With the World Cup only days away,  Badderman, Bishy, Oensan and myself answer the following questions about England, The World Cup and the possibility of the World Cup returning to Africa.

So the questions we are answering are:

1. Who do you think will win the world cup?
2. What do you think to England’s chances?
3. Who do you think will be the surprise team to emerge from the groups?
4. Who do you think are the players to watch?
5. After the 2012 World Cup do you think there will be another African World Cup? Read the rest of this entry →

We’ve reached the midway point of the season. It’s time to check how the graduates are doing, with most of them expecting to be involved regularly in the first team at their respective clubs.

James Bishop once again struggled for first team action at Stamford Bridge, playing in one cup game and one Champions League game. He is still on the loan list and may be moving elsewhere for more first team experience when the window opens. Chelsea are currently sitting top of the Premier League, five points ahead of second placed Manchester City. Bishop played in both of the England U21 Playoff victories against France.

Owen Edwards has made 16 league appearances for Nottingham Forest so far this term, scoring his first league goal in a 3-0 home win over top of the table Hull, setting up two and claiming two man of the match awards. He’s been named in the Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week once. Forest have struggled so far this term and currently sit 20th in the Championship, three points clear of the drop. Edwards played in both of the England U21 Playoff victories against France.

Will Luck made 11 appearances for Preston, scoring 6 goals before tearing his calf muscle and ruling himself out for nearly 5 months, meaning it is unlikely that his loan deal with the Deepdale club will be extended. Before his injury, Luck had helped stabilise Preston in 4th place in the Championship however they dropped to 14th, having won a single game in his absence. Luck scored in the England U21 5-0 friendly victory over San Marino.

Alistair Paterson has made 9 appearances for Sheffield United so far this season, missing the whole of September with a pulled hamstring. Sheffield United are currently hovering just above the relegation zone, sitting 15th, 3 points clear of the drop. Paterson played for England U21’s in their 4-0 qualifying victory over Bulgaria, scoring a goal. He also scored in the friendly against Czech Republic.

Phil Taylor has been in sensational form for Blackburn, starting all 26 games, scoring 7 and setting up a further 7. He’s also received one man of the match award. His good form has helped Blackburn to 3rd in the table and they are a single point behind second placed Burnley. Unsurprisingly, Blackburn are keen to keep the England U21 captain at Ewood Park for the remainder of the season. Taylor scored in both of the England U21 Playoff victories against France.

The season’s just getting under way so it’s time to check on the progress that the graduates have made so far.

James Bishop will be hoping his experience gained while on loan at Sheffield United will help him force his way into the Chelsea first team this season.

Owen Edwards will be hoping to carry on his progress from last season with Forest. He’s the only player to still be with his original club.

Will Luck will be hoping for regular game time and a decent goal haul this season having stepped down to the Championship on loan. The deal runs until January.

Alistair Paterson is hoping to play a key role in helping Sheffield United maintain their Premier League status this time around.

Phil Taylor will once again look to add to his first team experience, this time at recently relegated Blackburn, before returning to the Emirates in January.

As ever, several of the graduates have been linked with moves elsewhere. Bishop looks likely to head out on loan, while Edwards is a rumoured target for newly promoted Watford. Meanwhile Paterson and Luck look likely to stay put for the time being.

James Bishop was named in the Sheffield United Seasonal Best Eleven. He remained on the loan list with a possible return to Sheffield United rumoured to be on the cards. Blackburn and Hull also emerged as a potential suitors. Bishop, however, rebuffed all offers and is to stay at Stamford Bridge until January.

Owen Edwards was named in the Nottingham Forest Seasonal Best Eleven for the third season in a row. Following his most successful season yet, Edwards was monitored by Bolton and newly promoted Watford. No formal offers were made meaning Edwards will start his fourth season with Forest. He’s the only graduate that has yet to appear in the Premier League.

Will Luck was named in the Manchester United Seasonal Best Eleven for the first time. The Red Devils were keen to keep him at Old Trafford for the new season and further integrate him into the first team. Despite this, Blackburn, Burnley and Preston were all interested in taking Luck on loan for the forthcoming season, with Preston eventually convincing Manchester United that it was in the players best interest to experience regular first team football. The loan deal runs until January and Luck will be hoping to get a couple more goals under his belt.

Alistair Paterson opted for continuity, starting his third season with the Blades. He’ll be hoping that they’ll last a little longer in the Premier League this time around.

Phil Taylor was named the England U21 captain. Blackburn were believed to be interested in securing his services on loan for the forthcoming season. Arsenal accepted the offer, as did Taylor. The deal initially runs until January however there is already speculation that Blackburn, Taylor’s fifth team, may look to extend the deal.

It’s the end of the season and time to check how the FMSB graduates fared. Hopefully they’ll have received more game time this time around …

James Bishop played 15 games for Sheffield United, with 1 assist and 2 man of the match awards. He was named in in the Coca-Cola Championship Team of the Week on three occasions earning himself the Coca-Cola Championship Young Player of the Month for both February and March. Sheffield United finished the season top of the Championship ensuring a swift return to the Premier League while Chelsea finished second in the Premier League and reached the Champions League Quarter Finals, where they were knocked out by Inter Milan. Chelsea are hoping to loan Bishop out once more next term.

Owen Edwards finished the season with 25 appearances to his name and 5 assists making this his most productive season yet. Nottingham Forest finished fifth in the Championship and made it to the Champions Playoff Final before losing to Watford, who are now looking to take Edwards up to the Premier League with them.

Will Luck was chosen 8 times for the Manchester United first team in the Premier league after their disappointing first half of the season. Luck managed 3 goals, his best ever return. Despite this, Manchester United only managed 5th in the Premier League. They fared better in the Champions League, finishing runners up to Inter Milan.

Alistair Paterson made 19 league appearances for Sheffield United, scoring once, claiming one assist and helping Sheffield United return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. A broken shoulder swiftly followed by strained knee ligaments ruled him out for the best part of three months towards the business end of the season. Paterson will be hoping Sheffield United fare a bit better this time around and avoid the drop.

Phil Taylor spent 3 weeks out after arriving at Molineux. After recovering, he managed to make 11 appearances, setting up 1 goal. Wolves finished the season in second place, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League while Arsenal won the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League before losing to Manchester United.

It’s January and the transfer window has swung open. It looked likely that the majority of graduates would stay put however there were various rumours circulating that James Bishop would leave Stamford Bridge on loan.

James Bishop had remained on the loan list since the start of the summer transfer window and attracted interest from Norwich and Sheffield United. In the end, Bishop opted to join fellow graduate Alistair Paterson at Championship leaders Sheffield United for the remainder of the season.

Owen Edwards had a very quiet transfer window and was not linked with any clubs. He’ll play out the remainder of the season for Forest, injuries permitting. Edwards is the only graduate to still play for his original club.

Will Luck was always likely to stay put at Old Trafford where the management team decided he would learn more from shadowing Dimitar Berbatov than from playing regular first team football.

Alistair Paterson opted to stay put with the Blades in the hope of a return to the Premier League at the first attempt in May.

Phil Taylor was a loan target for Wolves. Arsenal once again decided that it was in the players best interests to gain more first team experience and Taylor moved to Molineux for the remainder of the season. Taylor has now represented 4 clubs in 3 seasons.

The season has reached the half way point. With each of the graduates having stayed put over the summer it was hoped that they could press on in their quest for regular first team football.

James Bishop has made 4 league appearances (all as a substitute) and 4 Champions League appearances (2 as a substitute) for Chelsea so far this term. Chelsea have made it clear that they feel Bishop, who the consider to be a hot prospect for the future, would benefit from regular first team football and as such he is still available for loan with Norwich and Sheffield United rumoured to be interested. Chelsea are currently top of the league, on goal difference.

Owen Edwards has been enable to remain injury free so far this term, making 12 league appearances and setting up 2 goals so far. There is currently no interest in the young full back and Forest rate him as an important first team player, so he looks set to complete his third season at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest, who were predicted to finish 16th, have dumbfounded their critics and currently sit 2nd in the Championship. Edwards has played one game for the England U21 side this term, coming on as a substitute as England battered Malta 5-0 at home. England U21 are currently top of their qualifying group with 16 points from 6 games and a goal difference of +20.

Will Luck has only one appearance to his name so far this season, coming as a substitute in the League Cup. He is however still classed as a hot prospect for the future and is currently learning from Dimitar Berbatov, meaning it is unlikely that he’ll be moving out on loan any time soon. Manchester United have had an awful season so far, sitting in 11th place, 8 points clear of the relegation zone, 18 behind league leaders Chelsea and they have invariable failed to find the back of the net. Luck has continued to appear frequently for the England U21 side, making appearances against Malta, Ukraine and Georgia, scoring 3 goals. England U21 are currently top of their qualifying group with 16 points from 6 games and a goal difference of +20.

Alistair Paterson has made 12 league appearances for Sheffield United, scoring once. He has also been sent off on one occasion. His appearances have been limited through injury, having sprained his ankle in mid-September, ruling him out for 6 weeks. Having recovered from his injury, Paterson is once more considered an indispensable member of the first team. Sheffield United have performed well and currently sit top of the Championship by 7 points.

Phil Taylor has struggled for game time this term, having made one single substitute appearance in the League Cup so far. Despite his infrequent appearances, Taylor is still considered a hot prospect for the future. Arsenal are currently sitting second in the league, equal on points with leaders Chelsea, but have an inferior goal difference. Taylor is still a regular in the England U21 side, and scored his first and second international goals in 5-0 qualifier win over Georgia. England U21 are currently top of their qualifying group with 16 points from 6 games and a goal difference of +20.

The new season is just getting underway, so here’s some screenshots of how the graduates have progressed …

James Bishop is remaining with Chelsea for the forthcoming campaign.

Owen Edwards will be looking to press on with his development at the City Ground and hopefully earn a midseason move to the Premier League.

Will Luck will be hoping to make more of an impact on the United first team this term and carry on his impressive form with the England Under 21 side.

Alistair Paterson will be trying to put himself in the shop window with some impressive performances for the Blades, hopefully securing a January move back to the Premier League.

Phil Taylor will look to make the most of the experience he garnered out on loan last term to increase his impact on the Arsenal first team this time around.