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What has been earnt? Man U should be allowed to dominate ad infinitum because they have dominated in the past, and therefore built up more money than anyone else? They earn more money because their past success have given them more fans, more prestige, allowed them to construct some of the best facilities in the world, and given them a position of power and influence over all aspects of the game. It is a self-perpetuating cycle of dominance. The massive financial upheaval is an attempt to upset the position of such entities. There is no right way, there are only means and ends. At the end of things, we have still achieved our position by using our predatory financial position to remove the best assets from other clubs. We've played our part now and in the past. From my view, either input false equivalency measures (such as those in the American sports) or deal with the consequences of free spending. I don't particularly care where it has come from, frankly. Just last season, OM purchased two forwards for upwards of 30 million euro, why can I complain if someone comes in with even more money.

The money being in the hands of different clubs than it was before isn't the end of anything. It is the change and progression that is indicative of all areas of life. Inevitably, in all leagues and tournaments, the teams that spend the most money generally win. I can accept this regardless of which club happens to be the one doing it. I cannot understand why people think things are different if Manchester United (who have a net spend of 40 million pound this year) win the league or one of the traditional giants win the Champions League. Is it because the names are different? Clubs will always rise and fall, and with the free market system of European football, massive investment is the most likely way for this to occur.

Ishmael Miller. I still would have liked us to sign him, actually. He is an amazing talent. However, the players we've brought to the club in the last few seasons have performed to a level above what he is currently achieving, and I am quite pleased with the choices the club made.

Gameiro is top class player, despite his struggles in the capital. I think he'll do well wherever he goes, which is likely to be one of the top clubs in Spain or Italy, in the opinion of myself.

Probably. I can understand calls for a British Football team for the Olympics but for actual football events (the Euros and the World Cup), individual countries are definitely the way to go. Out identities are too strong to be represented by the same football team. Slightly different for Geordies maybe as we don't identify with the rest of England as much in general. You can say this for so many countries, many where the divisions are vastly more important relative to the country. The UK really should not be different just because of the historical implications on the sport. Senegal can only call three overage players, it would be a bit bold to call two from the same club. Senegal has plenty of talent to choose from in the European leagues.

Same question to you: has it been confirmed that Luiz' and Cahill's injuries are so serious they are out for the rest of the season? The final is in 4 weeks plenty of time to get them both patched up. I think Luiz was said to be out for about two or three weeks a week and a half ago. I think he will probably make it.

Fully agree. I'd rather have my team have playing every game with 80 % of possession instead of scoring a goal, instead of winning a game. This is the age old art vs. efficiency debate, and it's useless to get into as it's always a polarized one. But it's a little misguided in this case, as Chelsea were horsesh1t and played like they were scared of Barca. They took their few chances well, but it still reeked of a team afraid and hanging on. It was small-club mentality on the biggest stage in world football -- a stage most of us place even higher than international football and the World Cup final. If we can't tune into the Champions League to watch an even game, where should we turn? Anyway, as I said, I'm not gonna continue this as it'll never end. Chelsea played the way most conducive to them winning the match, their attacking play has been disjointed, inconsistent, and slow for over a year now. What their team does possess is dominant physical strength and a wealth of experience throughout the side and this was utilised effectively. They were poor for 45 minutes out of 180, the first half tonight. The second half performance was brilliant from them. Absolutely fantastic defending from 9 players and great holdup play by the lone striker.

Possession is an obsolete, useless, and generally incorrect statistic. If you ever studied the way it is computed, you would realise that it has no place in a football discussion such as the one we are currently engaged in. The only way to really judge what occurred in a football match is to have watched the football match, and this is unfortunate.

Why is McLeish still employed, btw? His name doesn't even get mentioned as someone who could lose their position, as the club slide further and further down the table.

The length of that "sound" is incredible, it is nearly ten seconds. In the video it lasts from the 9 second mark to the 17 second mark. Just another mental thing about tonight, man.

Dear me. I know. It's f***ing laughable. Yeah, let's just forget about the two goals that he actually scored in the two CL finals that he's played in and won, and use one penalty miss to judge him forever. He's the best player in the world against anyone other than Chelsea it seems. I cannot actually believe he's failed to score against them all of these years. He must have played them nearly ten times.

Follow a different sport. Game was fantastic. My heart was beating at a crazy rate, and I didn't even have a supporting interest.

If we finish 3rd, 5th, or 6th, I than I won't begrudge Chelsea winning the title at all. It will be fully deserved, and I have an affinity for any team that knocks Barcelona down. If we finish 4th, I hope all of their players receive overstretch their hamstrings and they lose by ten.

There is a reason that Malouda and especially Essien weren't playing today or in the first leg.

This is amazing. Everything about this is amazing. What an incredible match.

Sky will be wanking themselves silly at the prospect I don't mind. When's the last time we had a proper title-decider. In England? Manchester United-Chelsea the last two seasons?

This is absurd. Great play by the Moroccan as well.

That goal just seemed far too easy. Ridiculously so.

Mascherano is quite rubbish in central defence. Barcelona generally have defended disgracefully in the last two matches.

Tello looks nervous. Should replace him. I cannot imagine how this is possible.

He is just a mad Area boy. Nothing more.

Take you nonsense to the NBA thread. It is Clasico and also QPR. "What a day for Newcastle"

If you want to talk about overrated players, please discuss Adam Johnson. Never seen anyone be rated so highly by supporters while failing to contribute anything of substance. He looks talented and skillful, but where is the production on the pitch.

I don't have the information, time, or energy to calculate medians, deviations, and outliers. Take the information at face value, for the love of God. You cannot possibly think that Simpson will accept the idea of "Everyone here is better than me and i am actually detrimental to the team's success. I should receive wages a fraction of what they earn". No athlete has this mentality. Coloccini is on 80 per week or something like this. Santon, and both Taylors will earn more than 25,000. Only Williamson will receive comparably low pay. It is not a Guthrie situation, there is no reason for the player to think he is not indispensable.

A quick search finds a Daily mail article that states the average Premiership wage as £22,353 a week. Danny is a player who played in every single match for a team that will compete in Europe next season. Hardly average. You can understand why he believes he is worth more. If the parties representing the club and those representing the player have a fundamental disagreement regarding his value, then let him leave for the good of both.