VectisSaint

Really find it incrrdible if anyone really believes this to be a possible scenario. Consider the compensation we would have to pay if nothing else. Ronald and Les agreed a 3 year contract and there is nothing to suggest yhat will not ne honoured by both sides. Whether rk extends next year is open to debate of course.

D i c k?

Football League representatiive matches were a regular event until the 1970s. Serie A matches continued into the 90s. Killed off by regular European club matches.

Because you respond to the thread?

Oi. Uncalled for and untrue mush . There are a few, and have been others in the past. James Hayter probably most notable recently, Simon Moore, Cardiff keeper (previously at Brentford), Lee Bradbury (OK, sorry to mention a Skate), Aaron Martin. In the past (our era) Wayne Talkes for us and Kieron Baker (Bournemouth keeper in the 70s). There have been several other prospects who did not make it, my "cousin" Brian Humber played several games for the Reserves at the same time as Talkes and later went to Aldershot for a spell). Jake Flannigan in the u21s was also scouted from the Island though I think he originates from 'Ampshire. Shouldn't forget the English Channel also includes those other small islands that have never contributed professional players (oh, except MLT and Le Saux). There is a reason why youngsters from the Island and Channel islands do not make it, based on the need to travel frequently to the mainland for training. It is not so much the time involved (lots of kids travel an hour or more) but the expense. Anyway, to be serious, the rules about where you can scout players for the Academy were altered about 3 or 4 years ago when we achieved Academy Category 1 status (or whatever it is). Incidentally Alfie Jones is also from Bristol. Would be interested to know from the article who were the "many other footballers from Stanbridge" who signed for the Academy.

David, you're wrong about Romeu. He played 33 games for Chelsea in 1 and a bit seasons, before he suffered a knee injury in Dec 2012 that kept him out for the rest of his second season. What happened after was a result of that injury and long absence and he never got consideration again, but not because he wasn't good enough as he demonstrated from 2011-2012.

They don't fit into a back line with Fonte and van Dijk, and no-one would expect them to. They need to challenge Yoshida and Gardos though, to be available when either for our first choice CBs are unavailable, or when we go three at the back. Fonte is coming towards the end of his career, maybe another 2 seasons, so need to be ready to step up then. We used 5 CBs last season (including Bertrand and Caulker) and will probably need 5 again this season. Is Gardos really that far ahead of Stephens? Or even Yoshida? That's the question. I would expect to see Stephens in the squad next season, and at least get some serious involvement in the LC, FA Cup and maybe the Europa. If he is not given that chance next season then quite honestly we may as well let him move on. Turnbull is a year or so behind Stephens, so not the same issue there.

But still thought less likely to win it than a team who aren't even in it (unless they get dumped out of the CL). Bit silly really.

No, it only covers certain issues, i.e. those in the penalty area and goals allowed/disallowed. Plenty of time in all matches when the ball is in midfield that does not have to be covered. It is easy with a panel to cover all matches in a relatively short period of time. If you actually look though at the tables, it actually supports the notion that in the majority of cases the incorrect decisions make little or no difference over the course of the season, which given your support of referees should be music to your ears. The headlines of the article are that Arsenal should have won the title, but the reality is that 16 teams had a points difference of 0-4 points. Arsenal actually only had a difference in 1 match out of 38. The headlines should be focused on why Leicester and Liverpool were 10 points better off because of these mistakes (and to a lesser extent Newcastle with 7). We all know that Liverpool were scrawny time after time and these stats seem to support the notion that they do get more than their fair share of dubious decisions.

Nothing wrong with the phrase "journeyman", only with how some people apply the term. A journeyman is someone that has completed an apprenticeship but is not a master craftsman. Therefore most professional footballers can be described as journeymen, whilst the best players (including SRL or Shane Long) would have graduated beyond that level.

What if the sky should fall? By your reasoning nothing would ever get done. One of the reasons for our form nosediving might be lack of growth and therefore investment.

It is Vitesse, they had 5 players on loan there last season, including Lewis Baker who plays for England U21. Sint-Truidense in Belgium are their other preferred cub for loans.

Interesting that in many cases the actual results over the season would not have been much different, we lost 4 points, Arsenal only had an affected result in one game. But it does suggest that Leicester may have benefitted rather more than they should have. Note that 40 points would not have been enough to stay up if it weren't for these bad decisions, as I surmised around the New Year

Is that really a picture of Pelle? Has he had plastic surgery in the intervening years ?

Really? He's not very good at either of those things based on the evidence of last season.

Rather hoping it will be ADO Den Haag or FC Utrecht (my former home and place of work respectively). I've been advocating getting young players loaned to European clubs, rather than lower league teams for some time. Netherlands or Spain especially would be good learning experiences for our youngsters. It seems to work well for Chelsea.

As was everyone else who commented, with one (or maybe two at a push) exception(s).

Mane played for Red Bull Salzburg (in the Qualifying Rounds). I think Juanmi played twice for Malaga in 2012/13 (they won the group stage that year unbeaten and lost in the Round of 32, he apparently made 2 European appearances so must have played in some of those games). Stekelenburg surely played for Ajax in the CL as well (don't think he did for Roma or Monaco although was probably on the bench for the latter). Tadic never played CL for Vojvodina.

YNWA? Really gets on my tits these days. World Cup Willie, now there's a real football song.

Don't think Chambers ever played CB for us in the PL. He was usually touted as a future MF. Think its a stretch to say he is a succesful CB from our Academy.

Except the wage bill mentioned was for last season (2014/15) not the season just completed. These figures are all based on data that is nearly a year old (clearly because there is nothing later available). Why did the Grauniad feel it was newsworthy to issue an article based on season 2014/15? We all knew this stuff anyway.

Sounds like made up stuff again. Still, knowing we are "braced for bids" is comforting. If Leicester will pay 25m then fine, if Spurs want him they should be told to go **** themselves (and I don't think for one minute they want to add Vic to Dier and Dembele). Wouldn't mind Lamela though, but doubt he would be offered now after he has done well in the last season.

To answer your question, Matt Mills is probably the only other one. Chris Baird was never really a CB either, but filled in admirably and showed his worth with his great ability to leap. Anyway, its not about Stephens or Turnbull replacing the incumbents (Fonte and VvD) its about whether they are good enough to replace Gardos and/or Yoshida. That's where they should be, and I don't think there is any huge difference, at least with Florin. But is there the appetite within our management team to trust in a young player? We gave Stephens a contract until 2019, so you would think we should be getting him to step up to what we have seen and expect.

Scored one and an assist.

He played in midfield or RB that day I think (Gibson and Ayala played at CB). He played 4 times in the LC for Boro, but only once in the League.