The Skipper

I like Stones and Jones tbh. I think Henderson Wilshere will work as well as Gerrard Henderson, potentiall even better because Jack has more bite to him and is a lot more physically imposing than Gerrard with his tenacity. I like that team, it's not wonderful but it's solid.

No one has mentioned this, but surely we must be well in the positive regarding our net spent considering we get fees for loans? We have 25+ players out on loan too. Obviously not all will enforce a loan fee, but some of the significant players i.e. Bertrand, Torres, T. Hazard, Piazon, Chalobah, MVG etc?

Britons: Congratulations, as of this morning, you are an extra £539 in debt. Nor are you alone. The entire country has just lost £34bn. How did we manage that? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/01/great-british-railway-rake-off-rolls-on?CMP=fb_gu

Fair enough. Valid points made pal. Like I said before, I don't actually know all the facts to the situation, I've only caught like one debate between Darling and Salmond so I'm not too informed about the whole situation. Is oil seriously being used as the main economic reason as to why they should become independent? Poor if true.

Solid.

...... You didn't even want him here to begin with, why you worried?

I don't, and I admitted that in my first post. Looking at it from an outside perspective though (and a limited view), Scotland has the potential to go independent successfully. Sure, it won't be easy, and sure there will be plenty of problems, but it is a possibility. It wouldn't be an instant success, could take decades even, but it could potentially be a good thing for Scotland IMO. As I said, if I was Scottish, with the knowledge I have right now I would be leaning towards yes, but that doesn't mean I actually would 100% vote yes. Leaning towards something doesn't mean you've made your decision if you understand me.Edit: Also, quite a huge proportion of Scottish people are drawn towards yes, current polls (excluding don't knows which is a mere 8%) show a 53% no - 47% yes split, that's significant. It's unfair to say that anyone saying 'yes' doesn't know any facts on the situation. 47% is a huge percentage of the Scottish population.

It's about asset management. When Hazard's contract goes down to 2 years you'll soon have the likes of Real and Barcelona, maybe even Bayern sniffing about. I'd rather not risk that because Hazard "has to prove again that he's one of the best in the league" (as if he didn't prove that last year, he was 2nd in PFA player of the year in case you missed it). Getting Reus isn't a certainty either... We already have Hazard as our player, why should we risk it because 'we can always go for Reus'. I'd rather not. His performances in general last year warrant a new contract IMO, especially to fend off potential suitors.

4 of my very favourite players. Awesome. So much win.

Courtois and Hazard next are a must for me.

Traore still has a lot to prove. I'm watching him fairly consistently in the Eredivisie this year though, let's see how he gets on. Out of those I'd like to see Thorgan come in to challenge Oscar if he has a good year, because I see them as very similar players. An AM set of Hazard, Reus, Schurrle, Oscar & T. Hazard would be amazing. Both Oscar and Thorgan are capable of playing out wide decently too.

So Scotland leaving would actually hurt UK a lot and I can see why... You've mentioned the Trident, millions/billions passed from 5 million consumers and inhabitants alike to the rest of England, Wales and NI... Then there's the likes of Putin potentially rubbing his hands with glee at the possibility. Also Britain just generally having a weaker voice and pull on the global market and in Europe - it won't be seen as one of the biggest powerhouses any more per se... Before getting to the inhabitants of England who would just be disillusioned with some instances that you've mentioned above.It would certainly shake things up significantly. If you were Scottish, what would you vote? Yes or no? I'd be leaning more towards yes to be honest, the pros outweigh the cons for me (in Scotland's favour that is).

That's correct, I shouldn't have tbh. Oscar is slowly becoming a very vital piece in the system. My statement still applies to Schurrle and Willian though. Less so to Salah because as I said, he's comfortable with being 5th choice. So one of Schurrle (unlikely) or Willian out, and Reus in. Senior player in, senior player out. Would be okay I think. If one of our younger AMs are showing huge potential then perhaps we could offload Salah.

For me, if Reus is coming in, one of the more senior AMs has to leave, not Salah. I doubt one Schurrle, Oscar or Willian would accept being 5th choice.

Whilst GDP could/will reduce, how significantly would it go down? I haven't really checked the figures. Regardless, on the flip side, it could also mean that Westminster would potentially also have more resources to spread around the rest of the UK (depending on whether the GDP and general economic offset is less than the resources they would gain from a 'free' Scotland)... Could it be argued that both the UK and Scotland would be better off without each other? I doubt it (especially more towards the UK side), but I haven't really researched into the figures and stuff to see a clear distinction in that (and frankly CBA right now ).

Huge if. Rooting for Willian though.

I would take Reus and shift Willian tbh.

I always thought Scotland had their own, distinct identity. I think they could do it (unlike let's say a Wales), yes, but it'd have to be at the cost of changing £ to €. Would it hurt the UK though? I'm not sure, haven't really been following it avidly.

Yeah, agree with that. Would like to see him here next season to compete with Oscar potentially. Similar players.

I fully understand that and nothing I said there contradicts that. I believe Filipe Luis and Hazard pairing, once fully accustomed and comfortable, will be the best left handed partnership in the league. Matic + Fabregas is just as new as Yaya + Fernando so we can't say either is better yet at all. Our best XI and potential system is just as wonderfully balanced as City's is, hence why I took it down to individual players. I'm not necessarily saying we definitely have the better team - I'm merely stating that whilst City have a great team with some great individuals - so do we. Costa, Fabregas and Luis (once fully integrated) were the missing pieces of our jigsaw. Our engine room (Oscar, Fabregas, Matic), once fully accustomed, will be one of the best in the world. That potential left handed partnership between Hazard and Luis will be brilliant too. Schurrle will benefit from Costa's presence up front - he'll have even more space to make his intelligent runs where Fabregas will be able to pick him out from deep. Remy off the bench when the game opens up against tired legs and he has space to run in behind... There's many combinations and options we have now. Our jigsaw is just as beautiful as City's is IMO.

Yeah, walk in the park

Nice, hopefully the first contract renewals of many.

Restricted to just that or? Because IMO 'world class' is very subjective.

So close was a hyperbole tbh. I do remember his father stating that we tabled a bid or something.

Define world class...