18 Mar 2023 23:01:04
Hi Eds, Who, other than LFC and Man City are watching 21 year old Micky van de Ven? He's a good solid shout. Very left-sided DC but knows how to defend well and at 6ft 3inches he's a fairly decent sized unit.

{Ed002's Note - I am very surprised nobody has asked after him. Dortmund und and Arsenal have spoken with Wolfsburg and been told he will be agreeing a new contract. It is not on the TMS yet but I understand it has happened. Liverpool and Manchester City were at a game against Dortmund in November - I had assumed to watch JB but van der Ven scored that day. Team Mino have now agreed a new deal so a sale this summer seems unlikely.}

1.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 08:06:13
He's pretty rapid as well, had him as second choice to Gvardiol, it seems like there's some very good young defenders coming through .

2.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 11:27:33
Thanks, Ed002.It's understandable Wolfsburg want to hold on to him. Definitely, one to watch for the future.

3.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 18:41:27
Talking of the Bundesliga, Xabi alonso has another feather in his cap today, he has just beat Bayern Munich at home 2-1, Frimpong had another excellent game the commentator said.

Xabi started with a 4-3-3 and tactically ended with a 5-2-3 formation as BM searched for a fruitless goal. Bayer are now up to eight position, when Xabi took over they were fourth from bottom circa August 2022

Can he sustain the good run for a CL spot, one hope's so be interesting to see how he goes next year with a chance for a good pre-season and his new signings for the club, but he is certainly going in the right direction managerial wise.

4.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 21:05:34
He's doing well. Look forward to seeing how he develops. He certainly has the brain for it. We'll see if he is a natural born leader and can sustain it - the trickiest part.

5.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 21:09:20
Seems a top guy 007. Hope he enjoys management as much as he enjoyed playing.

6.) 19 Mar 2023
19 Mar 2023 23:46:52
Loved Xabi. One of my favourite players of all time. Just oozed class. Wish we had of kept him a bit longer, but we were pure terrible when he moved on to Madrid, so can’t really blame him. Always liked him, seemed like a good lad.

7.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 00:54:27
He is one of my favourrite players too, Monty. But I don't think he left because our team was terrible. We did finish second in the league the season before he left. Remember that Benitez did try to sell him the season before and replace him with Barry and that, I think, played a part. Plus, he is Spanish so playing in Spain would have appealed very much to him.

8.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 08:27:12
To be fair to Xabi, he only left us because Rafa tried to sell him for Gareth Barry. In all fairness it was nice for him to even give us another season after that - probably the worst insult he's ever had.

9.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 09:14:23
I’ve never forgiven Benitez for the sheer stupidity of wanting to oust him for Gareth Barry. Apparently Xabi wanted to stay too.

10.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 11:51:43
Did he buy Downing? Or what that the Christian Purslow guy? Downing was a shocker.

11.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 12:26:59
@Colin, I could be wrong but Downing I think was bought under KK. And Poulsen was among the atrocious signings we made under Roy. Granted, he had his hands tied due to the lack of funds but the players we brought in that season were just awful.

12.) 20 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023 13:43:39
He was Drac, along with Charlie Adam ?‍♂️.