Mateo Kovacic

[Irishnev]

He'll be available this summer and if we do move Lucas I wouldn't be surprised if we go after him as long as Real is willing to accept a reasonable offer.

The problem is that I cannnot see him starting as BR seems to be set on who he wants in the midfield.

I think Casimiero is a better fit for the type of player we need as opposed to the type of player BR likes! I think he'll stay as he seems like a Rafa type player.

Lucas Silva still hasn't found a loan yet as far as I am aware and he is also a good player. I've seen Illara play a few times now and don't really see anything in him that makes me think he would improve us.

I actually think Lucas Leiva in the team is a better bet than either of them to be honest!

[danperkins]

I think Casimiero is a better fit for the type of player we need as opposed to the type of player BR likes! I think he'll stay as he seems like a Rafa type player.

Lucas Silva still hasn't found a loan yet as far as I am aware and he is also a good player. I've seen Illara play a few times now and don't really see anything in him that makes me think he would improve us.

I actually think Lucas Leiva in the team is a better bet than either of them to be honest!

[Cormack74]

Beeb gossip (from the Standard).

New signing Mateo Kovacic has not got off to the best start at Real Madrid, as he spoke in Catalan, the language of Barcelona's region, rather than Spanish at the start of his unveiling

He better hope he starts well, their fans are hardly the forgiving type.

[Jaymo]

Beeb gossip (from the Standard).

New signing Mateo Kovacic has not got off to the best start at Real Madrid, as he spoke in Catalan, the language of Barcelona's region, rather than Spanish at the start of his unveiling

He better hope he starts well, their fans are hardly the forgiving type.

Agent Rafa

Kovacic gets off on the wrong foot before becoming alienated and signing for LFC for buttons in Jan

[kingfunk]

Rafa will be gone by Before Kovacic.

[BigChief]

Rafa will be gone by Before Kovacic.

On Redcafe they've got a prediction thread of when he'll be sacked. I've got him down as leaving in under 6 months from now.

Nothing against the guy but he's really punching above his weight with Real and it will be tragically obvious very soon.

[Fivex]

On Redcafe they've got a prediction thread of when he'll be sacked. I've got him down as leaving in under 6 months from now.



Nothing against the guy but he's really punching above his weight with Real and it will be tragically obvious very soon.

You take joy sticking the boot into one of our ex managers on a manc forum? Really.

[Lee]

You take joy sticking the boot into one of our ex managers on a manc forum? Really.

Extremadura Segunda División promotion: 1997–98
Tenerife Segunda División promotion: 2000–01
Valencia La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04
UEFA Cup: 2003–04
Liverpool FA Cup: 2005–06
FA Community Shield: 2006
UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
UEFA Super Cup: 2005
Inter Milan Supercoppa Italiana: 2010
FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
Chelsea UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
Napoli Coppa Italia: 2013–14
Supercoppa Italiana: 2014

Individual awards
La Liga Best Coach: 2002
UEFA Manager of the Year: 2003–04, 2004–05
LMA Special Merit Award: 2006
Premier League Manager of the Month (6): November 2005, December 2005, January 2007, October 2008, March 2009, April 2013

Yep. Punching above his weight with such a ****ty trophy collection. What a loser.

[BigChief]

You take joy sticking the boot into one of our ex managers on a manc forum? Really.

Extremadura Segunda División promotion: 1997–98
Tenerife Segunda División promotion: 2000–01
Valencia La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04
UEFA Cup: 2003–04
Liverpool FA Cup: 2005–06
FA Community Shield: 2006
UEFA Champions League: 2004–05
UEFA Super Cup: 2005
Inter Milan Supercoppa Italiana: 2010
FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
Chelsea UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
Napoli Coppa Italia: 2013–14
Supercoppa Italiana: 2014

Individual awards
La Liga Best Coach: 2002
UEFA Manager of the Year: 2003–04, 2004–05
LMA Special Merit Award: 2006
Premier League Manager of the Month (6): November 2005, December 2005, January 2007, October 2008, March 2009, April 2013

Yep. Punching above his weight with such a ****ty trophy collection. What a loser.

No I don't take joy out of taking the mick out of Rafa. Him and his wife and genuinely great human beings and honourary scousers.

Real Madrid, and even Chelsea to an extent, were jobs where Rafa was/is not the right man. Reason? Its in the the list posted by Lee above. Its like a beacon shining through telling you why. I'm sure some have spotted it already.

[Fivex]

LMA special merit award?

[Lee]

LMA special merit award?

It's the Holy Grail of awards.

[vlahka]

I think it would be pretty cool to have a poll with each player we're linked with that gets his own thread. Just to see how many of us actually believe it might happen.