c1982

Not saying that at all. He's not an awful player though!

Not at the highest level - Paul Dalgleish, Darren Ferguson, (Nigel Clough - was half decent actually) are 2/3 examples of football being about who you know - they didn't do anything at the highest level. Holt has worked his way up and earned it - he then goes and scores 15 goals in the prem. If players are good enough they'll usually find their level (and that's good or bad)... look at smalling, had to work up from non-league, others did it like guppy, wright, mcateer, loads have. Many failed footballers use the it's who you know as an excuse - maybe they don't have the mentality if they're saying that or maybe simply they just aren't good enough. What they need to do though is play at a level maybe semi-pro and if they're good enough then there are enough clubs and scouts, etc. out there. There must be players who slipped through the net but to say 10 of your mates are better than a premiership footballer is a little naive!

You should probably get a job as a football scout if truly believe that!

Whoever wrote this has been reading this thread! http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/349245/20120606/manchester-united-transfer-news-leighton-baines-pogba.htm

Don't want him either but he's clearly not awful with 15 goals in his PL debut season. Will be a decent signing for villa or west ham I'd imagine. Would be very effective for Stoke too, him and crouch would be a defenders nightmare!

Correct, he seems a genuinely good bloke and very, very knowledgable along with THT. I look and listen out for what LCAB has to say on talksport and twitter - sometimes you just have to look beyond him talking in codes and calling himself the oracle though!!!

Think it'd be a good deal for us but surely the fact that this rumour had just started here on toffeetalk is enough consolation!!! SAF wouldn't allow it to happen as they'll both end up top players.

I really like Rafael, not seen as much of fabio da silva but he's looked decent playing out of pos cm/rb when I've seen him. Neither have had a sustained run in the team but there's certainly a lot of promise shown by both. Both probably more comfortable going forward but they're still only young.

I want both da silva's (perm deals - no pun) plus £10m. Fabio would be at least 3rd choice and Rafael seems in and out with often jones, smalling and even Valencia chosen at rb a lot of the time. They can have baines and maybe clynne and we'll have a pair of mini Brazilian fellaini's plus a bit of money. Massively far fetched I know!!!

http://mobile.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/runtime/cardiffcity/article?articleId=2798585

Match on 8th June http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2012/06/08/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/oman/australia/1269297/

Ss1 great European goals... Bressan vs Barca!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXlrN1Sq_cE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2155074/Everton-fight-Leighton-Baines-Napoli-lurk.html?ITO=1490

http://thtandlcab-football.com/2012/06/05/every-player-has-their-price/

Couple of redknapp quotes... http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2012/06/redknapp-open-to-pienaar-deal/

Correct - look at Villareal now anyway, a champs league run wouldn't have necessarily meant success in the proceeding years.

http://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2012/06/baines-wants-stars-to-stay-at-everton/?utm_source=website&utm_campaign=wordtwit&utm_medium=web

He will be missed but it could be time and the best move for all parties.

Agree. I can see how some become swayed/convinced by such articles but ultimately they are just focusing on 50% of the facts and processing them in a way that gets across their message. They are ignoring so much important information and dressing up what they want people to hear. I think what they should be judged on is their efforts at getting the BU message out since Jan - oh we're doing alright again we'll leave it for now! Do they truely believe in what they stand for?

http://www.sos1878.co.uk/everton-news/blue-union-to-resume-protests-with-immediate-effect/

It'll come with age young Jedi... beer on a session but for me, you can't beat a glass of red! *Unless JD is brought into the equation that is!

It seems the £800k would have been more like £4m if a prem team had snapped him up - but still...

Off to bourissia munchengladbach (sp!!!) for only £800k compensation! Obviously don't know his situation but he would have been a steal at that! Will be playing champs league footie so makes sense.

http://thtandlcab-football.com/2012/06/03/baines-no-united-contact-yet/

Would be an incredible signing for price mentioned - been injured for about a year but if he can recapture what he had then he'd be a steal!