written by Sid Lowe so it's from Spain and there's a decent chance it's directly from Alonso or his people. but yea probably cancelled out by taxes and signing bonus.

Would hardly be Backup. Dont see Dortmund selling though

Think it would be a year before Mert was moved aside at least.

Anyway I am guessing that as you say Dortmund won't sell so it's probably a moot point. I wonder what Squillaci is up to...

I'm not sure how I'm feeling about the (possible/probable) Alonso signing.

This is such a WTF move. Hope he plays ahead of Schweini and the bitching begins.
Is Pep a Spanio-Racist?

I'm also enjoying the Benatia signing. Puts the couple of Bayern fans that trolled with..."lol Immobile. Italian league is crap these days and defenders suck across the board" in a fun spot :P

yes that's some serious ammo you got there when they finish 15 pts above you and you need a comeback

1) Eventhough Arsenal has excellent CBs I don't think he'd be set as a backup. He's good enough to compete for a starting job against Merte/Kos imo
2) Would be an amazing signing for Arsenal (pretty much any team imo)
3) Never gonna happen, we just signed him last year. He has a longish contract. 0 need for us to sell him and he's been one of our most consistent players last year

Why would I need ammo if the season goes as expected? 2nd place would be excellent.

Benatia ain't a LÖL italian, though, and "Schweini" won't bitch because he's injured.

They should buy Santana, imo. He'd insta have a starting spot.

zing

[people can be wrong]

I'll gladly add that I snaptake Sokratis over Dante or Badstuber.

Seems like van Gaal is going after Daley Blind from Ajax for apr 25Mio EUR

why is there no talk about Jackson Martinez? Because of his lackluster WC or is he just not for sale?

How would he fit with Arsenal style of play?

Thanks clowntable.

Seems like he'd be a really good signing but, as a result of that, it's fairly unlikely to happen.

Hopefully we can sign somebody who is somewhat close to that level. Really do not want another Silvestre situation.

There may be an opening to get Subotic though. I think he'll extend with us but given the rise of Sokratis..who knows. Not this window though.

Alderweireld is on the market i hear. Good backup CB and can play the RB if needed . Kinda get slept on because hes 3rd choice CB dor athletico but he was very good at ajax

BBC saying United received bids for Hernandez from Valencia and Juve.

Sell to Juve for Vidal + cash and promote Wilson to a bench spot would seem logical

Source?

I definitely didn't see the Alonso signing coming but I do think it's sensible.

Pep desperately needs a deep-builder for his football. That's the reason for this purchase and it was the reason why Lahm became a midfielder last season.

Of course a number of injuries plays in too. Midfielders, Schweinsteiger and Martinez the most obvious even if they aren't the most obvious choices for a deepest midfied position either. For Martinez, the best defensively, there would still be hope for a Busquets-like mark and maybe with Thiago there to support him Xavi-like it could work to Pep's lofty standards while Schweinsteiger however has met his limit in that he just isn't a deepest positioned midfield-Pep-kind of guy in whether you call it 433 or 4141.

Ironically it's the most anonymous Bayern player's injury that might be the final reason for Alonso being brought in. With Rafinha out, Lahm almost has to move to right-back and Pep had to hand out huge responsibility to 17 year old Gaudino who definitely looks talented but also not ready to be a vital piece competing for the best team in the world title.

Someone has to build. Lahm proved himself excellent in receiving, turning, deciding, passing, moving, receiving again like Schweinsteiger couldn't do athletically and Thiago not quite yet tactically especially perhaps in the defensive phases of the position. Thiago is also so through the roof talented technically and creatively that he almost needs to be very involved further up the pitch.

I think Alonso is only competing for that one single spot on the field and in my mind Lahm the only competitor when not being used at right-back.

Comparing them, I think Lahm definitely defends the position better. Alonso has a great proactive mind that he puts to excellent use but can be helpless once opponents have entered transition phases.

Lahm to his credit is also even better when it comes to ball retention. Alonso is incredibly constructive with everything that he does but he can't quite pass and move like Lahm.

Where Alonso is clearly better and quite possibly still the best in the world is the flat forward passes from deeper midfield piercing the beginnings of opposing defensive blocks. Even when its set which is quite unique. When it's not he is obviously also great at finding openings and/or starting deadly transition meaning almost no matter what the phase, keying in on better more threatening possession or transition the Bayern movers further ahead should absolutely love Alonso. Then of course there is his more ranged passing, not least the diagonal, which is famous and something I'm sure Pep can find inspiring.

Will be funny when Reina displaces Neuer. Only a matter of time with pep

I think we'd pay Dortmund 5 mil and pay his entire wages if they'd take him back

For Madrid it feels more tricky. Alonso much more than I mostly see him get credit or blame for has been their most important player for years alongside or after Ronaldo. Definitely the tone-setter in so many ways.

He could easily overshadow Kroos though, place him too much in the backseat and for Real just about everything now should be about making Kroos a key player, the one to build from.

No other central midfielder can play all three positions/roles 6, 8, 10 so to speak at that high of a level in different systems. In fact most can only do one max two.

The Alonso. Modric and Kroos midfield constellation had intriguing potential with the other players on the team but also looked very tricky in many ways to really get to work. 4231 with two of Kroos, Modric, Khedira and James as the number 10 or sometimes Khedira, Modric with Kroos as a number 10, just looks more simple with less chances of finding glaring missing ingredients (like a Di Maria-mover).

edit:

should also mention Illarramendi who could also see less burden this time around in these particular surroundings

yep, unfortunately Ancelotti said it numerous times he's not a big fan of 4231. I just can't see RM not buying at least one player now.

beIN sports reporting a meeting between Florentino Perez, Jorge Mendes and PSG's president. Verratti/Cavani?

What exactly makes you say that? Both Ajax and his agent have said in the last couple of days that there has been no contact with United regarding Blind.

Rojo and Blind also share a lot of their positions from the LCB in the 3 man defense to left-back.

Blind of course moved to midfield so there is also that.

that would be my guess in how he's used. His versatility would allow him a lot of playing time