So, Barca leading by 12 points is interesting, but Man U “running away” by a maximum of five is not?
It may be interesting to talk about Barca, but it’s not interesting to point out how they’re Really Quite Good all the time as if you were the only person to have noticed. Yes, you like Barca this season. We’ve all got it. Yes, you don’t think United are quite as good as they might be. Check. Could we just get back to talking about the football though? This is the thing about human endeavour; sometimes it isn’t always transcendently beautiful, but it’s still nice to have something to talk about.
Heaven forfend we ever try to talk about Championship football; I imagine we’d CRAP need to remind CRAP ourselves of the CRAP essential rubbishness of CRAP what we’re discussing CRAP every third word BOLLOCKS.
Oh hey, or BETTER THAN YOU’D THINK women’s football; that GOOD BALL SKILLS COMPENSATE FOR THEIR LACK OF SPEED might make for WHY ARE YOU SO SLOW? a good discussion.
I didn’t say it was interesting, I said the title race in England wasn’t interesting either*. They’re both pretty much done deals. Eish, I’ve mentioned Barca (when not responding to something about them) about 3 times total, and the only reason I did so that I can recall, is because someone asked who I thought wasn’t crap this season.
I’m not sure there’s been any actual discussion of football here. Just comments from fans about their teams results, some slagging off of rivals/assorted disliked teams. Certainly no discussion of why Wigan are punching above their weight, or why Arsenal are so much poorer than last season, or why Chelsea didn’t buy the wingers they obviously needed, or why they’re only now starting to fall apart, or whether it’s Scolari’s fault they’re falling apart or just the players, or why United bought Tosic and are rumored to be buying Valencia (is Ronaldo going to Madrid this summer?), or why Hull have collapsed, or uh, anything really.
I quite enjoyed the U-20 Women’s World Cup. Quite a few of the players had better ball skills than people like Agbonlahor (and Bendtner, groan). Given that I don’t like the headless chicken running around - by oafs who’ve done nothing but spent time in the gym and on a race track - that characterises English football, I’m not sure why you’d pick that topic to try and mock me, but anyway.
*2-9 odds is running away with it for me, maybe you think it needs to be more certain. Certainly Barca would need an historic collapse, at 1-33 :0
I’ve always wondered how this should be measured. I mean it’s not like the full monetary worth of you rowners is on the club’s balance sheet. Just how much are Man City worth, as opposed to the Abu Dhabi group or whatever they’re called?
Well considering that ADUG own the club I’d venture to suggest that City are worth whatever the group feel inclined to put into it.
From what I can gather the owners are a fairly astute bunch, they’ve already ploughed millions into the club and are prepared to invest even more should the situation arise.
Remember, they were quite prepared to pay £100M for Kaka and in the summer I expect to see a lot more players of quality heading towards the promised land that is Eastlands
I’m not disputing in any way that City have access to shed loads of spondulicks, but what is their net worth? it certainly is not 100% of ADUG’s assets.
Like my own club they don’t own their ground so their players would probably be their biggest asset. It’s a pretty fragile asset though. We all know how a player’s worth can be wiped out.
At least Man. United have their ground to sell for another parade of shops.
Well anyway, in news everyone can be entertained by, Chelsea appear to have just sacked Felipe Scolari after about half an hour in the job. It is unclear as yet whether England’s Brave John Terry has applied for the vacancy.
From here, the currents odd on the next Chelsea manager.
Guus Hiddink - World renowned coach who has a lot of stamps in his passport. Would give Chelsea and its directors credibility. Roman Abramovich will be aware of Hiddink who currently manages Russia. 3/1
**Avram Grant **- A return to Stamford Bridge may be on the cards till the end of the season. His next Chelsea Manager odds are towards the head of the market. 5/1
Frank Rijkaard - Former Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard knows how to manage big stars and play good football. The next Chelsea Manager job looks perfect. 6/1
Gianfranco Zola - Voted Chelsea’s greatest ever player. Would be a popular choice for the fans and the directors but is doing a great job at West Ham, although the hammers would get some compensation. Check his next manager odds as we expect Zola to be in the frame. 8/1
Roberto Mancini - Roberto Mancini has managed 3 Seria A teams including Inter. May not be high profile enough for Peter Kenyon and Chelsea. 9/1
Jose Mourinho - Could there be a return of the prodigal special one to Chelsea. Jose Mourinho was the most successful manager in recent years but could he work again with the board. 12/1
Didier Deschamps - Seems to be in the frame for all the top European club positions. Has Chelsea connections after playing at the Bridge and won the FA Cup with them. 16/1
Carlo Ancelotti - One of the most successful Italian club managers. Would seem to be the number 1 choice as next Chelsea manager but Ancelotti looks reluctant to leave Italy. 16/1
Michael Laudrup - Skilful player who may deserves and would be an asset to the Premiership. However dealing with the internal politics and the “big stars” would be a problem we think. His Chelsea Manager odds though will shorten as he is bound to apply if we have read the market right. 20/1
Ray Wilkins - Ray Wilkins looks to be a good coach but managing Drogba, Terry and Ballack is a tall order for a friendly guy. 20/1
Marcello Lippi - Overpriced contender who may follow Cappello into England. Worth a bet at this massive price to become next Chelsea manager. 40/1
I don’t think Hiddink is interested in giving up the Russia squad, as he stated that he’s building it up for the 2010 World Cup (and they’ll be VERY interesting then if they build upon the EC08).
Rijkard might be a good and interesting fit though.
I agree about Hiddink although I think he is the best candidate. Think what a stink there would be in Russia if he left to join Chelsea, Abramovich would be persona non grata in his own country if the Russians failed to qualify. Not only that I think Hiddink has got 3 different countries to the WC finals and I’m sure he’d like four.
Only one Englishman in the above list, tut tut. Wilkins is far too nice a guy to be a manager anyway.
Okay, so I was just listening to BBC 5 Live, and they were (of course) discussing Chelsea. Mancini was mentioned as a possible candidate, whereupon one of the pundits (I forget which) cut in, saying:
“Look, they may not have the breadth of experience or the results behind them of your Mancinis [this said as a trade unionist might pronounce “banker”], but I think what real Chelsea fans want is one of the Dennis Wises of this world.”
Quite apart from the horrifying prospect that this world contains more than one Dennis Wise, I’ve got to say this is probably the funniest bit of football punditry since Alan Shearer said, post-Sven, that it “doesn’t matter what the next England manager’s skills are, or how much experience he’s got, as long as he’s English.”
so I’m afraid your guess is as good as mine.