The College Dropout

Jores Okore, Libor Kozak. Lerner doesnt want us to get relegated if he wants to sell us. He's not that stupid. He is stupid enough to get us relegated accidentally though. fair enough.

Stamina, endurance, athleticism. Wilshere is pretty quick and works hard but I have doubts over his "engine". I do prefer him to Henderson but I worry about the legs of a Gerrard / Wilshere midfield duo.

Ashley actually wants us to stay up. The way Lerner has been going on these last few seasons, I don't think he wants Villa to stay up. Benteke aside how many players have they signed for over 4m recently?

Best thing was Ox, Barkley and sometimes Wilshere's movement and ability to run with the ball. Worst is we saw some of the weaknesses that come with inexperience. Not being tight enough. Not watching the second man etc. Which will be worst in. The WC

Those situations Cashley was invaluable.

There's a good chance Nigeria go further than England. Won't be due to Shola like.

Depends what you mean by recent. If the normal definition - none. 10 years? 20 years? Around 30 and I can think of a decent number of names. By decent I mean 2 more. Troisi is a Socceroo, Tim Krul. Milner was 18 when he signed for us (not really a youth player). Other than that, Pattison was in the Provisional Squad for 2010. Did Troisi play in a WC? Was he in a squad? Tim Krul really barely counts. He didn't come through the academy. He spent a single year there. I'm proud of him too tbh. James Milner was never a part of the youth set-up. Shola Ameobi is the only Newcastle player in over 20 years (that I can think of) to have properly come through our Youth Academy and go on to a World Cup finals.

Can't see these lads going that far tbh. I would love to see an Asian or African side in a semi-final. Preferably both. Best side in Africa, Asia, S. America and Europe.

Love a world cup semi.

He's a decent Premier League centre half, man. He's absolutely nowhere near as bad as you make out. As for the Monday Night Football mention - we played on a Monday night just once in the second half of the season, against Arsenal. Granted, he had a poor game but against a team with the style of Arsenal he was basically doing the job of 3 men with Williamson & Dummett alongside him. We were barely noteworthy in the second half of the season so I'm doubtful Neville & Carragher even gave us much of a mention in the coverage of other teams games. Mind the MNF against Everton when he was literally frightened of Lukaku wasn't good viewing. He ran away from the ball ffs.

Not really true. HBA is seen as a trouble maker in France and under us he got into some great form and was starting for the national side. Sissoko & Debuchy make the squad and Debuchy is a starter. Remy's form has got him in the squad too. That's 4 players. Our reputation is fine over there. Ba did a lot of French press and he moved up the career ladder under us I suppose.

MYM hasn't been trusted the same way Debuchy has. Probably for worse but we don't know. I don't know how anyone can be convinced by MYM being a top player. He hasn't had much chance - agreed but he hasn't shown it either. I would actually look forward to him playing for another club and succeeding. Because he won't do it here under Pardew - who will be given some time and some funds i'm sure.

Not particularly upset by this. The lad has deserved more of a chance but he's never convinced or had any real decent runs in form. Due to age (& potential) he should be the last CB we look to move on. But he'snot played well truth be told so....

& Remy.

Depends what you mean by recent. If the normal definition - none. 10 years? 20 years? Around 30 and I can think of a decent number of names. By decent I mean 2 more.

Yes! How many of our youth products have gone to a WC in recent years?

Could be wrong. It's been ages since I've seen the lad play consistently well.

Get Costa in and they should win it anyway. Should've won it last season. Cost won't be scoring more than 15 league goals next season. Feel free to quote me on that. which would be enough to get Chelsea the title. It won't, like. They'll be losing 12 goals from Eto'o , not to forget. Eto'o scored some important goals in big games for Chelsea this season. It's a myth that all of Chelsea's problems is because of lack of a profiling striker. Chance creation is a bigger issue, but that's the sacrifice you take to have such defensive solidity as Mourinho's team has. Also, this year they had an exceptional record against teams around them that got them to 3rd, it'll take some doing to replicate that, we'll see I guess. I agree with your points. But they only lost by fine margins and will be better next season. Mourinho will have a side more in his image and with all their money they'll spend it in the right places. I think Chelsea and Mourinho under performed last season yet still only the 5-6 points away from 1st. If you've read my posts on Jose, I said the same things you are saying - before it actually happened. Unfortunately, Chelsea have too much money to let that happen again. Costa's not as good when facing a deep defence but he's better than what they have.

Get Costa in and they should win it anyway. Should've won it last season. Cost won't be scoring more than 15 league goals next season. Feel free to quote me on that. which would be enough to get Chelsea the title.

Get Costa in and they should win it anyway. Should've won it last season.

Fabregas is a great box to box CM. Arsenal already have one in Ramsey.

But Frank Lampard doesn't playing behind the striker does he? He's always been a bit deeper than that

Put him behind the striker and he's still worth that money and then some. Problem at Barca is there is no position for him, shouldn't go back to Arsenal though he's the last thing they need. is that really his best position? Think he's better a bit deeper in the Ramsey position. But now they have Ramsey- there's no need for Cesc for all that money. Sanchez / Pedro would be a great signing for Arsenal.

Going to Barcelona has been a bad move for him. Potentially wasted the best years of his career performance wise. In that time he's won La Liga and Euros and played for his boyhood club. But I was a massive fan of the lad, loved watching him play for Arsenal. At Barcelona he's just been getting in the way.

Barca want him out though. Nobody will pay for £35m for him based on his form over the time he's been at Barca.