timeEd32

Yes, let's protect the income of the richest. It's no longer a sporting competition if that happens. Would be a travesty. Shocking that Man Utd. are behind it given their fall from grace.

Here's why they seem reasonable: http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/12/02/how-nfl-season-ticket-prices-compare-to-the-premier-league-special-report/ It's not at all surprising what FSG is doing at Liverpool. The Red Sox have among the highest (maybe the highest) ticket prices in baseball, although they have huge demand and one of the smallest stadiums.

That's a bit different and I'm not really sure how you control that given all the factors at play. It's the most popular league of a global sport at a time when live content is more valuable than ever. Honestly, I think the ticket prices for Premier League matches are, on the whole, very reasonable. I'd be much angrier at the fact my cable TV subscription doesn't give me access to every game. Average away ticket costs about 40 quid and I've paid 55 to go to Stamford Bridge, so I'm not sure I agree. That's without the outrageous prices for stuff in the ground. The subscription thing is the worst, f*** paying 100 quid a month to see games of Sky and BT's choosing, it's not very good value at all for the customer. If you were bang into it then you could be paying out a few grand a year of your post-tax earnings while average footballers are getting paid 100 grand a week these days. IMO this shouldn't be the case. I should probably clarify that by reasonable I'm comparing to other major professional leagues (ie in the US). I've probably become numb to it all. It would be nice if ticket prices came down for all these leagues that just secured billions in TV money, but that's not going to happen. It's the same with everything though - airlines could drop ticket prices with the current cost of fuel but instead they rake in billions in unexpected profits and watch their stocks soar.

That's a bit different and I'm not really sure how you control that given all the factors at play. It's the most popular league of a global sport at a time when live content is more valuable than ever. Honestly, I think the ticket prices for Premier League matches are, on the whole, very reasonable. I'd be much angrier at the fact my cable TV subscription doesn't give me access to every game.

Agreed. Much better that the wealth is spread across a diverse group of hundreds (or thousands) than the same already super rich old, white men getting even more rich. This idea that players in all professional sports are paid too much is really kind of silly. I presume you feel the same way about musicians and movie stars?

It's all relative - people almost always want to make more money. It's human nature, it just seems wrong when you want a raise to buy a 3rd house and a yacht instead of wanting a raise to be able to send your kid to college. I'm pretty sure you can do all of that on £80k a week as well. Ok, then a fourth house and a second yacht - the items weren't the point. There are people in their circles who have more money and more things. First class is great until your buddy has a private jet or a helicopter, and then you wonder why that's not you. Plus they have a limited window to earn money. Given the vast sums of money circulating in the game and the ridiculous wealth of the owners, I don't for one second begrudge the players (the ones who make the sport worth watching) earning what they do or wanting to be paid more when they've earned it. I agree though, I wouldn't go to China and play in that anonymous league just for cash.

It's all relative - people almost always want to make more money. It's human nature, it just seems wrong when you want a raise to buy a 3rd house and a yacht instead of wanting a raise to be able to send your kid to college.

John Jay Moores, the guy leading this takeover, had to sell the Padres as part of a messy divorce. He also ran off with a chunk of the money from a new TV deal and failed to put a competitive team on the field for his last decade-plus of ownership. Here's a synopsis:

That was one of the worst performances I've ever seen from a visiting team at SJP. They barely tried to cross the halfway line. That said, we were very good and really the only thing that can be faulted is the finishing, which I think is a combination of poor skills and nerves. Bottom line for me is assuming McClaren sees out the season we will likely have the chance to win almost every home game and look decent or good doing it and we will be terrible away from home and be lucky to pick up any points.

I'm not really sure why anyone is surprised. The last time we played at home we were excellent. Away from home we barely deserve to be a Championship club.

That is really amazing what he did. Infiltrated the club with his henchmen, pushed through a retail deal that guarantees him 96% of the profits for over half a decade, and then ran off. If it weren't so disgusting on a number of levels it would be quite impressive.

If he could stay fit he'd be a perfectly serviceable backup. Taylor playing is the least of our worries.

So what do people think - Mitrovic, Perez, and/or Doumbia to start?

Massive game, a draw just isn't enough given Norwich could beat Villa. I'm not sure whether I would be happy to lose and replace him or win and see him potentially hang on until it's too late. Yeah, tough one. The 3 points are massive, but would they sack him after a win? Maybe would do so anyway after losing at Chelsea. I can't see them sacking him for losing against a Chelsea or Man City but losing to West Brom at home surely finishes him off I'm not so sure. It's not like a win on Saturday gets us out of it. If we assume Norwich gets a point against Villa and then we lose at Chelsea we're still in 18th heading into late February and there won't be a better time to make a change for the rest of the season.

Massive game, a draw just isn't enough given Norwich could beat Villa. I'm not sure whether I would be happy to lose and replace him or win and see him potentially hang on until it's too late. Yeah, tough one. The 3 points are massive, but would they sack him after a win? Maybe would do so anyway after losing at Chelsea.

Rodgers and Moyes would both have to be classed as legitimate appointments regardless of your opinions about them. That would at least be a step up from the Kinnears and Pardews of the world.

Hope that rumor is true, mainly as it would show it's a possibility and that they understand either after this weekend or after Chelsea is the time to do it.

Gameweek 25 Man City 2-1 Leicester Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich Liverpool 3-1 Sunderland Newcastle 3-1 West Brom Spurs 2-0 Watford Stoke 2-1 Everton Swansea 1-0 Crystal Palace Bournemouth 0-2 Arsenal Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd Southampton 2-1 West Ham

Think we'll win by a goal, probably 2-1, with a very nervy final 10-15 minutes.

Probably because at an absolute minimum we should be in their position year in and year out. Instead we're hanging our hopes on teams like Norwich, Swansea, and Bournemouth dropping more points than us.

His away record is highly concerning. What the fuck does he do on these trips?

That might change with the money at risk. I do think if we lose on Saturday they will find a new manager to appoint after we lose at Chelsea. It might be another Ashley loser though. Any reason you think so? Blind hope maybe. I just find it really hard to believe Ashley will sit idly by as his free advertising vehicle and cash cow misses out on the most lucrative season ever. Although, given our history, he won't do it after Chelsea (the perfect time and latest we can/should wait), but will do it after we lose to the mackems and then it will be too late.

That might change with the money at risk. I do think if we lose on Saturday they will find a new manager to appoint after we lose at Chelsea. It might be another Ashley loser though.

Honestly, don't think tonight changes anything. We've been terrible away from home all season. We were terrible again tonight. We're a jekyll and hyde team and have been significantly better at home. We play a lot of the teams around us at home over the coming months. Those are the games that will decide our fate. I'm still at a 5. Saturday is massive.

We just need to get all our points at home.