The only place to be

I like Shaw going forward but he's not that much better than Ashley....YET. I have no problem with taking Lampard because I think he's the best choice for right now but that same logic should've applied to Cole as well. It's muddled thinking as usual from The FA.

Shaw has 1 assist this season, Cole has 2 in less than half the games. I'd have taken Baines and Cole if I actually wanted to try to win the World Cup this year, but this decision is all about four years down the line....except we're taking Lamps as well. Basically the FA are a bunch of cunts and rather than take the best players to help us win the World Cup (Terry and Cole) they're 'building for the future' by taking one 18 year old left back. Wankers, tossers, fuck-pots and shit-sticks the lot of them.

What the fuck? The one thing Ashley has always firmly understood is that football is a business at the end of the day. There's absolutely no ill-will or malice between the two parties. The idea that he's saying 'fuck you' is an absolute joke. The more you think about him, the more impressive he is in so many regards. Properly world-class, Ronaldo said he was his toughest opponent (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1227024/CRISTIANO-RONALDO-INTERVIEW-SPECIAL-Who-toughest-opponent-It-just-Ashley-Cole.html) and he took a nice penalty too. 9 major trophies since he left Arsenal....Specialist in Success.

So very little actually posted about the tactical aspect. The problem with our crossing has been a lack of decent targets. It was EXACTLY the same when Azpi and Cole were in their natural positions last season. Mandzukic off the bench against teams who defend deep would provide an excellent aerial target for our crosses, something that Lukaku simply doesn't despite his size. He would actually change our gameplan with his introduction more radically than would be the case with Lukaku whose strengths are very similar to Costa's. I have no doubt Lukaku could score a few goals for us, but in terms of tactical versatility I much prefer the options that a combination of Costa and Mandzukic bring whilst farming Lukaku out for another 1-2 seasons to improve his all round game before returning here at the age of 23 to take over from Mandzukic and hopefully provide more than he currently seems to week-in and week-out. As for my reaction to Lukaku leaving, it was based on the fact that our remaining strikers simply weren't good enough and didn't offer enough to this club. We missed him last season but if we had Costa and Mandzukic going into the new year, I really don't think that would be the case. This is one of those tricky little situations where context applies so I understand some of your confusion....I really do. So let's just agree to disagree ok and wish each other the best.

Said this a couple of weeks back and it applies ten fold having seen those Tweets. He's had A LOT happen in the last week or so and he has handled it with a level of class that shouldn't surprise anyone. An absolutely top block, a first-class servant to this club and a proper legend. Would be nice if fate could find a way to bring him back to the Bridge one more time, although he could do a lot worse than semi-retirement around the French Riviera.

This is why I'm proud this guy is our boss. Quality bloke.

Giggs has retired too. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27470554 Cunt of a man, but one of the best players in English football history. A stalwart of the Premier League and one of the stars of football when I was growing up. His longevity is astounding too and it'll be kinda weird not seeing him on the pitch. Him and Zanetti going at the same time.

In 2012 Jose used Benzema and Higuain almost exclusively. Look how many minutes Ba got this year behind two average strikers. Lukaku simply won't get enough minutes in my opinion. I'd rather look at Drogba in a player-coach role or even use a youngster.

We're a counter-attacking team. Costa will lead that. If teams sit deep then we tend to pump more crosses into the box - Mandzukic is an excellent aerial threat. Lukaku really isn't necessary next season if we have both these players offering these options. So from a tactical sense it does make perfect sense, although I'd love to see you try and argue that it doesn't.

They have three first-team defenders. Phil Jones Chris Smalling Jonny Evans Hold your horses there. They have a vast rebuilding job to do.

The New Chosen One?? Make it happen Stretford End Flags :eyebrows:

Willian, Schurrle and Salah have just finished their first season here and we're already looking to add another player there? Jesus

Because he offers something different to Lukaku and Costa. He enables us to change the game (as numerous people have already pointed out in this thread). From a tactical perspective it makes perfect sense.

If he's genuinely interested in coaching and Jose sees something in him then why not? Personally I've never thought he was the type to go into that side of the game....generally speaking I think defenders and midfielders tend to make the best coaches. If he did come back then why not give him a playing contract as third striker behind Costa and Mandzukic? It's hardly that many matches per season.

If England can keep it tight at the back then maybe the likes of Rooney, Barkley and Sturridge can get something on the counter. Unfortunately the skipper is a bit of a bottle job and a cunt to boot. Already thrown away the league for Liverpool so can't count on him not to slip up.

He'll be part of the new spine rather than having the team built around him, along with Hazard, Oscar, Courtois and Costa (and the defence).

Third choice striker and coach? Still casts a big shadow and out of all our legends, he isn't the most obvious future manager/coach. JT is far and away the most obvious choice to do that, Lamps could go into TV or live off his property/writing whereas DD also struck me as the type to take the George Weah route into political/humanitarian work.

If you look carefully you can see a guy who went from being a masseur to one of Beckham's closest advisors and a highly successful sports businessman. Very interesting story.

It was on Eurosport. The final will be as well.

England U-17s playing Portugal's and Izzy Brown and Dom Solanke starting for England. Portugal really should be out of sight (hit the woodwork 3 times) but Solanke has scored an absolute peach of a striker's goal. Ball over the top, controlled and then dinked over the onrushing keeper. Brown's shown some nice touches too, as has Patrick Roberts who starred for Fulham against us in the Youth Cup Final.

Baker and Swift probably need loans, preferably to someone like Boro. RLC could leapfrog that process. I think this pre-season is going to be fascinating in terms of competition for spots.

What if those two things are one in the same? I don't know who this 'quality, long-term partner' is (maybe someone like Rakitic who would cost £25 million) but is it definitely not Van Ginkel? Is it definitely not Chalobah or RLC? I'd be content with taking a flyer on a low-risk option like Paulinho or Song, but then you look at what City got from Fernandinho....

Ramires simply isn't the guy I'd want as the senior voice amongst the midfielders. He still struggles to speak English for fuck's sake....mentally he's just not there. This isn't just any 36 year old either. Frank showed against Liverpool that he can still do a job for us, maybe not as consistently as he did a few years ago but every now and then he's still more than good enough for us.

Because we're the club he's always wanted to play for, and we're one of the biggest clubs in the world. If he wants to go and play for a team like Everton or Spurs then he can do that and I would wish him happiness. If he wants to go abroad then the same applies. But this club will survive and prosper with or without him. Honestly speaking, if we do get in Costa and Mandzukic then it really doesn't matter what he asks to do. His value right now is quite high but it could quite easily decrease if he doesn't keep progressing as a footballer. Conversely it could increase if he adds more to his game. The potential that it could increase is why we should probably loan him for at least one season. He's still young, he has time and that's what his advisors should have told him at the start of September.