comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 28 minutes ago
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/latics/reece-james-on-wigan-athletic-s-final-straight-and-his-hopes-for-the-future-1-9610584/amp
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I'm going to be gutted if the club don't give him the chance to come through with us - sooner rather than later!

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 21 minutes ago
Biggish maybe I'm slightly biased with my old man being Italian but I think that Serie A ranks only behind the PL and La Liga. And not that far behind La Liga either. Let's face it without giants Real and Barca playing I'm not sure that La Liga garners that much interest. Serie A has the likes of Juve, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma etc so arguably has a wider spread of bigger clubs than La Liga.
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I suppose it depends on what you consider 'interest', and seeing as you state "without giants Real and Barca", on how interesting you'd consider a Serie A without Italy's big 3 (though there's an argument to make that both leagues would actuallly be more interesting!).

As it is, Juve's dominance this decade has made it increasingly less interesting even with Milan and Inter still around andNapoli perennially falling short.

I'm obviously biased too, but in the past few years, Spain's third team have provided a bigger challenge to the big 2 in the past few years than anyone in Serie A has challenged Juve. And during that time, they've even been more successful in Europe than Juve themselves.

You also mentioned Napoli or Roma, but I'd say clubs like Valencia or Sevilla are just as worthy as they are, if not more. Why not?

comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 28 minutes ago
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/latics/reece-james-on-wigan-athletic-s-final-straight-and-his-hopes-for-the-future-1-9610584/amp
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I'm going to be gutted if the club don't give him the chance to come through with us - sooner rather than later!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next season Brummie

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 28 minutes ago
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/latics/reece-james-on-wigan-athletic-s-final-straight-and-his-hopes-for-the-future-1-9610584/amp
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm going to be gutted if the club don't give him the chance to come through with us - sooner rather than later!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next season Brummie
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That's what I'm hoping for - I see no good reason for it not to happen!

Under a new manager that is willing to play homegrown academy players, he has a chance.

Spurs: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Kane.

Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.

comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 28 minutes ago
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/latics/reece-james-on-wigan-athletic-s-final-straight-and-his-hopes-for-the-future-1-9610584/amp
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm going to be gutted if the club don't give him the chance to come through with us - sooner rather than later!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next season Brummie
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Under Sarri his chances are slim of being properly assimilated into the first team here

comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 31 seconds ago
Under a new manager that is willing to play homegrown academy players, he has a chance.
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Even assuming Sarri makes it to next season, what are the chances of the clowns that Roman trusts to run the club will not appoint someone who will want to scour the leagues of Europe for players to fill the positions they would take.

It needs someone at the club to sit down with a manager and them we want these players graduated from academy level to 1st team and you have a window of x years to achieve it.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by BrummieBlue! (U3487)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 28 minutes ago
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/latics/reece-james-on-wigan-athletic-s-final-straight-and-his-hopes-for-the-future-1-9610584/amp
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm going to be gutted if the club don't give him the chance to come through with us - sooner rather than later!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next season Brummie
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Under Sarri his chances are slim of being properly assimilated into the first team here
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I don't see why tbh.

Well Sarri clearly likes his core group of players, in particular he starts Azpi every game who is also his captain. It also takes a long time for players outside that core group to earn his trust.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 1 minute ago
Well Sarri clearly likes his core group of players, in particular he starts Azpi every game who is also his captain. It also takes a long time for players outside that core group to earn his trust.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

It appears, it also takes a long time for players within that core to lose his trust as well.

https://en.as.com/en/2019/02/23/football/1550912208_703048.html

https://en.as.com/en/2019/02/23/football/1550912208_703048.html

"Chelsea's constant negotiating & the possibility of a ban forcing Hazard not to be sold has exhausted Florentino's patience. The emergence of Vinicius & Rodrygo on the horizon sees Real Madrid's interest not as solid as before. Hazard furious a transfer ban will deny his dream."

https://www.reddit.com/r/chelseafc/comments/atu953/bizarre_buildup_moments_from_the_malmo_game/

Worth a read.

comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 11 minutes ago
https://en.as.com/en/2019/02/23/football/1550912208_703048.html

"Chelsea's constant negotiating & the possibility of a ban forcing Hazard not to be sold has exhausted Florentino's patience. The emergence of Vinicius & Rodrygo on the horizon sees Real Madrid's interest not as solid as before. Hazard furious a transfer ban will deny his dream."
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My heart bleeds for Senor Florentino!

comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 15 minutes ago
https://en.as.com/en/2019/02/23/football/1550912208_703048.html

"Chelsea's constant negotiating & the possibility of a ban forcing Hazard not to be sold has exhausted Florentino's patience. The emergence of Vinicius & Rodrygo on the horizon sees Real Madrid's interest not as solid as before. Hazard furious a transfer ban will deny his dream."
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you will lose your status as one of our feeder clubs if you're not careful

AS have about as much of an inside track on Pérez's thoughts as I do.

Correction: https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2019/02/23/5c7079d7e2704ee9b38b45a2.html

comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 21 minutes ago
Biggish maybe I'm slightly biased with my old man being Italian but I think that Serie A ranks only behind the PL and La Liga. And not that far behind La Liga either. Let's face it without giants Real and Barca playing I'm not sure that La Liga garners that much interest. Serie A has the likes of Juve, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma etc so arguably has a wider spread of bigger clubs than La Liga.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I suppose it depends on what you consider 'interest', and seeing as you state "without giants Real and Barca", on how interesting you'd consider a Serie A without Italy's big 3 (though there's an argument to make that both leagues would actuallly be more interesting!).

As it is, Juve's dominance this decade has made it increasingly less interesting even with Milan and Inter still around andNapoli perennially falling short.

I'm obviously biased too, but in the past few years, Spain's third team have provided a bigger challenge to the big 2 in the past few years than anyone in Serie A has challenged Juve. And during that time, they've even been more successful in Europe than Juve themselves.

You also mentioned Napoli or Roma, but I'd say clubs like Valencia or Sevilla are just as worthy as they are, if not more. Why not?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some good points, especially about Leti. At the same time I'm not sure how many people are watching Leti play unless they're playing Real/Barca or when they're in the CL. Not including Leti fans themselves of course.

It's a good debate though. I think that Serie A has been undervalued here because of the PL and because of the huge interest in Ronaldo and Messi that has drawn people to Real and Barca.

Ronaldo going to Serie A does represent a slight power shift though in my opinion. Even if he isn't quite at his peak anymore. I can see interest in Serie A growing again over the next five years. Especially if Juve can win the CL with Ronaldo.

As for Valencia and Sevilla vs Roma and Napoli I'd say that it's close although I'd say that Roma and Napoli shade it. Napoli had the best player of all time playing in his prime back in the 80's which alone elevates them hugely and has given them a surprising worldwide following even today.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
Well Sarri clearly likes his core group of players, in particular he starts Azpi every game who is also his captain. It also takes a long time for players outside that core group to earn his trust.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well there is no competition to Azpi. If Reece is back next season he will be.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 21 minutes ago
Biggish maybe I'm slightly biased with my old man being Italian but I think that Serie A ranks only behind the PL and La Liga. And not that far behind La Liga either. Let's face it without giants Real and Barca playing I'm not sure that La Liga garners that much interest. Serie A has the likes of Juve, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma etc so arguably has a wider spread of bigger clubs than La Liga.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I suppose it depends on what you consider 'interest', and seeing as you state "without giants Real and Barca", on how interesting you'd consider a Serie A without Italy's big 3 (though there's an argument to make that both leagues would actuallly be more interesting!).

As it is, Juve's dominance this decade has made it increasingly less interesting even with Milan and Inter still around andNapoli perennially falling short.

I'm obviously biased too, but in the past few years, Spain's third team have provided a bigger challenge to the big 2 in the past few years than anyone in Serie A has challenged Juve. And during that time, they've even been more successful in Europe than Juve themselves.

You also mentioned Napoli or Roma, but I'd say clubs like Valencia or Sevilla are just as worthy as they are, if not more. Why not?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Some good points, especially about Leti. At the same time I'm not sure how many people are watching Leti play unless they're playing Real/Barca or when they're in the CL. Not including Leti fans themselves of course.

It's a good debate though. I think that Serie A has been undervalued here because of the PL and because of the huge interest in Ronaldo and Messi that has drawn people to Real and Barca.

Ronaldo going to Serie A does represent a slight power shift though in my opinion. Even if he isn't quite at his peak anymore. I can see interest in Serie A growing again over the next five years. Especially if Juve can win the CL with Ronaldo.

As for Valencia and Sevilla vs Roma and Napoli I'd say that it's close although I'd say that Roma and Napoli shade it. Napoli had the best player of all time playing in his prime back in the 80's which alone elevates them hugely and has given them a surprising worldwide following even today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Are Lazio not considered major players in Serie A any longer?

comment by Sideshow (U11809)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
If we had Azpi and James as our two RB options I doubt Sarri would give him the Zappacosta treatment
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly

Morning