toonarmy

What always confused me as a young'un was that US contracts were announced with the whole contract's worth, not just weekly/monthly/yearly pay. And US deals are quite often longer than the 5 year limit in our football, are they not? In almost all leagues except for the NBA (where there is a 5 year max now on contracts) you will often see 6, 7, or even 8 year deals. The NHL (ice hockey) even has a couple of players on FIFTEEN YEAR contracts. It's scary to think how high football salaries are now and how fast they are growing when compared to US sports. NFL teams are way down on the list despite being the most popular sport, AND they have the massive TV revenues that european teams just don't have - the NFL makes $5 billion a year from TV contracts alone, which are distributed evenly among the 32 teams (aka $150 million a year), and that's before even adding in tickets in larger stadiums, merchandising deals, radio, advertising, licensing, sponsorships, etc. Salaries also have a hard cap for each team, so it's impossible to spend more than something like $150 million a year. The NBA and NHL have similar structures (though not necessarily as profitable), and even MLB has a structure so that it hasn't spiraled out of control even with more imbalance between teams. With all that combined, it's a very healthy structure setup to continue for a while. When I compare that to how football is going with the wages and billionaires leveraging so much debt to fund teams, it's impossible to think how this is all sustainable.

It says seeking, not claiming. At least that's what I see. They edited it almost immediately afterwards

ESPN.com headline here in the US: "Manchester City claimed its first first EPL title since 1968." I didn't know we already lost to them

I do love that he is one of the very few that will give fair credit to the opposition. Instead of whining about ref calls or that the loss was undeserved (aka Wenger), he'll point out what was obvious to the everyone else and not demean the fan's intelligence. IMO, that also helps players move on from a dispiriting defeat - instead of spending the next few days thinking about some supposed injustice and moping, can just get on with it and move on to the next one. And he does it adroitly as well, in a way that doesn't suggest that we aren't the better team, just that it was their once-a-lifetime day, which makes it easy for players to shrug it off, not damage their confidence and move on proactively to Chelski. Certainly there are real adjustments to be made behind closed doors, but as far as public voice goes, it makes sense to me.

What a take by HBA

Love that pushup celebration with Ba's big smile

Love the one of HBA running one way and everyone else going the other. Messi can't even do that

Actually a very important match for "soccer" in the States here, really need this to be an exciting match (obviously preferably a Manure win would do us just fine). Later today is the NFL Super Bowl (second highest viewed annual sporting event in the world after only the CL final), and the same network showing that is showing this match now, first time the game is really going out the masses (as opposed to the usual when we have the match on a niche channel for hardcore fans like Fox Soccer). They are hyping it as the "biggest sporting day of the year" and including this, so many millions of people will see this match that have never watched the game before. A good game could convert a fair few casual viewers just setting up their Super Bowl parties into fans.

Thank god for Guthrie, absolutely massive game from him today. Without his effort, we could have been passed off the park, but his workrate and passing vision were critical. No doubt MOM for me.

Guthrie's passing has been superb

Anyone seen the gif's of Hoilett's dive? I'm assuming I can't post a link to any site that has the gif, but I've been watching it on loop now for 5 minutes in disbelief. Such a diving cunt, so glad it didn't end up ruining our match.

We don't need Steve Harper as our backup, we have Simmo!

Not get a mate to txt ya updates? na my phone has to be switched off, work stuff. Nightmare. Viewing options really are so much better here in the US, just incredible to me how terrible the system is over your way. It's available here on ESPN3, and therefore available for free in high quality HD on my phone while I'm at work.

well played Perch

That's dirty, should be banned. Fuck.

Have to say, I appreciate the effort of Smith on Brighton. Of course as long as all he's doing is chasing us around, I can afford to say something generous like that.

Pards must have given everyone a few cups of coffee at halftime, we look finally awake

Nah, HBA was offsides, good call not to pass it

jesus HBA

Now that we have a goal, can say it, what a great fucking first half. We've looked so amazing.

Awesome, new avatar time.

Colo can do it all! Beautiful pass in

Great work from Best there

That was the first time I've noticed Simmo all game actually. Not a bad thing for a defender.