25 man squads

[moomba]

Ah, didn't realise the sweaties weren't included in the home grown quota.

Liverpool seem to be the club with most work to do to get around the rules.

If I understand correctly, if the have only 5 home grown players instead of 8, they can only name 22 in their squad, not 25.

Can't see that happening so expect a few more signings of the likes of Wright, and sales of the likes of Degan that don't really offer anything but take up a spot on the list.

 

[moomba]

Press are pushing the line that we've got to reduce a 38 man squad to 25.

It's actually 39 with Kolarov not included, so we've got to lose 14 by transfers, loans or under 21's.

2 of the 14 will be keepers - Neilson is already on loan, Gonzales will miss out but we would be able to add him to the list under the emergency rules if we get injuries to two of our keepers.

So 12 to go, we'll lose two under 21 defenders (Boyata, Cunningham), Garrido and Logan and Vidal would have to be candidates for sales or loans.

7 left to lose off the list. Abdi Ibrahim is our under 21 from the midfield. I can't see Etuhu or Vladi Weiss making the 25.

So 4 to lose from the forward line and I think this is where our "names" will miss out. Alex Nimely is under 21, so things look bleak for 3 strikers. Jo, Caicedo, Santa Cruz are unlikely to stay with the club so we're set really without losing much. Bellend and Robinho are chances to leave so we even have a bit of flexibility to add a few more to the list. Balotelli won't count so there could be another couple in.

And Garrido, Santa Cruz and maybe Weiss are the only ones I think would be around the squad if the rules weren't in place.

 

[belfast_bomber]

moombs, it's probably easier to think about it in these terms: 25 - 8 = 17 foreigners allowed in the squad. So looking at your current squad, start counting the ones you most want to keep til you get to 17. You're grand with home-growns. (I think Given counts, arrived at Blackburn young enough?)

 

[moomba]

We're alright on that front, I think only 12 foreigners in my 25.

I did work out that Given didn't qualify a while back, but I'm not sure if that was the premier league rules or Europe (don't even know if there is home grown numbers in Europe but I suspect there is).

 

[belfast_bomber]

I'm sure I'm not the only one to find it amusing that according to these rules Cesc Fabregas is more English than Owen Hargreaves.

 

[Knowledge]

I'm sure I'm not the only one to find it amusing that according to these rules Cesc Fabregas is more English than Owen Hargreaves.

thoughts on Hargreaves and Anderson making the squad?

I think Anderson will make it but not sure about Hargo

 

[belfast_bomber]

I doubt Hargreaves will ever play a game of football again to be honest.

 

[Knowledge]

I doubt Hargreaves will ever play a game of football again to be honest.

I know, sad isn't it? I still have a faint hope, not sure why.

 

[jod23]

Paid 18 million for him too didnt you? How many appearances and starts has he actually made for Utd?

 

[Knowledge]

26 appearances since 2007

 

[jod23]

26 appearances since 2007

Epic, epic fail.

 

[Coledinho]

He did have a history of knee problems too before joining so it was hardly a hidden secret. His WC in 2006 was stupidly good however so you can see why they paid the money the did but it reeks of impulse purchase and still does

 

[moomba]

IIRC United were chasing after him for two years so hardly an impulse thing.

Key player in a champions league winning season is the only thing stopping this being a total write off of a transfer.

 

[jod23]

IIRC United were chasing after him for two years so hardly an impulse thing.

Key player in a champions league winning season is the only thing stopping this being a total write off of a transfer.

26 appearances. 18 million dollars. It's safe to say, it's a write off.

 

[Crimson King]

He was worth every penny for the season in which we won the premiership/CL double.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Epic, epic fail.

You paid a similar amount for Aquilani and he's had far less impact than Hargreaves has in a United shirt.

Regardless, it's not like he wasn't made of glass at Bayern so it's not just bad luck. We knew the risks.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Aye, at Bayern he was known as "The English Patient". Mainly because Michael Ondaatje never wrote any novels about a Canadian.

 

[jod23]

You paid a similar amount for Aquilani and he's had far less impact than Hargreaves has in a United shirt.

Regardless, it's not like he wasn't made of glass at Bayern so it's not just bad luck. We knew the risks.

Hargreaves has been at United though since 2007. Aqua has had one season, he will go past OH in appearances midway through next season. Jury is still out on Aqua, but OH was an epic fail.

 

[cesc fabregas]

Hargreaves has been at United though since 2007. Aqua has had one season, he will go past OH in appearances midway through next season. Jury is still out on Aqua, but OH was an epic fail.

I hope and believe that Aquilani will do well this season. Just not the first match.

 

[Dagger5]

Hargreaves was a beast whenever he played for Bayern or United but sadly for him that wan't very often (even more so for Utd). I think Kaka has the same knee tendinitis issues so he may start missing even bigger chunks of seasons.

 

[moomba]

Last friendly interesting because of who didn't play - no Onuoha, Ireland, Bridge. Bellend and Santa Cruz on bench but didn't get on.

Could mean something, could mean nothing.