Football

http://i.minus.com/iPenjUJN2W2Fu.gif

Imagine this skill being shown in an Arsenal shirt...

Ignoring the fact they've ignored the fundamental flaws in their squad, United have done some pretty inspired late business in the transfer window. Hernandez and Kagawa replaced by two genuinely world class players in Di Maria and Falcao, plus raking in £16m for Welbeck, who could well cement 5th place for Arsenal where even Silvestre failed.

Ed Woodward = Genius

Also Hull have done a brucey bonus. Hernandez, Diame and Ben Arfa are all much too good to be playing in the arse end of Yorkshire.

#rep

Kinda agree with both both points. Depends on how long it takes lvg to build some sense of invincibility and teams approach to playing them epsecially there. It gonna be entertaining as they're going for the we'll outscore you vibe.

what seems slightly peverse is peeps like mcfc, cfc couldn't/wouldn't go for Falcao due to ffp but niether owe anyone a penny yet mufc whom are in a world of debt can. This is what the g14 (?) wanted. Keeping the old established faces there.

How do gooners here feel about the business done?

I was happy with it until I saw that gif.

Still think we are a quality DM and CB short.

Wenger seems to have a slightly milder version of the hysteria that has infected Van Gaal. The squad needs another centre back and an authoritative defensive midfielder, but in attacking terms, the squad looks good, if a little over stocked with tricky midfielders/wide players.

Wenger seems to have a slightly milder version of the hysteria that has infected Van Gaal. The squad needs another centre back and an authoritative defensive midfielder, but in attacking terms, the squad looks good, if a little over stocked with tricky midfielders/wide players.

This pretty much covers it. Defensive mid was the first position that needed filling, then we needed a world class CF.

Not disappointed with Welbeck, I think he will do well at Arsenal, he has a bit more physical presence than the current speedsters and is a more natural goal scorer than the big lads. But it's not the transfer dealings of a club that wants to challenge for the title.

Ospina is a great replacement for Fabianski.

Debuchy is a great replacement for Sagna.

Chambers is an excellent buy and is a good replacement for Jenkinson as back-up right back, and so far looks to be an adequate replacement for Vermaelen as back-up centre back, but he'll have to stay fit or we'll look very short in defence.

Sanchez adds real pace and strength, which we've been short on recently, and world class talent, any team would be stronger with him in.

Welbeck should hopefully be exactly the sort of player we needed up front, just like Giroud is awesome for us. We need our 1 up front to be tall, strong in the air, good with his back to goal, holding play up and laying the ball off. Giroud brings our huge number of excellent attacking midfielders into the game and is actually better for us than many out-and-out goalscorers would be. Note how much better we look with Giroud than we did with Van Persie, despite Giroud clearly being the less talented player. Welbeck can hopefully do a great job.

We could still have really done with a defensive midfielder. If Flamini is injured (and when he is inevitably suspended), we have no proper defensive, tackling midfielder - Arteta doesn't count. Especially as a lot of DMs can cover at centre back. I actually think we could have done a lot worse than snapping up Song.

Overall - 8/10 would bang

Chelsea look surprisingly light at the back with centrebacks of Terry, Cahill and Zouma, and full backs of Ivanovic, Azpi and Luis.

To my eye City still have the best balanced squad with two top class players for each position, so I'm going to go with them for the title again.

I fucking love Diego Costa, he's winding everyone up already... I wonder how many suspensions he's gonna get this season...

Ivanovic is a good CB as well, he'd probably get in any other Premier League team's centre, as long as they didn't mind him occasionally running away.

ffp only affects teams in europe I think

Agreed, but that would leave them with no cover at full back. I think Chelsea have the strongest starting XI, but injuries to Costa, Fabregas, Terry and Ivanovic would leave them looking thin. Compare that to taking Aguero, Toure, Kompany and Zabaleta out of the City side, who would still look very strong without them.

Southampton getting Mane and Alderweid in to boost their squads, seems like decent business

Can someone ask Jamie Jackson to be quiet?

Ospina is a great replacement for Fabianski.

Yes

Debuchy is a great replacement for Sagna.

Yes

Chambers is an excellent buy and is a good replacement for Jenkinson as back-up right back, and so far looks to be an adequate replacement for Vermaelen as back-up centre back, but he'll have to stay fit or we'll look very short in defence.

I can see Chambers being pushed into the DM role, he looks good on the ball and is a good tackler.

Sanchez adds real pace and strength, which we've been short on recently, and world class talent, any team would be stronger with him in.

When he clicks with the team he will be excellent. His running on and off the ball is brilliant, will be unstoppable when his colleagues work out where is is liable to be.

Giroud brings our huge number of excellent attacking midfielders into the game and is actually better for us than many out-and-out goalscorers would be.

Yes, and this is the problem with Sanogo, he can't fulfil that role. Sanogo is probably a better winner of the ball, and is certainly better retaining it, but there is no product. He needs to work on his shooting and passing otherwise a ball to him is a dead end. Welbeck will worry defences more, should cause them to lose shape and open up gaps 'cos if they stand off him, he can shoot.

We could still have really done with a defensive midfielder. If Flamini is injured (and when he is inevitably suspended), we have no proper defensive, tackling midfielder - Arteta doesn't count. Especially as a lot of DMs can cover at centre back. I actually think we could have done a lot worse than snapping up Song.

Flamini is not good a enough tackler, that's why he gets booked so often. Arteta isn't really a DM at all. We should never have let Song go, but Wenger never liked him. Really would have liked Khedira brought in, and he should still be a target for the future.

Honestly cannot believe united have spent 16 million on Falcao for one season. Beyond belief. #stopfootball

Since 2004 transfer spend has gone up nearly £600m. Surely that cannot keep going?

Football in line for a bust?

That figure is useless on its own. What is the rise in revenue since 2004? Are the clubs on average more in debt or with higher salary/turnover ratios, or are shirt sales in Vietnam and TV rights in the USA making up for it?

Yarp. Sanogo might come good but he's not good enough yet. I'll feel a lot happier against Man City with Welbeck up front.

Also would have loved Khedira :'(

That puts him in line with Rooney.

#madness #perspective

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