Carnivore Chris

Decided to start a career with Blackburn Rovers. The plan is to buy young players(specifically teenagers) and grow them as I progress back up the leagues and hopefully take the club to the top of the pile in England. I've got some take overs I can use since I've never used one, so I used one of them in my first season. This enabled me to bring in 8 players, 4 of them were purchases and 4 were 2 season loanees. The take over was about 42 million or so in total I think. Carles Aleña(75), CM - 18 million from Barcelona B Marc Cucurella(69), LB - 3.1 million from Barcelona B Ezequiel Barco(75), LW - 10.3 million from Independiente Lautaro Martinez(73), ST - 7 million from Racing Club Rob Holding(73), CB - 2 year loan from Arsenal Tom Davies(74), CM - 2 year loan from Everton Marcus Edwards(67), RM - 2 year loan from Spurs Angel Gomes(65), CAM - 2 year loan from Man United 6 of them are starters, 2 are super subs. Very strong side for this level and I should have no problems getting promoted in the first season.

Unlike players such as Douglas and Marlon, who were strange signings and made no sense, Yerry Mina is an actual talent who has already proven a lot out in South America and also has experience playing for his country. So I don't see this one as being a strange signing or a risk, especially when you consider that he's not going to cost a ridiculous fee. He could well end up being a steal and I think he could adapt his game well to Spanish football, as talented Colombians seem to often do well there. It's all about him getting the minutes really. Umtiti is currently injured and it remains to be seen if Vermaelen(who is doing well lately, it has to be said) can stay injury free for the rest of the season, which is unfortunately doubtful when you consider his track record. Either way, with Mascherano off, a 4th choice defender is a must and Yerry Mina will definitely get the pitch time I'd say. It might not work out for him, but there is definitely a strong possibility that it will and for the low price he will cost, it's not really a risk in a financial sense. The Dutch league is terrible in this day and age and more players going from that league to the Spanish one seem to struggle more than ones going from South America, specifically the Brazilian and Argentine leagues. Some players who have gone directly to Spain from South America and are still active:- Neymar, Aguero, Higuain, Marcelo, Dani Alves, Godin, Miranda, Casemiro, Filipe Luis... Obviously it doesn't work for everyone, but there isn't a bigger risk buying players from Brazil or Argentina for a Spanish club than buying them from Holland, or even some of the other countries mentioned. Holland in the past was one of the breeding grounds for talent and some top players left for Spain(some very influential figures at that), but South America has always been a go to continent for talent when it comes to Spanish clubs. If not in Spain itself, then Brazil, Argentina, France and Portugal are great countries to find bargains and players that are suited to the Spanish game. Obviously England would be a great place to buy quality as it's ready made talent, but when Van Dijk is going for 75 million, it doesn't make sense to shop there. England is a bit different due to the cultural differences, but players going directly from South America to Spain works out a lot and it has been common theme since even before Di Stefano's days. As I mentioned in my post to Balon above, players such as Marlon Santos and Douglas didn't work out, but neither really came with high potential or after doing anything, they were simply outright nonsense signings and nothing was expected from either of them really. Mina on the other hand, is actually one of the stand out talents in Brazil right now, is already an international for Colombia and the price he will cost isn't ridiculous. It's worth taking the risk on him if you ask me.

I doubt I will bother much with it now as it gets boring, but this is what it is:- Strongest 11: Donnarumma(92) Semedo(88) - Laporte(91) - Christensen(89) - Grimaldo(89) Verratti(91) -- Saul(91) Asensio(92) Dembele(92) -- Mbappe(94) -- Jesus(91) Second Team: Kepa(86) De Mafeo(84) - Rugani(89) - Umtiti(88) - Cucurella(85) Aleña(87) -- Ceballos(89) -- Tielemans(90) Pulisic(91) ---------------- Deulofeu(89) Keita Balde(91)

Another whose first team would get hammered off my second team

I#'ve decided to make this a thread instead

Blah

Then Conor vs Khabib hopefully. That needs to happen.

I agree with Oblak, he should always be in this discussion himself. He's another with a top defence in front of him(even if not as strong now as it was), although is again, one who saves his team on many occasions with some outstanding saves. Top keeper and definitely in my top 3 as well.

The thing with Pique is also his importance in attack as well. He loves to get forward and it causes all types of problems for the opposition.

Same with in 2016 as well. In fact, since 2015(after and year and half or so of struggling), I genuinely don't see how anybody in the world has been comparable as an individual footballer. He's all over the pitch. (Good to see commentary on these videos nowadays) The 2 goals vs Eibar and Celta are 2 of the most underrated in his career. It's as if people are numb to his magic these days at times. There have been many times where Barcelona have kept a clean sheet simply due to Ter Stegen. He makes a lot of quality and very important saves. I'd place de Gea at the top of the list as he's been at the top of his game longer now, but Ter Stegen is up there now, top 2-3.

And has them playing better football Put it this way, if Pogba played under Pep, he'd be a much better footballer from it.

de Gea and Ter Stegen are the 2 keepers who stand out for me right now. Neuer's injuries put him behind them at the moment. Neuer, career wise, has been the best, but those 2(de Gea and Ter Stegen) are currently the better in form keepers and have the talent to go on and have the same stature as Neuer.

Mourinho hasn't spent any less than Pep. Pep has just gotten more for his money.

Well done Messi for being Marca's best player of 2017.

Khabib with another win then. That's 25-0 MMA record now and 9 in UFC. He should fight Conor next.

We will have to stick you in a home soon.

Trophies with Barcelona: La Liga: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-2021, 2021-22, 2022-23(x6) Copa del Rey: 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-2021, 2022-23(x5) Spanish Supercup: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023(x7) Champions League: 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22(x3) Europa League: 2020-21(x1) European Supercup: 2019, 2022(x2) With France: World Cup: 2022

His motive for doing so will be the fact that Blue has darker skin than he does

Sergi Roberto excels in midfield, Paulinho is doing much better than expected, Iniesta isn't done yet, Busquets is a beast, Rakitic is doing well enough, Denis offers plenty, Aleña is the future and lastly, Rafinha, who deserves a crack of the whip, is back from injury. A 4th defender is needed, but I'd say the squad is sound other than that until the summer. Dembele coming back from injury will also be like a new signing in itself when you consider how he has missed pretty much the whole season so far.

I ended up playing Newcastle in the Champions league final, they actually beat me 3-2 as well the cunts

@Cicero Christensen is actually only 89, I was adamant it was 90 he was at, but just realised last night(the rest are correct though), although at about 26 or so years old I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 90. Still, class side. Spot on all over the park.

Cuatro posibles candidatos: Fekir (Lyon): Su precio no bajaría de los 50 millones. El Barça le sigue desde hace tiempo. Robert Fernández le ha visto varias veces en directo y gusta mucho en el club. Es un media punta de 24 años, internacional por Francia. No será una operación barata ya que no bajaría de los 50 millones. Arthur (Gremio): El Barcelona ya ha contactado con el jugador. Robert Fernández estuvo en la final de la Libertadores y habló con el futbolista. Es un centrocampista de 21 años cuyo estilo es similar al de Xavi Hernández. El precio aproximado del futbolista rondaría los 25 millones de euros. Ozil (Arsenal): Acaba contrato en el mes de junio. Ficharle ahora en invierno no sería muy caro en cuestión de fichaje. El problema con el alemán es que tiene una ficha en el Arsenal de 9 millones de euros netos, además de 29 años. Siempre ha estado en el punto de mira del Barcelona. Oscar (Shanghai): Gana 24 millones de euros al año. Fue uno de los fichajes más sonados de la Liga China al llevarse a un futbolista del Chelsea de enorme proyección que ahora tiene 26 años. El Shanghai pagó 61 millones de euros por el traspaso y al jugador una ficha millonaria. 4 players who have been linked with Barcelona on Marca today as possible reinforcements in this January window for the midfield area. @El_Loco What is the current situation with Arthur Henrique Ramos de Oliveira Melo?

The ecstasy song was class, although I was never a big fan of their weed songs myself really. The best weed songs were usually made by Cypress Hill. Unrelated, but check this out:- What a monster.

It#s sad to see Macherano going to China rather than going back to River Plate to see his days out as it's not like he doesn't still have plenty to give. It's got to be Iñigo to replace him, but Mina does sound like someone who could come over and make the grade in Europe. There isn't much of a risk involved in terms of the price either. In all fairness, if Vermaelen can continue to stay injury free, then he is a solid option. He did well against Madrid the other day. His only problem has always been injuries rather than lack of talent.

Rivaldo easily. I'd also have Eto'o over Ronaldo. Ronaldo had one of the best individual single seasons ever seen at the club(before Messi popped up), but Eto'o was consistent for 5 or so years(even if injured at times) and even scored vital goals in 2 Champions league finals. I genuinely believe that had he stayed, the club would have won 2 Champions leagues in a row in 08-09 and 09-10, well it would have been 3 in the end including 10-11. Zlatan wasn't the right fit and this affected the team slightly. In Pep's first 3 seasons, the club won 2 Champions leagues, but when you look back now, it really should have been 3 and for me would have been had Eto'o stayed one more season, or had Villa been signed a season earlier as opposed to Zlatan. This also gains brownie points for Eto'o:- Then again, if we are speaking history altogether, there is a reason why Kubala has a statue outside the stadium.