Today's Football 2015 / 16

[Khalekan]

Just showing the record table on scoring in consecutive games, Sturridge is third with 7 in 7, hasn't Lukaku got 8 in 8?

Not consecutively.

But he is about four or five now.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Smalling has improved a huge amount over the oast 18 months.

Wonder how much is due to coaching and how much is just regular playing time without injuries.

 

[Fuleco]

Think it's the last we'll see of him now.

What with a @Fuleco asking him to do a quiz and him bottling it, @bicycleheader been a season ticket holder at the Nou Camp and piping him down constantly and now the great job @Robertor has just done on him revealing he's a native off Catalan and his family are all fans.

There's no coming back from this @FCBarça you already look like a petulant sulky teenager with hormonal issues, show some dignity an crawl off back to a Barcelona forum were you can start again under a new name and pretend your a local and not some glory seeking kid who's desperate for an identity to latch onto because their life is void of true passion and belonging.

I really wish he would do my quiz, one of the questions is about my neighbours dog.

 

[sd_1992]

Smalling has improved a huge amount over the oast 18 months.

Wonder how much is due to coaching and how much is just regular playing time without injuries.

And how much is just being in a team that is built with the primary purpose of defending

 

[Fuleco]

Smalling has improved a huge amount over the oast 18 months.

Wonder how much is due to coaching and how much is just regular playing time without injuries.

I've heard it's because he's stopped eating crayons for dinner

 

[Dithering Dougie]

I really wish he would do my quiz, one of the questions is about my neighbours dog.

Is it a Springer Spainel?

 

[LinekersLegs]

@SebSB: This Manchester United side have been sent to us as a punishment for something.

 

[dholliday]

aw man, a win for us today would've had us 6 points off the top with a decent set of fixtures over the next 6 weeks.

only half-joking, but had we won today i might've had a sly bet that we'd be top by end of the year.

 

[jal123]

I'd have a flim with anyone van Gaal doesn't last the season

 

[Ashtonian]

Just seen the vardy news.

well if nothing else a goalscorer who can do it consecutively is worthy of a little praise. Looking like a top striker at the minute, I'm happy for him.

 

[FCBarça]

Of course he was absolutely delighted to go back to Barcelona the first time, again never argued different. However he also, even in his interview stating how pleased he was to return and how he very much missed his home club, talked about "a really good year at Everton" rather than a place he hated and was desperate to get out of like you seemed to think.

Love to see where I ever posted that Deulofeu hated being at Everton, that's your interpretation...I've only said how could Everton compare to going back to your hometown club, especially when it's Barcelona nevermind full of world class stars...A young ambitious cantera kid?...Of course he was thrilled to go back and just as disappointed to be discarded by Lucho

Where we do disagree however at his current reaction - having been keen to read his body language, interviews, tweets and video at his delight at his return to Barcelona a year ago, now he is saying/doing all the same when coming back to Everton you don't seem to believe Gerard himself!

Where did I claim that he's disappointed to be back at Everton?...In an ideal world, he'd be back at Barcelona's 1st team and even, I wager, the player would want that as well

When he says he loves Everton and hopes to stay for many years is he lying? He didn't need to go so OTT, he could have just said he was very happy to be back and hoped to contibute to the team - much like he said in the Barca interview

After what happened the first time he was loaned to Everton and he talked about his hopes to return to Barcelona, it is only logical (As it would be at any club) that media relations doesn't want a player fueling speculation that a player with an already acknowledged buyback clause is already looking to return...I wouldn't expect him to say anything differently...The difference, however, is that he didn't refute the possibility of returning to Barcelona, did he?...If he were to be posed that question, 'would you welcome a return to Barcelona's first team given the opportunity?' or 'would you veto Barcelona's buyback option, if possible?'...Then, sure

If it was only logical for him to crave a return to us then why did you post this on another forum
http://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/316-Gerard-Deulofeu/page379
"As it is, I don't understand the value for him at a club like Everton where he is clearly the biggest talent there and in a league where he is afforded the sort of space he'll rarely see with Barcelona...Particularly when you consider being the top dog at a mid level club like Everton isn't preparing him for how to handle ego or teamwork when he won't be vying for the biggest trophies there...No one questions his attacking prowess, especially in space"

Surprising that you can't understand the point I made with that post much less how it has nothing to do with it being logical for him craving a return to Everton...The post reflects the perspective of what's best for the player's development...Unlike many here even at GOT, I stand by posts

Surely by your very own reasoning there were far better choices that Deulofeu could have taken if he was keen to get back to Barcelona soon - even humbling himself to take a "lesser" Spanish club as that would have put to bed some of the supposed arrogant calls and prove that he could work with little space. iirc Halilovic is at Sporting and Suarez is at Villareal, aren't they the sort of moves he'd make if he was trying for a rotational role at Barcelona next summer?

I explained this already, not sure what the point of rephrasing it again would prove...He was dismissed & benched, despite leading Sevilla in assists for a midtable La Liga team that actually wins some hardware...Not difficult to conclude that humiliation wouldn't be mitigated by going to an even lower level club...Even Halilovic who isn't nearly as touted as Deulofeu resisted going to Gijon, a Catalan player who has played in Spain his whole life wasn't going to be humiliated further by going to an even smaller club...Kid already looked destroyed on his arrival at Sevilla, the benching & Emery banter undoubtedly added insult to injury...So, yes, it was natural that he'd want to go back to England where he'd enjoy tons of space, lots of affection and be the featured star attraction

By both his words and deeds it looks like Gerard has moved on with his career - not necessarily ruling out going back in the future but equally not directing all his desire to achieving it soon.

His return is not guaranteed while Lucho is coach but his time at Barcelona is not necessarily over either

 

[rascal]

I've just realised that Josh Homme looks like he could be the son of LVG.

 

[rascal]

John Motson needs to be taken out to pasture

 

[summerisle]

 

[LinekersLegs]

Love to see where I ever posted that Deulofeu hated being at Everton, that's your interpretation...I've only said how could Everton compare to going back to your hometown club, especially when it's Barcelona nevermind full of world class stars...A young ambitious cantera kid?...Of course he was thrilled to go back and just as disappointed to be discarded by Lucho





Where did I claim that he's disappointed to be back at Everton?...In an ideal world, he'd be back at Barcelona's 1st team and even, I wager, the player would want that as well




After what happened the first time he was loaned to Everton and he talked about his hopes to return to Barcelona, it is only logical (As it would be at any club) that media relations doesn't want a player fueling speculation that a player with an already acknowledged buyback clause is already looking to return...I wouldn't expect him to say anything differently...The difference, however, is that he didn't refute the possibility of returning to Barcelona, did he?...If he were to be posed that question, 'would you welcome a return to Barcelona's first team given the opportunity?' or 'would you veto Barcelona's buyback option, if possible?'...Then, sure




Surprising that you can't understand the point I made with that post much less how it has nothing to do with it being logical for him craving a return to Everton...The post reflects the perspective of what's best for the player's development...Unlike many here even at GOT, I stand by posts




I explained this already, not sure what the point of rephrasing it again would prove...He was dismissed & benched, despite leading Sevilla in assists for a midtable La Liga team that actually wins some hardware...Not difficult to conclude that humiliation wouldn't be mitigated by going to an even lower level club...Even Halilovic who isn't nearly as touted as Deulofeu resisted going to Gijon, a Catalan player who has played in Spain his whole life wasn't going to be humiliated further by going to an even smaller club...Kid already looked destroyed on his arrival at Sevilla, the benching & Emery banter undoubtedly added insult to injury...So, yes, it was natural that he'd want to go back to England where he'd enjoy tons of space, lots of affection and be the featured star attraction

As you say Gerard wasn't asked the question of whether he'd turn down a Barca buyback in the summer, tbh he'd be stupid to rule anything out at this point as a lot can happen in the intervening months at both clubs. But don't think "hopes to be here for many years" is just media relations either.

The point I was trying, and clearly failing, to convey was that your comments on what he needs to develop further are largely based on what would make him a better player for Barcelona . If, for example, he had decided that his target for the next few years was to be the top player in the premier league then his development would be best served by making the choices he has. Whereas you appear to think returning to Everton makes sense on an emotional level but not really on a career one.

His return is not guaranteed while Lucho is coach but his time at Barcelona is not necessarily over either

At last, we agree on something!