[han2503]

I like the look of him a lot. But it's not quite official yet!

Took his physical tests at Milanello yesterday and is doing the rest of his medical today at the Madonnina clinic. So I'm expecting them to announce it this afternoon

Conti will most likely take his medicals tomorrow or Wednesday so we'll see some movement in that department as well

Well, I have to say that I have serious doubts. Çalhanoğlu's main strength is taking free kicks and set piece efficiency. Pretty much redundant with the characteristics we already gained with Rodriguez. Hopefully he'll overcome his moodiness he showed rather consistently with HSV and Wolfsburg.

I'm also beginning to have more serious doubts about Andre Silva. Yeah, the man can score against the likes of Andorra and New Zealand, but today he once again showed inefficiency with missing the penalty. I'm very unimpressed, then again, the Confed Cup isn't such a important tournament.

One player I really enjoyed watching was Leon Goretzka. Would be an amazing reinforcement.

I read that last season before he was banned he had really shown a lot of development in his game, with most of his goals and assists coming from open play rather than set pieces

As for Andre Silva, missing a penalty doesn't mean much, I think he'll do well, obviously we'll have to wait and see but I think he has all the tools to succeed.

Leon is probably Bayern bound, like any other great talented German player.

[Danny]

Conti is RB?

[Fillipo Simone]

You watch far more German football than I, describe him?

I read that last season before he was banned he had really shown a lot of development in his game, with most of his goals and assists coming from open play rather than set pieces

Perhaps he can grow. There's much doubt in me right now, but well... I guess this is why we got him. I always saw a one trick pony in him: free kicks and standards. Never quite got it right as left winger cause he lacked speed and movement. And the long absence is also a negative factor. We'll see...

As for Andre Silva, missing a penalty doesn't mean much, I think he'll do well, obviously we'll have to wait and see but I think he has all the tools to succeed.

Man, it's not just missing a penalty. He was inefficient and wasteful thought the tournament. Sometimes tragicomic, blocking shots of his own teammates. Kind of the anti-Inzaghi.

Leon is probably Bayern bound, like any other great talented German player.

I don't think so. There's no room for him with Bayern. We really should give it a try.

Conti is RB?

RB/RWB

[Jack Sparrow]

Conti is RB?

Yes. And had 8 goals and 5 assists last season. Tremendous potential. But a risk in that is he a one-season wonder?

Other end of the spectrum is Hakan (can't bother typing out the second name). Was great at Hamburg, and lost his way at Bayer not to mention the 4 month playing ban. But Bayer Leverkusen have been a bit of a madhouse.

Since I haven't been following Bundesliga for a while, I just watched YouTube and some twitter commentary. He seems a bit like a Mata-David Silva cross to me. One of those dinky little players who's in and around space and switching plays (a bit like Mata), but can suddenly be explosive in certain spaces (a bit like D.Silva). And probably the best setpiece merchant in Europe going by stats.


Now theoretically a hybrid 4-3-3/X-mas Tree would look like :


---------------------------Silva--------------------------
---Hakan----------------------------------Suso-----------
------------Jack----Montolivo-------Kessie------------------
---Rodriguez---Romagnoli--Mussachio------Conti

This is a very strong team on the flanks (That right flank is just jizz attacking wise) especially and should create opportunities to attack, while being relatively solid defensively (Montolivo is disciplined that way!) and I guess Rodriguez would shift into the middle as well since we start plays with our CBs a lot.

But you know, I can't help but think - if you threw in a Modric and a Zlatan there - this is a Napoli challenging side. Top 3 would be a shoo-in.

[Fillipo Simone]

Montolivo? He's a defensive nightmare, I really think we must cross him off that mix.

[han2503]

Man, it's not just missing a penalty. He was inefficient and wasteful thought the tournament. Sometimes tragicomic, blocking shots of his own teammates. Kind of the anti-Inzaghi.

Well I thought h was very good in the group games (those are actually the only games I saw in full, the other 2 I just watched the highlights) he had 2 really great headers in the first 2 games that should have been goals but were brilliantly saved.

I can't say with regards to his performances in the semi and 3rd place play-off as I didn't watch.

Yes. And had 8 goals and 5 assists last season. Tremendous potential. But a risk in that is he a one-season wonder?

Other end of the spectrum is Hakan (can't bother typing out the second name). Was great at Hamburg, and lost his way at Bayer not to mention the 4 month playing ban. But Bayer Leverkusen have been a bit of a madhouse.

Since I haven't been following Bundesliga for a while, I just watched YouTube and some twitter commentary. He seems a bit like a Mata-David Silva cross to me. One of those dinky little players who's in and around space and switching plays (a bit like Mata), but can suddenly be explosive in certain spaces (a bit like D.Silva). And probably the best setpiece merchant in Europe going by stats.


Now theoretically a hybrid 4-3-3/X-mas Tree would look like :


---------------------------Silva--------------------------
---Hakan----------------------------------Suso-----------
------------Jack----Montolivo-------Kessie------------------
---Rodriguez---Romagnoli--Mussachio------Conti

This is a very strong team on the flanks (That right flank is just jizz attacking wise) especially and should create opportunities to attack, while being relatively solid defensively (Montolivo is disciplined that way!) and I guess Rodriguez would shift into the middle as well since we start plays with our CBs a lot.

But you know, I can't help but think - if you threw in a Modric and a Zlatan there - this is a Napoli challenging side. Top 3 would be a shoo-in.

I agree that we're missing a difference maker in this squad. Montolivo won't be a starter either so you can scratch him outta there. It will be Biglia or someone else.

I think with that team you posted (even with Biglia instead of Monto), I still think we're gambling a lot and could end up 5th. Missing the CL next season would be catastrophic for us so we need to make sure we have a squad that absolutely guarantees a top 4 finish for us. And no matter how much I think that squad is an improvement on what we had last season, I don't see it as an absolute top 4 finisher.

We'd need to have luck on our side and pray that everything goes right for us I terms of injuries/fixtures/etc

[Danny]

Well I thought h was very good in the group games (those are actually the only games I saw in full, the other 2 I just watched the highlights) he had 2 really great headers in the first 2 games that should have been goals but were brilliantly saved.

If all you can lavish praise on him is that he didn't score because of 'good goalkeeping' then it does his case no good at all. It's a lot of money, and for me it's not a good use of it.

[Jack Sparrow]

Well I thought h was very good in the group games (those are actually the only games I saw in full, the other 2 I just watched the highlights) he had 2 really great headers in the first 2 games that should have been goals but were brilliantly saved.

I can't say with regards to his performances in the semi and 3rd place play-off as I didn't watch.


I agree that we're missing a difference maker in this squad. Montolivo won't be a starter either so you can scratch him outta there. It will be Biglia or someone else.

I think with that team you posted (even with Biglia instead of Monto), I still think we're gambling a lot and could end up 5th. Missing the CL next season would be catastrophic for us so we need to make sure we have a squad that absolutely guarantees a top 4 finish for us. And no matter how much I think that squad is an improvement on what we had last season, I don't see it as an absolute top 4 finisher.

We'd need to have luck on our side and pray that everything goes right for us I terms of injuries/fixtures/etc

I'm looking at how things are at the moment of course. I think with the exception of Juve and Napoli considering how much Roma has weakened, only Inter look like competition for us -on paper . But yeah, hence why I said if we put in a Modric (assuming his perjury trial hasn't shook him up) and got a proper beast striker, we'd be in amazing shape.

I don't dislike Montolivo as much. I think he's more like Ambrosini these days. Not a great playmaker but can keep things ticking - especially if we can surround him with some more intelligent, mobile, expansive players/runners. But yes, I hate him purely because he's Captain. I can't imagine him as captain. I'd rather give it to Abate or if he's not playing to Jack.

[Fillipo Simone]

Sure. We need a new team captain.

[X-Offender]

I'm looking at how things are at the moment of course. I think with the exception of Juve and Napoli considering how much Roma has weakened, only Inter look like competition for us -on paper . But yeah, hence why I said if we put in a Modric (assuming his perjury trial hasn't shook him up) and got a proper beast striker, we'd be in amazing shape.

I don't dislike Montolivo as much. I think he's more like Ambrosini these days. Not a great playmaker but can keep things ticking - especially if we can surround him with some more intelligent, mobile, expansive players/runners. But yes, I hate him purely because he's Captain. I can't imagine him as captain. I'd rather give it to Abate or if he's not playing to Jack.

Comparing Montolivo to Ambrosini is a huge disrespect to the latter.

[X-Offender]

I think with that team you posted (even with Biglia instead of Monto), I still think we're gambling a lot and could end up 5th. Missing the CL next season would be catastrophic for us so we need to make sure we have a squad that absolutely guarantees a top 4 finish for us. And no matter how much I think that squad is an improvement on what we had last season, I don't see it as an absolute top 4 finisher.

We'd need to have luck on our side and pray that everything goes right for us I terms of injuries/fixtures/etc

Don't be so pessimistic. We managed to obtain 6th this season with a completely shitty team. The new roster is leagues above in terms of quality. Unless Roma, Napoli and Inter go wild in the next couple of months, we'll be as good as them if not better come September.

Don't forget that Inter come from a shitty season and thus far have signed no-one. Napoli likewise have signed no-one. Roma have sold Salah, Rudiger, Paredes and Manolas could be next.

We're the only side who've considerably strengthened their roster. And after years and years of free agents, old players, has-beens and useless duds, I couldn't be happier.

[han2503]

If all you can lavish praise on him is that he didn't score because of 'good goalkeeping' then it does his case no good at all. It's a lot of money, and for me it's not a good use of it.

Me pointing out his headers was just an example of how he can be dangerous in multiple ways. As I said to you previously, what impressed me the most about him in those games, was his general involvement and movement, he looks like a very tactically smart player.

I think it's unfair that you've already basically tagged him as a failure when he hasn't even stepped onto the training pitch. You're sceptical, I get that, but you're already jumping on his back for no reason aside from 2 average performances in the confed cup, where even Ronaldo wasn't all that impressive aside from popping in with a goal.

I'm looking at how things are at the moment of course. I think with the exception of Juve and Napoli considering how much Roma has weakened, only Inter look like competition for us -on paper . But yeah, hence why I said if we put in a Modric (assuming his perjury trial hasn't shook him up) and got a proper beast striker, we'd be in amazing shape.

I don't dislike Montolivo as much. I think he's more like Ambrosini these days. Not a great playmaker but can keep things ticking - especially if we can surround him with some more intelligent, mobile, expansive players/runners. But yes, I hate him purely because he's Captain. I can't imagine him as captain. I'd rather give it to Abate or if he's not playing to Jack.

Let's not forget that the transfer window only just opened 2 days ago. I think all these team will make a couple of moves, especially Inter. Roma have a great SD in Monchi, they might be selling, but they're selling for big numbers. I'm sure he'll make a couple of excellent low cost moves for them which will turn out great. He has a reputation of identifying talent, his work at Sevilla speaks for itself.

As for Monto, please no, every time he gets injured for a long time people seem to forget how absolutely awful he was before he got injured. Thinking that he'll miraculously come back in the form he was in during his first season. But fact is, each time he suffers one of his long lay offs, he regresses even further than he already has. Let's not forget that in one of Monto's last performances for us he was booed off against Sassuolo and replaced by Locatelli, who not only improved our game by a mile, he got us the winner.

Simply put, Monto cannot be a starter next season. Especially not in such a crucial position. So whether it's Biglia, Badelj or someone we're not linked to atm. He simply has to be replaced. We cannot afford to go into next season with him as the regista, because we will fail. He is not someone like Bona or Suso, who managed to shine amongst the garbage they were playing with, he generally tends to drags things down even further himself.

And I was never really a huge fan of Ambro's but please don't put those 2 in the same sentence.

Don't be so pessimistic. We managed to obtain 6th this season with a completely shitty team. The new roster is leagues above in terms of quality. Unless Roma, Napoli and Inter go wild in the next couple of months, we'll be as good as them if not better come September.

Don't forget that Inter come from a shitty season and thus far have signed no-one. Napoli likewise have signed no-one. Roma have sold Salah, Rudiger, Paredes and Manolas could be next.

We're the only side who've considerably strengthened their roster. And after years and years of free agents, old players, has-beens and useless duds, I couldn't be happier.

I get that and I agree with you to an extent.

But you also cannot discount the fact that all the teams you mentioned will make their own moves, the transfer window has just opened. Things will definitely pick up now, especially since Inter and Roma have both cleared their FFP issues.

Also, the fact that we'll have a nearly entirely new starting 11 could also pose a problem for us as the team will need time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with all the moves (bar Borini) but I still think we need to make that one signing who will be a game changer for us

[Danny]

Me pointing out his headers was just an example of how he can be dangerous in multiple ways. As I said to you previously, what impressed me the most about him in those games, was his general involvement and movement, he looks like a very tactically smart player.

I think it's unfair that you've already basically tagged him as a failure when he hasn't even stepped onto the training pitch. You're sceptical, I get that, but you're already jumping on his back for no reason aside from 2 average performances in the confed cup, where even Ronaldo wasn't all that impressive aside from popping in with a goal.

Ronaldo has earned a shitty tournament or two. He's a legend. Ridiculous comparison my friend. As for Silva, not tagging him a failure, I'm calling a spade a spade and questioning the signing. On paper, and based on his career thus far it's a poor one for the investment made given how well we've used our money otherwise.

Be delighted if he proves me wrong, but as you can see, I'm far from alone in questioning his ability to deliver for us. Actually, being honest, it's you in the minority who's happy with him. Let's hope you're feeling smug come November when he rampages through the UEL and Serie A.

[amancik]

Guys, would you be open to the idea of having Sneijder as an alternative signing to Biglia? I think he'd be a good experienced midfielder to have. A short term solution before we find that elusive marquee midfielder that we can afford.

[Danny]

Adored Wesley a few seasons ago but I think his best is way way gone and he's a busted flush now.