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[faridmon]

well...

i...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/110673/report

Huh?

 

[Lambda Pie]

Huh?

lol, i'm just messing you, fari.

 

[Manager]

Costel Pantilimon has had a special life, managed well to go so far. First, in The Sun's fine words:

The Manchester City goalkeeper’s father, Costica, and mother, Mihaela, are both deaf and dumb and have to communicate with him using sign language.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...imon-My-parents-are-the-true-inspiration.html

More:

Costel Pantilimon could do with a change of fortune. The man who dislodged Joe Hart as Manchester City's No1 at the end of October was dropped by Manuel Pellegrini after the 6-3 drubbing of Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium a month ago, despite having done little wrong.

The sharp-eyed Pellegrini may have noted a couple of questionable takes of high balls by Pantilimon during a run in the first XI that numbered seven Premier League games and a Champions League outing.

The statistics show that in the league Pantilimon conceded seven goals and kept three clean sheets, while registering a saves-to-shots ratio of 71%. In Hart's nine matches until being dropped he was beaten 11 times, also kept three clean sheets, and returned a saves-to-shots ratio of 62%. Yet as City welcome West Ham United for Wednesday evening's Capital One Cup semi-final first leg, the Romanian's place is again in the balance.

So far, Pellegrini's policy has been to select his second-choice keeper for cup competitions. Pantilimon was in the XI that drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers in Saturday's third-round FA Cup tie, so by rights should again be named to face the Hammers. Yet the Chilean refused to confirm if he will be. "Tomorrow we will see the 11 starters," the manager said.

Unlike the outfield player who can move around if displaced from his specialist position, the second-choice No1 is firmly on the outside. The irony here is that Pantilimon did not grow up wanting to be a keeper. As a young boy he dreamed of emulating Romania's greatest footballer, Gheorghe Hagi. Then his own father, Costica, intervened and the desire to be the new "Maradona of the Carpathians" faded.

"I used to play as a striker, I always went forward to score goals. I hated staying in goal," Pantilimon recalled. "I had good technique, that's why my first club signed me. When I was eight or nine, my dad told me it was better for me to become a keeper. He said that I'm tall enough to do well as a goalkeeper. I thought it was a good idea, and I started to like saving shots. I was very courageous – I jumped after every ball, no matter how far it was from reach or how hard the surface was. I had wounds all over my body, but didn't care."

Roberto Mancini, Pellegrini's predecessor, bought Pantilimon for £3m after he impressed for Politehnica Timisoara during City's 3-0 Europa League aggregate win over them in August 2010.

Yet for Jonathan McKain, a former team-mate, the transfer was unexpected as Pantilimon's 6ft 8in frame belied an introverted persona. "Playing in the national team [at that time] will have helped Costel, but it was a bit of surprise because City are such a big club. But congratulations to him because he's a good goalkeeper," the defender says. "The coaches at Politehnica worked on making Pantilimon more of a presence. When I played with him he was only young, 18 or 19. He was very tall, a very quiet guy. He didn't have a big personality. He was a great shot-stopper, good with his feet, agile for a big man. Really a nice guy so I think he needed to have more of that dominating feeling that goalkeepers need.

"The coaches and manager talked to him about dominating his penalty area a bit better. Obviously he's got a lot better because his shot stopping and distribution with his feet was very good, so that was the aspect he's developed in the last few years."

Pantilimon played first for Aerostar Bacau, the hometown club that was the works team of the company that employed his locksmith father. By 16, he was first choice for Bacau, then of the Romanian third division, and departed two years later when Politehnica bought him for €100,000 (£83,700).

Costel Sofronie, Pantilimon's coach at Aerostar, says: "He was very tall and slim, and was nice to everyone else. Costel was a sociable kid, he used to speak a lot because he didn't get the chance to talk too much at home with his parents [Pantilimon's parents are both deaf]. He listened to whatever I had to tell him.

"He started in goal and stayed there. He was the only kid who didn't ask to play as a striker or midfielder in his first day with us. Many of the kids run home right after training. Costel wasn't like that. He asked me to stay and work after everyone was gone. Even in the holidays. That happened for five or six years in a row. He was very stubborn and even meddling, but I now realise it was all worth it.

"His biggest weakness was playing the ball with his foot. I asked him to play hundreds of hours of football-tennis in order to improve his technique."

Sofronie adds: "He trained more than everyone else. We had to feed him supplementary food. He used to eat three-times as much as a normal kid. I helped him with vitamins, clothes and money. Costel was aware of the fact that football was his chance to succeed in life. He never said the training was too hard."

Pantilimon made his debut in Romanian top-flight football for Timisoara in a 1-1 draw with Dinamo on 4 March 2007, a year before his international bow, a 2-1 win over Georgia. But after making 15 appearances for Romania he lost his place after the move to City.

Now, Pantilimon keeps his fingers crossed that he will once again not be the unfortunate fall-guy.
http://www.theguardian.com/football...antilimon-manchester-city-goalkeeper-joe-hart

 

[faridmon]

lol, i'm just messing you, fari.

Lol

that is all well, but don't have Moyes anymore.

 

[Shatner's Bassoon]

Lol

that is all well, but don't have Moyes anymore.

 

[Barzul]

Mail and A Bola apparently saying we'll move for Jackson Martinez if Morata doesn't happen. How good is really? Lambda pls. He's 27, I thought he was younger tbh.

 

[Lambda Pie]

Lol

that is all well, but don't have Moyes anymore.

i would love to play Moyes's United. i reckon we could put 5 past them.

 

[Baki]

Arsenal in for Morata but will consider Jackson Martinez if they get turned down. Arsenal are also happy to pay Costa's release clause should he signal he wants a move.

 

[Meier]

Silva turned 28 today which is kinda surprising to me. He still looks so young.. must be the Asian genes. You compare him to a guy like Iniesta who looks 50 and it's strange. I'm going to miss the game today due to a flight. Think it'll have more or less just ended when I touch down, so hopefully I land to good news.

Mail and A Bola apparently saying we'll move for Jackson Martinez if Morata doesn't happen. How good is really? Lambda pls. He's 27, I thought he was younger tbh.

Jackson is a beast. Easy to assume he's younger since he just came onto the scene last year as he was playing in Mexico prior to that. Would be a good signing, but I don't know if Porto can afford to let him go. They'd be in serious doubt for the championship if they did that, and their board probably won't accept that. Maybe in the summer I'd think.

 

[Manager]

Mail and A Bola apparently saying we'll move for Jackson Martinez if Morata doesn't happen. How good is really? Lambda pls. He's 27, I thought he was younger tbh.

He's always had shit mental stats in every FM, it's tough because rest of his ability stats are so good.

 

[Yurt]

YESS

 

[Baki]

Silva turned 28 today which is kinda surprising to me. He still looks so young.. must be the Asian genes. You compare him to a guy like Iniesta who looks 50 and it's strange. I'm going to miss the game today due to a flight. Think it'll have more or less just ended when I touch down, so hopefully I land to good news.



Jackson is a beast. Easy to assume he's younger since he just came onto the scene last year as he was playing in Mexico prior to that. Would be a good signing, but I don't know if Porto can afford to let him go. They'd be in serious doubt for the championship if they did that, and their board probably won't accept that. Maybe in the summer I'd think.

He has a release clause.

 

[Lambda Pie]

Mail and A Bola apparently saying we'll move for Jackson Martinez if Morata doesn't happen. How good is really? Lambda pls. He's 27, I thought he was younger tbh.

lol, why does Lambda have to do the scout report for every player playing here?

anyways, Jackson Martinez.

is he as good as Falcão was in Porto? no. is he better than whatever Arsenal has available? yes. i'd easily put him above Giroud.

faster, better ball control, better in headers, better pitch awareness, higher killer instinct when in front of the goal, just an overall unit. can also come up with complicated finishes, Ibra style.

something like 50 goals in 70 matches if i recall correctly. feeds a lot from crosses, needs good wingers with cross acurracy.

 

[Manager]

YESS

More or less every newspaper is now writing about the story of Jovetic constantly making up injuries and always afraid to play or train, and Pellegrini is very coy about it. How the hell did Fiorentina manage to get something out of him?

One start in six months.

 

[Yurt]

For Manager

Over 20% of Premier League players are currently injured. They play too many games over Xmas

edit:

More or less every newspaper is now writing about the story of Jovetic constantly making up injuries and always afraid to play or train, and Pellegrini is very coy about it. How the hell did Fiorentina manage to get something out of him?

One start in six months.

I heard! That's...weird.

 

[Clegg]

Only way I can see United being interested in Costa is if we know that Rooney is definitely leaving in the summer.

 

[Lambda Pie]

also, Porto will be reticent in selling Jackson, as it would leave Porto with Ghilas filling Jackson role and Ghilas is not a good player. at all.

 

[Manager]

For Manager

If they're gonna have this shit schedule, they better allow bigger squads because 25 isn't enough when you constantly have 8, 9, 11 guys injured.

Just remove the Carling Cup or make it U21 or something. City is playing 18 matches in Dec-Jan, one every 3.4 day.

 

[Meier]

He has a release clause.

Ahh, of course, doesn't every player in Portugal and Spain have one? I would imagine it must be close to €40m though or something (perhaps more) and that is undoubtedly more than Arsenal would like to spend. Porto more or less use €40m as the bare minimum for their first team players.

 

[Barzul]

Ahh, of course, doesn't every player in Portugal and Spain have one? I would imagine it must be close to €40m though or something (perhaps more) and that is undoubtedly more than Arsenal would like to spend. Porto more or less use €40m as the bare minimum for their first team players.

Yeah 33m pounds. I bet they'd sell if we offered btw 24-26m.

 

[Meier]

Yeah 33m pounds. I bet they'd sell if we offered btw 24-26m.

As I said above, they'd probably be giving up on their chances of the title and they'll accept nothing less right now. Their coach is in danger of being fired just because they lost a single game. If he goes, I would be utterly shocked if it was anything below the release clause. They would need to buy a replacement for him immediately to challenge. It's a risky proposition. Pinto da Costa is a tough negotiator.

 

[Yurt]

the problem with Costa was NEVER his price. It's his desire to move to Arsenal/United/etc.

He won't leave Spain for the time being, because he's having his best season ever (he wasn't THAT good last season), and Atletico is about to pull off a miracle in La Liga.

 

[Lambda Pie]

Costa is a pipe dream. just quit it, gooners.

 

[Meier]

the problem with Costa was NEVER his price. It's his desire to move to Arsenal/United/etc.

He won't leave Spain for the time being, because he's having his best season ever (he wasn't THAT good last season), and Atletico is about to pull off a miracle in La Liga.

Not to mention he's just changed to Spain and his best way to continue to impress del Bosque and maybe lead the line at the World Cup is to keep playing every week as the star player of a team. Maybe in the summer, but January? I can't see it.

 

[rvy]

Nathan Rhodes ‏@NathanRB_61 7 m

Walking to the tram stop and I hear someone behind me shout "Fuck off you big black cunt"

Nathan Rhodes ‏@NathanRB_61 7 m

Assuming the worst, I turn around. It's a bloke trying to kick a crow.

Nathan Rhodes ‏@NathanRB_61 6 m

I'm in tears.

#DEAD

 

[Manager]

I heard! That's...weird.

You guys have exported bad products to PL! Lamela, Jovetic, Osvaldo, Kozak, Giaccherini, tons of money but very little fireworks.

City has in general had shit luck buying from Italy. Bianchi, Kolarov, Bojinov, Maicon...

 

[Yurt]

#DEAD

It's funnier in chronological order!

 

[TeddyBoy]

Lol, I think Chelsea's comments about Moses have finally tipped Brendan over the edge. Daily Fail is reporting he's considering just sending him back.

Although Moses has been disappointing in almost every way, I'm a little cautious in sending him back unless someone else comes in to replace him (even if its just on loan). Our squad was very stretched over Christmas.

In slightly less interesting news, Guardian are reporting that Arsenal, Liverpool and United are all willing to meet Diego Costa's release clause.

But it doesn't matter.

Because he won't be moving anywhere.

I don't think Liverpool are going to be going for Costa again anytime soon, he had his chance to come to us and decided to stay in Athletico. We'll find someone else.

 

[Meier]

This is my best ever regen in FM but he popped up near the end of FM13 so I didn't really see his career progress much further after this. He's my white whale.. I need to get another guy this good in 14.

 

[Blablurn]

what the fuck is going on in the usa?

 

[Salvadora]

Why on earth would Liverpool and United be interested in Costa?

They have the best strikers in Europe.

 

[Peco]

Nagatomo told me that Italian fans know football and when you play bad they shit you immediately.

LMAO

Honda is the best. <3

 

[Hixx]

Bumhead

I see Wednesday have recalled a striker from loan. A day after Fletch gets injured (AGAIN LOL). Wouldn't be surprised if this was because Wickham was coming back to sit on our bench.

 

[Feorax]

Although Moses has been disappointing in almost every way, I'm a little cautious in sending him back unless someone else comes in to replace him (even if its just on loan). Our squad was very stretched over Christmas.

I don't think Liverpool are going to be going for Costa again anytime soon, he had his chance to come to us and decided to stay in Athletico. We'll find someone else.

Re: Moses - I agree, but at the same time, he is offering us practically nothing at the moment. One goal and zero since he joined, his workrate is crap and he can't keep the ball. I'd rather use one of the youngsters like Ibe or Texiera and give them a chance if we are happy with that kind of return.

Re: Costa - Yup, but I think it's just us making sure he knows we're still very much interested if he changes his mind (which is extremely unlikely).

 

[Lambda Pie]

i'm gonna politely retire till the City match starts.

 

[Salvadora]

i'm gonna politely retire till the City match starts.

You're a bit young for that, no?

 

[Clegg]

Why on earth would Liverpool and United be interested in Costa?

They have the best strikers in Europe.

Just rumours atm. We could go after him if Rooney leaves in the summer tho. RVP would be 31 by the start of the season and Hernandez may well leave too. But even if that were the case a new striker would still be lower down in a list of priorities. Need new cm, lb and cb before we even think about strikers.

 

[Manager]

Just rumours atm. We could go after him if Rooney leaves in the summer tho. RVP would be 31 by the start of the season and Hernandez may well leave too. But even if that were the case a new striker would still be lower down in a list of priorities. Need new cm, lb and cb before we even think about strikers.

Which are your "confirmed" outs for next summer? Seems like Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Giggs from reports?

Buttner, Fabio, Hernandez possible?

 

[Salvadora]

Just rumours atm. We could go after him if Rooney leaves in the summer tho. RVP would be 31 by the start of the season and Hernandez may well leave too. But even if that were the case a new striker would still be lower down in a list of priorities. Need new cm, lb and cb before we even think about strikers.

You should do with Rooney what we never did with Van Persie, simply refuse to sell him at any cost to Chelsea (or to any English club). He acts up, stick him in the reserves. It would be immensely damaged to any type of rebuilding process if you went down the same road as we did. Luckily (and not having a go here), you don't have the same sort players that we did.

Costa is coming to the prime of his career and unlikely, I imagine, to accept being second fiddle to anyone in a potential transfer. A 31 year old Van Persie would still start for anyone in the world when fit. Ditto with Suarez.

 

[Can Crusher]

 

[Clegg]

Which are your "confirmed" outs for next summer? Seems like Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Giggs from reports?

Vidic isn't really confirmed. Think it may just be a negotiating tactic.

We want Buttner to leave, Anderson isnt getting a look in even with our midfield problems so you'd have to imagine he's on the way out too. Probably Ashley Young and Fabio too. Then there's Rooney who we know wanted to leave last summer and probably wants to leave next summer too.

 

[coldfoot]

LOL

 

[rvy]

i'm gonna politely retire till the City match starts.

You have been banned for the following reason.

 

[Manager]

Vidic isn't really confirmed. Think it may just be a negotiating tactic.

We want Buttner to leave, Anderson isnt getting a look in even with our midfield problems so you'd have to imagine he's on the way out too. Probably Ashley Young and Fabio too. Then there's Rooney who we know wanted to leave last summer and probably wants to leave next summer too.

Seems like a nice clearout if you can manage to do it. Maybe Real will try for Rooney if they can't get Suarez or Aguero...

 

[Clegg]

You should do with Rooney what we never did with Van Persie, simply refuse to sell him at any cost to Chelsea (or to any English club). He acts up, stick him in the reserves. It would be immensely damaged to any type of rebuilding process if you went down the same road as we did. Luckily (and not having a go here), you don't have the same sort players that we did.

Costa is coming to the prime of his career and unlikely, I imagine, to accept being second fiddle to anyone in a potential transfer. A 31 year old Van Persie would still start for anyone in the world when fit. Ditto with Suarez.

We should do that. But I don't think we'd turn down a half decent fee for a player in the last year of his contract.

Edit: We'd sell Rooney if Madrid came in for him.

 

[Perfect Blue]

Oh. Looks like we're not going to get Guarin.

Chelsea really needs a good Midfield player that can play box to box.

 

[Yurt]

Oh. Looks like we're not going to get Guarin.

But

Guarin is in your Inter already

 

[Manager]

Someone in Jovetic's camp should go out and say that the rumours about him having no bigger injuries are completely untrue and that he doesn't want to leave. There's just stuff everywhere of Inter loan offers, making up injuries, Malaga transfer and whatnot. He has barely been seen for six months now yet he hasn't apparently had any serious injury (maybe a shorter one in November), just small niggles.

 

[Salvadora]

The problem with doing a summer clear-out of those listed players, Manager and Clegg, is you would have to bring in a large number in over one summer just to fill the squad gaps. Wenger said over three represents "a technical risk" and looking at Spurs, maybe he's right.

Undoubtedly you would recruit more talented players, but you'd be better bringing in absolute quality in over quantity.

 

[FlutterPuffs]

We should do that. But I don't think we'd turn down a half decent fee for a player in the last year of his contract.

Edit: We'd sell Rooney if Madrid came in for him.

Rooney's too ugly for ma-

Oh wait they bought Bale.

Nvm.