LA REAL IDEAL FIT FOR MOYESReal Sociedad is a great move for David Moyes. The Scot has been keen to find the right job on the continent and we followed closely he and brother Kenny's meetings with Galatasaray during the World Cup. Like with Everton and Liverpool, Moyes takes charge of club fed-up with the greater recognition afforded Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao. La Real are desperate for someone like Moyes to knock Bilbao off their perch. Founded by British students and boasting a tradition of British coaches, La Real fans favour a more powerful brand of football than the typical tiki-taka found elsewhere. It just appears the ideal fit for the former Manchester United manager.

NO MORE LMA MOANING PLEASELet's not hear from the LMA about a lack of opportunities for British coaches abroad. David Moyes is the exception, but not because the chance to take Real Sociedad came up, but because he actually ACCEPTED it. In the past week, we've seen Phil Neville turn down the prospect of joining Moyes in San Sebastian as he wanted to stick with his cushy media work. Steve Round, who followed Moyes from Everton to Manchester United, also admitted speaking with the Scot about Spain before declining the offer. And upon his unveiling at Inter Milan, Roberto Mancini says he offered a place to his former Manchester City No2 David Platt, only for the ex-Juventus star to reject it in favour of his pundit's job. With the profile the Premier League has, it's not about coaching opportunities overseas, but who actually has the bottle to leave their comfort zone.

VALDES SHORT-TERM PROSPECT FOR VAN GAALA short-term deal is up for discussion between Manchester United and Victor Valdes. The former Barcelona goalkeeper is getting closer to a playing return - which is likely to be with United U21s - after fully recovering from a serious knee injury. Louis van Gaal wants to deal in his former Barcelona prospect, but Valdes has no interest in playing second fiddle to David de Gea. However, De Gea's dislocated finger has shifted the thinking and a short-term deal to January is now being considered. Valdes can provide competition to Anders Lindegaard during the month De Gea is expected to be sidelined and also take the opportunity to put himself in the shop window ahead of the winter transfer window. Developments are expected to accelerate in the coming days as De Gea is fully assessed.

NOTHING CAN BUMP HAMMERS OFF STRIDEIt seems nothing can knock West Ham United off their stride. Certainly an Italian agent attempted to do so last week when claiming Mauro Zarate was unhappy and seeking a Serie A move. Another time, with the club on a lower rung of the table, and such reports could've created bedlam. But with things running so smoothly, there was no chance for speculation picking up momentum. Zarate came out denying he knew the agent in question and David Gold, the co-chairman, was quickly on Twitter confirming the Argentine's claims after a chat with the striker. Problem solved and the Hammers roll on...

MINGS ANOTHER SOUTHAMPTON TRIUMPHLine 'em up, Arsenal head the queue, but now face competition from Manchester United, Everton and Newcastle United for Tyrone Mings, the Ipswich Town left- back. Mings, as Mick McCarthy readily admits, has emerged this season after Aaron Cresswell's sale to West Ham United. For many, Cresswell deserves an England call and at Portman Road, Mings looks nailed on for a place in the U21 Euros squad. Oh, and he's another to come through the system at Southampton. It's unlikely Saints today would've allowed Mings to leave, but five years ago, languishing in League One, their youth budget was non-existent. Now, after rebuilding his career via the non-leagues, Mings is rated among the best prospects outside the Premier League and has the nation's biggest clubs ready to splash out. A triumph for the coaching staff at Saints, but also Ipswich management for keeping tabs on talent outside the Football League.

CHELSEA YOUTH DOMINATING ENGLAND"Blame me!" So says Jose Mourinho should Chelsea fail to bring through the current generation of whizkids in the coming years. On Friday, under Sean O'Driscoll, Chelsea had FIVE players on the pitch as England U19 thumped Italy 3-0. Izzy Brown hit a brace and was joined by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Joshua Aina, Charlie Colkett and Alex Kiwomya. Mourinho was talking about Brown, Dominic Solanke and Lewis Baker when he made his "blame me" claim - two of which never made the group that turned out at New York stadium. Suggestions that Manchester United's class of '92 will never be matched perhaps should be restricted to Old Trafford - if Mourinho keeps his word.

BERNARD INFLUENCE GROWING ACROSS NORTH EASTOlivier Bernard really is doing great things in the North East. While he's been away from Newcastle United for several years, he's still mentoring many of their young players and confirmed on the weekend he convinced Mehdi Abeid not to leave over the summer. Toon fans - and Abeid himself - can be grateful for Bernard's intervention. But the Frenchman's influence goes deeper. Now owner and chairman of Durham City, Bernard has helped Lewis Gibbons get back on the pro football ladder. Two years ago, Gibbons was captain of Sunderland U18 before a failed drugs test saw him kicked out of the club - and the game overall. This year, Bernard offered Gibbons the chance to train with Durham. A deal was agreed before the 20 year-old defender was offered trials at Luton Town. The journey is now almost complete, with Hatters boss John Still announcing last week plans to offer Gibbons a contract.