Tonight's football thread

[IainR]

"How can England do a Germany?" they are asking. Last World Cup it was "How can England do a Spain?" and the answer is still the same of developing younger players just as Spain and Germany did and give them a chance to play at the highest level. Meanwhile if they want to loan them out to a lower league club to get them started I know just the team who will take them

I think we are doing that..

But we need to reduce the cost of english players.. Look at Luke Shaw?

How many professional appearances? less than 50.. less than 5 caps… 30 million..

If he was italian or spanish we'd pay a third of that price.. Man U have stumped up the cash so a young englishman will get experience of top level football but how many other clubs would do that? and you can't blame them..

[Swoop]

Look at Luke Shaw?

Man U have stumped up the cash so a young Englishman will get experience of top level football but how many other clubs would do that?

Very altruistic of them!

[IainR]

Very altruistic of them!

Of course they have their reasons.. but we value a british core.. and would rather pay x million more for a brit, as they tend to be more loyal.. any of the med players seem to want to end up at Madrid or Barca..

Be interesting how long we can keep De Gea..

[that_fjell_guy]

Meanwhile at Leeds.....

[Hank]

Meanwhile at Leeds.....

Cellino's buying us a new bus for the players to go to games in. Back in the big time.

[that_fjell_guy]

Cellino's buying us a new bus for the players to go to games in. Back in the big time.

Can we park it in front of goal!!?

[IainR]

Can we park it in front of goal!!?

I miss Danbo.. we're now reduced to Swoops occasional swooping in to keep this thread humorous…

I'm quite excited by next year… must admit I had my concerns about Van Gaal due to his age but you could see the Holland players played for him.

I feel for Moyes, he put the effort in but that start mauled him and he went defensive and you can't do that at Old Trafford.

[Hank]

I miss Danbo.. we're now reduced to Swoops occasional swooping in to keep this thread humorous…

Oh, I don't know, if Man U's demise continues that'll be good for a laugh.

Anyone prepared to stick their neck out with PL predictions for next year? Very, very hard to call.

With Van Gaal and an improved squad it's hard not to see Man U back in the mix for CL places, but unless that defence gets an overhaul I'd say a title challenge is out.

Liverpool without Suarez? Arsenal with Sanchez? It's got to be City and Chelsea again for the top two spots with a total dog fight between Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool for the other two CL spots. I think Liverpool will lose out. Can't see Spurs and Everton (or anyone else) getting a look in.

[IainR]

Oh, I don't know, if Man U's demise continues that'll be good for a laugh.

Anyone prepared to stick their neck out with PL predictions for next year? Very, very hard to call.

With Van Gaal and an improved squad it's hard not to see Man U back in the mix for CL places, but unless that defence gets an overhaul I'd say a title challenge is out.

Liverpool without Suarez? Arsenal with Sanchez? It's got to be City and Chelsea again for the top two spots with a total dog fight between Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool for the other two CL spots. I think Liverpool will lose out. Can't see Spurs and Everton (or anyone else) getting a look in.

Not sure.. Liverpool played out of their skin last year and without Suarez I can't see them doing as well, but I couldn't anyway… plus Stevie G is one year older..

I'm not sure Arsenal will be that much stronger, still defensively week. I'm not convinced by Sanchez.

City top, United/Chelsea competing for 2nd, Arsenal 4th, Liverpool 5th,

Everton depends on Lukaku, or they need a big goal scorer.

[Derby Tup]

United ftw