He is better than Felliani in that role for me. He just takes control of games single handedly on a regular basis. I've seen Felliani do this on occasion but Tiote does in just about every big game we play. Fellani adds a lot more in attack of course and is lot more versatile. I think Tiote is a better passer of the ball, but you wouldn't think it watching him last season. Both have the same issue of fouling non stop.

But yeah United should definelty go for Feillani................

 

I do admire Tiote for his tenacity and power... I suppose it depends what type of player you like personally.

For instance, Busquets is a right twat, probably the biggest cheat I've seen in the game, but he's a fantastic defensive player. He doesn't have Tiote's power but he's a good tackler and has great calm on the ball.

I think Fellaini would suit United best - he can join in the passing, attacking style easily. Also, he's a very powerful player - he's great in the air and has great strength. Everton were very lucky to get him.

Anything on Ba, then? Would he fit the middle of a 4-3-3?

 

Excellent use of the Geordie Mind-trick lads!

 

Ba defo could play through the middle of a 433. I expect him to stay to be honest but the issue is he wants to be the main man and we have signed a better player in Cisse.

 

Hmm... that's encouraging then.

He won't be the main man at Liverpool, obviously, but Suarez is more than capable, and probably more effective, playing on the left of a front 3. The new boy Borini played as an inside right forward for Roma last season.

Can't see past his injury issues though.

 

I had concerns with this but he never once pulled up with it. I think we have habit of over egging injuries nowadays. Half of it is in their head and I'd be the first to admit I bought into all the scaremongering a bit. If there was any doubt at all he would have broke last season. We played him week in, week out, he went to the ACON, and even asked him to run more than he has done in his whole career when we put him wide later in the season. He never moaned or pulled up holding his knee.

I hope we can retain him and his price will rocket in 13 days time!

 

That's true. Is it an injury that would re-occur from over-use of the joint or through physical contact?

Personally, I've broken both sides of my hip joint, and this was now a good two and a half years or so ago, and I still get pain when I train hard or do a lot of exercise (or bend to tie my bloody shoe-lace, which is depressing). It can't be good at the level Ba is at.

 

I've had ligament trouble with both knee and ankle. Its not pleasant and does stick with you.

With Ba he broke his fibula and tibula, quite a nasty one that kept him out for 8 or 9 months. The surgeon who did the op supposedly cocked it up and some kind of pin inserted damaged the knee when it was taken out. He then had knee pain. However what is not rountinely reported is that he went back under the knife to clean the knee up. He has had little problem since. I think clubs are so thorough now that this would result in a red flag but you have to look at the bigger picture. The reality is he has been pain free for some time. A lot of it has been him carrying round this notion in his head, and also medical experts looking purely at scans and reports. At some point you have to take on board what his body is telling you though. Given the games played since without issue, I'd say his body is telling them he is perfectly capable of playing professional football.

 

That's a bad injury... Encouraging though that he's recovered. I imagine that surgeon is out of a bit of money now.

 

I don't think he'll be getting many referrals. He was at Mouscron in Belgium at the time. I doubt they were swimming in cash to send him to the best!