Football Focus

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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> And why not? Whatever will be will be now, not

> point being negative.

>

Indeed.

How do you think they will shape up the midfield without Henderson?

[Otta]

He is a big loss (and I'm really pleased to be saying that after a lot of people - me included - raised eyebrows at his signing/price tag). Gerrard is suiting his new role very well, but they may need to push him forward again with Lucas sitting in front of the back 4... I dunno.

SJ, Yeah I'll be making sure the wife doesn't make any plans that mean me missing this one (as she did on Sunday - had to meet her friend for lunch at the bloody woodhouse where I could barely even get a signal to check the score on my phone!!!!!).

[Mick Mac]

Otta Wrote:

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>

> SJ, Yeah I'll be making sure the wife doesn't make

> any plans that mean me missing this one (as she

> did on Sunday - had to meet her friend for lunch

> at the bloody woodhouse where I could barely even

> get a signal to check the score on my phone!!!!!).

Does she not get it? She should be allocating the whole next month to your footballing plans. I hope you have told her.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Would like to see Liverpool win it as they have played some exciting stuff

But..

I have small fortune on City to win league so pull yr socks lads and win every game...

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Otta Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> >

> > SJ, Yeah I'll be making sure the wife doesn't

> make

> > any plans that mean me missing this one (as she

> > did on Sunday - had to meet her friend for

> lunch

> > at the bloody woodhouse where I could barely

> even

> > get a signal to check the score on my

> phone!!!!!).

>

> Does she not get it? She should be allocating the

> whole next month to your footballing plans. I hope

> you have told her.

Sounds like grounds for divorce to me. Let me know if you need a decent brief...

[Otta]

This weekend was one of those rare ones when a couple of things come up at once, had a 40th to go to on Saturday night, then band rehearsal last night, so didn't really have a leg to stand on when she told me I was going to a birthday lunch.

Next time I shall make sure the diary is clear!

[StraferJack]

I think we would all rally around your facebook page to make it clear how momentous the next few weeks are Otta - if you can't by some time for this.....

[red devil]

Free the Sydenham One...

[Otta]

I'm the penge one these days. And I dare say living in closer proximity to a greater number of people that may have done time!

That said, the house opposite me in Sydenham turned out to be a drug factory.

[titch juicy]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> Individual one-off player fees isn't the issue

> though is it? I've found that it's fairly typical

> of City fans to massage the facts to suit in

> recent years (I have a couple of close friends as

> city fans).

>

> The HALF A BILLION spent over four seasons 2008 -

> 2012 and the massive wages paid to a large number

> of players, is what irks. No club, not even

> Chelsea comes close to that.

Well there's a surprise.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27046221

[Otta]

I'm more surprised to see Arsenal at number 11.

[StraferJack]

So 3 premiership teams pay more than Arsenal in wages, and we tend to finish about 4th (hopefully this year)

sounds about right?

[red devil]

You beat me to it tj! :)

Before responding to BR's earlier post about Rooney's oft quoted ?300k/week salary, I first wanted to find and quote a Daily Telegraph article about it, but since that paper has now gone 'pay per view' I can't find/get access to it.

From memory the article stated that the basic weekly wage the club pays Rooney is actually less now than his previous contract, which was believed to be around ?240k/week. The 'shortfall' is made up by external sponsorship/endorsement deals which the club set up and oversee using their established commercial dept. The club also controls what sponsorship deals are set up, most likely he will be used to front a deal the club are involved in, i.e. shirt sponsor. Apparently it's a new way for Utd to set up a contract, whereby the club pays less yet the player can potentially earn more...

[Mick Mac]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> So 3 premiership teams pay more than Arsenal in

> wages, and we tend to finish about 4th (hopefully

> this year)

>

> sounds about right?

I have a friend who is a Liverpool fan and for years have had to listen to the we can't compete financially argument which I see as holding some truth but also works as a convenient excuse. I have been saying the right manager can make a huge difference and overcome these limitations, within reason.

[StraferJack]

That is true mick but it's not the same as actually finding a manager

Not many good ones around. Doesn't mean you shouldn't look obviously

Plus, not to take anything away from Liverpool, but undoubtedly not being in CL has helped them

[Mick Mac]

StraferJack Wrote:

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> That is true mick but it's not the same as

> actually finding a manager

>

> Not many good ones around. Doesn't mean you

> shouldn't look obviously

>

> Plus, not to take anything away from Liverpool,

> but undoubtedly not being in CL has helped them

Help them with fitness/freshness, but hindered them further financially.

[StraferJack]

We will know in about 2 or 3 years if this is a new Liverpool era or a one off season

[maxxi]

Crazy results tonight - looks like the Liverpool Chelsea game might now decide it, and Wenger may be on course to deliver the Gooners best season for years with top 4 AND a cup final.

Football eh?

[titch juicy]

You couldn't write it eh.

In today's money ?600m on transfers and ?5.4m AVERAGE per man per year only buys one title.

And now it seems they're about to finish third in a two horse race. The rest of world sport must be having a rare old chuckle.

In other news; I bet Gareth Bale's delighted he made the move away from Spurs. Just scored a wonder goal winner in the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona.

[????]

Palace result still keeps me a bit nervous.......I think they'll do us on Saturday : (. What I'm kind of hoping for is we stay up on 37 which puts BFS in a pretty untenable position...apparently, significant numbers of ST holders have written to Gold & Sullivan saying they won't be renewing with the current dirge they have to watch

[maxxi]

Yep, tightrope footy Quids. Bizarre and very uncomfortable feeling of wanting just so much and no more. Though I can't see any of the bottom three winning on Saturday and after that a few of them play each other so I think a scrape-through is still the most likely outcome.

Gold & Sullivan are businessmen who are looking at 'customer shrinkage', depends what it'll cost to say ta-ta and if it's still 5m that may be too steep.

In dreamland, Laudrup's still available (but eyeing Barca) and other managers (ahem) may be free in the summer.

[El Pibe]

yep, looks like he may well have sealed legendary status for this alone

 

[titch juicy]

He's come in for some criticism in his first season, despite leading la liga's assists table and scoring 20 goals in all comps (including half a dozen spectacular ones).I think the criticism has come because most of his goals have come in comfortable (3+ goals) victories, same with assists. Whereas Ronaldo, for example scored important winners. He put that to bed last night though.

Bale's main strength for me is the variety of world class goals he scores. 30 yard screamers, sprints with ball from the half way line, beating 3 players in a tight space in the box, volleys, free kicks, headers, both feet, tap-ins. Not one-offs either. You look at his last 50 goals (this season and last) and it's pretty much extraordinary the range of different types of goals he's scored. I don't think there's another player in the world that has that variety to the same extent.

[red devil]

Roanaldo...

[titch juicy]

he scores a lot more goals, but nothing like the variety that bale does