LRD

If you don't the likes of Everton are going to use the loan system to great effect. Of course I would prefer a loan with a view to buy but if a quality player like Lukaku turns up and we are short in that position, why not? We only have ourselves to blame for not utilising the loan system to our benefit in terms of both ins and outs.

If so, I reckon Levy would appoint him as sole caretaker instead of naming a trio of coaches to manage the first team.

Don't see how being captain of a title-winning side makes him more suited for the job. And yeah, bitter as usual.

Not that that will really influence his selection either. Not with the Deulofeu/ Everton case but it would be a nice incentive when you send a developmental player - the likes of Sammy, Bigirimana, Ferguson - out on loan.

Fwiw I am open to the rare couple of quality loanees since our owner is a stingy cunt. Not more than that though or we find ourselves in a mackem situation where we depend heavily on the loan system developing other clubs' players, and having to rebuild every season when the loans expire. For the same reason I'm not interested in developmental players who aren't going to contribute much here. Neither would the loaning club if their players don't play I suspect.

No club will agree to a 'must play' clause when it will open up a can of problems. Will you be obliged to play a penalty if he doesn't and is such a penalty legit in the first place? Or the manager is forced to play a disinterested loanee or rush him back from any injuries? Barca are smart with the Deulofeu loan though - if he plays a certain % of games, Everton don't have to play a loan fee. That's the way it should be really.

He's just being nice. Doubt anyone would have made perfect interpretation of what your intented words were.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSNrdG8VL_k/Uq92vub7GgI/AAAAAAAALA8/uVR0buzPxg8/s700/Balotelli+Special+Boots.jpg

So much truth in Wenger's words a few months back. Baldini was AVB's choice as DoF btw.

Interesting. Was the draw meant to be live today?

Good luck with that, Dave.

Will he get to fulfill his destiny as Aston Villa manager?

I wouldn't.

I think their points tally last season was the highest in their PL history.

Pretty sure Vertonghen, Calriches and Rose are injured or else he wouldn't play Capoue and Naughton. Dawson on the other hand is just antiqued in their lineup to be a mainstay all season. The lack of heart in the players is evident though. No one gets any credit surrendering 5 goals without a fight at home.

Good shout. Still surprised at what I consider a hasty decision though. You don't revamp your squad after selling your best player and not allow for a transition period. I've defended AVB in the past and thought he'd build a successful team after Bale. Unfortunately he hasn't done anything right, I know they need a time to settle, but his usage of Paulinho is for starters horrible, he's tried him as either a DM or as AM, not used him in his best position which is as a box-to-box player. He hasn't given Lamela any chances and Soldado has been terrible under his set up. I'm not saying it was the right decision to sack him already, but I at the same time I understand why they did it. Same here. Always thought he should be given more time. His time at Chelsea seemed to have changed his tactical thinking fundamentally though and he looked to prefer the cautious approach than getting the most out of his attacking riches.

Fwiw, http://i.imgur.com/tEPikDl.png

Champs League Round-of-16 draw. Manchester City v Barcelona Olympiakos v Manchester United AC Milan v Atletico Madrid Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain Galatasaray v Chelsea Schalke v Real Madrid Zenit v Dortmund Arsenal v Bayern

Does Capello's contract expire after the WC btw?

Good shout. Still surprised at what I consider a hasty decision though. You don't revamp your squad after selling your best player and not allow for a transition period.

Can't believe Sunderland turned down £5m for someone they ain't going to use and whose contract expires his summer. They won't be getting close to that this time round. What Dortmund sees in Ji though...

GW17: Liverpool 3-0 Cardiff Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle Fulham 1-1 Man City Man Utd 2-1 West Ham Stoke 1-1 Aston Villa Sunderland 1-2 Norwich West Brom 2-1 Hull Southampton 1-2 Tottenham Swansea 1-2 Everton Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

Not even at the halfway mark and he's just 6 goals off his previous season's PL tally.

Suarez 17 goals and 8 assists (11 league games) even after missing the first 5 games of the season. Crazy figures.

Five.