18 May 2015 18:31:44
So Some thoughts on Nainggolan having tea fixed my eyes on him for the entire 90 mins. Firstly, he isn't a defensive midfielder, against Udinese he was playing on the right of a midfield 3, with De Rossi sitting. However be spent probably more time on the left (at set pieces, restarts he would line up on the right).
His distribution was high tempo, he played some acute angle passes, the odd Hollywood speculator but all in all his distribution was effective and tidy.
Defensively he played like a pit bull - tracked back and committed the odd rash challenge, will definitely be worth a few cards a season. However his timing was generally very good.
His movement was at times a little sluggish but with his work rate you can forgive him. He showed his range by scoring a goal and setting one up, as Van Gaal would say a 60m midfielder.
I think he is on par with Gundagon (pre injury) and Vidal (pre injury) - all three of them can play across a midfield three and three can play a sitting role. I'd say Vidal is the most comfortable in the position Big Fella currently occupies.
For me the only thing that Nainggolan has against him is Roma's price tag, and the fact he is close to 28 already. Vidal and Gundagon would come cheaper for different reasons Ed002 has already divulged.
On a separate note, the football was actually pretty terrible, if I were a player I'd avoid Serie A like the plague. De Rossi was also very strong, Terry Butcher head wound et al.
18 May 2015 18:59:18
Does anybody else agree that we should stay away from Spanish players as because if they end up being a great player they want to head home to madrid or barca
18 May 2015 19:09:37
100% - plus any players that support Chelsea or Munich.
I would also carry out due diligence on their wives or girlfriends, because any that don't want to move, or seem to rule the roost will present problems at some point.
There is too much money and upheaval involved now to just ignore the personal life.
18 May 2015 20:42:49
He just turned 27. Other than that would give us the aggression and bite in midfield that can stop us from being overrun. Him Carrick and Herrera would be outstanding for big away games and European games.
18 May 2015 20:43:09
Roma have been hit pretty hard by FFP, and according to reports both Pjanic and Nainggolan will be available at the right price (probably £40M+ for Pjanic and £25M+ for Nainggolan).
18 May 2015 21:21:37
Beast ,
Maybe we should get MI6 involved in our transfer dealings ?
18 May 2015 21:59:42
Haha last month he was 26 and we would be saying perfect age for a midfielder of that ilk. Some people have a habit of adding a few years to a players we are linked to
18 May 2015 22:34:11
Absolutely,Beast! Perhaps we should look at orphans. Maybe raid a seminary?
18 May 2015 23:33:16
I would consider it an honour to carry out "due diligence" on the girlfriends and wives. Where do I sign up beast?
19 May 2015 01:51:18
Beast, I chuckled at your post thinking you were joking. Imagine how silly I felt when I realised you were actually being serious.