[acid911]

I don't know why people think it's going to be Liverpool out of the top 4, the ones that look weakest to me are Arsenal. Yes, they're doing ok at the moment but look at their fixture list so far compared to everyone else.

Yeah, currently they're in the top 2, but I hope they somehow miss out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Then again, the big four might as well finish top 4 so who knows, that's the nature of the football. It's too soon to tell!

[dst]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I just watched the highlights of Liverpool's game. Before, I thought it was a great comeback but if their players (in this case Skrtel) are allowed to karate kick in the air like that then they surely are going to turn games around... kudos to Kurt for calling them Victim FC!

Spare a thought for my tigers... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Woo hoo!!!

Juande Ramos gonna get fired in another week I guess. Will he come to Newcastle? Or head on back to Spain?

And Jol's Hamburger are in first place! I love it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Ramos has done **** considering how much he has spent!

Chief in salary cap warning
Triesman admits fears over spiralling debt

Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has warned a salary cap may need to be enforced in English football.

Speaking at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge, Triesman revealed English clubs face an uncertain financial future as they currently owe an estimated £3billion.

Triesman fears the current economic climate could cause major damage to English football, with it having been suggested some clubs could even go bust.

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside raised the idea of a salary cap to safeguard clubs' finances and now Triesman admits those measures may need to be carried out as he looks to resolve the game's financial problems.

Triesman believes wage levels have a damaging effect at all levels of the game in England and may no longer be sustainable in the global credit crisis.

"The reason I made the point about the 12 per cent per annum growth in wages is because some of the money is flowing through the clubs inevitably, including some of the money that is in their debt package is in wages," Triesman told Sky Sports News.

"I will be told in no doubt, if you want to compete at the highest levels you have got to be competitive in the wages market as well.
Volume of debt
"I just make the point there is a volume of debt which becomes very significant in those circumstances and people need to think about it.

"I am told by people right through the football pyramid, down in the leagues in the Blue Square Premier for example, below the Football League that the issues of working with agents, trying to deal with wages right through the system is now impacted.

"This is like a waterfall, the water is reaching right down to the ground-level.

Asked if a salary cap needs to be introduced, Triesman said: "People in the clubs are the only ones who will be able to judge that.

"I start with the general proposition that we have in this business, as in so many other businesses, we have a level of debt which should cause us to stop, think and review where we are."

skysports

Uefa fire debt warning
Clubs could face European exclusion

Uefa general secretary David Taylor has warned clubs with heavy debts they could be excluded from European competitions.

Football Association chairman Lord Triesman revealed on Tuesday that English clubs currently owe an estimated £3billion.

Triesman stated that such debts posed a 'terrible danger' in the current global climate and Taylor shares his concerns.

He is worried about the problem across the continent and has threatened to take action against any club that fails to deal with serious debts.

"There would be forms of communication, even warnings, even reprimands before one would ever get to a situation of exclusion but it's absolutely possible," Taylor told the Leaders in Football Conference.

Taylor also expressed concern that clubs are putting their futures in jeopardy by exposing themselves to debt that would require a 'white knight' to bail them out.

He said: "We are looking at strengthening the minimal financial criteria and other forms of self regulation that may impose greater standards on clubs that want to compete in European competitions and beyond that club football."
Stability

Uefa have set up a working party to investigate ways of controlling the spiralling debt.

Taylor said: "This is an attempt to find greater financial stability, especially at a time when banks are failing. Governments might bail out banks but they are not going to bail out a football club,

"The current system needs to be looked at, it needs more transparency. We need to look at which areas we regulate to ensure the long-term stability of the clubs.

"It is not something that will happen overnight, we are still at the stage of investigating and developing solutions, but we are concerned about the longer term."

Convinced

Taylor also echoed Triesman in dismissing the current 'fit and proper persons' test for ownership as of little use in establishing the financial credentials of people looking to take over clubs.

He added: "We welcome investment in football but we want stronger roots for that investment and this is an attempt to find greater stability.

"Many new owners or investors are not giving gifts to clubs. In most cases they are loans and ultimately the club is indebted to its benefactor.

"There are no solutions yet but we are all convinced something needs to be done."

skysports

This post has been edited by dst: Oct 8 2008, 02:05 PM

[Locke Lamora]

M'Boro 0-2 Chelsea, midways through the 2nd half.
First goal by Kalou, trhe second one a stunner from Belletti.

[Locke Lamora]

FT M'boro 0-5 Chelsea.
Kalou
Belletti
Kalou
Lampard
Malouda

[dst]

Arsenal 0-1 Everton currently at 36'.

van Persie missed chance The commentator says "terrific save" and "wonderful reaction"... excuse me but I think that guy is a ****ing idiot! The ball went right at the keeper, he could have been taking a nap and he'd still save it...

[Locke Lamora]

Arsenal 3-1 Everton. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
Nasri, Van Persie and Walcott.

[KillerMax]

Rooney is in great form. It was a joy watching him play today. 1 goal, two assist and he was involved in everything. Also had a goal disallowed for a suspicious foul. West Brom lost 4-0 and never really had a chance.

[Locke Lamora]

THe sun has been shining all weekend, Arsenal won yesterday, Milan won today, Spurs did their thing against Stoke...can a weekend be better? I doubt it.

So, here's to the inner ring muscle of London, the sewer of Britain, England's undisputed laughing stock numero uno: Tottenham Hotspur, I salute you.


At least their fans have embraced how utterly laughable they are:
(IMG:http://tottenhampn.podbean.com/wp-content/blogs/29106/uploads/tottenham.jpg)

This post has been edited by Locke Lamora: Oct 19 2008, 06:08 PM

[Jack Sparrow]

I hate that b@st@rd Styles. That was three points in the bag. A 10 man Newcastle nearly beat a 14234234234234234 billion pound club. What a sorry j@ck@$$. I won't hate on Robinho though. It was just a crappy decision. Luck always deserts teams which are down. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Oh and speaking of Spurs, this here is a post from the Newcastle forum. This member claims to be an active member in the footballing fraternity, and is familiar with agents etc. He also claims to have been part of the deal making process for many of the footballing transfers. Gives out a lot of 'insider' info as well.

This was his post on the Spurs situation. If I remember the discussion was on brining in Ramos as Newcastle manager.

Not much chance of Ramos coming to Newcastle.
Ashley and Jimenez did not part on friendly terms.
Jimenez was told to leave.
Jimenez and Juande are mates.

I was close to this one when it happened too.
Spurs had done well ending top 5 for a couple of years.
The preseasons at Spurs were very poor and spurs started poorly every season costing them places and points.
Jols record the last two seasons from november to may was the best in the league.

Jol is a great bloke and I mean one of the greats. A great man manager good with the press. Only second to Sir Bobby.
Tacticly and technically the training was not a high standard.
Spurs thought that Jol was not good enough to take them a step further.

They decided on Ramos.
The winner,the man who had taken a small team to win the UEFA cup and nearly win the league.
He was used to working with Monchi the Football director. Spurs(Kemsley) went over to Sevilla to see how they did it and tried to copy the system.
Sounds all very good and proffessional but....

Spurs got it wrong.
Spurs over estimated Ramos´s role in the "system"
Spurs over estimated Monchi´s role in the "system"
Kemsley with his then friend Jimenez got it all wrong.

The system is Del Nido.
Sevilla is Del Nido.
End of story!
Who is Del Nido?? He is the president of the club and one of the most brilliant minds around. He decides on the players coming in and out and he gets the best price. He pushes the coaches to play young players when in doubt. He does not believe in reputations and Names in football.
Every player is signed based on their ability and what that ability can add too Sevilla he then looks at the name and reputation.
Del Nido is the Maradona of Chairman/presidents.
Ramos was just a passenger on his ship!

I warned Comolli that Juande was not what he seemed.

Juande Ramos does usually form a good blok of players or form a team.
He is also good at pre-season and training the group.
He is very good at keeping the fringe player in optimum form and fitness.Something you notice more in a winning team.
Ramos is not too bright and is more a coach than a manager.
He is very limited.

Jol would be better for Newcastle and has now taken Ricardo as 2nd coach.
Ricardo is a Guru of technical football.He was head of youth at PSV and is great at improving players. Van Persie and Babel still use him when they can.
He has what Jol misses. Together they are great.
The geordie would love Jol and he would love to come to Newcastle at the end of the season.

[Tennie]

So I watched West Brom - Hull today. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed that game. There weren't superstars on either team, but they both seemed to play with a real joy for the sport. It was really great fun to watch. (final score was West Brom 0 - 3 Hull).

[Jack Sparrow]

Whoo hoo again...Hull City. I just can't explain to you guys how great this feels. I played manager with Hull City for two years, and they were more or less my number 2 club, even though I've only seen them play once in my life in a match they lost 3-0. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


So to see them top of the league (even temporarily) is just great. Imagine how great their fans would be feeling right now. This is what football ought to be. Not stupid contract discussions and going to switch clubs and whatever.

[Tennie]

(from BBC sport)

Tottenham sack Ramos for Redknapp
Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp as their new manager after sacking coach Juande Ramos late on Saturday night.

Spurs have agreed a compensation package of £5m with Portsmouth, according to the 61-year-old Redknapp.

Tottenham also axed sporting director Damien Comolli and first-team coaches Gus Poyet and Marcos Alvarez following their worst ever start to a season.

"It's a big opportunity to manage a big club before I retire," said Redknapp.

Spurs are four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League after taking just two points from eight matches this season. They also lost to Udinese in the Uefa Cup on Thursday.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

A Tottenham statement on Saturday read: "The club can announce that Damien Comolli, sporting director, Juande Ramos, head coach and first team coaches, Marcos Alvarez and Gus Poyet, have left the club, with immediate effect. We wish them well.

"Clive Allen, development squad coach, and Alex Inglethorpe, youth team manager, will take charge for Sunday's league match against Bolton.

"The club has requested permission to hold discussions with Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth FC has reluctantly agreed."

Redknapp revealed that Spurs contacted Portsmouth on Friday morning, and after discussions between Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie, it was agreed he could talk to the north London club.

"I've had a great time at Portsmouth and we've had an unbelievable, successful time over the six years I've been here," Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But Tottenham made a fantastic offer to Portsmouth and it was difficult.

"It was a lot of money - I think £5m, crazy money really. Pompey couldn't sell a player in the [transfer] window so we sell the manager."

Redknapp expects the official announcement to come from White Hart Lane on Sunday morning, and he plans to be at White Hart Lane on Sunday to address the players before the Bolton match.

"I am a big follower of the history of the game and Tottenham have been a great club over the years," Redknapp added on 5 Live.

"I followed Tottenham, I trained there as an 11-year-old, 12-year-old so I know the history of the club. It is a big, big, club.

"It is a club that has massively underachieved this year - to be sitting there with two points and, let's be honest, in a real desperate situation, a relegation battle.

"There's a lot of quality players there that obviously haven't done as well as they should have done. You don't end up with two points from eight games if you're doing what you should be doing.

"So they need to start performing as I know they can. Whether it's confidence or whatever, it's up to me to go in and try to get the best out of them players."

Redknapp said first-team coach Joe Jordan and Tony Adams, the assistant manager, would be in charge of Portsmouth for Sunday's match against Fulham at Fratton Park.

And he said he has no plans to bring the pair to White Hart Lane with him.

"Tony is an Arsenal man, and he wouldn't be a Tottenham man at all," Redknapp said. "

"Joe Jordan has been fantastic for me and I would always be pleased to have him with me anywhere.

"But he is at Portsmouth at the moment and it is up to him and the club to see what will happen in the future."

Redknapp spent most of his playing career with West Ham and Bournemouth and went on to manage both clubs before taking charge of Portsmouth in 2002, guiding the club into the Premier League within 14 months as First Division champions.

He left for Pompey's bitter south coast rivals Southampton in 2004 but returned to Fratton Park in December 2005.

Then, after dramatically saving Pompey from the drop with an unbelievable final 10-game run, Redknapp steered them to a best-ever Premier League finish of ninth in 2006/07.

They bettered that by a place in 2007/08, and won the FA Cup against Cardiff, qualifying for their first journey into Uefa Cup football.

In January, Redknapp held talks with Newcastle to succeed Sam Allardyce as manager but eventually rejected the offer.

The 54-year-old Ramos joined Spurs from Sevilla on 27 October 2007 after Dutchman Martin Jol was sacked.

The Spaniard enjoyed back-to-back Uefa Cup triumphs with Sevilla and guided Tottenham to February's League Cup final where they beat Chelsea 2-1 for the club's first trophy since 1999.

However, several first-choice players left in the summer, notably Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United and Robbie Keane to Liverpool.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Juande Ramos spoke about the season to Football Focus before his sacking

England striker Jermain Defoe was also sold last January to Redknapp's Portsmouth.

Tottenham splashed out about £60m on the likes of Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, England winger David Bentley, Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

But Spurs have yet to win a league match this season and have only earned points from a 1-1 draw at Chelsea and a 0-0 home draw with Wigan Athletic.

[Fillipo Simone]

^^ Maybe for a EPL-insider this was forseeable, but it did surprise me. Harry did a good job with Portsmouth and the team had a nice perspective. What's the point in entering a chaotic team like Tottenham?

[Locke Lamora]

Don't know what Redknapp is thinking, but this gives Adams the chance to take charge of Portsmouth! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[Mook]

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool, Alonso with a massively deflected shot, 28 minutes played.