The Beautiful Game Thread 10/11

[fsquid]

I think I might have just seen the best penalty shootout ever.

[pk500]

Oh, and for those who believe that the likkle brownshoe club from the North-East was hard done by on Sunday, and were justified in going running off to the FA like a bunch of smacked-arsed schoolgirls, let us examine their shining record of disciplinary endeavour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NQCCcEr ... re=related (Kevin Nolan's challenge on Victor Anichebe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlz5tO1F ... re=related (The ever-delightful Joey Barton)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlz5tO1F ... re=related (Saint Alan, no less)

Still, I guess if City had only one decent player (who isn't theirs anyway) and he got injured, I might be upset as well. Maybe more upset than Newcastle's Assistant Manager, Colin Calderwood, who stated on Sunday that he saw nothing malicious in the challenge.

It does somewhat beggar belief that a team with people such as Nolan and Barton wants to open the Pandora's Box of after match judicial review.

Be careful what you wish for, Barcodes, you might just get it.

Ah, the oil-infused hubris is out in full force again. Yes, City's petrodollars have bought itself a lovely squad.

Yet I recall less than 10 years ago when Newcastle was in the Champions League and City was out of the Premiership. And as for Alan Shearer, just look atop the all-time Premiership scoring chart, and you'll see he's a better scorer than anyone in a sky blue shirt these days.

The big question: How long will City's awakening last if UEFA really follows through on its desire to limit Champions League participation within the next three years to clubs that break even? Hey, City was only 121 million quid in the hole last year. That won't be tough to erase. And at what point will all of the new foreign talent want to push off to Spain, where Real Madrid or Barcelona will find some loophole in the regulations?

Just saying ...

[davet010]

Alan Shearer - scorer indeed, snide underhand thug totally. Note, also, that he only won ANYTHING at all in his career with a club which was bought in just the same way as City, just on a minute scale. Apart from his time with Mickey-Mouse Rovers, he's got as many medals as I have.

Oh, and about that £121m hole. It's called 'writing off player transfers in the year of acquisition', as opposed to doing what most clubs do, which is to write them off over the contract life. And if you think that blokes who made £1.5bn last yr by buying shares, leaving them in the safe for 6 weeks then selling them don't have some legal or contractual nous, then fair enough.

And I'll enjoy City's talent 'pushing off to Spain' - given that Barca have now done their accounts properly and discovered a £150m deficit, and the full scope of Real's 'loans' from their president will be revealed, we'll see what we shall see.

Hubris ? May be, but my points about Nolan and Barton stand on their own. People in glass houses, etc.

[dougb]

Tell him he's a mug and should steer well clear.

They'll be tapping him up for £300m for a new stadium next. And a shitload of new players to replace the shite they've got. And a payoff for Woy so they can get a proper manager.

He'll need reet deep pockets, buying out the two stooges is only the start of it.

Carlos Slim is a minority partner as well. Pockets ought to be deep enough, if the deal actually happens.

That much cash behind the deal with no jihad money would make me very, very happy.

Any deal where Gillett and Hicks lose upwards of $140 million brings a smile to my face!

Best wishes,

Doug

[pk500]

Hubris ? May be, but my points about Nolan and Barton stand on their own. People in glass houses, etc.

Oh, they're both thugs. But they're my thugs. Just as De Jong is yours.

[Macca00]

That much cash behind the deal with no jihad money would make me very, very happy.

I don't think I could have said it better myself.

[davet010]

As I understand it, the current deal on the table is that NESV will extinguish the debt to the RBS (£240m or so) and they have promised not to dump their acquisition costs onto Liverpool's balance sheet (as the Glazers did with MU). What Broughton didn't mention is what funding they will provide after that. There is a bit of a rush on, as failure to repay by Oct 15 triggers another £60m in penalties.

It'll be interesting to see what happens in the High Court tomorrow. If the Two Stooges generate a judicial review or some sort, and the penalty clause goes into effect, the willingness of NESV to pay £300m just to extinguish the debt will be important. Martin Broughton is on a £1m bonus to facilitate speedy resolution, so some of his actions will be judged in that light.

Still, a non-leveraged buyout would be a positive result for Liverpool.

[davet010]

Mmm, odd things occurring - for some reason, Twitcher has decided to weigh in, to support Hicks and Gillette.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=5739

He's obviously got nothing to do now that the transfer window is closed until January.

[Macca00]

Mmm, odd things occurring - for some reason, Twitcher has decided to weigh in, to support Hicks and Gillette.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=5739

He's obviously got nothing to do now that the transfer window is closed until January.

He really is a delightful human being.

[davet010]

I've seen the future, and it's GREAT

Oct 10 - Redknapp describes Aquilani transfer as a 'disaster'

Dec 10 - After a series of stunning displays for Juventus, Redknapp goes on record as saying that he is a 'twiffic' player who he is very interested in, somehow avoiding the charge of making an illegal unsanctioned approach.

Jan 11 - Redknapp indicates that Tottenham will make a serious offer for the player 'tho of course we can't afford the sort of wages Liverpool are paying him', and are obviously not interested in paying what Liverpool are demanding.

Jan 31 - Redknapp faxes a 'serious' offer to Liverpool 4 minutes before the deadline, of £50, two half-eaten plates of jellied eels and a picture of Louise Redknapp's arse.

Feb 11 - After a 'disgraceful' refusal by Liverpool to sell this player (now downgraded again to 'disaster'), Redknapp is sentenced to 6 months in HMP Wormwood Scrubs for fraud.

Mar 11 - Due to an 'unfortunate' administrative error, Redknapp is allocated a cell with half-man, half-ape Reggie 'The Dog' Trubshaw. The latter is briefed in advance, later alleging that his instructions included the words 'Rohypnol' and 'dry-bummed'.

Aug 11 - A chastened Redknapp is released, confessing all of his heinous crimes. He then insists on committing seppuku during the half-time interval of the Spurs - Arsenal derby, to the delight of the world over.

C'mon people, dream with me !!

[fsquid]

Hubris ? May be, but my points about Nolan and Barton stand on their own. People in glass houses, etc.

Oh, they're both thugs. But they're my thugs. Just as De Jong is yours.

I'm still claiming Di Canio.

[pk500]

Hubris ? May be, but my points about Nolan and Barton stand on their own. People in glass houses, etc.

Oh, they're both thugs. But they're my thugs. Just as De Jong is yours.

I'm still claiming Di Canio.

He's all yours:

[davet010]

Squid

Notwithstanding his amusing antics at Wed and at the Hammers, I think that the guy is a genuine, unashamed fascist (he has a tattoo of 'DUX' on his arm and is an unrepentant fan of Mussolini) and therefore worthy only of undying contempt. John Boot's book 'Calcio' has an amusing tale about him playing against Livorno in Serie A, a team (and town) well noted for their Communist sympathies.

[fsquid]

don't care. That guy could score goals. He can screw chimps off the field for all I care.

[Feanor]

Mmm, odd things occurring - for some reason, Twitcher has decided to weigh in, to support Hicks and Gillette.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... nd&cc=5739

He's obviously got nothing to do now that the transfer window is closed until January.

That's bizarre, even by Harry's standards.

[davet010]

United's accounts out at 11am GMT

(rubs hands gleefully, having seen a preview..)

Gallic Gonk better get redrafting his 'Let's keep the big clubs in the forefront regardless of whether they are sustainable or not' rules....just sayin'.

[davet010]

Only lost £83m in the year they sold Ronaldo...nice.

Office Red to me "see, we're loaded, £160m or so in cash.."

Me "to utilise that, you have to spend it....which will become expenditure in next year's I&E. That cash represents the return on income you've already accounted for. Remind me again, why are you in my Finance team ?".

(tumbleweed bounces gently through the office)

[wco81]

Player salaries make that much of a shortfall?

They are one of if not the highest grossing clubs in the world. If they can't make profit, which club can?

[dougb]

If the court decision doesn't quickly authorize sale of Liverpool it looks like they'll be in Administration with the points deduction that goes with it. In that event the Guardian is reporting that the sale would be in jeopardy - possible relegation would knock whatever financial upside there might be for the new owners (can't imagine what the upside would be at this point). I'd imagine that if the club went into Administration there'd fairly be a fire sale of whatever player assets the club has at that point - Torres, Gerrard, Cole etc. either in the next transfer window or certainly at season end.

At that point raising the Titanic might be an easier feat than breathing new life into the club.

Wonder if the kop would issue a fatwa on mssrs. Gillette and Hicks!

Best wishes,

Doug

[davet010]

Player salaries make that much of a shortfall?

They are one of if not the highest grossing clubs in the world. If they can't make profit, which club can?

They made an operating profit of 100m.

After the interest charges, financing fees and exchange losses, they lost £83m.

Malcolm Glazer and family - We salute you !

[davet010]

If the court decision doesn't quickly authorize sale of Liverpool it looks like they'll be in Administration with the points deduction that goes with it. In that event the Guardian is reporting that the sale would be in jeopardy - possible relegation would knock whatever financial upside there might be for the new owners (can't imagine what the upside would be at this point). I'd imagine that if the club went into Administration there'd fairly be a fire sale of whatever player assets the club has at that point - Torres, Gerrard, Cole etc. either in the next transfer window or certainly at season end.

At that point raising the Titanic might be an easier feat than breathing new life into the club.

Wonder if the kop would issue a fatwa on mssrs. Gillette and Hicks!

Best wishes,

Doug

15th October is D-day. Problems with Liverpool are fairly tough...they won't realise the sort of money from players they might have done over summer.

Torres - can't last a full game, seems to have repeat injuries to the groin muscles/
Gerrard - 30 now, not seemed as dominant this year (though having no DMC ain't helping)
Cole - 2 issues...why should anyone buy him when Liverpool got him for free, and he's been garbage every time I've seen him.

Liverpool City Council are also promising to play tough over any planning permission for extending the existing ground.

Various reports over here that John Henry, or whatever he's called, hasn't exactly got a spotless history with taking on sports franchises - though when you are on your beam ends, you can't be that choosy. One thing is for sure, if he's hoping to jack up ticket prices to support his business model, then that won't fly in one of the poorest areas not just in England, but in the EU.

[wco81]

Do working class people still attend matches?

In the US, with new owners and stadia, prices are beyond the reach of many working class fans. Probably beyond the reach of some upper middle-class families, if they have obligations like schooling (private elementary/secondary schools, universities).

But in the last 2 decades or so, they've introduced things like PSLs and they've targeted a higher demographic. As long as they put out a winning product, they're able to sell the tickets though. Well, at least until the crash and home equity and credit lines dried up.

[RobVarak]

Dave,

Can you give me a little insight into the difficulties with a new park? What's the source of the roadblock? I know that G&H blamed the credit crunch, but it wasn't exactly fast tracked before '08 either.

[davet010]

Do working class people still attend matches?

In the US, with new owners and stadia, prices are beyond the reach of many working class fans. Probably beyond the reach of some upper middle-class families, if they have obligations like schooling (private elementary/secondary schools, universities).

But in the last 2 decades or so, they've introduced things like PSLs and they've targeted a higher demographic. As long as they put out a winning product, they're able to sell the tickets though. Well, at least until the crash and home equity and credit lines dried up.

Well, soccer actually started off as a 'working class' sport, and remained as such pretty much until the start of the Premiership. When I started going again in 88 after 3 years away at uni, it cost me £3.50 to attend a home game. Current prices are between £30 and £40, with season tickets from £388 to £520 (for 19 games). These are still amongst the cheapest in the Prem, Chelsea season tickets hit a max of £1,000 in 1996. So if you are taking the kids, you're talking about £100 plus whatever you spend while there.

The demographic has changed since 92...because stadia are now all seater, most people turn up about 15 mins before kickoff, and the atmosphere has really deteriorated in most Prem stadia. I really miss standing in the Kippax at Maine Rd, watching the place fill up and moving about if I see anyone I know. The idea of 'bonds' or PSL's was tried at a few places, but failed massively (at West Ham, a real working class area of London) or came with loads of discounts etc attached (at Leeds).

Rob

I'm not an expert on this, but oddly enough I once ended up doing some work on a feasibility study of a new ground for Everton while I was at KPMG (I was only doing number crunching, my suggestion of 'in Angola, on a minefield' was ignored). They went for a plan on the new dockside, but Liverpool Council nixed it because there was insufficient road circulation...I was trying to stifle my chuckles at that point.

Strangely enough, it now seems that the Council are the ones wanting a new stadium (as a big public works regeneration project which someone else will be paying for) and it sounds as though NESV are spinning a rebuild of the existing site - miles cheaper for them as a new stadium is £300-400m, but not what the Council are interested in. No one really cares what Everton want, as they are skint and are not likely to bring any cash to the party, as Bill Kenwright has been trying to sell for years and no one is interested...the price for investors looks expensive as Goodison really is a dump. As well as being full of racists.

With both of them struggling at the moment, the worries expressed in the local press ( who are bleedin' desperate for Liverpool to be sold and are trying to prevent any barriers at all which might put NESV off) are that if both are not going so well, then they'll have a nice new 60,000 stadium which is not even close to full...particularly if ticket prices rocket as part of the business plan for the stadium funding.

[wco81]

A hundred pounds sounds low for 3 or 4 tickets.

Then probably add parking and overpriced concessions like over here.

Baseball is suppose to be the most affordable sport in the US but they've been building new stadia so tickets cost more, parking cost more and concessions have been always high. And you usually have to eat before or after the game too.

30 to 40 pounds doesn't sound too bad.

I've looked at going to a Sevilla game when I was there last September and it was like 80 Euro for Mallorca but much more when Real or Barcelona visited.