david in sweden

...was maybe his hero when he joined the Academy?...who knows? maybe he will fetch a £25 million fee one day, too

Did OK IMO. He's looks a more confident player than in last season, and TBF being given a (proper) starting position is a bit easier than being thrown into an unfamilar role for a game or two.

not in this regime, though. Think they were both signed "pre black box"..as neither impressed more than in the occasional game.

if he's THAT good maybe 2-3 years (Sam.G had a debut at 18) but if the lad moved to MU or Chelsea, it'd take him much longer even to get on their bench.

most of you have highlighted all the problems i've saw. Thought we ran the game after 1-1, but how can we ignore RVP and give him a free run at the far post for their 2nd goal. Forster (unfortunately), is weak on ground shots .....numegged twice..

that's correct. He shook hands with three on the MU bench (including Van Gaal), but didn't see Giggs on the end, but then went back and shook hands with him, too.

I see some of the media are preparing excuses for an eventual MU defeat, by citing all their injuries, but let's face it with their wealth /squad size they ought to be good enough to match us. Van Gaal will need to make sure they leave " their grey shirts " back home at Old Trafford. ...of course, even with our forced substitutions we can still beat them. I'll go for a narrow win.

Agree ...good analysis.....and those stats. won't include the summer income from transfers either.

Agree with that thought. He may not be able to command the same high salary if he joins Boca ??..but if he has safely invested some of his previous earnings, then he won't be short of a taxi fare. HIs behaviour pattern may be acceptable to South American fans, but at 29 (?) ...and in Europe....." the train may already have left the station ". for Osvaldo. He'll need to make a definite decision soon, if he's looking for another 3-4 year contract, with a reasonably good salary at another club.

somehow it's hard to think that either Schneiderlin...(or Jay Rod) would go in January, and their eventual return-to-form would leave a clearer picture in May instead. The final factor in the equation would surely be - if we qualify for some sort of Euro competition next season? - if not, we may see another exodus of star-names... based on our fantastic start this season. No-one is sure how long Morgan's return will take, and (again-like Jay Rod) what sort of form he will hit when he does return. The mindset of a long-term "return-ee" must surely be clouded by the thought -will the injury hold-up?...or will I get injured again? Expecting someone to come " roaring back " in top form belongs in Fantasy Football games. The Prem.is tough enough even for fully fit, on-form players. Faced with this prospect, only a very daring (or foolish) person would pay out the £20-25 million that Saints would surely demand for each player - were they to go so soon.

with the benefit of 30 years living in Stockholm .....the Winter forecast ....is always a bit uncertain? Traditional Stockholm winter. I say Stockholm..... because Sweden is over 1000 miles N-S, and there are 3 different climate zones. The very north can be very cold. First snowfall comes late November, a slight thaw before Christmas and then new snow early January. Temperatures -5 to -10 deg C. (which is not unpleasant if you are warmly-clothed and the air is dry). Snow comes intermittantly, usually after I've cleared snow away from the front of the house - several times, and may continue on /off until March (if we're lucky). around 5-6 daylight hours. The climate change has it UP side, too....and for the last few years, we've little or no show before Christmas - and rarely a frost, and temps stay around 0C.. but yes it is dark and a bit cold. As long as the mild winter continues, there's likely to be little problem. but a snowfall of 6-10 inches can dampen your enthusiam - unless you love winter sports, but the Swedes are usually pretty efficient (in Stockholm-at least) with a fleet of snow-ploughs that start to clear it away at 4 o'clock in the morning - before most people start going to work. Stockholm's transport system is normally excellent, with trains and buses integrated - so you'll only need to walk 100 yards or so to change connections. You'll need to buy a SJ travel card (smart card like Oyster in London) as you can't pay cash on any transport in the city).It's good value and gives you unlimited travel on, underground (T-bana), or commuter train (J)and buses. WARNING. You'd probably fly into Arlanda which is 40 miles north of Stockholm. You can get a FLYGBUSS (bus transfer to Stockholm) for £10 fare and 45 minute journey in to Central Stockholm. If you're thinking about travelling RYANAIR or a " cheapie airline", they only go to SKAVSTA (which is 1½ hours south and a boring bus ride into Stockholm) -not so cheap -in the end. Best advice -pay the bit extra and get a decent flight with BA or the Swedish airline SAS. (BA may give you free food in flight, but SAS charge £5 for a snack) but the service is always excellent on both. Stockholm is expensive- even compared with London, so if you get serious about the trip ....PM me and I'll give you more info. regards David Cross Stockholm.

as the sole striker for most games, he is easily marked by two ...and sometimes 3 defenders.........

I think we did well by being able to play a stable team with (more of less) the same players every week. The gradual influence of injuries, and a slow rate of recovery has partly led to the recent dip. First JWP was out, then Long ...took a battering in couple of games (yet still made the bench). Steven Davis absence in the Villa game was obvious, and he wasn't 100% v Man.City. when we also lost Schneiderlin..and I can't recall a time when we had three serious injuries in the same match. Cork now out for 6 weeks?....and both Long and Tadic were treated very badly at Arsenal (and totally unprotected by the ref)....and then we lost Alderweireld late on, too. Now teams have sussed that Pelle is our main goal threat, they can afford to put two defenders on him, (and three - at one stage v. Arsenal) to take him out of the game. He tries hard, but is outnumbered. Time for a re-think. The current injury list will force Koeman to make more changes, but how we cope with that .....until the January window opens, will tell us much more.

we'll have a good chance to see how he performs......against us.......we go to Turf Moor next Saturday.

.....surely it's only a matter of time......and getting a proper fee? If Lallana went for £25 million, I wouldn't value Schneiderlin at any less...

oh well, you seem pretty adamant about that - so I' ll take it as gospel then.

.......and not before time, I always thought Jack is a better player than his appearance stats. suggest, but won't criticise RK, as he's only been here since the summer. Good call, though.

pure guesswork ... my middle name is Sherlock .....anyway I have an alibi, I was at home.... in Stockholm....on Wednesday evening. Sorry for Frannie, though.

......burglar alarm?.....or a big dog? Neither by the sound of it.

Not sure that it seems "obvious" (though quite possible, I agree) because without buying in another recognised keeper, the others on our books are only shirt numbers and not Prem.standard at all. .....and if Dave Watson doesn't agree, he must know something that the rest of us have missed.

quite right. If he can't tie up a tie PROPERLY, and polish his shoes...he's not our sort of player.....

.it's been on a number of other threads, but it's obvious that, compared to Forster(and even Boruc)...the other GKs on the books are little more than shirt numbers.....not Prem.quality at all.

.......sunken sub?

shouldn't Artur Boruc be on that list, too?

.....or Jack Cork. ......Ignored at club and international level, but is worth better.