On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Mick Mac]

I have potentially got another drinks Matt - are you a mind reader (or just assume me to be an alcoholic socialite?) Its Lions before footie for me but if the Lions drink does not come off I'll be at the Vale. Cheers for the mob number.

[matthew123]

I'll be watching the Lions beforehand at home (before getting to Vale for 8 p.m.) - although for the actual Test series will watch in pub as should be a top atmosphere.

[Keef]

Won't make tonight guys, just too skint this month, and what money I do have will be better spent on a weekend night out rather than watching a match that's on ITV.

Would have liked to though, and will definitely be up for meeting for some matches next season!

[matthew123]

Great night at the Vale for the End of Season drinks. Maybe we'll have another session for the Confederations Cup when Liverpool, sorry I mean Spain, take on the rest of the World in a few weeks time. Feel free to show interest in attending.

[Mick Mac]

Kenny beats Ray

For those Liverpool fans too young to see it at the time.

[Annasfield]

My story was better. ;-)

Great goal tha though.

[Annasfield]

http://www.marca.com/ - Apparently a done deal. Thats a big wedge of cash.

[????]

cheers all - Man U, Celtic & Liverpool all very well behaved

[Ladygooner]

And now in English - Ronaldo sold to Real Madrid for ?80m

[matthew123]

I think ?80m for Ronaldo must have been agreed last summer - but i think key to the deal was a penalty of about ?25m if they didn't execute the agreement.... as no way do you pay ?56m for Kaka but ?80m for Ronaldo. I think Madrid were forced to go through with it.

[Annasfield]

United Squids? Worra about the Irons?

[????]

they were a bit lairy ;-)

[Atila Reincarnate]

The winker on his way to Real, what shock eh? I bet nobody saw that coming.

[Mick Mac]

Who might MU spend the money on? Is Ribery good enough?

[Keef]

If I was a Unuted fan, I'd be made up with that. He's a great player, but thinks he's WAY bigger than the team, and questions his manager's decisions. United can get some real quality in with ?80m, and talent that doesn't think it's the most important thing in the dressing room, so I think they are the winners.

Fingers crossed he'll suffer a career ending injury in the first game of the season. I normally wouldn't wish that on anyone, but I really do think he's a repulsive little cnut!

[SimonM]

Just how much are ticket prices in Madrid, that Real reckon they can recoup all their astonishing recent expenditure?! I think Man Utd must be laughing - they have surely had the best of Ronaldo?

[Ladygooner]

My friends who are RM supporters pay about 500 Euros for their season tickets - much less than the Premiership in UK

[ratty]

How the fook can Real Madrid afford this outlay???

[lard]

Be interesting to see who they buy with the 80m though. Difficult to find someone who can play wide, play in the middle, take freekicks and score 20odd goals a season. Can only play 11 players at any one time. Knock off Ronaldo's goals and would Utd have won the last 2 seasons? Not so sure.

Maybe Rooney can step up and be the player everyone thinks he already is. But here's a little stat for you. Dirk Kuyt had more goals and assists than Rooney in the Premiership last season, playing in a not too dissimilar position.

[Annasfield]

I paid ?90 for my ticket (direct from the club) when we played them at the Bernabeu last season. Reckon that probably helps. Theiving gets!!

I also imagine they'll sell a heck of a lot of shirts with Ronny and Kaka on the back over the next couple of seasons. Probably not 130 million quids worth though.

[ratty]

It's utterly ridiculous and makes a mockery of teams like Scumhampton going into Administration. Bet Sepp Blatter does not go criticise this one! :(

[jaybee82]

Its just been pointed out to me that Ronaldo (after player wages) is pretty much worth the same as the whole of Newcastle football club. >:D

[lard]

Points-wise that's about true.

[Ladygooner]

lard Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Be interesting to see who they buy with the 80m

> though. Difficult to find someone who can play

> wide, play in the middle, take freekicks and score

> 20odd goals a season. Can only play 11 players at

> any one time. Knock off Ronaldo's goals and would

> Utd have won the last 2 seasons? Not so sure.

>

> Maybe Rooney can step up and be the player

> everyone thinks he already is. But here's a

> little stat for you. Dirk Kuyt had more goals and

> assists than Rooney in the Premiership last

> season, playing in a not too dissimilar position.

You missed out his main talent - synchronised diving!

[Keef]

It does worry me, with doubts over Liverpool's spending power, and with Man U now seemingly able to buy whoever they want.

Still hope Alonso doesn't join Ronaldo at RM!