The Skipper

I personally would've taken Shaw and Cole, Shaw as starter - giving him vital tournament experience and Cole as the reliable, more defensively sound back up.

Of course they're still affiliated with us, maybe registered to play is a better word to use to explain it. It's not about disagreeing or not, those are the rules... Loan players who are not registered to play at CFC for that season will not have a HG year added to their status if they aren't in the country because they'll be registered to play for the other club in that different country. They aren't under the English FA's jurisdiction in that year, and aren't being trained in England or Wales.

Yeah, 100% sure. They're still Chelsea players but they're being loaned out to another entity who obtained their playing rights - thus they are representing that club for however long the loan spell is - not Chelsea, until they come back.

When someone goes out on loan, they become affiliated to the FA of the league they're going out on loan to - so a loan year in a foreign country does not count as a HG year.

L3G3ND.

Get Cesc.

With Josh I've lost hope on him developing into a top player because almost everyone of his loan moves just haven't really developed him. Maybe it's better for him to stay at Cobham and train with top players. But yeah, we might start signing HG players for the sake of it now - or at least someone who's HG will probably have brownie points over someone who doesn't. It's why a Song signing would make sense too though, since he is homegrown too. Luke Shaw as well, even though he's very expensive.

Lukaku, if we keep him. Could keep someone like Josh McEachran around too to fill the quota.

Don't know why Chalobah isn't included in there tbh. NVM: Seen he's been included in the U21 squad. Lukaku will be HG this year; yet another reason why we should keep.

This. Him and Lamps coaching next season (if we do sign Frank as a player/coach or even as a player and then a coach the season after) would be amazing.

Van Gaal is a fantastic appointment for United, he's a really, really good manager. Ask Jose and Pep - who both owe a lot of their managerial experience to him. Some call him the father of Jose and Pep in Holland. Another character for English football too. As abrasive as Mourinho (maybe even worse), so they'll love him. United + Van Gaal + that huge war chest they'll probably have this summer... 100% another challenger we have for the PL title now. A difficult one too. Expect a revitalised RVP too.

Bild aren't bad but from what I can remember, they're a bit hit and miss. From what I can gather though, Bild aren't saying that Mandzukic is 100% coming to us... They're just stating that a deal is potentially being discussed.

I don't want Phil Jones here, but to say that anyway that's saying he's a good player should stick to FIFA is a bit ludicrous. The Cahill comparison isn't really that off either because both were players who were ready to make the next step - difference with Cahill is that he's been managed properly (especially under Mou) whilst Jones hasn't. Jones is only 22 though so has plenty of time on his side. Regardless, this is not me making a case for wanting him here. You're right in saying that I'd also rather see our crop of CBs develop - doesn't mean you can't appreciate a good player when you see one though.

Bony is not that quick lol. He's relatively fast, moves well but nowhere near one of the fastest strikers in Europe.

Come home Didier! (As a coach)

It really depends on what type of system you're going to play. If you're going to play a predominately possession based system where you're likely to have most of the ball then a Gerrard - Wilshere midfield is probably the most extreme midfield you can put out there, with Gerrard holding. If you need a bit more steel/legs in midfield though you can obviously just take him out and put Henderson in there.

True, Barry's not bad though. No one long term coming through atm though. It will be the next generation before we see a quality CDM coming through (Chalobah, RLC - if they make it).

Ake won't make it here as a CB I'm afraid. Too small - think he can do well for us as a DM predominantly/jack off all trades squad player that can play everywhere in defence.

Yeah I agree. He's definitely ready to be the back up left back of the team and as you said, he can also be very useful against lower PL teams. He's also home grown IIRC. We'll see whether he'll get given that opportunity though.

If a more forward thinking manager had control over the England team, it wouldn't actually be that bad. Especially if that manager someone got JT involved again to restore that JT - Cahill partnership. Here's England's best team in my opinion, with everyone fit + JT: Hart Johnson* - Cahill - JT** - Shaw Gerrard - Wilshere Walcott*** - Rooney - Lallana Sturridge *interchangeable with someone like Kyle Walker. **can replace w/ Jagielka. ***obviously not fit - someone like Ox or Sterling to start ahead of him. It's a very forward going team but it's still a very good team that could get pretty far with a manager who can manage that sort of team. If a more conservative approach is needed in midfield you could simply swap Gerrard or Wilshere with Henderson.

God, Arsenal fans are as delusional as Liverpool fans. Embarrassing.

A Song + Sanchez swap for Luiz would be ridiculously good.

Quality.

If Mourinho is going to put faith in the likes of MVG, Chalobah, Baker, RLC etc. Song would be a very good player to bridge the gap.

Azpi and Cahill were already good defenders though. PVA has A LOT to learn.