The Football Thread 2008/09

[Hank Scorpio]

[Saint of Killers]

According to an article with Mihir Bose on the BBC, nobody pays on the nose for these transfers. Abramovich did for a year, but even he stopped that. So I guess although 20million per year doesn't sound as good as 80million up front, presumably United can still spend a good chunk now and spread their payments over 4 years too.

Ah! That's okay then.

[Spindash]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/12/rob-styles-retires-early-referee

kthxbai

[Kanbei]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/12/rob-styles-retires-early-referee

kthxbai

Yeoooo

And about Vidic, he wants to stay and I'm sure he'll say to his wife that he's staying and if she keeps on moaning he will give her "the stare"

[BOR]

Vidic?!

I'd be disappointed if he's going too and he had been excellent this season. I'm sure he will stay here with us for sure and I hope no other players will follow Ronaldo to leave...

[Preezy]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

he should just kill his wife and bury her in the Serbian forests like he used to do before he became a footballer



Benzema, Benzema, Ben Ben Ben Ben Benzema!

[Kanbei]

Is Sepp Blatter President of FIFA or President of Real Madrid? I swear every time Real Madrid are involved in a dispute of some sort he always backs them.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has backed Real Madrid's record-breaking �80million bid for Cristiano Ronaldo, as he believes it proves football remains a growth industry.

Earlier this week his Uefa counterpart Michel Platini described the Spanish titan's offer, along with the �56million signing of Kaka, as being 'excessive'.

Given the global recession Real's unprecedented spending has surprised many within the football fraternity, but Blatter feels the game will benefit in the long run.

Speaking ahead of the Confederations Cup in South Africa, Blatter said: "It means that our product is still a good product. If this is the game of the people, they need stars.
Sensitive market

"OK, it is a lot of money, but he is performing. We are in a very sensitive market nowadays because there is an economic crisis. In football, we are still in a good market."

If Ronaldo does follow Kaka in moving to the Spanish capital, then it means Madrid will have made the four most expensive signings (in euros) in history, having also splashed out huge money on Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo during Florentino Perez's previous term as president from 2000-06.

Madrid also lavished big fees on the likes of Brazilian forward Ronaldo and David Beckham as part of the club's famous 'galacticos' policy, and Blatter believes the current situation is not too different to how it was a decade ago.

"Almost 10 years ago, Luis Figo went from Barcelona to Real Madrid for �37million," he said. "So what is �80million now? That means there is still demand to have a star."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 09,00.html

[Irene Demova]

Odd he didn't say this about the city move for kaka

[Midtown]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

[Phatman]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English

Fixed.

[Stig]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

Self obsession? It's the truth.

[Irene Demova]

villa's going to madrin

[Peter Crisp]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

What other nation can boast such a powerhouse of world football such as Luton Town in Non League football?

[game_pro]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

Self obsession? It's the truth.

No its not. Your top four are better than the top four in other countries, the league as a whole is worse than in Spain, and possibly worse than in Italy and Germany.

[Eyes of God]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

Self obsession? It's the truth.

No its not. Your top four are better than the top four in other countries, the league as a whole is worse than in Spain, and possibly worse than in Italy and Germany.

But the top 2 in Spain are way ahead of the rest. At least here it's a bit more competitive.

[PES Fan]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

Self obsession? It's the truth.

No its not. Your top four are better than the top four in other countries, the league as a whole is worse than in Spain, and possibly worse than in Italy and Germany.

Germany is by far the most competitive league. Italy hasn't been competitive for a while, Inter walked the league on the last few occassions. In Spain theres only two teams involved.

[game_pro]

vidic won't leave, he loves it in the UK. we've got the strongest league, the best fans (seriously the spanish ultras make millwall supporters look like kittens), the most money, he plays for the best team in the country and all the fans adore him.

Sarcasm, right?

I really hate the English self obsession that the Premiership is the biggest and best league in the world.

Self obsession? It's the truth.

No its not. Your top four are better than the top four in other countries, the league as a whole is worse than in Spain, and possibly worse than in Italy and Germany.

Germany is by far the most competitive league. Italy hasn't been competitive for a while, Inter walked the league on the last few occassions. In Spain theres only two teams involved.

In Spain there are sometimes other teams involved, like Valencia or Seville. Other times its been Deportivo or Villareal, and their top 4 CL entrants changes quite regularly.

Inter have walked the title a couple of times since the match fixing scandal, but the rest of the league is still quite competitive, with teams like Genoa this season doing well and Fiorentina getting into the CL ahead of Roma for example

[Lotus]

I don't see why there has to be a "best" league. Each of the major leagues in Europe has its own pros and cons. The Premier League is the most watched and richest, the German league may well be the 'closest', the Italian and Spanish each have their own top teams, rivalries and such, and a wealth of quality players. They all make Europe the best place to play and watch football, with the best leagues and competitions.

[Superking]

I don't see why there has to be a "best" league. Each of the major leagues in Europe has its own pros and cons. The Premier League is the most watched and richest, the German league may well be the 'closest', the Italian and Spanish each have their own top teams, rivalries and such, and a wealth of quality players. They all make Europe the best place to play and watch football, with the best leagues and competitions.

This.

[Count Nood]

Pfft, the South African League is blates the best in the world. Play up Orlando, Orlando Pirates!