World Cup — Day Three

Today, CR7 joined the illustrious ranks of Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose as only one of four players to score at four different World Cup Finals tournaments.

I really, really hope Tim Cahill gets on the pitch in Russia and nicks one to become the fifth member of that very exclusive club.

Just catching the highlights of the afternoon games as I was in work.

Where are all the fans at the Egypt - Uruguay game? Very disappointing... Is this a sign of things to come in Round 1?

After posting my earlier comment about Tim Cahill being on the cusp of history, I came across this article on the Beeb referencing the same thing. A nice tribute to Tim by Phil Neville. Worth a read to appreciate Tim's qualities.

World Cup 2018: 'Tim Cahill wants to be up there with Pele'

CR7 Jay? Is that a post code? I would never have had you down for someone who would type that!

But yeah, I hope Cahill achieves his final dream.

People like Ronaldo are the reason I watch less and less football every year. There are clearly a separate set of rules for him to make sure the FIFA brand is protected and listening to the BBC commentators fawning all over him and pretending he didn't throw the ball at the Spanish guy means I won't be watching Portugal again on this tournament.

Carvalho? Not for me.

I gave Schneiderlin a lot of stick last season. If Silva can get him back to his best form, he can do the job Carvalho did last night easily.

VAR decision in France v Australia: the ref did not appear to think it was a penalty, then asked for VAR, then decided after that replay that it was a penalty. How?

Go on the Aussies, send on Cahill to win it!

VAR worked quite quickly, but there was no need for the review for the Aussie one. I bet the older guys like John McFarlane are shaking their heads right now at the TV.

That was a SHOCKING review of the France 'penalty'.

Delighted justice is done and France immediately concede a penalty themselves.

'Let's go Aussie, Let's go!

At least...in the footy - not the cricket!

They can "go" in the cricket too Jay, I couldn't give a shit about that. Shouldn't England be banned from Cricket after losing to Scotland?

Absolute nonsense.

The rules makers give a penalty, when the guy has already played the ball. The follow through to give the penalty is just turning it into a non-contact sport. Any successful tackle is a penalty or red card waiting to happen. Absolute shite.

Jeez that's rough on the Aussies. Not clear in the replay if Pogba got the final touch or the Aussie defender.

And I'll tell yer what, that Mooy of Huddersfield is looking as good as anyone in some illustrious company in midfield. He impressed against us away last season.

I like what he does.

Jay, it was the Aussie.

And yes, Mooy looks decent. Could be an alternative to signing Carvalho?

Platini in the ref's earpiece :)

But the official scoreboard is still showing the goal as Pogba's, Steve.

Agree with the lads, Mooy did pretty well. I thought Ryan was excellent and the lad at left back Behich (converted winger) is quick, although he wasted a few opportunities to get the ball in the box.

France looked slow and lethargic, like a team searching for the right combination. They looked much better with Giroud on and I think a Giroud- Griezmann front two would work better than the front 3.

Did Dembele really cost more than a 𧴜m? He has a touch of the Christian Atsu's about him.

Come on Gylfi!

Whilst I'll never accept VAR in its current iteration, the issue here is the referee not the tech.

He missed the handball, he was miles away from the incident for the French penalty, then alters the same decision that had no clear and obvious reason to.

It went against every element of the fundamental principles set out in the VAR document.

His overall performance was pedantic and petty. Shouldn't get another game.

Is Pogba meant to be a top player? The fact it is talked about and debated so much should lead you to think he is not.

France my own pick for the tournament looked disjointed, Deschamps changing too much too close to the tournament after a very settled camp since the Euros.

Only Kante stood out, the fella is immense, he'd make any team better.

John, the referee leant on VAR like a crutch, and I think referees will continue to do so.

France have one of the most talented squads, but as per a recent BBC online article, ">they have the best squad with the wrong coach. I think the article is on the money, as you would expect from Julien Laurens. He's made some accurate observations on Everton by the way.

Dunno about your comment on refs leaning on VAR like a crutch Steve.

Maybe today's ref wanted to create a little bit of football history for himself, but we're 5 games into this World Cup – I for one am relieved that refs (or the tech team viewing incidents) haven't called on VAR at all until now, when there were incidents that might have justified it.

Jay, It just seemed like he wanted reassurance on every call.

Steve, I just think as per the original post the referee was poor either with a whistle in his hand or in front of a monitor.

To date the referees have been very good.

France need to balance their side with flair and industry. Such is there talent it's very easy to do a ‘Koeman' and stick your best XI on the park and expect the win.

Oddly after all the noise last summer I still think Giroud is the answer for France, his physical presence helps balance Mbappe and Griezmann, and Pogba, I'd fuck him right off. There's a rosette in a village show in somewhere for him.

Cmon Gylfi!

I didn't see evidence of that at all Steve.

And if I understand the process correctly, he clearly did not give the original decision, allowed play to continue before the ball went dead in the French half and only then – presumably, on advice in his ear piece by the tech team – did he go to the sideline to review the play. So he followed the correct protocol.

My questioning of the award of the penalty is based on who contacted who? It was as much about Griezmann coming into contact with the Aussie defender as the other way around. For me, there were not enough grounds to reverse his original decision.

Furthermore, he instantly gave Aussie the handball penalty, when if what you say is true, he would have referred it to VAR.

The ref also had the technology to help him with the winning goal, which he naturally referred to. Outside of those 2 decisions, I don't recall onscreen any other examples of him 'leaning' on VAR to see him through the game.

Enough of VAR and France, it's Gylfi time!

Kurt Cobain has to finish his chances.

That was clearly Bodhi from Point Break.

Regarding VAR, it's not true to say the refs haven't called on it until today or that they are leaning on it as a crutch. “Major” decisions are being reviewed by VAR throughout every match. It's just that the ref on the field doesn't need to stop the match until something needs to be changed.

Yesterday, the penalty to Ronaldo was reviewed, quickly, and then he took his penalty. In other cases, there were close offsides calls that were not immediately flagged offside but would have been being reviewed by VAR in case a goal came from the play. I don't see the problem with that.

WTF? Pit Bull is the Argentina coach too.

David, I only meant the Uruguayan from the France - Aussie game. I fear others could do the same. It did work quite quickly, as I observed above.

To the game in hand, it's going to be a very long game for Iceland. Gylfi needs to be at his very best for them to even get a draw now.

GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regarding VAR at the France game.

Initially the ref played on.

What would have happened if the Aussies went straight up the pitch and scored a legitimate 30-yard screamer.

Would they have gone back to VAR, give the penalty and disallowed the Aussie goal??

Hi Steve [8], you're absolutely right, I despair for the future of football – it's (not so slowly) becoming a non-contact sport.

Although I am now, a non-practising Roman Catholic, I was brought up in the belief that only two people were infallible, the Pope and the Referee.

While it caused much consternation at times, for example, the Clive Thomas decision in the 1977 FA Cup semi-final, we learned to live with it, knowing that, sooner or later, the balance would be redressed.

Regarding today's decision, I think there would have been less controversy if the referee had awarded a penalty without resorting to VAR, because it hardly proved conclusively that it was indeed a penalty. I have expressed satisfaction with goal-line technology, because it's instant, but I fear technology for any other purpose will have a detrimental effect, leading to a stop-go situation.

Retrospective punishment is already in place to deal with off-the-ball incidents not spotted by the referee.

I quite like the stadium Argentina and Iceland are playing in.

John,

Presumably yes. Although the point of the VAR is that they are reviewing the play immediately while play goes on, and are able to communicate to the ref on the field once they believe play should be stopped for further review or for a definitive call to be made.

Thought that might be the case, David.

However, it really can take two passes and a couple of seconds to get the ball in the opposite net.

To me, VAR is just a step too far. We are in danger of making the game too clinical and exact. One of the beauties of the game is the errors we make and all the fuss argument and disagreement afterwards.

I know they have far more knowledgeable people watching the VAR but to me even now I wouldn't have given the penalty. Opinion is what makes it a great game.

You just know Ronaldo is sitting somewhere in his underwear, laughing while watching Messi miss that penalty.

Perhaps VAR needs to be used as is similar technology in tennis and cricket, that is, one of the teams has to request a review but how you stop it being used just to disrupt play is another question. The penalty against Australia seemed to be another case of one player deliberately falling over the defenders outstretched leg rather than foul play by the tackler.

Perhaps we should revert to the idea that there must be some intent to commit a foul but it seems more and more like 5-a-side rules, you can only tackle by remaining on your feet, no slide tackles.

Oh, and as an interesting aside, is it true that the present head of FIFA, Infantino, comes from a village not 6 klms from the village from which Blatter came. What's that, Penny Lane to the Adelphi?

Alan,

Not just perhaps, but definitely a challenge system should be the keystone for VAR. The players are the focus, and as such they should be the ones to ask for a referral. A limited amount of challenges is there to protect a team from the howler not the marginal decision.

Referees get 90odd% right anyway so one referral works. Any more and it becomes too tactical. One referral makes you reluctant to use it unless it's clearly a blatant decision missed.

The VAR effect is increasing player crowding of referees and number of times it happens, adding additional time to the game, added time is up to 5mins per game so far in the World Cup, where fatigue is a game factor this will be an issue.

VAR is so unfit for purpose it's criminal, but apart from that it okay. 😜

John @ 44.

Not seeing any of the VAR effects you claim. Nor seeing any additional time above average added to injury time because of VAR.

In fact, it looks to be working discreetly and effectively in the background, unlike the experiment in the cup in England last season.

Wasn't it a high-scoring Spurs game that irked a lot of people when, unnecessarily, every goal was checked before confirmation, adding to the confusion and frustration of the match crowd who were not being kept informed?

To me, it appears to be working well in Russia without any sort of unnecessary intrusion or controversy. The controversy over the French penalty vs Oz today was, for me, the ref believing it was a foul when I thought there was sufficient doubt not to award it.

The technology and VAR was not the 'failure' in that instance for me. It was the human factor, the ref himself.

What I've noticed is a big decrease in players diving to try to win a penalty because they know it will be reviewed. That must have been a record for least number of dives for an Argentina side, and same for Suarez yesterday.

Matches haven't been any longer than usual and if anything it decreases the players surrounding the ref. I just don't see the problem with the system to get the calls correct.

Re the France pen - I thought it was a perfect example of why VAR is shit. The ref's initial decision was no pen, and it was a reasonable decision to make, rightly or wrongly. The VAR wasn't conclusive so it should surely, as in cricket, stay with "umpire's call", which would be the original decision - no pen.

On the other hand, the Goal Line Technology works an absolute treat because there's no second guessing, it's totally objective.

As far as I'm concerned, VAR should only ever be used to disallow RS goals in the derby

Alan J. #41 wouldn't deliberately falling over outstretched legs come under the simulation rules?

John, you are awful! I think people might change their minds very quickly on William Carvalho once they watched him play for us. I think people can read too much into a player playing to instructions.

Sigurdsson can only play as a central midfielder if he has protection from a DM and a faster player alongside him, such as Davies or Gueye. And he can't play behind another number 10, you need him breaking from the 8 position into a 10 position, where he can still unleash his lethal shooting and try through passes.

Carrillo for Peru looking decent... Silva may be keeping tabs? Is he one we could bring in?

Loved the way the Peruvians sang their National Anthem. Not like our lot and our dirge of an anthem.

No one has mentioned the French left-back who deserved an Oscar for some of his pained expressions when hardly any contact. Less of that sort of thing, please.

What's the point Anthony? He's hardly going to replace Walcott. Silva did sign him twice, and had he been a left back rather than a right winger, then sure, I'd be pointing out that he signed him twice and that Silva could get him a third time.

VAR penalty awarded in the Peru - Denmark game after referee originally waved away appeals. However, the opportunity was waved away by Peru, Baggio style. Big difference to the Polish ref choosing not to look at VAR for an Argentinian penalty

I re-wound the game to the point where the Peru player was fouled. 24 seconds later the referee stopped play to review the decision. Denmark would have had plenty of time for a quick breakaway and score before the referee stopped play. Sooner or later this will happen.

Technically a penalty, in the real world never ever a pen. Love VAR me!

It's just ridiculous. Why couldn't the ref or the linesman have seen it was a penalty without going to the VAR? It was that obvious.

Obvious pen. Ref should have seen it without VAR intervention.

Has the ball come down from its orbit yet?

Lovely move for the goal.

Peru fail to take any of their many many chances.

To be fair Michael, Schmeichel contributed considerably to denying them.

Carrilo had the Danish left back on toast. Love watching that kind of performance from a winger, old fashioned push and run, then head for the bye line. I feel sorry for Peru, they offered so much more than a very dull Danish team.

Steve (45), it's fine for a player to play to instructions but a natural footballer will or should play to his instinct as well and forget the instructions now and again and play for the benefit of the team when it is required.

Asleep during Croatia v Nigeria. The Nigerian Tracksuit tops are giving me nightmares though!!!

I understand what you're saying Dave. I never stuck to my instructions, especially the defensive ones!

Carvalho is one of the first names on the team sheet for Portugal and for Sporting. For Portugal, the guys after his place are Manuel Fernandes (formerly of the parish, but now 32 and playing in a much deeper role than we will remember) and the excellent young wolf, Réuben Neves, and Porto's Danilo Pereira. Sure, I'd take Neves over Carvalho. He seems a better passer and that's the quality I think Silva needs to bring into the side in that defensive role behind two central box-to-box players.

But surely, if Silva (with Brands letting him) brings in Carvalho, as one of his very few signings, then that shows his faith, and continues the faith of all the other managers who continuously pick him.

I still think the Portugal side does not suit him. They are slow and laboured. they play that way, they pass that way. Silva plays slow at times, of course, but his tactics are underpinned by explosive counter attacks, which would rely on his passing.

If Carvalho remains on a free transfer (expect us to pay for him if we do sign him though) then a host of clubs will be lining up to take a chance on him, because for free, what do you have to lose.

If not Carvalho, then who? We aren't going to spend £40m on Neves or someone similar. Do we all go and pray to whatever Gods we pray to, and hope Schneiderlin is reborn?

Where on earth does Silva launch his counter attacks from? Baines, Jagielka and Keane in defence? Pickford? Or do we change tactics and go with the slow build up play that failed so badly under Koeman?

Jack, it just goes to show you can have too much of a good thing. This is a match too far!

Update: here comes Steve Walsh's final Leicester signing (yes arrived after he left) Musa. Let's see how he turns the game on it's head.

Steve (62), Manuel Fernandes scored two great goals for the Blues. Carvalho must have watched Manuel a lot because he also had the making of a fine big lazy bastard when he played for us, especially the night Moyes put him on the wing at Wigan; there was more life in a nit nurse's comb on that performance.

Was that in the second stint that failed to live up to the first?

Steve @ 62.

"Carvalho is one of the first names on the team sheet for Portugal and for Sporting. For Portugal, the guys after his place are Manuel Fernandes (formerly of the parish, but now 32)..."

Strewth Steve, you really are good at spinning things fellah.

Since Fernandes last 'graced' Everton with his presence 10 years ago, he has hardly been near the International team. Indeed, his call-up to this World Cup was a complete left field one from Portugal manager Santos.

Since his international debut in 2005 13 years ago, he has played a grand total of 14 internationals – and five of those came in the last 6 months. Ten caps have been in friendlies, 3 in the Euro qualifiers and just 1 in a World Cup qualifier. He has never been selected for a competition finals squad, until now.

He never played a single game in these World Cup qualifiers for Portugal. He only returned to the international squad after qualifying in November last year, 6 years after his last appearance for Portugal.

Manuel Fernandes's inclusion in the squad (you claim as understudy to Carvalho) rather reflects the paucity of genuine quality players for Portugal in that position and hardly acts as an endorsement of Carvalho.

Erm Jay, did I say that Carvalho is keeping out the excellent Manuel Fernandes? I made no reference to how hard it is for him to get into the side, I merely observed that he's one of the first names on the team sheet.

If you asked me, is that not because Portugal has a dearth of competition there, then I'd have said yes! I really like what I have seen of Neves, and hope for Portugal's sake he gets back in the side soon, I think it was injury that prevented him going to the World Cup and let Fernandes back in.

You don't half like going for the jugular. I don't even think Carvalho is that good. But I do think Silva will sign him, especially if we can get him for free. And the reason is because we have no one in the middle who can pass.

Is your Portuguese good enough to translate a video, Jay? and do you have time?

Steve #62, have you lost faith in your man Silva?

"Where on earth does Silva launch his counter attacks from? Baines, Jagielka and Keane in defence? Pickford? Or do we change tactics and go with the slow build up play that failed so badly under Koeman?"

Based on your many posts about him, I presume he'll stay with his favored tactics and launch them from a deep-lying midfielder yet to be identified -- a revived version of the disgraced Schneiderlin, or a new signing, or more likely both. Don't you think so? I do.

And assuming a new signing, which I do:

"If not Carvalho, then who?"

After yesterday's comatose display, anyone or everyone capable of lacing on a pair of Nikes. I'm sure the assembled talents of our TW scouts could put together a list of 30 or 40 DMs who would fit us better.

If only Carvalho himself defended as doggedly as you defend him. But it's time to let go. I know it'll be difficult, but we'll all be here to support you through withdrawal.

No Mike, not lost my faith in Silva. We need Schneiderlin to be like Michael Carrick. He'll never have that passing ability, Carvalho doesn't either. However, Carvalho has a better range of passing and is more accurate than Schneiderlin ever was.

Don't get me wrong: Schniederlin could be more than competent, but we need better to get into the top 6. I think we can do it with the right personnel, and I'm worried that we don't have the right man to launch the counters. I'm also confused at Silva looking to use a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1. I'm presently going back over old Sporting stuff to see if that can translate into some clarity.

Hold on a second:

That's a player we need!

Oh Steve, don't be so sensitive! I'm joshing yer.

Because as you did with Silva, you again are 'overselling' Carvalho. And as any decent marketer will tell you, nobody likes being sold to and they most certainly don't like being missold to.

You were told the same - and acknowledged it yourself - during your promotion of Silva.

You know I know Portuguese football pretty well, so - as I have done in the past - I will fill in the gaps your own posts don't mention.

And for someone who doesn't think Carvalho is that good, you are keeping that assessment pretty well hidden in your posts on the player AND, IMO, overstating what he does.

If, as you now claim, you think Silva will sign him "because we have no one in the middle who can pass", I would hope there are considerably more - and better players - Silva could look to recruit other than the more limited Carvalho.

And my Portuguese is fluent. Whether I have the time (or interest!) to translate a video rather depends on the length and content. Send the link in this thread, if you like, and I'll take a look at it.

Jay, I don't recall ever saying Carvalho is anything other than a decent passer of the ball and a solid defensive midfielder, whilst making repeated references to how he can never match Gueye's statistics. He appears very languid, but I don't agree that he's beaten for pace. You will know as well as anyone, that when he can be bothered he actually has a decent turn of pace, as evidenced when he first broke into the side.

I was told a while back that we have agreed terms with Carvalho, and it looks like once he resolves his issues with Sporting (latest situation is contract is cancelled with an offer to re-sign if the President / Chairman resigns).

The video is this one: Video I'm sure you'll find it interesting. I can't find my translation so I've been doing it myself word by word on google translate and I got to the defensive transition stage. It's by Pedro Mendonca, a former coach of Real Madrid and made in October 2014, based on Silva's early games and his Esotril tactics.

Here's what I have so far:

Attacking Organisation

Sub-Principles:
1. In the first stage of construction, the fullbacks adopt a more offensive posture rising to the line of the defensive midfielders.

2. The link between the first stage of construction and the second phase of construction, is made (preferably when in possession of ball) with support from the defensive midfielders, who have the function of lateralising the game. (Note lateralising means getting the ball forwards quickly).

3. Marco Silva is concerned with creating situations of 2 v 1 (winger and fullback) and 3 v 2 (winger, fullback and attacking midfielder) in the channels, to create overloads leading to goal-scoring opportunities.

4. Presence of a more fixed target man in the penalty area, which should serve as a target for crosses (?). (Help please jay!: presenca de um ponte de lanca mais fixo na àrea, que deve servir de referencia nos cruzamentos)

5. When the ball is in one the channels, then the defensive midfielder, the full back (except in the first phase) and the winger (on the opposite side of the pitch to the ball) must move into the centre forming an offensive equilibrium zone (this seems to be describing tucking in).

6. In attacking situations, the attacking midfielder is responsible for being in the penalty area and attacking the far post, with the striker attacking the near post. (There's also some mention of the winger coming into the area, but I understand that more from the diagram than what is written).

Defensive Transitions aka getting back into shape when you've lost the ball

"Immediate pressure to opponents soon after the loss of possession of the ball" Quote from Silva himself?

Sub-principals

1.

Pretty accurate translation Steve.

5) describes squeezing the space and for the players on the opposite flank to where the ball is to (as you say) tuck in to deny lines or space for an 'outball' for the opposition player in possession.

To complete what you haven't yet translanted (square brackets my additional explanation as translating from one language to the other is never literal):

Sub-principals

1) The players closest to the ball must assume an extremely aggressive attitude to the opposition player in possession, looking to recover the ball or impede the progress of the opposition player [in getting upfield]

2) the other players [presumably, those NOT closest to the ball] adjust their own positions to [best repel] the opposition player in possession

Defensive Organization

Defending the zone by pressing with the players forming a cohesive and compact block in a midfield block (moving their position [in relation to where the opposition have] the ball) with the wide corridors [the wing flanks] defined as pressing zones

Sub-principals

1) in the first phase of pressure, the opponents' wide players are the responsibility of the full backs, leaving the opposition striker the responsibility of our centre backs. [Depending on which side of the pitch the opposition striker takes up, the responsibility for marking him falls to the left or right sided centre back]

2) [as a means to dictate the pattern of play of the opposition] in possession the opposition must be driven out to the wings, which are pressure zones [where we will compete to regain the ball]. Our striker must obstruct the passing lines of the opposition centre backs to force them to pass out to the wings [rather than centrally, to send them to our preferred 'pressure zones']

3) If the ball enters the central corridor in our half, our midfield players must exert strong pressure on the opposition player in possession of the ball, with the intention of forcing them to pass backwards or sideways

4) When the ball is in one of the wing channels, the winger and full back on the other wing, just like the defensive midfielder, must close the central channel, creating a balanced defensive shape

5) In crossing situations favourable to the opposition, the centre and full backs on the opposite flank must 'tuck in' so collectively, the near post, the central area and the far post are protected. The defensive midfielders must occupy the central zone in front of the defence, close to the edge of the penalty area. With respect to the wing where the ball is, our winger and full back on this flank must pressurise the opposition player in possession of the ball to stop the cross coming in.

Attacking transition

Quickly attack the free space behind the defensive line of the opposition, the space between the centre and the wings

1) Prioritise putting the ball in the central channel and from there to pass forward to the back of the opposition defensive line, between the edge of the penalty area and the flanks. If it is not possible to get the ball into the central channel, get the ball in behind the opposition defence in wide areas around the penalty area

2) the team must create situations of numerical superiority in attacking situations

3) if the previously mentioned rapid transition was not possible, then the priority is to ensure a safe bass to retain the ball and to maintain an offensive shape

And Steve... you DO realise translation can cost $100+ per line..?

Happy reading!

Cheers Jay, I carried on myself, so I'll see how I did! (It was all google translate and then try to make sense of what was there!). I posted it in the 4-3-3 thread.

So, Jay, what do you think of Pedro's analysis, is it on the money?

I note it refers to a 4-2-3-1 throughout, and Silva was playing a 4-3-3 for most of the season, so he presumably switched after October 2014 when this was made? But this does relate to the tactic he's employed the most.

World Cup 2018 scouting report: William Carvalho chases Isco shadow but shows glimpse of Premier League quality

Independent Newspaper's Scout Report on William Carvalho makes interesting reading.

Could William Carvalho join Everton for NOTHING this summer?

Video in the Daily Star (sorry) showing Carvalho at his best, bit of pace, beating a man and hitting one of his long passes, against Monaco. This is the player I want to see more of.

Steve, the key paragraph in the Independent scouting report is this:

This was perhaps not the game in which to judge the midfielder's qualities – he will not be playing against this kind of midfield every week – but it showed that he is not the kind of player to be parachuted in and shut down some of the Premier League's premium midfield players. Carvalho's best moments came when his team needed a steadying presence in possession; those chances will come against Morocco and Iran.

First, we will be playing against this kind of midfield 10 or 12 times this season. Second, we definitely need someone who can shut down "premium midfield players" and Carvalho ain't it. And third, we don't need a steadying presence, we need an electric one.

Thoroughly impressed, however, watching you and Jay do complex analysis in Portuguese. I defy any other club website to rise to this level. Hail TW!

Steve (65), I never thought he was that good in either spell at Everton, the Wigan game was in the second spell I think, he sulked on the wing for most of the night.

He had some great moves but flattered to deceive for most of the time he was here, his goals were very good especially the one in the 5-2 home defeat by United. !!!!

Eric (#44); Only if your name is Niasse, it seems.

I like Lozano — he looks dangerous on the left.

I don't think we will be getting Lozano.

Swap Bolasie for Lozano?

I'd take Lozano like a shot. Hope he gets on exceptionally well with Brands!

Well, i guess his price tag doubled now.

Like a shot!