[gimmick]

Thats the end of that so then.

[Johner]

What's this Etock fella like that Chelsea have signed?

[eZe^]

Gael Etock, big promising forward, he's one of the kids who has moved to Barca from that Cameroon exchange program we have with Samuel Eto'o soccer school thing. He looked immense at youth level, strong and imposing. It's not like he'll make it at Chelsea though, they don't have the best record with allowing youth products to prosper (but I suppose he isn't their youth product, so he may actually be half decent). He's struggled recently and was replaced by a much younger player as first choice, so I guess that's why Barca weren't that bothered about losing him.

[gimmick]

Jaysus, last I heard about him is that he was the 2nd coming of Eto'o.

[flahavaj]

Originally Posted by eZe^

Gael Etock, big promising forward, he's one of the kids who has moved to Barca from that Cameroon exchange program we have with Samuel Eto'o soccer school thing. He looked immense at youth level, strong and imposing. It's not like he'll make it at Chelsea though, they don't have the best record with allowing youth products to prosper (but I suppose he isn't their youth product, so he may actually be half decent). He's struggled recently and was replaced by a much younger player as first choice, so I guess that's why Barca weren't that bothered about losing him.

Watch it, they don't like when you say that.

[Johner]

If he is good enough for Chelsea he will make it.

[eZe^]

Originally Posted by flahavaj

Watch it, they don't like when you say that.

They can hardly have any qualms with that, especially when their own manager has come out and admitted Chelsea need to splash cash to win trophies.

Originally Posted by gimmick

Jaysus, last I heard about him is that he was the 2nd coming of Eto'o.

Etock was closer to Drogba, a big physical beast, but apparently he's fallen out of favour to Dongou (who plays more like Eto'o, pacey and smart finisher), and we've plenty of other promising African forwards like Keita Balde, so it's no real sweat. Kinda like when we left Bellerin go to Arsenal, or Crosas to Celtic.

I'm also very dubious about strikers at youth level, as any sort of physical advantage leads to extra goals, but when they make the step up to the first team they struggle as everyone is that physically talented.

[aaronh007]

La màgia de Thiago

[MUSEIST]

Originally Posted by flahavaj

Watch it, they don't like when you say that.

Originally Posted by Johner

If he is good enough for Chelsea he will make it.

But not since john terry have chelsea had a good enough youth player to break through. Chelseas youth structures are only a few years old and as of yet we have not had a single player good enough coming through.

The best player is maceachran who has already played champions league football for chelsea at 17/18 which is amazing. If a player is good enough they will make it a chelsea, no doubt, but so far chelsea have not produced good enough youngsters like barca so as a result its not suprising that none have broken through but if a good enough talent comes along then they will easily be given an opertunity at chelsea, but they have to be good enough or there is no point.

[Jernal]

Not going to provide any links because this is only rumour and speculation but you remember that post about Madrid looking to piss off Barca off by bidding for their targets? Well, apparently, Madrid about to put in a bid for Cesc.

[L'prof]

Originally Posted by Malty_T

Not going to provide any links because this is only rumour and speculation but you remember that post about Madrid looking to piss off Barca off by bidding for their targets? Well, apparently, Madrid about to put in a bid for Cesc.

[eZe^]

Originally Posted by Malty_T

Well, apparently, Madrid about to put in a bid for Cesc.

Ya, it's true alright, but meh, guess we'll see how badly Cesc really want to return to Barca.

[flahavaj]

Originally Posted by Malty_T

Not going to provide any links because this is only rumour and speculation but you remember that post about Madrid looking to piss off Barca off by bidding for their targets? Well, apparently, Madrid about to put in a bid for Cesc.

Didn't Barca do the same to Madrid by bidding for Neymar?

[Sgt Pepper 64]

Originally Posted by eZe^

They can hardly have any qualms with that, especially when their own manager has come out and admitted Chelsea need to splash cash to win trophies.

Do you have a quote to back that up?
He actually said he was happy with the squad he inherited and didnt see any big changes

[eZe^]

Originally Posted by Sgt Pepper 64

Do you have a quote to back that up?
He actually said he was happy with the squad he inherited and didnt see any big changes

I was referring to chelsea's inability to foster top quality youth players at the moment, so they resort to almost solely spending big, meaning players in the academy rarely get the chance to prove themselves.

"We are able to move on the market in one way and Arsenal are able to move in another way. They are able to find amazing young talents. It is almost two different cultures," Villas-Boas said.

"It is becoming the culture that Chelsea moves in the market in one way and Arsenal moves in another. We just have to respect how people go about their business.

"For us in the end it is just to be in top spot in the Premier League when the fixtures finish. To do it one way or the other doesn't matter.

"I respect what he does and if he doesn't respect what we do, then there is nothing wrong with that. It is just his opinion. It is two different ways of treating the market."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...010056,00.html

That enough for you?