Football 2011-2012

[eFestivals]

I think the loan would have been a possibility if tevez was turning up for training and picking up a wage but agree its not really to citys advantage to loan him when they arent currently paying wages.

Im not sure if your plan would necessarily work, firstly Im not sure liverpool have a spare £25 million to spend. Even if they do, Tevez will want the same wages as gerrard which will then reult in suarez wanting a pay rise which could effect morale and expenditure. I also dont think liverpool would be guaranteed to finish above spurs or chelsea just because tevez is there.

Tevez is, I think, now back at City and training (tho with the reserves). If he's not yet back he's expected back in the next day or two according to no-money Kia.

And while I guess it could upset the wage structure a little at Liverpool, I reckon there's ways to manage that. For example, a private word with the players who are likely to be upset, and a promise to them of a bonus to take their wages up to Tevez's level if the plan is successful and they make the top 4.

As for having the money to do it or not, I reckon it would be a worthwhile risk and so a worthwhile investment for the owners. The difference between Chumps League footie or not is very big, and a big spend right now is probably a safer bet for doing it than hoping that things run better next season. I'm not sure that top-4 place will be as easy to get in other years as it would be this year iof they improve the squad.

I doubt it'll happen, but I can see how Liverpool could make it work to their advantage on ther pitch and their financial benefit. And if there's anything to the rumours then it appears that some at the club are thinking much the same.

[Steve P]

And the lack of creativity was a HUGE problem yesterday. Arsenal had nothing to get past Villa's defence, nothing at all. It took mistakes from Villa for Arsenal to get the win.

What happened to the team that could play great passing football? o:

[kaosmark2]

Chelsea signing De Bruyne and nothing to do with AVB:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16721393.stm

[eFestivals]

Spurs after Redknapp goes down/gets away with it and takes England job?

ahhh, good point. Yeah, that's a more-than-decent possibility.

I'm starting to think that 'arry might manage to wriggle off the hook in the court case even tho he really shouldn't from the point of view of tax law. It depends how beleivable his 'I'm stupid' act has played with the jury - tho it's not an acceptable defence in the circumstances of everything to do with the case. The tax offence he's charged under should require him to prove his innocence rather than for the tax people to prove his guilt, because him not having declared the account should be enough for him to be guilty in normal circumstances for this type of prosecution.

[The Nal]

But unless the Utd boardroom has been on the stupid pills, they'd be mad beyond belief to give it to him. I just can't see them giving the job to someone who believes himself bigger than any club.

[pink_triangle]

Spurs after Redknapp goes down/gets away with it and takes England job?

[kaosmark2]

ahhh, good point. Yeah, that's a more-than-decent possibility.

I'm starting to think that 'arry might manage to wriggle off the hook in the court case even tho he really shouldn't from the point of view of tax law. It depends how beleivable his 'I'm stupid' act has played with the jury - tho it's not an acceptable defence in the circumstances of everything to do with the case. The tax offence he's charged under should require him to prove his innocence rather than for the tax people to prove his guilt, because him not having declared the account should be enough for him to be guilty in normal circumstances for this type of prosecution.

[Steve P]

I dont believe jose would take a job with a team who arent likely to challenge for domestic/european titles. His stock is high enough that spurs would proably be too much of a gamble.

[kaosmark2]

I dont believe jose would take a job with a team who arent likely to challenge for domestic/european titles. His stock is high enough that spurs would proably be too much of a gamble.

[The Nal]

More to the point would he take the drop in wages he'd have to if he became the Spurs manager - i'd say definitely not. Same issue with the wage structure in place there not allowing him to bring in the top players. Can't imagine Jose having to "make do".

[eFestivals]

Looks like Pogba has't made the cut and is being offloaded.

I can't say I'm surprised at that one.

I've only seen him play once as far as I'm aware, in the Carling Cup against Aldershot. It's a game where he should have shone if he was going to make the cut at Utd, but he was pretty anonymous. I posted after that match that I didn't think he'd make the grade.

But I'm not sure that he's being pushed out by Utd. I've read various stories recently which have said his contract is up in the summer and he's been turning down offers of a new one - I guess because he wants to actually play.

[kaosmark2]

Arsenal? The "Wenger to leave" rumours have been knocking about for a few years now.

[kaosmark2]

Can't see it. Fergie is halfway through transitioning the squad. His 6th time I think? Few to go and a few more to get more of a chance. Looks like Pogba has't made the cut and is being offloaded. Jury still out on Welbeck, De Gea needs eye laser surgery etc.

[eFestivals]

Arsenal? The "Wenger to leave" rumours have been knocking about for a few years now.

that would have all the same issues with transfer budgets and player wages that would exist with Spurs, surely?

If the club are prepared to up their game on those sorts of things then surely they'd have done it last summer to keep Nasri?

[kaosmark2]

that would have all the same issues with transfer budgets and player wages that would exist with Spurs, surely?

If the club are prepared to up their game on those sorts of things then surely they'd have done it last summer to keep Nasri?

[The Nal]

I can't say I'm surprised at that one.

I've only seen him play once as far as I'm aware, in the Carling Cup against Aldershot. It's a game where he should have shone if he was going to make the cut at Utd, but he was pretty anonymous. I posted after that match that I didn't think he'd make the grade.

But I'm not sure that he's being pushed out by Utd. I've read various stories recently which have said his contract is up in the summer and he's been turning down offers of a new one - I guess because he wants to actually play.

[kaosmark2]

I'm surprised. He's only 18. Any 18 year old midfielder who shows a bit of promise should really be given a half decent run. If he doesn't go, he'll surely get a good run on Thursday nights on Channel 5.

[eFestivals]

Didn't he say recently that retiring was for young people and that he now couldn't ever see himself doing it?

He did.

But I guess it's possible that the board have a different view, and would rather replace him now than have him drop dead while still in place.

I guess if there were to do that (I'm not sure that they would, mind) then at the end of this season probably makes more sense than any other season. Him having had to fall back to Scholes shows that his planning hasn't worked out as well as it might have done, so I'm guessing there's going to be more major spending by Utd come the summer.

It would make sense for that spending to be done by a new guy if the club are thinking that they want to control when the manager changes. If Fergie isn't moved out this summer than I'd guess he will be in place till he drops dead.

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

An interesting fact I read or heard the other day which I wasn't aware of until then...

In Dalglish's first game for Celtic - for the reserves - he marked Fergie. I hadn't realised that they'd been head-to-head like that since Dalglish started in pro footie.

[eFestivals]

Although given the quality of his performances at City it's looking like he might be a one-season wonder.

Yup. He's starting to look like another player who can only do it for Arsenal.

Mind you, when France played England last season I thought he'd shown he was more capable than that.

[eFestivals]

Best chance of a trophy this year though?

nah ... they'd have to beat City.

[eFestivals]

'Arry, Wenger, Fergie, AVB and Dalglish are sat in the pub drinking.

First 'Arry buys a round, then Wenger, then Fergie, then AVB. Finally it's Kenny's turn to go to the bar.

When Dalglish comes back from the bar he hasn't got a drink for Fergie, so Fergie asks where his drink is.

Dalglish explains that this is the fifth round and Fergie's not in it.

[kaosmark2]

He did.

But I guess it's possible that the board have a different view, and would rather replace him now than have him drop dead while still in place.

I guess if there were to do that (I'm not sure that they would, mind) then at the end of this season probably makes more sense than any other season. Him having had to fall back to Scholes shows that his planning hasn't worked out as well as it might have done, so I'm guessing there's going to be more major spending by Utd come the summer.

It would make sense for that spending to be done by a new guy if the club are thinking that they want to control when the manager changes. If Fergie isn't moved out this summer than I'd guess he will be in place till he drops dead.

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

An interesting fact I read or heard the other day which I wasn't aware of until then...

In Dalglish's first game for Celtic - for the reserves - he marked Fergie. I hadn't realised that they'd been head-to-head like that since Dalglish started in pro footie.

[kaosmark2]

Yup. He's starting to look like another player who can only do it for Arsenal.

Mind you, when France played England last season I thought he'd shown he was more capable than that.

[kaosmark2]

nah ... they'd have to beat City.

[eFestivals]

I can't see them pushing that through until the fans' trust in him starts to wane. There's still an anti-Glazer contingent, which is probably waiting for a decision like that. I agree that now makes more sense than any time in the next 5 years, but he's only just 70, I'm not sure the threat of him dropping dead is particularly imminent.

he certainly looks fit enough at the moment, so it's probably not that likely to happen.

But then again, sometimes oldies drop dead unexpectedly, and I'd guess that that could happen to fergie just as it might anyone else. It's even a possibility I guess that there's some underlying health problem which both he and the club know about that makes it more likely than average.

Perhaps they have a plan to move him 'upstairs' to give things some continuity. That would negate much of the flack they might get from a change.