I've been very impressed with him- we needed a player like him in January it was a great deal to get him in. I know a lot were surprised when we pulled it off, but he is so composed on the ball and is a very intelligent player.

Atlético will need him next season.

comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 1 minute ago
I've been very impressed with him- we needed a player like him in January it was a great deal to get him in. I know a lot were surprised when we pulled it off, but he is so composed on the ball and is a very intelligent player.

Atlético will need him next season.
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I was actually surprised Atleti let him go but I guess Simeone saw he wasn't ready. You think he is ready for the champions league next season?

I think that managers are signing a lot more midfielders these days- most likely for flexibility- and that somewhat disrupts the spine of a team. There are fewer teams with clearly identifiable spines that you can just rhyme off the top of your head: I remember when Chelsea had the spine of Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba and it made them very strong defensively throughout the side. Even Mancini's Manchester City side had it with Hart, Kompany, Toure and Aguero. I think that strong presence throughout the team is undermined by the glut of midfield options people have and that somewhat changes the security of a team.

comment by ☺ Wumpatröl - I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses... (U5046)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 1 minute ago
I've been very impressed with him- we needed a player like him in January it was a great deal to get him in. I know a lot were surprised when we pulled it off, but he is so composed on the ball and is a very intelligent player.

Atlético will need him next season.
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I was actually surprised Atleti let him go but I guess Simeone saw he wasn't ready. You think he is ready for the champions league next season?
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Yes.

Awesome! The problem though is I don't think Simeone will use him well. I afraid he might try to turn him into a workhorse instead of a crafter. I haven't like the use of Koke this season but I don't think you can really blame the system that has brought Atleti so much unexpected success.

Good point about Simeone

Simeone seems to get praised for things that José would get slaughtered for if I am honest.

That's true.

comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 3 minutes ago
Simeone seems to get praised for things that José would get slaughtered for if I am honest.
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True but understandable.

Atm, Simeone is managing an underdog.

Jose manages Great Danes and tries to convince us they are chihuahuas.

I am just reading the story about Eibar. Absolutely despicable from the authorities.

I know maybe my judgement is clouded by me absolutely despising the man but you can't spend so much on so many quality attacking players then still play such negative footie. Simeone has done well with what he has at his disposal.

comment by Marcelino (U6171)
posted 10 minutes ago
Simeone seems to get praised for things that José would get slaughtered for if I am honest.
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But Simeone's only been a for about 5 minutes of his managerial career as opposed to a dozen years.

True, but Simeone has also been a caaant on and off the pitch for decades.

Simeone is an ársehole, but unlike Mourinho he isn't pretentious.

Imo, the main similarity between the two is that they're both win-at-all-costs types. Simeone's far less confrontational off the pitch, but probably only because it doesn't think it would aid his cause that much.

One is also a sociopath and the one isn't.

Depor a mere point off promotion

Nearly there Kenty.

66 points might even turn out to be enough anyway.

Can't see Las Palmas winning their last two after that monumental choke last weekend. Sporting look like more of a threat, as Zaragoza don't really have anything left to play for and it's unlikely Tenerife will on the final day either.

Stupidly tight league

No one strong enough really. Lots of first division names in there, but the vast majority in massive debt. The fact the first team to earn promotion has a €3.5M budget for the season says it all really.

Excited about Valencia's backline next year with Bernat, Otamendi and Mathieu (if he stays). Just the right back spot is a bit of a problem as none of Perreira and Barragan have never really convinced anyone.

What about cover?

Cover is not bad too with Guardado on the left, Vezo and Ruiz in the center. Midfield is where there is a huge hole though! Fuego and Parejo are the only noteworthy midfielders. About time we got rid of Banega! I have had it with him tbh.

A good chunk of the money made available by Lim (60m?) should go towards strengthening the middle of the pitch and maybe a left winger. Fede is too young to bear the weight. I hear the new kid from Argentina Rodrigo de Paul is great though I haven't watched him play once.