January Transfer Thread - I want! I want! I want!

Gbear · 29-01-2013 07:23PM

Balotelli will probably do the Italian thing of being a total waster until he's pushing thirty then decide to be brilliant, like Cassano.

Fuzzy_Dunlop · 29-01-2013 07:24PM

Only got one assist for City too I read. Think people will remember it though...:pac:

JPA · 29-01-2013 07:31PM

EdenHazard wrote: »

Balotelli is not supremely talented, but 35 goals in that many games at that age is good going.

I think Balotelli should just become a poacher, because he doesn't have good technique and he's kinda dumb on the ball but he's a clinical kinda guy.

So wrong, so wrong.

He's mental obviously, but from a footballing view point he has it all.

Francie Barrett · 29-01-2013 07:33PM

I don't even know why Milan have signed him, they already have an inconsistent forward who only turns it on every now and again (Robinho).

Seaneh · 29-01-2013 07:38PM

Francie Barrett wrote: »

I don't even know why Milan have signed him, they already have an inconsistent forward who only turns it on every now and again (Robinho).

Robinho will be off to Brazil soon.

EdenHazard · 29-01-2013 07:40PM

JPA wrote: »

So wrong, so wrong.

He's mental obviously, but from a footballing view point he has it all.

He really really doesn't He's not that skillful, he's not that intelligent(football wise) the mental aspect only helps alleviate the MB myth. He's got the potential to be very good(his best attributes are his mental ones-confidence, composure) but he's not world class, or close.

Seaneh · 29-01-2013 07:44PM

Do you watch football?

Red Crow · 29-01-2013 07:46PM

People saying Balotelli isn't intelligent football wise or that he isn't skillful etc. haven't a clue. The guy has it all in his locker.

Serious move from Milan. It certainly makes Serie A more interesting now. Him and SES could be a great partnership for club and country.

EdenHazard · 29-01-2013 07:46PM

Yeah dude he's not as good as you, the media and others make out. He has 1 ****ing goal in the league this season. I actually want him to go to Milan and turn out muck, but it will be grand, people will say ah shuuure its his mental side why he never made it.

Red Crow · 29-01-2013 07:50PM

EdenHazard wrote: »

Yeah dude he's not as good as you, the media and others make out.

What's this got to do with Justin Bieber?

G.K. · 29-01-2013 08:05PM

Putting the question of skill aside (And to say Balotelli isn't skilled is compeltely wrong also imo) Balotelli is obviously not an unintelligent footballer. I always use this example - but the Italy/Spain game in the Euro 2012 Group C shows Balotelli at his best. he and Cassano were fantastic up top, playing, moving and pressing very intelligently.

Of course, people rememeber the miss he had when eh slowed down but until then he was playing incredibly intelligently.

ahnowbrowncow · 29-01-2013 08:30PM

G.K. wrote: »

Putting the question of skill aside (And to say Balotelli isn't skilled is compeltely wrong also imo) Balotelli is obviously not an unintelligent footballer. I always use this example - but the Italy/Spain game in the Euro 2012 Group C shows Balotelli at his best. he and Cassano were fantastic up top, playing, moving and pressing very intelligently.

Of course, people rememeber the miss he had when eh slowed down but until then he was playing incredibly intelligently.

Think you should watch that game again, Italy offered nothing up front until Di Natale came on for Balotelli early in the second half. Nothing intelligent about his play in that game, especially when compared to Cassano and Di Natale.

G.K. · 29-01-2013 08:35PM

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Think you should watch that game again, Italy offered nothing up front until Di Natale came on for Balotelli early in the second half. Nothing intelligent about his play in that game at all, especially when compared to Cassano and Di Natale.

I really think you've got it wrong. Off the ball they (Balo + Cassano) pressed very well and on the ball they opened space for each other well, drew the CB's wide and exploited the space that they made. Obviously not resulting in a goal, but it was very good from them.

Blatter · 29-01-2013 08:37PM

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Think you should watch that game again, Italy offered nothing up front until Di Natale came on for Balotelli early in the second half. Nothing intelligent about his play in that game, especially when compared to Cassano and Di Natale.

I saw the game, and I agree with G.K.

What you say is not true, Casillas was the busier goalkeeper in the first 60 mins or so. Italy and Balotelli were excellent.

Lawrence1895 · 29-01-2013 08:45PM

Blatter wrote: »

I saw the game, and I agree with G.K.

What you say is not true, Casillas was the busier goalkeeper in the first 60 mins or so. Italy and Balotelli were excellent.

So it seemed...but Germany was pish, when they went out to Italy

ahnowbrowncow · 29-01-2013 08:55PM

Blatter wrote: »

I saw the game, and I agree with G.K.

What you say is not true, Casillas was the busier goalkeeper in the first 60 mins or so. Italy and Balotelli were excellent.

Not because of Balotelli, it was Cassano testing the Spanish defence. And if Balotelli was excellent why was he taken off ten minutes into the second half?

G.K. · 29-01-2013 09:07PM

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

Not because of Balotelli, it was Cassano testing the Spanish defence

It was very much a partnership up front. One player of the two playing well wouldn't have worked. Both needed to be performing at the same wavelength, on the top of their game.

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

And if Balotelli was excellent why was he taken off ten minutes into the second half?

As well as the point that there's no rule that you can't take off players who are playing well, there are two things I'd say in relation to that specific substitustion.

A) He was tired - he'd worked his socks off, and indeed, Cassano was taken off for Giovinco not too long afterward

Prandelli wanted to alter his tactics and as such use a different type of player up front.

ahnowbrowncow · 29-01-2013 09:22PM

G.K. wrote: »

It was very much a partnership up front. One player of the two playing well wouldn't have worked. Both needed to be performing at the same wavelength, on the top of their game.

As well as the point that there's no rule that you can't take off players who are playing well, there are two things I'd say in relation to that specific substitustion.

A) He was tired - he'd worked his socks off, and indeed, Cassano was taken off for Giovinco not too long afterward
Prandelli wanted to alter his tactics and as such use a different type of player up front.

He may have ran himself into the ground for 55 minutes but that does not mean he played excellently.

I went and looked up stats to try jog your memories.
He had one shot off target, had 4 fouls and a yellow card, missed a guilt edged opportunity to score and was taken off after 55 minutes.

Checked online for player ratings for him in that match and the only ones I could find gave him 2/5 stars and 5.2/10.

He offered very little in that match, I remember it well so I honestly don't know how anyone could say he had an excellent game. I think we'll probably have to agree to disagree on this on.

EdenHazard · 29-01-2013 09:25PM

He didn't have an excellent game, not one bit! Certainly not the performance of a supremely talented footballer, he prob worked hard tho

G.K. · 29-01-2013 09:31PM

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

I went and looked up stats to try jog your memories.
He had one shot off target, had 4 fouls and a yellow card, missed a guilt edged opportunity to score and was taken off after 55 minutes.

Checked online for player ratings for him in that match and the only ones I could find gave him 2/5 stars and 5.2/10.

The shots are irrelevant. Having shots doesn't mean you are a more intelligent footballer.

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

He offered very little in that match, I remember it well so I honestly don't know how anyone could say he had an excellent game.

I remember it well too, and thinkthe complete opposite of what you do. Therefore,

ahnowbrowncow wrote: »

I think we'll probably have to agree to disagree on this on.

Agreed.

G.K. · 29-01-2013 09:32PM

However, having an excellent game and playing an intelligent one are two different things. While I believe he did both, we strayed onto the former when we were really trying to debate the latter.

slingerz · 29-01-2013 11:52PM

Been a bit of a disappointment for most clubs so far. Only Newcastle with their Frenchies and possibly Sturridge to Liverpool/Remy to QPRbeing the big transfers.

Will there be a deadline day rush...

Melion · 29-01-2013 11:53PM

slingerz wrote: »

Been a bit of a disappointment for most clubs so far. Only Newcastle with their Frenchies and possibly Sturridge to Liverpool/Remy to QPRbeing the big transfers.

Will there be a deadline day rush...

Is there ever?

Rekop dog · 30-01-2013 12:50AM

He's a perfect fit for Milan and its huge for Italy having their two brightest young stars playing together up front, they could potentially forge a partnership that could last over a decade.

I mean the level of competition at City was frightening, there's no shame in a a young striker competing with Aguero and Tevez not being a complete success.

I'm not naive, I know there'll still be occasional moments where you'll want to pull your hair out but I think for the first time in his young career he's more or less guaranteed a starting spot and playing week in week out in an environment he's happier in imo will bring out the best in him more often than not.

He fits well in Milan's new criteria of building towards the future, and there's an understanding among fans that this is the best way forward, and that it requires patience and slightly lower expectations in the short term for the greater good medium to long term. I think we'll adapt this mentality with Mario too and hopefully he'll eventually mature into the striker we know he's capable of being.

DoctorGonzo08 · 30-01-2013 08:47AM

Rekop dog wrote: »

He's a perfect fit for Milan and its huge for Italy having their two brightest young stars playing together up front, they could potentially forge a partnership that could last over a decade.

I mean the level of competition at City was frightening, there's no shame in a a young striker competing with Aguero and Tevez not being a complete success.

I'm not naive, I know there'll still be occasional moments where you'll want to pull your hair out but I think for the first time in his young career he's more or less guaranteed a starting spot and playing week in week out in an environment he's happier in imo will bring out the best in him more often than not.

He fits well in Milan's new criteria of building towards the future, and there's an understanding among fans that this is the best way forward, and that it requires patience and slightly lower expectations in the short term for the greater good medium to long term. I think we'll adapt this mentality with Mario too and hopefully he'll eventually mature into the striker we know he's capable of being.

I think you'll find that the supposed out of control nature of Mario will diminish immediatley as the Italian Media won't hound him to sell gossip. Given regular playing time you will see him improve quickly. He was an absolute joy to watch live. Despite popular believe his work off the ball for the team is about as good as I've seen from anyone else.

I really wish him all the best at Milan and hope he gets the support he deserves at home.

Cantona's Collars · 30-01-2013 10:06AM

Emanuelson going to Fulham on loan from AC Milan.

Israel_Dagg · 30-01-2013 11:55AM

Chelsea have had their Jack Butland bid accepted.

Reportedly 3.5m

MUSEIST · 30-01-2013 11:56AM

Israel_Dagg wrote: »

Chelsea have had their Jack Butland bid accepted.

Reportedly 3.5m

I have not seen much of butland. Important question, is he better than turnbull?

amiable · 30-01-2013 11:57AM

MUSEIST wrote: »

I have not seen much of butland. Important question, is he better than turnbull?

Yes

Israel_Dagg · 30-01-2013 11:57AM

MUSEIST wrote: »

I have not seen much of butland. Important question, is he better than turnbull?

Turnbull hasn't looked great, haven't seen much of Butland either though.

If Chelsea did want a young keeper why not recall Courtois. Absolutely pointless him going there, as Cech has years left and Courtois is better at the moment. Unless he goes on loan to another club his development will stall and may not turn into the mighty goalkeeper England are hoping.

January Transfer Thread - I want! I want! I want!

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