is it just me...

Or is perhaps the most disappointing thing about this transfer window the fact that we seem to have lost the english core of our side, dunoo about you lot I was proud of that last season we had one if not the highest percentage of english players in our line up and this season feel we will more often than not just have the 2 in simpson and stevie taylor.
potential/likely line up
krul
simpson
s taylor
colocinni
jose (fingers crossed)
jonas
cabaye
tiote
marveaux
ben arfa
ba

 

other teams seem to do ok without a core of english players arsenal spring to mind



positivepositivepositive

 

Once upon a time I would have cared, but seeing how s*** England players are nowadays it is probably a good thing.

 

You'll be hard pushed to find a more positive fan than me mate, just thought i'd try and put it out there for summat other than this barton ****e t talk about. With regards to arsenal they do but they're also heavily criricised for it and are now finally seeming to bring some quality english lads through

 

Harper, Fergie, Ralyor, Willo, Guthrie, Bestie, Ranger, Shola (if he's Nigerian then I'm a leppricaun) etc? That's 11 players out of a squad of 25 you named.

 

Did I not say in the startin line up? Ok so adding the players you mentioned to that list and forster makes 11 out of 25 (lettin fergie irishness slide), with ranger lookin likely to be sold or loaned makes 10 and wouldnt be surprised in the slightest to see harper go drops it to 9, 5 of which I would class as back up players at best

 

Fergie's from Northern Ireland and Best is "irish".

 

Barton = The Past
Cabaye = The Future

Gotta stay positive!

 

Would've been nice to have both though.

 

Definetly. This should not be underestimated either. Arsenal are a bit of unique case. I look at Sir Bobby Robsons thoughts on this matter and the importance he saw in having a core of senior british players. I always think when he said something relating to how to build a team it was worth listening as he knew more about it than all the fans put together. Mourinho is cut from the same cloth and he made a big point about it when at Chelsea, Inter and Madrid (wonder where he got that idea!). Ferguson is a big believer in it too.

Barton and Nolan should have been retained and added too. We stil have Harps, S Taylor and Simpson provided Harps and Taylor remain first choice. Even then their replacements would be Willo and Krul (an adopted Geordie). Obviously Nolan and Barton brought unity to the table and its probably, along with their quality with the ball, that will be missed most.

 

I think it's a very good point. I'll miss seeing our boys doing well out there, especially as they're all overlooked for the England line-up. On the grander scheme of things, I just want to see us ****ing win something. Anything.

 

But we did

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Oh, pardon me, the Teresa Herrera! Makes up for it's lack of prestige and recognition with sheer size.

 

Yeah. The surrender monkeys did great at SJP last season, didn't they, when the pressure was cranked up in the second half?

Folded like a deck of cards, while Joey Barton ran the show!

 

Yet they are playing CL football next year

 

Ok British core. Man U's core consists of Welsh, Irish, Scottish etc but people always talk about their Core of home talent.

 

Look did any of our English players get a look in from Capello. No (Carroll only due to media pressure) So **** the nationality if they are good enough. Thats all that matters

 

Yeah, didn't mean to seem pedantic about it. Sorry.

 

Not too fussed about them gettin international recognition meself (although it is nice to see now and again), just prefer to see a team built around good hard workin players from the home nations with a few foreigners thrown in to complement them

 

That's ignorant beyond belief to be perfectly honest. It's very important. I bet you'd struggle to name a team which has won the PL title without a british core. Or the spanish title without a spanish core, or the Italian title without an italian core. It's not rocket science.