Expiring contracts summer 2016

[slother]

Some talent that could be signed on a free in January.

Centre back
Joel Matip (25, Schalke) - linked with a free transfer to Newcastle this summer.
(from 3 years ago)

A bit of background on Joel Matip: Joel Matip is probably our most talented, yet also most overlooked central defender. He just turned 21 a month ago, and is already playing his 4th season in the main squad. With 21 years, he already has 79 Bundesliga, 10 Championsleague, 13 Euroleague and 10 DFB Pokal matches under his belt. Comming from our own youth facility, he embodys what the new Schalke stands for: A young squad filled build around homegrown players.
Matip is definatly a lot more valuable to the team then Papadopolous. I love Papa, no doubt about that, but his playstyle is just possible because he has Matip backing him up. Matip is cleaning up all the tiny mistakes and openings both Papa and Fuchs cause. A game without him in the central defense just loses us so much stabilty. Suprisingly, he also has a really good match opening, something he has been giving shit for in his first two seasons with us. He started out as clear number 3 behind Papa and Höwedes, but frankly, he already surpassed them in the last season. Matip, Farfan and Huntelaar are the only 3 players in our squad you can always count on to perform well, every given night.

Nicolas N'Koulou (25, OM) - former Arsenal target, now attracting attention from West Ham.

Nkoulou is one of the most intelligent young CBs around today. His reading of the game is perfect. He is also quick and good with the ball. He can easily read and intercept passes. My biggest concern with him is that he can't assert himself physically that much.

Christopher Samba (31, Dinamo Moscow) - Signed by Hughes at Blackburn. Would he give up loads of money and free bananas for Stoke? Has he lost it?

Eder Balanta (22, River Plate) - Apparently very highly rated. If you don't buy a ticket you never win the raffle?

Its not his confidence as a 20 yr old that are surprising but, rather, the calm and precise style in which he plays. Always focused on the play, Balanta is superb when faced with one-on-one situations. He has the perfect timing and skill to know when to put his leg in for a challenge and when to take it out to avoid a foul. So far, he’s shown this time and again.

He’s also very good at reading the game in defensive situations. Add to this the fact that he is quick on his feet and it becomes easy to explain how the Colombian often beats an opposing attacker to the ball. He is also strong when the time comes to use his weight to put pressure on the ball-carrier and rarely gets carried away into making a clumsy challenge.

A rarity amongst defenders in the top flight of Argentina, Eder Alvarez Balanta is quite a good passer of the ball and actually prefers to play the ball to a team-mate rather than clearing with power as is so common. When passing to a player near-by he chooses to play it across the surface, but when his target is further away he usually makes sure to pick-out a player with enough space to control a higher pass.

Midfield boss
Rafinha (22, Barcelona) - Highly rated, currently out with a cruciate injury. Perhaps Barcelona will think he's unable to make their grade?

Although he has been blessed with many gifts, among theme dribbling and ball handling, Rafinha is mainly a left foot. This may clash with any of his highlight videos, but it’s still true. Like a good lefty, the way he kicks the ball is an essential part of his game. His short passing has a small defect, which although not big, gives us some insight into the Brazilian. Played by Luis Enrique almost always on the right side of the pitch, Rafinha uses the outside of his foot in situations that require extreme simplicity. Sometimes he tries to turns a routine 5 meter pass into an unnecessary marvel (paraphrasing, he means he gets too fancy). He has the Alcántara gene.

Rafinha has many positive qualities as a central midfielder, but perhaps the most notable is his mobility. The Masía player is always looking for space to receive passes (see picture to the right), with the added plus that he doesn’t need to have a defined area, but rather he moves equally on both wings all the way to the touch lines if necessary. In addition, his time in La Masía immediately shows when he makes runs behind the opponent’s press. This allows him to receive passes at the top of the area that, coupled with his very powerful first 5 meter sprint, lead to goals like he scored against Getafe. But his restlessness off the ball not only affects his interior play, but also means that he is constantly associating with the winger (normally Augusto Fernández on the right). If the winger come back to take pass, Rafinha will make a diagonal outside run. Once again, he does the same thing on the left or right wing. This movement leads to various rewards. He provides depth and fluidity to the team and on an individual level it makes him a false winger, giving him 1x1 opportunities or to give free rein to his creativity. As an added bonus, in addition to the fact that he doesn’t have a predefined way of playing he also has a superior change of direction even when it leaves the ball on his weak foot. He spins like a top so he doesn’t lose the ball.

Another aspect that reveals Rafinha’s seriousness is his defensive effort. He doesn’t save conserve energy when tracking back and he will drop back to where play requires. If he realizes that his team has been left underprotected in an area near his, he makes the extra effort for the team and he maintains that intensity when the opposing attackers switch positions. His understanding of his defensive duties is correct and his wing is never leaky although, as creative player, he doesn’t love tracking back and he doesn’t do it at lightning speed. Counter attacks is the last facet of the game in which Rafinha takes advantage of his physical condition and technical ability. Mazinho’s second son is fit enough to pick up a ball in his area and take it all the way to the opponent’s area. If the opponent doesn’t put a wall Rafinha will attack fearlessly, practically constituting a counter attacking system all by himself. This 21 year old kid, born 22 months after a brother with whom he shares some defects but not the same essence, is unquestionably brash and bold. Rafinha doesn't have the desire (or the ability) to make people laugh. His language is different, more serious and thoughtful. But careful, in Rafa Alcántara there is also an element of risk, of virtuosity and the decisive play. An explosive mix that makes it hard to figure out who he really is. Is he center midfielder? Is he a winger? The reader can make his own decisions. But if Luis Enrique almost always puts him on the wing, there must be a reason why.

Tom Huddlestone (28, Hull) - Too average?

Emmanuel Badu (24, Udinese) - We were linked to him this summer. Question marks over how old he really is.

Erm, that's it.

Right wing

Sofiane Feghouli (25, Valencia) - Likely to be courted by bigger clubs than us. However, we are also the proud owners of one B. Krkic & X. Shaqiri.

pacey and gifted winger, usually plays on the right, can score some nice goals from outside the box when he wants and makes good passes. Highest top speed in la liga in 2014.

Andre Carrillo (24, Sporting CP) - We were in for him in the summer.

"Carrillo having the game of his life. Running all over the pitch, making passes to push the team forward, beating his marker constantly. He's playing well in the place of Nani. Imagine he always played this well..."
"I feel he's on a pretty good run of games lately. I just don't get why Carrillo spends most of his time coming of the bench when he and Nani could both play at the same time. Capel has been very... nothing and Mané is good but still very green. He should be the one coming of the bench."
"For most of his career at Sporting, Carrillo has been very inconsistent. He'll look like a world beater one day, and the next, he'll look like he belongs in a sunday league squad. This season, through coming on as a super sub, i think he's gained confidence in his ability, and he's learned what he's good at and what he's not good at. He's been phenomenal this season."
"I agree 100%. He seems to have matured a lot leading to more consistent perfomances. I believe he is finally ready to be a first option."

Adam Johnson (28, Sunderland) - Maybe not.

[themistocles]

We don't really do our business in January though do we ..

[Deleted]

Carrillo, Matip both awesome.
N'Koulou like you said is physically a bit weak and is only 5"10