Kant

Scholes was a natural player (i.e.: no diving or useless tricks), let's hope his talk with Wilshere had some effect. In my opinion, there's not another English midfield with the raw ability that Wilshere has in short spaces (Close control, ability to play one touch passes, midfield tempo), and he would mix well with the other two, Gerrard in the holding role and Hendo running around doing his thing. Barkley is not that type of player (yet), and if he plays along Henderson I fear Barkey would play AMC and Henderson would switch to a role dictating the play that does not suit him.

England's starting XI looks quite strong in paper (but no room for Barkley for me!): Hart Johnson, Jagielka, Cahill, Shaw Gerrard, Wilshere, Henderson Sterling, Rooney, Sturridge I know I will be blasted, but I prefer Luke Shaw (and Ashley Cole) over Baines. Baines is slow and England will not have Gareth Barry to cover his back. Also, it's unbeliavable the weakness of the RB spot. If Johnson gets injured, it's a disaster, the second best RB selected in this country is John Stones, I would have taken Clyne. I don't trust the Man Utd overrated pair. This is a strong attacking team, mobile and with flair and ability to score. I see it like Liverpool this year: exciting but lacking at the back four. Johnson is not a great defender and he gets caught out of position often, Jags and Cahill are solid but nothing spectacular and Baines will have trouble in 1v1 with fast wingers. I hope I'm wrong, this team, if they manage to control the games, they can be candidates.

Atletico want Lukaku. Looks like RM will have to work this summer a little bit more than he expected.

I'm sure he would be a great signing, even though he's as one trick pony as Deulofeu. 22, skilled and already capped. To be honest, I love to see Everton linked to English/British players. I like a club to maintain its identity, to use homegrown talent and to sign English players when possible (i.e.: no price premium for being English).

Some of us should remember how frustrating was Ronaldo when he was 19. I'm not saying Deulofeu will be Ronaldo in the future, but every position has its own learning curve and the flair wideman-forward has its particularities. Awful crossing, bad decision making, selfishness... That's something I could expect. What I wouldn't like to see is a forward playing it backwards without confidence, or not trying to get past anyone. If he stays, I expect him to improve his decision making and his trickery. His main flaws are coachable: selfishness, decision making and ability to dribble to the left side/with his left foot. He has never been so predictable and one-trick-pony as he is now (yes, he was selfish before), and I expect him to improve that. I really wouldn't mind if he does not use his left foot since many other great players only use one foot to run with the ball, but he has to learn to go left to play efficiently. Lastly, he would need to show some consistence, and I think that playing week in week out in Europa League games will help him a lot.

I'm not entirely convinced by Bacca. He looks good most of the times but nothing special, he doesn't have potential and it looks like he choked tonight. €20m seem excessive.

France have always had talented players but they are so egotastic they tend to implode. In 2008 they were an absolute mess, this time they tried to assemble a group, a team, with clear roles for the players and less egos. For the record, Nasri sabotaged Laurent Blanc and confronted three journalists in 2008, and has barely featured since then for Les Bleus. Hodgson has done the same with Cole in England, I assume some players are not ready to accept they belong to the bench.

He'll play tonight the final of the Europa League (Sevilla v Benfica). I'm quite sure the release fee is not accurate, but he would not be cheap either. Sevilla need to sell.

Doesn't seem very prolific (45 in 115). Unsure about him.

Solid reliable players that know the game and his role like Distin can always be the number 23 in the WC squad. Unfortunately for him, Abidal was also doing the same role and he was also left out. Oh, the French...

Well, let's start by replying: 1) As EFC-Paul said, that was Euros. To be picky, it's €39M. When Diego Costa renewed his contract he agreed with Atletico a release clause. Atletico Madrid do this so they can sell players for a good amount without driving the fans mad. They did it with Torres, Aguero, Falcao, etc. It's actually good for all the parties involved: Atletico gets a lot of money, the player must perform to be worth that amount and the fans don't get mad when a foreign club pays the release clause fee. However, the fans would never accept a sale for less than the release clause fee, since Atlético Madrid is the third biggest club in Spain and they must try to challenge for the title. 2) Sources (all of them in Spanish): Here, here, here, here. They even quote Sky and The telegraph as well. Sometimes I read English newspapers but as it was quite widespread I thought it would be public in England as well, but the truth is Atletico play this Saturday the final game against Barcelona at 17h (18h local Spanish time) and then the Champions League final, so it'll never be announced before the end of the Champions League. 3) Atletico need a replacement for Costa, Mourinho doesn't rate Lukaku and Atletico fancy him. Plus, Courtois and Mourinho do not speak to each other (like little kids...). Atletico would like at least a loan of both included as part of the agreement, Mourinho would like to offload Lukaku permanently, and it seems they are negotiating. I have no doubts if Lukaku wants to stay in Liverpool, he will, but I doubt that will be the case without Champions League football to offer.

In my case, I'm Spanish (I know La Liga) + Premier League games as well + used to play Football Manager + recently broke my ankle. That's a lot of free time. Furthermore the TV here has some excellent football shows highlighting the young players, pros and cons. I've got to a point where I could watch and track players in the different leagues, no matter if it was Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League...

Nobody want to pay the €9M in wages he currently earns! He's Brazil bound, where a club like Santos can afford that. In Europe he's not THAT good to earn silly money. What an absurd contract Wolfsbourg offered him back at the time. Atlético Madrid took him for free (just pay his wages) to help them win titles, but he's not a starter and not even Diego Costa earns that in Atletico. No way Everton sign him, obviously.

Atletico must sell every year to balance the books, in the past they heavily overspent and they are in huge debt with almost everyone (IRS included). Reports everywhere say there's a deal with Chelsea for €40M. Atletico would want Lukaku, though, and Courtois on loan again.

He may not improve a lot more technically but he will improve, and the most important factor for strikers is the experience. I would encourage you to see the performances of "the stars of today" when they were 18. Most of them were quite poor. Some goalscorers were plain awful -a clear example: Higuain (5 goal season and booed, Real Madrid paid €20M when he was 17 and unproven)- other were only decent and some peaked early in their careers. Lukaku can improve, he must learn how to use his huge body to outpower opponents, how to get involved into play and how to get into the right positions at the right time, etc. No one can't predict if he will be the next Drogba, but we can remember that Drogba was not that great in the early stages of his career. Negredo (another powerful striker) couldn't get a game when he was 20 as he was technically raw. I would say he's surprised me with the use and improvement of his weak foot this year and the first month he couldn't play more than 60 min per game. All in all, I wouldn't doubt for 12M, I would pay 20M only if a) there is no other option and the rest of the squad can be strengthen as well.

I would like if RM tries to get a young player that is already at the required level but has potential to become the next big thing. But let's not forget that Everton already has that: John Stones, Ross Barkley. If he manages to sign Lukaku that'd be a huge accomplishment, the lad is 20 and already produces a lot! Their market value and the future of the club will depend on how they progress. There are also good Premier League players that are quite young and can evolve to the next level: Mirallas, McCarthy, Coleman. Others that are good, capped, experienced and will maintain the level required: Howard, Jagielka, Baines, Barry if signed. And then the squad players: McGeady, Naismith, Gibson, etc. The way RM talks I understand he wants to add to the second and third group, and if something affordable comes in his way, he'll add to the first group. What I see here is a team that is almost in position to end fourth if one of the young players breaks out and raises his game, or if a squad player performs above his level. Barkley and Stones performing week in week out good displays should help too. (For the record, I consider McCarthy one of the bests young DM in Europe, he has still four years to reach his peak and he is starting sometimes to dominate games. He would fit in most big teams in the Makelele-Mascherano role, he's quite good at that (and some teams have dudes at that position like: Obi Mikel, Fellaini, past-it Arteta, Bentaleb, Illarramendi, etc.) and once he offers more offensively, he'll be a beast.)

I read somewhere that Colback is signing for Newcastle, and he would just be a squad player for us so I'm not too dissapointed about that. I'd much rather like Jack Cork (24), he's been quite good this season and he's English. I see most of us would like to sign cheap decent players, but after going over some of the posts I really hope Roberto shows more ambition than us and tries to get a young promising player to be developed and nurtured for the next couple of years. I wouldn't want journeymen like Diame or Colback unless there's not a better option. Show some ambition, Roberto! Cheeky options at good prices: - Casemiro (DMC, Real Madrid). Brazilian, aged 20, signed for 6M two years ago from Sao Paulo. He played the first year in Real Madrid "B", showed some promise and he got promoted to the first team. Then Real signed Illarramendi for 40M and the guy is the 5th option for midfield, after Alonso, Modric, Khedira and Illarramendi. This year Khedira tore his ACL and he barely played. He's a good player, decent technique, strong, mobile and willing to do the dirt for the team. For 10M € he would be available, he will be available for loan next season as well. - Tello (22) / Adama Traoré (18) (FWD, Barcelona): Ultra quick wingers that can't see playing time in Barcelona due to star signings above them in the pecking order (Messi, Neymar, Alexis, Cesc and Pedro). 10M€ release clause for Tello. Effective. I would say that Pedro wants to move too, but he would be too expensive at the moment and bigger clubs would get him. Traoré is just 18 and that would be a loan, considering he's touted the next big thing. Looks more complete than Deulofeu, and he's already played more for the first team than Deulofeu. Please Roberto, use your links with Barcelona and bring another exciting cheap/on loan forward. We know that RM goes to the world cup to scout players, but last time he ended up with a bunch of Honduran cheap players in Wigan. I just hope he realises Everton can do much better than that. It's an exciting offseason that will mould the future of the club.

If only RM can secure Barry, Lescott and Rodwell on loan, plus one decent striker, I would be very happy. Dundee United has three youngsters RM likes very much too, and they would be cheap. He said recently he wanted six players recently to cope with the EL demands, I included 7 but Rodwell doesn't seem to be a target and Cleverley probably is.

I totally agree to allow teams to enter a "B" team and let the competition sort them out. The best teams will get higher in the leagues, but then once a good player appears if the first team calls him up, they'll weaken the "B" team and they'll fight to avoid relegation. Example: Real Madrid "B" last year had Jesé Rodriguez and Morata, they've both been promoted to the first squad, and the B team is struggling to stay in Segunda Division. The lifecycle of a B team, and the biggest teams can stop loaning every youngster to give them playing time, they'll have a "B" team playing in a lower division with that purpose. For example: it's not the same for Barcelona to have kids playing their complex system in the Barcelona B, than to loan them to QPR. Other teams in Spain never get that high (the fourth and fifth divisions are plagued of "B" and "C" teams). But one scenario must be remembered: If the first team gets relegated, then the "B" team that is in the immediate lower division gets relegated too, they can't play in the same league. Recent case: Villarreal and Villarreal "B".

IMO Barkley shouldn't go to the WC. Managers take 23 players but they rarely use more than 15. Will Barkley be among those used? Not likely. Is he ready to consistently take over the starting spot? Probably not. Will he play at all? Unlikely. Let's recall the number of the midfielders ahead of him in the pecking order, around 5 or 6. Three of them starters plus two experienced subs. In a short cup competition when you need a goal you bring in your tallest striker and cross/hoof balls. The only situation I could see Hodgson using an explosive midfielder that like to run with the ball like him is in overtime with both team struggling with heavy legs (we can't deny how powerful he is when he runs with the ball). Would Hodgson have what it takes to send Barkley, a youngster, in OT in a decisive game? I doubt that. Therefore, ff he's going to watch the games from the bench a la Walcott, I prefer the lad to rest, disconnect from football, enjoy his holidays, train on his game calmly and come back ready for next season. He's very young and the England set up doesn't always help the players. [OFFTOPIC] I'd call basketball an international sport and the salary cap works quite well in the NBA. Truth be told, it's a combination of respect (playing at the highest leve), reputation (worldwide known) and endorsement deals that make the NBA much more interesting than China or European basketball. [/OFFTOPIC]

Scout and sign talent, then it will sort itself out. Injuries, versatiliy, Baines ageing (potential long term replacement), Baines still able to perform and teach him a thing or two about how to become a great LB in the PL... I would hate it if Martinez does not sign the best young players available identified by the scout team because the team has the position already covered.

I have not seen him this year but last year he was very good in a poor Wigan side. Some players tear it up in the lower leagues then fail to replicate their form in the PL, some others fail in the lower leagues and do well in the PL (although I must admit it's unfrequent).

Accumulated fatigue? I can't remember another game plagued with silly mistakes like this one. No one played well, and Southampton didn't even need to score to win this game.

Awful display, time for a rant at half time. Barkley has been quite useless since he's believed all the hype. He plays as a second striker, because he does not defend and does not try, but he is as useless offensively. I may add that it looks like our team is used to be younger and play with swagger, but this Southampton has also young players and they play well too. They didn't know how to react to that. I am missing the attitude of a captain in the pitch, they look disconnected and, more worryingly, uninterested. Gareth Barry is not in his best form of the season.

As long as he is not played as a DM, he'll be fine in Everton. He is a 7/10 in multiple aspects (passing, vision, movement, agility, etc.), I feel he can combine well in the forward slots like Pienaar or play the Osman/Barkley role. When he was playing for Wigan he was quite dynamic and astute. Somehow I feel he suddenly stopped his development in Manchester due to many circumstances (played out of position, increased expectations, England call-up, media hype, etc.) and he's in a crossroad at the moment. If he carries on playing for a good manager, in his position, with fans not booing him and he rediscovers his confidence, he can continue developing into a good player. If he stays, collects the check and keeps playing CM, he'll fail miserably. He'll not be cheap (I hope 8 million and I see that a fair price). He's not at his best, but he's a full England international, he's 24, experienced already in the top flight and without a horrible injury record.