Looks off to me now, Fail I know, but its gathering pace, looks like AVB shot himself in the foot getting caught in the deal he gave Moutinho at Porto! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ail-sign-Joao-Moutinho.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
It does look stong, going to take time to gel though, a lot of that front 6 are practically strangers
Could do, here's hoping we can start gelling quickly tomorrow Dembele and Ade should start and hopefully that's enough to make the difference v Norwich then there's an international break I think - then some training and then we'll see
I didn't see Moutinho play as a deep lying playmaker at the Euro's, so I'm not sure of the comparison, AVB wanted Modric because he's a good player is how I see it. Who knows what is in AVB's mind with Moutinho and all these signings, the former now being immaterial. I found this on him... " That season, with Leandro Romagnoli (an attacking midfielder) also in the starting eleven, Moutinho, more often than not, moved from his natural "behind-the-forwards" midfield role to the right flank, where he still managed to deliver impressive performances. During this season, he further established himself as somewhat of a club symbol, earning plaudits as one of the league's top players."
So far I've seen Moutinho put up for a role he's not normally in, and Dembele, as a DM, a role he's never played! He was a forward initially, bought by Hughes, who got it wrong! and Jol got him to drop a little deeper as an attacking/creative MFer, realising he won't be a prolific goalscorer.
Guys, this might sound daft, but could this deal for moutinho still be alive? Haven't seen anything from SSN to say it hasn't happened, despite the fact they jumped on everything else all day yesterday. Also, when we signed rafa, wasn't that announced the following day?! No ones really spoken about how it's not done. There's a couple or reports and they are just being spread about.
Possible, but highly unlikely. There were too many problems over 3rd party ownership rights, from all that I've read.i think, for instance, Benfica are entitled to 15% of any fee.
Think this might answer your question- http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...ut-on-deadline-day-joao-moutinho-move?cc=3436
Sorry if I was a bit aggressive last night I was still mourning vdv. I understand his versatility but I don't want people "covering" in the team especially in a formation where the lone striker is so important. I'll be delighted if he excels there but he isn't a lone striker, ask any fulham fan. He plays right/left/2nd striker/CM. He "covered" for fulham there while they had no forwards. Yesterday the possibility of Hudd "covering" CB was brought up and everyone blew it out the water as a bad idea. To me Dempsey as a lone striker is the same. Great player in other areas but just cover as lone striker. I fear for injuries to Ade and dembele (who will have to play a deeper creative role now). They are key players now.
And that differs further from other stuff ive read. All the figures are different and this report says we couldn't agree terms, but other reports suggest we had done so with the player.
Hi Spurm, no need for apologies, but apology returned if I was unnecessarily arrogant or whatever. It was an emotional time I agree it would be better if we didn't have people 'covering', for me we should have got in Carroll for example, who can play lone striker and shifted out Defoe. But given the situation, I think Dempsey is a master stroke, he can cover lone striker which VDV can't, and IMO he'll do a better job of that than Defoe. I guess to assuage Defoe's feelings it would have to be Dempsey Defoe Bale for example, and somehow cobble that together, when Ade is missing. Ade was always going to be over-relied on when it became apparent JD wasn't being shifted out, and a proper lone striker being brought in, but without Dempsey, we'd now be in major trouble. Dembele is another brilliant signing, but if he is absent we have Livermore, and soon Parker back, not to mention Siggy. Incidentally as I said earlier, I love VDV, and mourn him likewise. But it seems he was happy to go, and he didn't look right this season. To replace him with Dempsey, and get what, £4m on top, is superb business. I've been a strong critic of ENIC on here, but I take my hat off to them this window, they've been brilliant. Yes we should have got in Lloris earlier, and Ade. But overall, fantastic stuff from them, and congrats to Mr Levy.
Why? he's been CM for Fulham. I'd like to know how this bandwagon of being alongside Sandro/Parker came about, he hasn't played there before, he's not suited to any kind of DM role and would be wasted, he's an ex forward.
