Probably not, because at that age and with his recent injury record, it was also a massive risk. But it's an excellent deal for Atletico, who continue to do smart business every summer.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/08/mario-gomez-bayern-munich-fiorentina Another forward on the move.
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/jun/summer-transfers-2013-ins-and-outs.html WBA have not spent any money on new players, they only signed Anelka , who like Sanogo was a free agent, so it's not just us. Good old West Brom.
Looking at all those 'in's and out's', I can't understand why some people are building Liverpool up as a potential rival. Their buys have been utter ****, imo.
A lot of the speculation about who is going to win each season is complete rubbish. Man City were supposed to walk away with the title last season. Every year Arsenal are supposed to drop out of the top 4. Every year Liverpool are going to make a come-back. The problem is there is absolutely no chance that you can predict which players are going to have a career season and which ones are going to get injured or fail spectacularly. Some players are consistent, others are up and down. If Bale hadn't come through last year Spurs would have had trouble making the top half, but next year he is now predicted (no, absolutely certain) to do the same again. It just doesn't work like that. On top of that, pundits and fans have a long memory. Arsenal's defence (apparently) is still bad and vulnerable to set pieces, even though the defence was the second best in the premier league and didn't give up very many goals to set pieces last year. Man United's defense is still supposedly excellent, but they gave up a ton of goals (particularly, funny enough, to set pieces). Arsenal need to sign a top striker and haven't "replaced" RVP, yet we scored only 2 less goals last season without RVP than we did the previous season with him (only one less than the Invincibles scored in their unbeaten season). My own view is that we need to get our goal difference up above +45. We were the last team to lose with a GD above +45 (+51 in 2004/05), and not many teams have won with a GD below +45 (United were the first for ages on +43 last season). We were +35, which means we are pretty close. Of course individual results matter, but over the season, if you can score enough goals and keep enough out, you will generally come through. The teams at the top are not as far apart, as people will have you believe. Certainly well within the margin of existing players playing well, or not playing well, or reasonable improvement.
Seen Mignolet play plenty of times, and he is the signing that stands out. Toure is well and truly past his best and considering the problems you have at CB, he was hardly the player you needed. Personally, think that's a terrible buy. Watched Aspas a few times on SKY and he seemed decent enough. I watch a load of football, but even I do not watch Barca B games, so can't say nothing about Alberto, but the fact that he was loaned to Barca B from Seville would not fill me with much confidence. Maybe. 'utter ****' was a bit OT, but none of those players are going to push you to the next level, that is for sure. So, it is a bit baffling that some pundits have mentioned Liverpool as a potential threat to the likes of us and Spurs for that top four spot.
We're always mentioned mate, it baffles me too btw. I understand what you mean, just thought that utter **** was a bit OTT. I don't think Toure is that bad considering he was a free tansfer, decent enough as a back up CB. I'd be pissed off though if we didn't go out and get another CB. Mignolet I'm happy about, he along with Begovic were my fab keepers last season. Can't see Reina staying so hopefully we'll get about £10m for him.
Toure is well past it, you guys should know that from first hand experience because when City came to Anfield last season, Sterling ripped Toure apart. Even keeping Carragher for another year would have been a better option for you. I know he is free, but he is probably on decent wages, and also he takes a valuable spot in the squad. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the guy that could taken you to the next level, but sadly for you missed out on him. It's kinda of similar to us and Higuain, because he is the player that could push us on, and hopefully we can get him, but it's not looking that good at the minute.
It's a shame about Henrikh, but Dortmund or Liverpool? Even I'd have to say that Dortmund are the far more attractive club, and it shows because reports said that we had matched the fee Shaktar wanted but we just couldn't get near the player once Dortmund had shown interest. We're all dreaming over getting Eriksen, a lot of people seem confident of it but I don't buy it, he's a brilliant player and considering his price tag is cheap someone will soon snap him up! Unfortunately it won't be us Are you still confident of getting Higuain? I thought you'd practically got him, until Perez had made those comments. Ps - Benteke has handed in a transfer request, he'd be good for you.
Getting less confident about Higuain with every day that passes. Benteke was good last season, but it would be a risk to splash out decent money on him after one good season. Sadly for us and you, it's feeling like deja vu for next season.
Indeed mate. Will feel a little more confident next season due to having Sturridge and Coutinho at the start of the season, they gave us a real boost when they joined in January. Hopefully they'll keep up the good work.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...buy-out-clause-interests-Manchester-City.html Man City are in 'pole position' according to the Sun.
Latest on us regarding Gareth Barry: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/325313/Arsenal-target-Gareth-Barry/ "Arsenal are willing to offer Barry a 12-month deal worth around £75,000 a week, with the option of a second year if he is a success." Not sure how much truth there is to this but for a reported £4m, he fits into Wenger's budget buys and was once a player he liked.
