[servbot]

Do you guys think that even if we sign Honda now, there will have enough time for him to acclimate to everyone else's style/tendencies to be effective? The first leg is only a week and a half away. On the other hand, since he's playing with CSKA already, he'll be more match-fit than anyone else on the squad.

[Dracoris]

Do you guys think that even if we sign Honda now, there will have enough time for him to acclimate to everyone else's style/tendencies to be effective? The first leg is only a week and a half away. On the other hand, since he's playing with CSKA already, he'll be more match-fit than anyone else on the squad.

Hit or miss in my opinion -- some players fit right in, some take a while, and some just never fit in at all. Hard to tell...my biased and hopeful guess is that he'll fit in quickly.

This post has been edited by Dracoris: Aug 9 2013, 09:13 PM

[Rossoneri7]

I doubt our fate lies in Honda ... Balotrlli is fine and the team, if compact and focused, can do damage to PSG. I have faith in this team and hope we close this tie in the first leg.

[il_diavolo_mtl]

So they can make the play-offs more appealing. If Milan or Arsenal get kicked, it won't be the end of the world for UEFA.



No offense, but you overrate Serie A/B players a lot sometimes. I've seen Catania play many times. Gomez isn't anything special, and Bergessio is a very, very mediocre striker.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif) I meant Barrientos and not bergessio....bergessio does in all honesty....fall very short of my enthusiasm (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

But Gomez actually is all that (and at least i got his name right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) )

First of all, I would love to have you explain to me where the talent in Catania is if you seem unwilling to concede the talent up front. Truth is, i wouldn't want either El papu up front for us, but technically and athletically Gomez was by far the dangerman on both wings. Gomez was easily one of the best wingers in the league (i'll grant you there aren't many 4-3-3s out there...).

I could cite (and will) the serious interest from Atletico Madrid and Inter or show you clips of his dribbling, shooting, sprinting, positioning in Catania's attacks (under 4-5 different coaches mind you) but in truth, the beauty of these forums is the difference of opinions, and the allowance for some members to be so unwilling to recognise talent, lest they seem to gitty or flippant to enjoy watching non-elite players.

Just in case the links to Inter and Atletico get laughed off...

Catania president Antonino Pulvirenti has revealed the club are in talks to sell Alejandro Gomez to Atletico Madrid.

The 25-year-old has made more than 100 appearances for the Rossazzurri since signing from San Lorenzo in the summer of 2010.

The winger has notched eight goals in 35 appearances so far this season, helping the Sicilian club up to eighth place in Serie A with just one game remaining.

His displays have caught the eye of rival clubs, with Pulvirenti revealing he has received a number of bids.

However, it appears the Argentine will be playing his football at the Vicente Calderon next season after it was confirmed Atletico are close to sealing a deal.

"The negotiations with Atletico Madrid are very advanced, we have some serious bids. I think Gomez will go there," said Pulvirenti.

"How we'll replace Gomez? We have [Lucas] Castro and we have already taken [Sebastian] Leto.

"We will also continue to work in Argentina where there are many players that familiarise themselves very well in Serie A."

Inter Milan GM Marco Branca admits they're keen on Catania pair Alejandro Gomez and Pablo Barrientos.

The midfield duo have been linked with Inter in recent days.

“Gomez and Barrientos are certainly two extraordinary players and they are not going unobserved,” Branca told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We are talking with the Catania directors and you’ll soon know something. If anything happens then it will take place within the next seven or 10 days.

“But what I want to underline at this moment is the excellent relationship that Inter and Catania have – that is the most important thing.”

This post has been edited by il_diavolo_mtl: Aug 9 2013, 10:29 PM

[X-Offender]

The beauty of these forums is the difference of opinions, and the allowance for some members to be so unwilling to recognize talent, lest they seem to gitty or flippant to enjoy watching non-elite players.

That's a rather presumptuous thing to say. Unwilling to recognize talent? For the love of god... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[il_diavolo_mtl]

That's a rather presumptuous thing to say. Unwilling to recognize talent? For the love of god... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I think he's very useful. you don't. Care to bring up footballing matters now or are we not quite there yet? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
Forget i ever said anything and you MUST believe me, my opinion was never intended to dishearten you, friends? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

This post has been edited by il_diavolo_mtl: Aug 10 2013, 06:24 AM

[han2503]

I doubt our fate lies in Honda ... Balotrlli is fine and the team, if compact and focused, can do damage to PSG. I have faith in this team and hope we close this tie in the first leg.

I think people tend to overrate Balo to high heavens. He's a great player, don't get me wrong, but he's not a Zlatan type of forward just yet, he needs to have service in order to be effective and atm, with Prince as the trequartista I can't see where the service is going to come from.

Honda is crucial for us for many reasons, but most importantly because we have no one like him and have been craving someone like him since Kaka.

I can't say that I've watched him a lot through the years, but since we've been interested in him and he's basically a confirmed Milan player (whenever that might happen) I've kept an eye on him and he's a very intelligent player on the ball. Quick thinker, always looks for the pass, great from dead ball, good dribbler, quick acceleration and a good shooter from distance as well. The only negative thing I can see so far is that he can be slightly lazy at times when tracking back, but I don't know if this is because he's already got one foot out of CSKA's door or what, he didn't look like that with Japan when they played Italy.

So yeah, I do think Honda is crucial for us in this case, for the entire season in fact.

Having this midfield

De Jong
Monto--Prince
Honda

As opposed to this

De Jong
Monto--Muntari
Prince

Will make a world of difference. And we all know that Alllegri WILL play Muntari if he has the opportunity to do so

[kurtsimonw]

I think Honda is a bit overrated personally, if he joins I hope he proves me wrong.

[Fillipo Simone]

I think Honda is a bit overrated personally, if he joins I hope he proves me wrong.

+1

But I think han doesn't overrate him, he just rates the positions and options he'll bring for us in opposite to what we have now.

[William405]

What are you talking about Han? Balo got the needed goals last year from a pretty non existing service...We have Poli in the midfield this year as well.

Yes, it will be much better with Honda around though.

[han2503]

What are you talking about Han? Balo got the needed goals last year from a pretty non existing service...We have Poli in the midfield this year as well.

Yes, it will be much better with Honda around though.

Poli is a CM not an AM and he's not even the right type of player to sub for Monto

As for Balo, check how many of his goals were penalties.

And it's not just about the goals, Ibra made goals for the rest of the team as well, he made Nocerino and Prince look like world beaters for crying out loud. That's the type of influence I'm talking about and Balo, as of right now, does not bring that. He needs some proper support from the midfield. The refs aren't going to whistle every time someone falls down like they did last season for us.

[X-Offender]

I think he's very useful. you don't. Care to bring up footballing matters now or are we not quite there yet? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
Forget i ever said anything and you MUST believe me, my opinion was never intended to dishearten you, friends? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

What footballing matters? I think he's average, you think he's a 'monster'. Difference of opinions, end of the argument.

[William405]

Poli is a CM not an AM and he's not even the right type of player to sub for Monto

As for Balo, check how many of his goals were penalties.

And it's not just about the goals, Ibra made goals for the rest of the team as well, he made Nocerino and Prince look like world beaters for crying out loud. That's the type of influence I'm talking about and Balo, as of right now, does not bring that. He needs some proper support from the midfield. The refs aren't going to whistle every time someone falls down like they did last season for us.

So where do you suggest playing Poli then?rb?lol

Point taken about the penalties though he did win a fair share of them. I agree about Ibra's influence on the whole team is much better..and Balo tbh is working much harder off ball and as a passing layout for teammates. He's a game winner imo that's for sure though.

[han2503]

So where do you suggest playing Poli then?rb?lol

Point taken about the penalties though he did win a fair share of them. I agree about Ibra's influence on the whole team is much better..and Balo tbh is working much harder off ball and as a passing layout for teammates. He's a game winner imo that's for sure though.

At CM but imo, he has no where near the skillset of Monto, i.e he's not someone who controls the tempo.

Think of it this way, if Monto is Xavi, Poli is Iniesta in a midfield.

Meaning, he's more of a quick passer, can find a good final pass when pushing up rather than someone who sits and dictates. This also means that if Monto gets injured we're still basically screwed

Yes, Balo is a match winner, he's a great player, our best player in fact. But he's still not at a level where he can carry the team ala Ibra without a good supporting cast, which is where the importance of someone like Honda comes in. While with Ibra who played next to him didn't matter all that much.

As for the penalties he won, let's face it, the majority of them were very soft

[X-Offender]

Mexes will miss the first game against PSV because of suspension. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)