Since when did Di Maria and Falcao play at center back? No wonder McNair got all the playing time.

6/30/2015 2:17:41 PM

This is a nothing argument because who gives a fuck if you buy or develop anymore... But just to humor you, if you get to count Januzaj as an academy player we get to count Bellerin and Coquelin.

Let's count last year (feel free to correct).

United: Blackett (11 apps), Evans (11), Januzaj (21), Wilson (17), Pereira (2), lingard (1), McNair (18).

Total 81

Arsenal: Szczesny (29), Gibbs (31), Wilshere (23), Coq (30), Bellerin (28).

Total 141

Fwiw, I only did this because of this:

Quote :

"Unlike Chelsea (or Arsenal for that matter) our academy kids actually get a shot at the first team."

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 3:22 PM. Reason : X]

6/30/2015 3:19:45 PM

Januzaj was 16 when he joined. That def. rules coquelin out, pretty sure he was 18.

Out of all of the names you just mentioned only 1 is actually under 23. That is Bellerin. I would bloody well hope that players over the age of 23 aren't on the fringes of the first team but actually getting significant playing time.

Aside from Evans and Lingard (22) not one of those players on the united list is over the age of 20. Now how many players under the age of 23 did Arsenal actually play in the first team?

Blackett (11), Januzaj (21), Wilson (17), Pereira (2), McNair (18).

Total 69

Maybe you should read what I actually wrote: "our academy kids actually get a shot at the first team"

Shit count Wilshere if you like but to say Szczesny, Gibbs, and Coquelin are kids is a bit of a stretch.

Its pretty clear that there was a huge gap in the academy in the last decade. Fletcher was good but injuries wrecked him. Evans had one good season but he has been horrible lately. Welbeck was the only one that panned out and he is decent at best. Pogba may have been our best youth graduate since Scholes, Giggs, and Beckham but he didn't want to be patient. With the 5 players above United may have great potential for these kids to actually do something.

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 4:31 PM. Reason : gt]

6/30/2015 4:26:49 PM

I cannot believe you care about this topic that much.

6/30/2015 4:38:04 PM

Bitch please

6/30/2015 4:41:33 PM

It is one of the reasons why I became a united fan. Old Trafford, season ticket, and nistelroy hattricks was one thing. Looking back at history and the proud legacy of united was entirely another thing. Giving youth a chance, the busby babes, George best, Charlton recovering from a plane crash to lead the first English team to win inEurope.

The resurgence under Sir Alex, brought about by the class of 92. "You will never win anything with kids." The treble, again a massive success thanks to the class of 92. This defines Manchester United, it is the soul of our club.

It is disappointing to see that the current first team squad doesn't contain an academy player of the calibre of Giggs or Scholes. I care because I hope some of these young kids live up to that legacy.

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 6:13 PM. Reason : .]

6/30/2015 6:12:39 PM

Just admit the class of 92 will never be replicated in modern football. Thats all I want.

You can't say that no teams, especially Arsenal, give the chances that United do when I list academy products who have been playing in the first team for YEARS and are still under 25..

United have more academy players who will "graduate" this year than Arsenal does. Happy?

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 6:51 PM. Reason : X]

[Edited on June 30, 2015 at 6:52 PM. Reason : Typo]

6/30/2015 6:50:43 PM

Lol I was trolling with that comment. I actually admire arsenals academy. Liverpool, Arsenal, and United consistently give not just academy players a shot but believe in youth, regardless of where they are from. That is always more admirable than buying players left and right like city. I will admit united of late has flexed that spending power and I hope it was only to see us through a period of transition. Much rather we sign players like depay with a lot of potential than players like Ramos. Obviously if you want to win titles you do have to have at least 1 or two of those every now and thenthough.

6/30/2015 9:03:09 PM

Shaqiri to... Stoke?

Wat.

7/1/2015 8:05:24 AM

Can't wait for academy boy Mueller to get his shot at OT next year.

Quote :

"Petr Cech has revealed he could have joined Arsenal in 2002 were it not for complications with his work permit, but Arsene Wenger's new goalkeeper adds: 'I didn't really miss much.'"

lolz.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3145073/Petr-Cech-joined-Arsenal-13-years-ago-didn-t-really-miss-much.html#ixzz3eds3hnxy

7/1/2015 8:27:15 AM

^^ He will regret that come the first cold windy night in stoke

7/1/2015 8:52:44 AM

^^ tbf he missed the Invincibles, not that he would've featured.

7/1/2015 9:34:10 AM

I've done a complete 180 on Benteke and think he will be BOSS at Liverpool after watching videos and reading some stuff from Villa fans. Get it doneeeee

[Edited on July 1, 2015 at 9:40 AM. Reason : reminder: I thought the same about Balotelli]

7/1/2015 9:38:36 AM

Quote :

"Shaqiri to... Stoke? "

Bojan and Shaqiri in support of... Jon Walters lol

7/1/2015 10:28:46 AM

@futbolinsiderUK: 1. EXCLUSIVE: #Nasri asks Wenger for shock #AFC return. http://t.co/08Oleibsfi http://t.co/YvNHOjbNGr

1 Where does he think play? Not over Ozil as an AM. Not over Alexis out left.

2 Fuck him

3 Wayne Veysey

Silly season indeed.

7/2/2015 7:57:04 AM

lol Nasri is just a cancer in to have in the locker room. Couldn't cut it at shitty, got dumped by France, and now wants a return to the club where he actually played well. If I was Arsene I would tell him to casse toi.

7/2/2015 9:42:34 AM

7/2/2015 2:37:08 PM

LOL

7/2/2015 2:49:32 PM

In before the Falcao hat trick vs United.

7/3/2015 9:26:29 AM

^ Thats just inevitable. Wish he had worked out but glad he has one last shot at a top team.

7/3/2015 11:14:50 AM

https://vine.co/v/OLbwUQaxr1B

7/3/2015 11:23:41 AM

It will be nice to see what Pirlo can do in the EPL the first half of the season

7/6/2015 1:53:30 PM

Apparently almost done with Darmian. Very excited that we were in for him over Coleman. Was my top choice going into the transfer window, hope we announce it in the next 24 hours.

7/7/2015 9:40:28 AM

How many more rentals will you guys acquire before the end of the window if you had to guess?

7/7/2015 10:07:35 AM

*Waits eagerly for a Spurs smackdown*

7/7/2015 10:29:50 AM

Is this smack down coming via high priced foreign mercenaries that care nothing of the badge and wear the shirt for the money only?

7/7/2015 10:39:14 AM

lol like the heart and soul of the spurs team last year in Christian Eriksen?

If you don't believe 12 million quid for Darmian represents great value you are an idiot, but we already knew that....

7/7/2015 2:40:07 PM

He's about a third as good as Fat Luke, right?

7/7/2015 2:49:05 PM

Aside from the joke, Darmian has certainly played better than Shaw. He has been consistently rated as the best RB in Italy along with Lichsteiner.

Can he adapt to the premier league? We will wait and see. However, for someone like him 12 million quid is hardly a risk. Someone like Coleman would have cost twice that and we are getting this guy for roughly the same price as Clyne. Regardless of your bias or hate this is a good deal for United.

7/7/2015 3:05:49 PM

I never heard of him.

7/7/2015 3:21:18 PM

only seen him play once and what a performance it was against England at the World Cup last year. That is when I first heard of him and he looked bloody good. After Rafael's injury problems continued this season I wanted us to get him (I believe I said so on the last page as well). Don't watch the serie A but from all accounts I have heard good things.

7/7/2015 3:28:38 PM

Quote :

"lol like the heart and soul of the spurs team last year in Christian Eriksen?"

Harry Kane?

An English academy player that came up through the ranks to be the heart and soul of the club. He's like your wet dream.

Glad to have Toby in the fold and it sounds like an NFL stadium share deal is imminent so that exciting as well. We could be taking the next step as a club with that agreement.

[Edited on July 8, 2015 at 7:07 AM. Reason : COYS]

7/8/2015 7:00:36 AM

@SkyFootball: Brendan Rodgers is the issue for Raheem Sterling, Sky sources understand: http://t.co/iS8dbPrFVH http://t.co/wnbPrTctqR

Whatever, Brendinho will build a team full of Brazilian aces.

7/8/2015 9:26:27 AM

Spurs are killing it in the news today.

61,000 in the new stadium (500 more than Arse) with a 17,000 single stand on the home end making it the largest in the UK. Love that they're doing the retractable surface and switching to field turf for NFL games. It's a 10 year lease and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have a team, either through expansion or move, to end up there permanently by the time that deal is up.

Levy pulled through big time on this one. The naming rights alone are going to be huge with the NFL involved, not to mention double the ticket/concession revenue and rent from the NFL for playing there. Hopefully we can attract some big time talent to play in this beast.

I assume they'll bid on a Champion's League Final and even a Super Bowl sooner than later.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/new-scheme/gallery/

[Edited on July 8, 2015 at 10:16 AM. Reason : linked added COYS]

7/8/2015 10:13:25 AM

oh yeah, I wish my favorite English soccer team shared a ground with a NFL team. you're so lucky

7/8/2015 10:16:52 AM

You know you're right, who needs money and international exposure anyway? What were they thinking partnering with the biggest cash cow in sports? We're dumb

7/8/2015 10:28:49 AM

Why is the NFL sacrificing 30k in capacity to play in a poor (relatively speaking) area? And why would a CL final not be played at Wembley?

[Edited on July 8, 2015 at 10:32 AM. Reason : Also who is paying for this? Haven't read much about it]

7/8/2015 10:31:24 AM

So on one hand you're shitting all over teams buying expensive players that are in it for "money only" but on the other, you're applauding a blatant cash grab that has nothing to do with soccer just because it's your team?

7/8/2015 10:51:22 AM

Aren't you in on this cash grab too Mr. FSG? I seem to remember you joining in on a lot of this Man U hate.

Also, it's just trolling, but you already knew that.

Say what you want about the NFL, but Spurs took a giant step forward today. I can guarantee you'd be thrilled if this was the new Anfield.

[Edited on July 8, 2015 at 10:59 AM. Reason : COYS]

7/8/2015 10:54:22 AM

I troll mostly about the boner over academy players (that LVG has a good track record with btw). I've never had a problem with buying players because that's what everybody does now.

I care about finances to the point that the team isn't on the brink like LFC was with Hicks & Gillette and that they can reasonably compete in transfer markets. I don't pay any attention to sponsorship deals past that point and also fuck the NFL. Honestly I wouldn't like it for Liverpool. They think Americans are ruining their sport enough already. Reading all the shit they'd have to say about the NFL ruining it even more would get old quick.

[Edited on July 8, 2015 at 11:04 AM. Reason : .]

7/8/2015 11:01:58 AM

Well you don't like the NFL so that's obviously altering your point of view on it, but you're in the drastic minority there. 99% of others, haters excluded, understand how huge it is to get the NFL in London in some official capacity.

7/8/2015 11:19:06 AM

7/8/2015 11:19:51 AM

7/8/2015 11:21:55 AM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

7/8/2015 11:22:52 AM

lol if Tottenham is footing the bill, which they likely are in coordination with the NFL, then its going to hurt your ability to buy players just like it did for Arsenal. Great stadium though.

PS: Harry Kane will be a nobody this time next year and Eriksen is going to be off to Real Madrid. If Kane does well enough he will be off to Madrid or Chelsea too.

7/8/2015 1:56:43 PM

Boy, Fergie really fucked over RVP. Straight up savage abuse to use him for one year and then leave. Istanbul seems pretty cool at least.

Anyway with him gone and Chicharito out/shitty no chance United doesn't throw some £40m pocket change at Cavani, Kane or Benzema. Probably some ridiculous over the top wages too. No chance they invest this much and let some kid back up Rooney.

[Edited on July 9, 2015 at 8:59 AM. Reason : X]

7/9/2015 8:59:17 AM

If Rooney and the kid don't workout, we always have route 1 to Fellaini

7/9/2015 9:25:45 AM

That's no fun. What am I supposed to do with that? I'll just wait for Wazza's thesis to troll.

7/9/2015 9:31:22 AM

haha out/shitty

7/9/2015 10:03:31 AM

Farewell to our beautiful flying dutchman. Still remember how great that day was when we signed him. Always wanted a player of RVP's calibre at United and to this day it is still one of my favorite United signings. Two dutch strikers, two fantastic players for United in RVP and RVN. Unforgettable. Wish we had kept him for another year but he is on massive wages and injury prone. Thanks for number 20 RVP, he is a legend in my books.

Going forward I hope we don't sign a striker. Not one on the market is worth the money, unless its Mueller and he is def. not leaving. Wilson deserves a chance and at this point I hope we retain Chicha. Depay and Januzaj can play there as well.

Sign Schneiderlin and let Rooney play in his natural position. With a proper midfield and Depay, Di Maria, and Mata supporting Rooney can def. score 25+ as a striker.

7/9/2015 10:20:37 AM