Dr. Gonzo

If he settles in well at Spurs and can find the sort of form that had Chelsea buy him while several other top sides were interested in him, that option price is a bargain. Hell, even if he's just slightly above average the option price is pretty cheap for a transfer in 2024. He's got the attributes other than composure. A bit like our boy Darwin Nunez lol.

Yeah that's why I mentioned Asprilla the second time around - a player I remember being great at Parma, kind of less great at Newcastle, and then went back to Parma and won something again lol.

I think longevity works against James when there's other players to consider. If he's their best player ever, and I don't think he is, I think he's massively overrated off the back of one tournament - it makes me wonder where Asprilla would list in their all time list of greats.

Can I just say: lol @ James Rodriguez. Surely Falcao or Higuita ahead of him?

Gerd Muller too

I think it's wild he was sort of laughed off while Gazza was suggested for his legacy. Not saying Gazza was a bad player, not at all... but isn't his legacy mostly being incredibly talented... but never really living up to his potential? When you look at Keegan's record and his impact on the sides he joined - I think it's hard not to consider him a legend. And look at who was winning Balon d'Ors at the time he won 2 back to back. They're regarded as some of the best names to have ever been involved in the sport. Which means at his best, Keegan was right up there as one of the best players in the world. I think he's the only English player to have won it more than once.

Bit fucked tbh, he's one of the greatest English players of all time.

Tbf Keegan's an absolute legend. He's my dad's all time favourite player. Won the Balon d'Or twice in the Cryuff & Beckenbaur era - so he was one hell of a player. I think his legacy is probably greater than Gazza's

Bayern Munich just trying to get Spurs fans to hate them even more, I suppose

Probably not legends in a world football sense, but legends in that country. Like for Iran, probably nobody's going to give a shit about the two players I listed. But for Iranians, Ali Daei's a legend because he scored so many fucking goals for Iran - he held that top international goalscorer record for a very long time. Sure he played in Asia so some of his opponents were terrible, but you can only beat what you're up against and other players haven't even really come close to Daei. Plus he's the first Iranian to play for an absolutely massive club in European football. He's basically a God in Iran - even when he made several anti-government statements last year, they couldn't do what they normally do to dissenting voices and just arrest/torture him into compliance; his punishment was having his passport (and his immediate family's too) confiscated. They feared the public backlash of going down as hard on him as they have to other dissenting voices, including other footballers who've represented the national team And the other one I listed is just a player who was very good for a long time in Europe and during what was the best period of Iran's national team in my lifetime he was such an important player. But I'm pretty sure in terms of legend status in Iran, Ali Parvin... who's way before my time... is probably #2 next to Ali Daei.

I think Souness belongs on the list for Scotland alongside Dalglish.

Yeah, for a broken bone that's pretty quick. Although Google tells me for a broken collar bone, it's 6-8 weeks to heal, and end of January's about 6 weeks.

Their stadiums right by a bunch of homes, so people were sat out in their front of their houses and from the windows watching.

Iran: Ali Daei & Mehdi Mahdavikiah

I know our Pep said he expects him to be out for 3 weeks, but I think the tear he's got usually keeps players out for about 4 weeks. I doubt he makes the Chelsea match as a result, and I think touch and go if he can make it for the Arsenal match after.

DCL red card overturned. Correct decision I think.

Oh shit, RIP

If I had lots of money and owned Liverpool, I'd be tempted to put in a £100m bid to see if Chelsea try to beat that bid

I wonder if Brighton will make a move for him. I think one issue, aside from his credibility and reputation being left in tatters, is his age. He wants regular first team football, he couldn't get that guarantee from Klopp. Is he still good enough for a regular role at a midtable (or better) club? He showed signs of his age last season and he looked pretty far from his best. Even Milner put in more energetic performances last year and Milner is a few years older. I think he's got qualities that any manager would value in their dressing room, leadership and experience are two things he's got in abundance, but can he be relied on to consistently perform at his age?

No lol, we just got rid of a bunch of midfielders who's best performances were also 18 months ago. He's not exactly young and he's in what should be his physical peak, so him not being able to even get a game compared to academy players has me thinking he's not going to live up to his "potential." I think his best at Leeds is probably as good as it'll get for him and while he may hit those heights again at another club, I doubt it'll be for a club that want to seriously contend for big trophies.

I thought Rice was pretty overrated, but he made the step up to Arsenal and looked even better than he's done at West Ham or England. Phillips I thought was a big ball of energy when playing for England and always looked better for Leeds, but since coming to City he's faded into irrelevance other than the fact Southgate will pick his favourites regardless of how much time on the pitch they get. I think it's like Scott Parker once he left Charlton. To me it looks clear he's not a top player, he's probably above average but beyond that... I don't think he's got what it takes. And neither does Pep. I can't remember what percentage of the fee Chelsea paid for Parker they recouped when they sold him off... but I imagine City will have to settle for a similar percentage back when they move him on. Not saying he's a bad player, but he's not a top player, and I think plenty of clubs would have massive reservations about being committed to paying that much for someone who's not really done anything in over a season.

This, but also I don't understand the thought process in creating a thread in something you allegedly don't give a shit about. It literally doesn't make any sense.

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Seems to be we were looking to move him on to whoever could guarantee him the most time on the pitch if he's healthy. So that'll do nicely for me.