Unbelievable

As it says in the article, youngish English players are ridiculously overpriced most of the time. Arsenal could get Ryan Babel for a third of what Spurs paid for Bent (and at a third of the wages) and have a player of similar ability and potential.. I'm surprised Martin Jol went for Bent, as he has seemed well aware of this in the past, and has usually gone for cheaper, continental players. Anyway, he must have got a big lump of money at his disposal. Could be some truth in those Berbatov to Man U rumours..

If this lad is the best talent since Ruud how comes at 23 he struggles to play in his best position for NAC? No disrespect to them but they aren't exactly a European giant. Aye, that´s bollocks I reckon.. Anyway, Marco van Basten would never say such a thing of a player who isn´t affiliated with Ajax..

Heh? Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (23) Robin van Persie (23) Arjen Robben (23) Wesley Sneijder (23) Rafael van der Vaart (24) John Heitinga (23) Romeo Castelen (24) Nigel de Jong (22) Maarten Stekelenburg (24) Ryan Babel (20) Urby Emanuelson (21) Ibrahim Afellay (21) Stijn Schaars (23) Hedwiges Maduro (22) Ismaïl Aissati (18) Ron Vlaar (21) Gianni Zuiverloon (20) Ryan Donk (21) Luigi Bruins (20) Julian Jenner (23) Nicky Hofs (24) Demy de Zeeuw (24) Arnold Kruiswijk (22) Dwight Tiendalli (21) Royston Drenthe (20) All players who have played internationally for Oranje or might realistically soon do. I think a similar list could be drawn up for England. Does anybody agree with Allardyce that there is less talented players now than 5, 10 years ago? I´m off the impression there´s more now than ever. Some of the best players in the world are stilll in their early tenties (Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo, Rooney just to name a few). Of course. he´s talking about top class players, but maybe he should develop an eye for talent that can develop into top class players.. Could be why he prefers older, proven players mind.. Edit ~ sorry for being slightly on topic. I´ll remove if required..

I believe you need to be U21 at the start of the qualification process..

So Barcelona is now officially Henry?

I still feel Hatem Trabelsi could be an interesting option for us. He started out very well at Manchester City, was dislodged by the rise of Micah Richards and an injury and is a proven right back, who is now available on a free I believe (unless somebody has snapped him up while I wasn't paying attention). He's had persistent injury problems however, which has held him back from playing for the top clubs in Europe. Since he's on a free and on a downward spiral in his career he would be tempted by a "pay as you play" kind of contract, which along with Solano could provide us with sufficient quality down that side for a small enough outlay. If we manage to offload Carr (who is no less injury prone nowadays and a hell of a lot less effective as a right back) we'll probably even make a profit on the whole deal. Just feel it's not really a huge risk, but a gamble that just could work at relatively little cost. Oh, and before anyone asks, he´s 30 years old. I´d be interested in hearing our resident city fan´s opinion.

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2109897,00.html The nuclear option? Something tells me this is not the sort of guy you want to get the wrong side off.. In fact, makes you wonder what ideas he has in stock for us. Will NUFC be his favourite passtime or is it a matter of buying low,shaking up and selling high, something any hedge fund could have done..?

You got Salmon in when you already had Rigters though, and Leonardo could have been the Babel in that front two. Anyway, I'm just pulling your leg as I don't think Rigters is good enough for the Premiership yet. For NAC Breda on the other hand, he could have been more than useful as a goalscoring striker, something he wasn't really given the chance to do I believe...

Looks like you could/should have done better business with him over the course of his time with you...

Promising stuff for Holland this. We won it last year as well with basically a different team (Huntelaar, Emmanuelson and the likes included). Players like Van Persie, Robben, Van der Vaart and Sneijder would also have still qualified for this tournament I think.. Good crop of young players.. Hope we can capitalize on it in the next decade..

Who are they playing and how much time left?

4-1!!! Great goal!!!

goalline clearance of a shot by Babel.. And an embarrasing miss by Donk.. If Holland manage to screw this up I'll tear out whatever remaining little hair I have left..

Uh oh... 3-1..

Drenthe gets his ovational sub.. Man of the tournament candidate along with Babel I think..

Holland. Lol, NAC Breda, our old Uefa Cup friends (and Ronald's club <= Ronald the poster on here that is).. The match is getting embarrasing now btw..

Lol, the words of a madman. Their defence is shocking tonight.. Hope you haven't put a bet in..?

penalty after good work from Babel and Drenthe again.. Edit: but Babel misses it..

3-0!!!! Rigters!!! European championship u21 top goalscorer available for a fixed 200k fee.. Wonder who's gonna snap him up.. Babel looks like getting man of the match. If Arsenal has scouts watching this final it will have certainly increased the chances of a move for him..

2-0!!! Babel goal.. Shocking defending by the Serbs again after they had been stronger in the second half so far.. Serb player sent off now as well for a foul on Babel in midfield. It seems to be as good as over..

Bloody hell... Crap defending by Holland.. Should have been the equaliser..

True, the Serbs are worryingly dominant on their set pieces and Waterman (Waterreus is the former PSV and Rangers goalkeeper) is flapping at the ball, so anything can happen in the second half. Holland should have had a second however, yet De Ridder blasted it over from 10 feet out..

Serbia very lucky not to have a defender sent off for deliberate hands ball..

Goal Holland.. Bakkal 1-0!!!! Excellent assist De Ridder.. Good stuff!

Final between Holland and Serbia tonight.. Place your bets.