Unbelievable

Fair enough. Wouldn't surprise me if his "personal reasons" amount to nothing more than a burning desire to play for the team he actually supports. Aren't San Lorenzo on the decline, i.e. faced with relegation and in substantial financial trouble?

San Lorenzo are his boyhood club. Not according to Wiki (I know)? http://www.somoscuervos.com.ar/media/galeria/72/4/8/2/7/n_san_lorenzo_historia-2057284.jpg Doesn't that make San Lorenzo Osvaldo Coloccini's (boyhood) club, rather than Fabricio's? Everything I can find suggests Fabricio Coloccini has only ever played at San lorenzo for one season on loan from AC Milan. Edit: I appreciate this question is completely irrelevant as he seems dead set on joining them sooner rather than later, I just wanted to point out he does not seem to have a long history with them other than apparently his father having played for them and he apparently being a fan.

San Lorenzo are his boyhood club. Not according to Wiki (I know)?

I wanted some sort of statement when it was not clear whether he was staying or leaving, not so much now there is clarity. That letter to San Lorenzo fans is a bit strange though in context, considering he's the captain of THIS club, and has only played there for one season on loan, so it's not like it's his boyhood club and he would die to end his career playing for them (or at least, it shoudn't be).

especially the bit in bold. He's never been amongst our better players in terms of creativity and end product, yet his work rate and willingness to sacrifice himself have been invaluable for us in the not so distant past. To me it seems since we have been doing less good collectively as a squad of players people look at the people least likely to create some magic as the ones that are dispensable. A good team needs work horses just as much as it needs show ponies to stay in the glue factory theme. I would be looking to replace him, because I agree we can do better long term, but not let him go now without a replacement coming in.

Imagine what it's like being a Newcastle fan..

I think he's just resigned, well according to Dutch wiki he has.

He's giving advice to plenty of parties. Ajax for one, where he cost the executive board their jobs last year, a shortlived spell in Central America if I'm not mistaken and no doubt he's also an advisor to Barcelona (maybe VI can confirm) as he still lives there predominantly. I just find it a huge shame that he's not managed a team or nation since 1996, besides from a couple of matches as the national manager of Catalonia. He has had some heart problems during his time at Barcelona, so maybe he's decided he can do without the daily pressure of being a manager, but it's a real shame for football in general, and Dutch football in particular, that our best player has never managed our national team, despite having had the opportunity to do so more than once.

That's what I reckon will happen. Would honestly be baffling for him to start Taylor. Yanga-Mbiwa has exactly the right type of temperament to come in to things straight away. I think a factor will be how s*** Villa are at defending corners and that Taylor is probably our biggest threat from them. Plus Taylor already has a decent understanding with Colo and they've always done very well as a partnership. Not saying I fully agree, just that I can see where he's coming from if that's how he plays it. Everything depends on whether Saylor is fit to start obviously. No point risking him of course, but it would be good for him to get back in amongst it, whilst taking a little bit of pressure of the Yanga-Mbiwa debut. I would be happy to see both get some playing time ahead of the tough fixtures coming up.

I thought he was spot on with his criticism of Van Marwijk in the last World Cup. Maybe so. Easy to criticise though if you've been offered the position yourself a few times and refused to take it for being afraid to tarnish your reputation.

Well, obviously, but I have always found it quite frustrating to see him slagg off other managers as a pundit, especially for the Holland national team, knowing he wouldn't dare to risk his reputation and do it himself.

Bit of a coward really

Yep, Saylor gets 70 minutes, then Yanga-Mbiwa on for his debut.

Wow, hope it works out for you. He's not dissimilar to Sissoko really, in that he is a physically imposing central midfielder who is more suited to a more attacking role than as a midfield destroyer. How do you plan to use him? When everyone is fit I'd imagine we'd play a midfield 3 of Gibson holding, Fer going box to box and Fellaini playing furthest forward (unless Fellaini is going, in which case you'd have Osman in there) Box to box should suit him fairly well. Hope he does well for you. Shame for my hometwon club they sold him for half this amount to Twente for considerably less (5.5 million euros) one and a half year ago.

Oh, and Everton again shelling out a sizeable amount for a player..

Wow, hope it works out for you. He's not dissimilar to Sissoko really, in that he is a physically imposing central midfielder who is more suited to a more attacking role than as a midfield destroyer. How do you plan to use him?

Everybody's shit performances have contributed to where we are in all honesty. Jonas has something to offer still. Would be madness to let him go, even though I hope he will be considered a squad player from now on rather than one of the first names on the teamsheet.

That sounds like we're still working on one or more transfers (incoming or outgoing)..

Nothing in the Dutch press about Fer to Everton. At 8 million it would represent a bit of a gamble if you ask me. He's been quite injury prone since moving to Twente and hasn't really delivered on his early promise.

Aye..

Insurance company ASR has made Rotterdam zoo Blijdorp (in financial trouble) the shirt sponsor for the remainder of the season for free: http://nos.nl/artikel/466451-blijdorp-op-shirt-feyenoord.html Van Bronckhorst's son plays the kid in the commercial. to ASR for helping out a troubled Rotterdam institution.

May be a Giggs:

Pretty much aye. Last season wasn't his best, but he's pretty much gone back to his previous form this season. I wouldn't exactly call him slow and sluggish either.

Out of interest, how often have you seen him?