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. 

Given that I have never read a book by Ashley Cole, David Beckham or Frank Lampard, I can safely say that I have never read a soccer book that I didn't like. With the holidays approaching and the possibility of some free time being available here is a list of the books that I've acquired over last twelve months.

Any of you have other books that you might want to recommend?

“Foul”, By Andrew Jennings, published by HarperCollins.

“The Italian Job”, by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti, published by Random House.

“Behind the Curtain:Football in Eastern Europe”, by Jonathan Wilson, published by McArthur & Co.

“The Bonnie Prince-My Football Life”, by Charlie Cooke and Mark Knight, published by Mainstream Publishing Company.

"Best and Edwards,” by Gordon Burns, published by Faber and Faber Ltd.

"The Best of Charlie Buchan's Football Monthly,” edited by Simon Inglis, published by English Heritage.

"Forza Italia", by Paddy Agnew, published by Random House.

"’78 How a nation lost the World Cup," by Graham McColl, published by Headline Book Publishing.

"Morbo-the story of Spanish football," by Phil Ball, published by W.S.C. Books Ltd.

"The Leaguers -the making of professional football in England, 1900 – 1939," by Matthew Taylor, published by Liverpool University Press.

"Once in a Lifetime-the extraordinary story of the New York Cosmos," by Gavin Newsham, published by Atlantic books.

"tor!-the story of German football," by Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger, published by W. S.C. Books Ltd.

"The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup," edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey, published by HarperCollins books.

"The Lost Babes-Manchester United and the forgotten victims of Munich," by Jeff Connor, published by HarperSport.

"Sir Alf," by Leo McKinstry, published by HarperSport.

"Football and Fascism-the national game under Mussolini," by Simon Martin, published by Berg Publishers.

"Jackie Milburn-a man of two halves," by Jack Milburn, published by Mainstream Sport.

"Colin Bell-reluctant hero," by Colin Bell with Ian Cheeseman, published by Mainstream Publishing.

"My Father and other Working-Class Football Heroes," by Gary Imlach, published by Yellow Jersey Press.

"Garrincha,” by Ruy Castro, published by Yellow Jersey Press.

"Highbury - The Story of Arsenal in N. 5", by Jon Spurling, published by Orion Books.

The verdict is due very soon but Gazzetta dello Sport reported this morning that the sanctions will be:

Relegated to Serie B and docked points for 06/07 - Juventus, (docked 20 points) Fiorentina (docked 7 points) and Lazio (docked 10 points)

AC Milan to remain in Serie A but excluded from the Champions League and docked 10 to 15 points for 06/07 season.

I will not be surprised if these are the sanctions or something very close. With a 20 point deduction it is the equivalent of demotion to Serie C.

The ramifications are extensive and the impact long term.

The sale of players will take a number of Italian players to other leagues. Traditionally Italian players do not play in other leagues. Vialli, Zola and Di Matteo (Chelsea) are probably the highest profile Italian players to make a living in another league. Di Vaio, Viera, Corradi are either border line or past their best.

Loss of revenue to the clubs and Serie A in general. I saw one estimate - from a reliable and credible journalist - that the loss to Juventus over a three year period (before they could return to Europe ) of close to $500M. That also takes into consideration the required firesale of players e.g. paid around $20M for Patrick Vieira but will be lucky to get $5M tomorrow.

The over supply of quality players will further depress the transfer market and impacts all teams in Europe. Manchester United is rumoured to want $15M for a 30 year-old Ruud Van Nistelrooy - will they get that when you might be able to pick up a 26 yesar old David Trezeguet for maybe half of that.

The quality of Italian teams in the Champions League will be less which means less money flowing to Serie A and an opportunity for other European leagues to fill the vacuum.

I am sure there are more. If you support an Italian team - and particularly one of the four - how do you see it impacting your team. For supporters of other teams how do you think the verdicts will affect your team.

And last but not least will Inter now win Serie A!