On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Sandperson]

It's all about the dollar though ain't it Matt.

MM, there's a video of the incident on the Beeb website and I'd hardly say he tried to hurdle the barrier. It was more akin to wee Gordie Strachan's world cup goal celebrations.

[red devil]

I'm surprised he even reacted, I'm sure he's had warmer 'receptions' from the Upton Park faithful...

[matthew123]

Hmmmm doesn't Xabi Alonso look pleased to be in Thailand today on Liverpool duty rather than sinking a Guiness for Real Madrid over in Ireland..

 

[red devil]

he's just heard the pound/euro exchange rate has dropped again...

[Atila Reincarnate]

Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him the door,

cos he's piss poor!!

?25 mill, what a result!!!

[Sandperson]

Owen strikes again. What's the bettig he crocks himself in the last pre-season friendly or even better the Community Shield?

[Mick Mac]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

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

> Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him the

> door,

> cos he's piss poor!!

>

> ?25 mill, what a result!!!

To be spent on more young boys for the voyeur eh Atila?

[Sandperson]

Blimey MM, you are playing with fire there! So, are you turning your allegiences to Liverpool this term or sticking with the Busby Boys?

[Mick Mac]

Have not decided on my English team for this year - maybe Arsenal, depends who they buy.

Really depends who I bet on, but I think its too difficult to call. Liverpool surprised me with how well they played in second half of last year. MU will obviously be in the mix, Chelsea who knows with new manager.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Sven-Goran Eriksson appears poised to make a sensational return to English football with League Two side Notts County

The former England manager is thought to be in talks over an executive role that would give him total control of football affairs, with manager Ian McParland working under him.

The Magpies were taken over last week by Arab consortium Munto Finance, who aim to take the club into the Premier League within 10 years.

[Ted Max]

Gerrard left alone at the Bar.

[Keef]

Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him the door,

cos he's piss poor!!

?25 mill, what a result!!!

Agree it is a great bit of business for the Arsenal, but you forget pretty quickly, season before last, he was a hero!

[Atila Reincarnate]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him the

> > door,

> > cos he's piss poor!!

> >

> > ?25 mill, what a result!!!

>

>

> To be spent on more young boys for the voyeur eh

> Atila?

Hilarious I've never heard that one before, obviously missed your vocation as a comedian, but you must have a sense of humour, after all don't you support Celtic?

[Atila Reincarnate]

Keef Wrote:

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

> Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him the

> door,

> cos he's piss poor!!

>

> ?25 mill, what a result!!!

>

> Agree it is a great bit of business for the

> Arsenal, but you forget pretty quickly, season

> before last, he was a hero!

There's a fine line between hero and zero and he crossed it more than once.

[Mick Mac]

Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

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

> Mick Mac Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Atila Reincarnate Wrote:

> >

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

>

> > -----

> > > Adebayor, Adebayor or or or, we showed him

> the

> > > door,

> > > cos he's piss poor!!

> > >

> > > ?25 mill, what a result!!!

> >

> >

> > To be spent on more young boys for the voyeur

> eh

> > Atila?

>

> Hilarious I've never heard that one before,

> obviously missed your vocation as a comedian, but

> you must have a sense of humour, after all don't

> you support Celtic?

I knew I could make you laugh Atila.....I know you're just a soft lad at heart.

[Mick Mac]

Football's top ten mercenaries - The Times by Peter Lansley

1. Sven-Goran Eriksson ? obviously.

2. Ashley Cole ? Cashley came over all indignant and nearly crashed the car when he heard Arsenal were only offering him ?55,000 a week. All together now..... aahh.

3. Pierre Van Hooijdonk ? comes in this high in the rankings for the wonderful quote when he spurned Celtic's contract offer in 1997. ??7,000 a week would be fine for the homeless,? he philosophised, ?but not for me.? Joined Nottingham Forest for ?4.5million then went on strike for 11 games when he found out the team was rubbish.

4. Gareth Barry ? a family man of integrity, played his heart out for Aston Villa after they effectively vetoed his transfer to Liverpool, then decided, upon being granted permission to fulfil his dream of moving to a Champions League club, to take (rumour has it) ?150,000 a week from Manchester City.

5. Winston Bogarde ? earned ?8.3million in a four-year contract with Chelsea in which he started four games. At least his weekly ?40,000 softened the travel costs of commuting from Amsterdam to train with the youth team by the end. ?I am the biggest outcast in England,? he wailed. Wonder why that was, Winston?

6. Fabrizio Ravanelli ? loved Middlesbrough (?all I have for these fans is love?), loved Marseille (?it is my own little paradise?), loved Derby County (?Maybe I will pay for free? Money is not important to me?), notwithstanding their insistence on paying him ?40,000 a week as the club sank towards League One.

7. Carlo Tevez ? love that "Welcome to Manchester" sign they've put up in the city centre, with Sheffield United's favourite Argentinian in the blue of City. So unloved at Manchester United they paid him ?90,000 a week and only played him 48 times last season, including a Champions League final, he soon found solace in an extra ?40k a week.

8. Ronaldo ? Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, financed the Brazilian's treatment, counselling and ?72,000 weekly wage for nearly three years of injury before he defied everyone's denials by moving to Real Madrid.

9. Luis Figo ? faced flying bottles, a knife and, urm, a pig's head from the Barca fans who used to adore him when he returned with Real Madrid on ?72k a week (netto). ?My conscience is clear,? he said. ?I thought uniquely of myself.? Fantastic honesty.

10. Fabio Capello ? maybe a little harsh. At least he backs up his ?6million annual salary by actually being very good at his job.

[Keef]

From BBC website

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri will be out for up to three months after fracturing his right fibula in pre-season training, the club has revealed.

[ratty]

Cue Arsenal bid for Niko Kranjcar...

[matthew123]

We did the Top 10 mercenaries for Premiership on this thread back in April Mick and this is what we had: -

1) Drogba

2) C. Ronaldo

3) Michael Owen

4) Anelka

5) Adebayor

6) Ashley Cole

7) Berbatov

8) Flamini

9) Gallas

10) Lucas Neill

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,214312,263497#msg-263497

[red devil]

Is that the Royal 'we'...

[matthew123]

Heh heh - possibly!

There were some contributions...

Besides there has to be a place in that top 10 for John Terry! but not sure for who..

[????]

John Terry one club man - Christian Ronaldo ditto in April.....funny old definition of mercernary

[Keef]

At the time, I questioned Owen's inclusion, but I'll have to let that one go now. Still not sure he'd be number 3 though. Why would Terry be in there, he is still a chelsea player at the moment.

Bit worried about Gerrard's court case. I feel torn on this, because I obviously want to see him on the pitch next season, but at the same time, I can't be a hypocrite just because he is a Liverpool player. I hate that famous people get away with stuff that you or I would go down for. He may be innocent, but to be honest, it isn't really sounding like it at the moment.

At the end of the day, a fight isn't a huge deal, but if he got p!ssed up, and started throwing his weight around because he thinks he deserves special treatment, then gave a bloke a kicking with several scaly mates, then he should be punished for it, in the same way he would if he was just a scally who couldn't play footy.

[red devil]

Michael Owen* has proved how unmercenary he really is...comparatively low wage earner, no signing on fee, pay as you play/score/assist contract, the guy's a living legend, henceforth remove him from your list and add that two-bit Argie Tevez, welcome to Hell Carlos!

*Now that Michael is a Manc I feel an urge to defend him...;-)

[Sandperson]

Does that mean we can now chant Engerlund again RD....please say it does. ;-)