On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Sandperson]

Very interesting discussion on Radio 5, I think the Monday night Club. I didn't listen to the Ronaldo thing by the way. They were talking about players being more likely to go abroad as the 50% tax rate kicks in in this country. Not something I had thought about. Was I being naive?

What date were you talking about for the Hamlets?

[matthew123]

red devil Wrote:

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> Matthew, my comment was in response to Micks'...

>

> http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/Ma

> nuel-fawlty-towers-2856236-75-75.jpg

I think Mick was saying, and quite rightly, that what ever language Ronaldo had spoken it would have all translated as bollox.

[matthew123]

Actually it's not the 27th it's Saturday 25th so not sure if that makes any difference otherwise 1st August sounds good.

[red devil]

Thanks for another explanation Matthew, my comment was actually a play on Mick saying he couldn't speak Spanish...

[????]

The 50% tax thing was obvious...I was amazed it wasn't bought up more as an example at the time (the situation compunded by depreciating sterling too). Flash Gordon's envy tax driving out talent at all levels including overpaid footballers but an example of where it can affect one of the things that we currently lead the world in...

[red devil]

Recent artcle...

Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso warned this week that high taxes and the weak pound might be scaring off talented footballers from coming to England. When Alonso signed for Liverpool in 2007 he agreed a contract worth ?96,200 per week. The weakness in the pound has seen that drop to ?76,700 a week. The new 50p tax rate comes in next April and that is likely to lop another few thousand off of his salary, taking his weekly take home pay down to ?69,000 a week, which is ?27,200 less per week compared to his salary in 2007. Overall, Alonso fears he could end up losing nearly ?1.2 million per year.

[matthew123]

red devil Wrote:

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> Thanks for another explanation Matthew, my comment

> was actually a play on Mick saying he couldn't

> speak Spanish...

I just used it as another vehicle to reiterate Ronaldo was talking bollox ;-)

[red devil]

...nah, too easy...

[matthew123]

I'd have thought that the top players already have tax schemes in place to avoid paying excessive taxes so not sure whether they will be as fully affected as what it may seem. The gulf between what the top players are being paid in the Premiership over what they could achieve on the continent seems to have more than enough margin to offset upto 10% more tax and dwindled exchange rate.

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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

> Recent artcle...

>

> Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso warned

> this week that high taxes and the weak pound might

> be scaring off talented footballers from coming to

> England. When Alonso signed for Liverpool in 2007

> he agreed a contract worth ?96,200 per week. The

> weakness in the pound has seen that drop to

> ?76,700 a week. The new 50p tax rate comes in next

> April and that is likely to lop another few

> thousand off of his salary, taking his weekly take

> home pay down to ?69,000 a week, which is ?27,200

> less per week compared to his salary in 2007.

> Overall, Alonso fears he could end up losing

> nearly ?1.2 million per year.

Jeez - I can understand that he would want to leave - noone could get by in Liverpool on only ?69,000 a week. You'd have to beg, borrow and steal to survive - like the rest of them.

[matthew123]

Ah so whilst I refrain from having a go at Man U because people are offended with remarks like 'lazy bones', a campaign of abuse against anything Liverpool has been stepped up with a third member joining the boat.. well lads enjoy your paddle because soon you'll be sinking fast once the Kopites open with some fresh volleys!! ;-)

[Mick Mac]

cmon matt. Just a little joke. I might even support liverpool this term.

[Atila Reincarnate]

red devil Wrote:

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

> Recent artcle...

>

> Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso warned

> this week that high taxes and the weak pound might

> be scaring off talented footballers from coming to

> England. When Alonso signed for Liverpool in 2007

> he agreed a contract worth ?96,200 per week. The

> weakness in the pound has seen that drop to

> ?76,700 a week. The new 50p tax rate comes in next

> April and that is likely to lop another few

> thousand off of his salary, taking his weekly take

> home pay down to ?69,000 a week, which is ?27,200

> less per week compared to his salary in 2007.

> Overall, Alonso fears he could end up losing

> nearly ?1.2 million per year.

My heart bleeds for the mercenary bastard.

[ratty]

What a fooking wnaker! And thh average liverpool fan earns????? WAC! I would love to see one of these A-holes end up on the scrapheap!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

ratty Wrote:

What a fooking wnaker! And thh average liverpool fan earns????? WAC! I would love to see one of these A-holes end up on the scrapheap!

What would he have got if he was any good?

[Keef]

Pleased Yossi Benayoun has signed an extention at Liverpool.

[Jah Lush]

Says it all really.

[Mick Mac]

Is he wearing high heels?

[ratty]

Sadly that pic is photoshopped but it's still great!

[Atila Reincarnate]

No he was wearing those on the Catwalk last night!!

[Sandperson]

Great footballer though, high heels or not.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Great footballer, maybe, but as camp as arow of tents.

[Sandperson]

Could he be only our second openly gay footballer?

[Jah Lush]

Hmm....Justin Fashanu's tragedy was that he wasn't openly gay and when he did finally come out after his career had finished his brother John very openly disowned him and he committed suicide. Not nice.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Possibly not gay, but perhaps more an extremely bad dress sense. Maybe a case of too much money and not knowing what to do with it. Be honest if most of us had his dosh you wouldn't be seen dead in the outfits he chooses.