LDN Blue

I want Tottenham to lose so we can secure 3rd. Couldn't give a flying shit about United-City's league title because we'll be amongst them within a year or 2 tops. Though for the record, I'd want United to lift it over City.

LMAO build our hopes up and then crush them Term!

Hahaha come on Ollie, we all know rumours shoot up even after the window in prep for June! They never stop

This is true. Though something I did note v. Sunderland was his persistence to now get into the box. He was forced wide a few times, but he made more efforts than previous to get into the box so others could turn provider. He also showed natural instinct to go to the far back post and attempt to meet Bosingwa's over hit crosses. Sunderland was good game for him, some basic attributes of a striker returned to him. Long way to go for him to recapture some of the old form & characteristics, but if he builds on that performance we'll see better work ethics. He cannot afford to do another 1 step forward, 2 step backwards scenario.

Lmao for all his arrogance, he is f*cking hilarious

This is a fair comment, which is why I don't think they should go straight into the Championship. As eldo suggested, the winner of reserve leagues should be allowed to go into the conference, or even blue square league. This way they will work up, just as any other club would have to. Whichever way things are looked at, the reserve league, as it is now, must be reformed. The only sense of competitiveness these kids get is in the FA Youth Cup. Reserve leagues haven't got the prestige or impact they should be having.

Lol Joey Barton. Personifying 'pot calling kettle black'.

I think I know why you feel this way, I might agree to an extent (if we're on the same airway). Elaborate?

'Designated Players'. It's the players who don't have to comply with the wage-structure of the MLS. A single team is only allowed 3 DP's

http://www1.skysport..._medium=twitter

brilliant

Trust the Premier League, the most watched globally, to be the slowest with this B-team system. Incredible how everyone knows it's the solution yet it's still not been implemented!

I think you're absolutely right. That's why I believe Kakuta will excel now that he's gone back to his home land.

Yes, exactly. Courtois returned to Cobham over the Xmas period so Chelsea could do tests on him and results showed good progression in his skills. This was unheard of in previous administrations at the club. It just goes to shows that everything André is doing will be a long-term benefit.

I don't believe such a clause exists that requires a club to play the players we loan out. Maybe a friendly, verbal, warning that if the club feels they aren't progressing they will pull the plug. We saw this with Van Aanholt and Kakuta. Sometimes it's not the clubs we loan them out to, but the players themselves. Everyone thinks Owen Coyle is a god, and he deserves the respect he has gained because of what he did with Sturridge & Wilshere. The problem in the past was, the club didn't keep a proper tab on the situation of the loaned players. I believe André has gone to lengths to change this because this is the first season I've seen the club cut short some loan spells.. So it does show they're paying more attention this time around. We've developed a good relationship with Vitesse. They've turned into our feeder club and are doing us a great service. This is a crucial part of developing good loan destinations because if the club we're loaning to has some assurances of the quality they're receiving they're likely to look after the players a lot more. The Premier League has it's duty too. They've made strides to stop young kids moving sooner than they should, not they have to make the reserve league a lot more competitive. André has lobbied for the B-team system, afaik. This proposal must be backed by all 20 league coaches.

Well written Alex, neat & tidy as always. -- As far as our chances go in this year's competition, I believe we can progress past Napoli. I've watched Napoli, when I can, for the last 2 season. It hasn't been much, but it's been enough for me to see they're a brilliant, brilliant side. Their tale speaks for itself, rising up in a Swansea City-esq fashion to be a feared team in the Serie A. Their trio of Lavezzi, Cavani & Hamsik is certainly not unknown any more. It's their unique, and dedicated, philosophy of 3-4-3 that's made them so successful. It's risky, but they have the right players for it and it's also what exposes themselves. They rely, aside from those front 3, on their wing-backs Maggio & Degen. They are the key players in Napoli's entire system and without their contribution the whole system would break down. Aronica's been superb for them in their 3-man defence, however in the system we play we can definitely exploit the gaps that are left. If André gets his tactics spot on, the threat of Napoli can be null. They're not a perfect side and they really a lot on their default first XI. It won't be an easy game, Manchester City demonstrated how effective Napoli are at home. Their counter-attack is a major threat (so no high-line from CFC) which means they are a constant threat from the 1st minute till 95th. It will be thoroughly entertaining. I predict we will go through this stage though, blue-tinted optimism.

Sickens me to see QPR strengthening

Fixed that for you ^

Yeah he's failed to adapt. But even then Taiwo is a much greater player than the likes of QPR should contain. This makes no sense.

I hope this is a joke.. I don't understand how they've pulled this one off

Yeah not defenders then, *6 defensive minded. Ramos, Carvalho, Coentrao, Pepe, Diarra, Alonso. When he also had the likes of Ozil, Granero, Kaka & Callejón on the bench.

LMAO, touché.

Tactically, yeah (I mis-spoke before). But in that game he did not start 7 defenders . Like if this had been a league game I am sure Ozil, Di Maria & Marcelo would've started. Feel sorry for Albiol. He should've started.

The illusion is wearing off because there's like 4 El Clásico's a year now. Probably 6 factoring in the CL. Mou played negative tactics last night because he doesn't really have an interest in the Copa Del Rey, his focus is on the league & champions league. To be honest, they don't even need to beat Barcelona. They're doing well in the leage, Barca have dropped a few points here and there. It's be a close run to the title, but it won't come down to Real v. Barca. It'll come down to Real y Barca v. Everyone else.

Too right my man!