Football 2011-2012

[strummer77]

So Balotellis charged but lescott isnt, how does that work? Is it just another case of one rile for england internationals and another for everyone else.

[strummer77]

If I were a footie manager I'm sure I'd be able to give you a list of players. But I'm not so I can't.

But as an example, Maynard at Bristol City outscored Carroll two seasons ago when Newc were in the Champs, and Maynard is still at City (tho rumoured to go this window). He's got to be worth a punt by some club, tho he's perhaps of too low standard for what Liverpool are looking for.

[Ed209]

The prosecution's case against 'Arry seems fairly damning. Interested to see what his lawyers come up with to counteract it. To me it looks as though he's totally screwed. Him and Mandaric's stories to the police not adding up, claiming he didn't know it had any money in it and that he wasn't in charge of the account when they have evidence he personally ordered a £100000 transfer to his Miami account.

Oh dear 'Arry. Oh dear,

[eFestivals]

The prosecution's case against 'Arry seems fairly damning. Interested to see what his lawyers come up with to counteract it. To me it looks as though he's totally screwed. Him and Mandaric's stories to the police not adding up, claiming he didn't know it had any money in it and that he wasn't in charge of the account when they have evidence he personally ordered a £100000 transfer to his Miami account.

Oh dear 'Arry. Oh dear,

Yup, much as I've said.

From what i've just read on the Guardian website, part of 'Arry's defence is that he believed that the club had paid tax on the money. That's a defence that shouldn't work, because tax paid or not he should have still declared it as income at the time of receipt (he didn't), declared it's existence to his accountant (he didn't), and fessed it up to the tax investigators when they got on the case (he didn't).

And then about the most damning of all is, after the account has been discovered, the attempt by Mandaric to try and claim it as a loan he'd made to 'Arry. The jury would have to be right suckers to fall for that.

What gets me most about this case tho is how relatively small the sum involved is. It only makes me think that for such a highly paid manager to be doing dodgy dealings over avoiding tax on £200k then it's got to be habitual and there's a hell of a lot more that's not yet been discovered.

I really really hope that the jury don't get sucked by the glamous nature of the case. It's them that 'Arry and Mandaric have been robbing.

[thegremlin_1999]

Also, first brawl of the year in the Gaelic Football yesterday

[kaosmark2]

I've seen him a couple of times for Reading as I go to uni there. He always impressed me too. Not sure he's top six standard (or seventh atm...) but he might well be. Think he's very underrated.

[kaosmark2]

'Arry latest. Kept bungs in a Monaco bank account named after his dog.

[Kyelo]

Hiliarious way to do it. Hope the fucker goes down.

[kaosmark2]

'Arry goes down, Mourinho comes in? It is rumoured he has fallen out with senior players at Real...

[Gothenburg83]

Just watched the Cardiff v Crystal Palace game! Cardiff go through on pens! Love seeing fans on the pitch celebrating like that! wish Aberdeen would give us a reason to go on the pitch

[thetime]

Just watched the Cardiff v Crystal Palace game! Cardiff go through on pens! Love seeing fans on the pitch celebrating like that! wish Aberdeen would give us a reason to go on the pitch

[eFestivals]

Regarding the whole 'Arry thing, does anyone else suspect his constant 'tinkering' is actually because of bungs

when a man has a contract like he did at pompey which encourages that man to sell his best players, then very definitely.

In fact, 'best players' isn't of any relevance. Buy any player, and if you can make the club a profit on that player that's money to you - and no penalty for any duds you buy.

With a contract like that it's no wonder that 'Arry's known for buying huge numbers of pointless players.

[thetime]

What did george graham get for bungs? Was it a ban or just fine?

[eFestivals]

What did george graham get for bungs? Was it a ban or just fine?

a ban from football.

I don't think the same would happen with 'Arry over this court case tho if he's found guilty. GG was taking 'bungs' out of sight of his employers (theft!), while 'Arry has been taking contractal payments that are 100% above-board in all football senses.

'Arry's 'theft' (if found guilty) would be from the taxman, not from football. I don't think it's something that would lead to sanctions from the FA.

About the only way that the FA might get involved I reckon would be in deciding that 'Arry couldn't be England manager if he's convicted.

But even that would depend on the uproar around his conviction I reckon - after all, the dodgy dealings of Venables didn't exclude him from the England job.

Whatever happened to Venables? .... I've not heard anything about him for years now.

[Jaybles]

Whatever happened to Venables? .... I've not heard anything about him for years now.

[loosechange]

What gets me most about this case tho is how relatively small the sum involved is. It only makes me think that for such a highly paid manager to be doing dodgy dealings over avoiding tax on £200k then it's got to be habitual and there's a hell of a lot more that's not yet been discovered.

[kaosmark2]

a ban from football.

I don't think the same would happen with 'Arry over this court case tho if he's found guilty. GG was taking 'bungs' out of sight of his employers (theft!), while 'Arry has been taking contractal payments that are 100% above-board in all football senses.

'Arry's 'theft' (if found guilty) would be from the taxman, not from football. I don't think it's something that would lead to sanctions from the FA.

About the only way that the FA might get involved I reckon would be in deciding that 'Arry couldn't be England manager if he's convicted.

But even that would depend on the uproar around his conviction I reckon - after all, the dodgy dealings of Venables didn't exclude him from the England job.

Whatever happened to Venables? .... I've not heard anything about him for years now.

[Jaybles]

I suspect when / if 'Arry goes down there'll be an awful lot of managers (of lesser profile) and agents suddenly remembering bank accounts / payments they'd conveniently forgotten about.

I read ages ago, but can't recall where, that the case is as much about sending a warning to the rest of the football world in general as it is about punishing 'Arry specifically for such a relatively small amount.

See also, HMRC vs the "football creditors' rule".

[Gothenburg83]

Now i know where your username comes from.

[The Nal]

[Gothenburg83]

That Footballs Greatest Managers on Sky Sports. Never really realised how well Fergie did at Aberdeen. I was too young and dont remember a time when he wasnt at Old Trafford. Up there with Cloughie at Forest. Amazing achievement(s).

Edited January 25, 2012 by Gothenburg83

[kaosmark2]

'Arry reckons it's his 'cockney accent' that's the reason he's going down!

http://www1.skysport...-cockney-accent

Edited January 25, 2012 by kaosmark2

[thetime]

'Arry reckons it's his 'cockney accent' that's the reason he's going down!

http://www1.skysport...-cockney-accent

[Ed209]

He wont ho down though.

[kaosmark2]

+

Bummer. That's a Europa League place gone. Either Liverpool or Cardiff get one. Got to hope the FA cup finalists are between either big 6 teams or us now. That or hope to pip Arsenal to 5th.... Cracking game though.

On the plus side, Ba back and Cisse available for our next Prem game on Wednesday! Huge shock in the ACON for Senegal to be the first team knocked out, but I'm delighted we'll get strikers available again. Watching the highlights now, and while disappointing neither have scored in the tournament yet, they've played some nice touches. Great spin from Cisse to get a shot away.