[acid911]

Fishdoll waves hihihihihi to Ash! Good to see you around!

Hehe, even better to see the 'Gone' signature removed, even if it still needs some work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Hiya Ash!

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Hehe, even better to see the 'Gone' signature removed, even if it still needs some work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Hiya Ash!

Ha, sorry I went missing for a while! Been a bit chaotic sorting out a job for next year for my internship at University!

And acid, I know I definitely jumped the gun there but good to see some faith in football has been restored.

[Rossoneri7]

Michel Platini Threatens To Ban Manchester City From Europe

The UEFA chief has stuck the boot into English football once more, declaring that the Citizens could be axed from European competition if they keep launching mega-money bids for the world's top players...


If there is one man on the planet who unequivocally loathes the trend of ever-rising transfer fees in club football, it is UEFA president Michel Platini.

The Frenchman has made no secret of his plans to license every team in every European league, so as to make sure nobody spends beyond their means in their quest for a star-studded squad.

The Premier League has, of course, stirred Platini's wrath more than any other, with debt-ridden Manchester United and Chelsea most often the subjects of his spiels.

But it is the blue half of England's second city that is the focus of the former Juventus star's latest tirade, and in particular their well-publicised (but ultimately doomed) pursuit of Milan superstar Kaka.

Platini said in The Sun, “How can a guy cost €150 million? For me it’s ridiculous — from a football, social and financial point of view.

“If you want to buy a plane for €150m or a boat, you can do. But for a man? For me it’s bad. It’s not possible. But it’s why we have to do something.

“I’m finding a system where you can spend what you have. If one Sheikh brings €150m for Kaka then you have to put his salary on top of the transfer fee.

“If the club go over their income with the player’s salary plus fee, they can be banned from our competitions because they don’t respect their budget. It’s about a licensing system where clubs spend within their income.

“Clubs who are banned will be replaced by those further down the table of that country who meet the criteria. It’s not to disturb football but to protect it. Many owners have asked me to find a system. I have to do that as president of UEFA.”

Goal.com

I have always frowned upon institutions which are highly leveraged, and that is considering they have operations that support their case. Unlike a sports teams, which have nothing tangible to support its case.

I think I figured it out, how else could Barklay's support the EPL and promote the sport without inflating the cash positions of the clubs ? Sure the clubs in question are only a handful, still their accumulated debt would be classified as toxic assets in any bank's books and provisions have been taken out against those debts. The problem here is not whether the clubs can or can't pay back, its that Barklay's has let this happen and will continue with it, even with the current recession that is starring England in the face; entertainment will always remain the deciding factor for people at Barklays to overlook the danger of such an amassed debt.

I am not saying it is just England, take a good look at Spain too. But I am more familiar with the situation in the EPL, hence I stress more about it ..

If anything, I think Platini should do something about it. Clubs should operate based on the size of their Capital and not Debt.


P.S. .. in Davos, Switzerland a week ago, there was an interview I watched on CNBC with NBA commissioner David Stern - He stressed that the state of the NBA in the states has taken a hit (considering over 12 banks have failed in the US alone) because all NBA teams are highly leveraged.

[CrazyMilanFan]

I'll let you live this time, only because Villa won.


You sure? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) FIFA.com BBC

sheffield plays in non league division

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/Home/

[CrazyMilanFan]

2-0 win for Villa against rovers while chelsea drew against hull so now Villa are 3rd with 2 points lead over chlesea and level on points with Liverpool ( they play in hlaf and hour or so ) it seems that Villa should get UCL next season

[kurtsimonw]

A very, very good performance today. Had a clear handball turned down as well as 2 goals disallowed but very happy overall, Zat Knights been amazing snce he's filled in for Laursen! Goals from Milner and Agbonlahor (finally!). Milner is turning into a bargain and still so very young, thankyou Newcastle! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) 7 away wins in a row, which is a new Villa record, thank you MON! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As for banning Man City from Europe, that's not right. Any team with a rich owner should be baned from Europe if that's the case, including Milan and Villa. How come it's okay for Madrid to spend World record transfers on players, but not Citeh? Hmm.



This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Feb 7 2009, 06:02 PM

[kurtsimonw]

FT Portsmouth 2-3 Liverpool.

Yet another last minute winner from Torres. Babel missed an open goal at 0-0, which looked very bad when Liverpool then went 1-0 and 2-1 down. He, along with Mascherano, shouldn't be anywhere near a top 4 EPL team, really awful. Reina with a howler in goal too, just let the shot bounce over him, while he was kneeling down. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Tennie]

So, who's going to replace Scolari? Can't imagine he's got much longer at Chelsea after today's result.

[kurtsimonw]

So, who's going to replace Scolari? Can't imagine he's got much longer at Chelsea after today's result.

Can't really think of many available high-profiled managers around at the moment, though I'm certain Scolari won't be Chelsea manager come August.

Half time in the North London derby at the Lane and it's 0-0. Eboue has been sent off for 2 yellow cards, though his kick out at Modric could have easily been a straight red anyway. Very good end-to-end game so far!

In Wengers 12 years at Arsenal, they have 76 red cards, more than any other club in this time. What do they do in training, boxing or something?

[Tennie]

(this feels weird, me making two post in a row in the EPL thread)

Spurs-Arsenal is being played today. It's scoreless at halftime but it's been eventful. Adebayor went off with injury (replaced by Bendtner) and Eboue - who according to BBC text commentary had been having a rather good game - was sent off in the 38th. Both yellows were for dissent.

One bright note for Arsenal: Eduardo is on the bench. First time he's been seen for the first team since that horrible injury.

[Fillipo Simone]

Isn't it more then just expected that Mancini takes over?

[kurtsimonw]

FT Spurs 0-0 Arsenal. Modric missed a 1-on-1 with Almunia in the final seconds. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Locke Lamora]

Clichy got headbuttet (accidentaly) by Bent, it was pouring blood from the wound, he had to be helped off the pitch by two staff members and looked liked he was going to go down any minute.
And of course, the classy Spurs fans jeer at him and hurl insults all the way to whatever locker room, hospital, cementry he's going to. Jeez I hate these guys.

Oh and does anyone knows a good hitman? There's a certain chap from the Ivory Coast who needs to get clipped.

[kurtsimonw]

Oh and does anyone knows a good hitman? There's a certain chap from the Ivory Coast who needs to get clipped.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I just find a good site with all transfers, market values on players, etc. the Spurs transfer page is crazy, whoever does their transfers is an idiot.

Gomes - £8.6m
Chimbonda - £3m
Corluka - £13.2m
Bentley - £21m
Modric - £20m
Palacios - £14m
Giovani - £6m
Defoe - £15.7m
Keane - £16m
Pavlyuchenko - £16.7m

That's over £130m on players and to be honest, they've either recently joined (or re-joined) the club so haven't had time to impress (Defoe, Keane, Palacios, Chimbonda) or flopped (Gomes, Corluka, Bentley, Modric, Gio, Pavlyuchenko), they're literally throwing money away.

[Tennie]

Didn't watch the game but it sounds as if Modric is finally playing decently (or, well, not sucking totally). Fishdoll rather likes Modric.