Roy Keane has astonishingly heaped praise on Arsene Wenger who today celebrates 10 years at Arsenal and ruining United's total domination dreams. Roy says "Wenger is the best manager in football, I only wish I could have played for him and partnered Vieira who was the best midfielder the Prem has ever seen".
posted by WhatsupWheaton Simon at
9/28/2006 02:30:00 PM
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4 comments
So we are just 6 games in and United have already peaked. Beaten by their rivals, and now unable to beat Reading, its clear they wont be able to challenge Chelsea going into December and questions must be raised about their transfers (dropping 14-18 million pound Carrick against Arsenal). Now certain United fans in the past have said I shouldn't be looking at United and should concentrate on my own club but my club deservedly wins at Old Trafford and takes 6 from 6, I feel it okay to assess the rivals... Surely its all over for United?
posted by WhatsupWheaton Simon at
9/25/2006 09:59:00 AM
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10 comments
Subject: Cr@p Chrimbo Gifts
Instead of having to suffer the usual connect-4s or Buckeroos,
some idiot bought me a starkick!!
Is if my skills need improving. I took it for a test drive in my living room and managed to scare the shìt out of the cats, which was good.
However, my patented lollipop left my right peg wrapped in Velcro, causing me to fall to the ground.
So starkick has helped me become more like Ronaldo – stepover and fall to the floor has now been mastered.
So thanks, Burkie.
posted by Rich Hughes at
9/15/2006 05:06:00 PM
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7 comments
For all you erudite types
posted by Chris P at
9/12/2006 09:10:00 AM
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5 comments
posted by Chris P at
9/08/2006 11:47:00 AM
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5 comments
Some big developments in the League of Ireland this week with the news that Dublin club Bohemians are to sell their famous old home, Dalymount Park, to property developer Liam Carroll for €40m as well as a purpose-built 10,000-seater stadium.
Under the proposal, Carroll – who is reputed to be worth in excess of €1.5bn – will pay Bohs approximately €40m, including annual payments of €3.2m until the new stadium is ready, with the balance payable after Bohs leave Dalymount Park.
Early projections forecast that the new stadium, off the M50 near Ballymun, could be built within five years, when the balance of approximately €25m would be paid.
Dalymount has been home to Bohs for the past 105 years. It was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup finals. However, the ground was hardly developed from the 1940s until the early years of the new century and has fallen out of use as a major venue, except for the home games of Bohemians.
Now this would be a decent amount of money to most English clubs but to a League of Ireland club it is astronomical. All clubs in the top division are already full-time professional but I think wages are probably on a par with English Division 1 and 2.(or lower) As a result, the top clubs in the league have been able to attract players who could be playing in Div 1 and 2 in England. (feels weird to write that but you know I mean the good old-fashioned division 3 and 4)
Since the league switched to a summer format a fwe years ago, the European results have really improved as it gives the League of Ireland teams a chance to play European matches while they are in peak mid-season fitness and their opponents are in pre-season shape. Derry City for example have beaten IFK Gothenburg and hammered Scottish Cup Finalists Gretna 5-1 away in the UEFA Cup so far this year and play Paris St Germain next.
Anyway, I am not sure what this influx of cash to a single club will do for the League of Ireland as a whole but it will be interesting to keep an eye on Bohs over the next 5-10 years. If they can start attracting players of an even higher standard than English Div 1 and 2 and make it through to the Champions League league stages some year (Shelbourne went out at the final hurdle last year to Deportivo) that means even more money down the road. Of course, in true Irish fashion, all the money might just go missing and the club could be broke in 10 years.
posted by TheBusbyBoy at
9/06/2006 02:05:00 PM
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12 comments
I know we covered this last week but it just is so ridiculous their unveiling needs a mention.
Striker Tevez justified his move to Upton Park. He said: "First and foremost West Ham were very interested in our services and made us a firm offer and the chance to play in the Premier League which were important factors in why we chose to come to West Ham." Mascherano insisted: "It was a boyhood dream of ours to come to England. You want to go where you are going to be most wanted."
Pardew stated "These are two guys on the world stage who have come to us in a manner which is undisclosed and has some mystery around it." Meanwhile the Daily Mail reported that this Joorabchian fella is a business failure with precarious finances
I think this whole thing will blow up and could spell the end for West Ham. I doubt he has a sound financial base to buy West Ham. Therefore, he brings in two world class players to woo the supporters and prempt any opposition to his bid. He then buys the club presumably with a web of holding companies blurring a clear picture of his finances. Bang a year later he sells Tevez and Maschareno for a nice little profit, takes the money (the terms of the contracts are not disclosed, methinks the sports agency retains any profit on subsequent sales whilst West Ham gets use of players) and saddles the club with his debt involved in buying club or more likely one of the holding companies involved goes bankrupt and WestHam is taken over by creditors / lose their ground.
posted by Chris P at
9/05/2006 12:41:00 PM
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6 comments
posted by gooner71 at
9/01/2006 07:56:00 PM
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4 comments
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