The College Dropout

I love the Ameobi's. I want one playing for NUFC for the duration of my lifetime. Not in the first team like. One of them is bound to become world class.

Positioning stuff is great

Doesn't want to come. Move to other targets.

Doubtful but it's a bit of a false comparison as clubs in lower leagues abroad don't have anywhere near as much capital as Championship clubs do. I can't really think of many A-list players that had a sizable career for teams in the lower divisions in Spain though, Villa was probably the last one. Most La Liga clubs do a pretty good job of scooping up talent before they become pros, given the existence of B teams and how easy is to poach a youth player since they can't sign pro contracts until they turn 17 (that's changed this year though). The Spanish football leagues are very different to the English. They have B teams in the second and third tier of the leagues, when we have some massive clubs in the lower divisions. You have 8 teams in the Championship with attendances higher than 20k. A team like Sheffield United has more potential than half the teams in La Liga if you look at what they could do.

I recall Sinclair scoring something like 5 penalties. Goal is a goal and that but I don't recall many from open play.

He was a good player for awhile.

Carragher put in some fantastic performances for L'pool when they had those 5 or so season when they did very well in that competition. Just as much as he and John Terry are over-rated in the media. They are under-rated in some sectors. For example, John Terry is slow and brutish but he is a good footballer who is comfortable with the ball at his feet. I would say that fans that actually go to matches, love those types of defenders. Armchair pundits - not so much.

What did we play with Ba, Ben Arfa & Cisse? It was certainly advertised on teamsheets and through the official twitter as a 4-3-3. 4-2-3-1 Cabaye barely had to track back and get goal-side when the other team had the ball.

Aye in the confed he showed what a big player he can be. What would you describe as Pique's weaknesses

Think he's a great fit for Barca. Against crap oppo he barely has to defend and can play like a midfielder. But you can rely on him against the better teams

His best games have come at CB though. He was out for about a month and put in a top performance when Chelsea beat Bayern.

Hummels has a touch of the Bramble clanger in him. They crop up in big games too. Luiz sometimes just doesn't seem arsed to defend (I don't know why that's better to me, it just is) but in big matches he always brings the A game. Concentration, desire etc. He looks a real leader when he's focused, all-action type. He also takes a mean penalty/free-kick.

Better than Hummels imo

Luiz is easily worth 20m euros like. He went for more than that to Chelsea iirc anyway. He's a real big game player and a fine athlete. Not to mention a great footballer. He's a better footballer and athlete than he is a defender but he can defend very well.

Sturridge will have a great season if Suarez leaves. Most likely cementing a place in the England XI Chelsea will win the league Arsenal will qualify for the CL regardless of who they sign

Hate the formation talk on the forum. Especially because we have never played a 4-3-3 with Pardew. I like to talk tactics but the constant formations being put up is tiresome

Seconded.

I really want to know what people see in Anita.

Sell Obertan for whatever we can get. Bring in Ince = win.

Oh behave. Not all attendants are black contrary to popular belief! I wouldn't be surprised if Sissoko would rather do that than play for Pardew at the moment. Stop being a wanker.

I'm just saying we should get Ince/Sinclair/Hoilett and look out for some youngsters in the English market. I'm not saying go out and sign loads. I just think the LW should be British/HG. And that only the mega-rich rich teams can get away without a national core. Even bloody Arsenal have a number.

Woodgate, Dyer, Speed, Jenas, Shearer, Bellamy..

A big part of the young players development is giving them an opportunity. Beckham, Scholes, Giggs okay. But the likes of Evans and even Lampard only reached that level due in part to opportunity rather than pure natural talent. But that's another discussion.

This. These people want to talk about imaginary situations when Ferguson and even Mourinho, tried to keep a good number of British players in a squad.

Welbeck, Evans, Jones, Young, Zaha..