Football 2011-2012

[kaosmark2]

Certainly a possibility. Really looking forward to it. The only match of the round I am looking forward to actually.

[strummer77]

Yeah. Ferdinand was until the last couple of years. I certainly think he's been in decline though.

Christ... Owen. Great back in the day, but.... Has anyone else suddenly got a chill at the thought of 'Arry taking him based on the name? Seems more likely than "My missus could have scored that one" Bent getting a chance for him.

[kaosmark2]

Oh don't get me wrong, I don't want Owen in the squad! Just meant he was good back then for both/club and country. Harry might take him though. I fear the squad could be pretty similar to 2006 actually!

[lost]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15022012/58/premier-league-paper-round-prem-clubs-rangers.html

Eight Premier League sides are in danger of going into administration as HM Revenue and Customs widen their tax probe, according to Wednesday's papers.

Anyone have any idea who they are? heard rumours Arsenal's wage structure is being looked at.

[kaosmark2]

http://uk.eurosport....bs-rangers.html

Eight Premier League sides are in danger of going into administration as HM Revenue and Customs widen their tax probe, according to Wednesday's papers.

Anyone have any idea who they are? heard rumours Arsenal's wage structure is being looked at.

[lost]

I think Sunderland are likely with their high wages as %.

Everton maybe? Bolton? They're in financial trouble.

Be very surprised if Blackburn aren't with everything Venkys are screwing up.

QPR? With the rapid changeovers of owners recently?

I'd just be guessing, and mainly I'd go for the ones spunking a lot on wages or changing owners.

[TheGayTent]

Had a superb weekend in Holland. Saw AZ Alkmaar v Excelsior Rotterdam on Saturday and Feyenoord v Vitesse Arnhem on the Sunday.

AZ play a beautiful passing game, though to be fair they were playing against a weak team who will more than likely be relegated. Mind you, what a feat to even get there - Excelsior's home ground holds just 3,500! How on earth do they manage to compete??

De Kuip is an impressive stadium though not exactly pretty on the eye. 43,000 in on Sunday and a right good racket made. Old Koeman has put some pounds on!

Really enjoy European football weekends away, would thoroughly recommend it.

[TheGayTent]

Haven't Arsenal previously admitted to following similar tax avoidance strategies in terms of payments to players? And come to an agreement with HRMC and paid a sum that settles backdated issues? Sure I read something in a previous accounts to that effect.

Would have thought Steve may know? Or our resident statto if here's still around? Not been here much recently myself

[kaosmark2]

I think you need to look for the opposite ie clubs where the wage bill is surprisingly low as its not declared, I'm guessing thats where the Arsenal rumours come from i.e Henry only being on £60k a week during his first stint and even players like Arteta taking a big pay cut to move from Everton.

Evertons accounts have never looked right to me and wouldn't suprise me if one of Ken Bates's clubs Chelsea or Leeds end up being dragged in.

[lost]

Hmm maybe. Leeds wouldn't count, it said premierleague clubs didn't it?

Edited February 15, 2012 by lost

[pink_triangle]

the difference is that Keane is a striker and those two others are not.

All three are about hitting the numbers you'd expect from players in their positions.

[kaosmark2]

Yeah doesn't say current though and I think Rangers is over a long period, suppose its how far back they'll go. My only reasoning is Ken Bates

[kaosmark2]

I disagree, these are some of the top goalscoring midfielders in the premiership. At international level there figures are exagerated by some of the poor standard of opposition they play. If you look at englands euro 2012 qualifying group and world cup group stage combined, there are at most 2 premiership standard teams they have had to play. I would say the vast majority of england games are against championship or lower standard teams.

[Kowalski]

Best league in the world, my arse.

[pink_triangle]

A lot less consistently, and decisively. Gerrard's carried Liverpool through about 30 key games over his career. Lampard hasn't single-handedly done that in more than a handful.

[strummer77]

Crouch has done an important job for England, but I don't think he's got much left in him. He might be able to eke us through the group stage though.

[kaosmark2]

Over his career Le Tissier probably carried southampton through more games than anyone but doesnt mean he is the best in the leagues history. Lampard has played in a side full of matchwinners for most of his time (not his fault) so hasnt needed to carry his team through as many games as gerrard. Who knows how gerrard would have done at chelsea where he would have been a big fish, amonsgst others in a big pond, who knows how lampard would have done at liverpool with the additional responsibility, as both played for just 1 club at their peak we will never know. Im not going to go into it in detail as I discussed it earlier in this thread, but i think talk of gerrard carrying games has been a little overstated by the media (for example I wouldnt say he carried liverpool in istanbul, when most would) and fits in with the image they are keen to portray. While lampards efforts have been understated. Both are very good midfielders in my opinion and I would ran them similarly. Gerrard probably has more natural talent, however I feel Lampard probably works that little bit harder as players without the natural talent generally have to do. Both to me lack the great footballing brain, that I think changes a very good midfielder to a great, but thats just personal preference.

The Tv channels and newspapers must be gutted, they will have to come up with something new to write/say other than how rubbish ibra is!

[The Nal]

Best league in the world, my arse.

Edited February 16, 2012 by The Nal

[thetime]

Its quite possible having no english side in the quater finals of champions league, wonder when last time that happened?

[The Nal]

Its quite possible having no english side in the quater finals of champions league, wonder when last time that happened?

Edited February 16, 2012 by The Nal

[TheGayTent]

Best team in Italy and one of the best European clubs ever playing at home and beating the 5th or 6th best team in England.

No surprise there really.

[eFestivals]

Best team in Italy and one of the best European clubs ever playing at home and beating the 5th or 6th best team in England.

No surprise there really.

Arsenal were far from great last night but Milan were also at the top of their game. They were fantastic.

But I don't get why Wenger ever thinks that putting out a more defensive team is a good idea. Just as when the commentator said last night "if Arsenal can get a goal it'll be invaluable for the second leg" - why? Will Arsenal stop any team scoring? - it's so wrong it's laughable.

I know the pitch probably meant the result would have been little different last night, but the only way Arsenal nowadays can beat teams like Milan is by attack, attack, attack. They're on a hiding to nothing by trying anything else. When a team like Milan feel threatened they fall back into the standard Italian way; anything else means they'll come at you, and the current Arsenal won't succeed in holding that back.

[eFestivals]

You should work for ITV Sport - you'd do a better 'expert' job than ... Southgate.

I wonder if his analysis of elite football for England is any better?

[The Nal]

You should work for ITV Sport - you'd do a better 'expert' job than Keane or Southgate.

Udinese v Arsenal would be a more interesting match in terms of comparing two very different leagues.

Edited February 16, 2012 by The Nal

[pink_triangle]

The fact is that very few arsenal players would get in to the Milan team, so you have to be realistic with expectations. I suspect Milans expenditure is bigger than income, so its probably not a level playing field, if arsenal keep within their means. I think arsenal.are.gambling on financial fair play will level the.playing field, time will tell.

As for what it says about the premiership, its probably a blip in terms of teams not getting to quarter finals, but its clear the standard of the top teams have gone down. I'm sure in upcoming years English team will be competitive, however I can't see them dominating again in the short term.