I said on Monday that I would not post a seperate blog with responses but I could not keep out over the last two days so here it is in one shot.

Henry14 - Q1 Where do you think Man Utd. is getting all this money given their debt and, will this affect their spending in the next two seasons or so?
Q2 How do you fit Tevez and Rooney in the same team?
Q3 What is your take on Gallas’ comments and do you see him in an Arsenal shirt come August?
Q4 Who do you think has made the best deals or gains in the transfer market and who are the losers so far?

Bobby – A1. It depends on how they budgeted within their business plan in terms of revenue from runs in the various competitions. I would have thought that the Glazer business plan was not predicated on winning the Premiership, making it to the FA Cup Final and reaching the semi final of the Champions League. You also have to appreciate the increase in TV money. Without knowing all these things know can say.
A2. The last time I checked Tevez played for West Ham and Rooney for Manchester United. Has Rooney signed for West Ham?
A3 – I don’t place too much weight on what a player says in an media interview.
A4 – With over seven weeks left before the transfer window closes I would estimate that less than a third of the deals that will be done, have been done. Tagging winners and losers at this stage is like analyzing a marathon after five miles of a 26 mile race.

CIAO -  Can you please shed some light on the situation that Inter and Milan are in. What are the investigations about? Is the investigation also the reason why neither of the Milan sides have been making moves in the transfer market? Is there a chance either team could be relegated to Serie B?

Bobby – The sporting sanctions were imposed last summer and as far as I understand they are final. What is going on just now is charges from a criminal investigation that may lead to a number of punishments – including jail time. I don’t see why the either of the Milan sides are delaying transfer moves. It has probably more to do with fact that the Spanish season has been over for less than a month plus many of the South American players are involved in the Copa America. There are seven weeks still to go – that is a long time.

ummufan - On the Brookings article-no mention of youth development in Italy or Spain-can you shed light on that? Also any thoughts on the US and whether we stick with ODP or encourage MLS teams to create academies or go another direction (outsource to Europe).

Bobby – The best book I have read that contrasts attitudes in Italy and England towards the game and in particular player development is “The Italian Job” by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti. I think the most critical element at play is that in England there is an underlying distrust of coaching and coaching as a profession. The idea that if you played the game at a high level you can teach the game still pervades in the media and with fans.

In terms of the route to follow in the US I don’t see it as one or another. There is a role to be played by every level from the grassroots up to the national team. The secret is – I think – is to make sure that everything is focused on developing the correct qualities and in turn that each segment knows and understands how they fir into the overall plan.

Ulsterson - Regarding the Brooking/Jackson article and with the understanding you have done some coaching, I was wondering if you had some suggestions on reference material for coaching youth teams. I and some other ageing players in my area are starting to "make the transition into management" that our knees, lungs, speed and waning reaction/recovery time have begun demanding of us. We feel this will be a fun way to give back to the sport while preparing us for our own future kids. Also, we need something to help the ego bruising (if one of these 24yr old punks calls me “sir” one more time . . . !!) march of age while waiting to reach renewed youth in the masters league!

While I feel more than confident (especially from the stool in my favorite watering hole, or on this blog!) in my expert armchair analysis and ability to guide, both technically and tactically, the top adult players and clubs in the world... ahem, cough... I have no idea how to go about passing on our vast and valuable knowledge to the youth. All advice on the subject is welcome, as four of us (with the usual act, then think mentality - hey, at least we still act young) have signed up to coach this fall.

Bobby – I have three books that I would recommend. (There are a lot more out there but these three are ones that I have read a few times.) The first one was published originally in 1969 and might be out of print. The version I have is from 1975 and is called “Soccer Coaching the Modern Way” by Eric Batty.

The other two are from the “Dutch School”. “The Coaching Philosophies of Louis van Gaal and the Ajax Coaches” by Henny Kormelink and Tjeu Seeverens published in 1997. The last one was published in 2001 “Teambuilding – the road to success” by Rinus Michels. Michels is more focused on senior sides.

When you are ready to jump in a coach a youth team I would recommend insisting on having some one appointed as manager to run the administrative and off field organizational side of it. The other recommendation is to develop your “philosophy” before you get involved. Are you there to help kids develop skills, win trophies, be better little people? It would great if these pieces were all linked but they rarely are.