Village Idiot

Their finances do have improved, but they still lost 50m last year (I think) and their revenue is nowhere near the place needed to keep the team challenging for trophies when the likes of Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Cole... are on the wrong side of 30.

Chelsea are actually not in a good shape financially. They keep losing money and need a major investment to rejuvenate their squad.

Showbusiness talent are actually not nearly as well paid compared to the total production cost as they were 10 years ago (salaries aren't lower, just they haven't risen as much as the average production cost has ballooned). It's becoming more common for them to get a share of the profits, though. (It's my area of expertise )

To be honest I think Rijkaard would still be a great club manager with a good Assistant that takes care of this stuff (like Ten Cate did at Barça)

Valdés out of tonight's game with flu.

I love it how in this whole saga the way he left Everton is conveniently swept under the carpet.

Hopefully he'll get a post in a bigger league, lots of proper managers have done badly in Turkey and I would love to see him more in the spotlight. He does need a good Assistant to manage the squad, though. People seem to think that we won the 2006 double by giving the ball to Ronaldinho and letting him do his thing alone, but Guardiola is just using the same tactics and philosophy Frank implemented.

Plus Cadamarteri isn't a scouse.

http://soccerlens.com/files/2007/12/gary_lineker_barcelona.jpg Legend

On what charge, of mis-management. I know Laporta was known for his dodgy dealings though? According to our sports law, the boards of fan-owned clubs are responsible for the losses incurred during their stewardship of a club. In this case the debt has increased €50m in 6 years (actually negligible for today's standards). This provision was introduced so elected presidents would have a degree of accountability, however I believe this is the first time in 20+ years it is called upon. Laporta's stewardship of the club had been good until the last couple seasons where he truly lost the plot. Some of the stuff that came off the audit regarding private parties, spying on rivals inside the board, etc... is pretty damning. That said, I think this is a very bad idea, as it will divide the club.

Rijkaard did some very sound stuff with us, I guess he needs to manage a team where he can get the kind of players he needs to implement his philosophy. And he's not a very good man manager.

Like when Figo went to Real? Different. Would be if Figo had gone to Espanyol

I said several times that I don't like ManCity's way of doing things, but I'll confess that if Rooney pulls off the switcheroo, it'd be beautiful

I guess at some point the genie will get out of the bottle regarding the Webster ruling. Just what football needs, more player/agent power.

Just daunted on me that the 1990s are "retro". I feel old

Agreed, I'm still in shock about this. Its great though isnt it..There has been plenty of drama this season so far. Definitely. So entertaining. Going over to RedCafe every hour or so is also great. This whole thing is fantastic. Place is in a complete meltdown, fragmented into 200000000000 threads of panicking reds. Made me think of what would happen if Messi ever wanted to leave!

They don't really swap numbers, Xavi has worn #8 for Spain way before Iniesta wore #8 for Barça. Xavi couldn't pick #6 for Spain due to veteran precedence (and it was owned by none other than longtime captain Fernando Hierro). Xavi chose to keep #8 after Hierro retired and later on Iniesta went on to pick #6 (Euro 2008 I think). Dunno why Xavi keeps #8 though, I suppose it has some sentimental value to him as the number he used when he became a Spain regular.

Aye right. They still kept signing the Veróns and Ferdinands of the world while doing that, though. They don't anymore.

Yeah, he's been amazing this season. How will the cope without him? That's it though. He's gone missing this season and Man U are struggling to win games as it is. Only because of their defence though they havent really struggled to score goals. Rooney has been shit and that's seen them placing 4th tied with Spurs. They do need him. It's not only goalscoring, he's all over the pitch when he's on form. Interesting to see ManU losing Tévez, Cronaldo and Rooney in such quick succession. Still wonder where he'll end up. Can see Florentino getting all wet right now, though.

ManU are fucked then.

Mcmanaman didn't give it too bad a shot like. Real Madrid La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03 Supercopa de Espana: 2001, 2003 UEFA Champions League: 2000, 2002 UEFA Super Cup: 2002 UEFA Super Cup Runners Up: 2000 Only was a key contributor in his first season there, though. Galáctico policy put him on the bench when Pérez arrived. Gary Lineker was my first footballing idol and won some stuff with us (was la liga's top goalscorer once too), was ultimately sold by Cruyff after he couldn't adapt to his playing style. Steve Archibald was also very popular until he was sold due to tightening of restrictions on foreign players. Laurie Cunningham was (I think) Real Madrid's first black player and had a pretty good stint until he pulled a Marcelino on them. He played for a couple more Spanish clubs until his death. Michael Robinson played for Osasuna, and has been a popular pundit for years in Spain. That's the ones I can think of that had good/decent stints down here.

Just found out starting this season you can get married at the Camp Nou. Amongst the amenities are the possibility of having trophies displayed during the wedding banquet. Always wanted to drink champagne off the big eared one...

Jonas to Newcastle Otherwise, I always wonder who'll open that can of worms.

Indeed, Arsenal do have achieved playing excellence, but - as ManCity is going to prove this or in the following years - to win you have to spend.

I think so, yes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_capital#Fashion_Capitals_Rankings_.282010.29 Doesn't that just mean that you've got more Derek Zoolanders than Madrid? Not sure I'd be proud about that tbh Any table kind of thing that lists us above Madrid gets my seal of approval Plus that means we have more hot posh dressed chicks going around too.