News: Team captains are the best players - OTT [R]

Mbappe move needs to happen to trigger all the rest - Mbappe to Real means Moratta to us happens, with frees up the plan b players to move also.

 

I have a small worry in this that if mbappe leaves, they might start looking at martial or the other way around.I hope martial stays put.

 

Giroud would be a good signing for 25m

 

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Not really worried about Martial. His situation is vey similar to Shaw, in the sense that as hard Jose has been riding the both of them, he did so because he obviously believes in them. This season will be it for Martial, just like it is for Shaw: time to step up this season or they'll be shipped out. But they're not going anywhere, either of them...

 

Manolas and Paredes headed to Zenit, will play for Mancini.

http://www.football-italia.net/104675/sky-manolas-paredes-zenit-done

 

Samedov puts Russia ahead. Deserved lead as they had the better of the play thus far.

Araujo levels it for Mexico.

Ronaldo meanwhile puts Portugal in the lead from the spot. Bernardo Silva makes it 2-0.

 

#Ambition

 

Good moves indeed for Zenit, but can't help wondering what Roma are doing at the same time. Thought it was supposed to be this new day with Monchi making moves. And I guess it still will happen, in all likelyhood, but Moreno, while a decent CB, is no upgrade to Manolas for me and Paredes is one for the future, especially with some of their own CMs (De Rossi especially) coming close to the end. Interesting for sure.

 

Roma are clearly conceding defeat. Totti retired, Salah, Paredes, and Manolas out the door.

Milan should join the party and try to poach some of their remaining players.

 

LMAO. Chuckie just took one to the chest to put a header past Akinfeev.

 

Oh shit! Marco Silva makes his first signing for Watford. Will Hughes gets his long awaited move to the PL, signing a 5 year deal.

 

Mexico looked to have made it 3-1, but VAR calls it off for offside. Russia are still in this one, but they've got to make something happen soon.

 

Shame. They will likely make some good money, but never become a serious signing now for a big LL/EPL team.

 

For some reason I want Russia to fail so badly.

 

Russia better hope for a kind draw and an easy group next year because that team is just not that good, based on what we've seen from them in this tournament.

 

Yeah, its a shame but hey. Not everyone can be great or dream to be.

 

Dzeko, Nainggolan, and De Rossi aren't getting any younger either. However, it is Serie A. They could go a little longer than in other leagues.

 

Andre Silva and Nani scoring in the second half to give Portugal the win and the group.
Would be interesting if we get a Mexico vs Chile rematch in the semis, to find out if Mexico can avenge that 7-0 drubbing from last summer.

 

Watched a bit of the games this morning -- with the sound turned off. Spanish announcer on the Mexico game today is loud and obnoxious ("GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!" or "FIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!") to listen to.
US National team ex-players doing the rest of the commentary are just continuously smug and obnoxious. They give Portugal about 5 minutes into the game before they start complaining that nothing exciting has happened. Someone (Eric Wynalda?) just isn't impressed with Mexico, with Guuus Hidduck (sp?) standing impassively next to him probably thinking "what an idiot".

 

Haven't been overly impressed with the Mexican team or the Confed Cup as a whole so far. Very watered down tournament already to begin with in terms of teams of genuine quality and it showed so far.
Mexico are through and have a shot at winning, but except for the match vs Portugal, I really don't think they've really played up to their potential (which I believe is enormous). Russia is poor and while they did well to put them away in the end, it was way closer than it should have been.
We'll see what they do vs Chile or Germany in the semis: on paper, they have the talent to beat either team, but if they play in the fashion they have their last 2 games, they could be out.
The commentary from Cobi Jones's Mexican partner is really awful and that guy needs to go. The thought of him calling WC games next year is a sad one, without a doubt.

 

Mexico keep changing their XI. The first match was their best XI or close.

 

And just on cue, Nainggolan rumours to us surface.

 

During a tournament, when games are being played every few days, I get the concept of adopting some changes and making some tweaks here and there from one game to the next makes sense.
But Osorio just makes these wholesale changes: hard for the team under those circumstances to gain any real cohesion. The team he put out vs Portugal is the best one, I agree. And it's no coincidence that it was the best game they played so far.

 

Roma are trimming their squad with an eye to improving over the summer and are doing so by getting good money while crucially not strengthening any of their domestic rivals.