cmuller

Have you just googled 'accountancy lingo' and constructed a paragraph based on your findings here? You're fired

I don't really understand the write downs bit in terms of value- I understand the principle. 'Most' of £43m is what? say £30m at least. So what combination of players have been revalued to the tune of £30m in the last year? The only thing I can think of is something to do with nearly out of contract players but still seem way too high. Doesn't stack up at all.

True - but it's more the clash with the playing styles of Lampard and Ballack. Too many people in one area of the pitch for me.

As good as Kaka is, would he fit into Chelsea's style of play? Similarities to Deco I reckon

As good as Kaka is, would he fit into Chelsea's style of play?

He has moments of top quality but I agree he isn't good enough consistently. I get the feeling some people on here want our side to be full of lightweight, non physical pansies doing little flicks to each other rather than good, effective players.

I'd be very suprised if we got £25m for Alonso. Nevermind £35m.

He can afford to play further forward with that well known work-aholic, snapping tackles Petrov alongside him for Villa.......probably doesn't even think of tracking back?

The only true comparison will be if Xabi goes and Barry arrives here. If we can get a decent back up for Torres (not seen too much of Negredo but his goal record suggests there is something there), a bit of cash to put towards the salary costs of a 'free transfer' (lets say Owen to re-sign) and also have enough for Barry - all from the Alonso to Madrid deal, then I'd be more than happy for him to go. It's not I don't rate Alonso, but as Benitez has already said a couple of times, we haven't got unlimited funds but there are things we can do to address the holes in our squad.

So Barry playing with shit players is comparable to Alonso playing with Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, Torres etc.? Or Barry playing for England (where the team constantly plays at a level far below the sum of the parts) is comparable to Alonso playing for us? It's probably not you know.

I didn't say buy Owen instead of anyone though - just that if he was prepared to come here for little basic money, but be heavily bonused when playing and doing well - then that's reasonably risk free. OK - the club maybe have to look at it as a worst case scenario (£ wise) so the re-signing him may eat up a sizeable chunk of the salary budget set aside for new players. I still think it's not a bad idea though - no reason (if Owen is signed on a bonus type deal) why we can't get Owen and another decent back up for Torres.

Two top quality players, but they are just buying any top quality player who'll go to them rather than buying with a plan in mind. It's more likely at the moment they'll end up with an unbalanced squad of players they can't move on having given them way over the top wages.

Alonso has had one good year in the last three. And all the major deficiencies in his game were still there in the last 12 months. If he goes, the money from his sale has to be spent wisely but I honestly don't think that the team will suffer in anyway if Xabi went and Barry came in. Maybe it's the lack of an adequate stand in for Alonso in the squad at the moment - when he's not there and Lucas comes in we don't function as well. But that has more to do with Lucas's ability rather than Alonso being irreplaceable.

I went for 'Yes'. Pay as you play is more of less risk free. The main concerns are his fitness record, but if injuries hadn't happened then Owen would be worth today £15-20m and not be on a free... Can't see what we have to lose. It's hardly Degen territory is it?

I'd be a bit disappointed if Silva was our main buy of the summer. No doubt he's a good little player but he's not one to really put fear into opponents. Not quick enough or direct enough for me. Not worth the money being asked if they're looking for €20m+. Always been a fan of Van der Vaart, and you could probably get him for around €10m this summer. He'd bring more to the side, and is more suited to a 4-2-3-1 style than Silva.

Excuse the terrible video but classic sun set sounds

Fair enough - I don't watch that much Spanish footy. I had games in Europe vs Englsh opposition more in my mind, often think he looks a bit lost in those matches.

Not really sure about Etoo - he's looked fairly poor in many of the big matches I've seen him in. I'd go for a player who can fill Torres's role when he's not available or being rested. I think Keane proved that there's no point in buying a player who doesn't fit into our system. It's the one big gap in the current squad for me - we have to change formation and usually struggle to cope when Fernando is out.

There's something about Babel that makes me like him and feel sorry for him. He could be an important player for us - after a bit of development away from games. But whether he's getting coached and not responding or whether he's not being coached with the intensivity his current game requires to get the best from him (which I hope to hell isn't happening) - he's going backwards at an alarming rate. Always a bugbear of mine that no player recently has ever really developed to be almost unrecogniseable from the player he was on arriving. Arsenal have a great record on this, the mancs not too bad Ronaldo, Evra and maybe Carrick spring to mind.

On your points, he's much quicker than Alonso (and so is my nan), defends well, much better than Alonso (he's played top level football at full back and centre half). I'll agree he plays further forward at times - because that's exactly what a central midfielder should do. And the 95% remark is quite frankly a work of fact fiction.... Add to that he is much more able to handle the physical side, doesn't unbalance the team's formation and flow with 40 yard passes to isolated full backs, is much more clinical and effective with his passing (can't be bothered looking but I'd bet his number of assists far out number Xabi's in recent years). As I said just a better all round player in my opinion. But each to their own.

That isn't what I said at all. I said I believe Barry is a better all round midfield player than Alonso. If you're going to twist words - at least try to do it with a bit of intelligence.

Couldn't agree more. Alonso is too much of a luxury - great in games were he's given space, gets found out against anyone who harries him. Never really understood the championing of Xabi, especially over a better all round player in Barry. It's a common view that we're sorted in central midfield but I think that's been shown up to be incorrect. Don't think Gerrard now counts as being a central midfielder, and the three we're left with to fill the two spots in the team are all too one dimensional for my liking....world class at one aspect of the role but fall well, well short in other areas required from a midfielder (well two have world class aspects to their game...).

No better time to play them. When you stand up to them, their current side doesn't want to know. Rooney and maybe Ferdinand apart, there's no character in their side at all. Haven't been that excited, even against Real, by europe this year. But would give a lot to draw the mancs on Friday now.

His best performance in a red shirt - I could have stood out against Newcastle. Reigned in the silly tackles, used the ball well and kept the shape of the team together. Hopefully he builds on this.

Totally wrong. He lost the ball almost every time he had it. What game did you watch?