Unbelievable

I think there's a bit more to Bielsa than "a manager who dont mind actually giving it a go".. You like to oversimplify things, don't you? Play FM much? Football is a simple game, made complicated by people who dont have a clue. No idea what he says to the lads, but they are playing 10 times the fotball at 1/10th of the salary we are paying. Just an observation. Not meant in a litteral sense you mong. Goes to show you can play decent fotball even with a limited squad. You just keep going, don't you? What's limited about their squad? The fact is those players are technically vastly superior to most players in the Premiership. They have also been welded into a very strong unit by a superb tactician of the game, and their fitness was top notch. You make it sound like you have only just found out tonight that playing good football without zillions of pounds investment is possible. Clubs and nations that focus more on youth development have been doing it for donkey's years. To achieve it you need a lot more than "a manager who dont mind actually giving it a go" who says the right thing in the dressing room on match day. Saying "football is a simple game, made complicated by people who dont have a clue" is really not doing their performance credit. In fact, in your case I would argue the exact opposite of that statement is true. Edit: you may want to give that article VI posted on the last page a read. You'll appreciate it's about a bit more than saying "you can do this lads!" in the pre match team talk.

I think there's a bit more to Bielsa than "a manager who dont mind actually giving it a go".. You like to oversimplify things, don't you? Play FM much? Football is a simple game, made complicated by people who dont have a clue. No idea what he says to the lads, but they are playing 10 times the fotball at 1/10th of the salary we are paying. Just an observation.

What an idiot..

YES!!!

You can't play the ball without you shoe on? Really ref!?

I think there's a bit more to Bielsa than "a manager who dont mind actually giving it a go".. You like to oversimplify things, don't you? Play FM much?

Holy smoke, almost 3..

Suck on that you Scottish twat!

Holy smoke, that was lush!!!!

This lot are insane!

Or to twatting Man U at Old Trafford...

Wow.. Incredible number of away fans from Bilbao.

Fuck me! These are good!

Oooohh.. Close.

Valencia 2-0 up vs PSV after 12 minutes..

He blatantly trips himself up. Awful decision. Aye, red card will certainly be rescinded..

Pen scored by Luuk de Jong...

Schalke player sent off and penalty given to Twente for a dive by toon target Luuk de Jong..

Some would argue it's the other way around..

Again, give over.

I have no problem with him being a squad player. I do have a problem with us extending his contract and at the same time pairing it with a statement of him being a fantastic fotballer and a key player starting week in and week out. Thats where the wheels come off for me, especially when you know who must sit on the bench for him to start. When announcing he's signed a new contract, you want the manager to say he's fringe at best, and should be sat on the bench most of the time? No, I would have no problems with such a statement if that was his standing in the squad. The problem is, the statement isnt just a motivational statement and sugarcoating of his position. It mimics Pardews opinion of him,genuinely being seen as a key player and fantastic fotballer by pardew and started every week if fit over options that would seem blatantly better by everyone on here save a few. The contract is a reflection on how Pardew plans to build a side in which Ryan Taylor is a key player. I dont particularily fancy such a prospect. Give over.

Was 2013, now 2015

I have no problem with him being a squad player. I do have a problem with us extending his contract and at the same time pairing it with a statement of him being a fantastic fotballer and a key player starting week in and week out. Thats where the wheels come off for me, especially when you know who must sit on the bench for him to start. I fail to see what Hatem Ben Arfa's lack of pitch time has to do directly with whether you should be happy a dependable squad player has had his contract extended. By all means, be unhappy that HBA isn't starting more often (I know I am), not that Raylor has been offered a well deserved contract extension.

Reading the reactions to this news it seems to me some people are completely oblivious to the fact you need a squad, not just a first team. I'm confident we won't break the bank by extending him, and he's proven himself to be a dependable member of the squad for us, so I will go on record as being perfectly happy with this bit of unexpected news.

It's the recommended percentage by FIFA. I don't know if it's a sane percentage for a generic business, but football is crazy. Good point you know your insane when you compare generic business to football business i suppose from the football stand point and in comparison to others it is rather good. It's a nonsensical way of looking at things trying to compare the wages to turnover ratio of different types of businesses. In some types of business, such as consultancy or football, the person (or rather, their knowledge and experience) is the product. In others, such as oil or banking, it is not, and employees are much less so. Typically I would suggest that business sectors where personnel is not the primary product, the wages to turnover ratio is significantly lower. For example, a company like Shell or BP may have a turnover of millions per employee, whereas in most people related businesses the turnover will be much lower per employee. In the current climate I would be quite happy if my business had a 60% wages (personnel cost) to turnover ratio.. On topic: I've been very critical in the past, but have to admit I'm well impressed by these figures, and kudos to Ashley and Llambias for getting the club to run break even in a very challenging economy. Even moreso considering they have done it whilst improving the on the pitch performances. Now cut out the PR disasters and we might be heading in the right direction under their stewardship..