Football Transfers Thread

[thedon5]

Barca continue to be prove why they are their own worst enemy, Fabregas' been better than Xavi the last 2 seasons...

Not quite.

We'll see if this move can rejuvenate his career. He's been declining physically and his consistency is at an all-time low, especially in the second half of the season. Last season, for example, he had one assist and no goals from February to May, but in all three seasons he destroyed oppositions in the easy games up to November.

You also have to beg the question of how he'll fit into a Mourinho team, if Mata was kicked out no reason why he won't be too. Seems like an Abramovich signing to me.

Looks good on paper, but I think that team is lacking. Chelsea won't be the ones to suffer though, they should still win the title, Fabregas will. I see him as something of a utility player, no way will he be a guaranteed starter even if Matic is able to cover for him defensively.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Bacary Sagna Joins Manchester City: Latest Details on Former Arsenal Star | Bleacher Report

 

[thedon5]

I think there are enough players now to form a squad of former Arsenal players playing for rivals?

 

[Epic]

Surely. I've been looking around for the wages, no luck...

Not quite.

We'll see if this move can rejuvenate his career. He's been declining physically and his consistency is at an all-time low, especially in the second half of the season. Last season, for example, he had one assist and no goals from February to May, but in all three seasons he destroyed oppositions in the easy games up to November.

You also have to beg the question of how he'll fit into a Mourinho team, if Mata was kicked out no reason why he won't be too. Seems like an Abramovich signing to me.

Looks good on paper, but I think that team is lacking. Chelsea won't be the ones to suffer though, they should still win the title, Fabregas will. I see him as something of a utility player, no way will he be a guaranteed starter even if Matic is able to cover for him defensively.

And Xavi hasn't been declining physically? I know Xavi has never been about the goals or assists, but more about controlling the game in general, but his consistency at doing that has been at an all-time low as well, and what you say about Fabregas' dip in form in the business end of the season, the last 2 seasons, you could put that down on every single Barca player.

 

[thedon5]

I was referring to Fabregas only. You painted Fabregas in a better picture than is actually the case I feel, that Barca made a big mistake when really they didn't. I see it as good business getting rid of him and signing a consistent top class performer in Rakitic.

Of course Xavi is past it, he's old now. Fabregas was never going to be a direct replacement anyway. Rakitic is the Xavi replacement, and a great one at that. Worse than Xavi in some ways, better in others though. Fairly similar players.

You could put that on every Barca player, but Fabregas more so than the rest. It is not new for him anyway, as Arsenal's talisman, Arsenal continually failed in the second half of the season along with him. He's not a huge signing for Chelsea by any means I feel, just someone to complement the players already there and provide yet more depth and another option. He is nowhere near what Diego Costa is to Chelsea or what Filipe Luis could be for them as some seem to think.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

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While Rakitic has been very good this season, calling him a consistent top class footballer is not correct, IMHO. I mean, he has been wonderful the past 2 seasons, but before that? He was nowhere near the "consistent top-class footballer" you call him. On the other hand, Cesc, despite his tendency to be a prick, has been very good. I feel Barca played a system that was not best suited to him and when he quit Arsenal, he was one of the world's best. Anyway, both CFC and Barca have got 2 excellent players.

 

[thedon5]

I didn't call Rakitic a consistent 'world class' performer, I said top class. I think he will become world class at Barca though.

What happened two seasons ago isn't relevant for a player like him, he is still improving and hitting his peak. He isn't going to suddenly start performing much worse, he has been very consistent in the last two seasons, he captained his side to the Europa League for heaven's sake.

The team was built around him at Arsenal. It wasn't at Barca and it won't be at Chelsea. It'll be worse at Chelsea than Barca in fact, and his game time isn't going to change either.

 

[Epic]

I was referring to Fabregas only. You painted Fabregas in a better picture than is actually the case I feel, that Barca made a big mistake when really they didn't. I see it as good business getting rid of him and signing a consistent top class performer in Rakitic.

Of course Xavi is past it, he's old now. Fabregas was never going to be a direct replacement anyway. Rakitic is the Xavi replacement, and a great one at that. Worse than Xavi in some ways, better in others though. Fairly similar players.

You could put that on every Barca player, but Fabregas more so than the rest. It is not new for him anyway, as Arsenal's talisman, Arsenal continually failed in the second half of the season along with him. He's not a huge signing for Chelsea by any means I feel, just someone to complement the players already there and provide yet more depth and another option. He is nowhere near what Diego Costa is to Chelsea or what Filipe Luis could be for them as some seem to think.

I've been comparing Fabregas' output to Xavi in his time at Barca while I feel you're comparing Fabregas' output at Barca to his output at Arsenal, the signing of Rakitic would be a much better one if the midfielder pushed out to make way would've been Xavi instead of Fabregas, simple as that.

 

[Champagnepapi]

I was quite surprised Chelsea actually signed someone like Fabregas, equally surprised that he said yes, didn't he use to rant them all of the times?

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Uh and Liverpool linked to Maximilian Meyer? 8mil may seem over priced for an 18 year old, but the team he plays for it is no real surprise, FC Schalke are really good at producing great players, I don't know the role he'll have though.

 

[thedon5]

Meyer is brilliant. Yup, they produce some great players and sell them for peanuts. Ozil and Rakitic being the two big ones that they sold for a combined ?8 m.

 

[Ohm]

Transfer news: Paris Saint-Germain confirm ?50million purchase of Chelsea's David Luiz

 

[sharp7]

Sagna joins Manchester City, on a 3-year contract.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

Real Madrid: Mourinho: "Ramires no se vende" - MARCA.com

Very interesting interview....

On Rami- "He stays at Chelsea, he's not for sale"

On Cesc- "Cesc is a good player who brings a new dimension to our squad. He's different to Matic, Ramires, and Oscar. With him we'll have a more complete midfield. When buying Cesc, I was looking for a certain type of central midfielder, and with him, I'll have it"

On Costa- "He's a player I'd love to have in my team. I asked the club to sign him, and I have total confidence we'll agree a deal and finally sign him."

On Thibaut- "There is no story. After the World Cup, Courtois will return directly to Stamford Bridge."

He also had this to say - "They also know that I?m not interested in any Real Madrid player."

When buying Cesc, I was looking for a certain type of central midfielder, and with him, I?ll have it

This is the most important part of the interview. Love this because a lot of people are operating under the assumption that Cesc is a roman buy. It probably could still be, but I?m being optimistic and hoping that this is some who Mou wanted and sees a great future with him in our team. Don?t need another Sheva or Torres.


Note: Before anyone complains, please excuse my Spanish. I just copied the whole article and pasted it in GT

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Thibaut Courtois: Jose Mourinho says keeper will return to Chelsea

 

[ParkedTheBus]

BBC Sport - Thibaut Courtois: Jose Mourinho says keeper will return to Chelsea

About time as well... The extreme optimist in me thinks Petr will agree to play second-fiddle to Thibaut