Feyenoord

Is there any hope of this or Benfica being streamed?

Dutch TV is showing the match with a 15 minute delay so very likely to have a stream.

Mahmadou(sp) Diarra should be available now from Real Madrid. They've got Gago and Lass Diarra and have now signed Khedira. I read in Marca that Madrid want to get something back from the 28m euros (ripoff) they paid for Diarra. I think he's over his injury problems. He hurt his knee in the middle of the 2008-2009 season and has been stuck behind lass, xabi alonso..etc.

If we could get him for 10m I think he could turn into a steal.

10 million??

That's crazy. He's not even worth half that. He is 29 and been injured for a long time and unwanted. There are plenty of better players out there.

Cracking, yup. My concern is his size, he's practically dwarfen. Like Jay Tabb sans the fat.

I am rather interested in hearing your thoughts on Stefan De Vrij, he actually got a few games in the Feyenoord first team last seasons didn't he? Feyenoord seem to have a number of promising youngsters coming through of late.

De Vrij looks a very mature player for his age. Does nothing fancy at all but is just extremely reliable. He played 20 odd games at right back last year and I cannot remember him making a mistake. Very impressive considering he turned 18 a few months ago.

He'll be there when we meet next week in Portugal because he pulled out of the Holland U19 squad with a slight injury. Our youth academy is indeed very special...best in Holland by far in the recent years.

We seem to be liking our Moroccan links this window, first Boussoufa and now El Hamdaoui. It'll be just like the good ol' days with Hassan Kachloul and Mustapha Hadji... actually, I don't remember those days being so good. :shock:

They will be if you sign both. Boussoufa is a cracking right footed left winger.

For that money its a relatively low risk signing, and the type of 'risk' I would like to see Villa take.

Feyenoord- what's your opinion on Brian Ruiz? He seemed to be doing great things in Holland, what about him? worth a punt?

He was scoring very important goals last year indeed. I dont think he is well suited for the Premier League. He's not very quick and I don't think he can handle the extremely high tempo. He is a real Primera Division player. A club like Valencia, Sevilla would suit him well.

Not worth a punt. He's not a real striker also...more a left/right winger.

Tottenham signed him, didn't fancy him then loaned him out to Derby where he did OK, I've seen him play a couple of times and he didn't look like he was anything other than ordinary.

Afonso Alves anyone?

Martin Jol signed him for Tottenham because he was out of contract. He was 4th choice there and couldn't get a game.

It's a typical sign of moving abroad too young. He was not even playing in the Eredivisie but Jol saw his potential.

When he came back to Holland he got a terrible injury which ruled him out for the whole season. That's the only serious injury he has ever had. Louis van Gaal picked him up at AZ for a lot of money and he has banged in goal after goal and he creates a lot as well.

He's got unbelievable technique. I don't think there are many players in the Eredivisie or Premier League that can do more with a football.

It's pretty easy to mention Afonso Alves or Mateja Kezman because they didn't succeed (even though they are still good strikers) but Forlan didn't make it either. I could name you 20 world-class strikers who did make it coming from the Eredivisie

El Hamdaoui was Eredivisie player of the year as well in 2008/09

I have just read that Mounir El Hamdaoui is available for 5 million Euro's. Ajax had an offer accepted today but couldn't agree personal terms with him.

He would be a cracking signing for Villa and a absolute steal. AZ Alkmaar are in financial trouble and 1,5 years ago FC Barcelona were sniffing around him.

He is a great striker/2nd striker with sublime Rotterdam street skills. Grew uw with the likes of Van Persie and Glenn Loovens. He's had his injury problems in the past at Willem II but came back very strong. He has just turned 26 a week ago.

2001/02 Excelsior 6 2 First Divison

2002/03 Excelsior 21 2 Eredivisie

2003/04 Excelsior 33 17 First Divison

2004/05 Excelsior 14 11 First Divison

2004/05 Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 Premiership

2005/06 Derby County 9 3 First Division

2005/06 Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 Premiership

2006/07 Willem II 4 3 Eredivisie

2007/08 Willem II 2 0 Eredivisie

2007/08 AZ 23 7 Eredivisie

2008/09 AZ 31 23 Eredivisie

2009/10 AZ 27 20 Eredivisie

Total: 170 88

Rumours that Stephen Ireland wants to be paid in rainbows, daffodils and caterpillars eyeballs are sadly true.

And Superman underwear

Carlos Salcido can leave PSV for 2 million Euro's (1.5 million pounds) this summer. He's 30...left back back-up?