[Da_hopeful_1]

Match thread for Germany vs. Italy.

[Malevolent]

Alba is finally coming home, thats one step to fixing everything. Absolute bargain buy and looks a very good player. Now to sort out the Center back and possibly a new striker. Mats Hummels or Benedikt Howedes please?

[The Baron]

(Original post by johnharris19944)
Alba is finally coming home, thats one step to fixing everything. Absolute bargain buy and looks a very good player. Now to sort out the Center back and possibly a new striker. Mats Hummels or Benedikt Howedes please?

Presuming you are a Barca fan, does that mean you think Puyol should be benched as he is getting on a bit? Or are you just wanting more competition for the CB slots?


Will echo everyone elses sentiments about Alba being a steal for that price.

[Malevolent]

(Original post by The Baron)
Presuming you are a Barca fan, does that mean you think Puyol should be benched as he is getting on a bit? Or are you just wanting more competition for the CB slots?


Will echo everyone elses sentiments about Alba being a steal for that price.

Correct i am a Barcelona fan, not quite sure about Puyol because when he plays with Pique he seems to have a good effect on him. Pique seems much more relaxed and rash. But when Pique isnt there Puyol is given the run around quite a lot as well as the fact he is getting on a bit now. A bit more competition would be great though. Defense was very make shift last season due to injuries so i would like some good back ups or a new starter. Maybe Puyol could play in the big games but he definitely cant handle as many games as he did this season.

[Straight up G]

(Original post by Sir Phillip Jones)
Would it be fair to suggest that Alba and Coentrao are the two best LB's in the world right now, ahead of Cole and Lahm e.t.c? Watching them both last night and throughout the tournament really, they've both been brilliant. So fast, great stamina, great at attacking and despite that, brilliant defensively too.

Coentrao is not brilliant defensively, he's way to quick to slide in. There's that famous Iniesta flick over him that comes to mind, and also he let in, whaddayaknow, Phillip Lahm himself to set up Mario Gomez's winner against Madrid, a goal which changed the tie immensely. There are also other occasions, that being said, he's not poor or anything, just not brilliant.

Alba is young, and not fully tested yet. Cole, and especially Lahm, are miles ahead of both imo.

[IWantSomeMushu]

Inter have terminated Lucio's contract by mutual consent.

[Kevmeister]

(Original post by IWantSomeMushu)
Inter have terminated Lucio's contract by mutual consent.

They want to do likewise with Forlan.

Lucio has been linked with a move to Fenerbahce.

[Colonel.]

Wouldn't be surprised if Lucio went back to Brazil tbh.

[I Kant Spall]

Also read on Football Italia that Juve are having a look at him. Beppe Marotta likes those bargain bin deals.

[Darth Vader 7]

Has Lucio still got that pace about him? He's 34 now...

[419]

(Original post by Colonel.)
Wouldn't be surprised if Lucio went back to Brazil tbh.

My initial thought. Would be surprised if he went elsewhere.

[jam277]

I think inter are being positive, they're sorting out that old team and lowering the age, Should sell maicon too, get some centre backs to replace lucio and samuel, and a striker/winger possibly lavezzi but keep milito for another season.

I think they're fine in midfield in all honesty, with coutinho coming back too he could play behind the striker while guarin/sneijder/alvarez have quite a few years left in them, cambiasso will be fine for another 2/3 seasons. I also wanna know how they'll do in the europa league next year, they're probably the strongest team there, leverkusen/atletico/bilbao/tottenham might disagree but I'd say they're the strongest team there.

[Stu Laverty]

Aren't Inter in a heap of financial difficulties? I can't imagine them splashing too much to replace the squad (which is what's necessary) especially without Champions League football.

[IWantSomeMushu]

Haha Buuotelli!

[KingMessi]

Laurent Blanc has left his role as France manager...and it was all so encouraging for them for a period of time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18659024

[DH1']

(Original post by KingMessi)
Laurent Blanc has left his role as France manager...and it was all so encouraging for them for a period of time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18659024

Didier Deschamps emerging as the early candidate to replace him

Surprised that Blanc left as he's done a great job. I hope he finds a good managerial post again soon, hopefully a club in the Premiership.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by DH1')
Didier Deschamps emerging as the early candidate to replace him

Surprised that Blanc left as he's done a great job. I hope he finds a good managerial post again soon, hopefully a club in the Premiership.

Oh, really? Well, he's done fairly well with Marseille and has a good pedigree as a player so should get a reasonable level of respect from that capricious squad.

Hmm, yes - he has. He was in line for the Spurs job but now it seems like that's going to Andre Villas-Boas...

[419]

It was always gonna happen unless France got to the semis. Maissve power struggle there atm.

That's why I don't see Deschamps taking the job either.

[CB91]

There's far too much in fighting with the French. It also doesn't help that most of the squad are loud mouth scrotes.

[Kevmeister]

Seedorf has joined Botafogo on a two-year deal.

Massive news, for both Botafogo and Brazilian football itself. The league is on the up.