# SDMB Footie Focus: January 2004 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562 "2004-01-04T01:41:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/61 "2004-01-09T14:42:26Z")
I saw it in the papers - not a bad deal for all concerned (apart from those with less than 2,500 shares (ie £500 worth at issue). I’m going to take him up on the rights - a point above LIBOR is not a bad bond to have. Its fully tradeable too. In a not very much noticed side move - Levy is moving the club from a full listing to AIM. Sneaky innit. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/62 "2004-01-09T14:56:28Z")
Transfers: Auxerre’s Teemu Tainio (who I think can be very good indeed) is being courted by Blackburn. Any Blackburn fans about? I forget. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/63 "2004-01-09T18:04:55Z")
Sweet baby jesus: [http://www.football365shop.com/store/comersus\_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1062](http://www.football365shop.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1062) My order is in. (tragically this is true). ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/64 "2004-01-10T16:20:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\ ***Twisters** , old cock - Quite, as **ruadh** mentioned, it’s a trifle unfortunate. But didn’t Celtic just do the exact same thing to Motherwell ? \*\* No. For one thing, we’re _paying_ Motherwell for Pearson. Miller spent six years at Celtic Park and we’ll get SFA for him. Also, Pearson’s always been open about his desire to play for us, while Miller was sneaking off to OT for medicals while speaking of his intention to stay at CP. He’s kicked his last ball for us anyway. I hope MON makes him spend the rest of the season washing the other players’ boots. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/65 "2004-01-11T12:38:23Z")
As I read it, Celtic paid a token amount for a player out of contract at the end of the season. Why did they pay £350,000 ? - because Peason insisted Motherwell should get something out of it. Why did Motherwell accept £350,000 ? - because Pearson had, according to Butcher, already left the club in his head. [Quote:] ([http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/3368747.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/motherwell/3368747.stm)) _“The Scottish champions elect were the only realistic bidders and had warned Well that they would sign a pre-contract agreement with the player on Thursday if their latest offer was not accepted._” Celtic meaning, we’ll have him for nothing in the summer or we’ll have him now and give you this payment as it’ll make Pearson happy. Either way, he’s ours. Celtic had them over a barrel and it was only at Pearson’s insistence Motherwell got any money for him. Or so it reads to me. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/66 "2004-01-11T13:23:20Z")
I think you think me and Twisty are blaming Man U for this. We’re not, we’re blaming Miller. He should at the least have done a Pearson and made sure we got something for all the time we wasted on him. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/67 "2004-01-12T08:39:01Z")
Well If there was ever a team I wouldn’t expect to rally back from 3-1 down it would be Bolton. Well done you Whites!! 3 valuable points. It’s really really looking like no relegation dogfight for Bolton this season 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/68 "2004-01-12T09:12:53Z")
1-0 to the lillywhites. Leeds’ situation really does look deperate. And as regard the boy Miller - at least he didn’t go to Rangers (if he had you would have had an insight into how we feel about Scumbell). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/69 "2004-01-12T10:36:54Z")
Oh okay **ruadh** , I was barking up the wrong tree. As **Owl** suggests, we’ve rather had that kind of sentiment knocked out of us down sarf. What a difference a week makes! 6 - 7 points off Europe and 10 off the Champs League. More mid-table mediocre opposition next week (well, until Owen’s fully fit) . . . should be a terrific game ! ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/70 "2004-01-12T10:39:44Z")
Oh, and about 18 points off safety as well. Starting to breath more easily. Almost . . . ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/71 "2004-01-12T12:03:21Z")
Owen is nothing to fear yet given his performance on Saturday. Heskey, on the other hand, is playing for his very career given the arrival in May of Djibril Cisse for £14.7M-and-rising, and is back to near his defender-swatting, selflessly interplaying best. Diouf and Cheyrou are also looking more useful. But with injuries forcing Henchoz to play right-back (_wha??_) in order to accomodate Biscan at centre back (yes, things really _are_ that bad), Riise still looking hopelessly out of form, and one week for Paul Jones to develop an understanding with his defence, then if Tottenham can get past Hamman to supply Keane and if the likes of Davies can arrive in the box at pace, it could be Spurs’ day. I’ll take wins in the Cup and against Everton in preference, myself. Finally, this seems to be an appropriate juncture for an awards ceremony. Step forward erstwhile Sheffield Wednesday fan (who could therefore do with some good news) and Manager of the Month… **sc913!** % :::polite applause::: You now have unlimited changes until Saturday when month 5 starts. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/72 "2004-01-12T13:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > > Celtic meaning, we’ll have him for nothing in the summer or we’ll have him now and give you this payment as it’ll make Pearson happy. Either way, he’s ours. > > Celtic had them over a barrel and it was only at Pearson’s insistence Motherwell got any money for him. Or so it reads to me. \*\* ah, but they didn’t have Motherwell over a barrel at all. If he had have signed a pre-contract, Motherwell could have expected a sum in the immediate reigon of £350k from a tribunal under FIFA rules. the administrators of the club put the final word in, even though Butcher was holding on for as long as possible trying to get 2 players on loan into the bargain as well as 350k. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/73 "2004-01-12T13:02:12Z")
Re: Liverpool match - I’m looking forward to it and think we stand a chance against them. Maybe Postigia will score his first league goal? Inter Milan have stuck a £12m price on Dalmat - They’re having a bubble aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/74 "2004-01-12T14:14:03Z")
I’ve seen the light now, **twisty**. Cheers. Interesting position for Liverpool in this very strange season; 17 points off the bottom, 18 points off the leaders and . . . 5th in the league. How mad is that - extrapolate that out and, by the end of the season, they’ll be 30+ points off the pace. Dalmat’s only £1 mill more than Rebvov. Bargain! Too much still worries me about Dalmat. For that amount of money I’d want a cast iron attitude from a dodgy foreigner or a British/Irsih mentality. And Dalmat is not cast iron. He’ll be a lot cheaper if he goes back to Inter and does nothing. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/75 "2004-01-12T14:43:16Z")
Apparently the geniuses at the lane didn’t put a buy clause in the loan deal, so we would have to pay something like £8m after haggling. Too much IMHO. We could get a paddy or sweaty for that sort of money. For god’s sake we could get Nicky Butt for that money. A proper Ginger Pele. Nothing much seems to happening with our attempts to get those lads from Forest. There’s a distinct lack of stupid rumours around at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/76 "2004-01-12T15:05:01Z")
A glorious 3 - 1 non-league victory against the might of mid-table Bromley on Saturday, Ryman’s League Div One South. They had a very nippy and dangerous forward (and top scorer) by the name of Adolph Amoako, not many of those to the pound. God, I love non-league! Forgot to mention my admiration for the Ginger Pele t-shirt. I see Pleat has today said he thought he’d signed a forward when they got Doc but now he realises otherwise. I know what he means. You can’t help but like the lad, though. I bet he loves his mum’s coking, too. Bless him! I don’t know about this January window; does much ever really happen with all the class cup-tied and whatnot, lot of paper talk and not much else . . . ? btw, half got my hands on a ticket for the Lane on Sat. Fingers crossed. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/77 "2004-01-12T15:27:49Z")
That bl;oke from So solid Crew plays for AFC Wimbledon. He’s pretty good too - was on Chelseas books as a youngster (actually he still IS a youngster). ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/78 "2004-01-13T06:19:06Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > And as regard the boy Miller - at least he didn’t go to Rangers (if he had you would have had an insight into how we feel about Scumbell). Oh believe me, OST, we know. Look up the name “Maurice Johnston” sometime. 15 years later and he’s still known to Celtic fans simply as “Judas”. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/79 "2004-01-13T17:49:00Z")
[Adolph](http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/sport/stories/200303/06/bromley.shtml) (ex-Crystal Palace youth team. Fast but quite short, so no fear of ariel bombardment, as it were). I know it’s the most obvious question in the world but _what was_ his mother thinking ? I have this afternoon written to Sir Man Jock saying we’d like Butt for the £5 mill thank you very much and, if it helps at all, I’ll be prepared to saw my own bollocks off and feed them to one of his horses. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562/80 "2004-01-14T17:21:04Z")
Took a stroll on the hallowed turf this afternoon. Okay, just a quick couple of steps. Best seat on offer was towards the back of the Lower East. Very nice bird showed me around: £252 for the last seven home games, starting with Pompy, not Liverpool. Probably just enough to buy Postiga a haircut. Elsewhere, a ticket fell off the back of the lorry for Saturday so I’ll be able to rubbish Owen along with everyone else. She offered a great sales pitch on the Upper West; to the effect of them being a bunch of boring wankers who stare at anyone who wants to stand up and give it some. Probably all Estate Agents, I said . . . where was it you sat again, **Owl**? . . . My preference anywhere in the ground would be towards the front centre of the Upper East. Stadiums are strange when they’re empty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-january-2004/222562.md?page=5)