# SDMB FOOTIE FOCUS: September **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2003, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942 "2003-09-01T09:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/61 "2003-09-03T11:00:55Z")
Oi, **Twisty** , are you gonna tell us the answer to your little riddle? The Guardian Knowledge gave me the most relegated player but not manager, and any way your question seemed like it might specify the most _different_ teams. And if you ask that “Once you’ve done it, you can never do it again” question I shall sabotage your FF team from the Chairman’s Office. (Incidentally, the answer, as well as the origin of the “your boys took a hell of a beating” quote is in [this Knowledge](http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,153472,00.html).) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/62 "2003-09-03T11:09:57Z")
On the subject of clubs folding - it isn’t always a total disaster. I live near Wimbledon and the story there is very cockle warming. I go to the odd AFC Wimbledon game and it really is a great experience (the footy is astonishingly shite, like a school match). Its the full-on jumpers for goalposts experience. Old ladies with rattles and rosettes. Kids being passed to the front. Inedible meat pies, a raffle and tombola, a stand with a tin roof that makes a great sound when it rains. And crowds of 4,000. And to continue…Bryan Adams, Matt Aitken (SAW), Anthony Andrews, Sir AJ Ayer, Dennis Berkamp (oh the irony), Kenneth Branagh, Bernard Bresslaw (Charles Hawtrey was a gooner - natch), Charles Bronson (the prisoner not the craggy actor), Pierce Brosnan, Emma Bunton, Jah Wobble, Fat Gatt the cricketer, Patsy Kensit, Bernie Grant, Trevor McDonald, Paul Merton, Warren Mitchell (who sits near me), Barry Norman, Trigger from only fools…,Leslie Phillips (ding dong), David Putnam, Salman Rushdie (in disguise), Deanna Troi from star trek (born in edmonton), Paul Whitehouse (scorchio),. And yes I did nick it from the mine eyes site… ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/63 "2003-09-03T11:23:07Z")
Manager with the most relegations? hmmmmm… Dave Basset springs to mind but i don’t have time to check. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/64 "2003-09-03T11:28:30Z")
This just in: Ferdinand is out for sure (kidney still infected), Dyer might be fit/available. Beckham’s still a probable. Yootha Joyce on standby. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/65 "2003-09-03T11:31:02Z")
Molly Sugden, Kathy Bates and Hattie Jakes also ready to take their place in the “Diamond”. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/66 "2003-09-03T11:33:57Z")
Yep, plus Una Stubbs up front with Thora ‘the turd’ Hurd linking with the diamond. Shaping up nicely. I see Joyce Grenfell as the new Bobby Moore ? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/67 "2003-09-03T11:55:56Z")
Is this the starting XI Playing 4-4-2-2(windsors) ``` Jaques (good stopper) ``` Bresslaw Robertson-justice Cribbins Simms Dale James Williams Stubbs ``` Windsor Hawtrey ``` With the size at the back and the guile of hawtrey and williams these fellows would be a match for anyone (well the current spurs team at least) ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/68 "2003-09-03T11:58:50Z")
I see Bernard Bresslaw in central defence rather than out wide, after his performance as “The Giant” in Hawk the Slayer. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/69 "2003-09-03T12:07:19Z")
Also Bernard Cribbins IS Steve Bruce. Spot on. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/70 "2003-09-03T12:29:55Z")
Nice balance and with a bit of bite but disappointed there’s no room for Jack ‘Whey Hey’ Douglas in the starting line up – I expect he’s on the bench though with a cameo beckoning. Impressive, no substitute for class (unless you count Baggio going to Blackburn). Perhaps we can have Inman as manager once the Rooskies get themselves sorted. ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/71 "2003-09-03T14:04:40Z")
I can see Syd James having his good and bad days. He’s got guile, but has a tendency to “crack up” at the slightest provocation (of a bad pun) pan ---
**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:** [September 3, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/72 "2003-09-03T15:36:44Z")
Having James and Windsor in the same team is like having Fowler and Macmanaman – you’re asking for trouble. Or you were, maybe they’ve grown up. I doubt it. At least King Kev has the chance to find out. I was just reflecting on Beckham picking up this ‘groin strain’ last night and everyone having to wait until he meets up with the squad and the physio’s get a chance to take a look. I wonder if the distance between Madrid and wherever is going to mean an era of anxious anticipation and concern until the press and public find out that, yes!, he really is going to be fit. Am I sniffing another cute move by Becks and his team of advisors . . . ? Sometimes I just feel so _used_ BTW, I was doing some quick maths. Expenditure to date on players = £110 million Less: Winning the Champs League = £40 Share value increase in Chelsea Village as a result = £40-£60 Residual value in players bought £40-£60 Additional commercial activities = £10 So, if he doesn’t spend too much more (say £50) and he wins the Champs League next year, he’s probably not out of pocket and he’s probably the most powerful individual in world footie, with the team still in the bin – I just thought that interesting. And, of course, it’s if he wins. Remember this is the guy that backed (now president) Putin in the early 1990s. He’s clairvoyant. Hmmmm . . . Any thoughts ? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/73 "2003-09-03T15:53:10Z")
Chelsea Maths (as per Owl) Money paid out: Payment for chelsea village £60m Guarenteeing (note not paying) existing debts £70m Players £110m (actually about £70m - don’t believe all you read) Increase in wage bill over lifetime of players contracts £100m (this is a pure guess) Total: £340m at most On the other side of the balance sheet. Value of Chelsea Village assets including CFC £250m Value of Chelsea Village without CFC, and CFC in another site £500m Resale value of players £40m Increase in ticket sales (2000 per game @ 40 a go x 45 games £3.6M) Debt guarenteed with CVplc assets £70m He’s still on the right side of the balance sheet, and this is why I really don’t think it’s going to be a long term love affair. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/74 "2003-09-03T18:18:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*[ > > **mascaroni** - I had no idea about Desmond Dekker. That’s outstanding news! You seem suitably mad - very nice to make your Spurs-loon acquaintance. \*\* I’m ashamed to say that in a Bjørge Lillelien stream-of-conscoiusness kind of way I was a bit casual with the truth… But he did do “The Israelites”… so he probably is a fellow sufferer. Same goes for Audrey Hepburn - Nico Clausen was Belgian as well… though I don’t recall Audrey Hepburn spending an entire season offside. As for Precious McKenzie… well, he knew Peter Purves and he just sort of seemed… well… Anyway… FACT: Fidel Castro - Gooner FACT: Osama Bin Laden - Gooner The facial hair is a dead giveaway… ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/75 "2003-09-04T10:29:56Z")
I actually have no idea who was the most relegated manager, I was hoping someone else would know. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/76 "2003-09-04T10:31:42Z")
BTW, I don’t think you can count the money spent on players by chelsea as a Negative, as it has all been guarenteed by Abramovich (if not already paid. ) when he bought the club did he jive it a whopping cash injection also? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/77 "2003-09-04T10:38:36Z")
**manscaroni** , your list reads like a Half Man Half Biscuit song. FACT: MUrdochettes - Eamonn Holmes, Mick Hucknall, Terry Christian, Tony Blair, Lisa Riley, Angus Deayton. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/78 "2003-09-04T10:41:08Z")
Is Terry Christian the only one actually from Manchester? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/79 "2003-09-04T11:00:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*I actually have no idea who was the most relegated manager, I was hoping someone else would know. \*\* ALAN BALL!!! (not counting non leaguers) ---
**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:** [September 4, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942/80 "2003-09-04T12:36:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SentientMeat \* > manscaroni, your list reads like a Half Man Half Biscuit song. You were already showing your taste and age with the ‘Dukla Prague Away Kit’ name choice - some of us wouldn’t do that . . . \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-footie-focus-september/198942.md?page=5)