Thank God we didn't sign...

[Nick77]

Simao, especially for 14 million squid! I mean since he's left Benfica he has really been terrible 4 both Atletico & Portugal. Yes he did score against us but he was given quite a bit of space but his general play was awful - Arbeloa kept him quiet 4 most of the game & I think he's completely lost it in terms of taking a free kick.
And to think that everyone including me were unsure about Riera for 8 million. He's is 10 times the player Simao is. Once again I have 2 say in Rafa I trust!
Thoughts?

[Shaggy]

I've never been sold on Simao and, although there was a time when I thought "**** it, hope we sign him anyway" due to our then shortage of quality, ultimately I'm pleased we never clinched a deal for him.

[wiw]

Would still want him tbh. The commentator said something about 'getting it onto his left foot' for the goal but I'm sure he's right footed?

Anyway I think he'd be quality under Rafa

[Dessy]

He can have a job as Sammy Lee's body double.

[Elvoz]

i thought he played ok tbh

[Cormack74]

I've never understood why we would buy him to play out wide yet he never seems to do the business out there.

[Tee]

He was a threat and scored their goal, what more do you expect?? Still a good player IMO.

[lfc1394]

???? 1st half he was ****, but then their whole team was.

Second half he was one of their best players and Arbeloa struggled to contain him. He took his goal very well too.

[SB]

Simao, especially for 14 million squid! I mean since he's left Benfica he has really been terrible 4 both Atletico & Portugal. Yes he did score against us but he was given quite a bit of space but his general play was awful - Arbeloa kept him quiet 4 most of the game & I think he's completely lost it in terms of taking a free kick.
And to think that everyone including me were unsure about Riera for 8 million. He's is 10 times the player Simao is. Once again I have 2 say in Rafa I trust!
Thoughts?

That's not to say that he wouldn't have done well in the prem though is it?

[Zapater]

Simao, especially for 14 million squid! I mean since he's left Benfica he has really been terrible 4 both Atletico & Portugal. Yes he did score against us but he was given quite a bit of space but his general play was awful - Arbeloa kept him quiet 4 most of the game & I think he's completely lost it in terms of taking a free kick.
And to think that everyone including me were unsure about Riera for 8 million. He's is 10 times the player Simao is. Once again I have 2 say in Rafa I trust!
Thoughts?

That's bull****. Simao is a class act and is basically the only reason along with Kun and Forlan why Atleti made it into the champions league. He's one of the few Atleti players which aren't hyped through the roof and actually delivers the goods. Even though he has to play on his less favoured left wing to let **** like Maxi Rodriguez play on the right he does it. He scores goals, assists goals and is a top player. Simao has hardly been terrible for the Portuguese team, didn't have a great euro campaign but seriously he's been ****ed around so much by that team it's hardly surprising. At times they prefer Nani to him.

When we had the opportunity to sign him we should have. He has all the qualities we missed and still are missing. A bit of pace, great trickery, versatility to play on both wings, a fantastic goal threat and genuinely dangerous set pieces (if you see how precise some of his free kicks are it's amazing). All I can divulge from reading this is that you don't have a clue what Simao is about.

I'm a fan of Riera, I'm a fan of Simao. Always have been a big fan of both players. I think that Simao is a better player overall but I prefer some of the advantages that Riera brings to a team.

[Cormack74]

A bit of pace, great trickery, versatility to play on both wings, a fantastic goal threat and genuinely dangerous set pieces (if you see how precise some of his free kicks are it's amazing). .

Versatile certainly, but we have lots of versatile players.

Is he at his best on the wings, I don't think so

Pace ? It's never been a stand out factor when I've watched him.

Dangerous from set pieces; without a doubt.

Not sure this adds up to the type of player we need TBH at least in terms of the money previously quoted for him.

[Matt]

He should have had two. Thought the first was going in but simao the keeper pushed it onto the post.

[Sarb]

He's done better than Benayoun, Lucas, Pennat. So I would rather have had Simao

[Zapater]

Versatile certainly, but we have lots of versatile players.

Is he at his best on the wings, I don't think so

Pace ? It's never been a stand out factor when I've watched him.

Dangerous from set pieces; without a doubt.

Not sure this adds up to the type of player we need TBH at least in terms of the money previously quoted for him.

Where'd you rather have him uptop or an attacking mid?

I said "a bit of pace" meaning that he's quicker than what we've got. Not that that is impressive or anything baring Babel's pace and Torres acceleration.

If you consider the money which was spent on attackers like Bellamy, Kuyt, Pennant, Benayoun etc I really think forking out a bit extra for a player who at very least could score a few goals (we've always struggled with goals from attackers whom aren't strikers and aren't Gerrard) and a set piece threat. Also he has the ability to beat his man, something we were missing a lot until Babel and now Riera came. I can't imagine how many points we'd have racked up in the league if we had players that could score more goals from free kicks and take decent corners. That's one of my main concerns under the Rafa era, the corners being disastrous for the duration.

[Sarb]

Where'd you rather have him uptop or an attacking mid?

I said "a bit of pace" meaning that he's quicker than what we've got. Not that that is impressive or anything baring Babel's pace and Torres acceleration.

If you consider the money which was spent on attackers like Bellamy, Kuyt, Pennant, Benayoun etc I really think forking out a bit extra for a player who at very least could score a few goals (we've always struggled with goals from attackers whom aren't strikers and aren't Gerrard) and a set piece threat. Also he has the ability to beat his man, something we were missing a lot until Babel and now Riera came. I can't imagine how many points we'd have racked up in the league if we had players that could score more goals from free kicks and take decent corners. That's one of my main concerns under the Rafa era, the corners being disastrous for the duration.

Spot on