Football

[Minilad]

With those two results today Villa are all but safe

 

[DarloRich]

The only thing I would say is that the fans don't question where the money is coming from when times are good - Man City are a case in point at the moment

we havent had any good times in the last 30 years (apart from Wembley last year!)

And i think you will find at Darlo we do ask where it comes from. We have been burnt to often by various chairman - strangley they often dont like to answer that question!

 

[Butts]

With those two results today Villa are all but safe

If Roy Hodgson gets the England job you can send Mcleish off to the Hawthorns to continue his "Midlands Tour" or Wolves come to that

Seriously Sven is your man - I'm suprised the FA have not swallowed their pride and invited him back to the England Job.

 

[SS4]

With those two results today Villa are all but safe

That as may be but I don't see us getting anything from Spurs (even at home) and it's gonna be a tough ask to go to Carrow Road on the last day of the season so I'd like to see us get at least one point and for results to go our way

Following fixtures (excluding Wolves) so it's 2 from 4 to go down. I can't see QPR beating Man City although they could beat Stoke who've nothing to play for. The Blackburn vs Wigan game is going to be interesting.

• Blackburn
  • Wigan (H)
  • Chelsea(A)
• Bolton:
  • Tottenham (H)
  • WBA (H)
  • Stoke (A)
• QPR
  • Stoke (H)
  • Man City (A)
• Wigan
  • Blackburn (A)
  • Wolves (H)
• Villa
  • Tottenham (H)
  • Norwich (A)

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If Roy Hodgson gets the England job you can send Mcleish off to the Hawthorns to continue his "Midlands Tour" or Wolves come to that

Seriously Sven is your man - I'm suprised the FA have not swallowed their pride and invited him back to the England Job.

I'd not say no to Sven

 

[Badger]

Blackburn are basically down at this point. An on form Wigan ("Champions league quality" according to Owen) and then Chelsea - and they have to win both.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Blackburn are basically down at this point. An on form Wigan ("Champions league quality" according to Owen) and then Chelsea - and they have to win both.

They don't have to, they could gain 4 points and still survive, but there'd be a lot riding on that. That said however I cannot see them getting a result from either.

 

[Ivo]

They don't have to, they could gain 4 points and still survive, but there'd be a lot riding on that. That said however I cannot see them getting a result from either.

It's not every day someone would say that in response to a match against Wigan hock:

 

[Chew Chew]

Yep Gordon is free, just look at what he did to middlesbrough, took them to bottom of the championship, which must have taken a lot of skillful work, mainly signing a load of Scottish premier league players (mainly Celtic), evidencing what a poor league the spl really is

From what I remember a lot of the Celtic players he bought were the rejects that couldn't get into the Celtic side like Willo Flood and Barry Robson.

Anyway, it isn't really a fair statement when the likes of Don Cowie and Jos Hooiveld who weren't exactly stars up here and in Hooiveld's case could not get into the Celtic side are stars in the Championship.

Celtic 3 Rangers 0

Some display from the Celtic Ultras.

i stand corrected, seems i'm 8 months out of date. fernandes bought ecclestones 66% stake and mittal has a 33% stake. why does one of the richest men in the world have a stake in a football team without the ambition to bankrupt himself chasing trophies?.

I suppose FFP rules out doing that sort of thing these days.

 

[DarloRich]

From what I remember a lot of the Celtic players he bought were the rejects that couldn't get into the Celtic side like Willo Flood and Barry Robson.

I think most Boro fans are very impressed with Barry Robson. he has played well this season. Willo Flood was blighted by injury during his time with the Boro.

 

[CC 72100]

Will I for one am extremely nervous about tonight. As long as we come away from Eastlands with a point, I'd be happy. City still have to go to Newcastle, although their performance on the weekend certainly raised a few eyebrows - I can't remember the last time Wigan put 4 past somebody.

Unfortunately Exeter City are now relegated to league 2, although it's been on the cards for a while, but Hereford managed a 3-0 away win at third place Crawley to leave it all to play for on the final day of the league two season, Burton or Hereford to go down (Please not another relegation of one of my teams!)

Meanwhile Carlos Tevez now wants to stay at Man City, whilst Mancini may recall Balotelli - you just couldn't make it up!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Burton are safe, I think you mean Barnet

 

[SS4]

Will I for one am extremely nervous about tonight. As long as we come away from Eastlands with a point, I'd be happy. City still have to go to Newcastle, although their performance on the weekend certainly raised a few eyebrows - I can't remember the last time Wigan put 4 past somebody.

Unfortunately Exeter City are now relegated to league 2, although it's been on the cards for a while, but Hereford managed a 3-0 away win at third place Crawley to leave it all to play for on the final day of the league two season, Burton or Hereford to go down (Please not another relegation of one of my teams!)

Meanwhile Carlos Tevez now wants to stay at Man City, whilst Mancini may recall Balotelli - you just couldn't make it up!

Those decisions usually reek of someone pulling strings behind the scenes perhaps to improve their market value, perhaps because winning the league (and all the cash that comes with it) is more important than their responsibility. In both cases money trumps what's right again.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm not sure who I want to win tonight. Both clubs are cheats in their own way and much as I'd like to see Man Utd get some more comeuppance it'll basically mean Man City bought the title

 

[Ivo]

Burton are safe, I think you mean Barnet

Barnet may have to go down for Southend to go up automatically

With those two results today Villa are all but safe

Not like you to say that!

 

[Oswyntail]

... Man City bought the title

As did virtually every title winner in the last 20 years, if not longer. Just because Man City have more of the stuff doesn't mean the others didn't rely on their particular flexible friend. Gone are the days of sides with a spine of home grown players being successful.

 

[CC 72100]

Burton are safe, I think you mean Barnet

Yep, meant Barnet. Apologies any Burton fans out there if that got you worried!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yep, meant Barnet. Apologies any Burton fans out there if that got you worried!

Burton Albion, with their 2-0 away win, did have a big part to play in the demise of Macclesfield Town at the weekend, which finally condemned them to the Conference Premiership, where they will now be meeting Hyde FC, who were promoted from the Conference North.

 

[CC 72100]

As did virtually every title winner in the last 20 years, if not longer. Just because Man City have more of the stuff doesn't mean the others didn't rely on their particular flexible friend. Gone are the days of sides with a spine of home grown players being successful.

I may get criticised for this, but I'd nominate United. Not so much now, but when we did the treble in 99, we had the likes of the Neville brothers, Wes Brown, Nicky Butt, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ole Gunnear Solskjaer playing a key role, all home grown or had moved moved to United at a realatively young age

 

[ACE1888]

From what I remember a lot of the Celtic players he bought were the rejects that couldn't get into the Celtic side like Willo Flood and Barry Robson.

I think most Boro fans are very impressed with Barry Robson. he has played well this season. Willo Flood was blighted by injury during his time with the Boro.

Barry Robson never gave less than 100% in a Celtic shirt, sad day when he left, scored with his first ever touch for us too (came on as sub v Dundee United, took a free kick and scored ) Top Man!

 

[Ivo]

I may get criticised for this, but I'd nominate United. Not so much now, but when we did the treble in 99, we had the likes of the Neville brothers, Wes Brown, Nicky Butt, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Ole Gunnear Solskjaer playing a key role, all home grown or had moved moved to United at a realatively young age

I have to confess, I agree with this. It's not really true of the front line (Solskjaer aside), but otherwise most of the team was either a relative unknown when they arrived in England or had come through the club's academy. The amounts paid for Yorke and Cole were considered steep at the time, but it was nothing in comparison to the figures seen in Spain. It wasn't really until van Nistelrooy turned up that the situation changed.

Barry Robson never gave less than 100% in a Celtic shirt, sad day when he left, scored with his first ever touch for us too (came on as sub v Dundee United, took a free kick and scored ) Top Man!

That was some feat I've only ever known one other situation to that. It just had to involve Southend :roll:

I refer to Freddy Eastwood scoring after just seven seconds of his debut against Swansea (in League Two!) and going on to score a hat-trick.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I have to confess, I agree with this. It's not really true of the front line (Solskjaer aside), but otherwise most of the team was either a relative unknown when they arrived in England or had come through the club's academy. The amounts paid for Yorke and Cole were considered steep at the time, but it was nothing in comparison to the figures seen in Spain. It wasn't really until van Nistelrooy turned up that the situation changed.

Ronaldo wasnt expensive or nani. And valencia? he wasnt exactly signed from a top team was he. So i have to agree with both of you too.

If exeter could beat utd on last day id apprecaite it btw AdamW

 

[Darandio]

Ronaldo wasnt expensive or nani. And valencia? he wasnt exactly signed from a top team was he. So i have to agree with both of you too.

Over £12m for Ronaldo, over £20m for Nani (Sporting and Man Utd still argue over the actual figure, believed to be in excess of 25m Euros) and £16m for Valencia, its not exactly pocket change.

However, the original discussion was about "buying the title" and over the last 10-12 years, Man Utd are as guilty as anyone. It's only really the first 7 or so years of the Premier League (Blackburn aside) that the championship wasn't effectively bought.

Not that Man Utd are guilty without good reason though, you have no choice in but to respond to how your rivals are playing the market, and you will never get a repeat of the crop of youngsters they had in the mid 90's.

 

[SS4]

It's not buying the title so much but more to do with pricing everyone out else of the title. It is a sad state of affairs when 4th is the new 1st...

 

[Donny Dave]

The difference between Man Utd and the rest though is that Man Utd do have a very active youth scheme that does provide a lot of players for their 1st team. Currently they have 5 players in their squad (over the age of 21) who have progressed from their youth team and another 5 under 21s who do get a fair bit of playing time (or are on the fringe of the squad). That's quite a healthy ratio of players from their youth team.

Now, lets have a look at some of the players they have bought. Rooney, De Gea, Phil Jones, Ferdinand and Smalling to name a few. Yes, there has been a big amount spent on them, but all of them have been bought as long term investments. Ferdinand is the exception here as I think he's coming to the end of his career at Man Utd. If he stays, he's only going to be a bit-part player, but he has been at the club for 10 years now. Even Rooney has been there for 8 years.

What Ferguson is doing is building a team from his own youth team and other young and talented players from elsewhere to produce the nucleus of a squad he can keep for quite a few years. He then supplements that with some older players (mid to late 20s) for their experience and fill positions that his younger players can't.

Arsene Wegner does the same, except his more reliant on getting youngsters from other teams. Chelsea and Man City are just buying players and only now getting their youth systems sorted.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Look at man citys first team... not exactly full of youth products is it?

 

[CC 72100]

The difference between Man Utd and the rest though is that Man Utd do have a very active youth scheme that does provide a lot of players for their 1st team. Currently they have 5 players in their squad (over the age of 21) who have progressed from their youth team and another 5 under 21s who do get a fair bit of playing time (or are on the fringe of the squad). That's quite a healthy ratio of players from their youth team.

Now, lets have a look at some of the players they have bought. Rooney, De Gea, Phil Jones, Ferdinand and Smalling to name a few. Yes, there has been a big amount spent on them, but all of them have been bought as long term investments. Ferdinand is the exception here as I think he's coming to the end of his career at Man Utd. If he stays, he's only going to be a bit-part player, but he has been at the club for 10 years now. Even Rooney has been there for 8 years.

What Ferguson is doing is building a team from his own youth team and other young and talented players from elsewhere to produce the nucleus of a squad he can keep for quite a few years. He then supplements that with some older players (mid to late 20s) for their experience and fill positions that his younger players can't.

Arsene Wegner does the same, except his more reliant on getting youngsters from other teams. Chelsea and Man City are just buying players and only now getting their youth systems sorted.

Lot of sense there. Man City and Chelsea seem more inclined to go after the 'read made stars', whereas the likes of Arsenal and Man United go after 'rough diamonds' that they can develop and add value to. Phil Jones at 16 million isn't cheap, but if he develops well and shows some of the promise he has game in game out, he'll easily be worth double that, wheras the Chelsea/City/ Super Rich Club stratergy would be to buy him when he's at the top of his game.

For the record, I feel pretty sorry for Steven Ireland and Michael Johnson - two players who were on the cusp of something big when City got took over, two players whose progress has stalled.

Oh, and in response to YorkshireBear, we'll try our best for you

 

[balne-wonderer]

We all know what will happen tonight....

Scholes will go flying into a tackle, miss time it, cause someone injury but not get booked because it's good old Paul Scholes. Yaya Toure will then breathe on Nani and get sent off resulting in a ban for the rest of the season. Aguero will give Evra a strange look and will then be branded a racist and banned for 12 games, they'll be penalties, hand balls, disallowed goals, goal line technology etc etc.

The end result will be a 1-0 or 2-1 win for Manchester United.

Manchester City will not be allowed to win this game. I'd say the chances of a Man Utd penalty or a Man City player getting sent off tonight are incredibly high.

I hope I am wrong.

 

[SS4]

For the record, I feel pretty sorry for Steven Ireland and Michael Johnson - two players who were on the cusp of something big when City got took over, two players whose progress has stalled.

Shame he can't show such good form at Villa Park (although he's not bad by any stretch of the word)

 

[WCMLaddict]

Since 2pm I'm sitting in my office thinking about the game all the time! Come on City!

 

[Donny Dave]

We all know what will happen tonight....

Scholes will go flying into a tackle, miss time it, cause someone injury but not get booked because it's good old Paul Scholes. Yaya Toure will then breathe on Nani and get sent off resulting in a ban for the rest of the season. Aguero will give Evra a strange look and will then be branded a racist and banned for 12 games, they'll be penalties, hand balls, disallowed goals, goal line technology etc etc.

The end result will be a 1-0 or 2-1 win for Manchester United.

Manchester City will not be allowed to win this game. I'd say the chances of a Man Utd penalty or a Man City player getting sent off tonight are incredibly high.

I hope I am wrong.

Seing as your a Leeds Utd fan, and Man Utd are your biggest rivals, I'm guessing your just bitter that Man Utd are a successful team always challenging for trophies and titles.....

Anyway, your wrong about Yaya Toure. It will be Ashley Young he breathes on to concede a penalty :P

 

[andrew bell]

Anyway, your wrong about Yaya Toure. It will be Ashley Young he breathes on to concede a penalty :P

You wont need to breathe on Ashley Young, you just need to be within 5 yards of him in the penalty area