On the Eve of the new Season...

I guess Big Ol'Sam wasn't that bad after all!!!!
I bet he's in the pub laughing his arse off right now!!!!!

It wasn't the final whistle, it was the mercy shot to put that poor magpie out of it's misery!!!

:p

except, they were his players that arent good enough. more proof that he should be out rather than handed a checkbook

or chequebook even ;)

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:

Originally posted by vansmack:
Nicolas Anelka is set to sign for his 5th Premier League club after Bolton accepted what is believed to be a £15m fee for the French international striker from Chelsea. Anelka has already played for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and has been signed as a direct replacement for Didier Drogba, currently at the African Nations' Cup and believed to be exiting Stamford Bridge this summer. [+]

I know Didier Drogba, Didier Drogba was a friend of mine, and Nicholas Anelka is no Didier Drogba.

As a chelsea fan, I think that Anelka has been signed as a Drogba replaced only for the ACN. No way are they expecting him to be their #1 next season if Didier leaves, which i still dont see happening.

As a non-chealski fan, this upcoming summer will see players trying to leave stamford bridge like rats off a sinking ship, and the rich russian will probably sell off and go do something more interesting.

i dont know that you could do much better than anelka with the system chelsea runs

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i dont know that you could do much better than anelka with the system chelsea runs

Peter Crouch?

peter crouch still plays football? who knew

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
peter crouch still plays football? who knew

Replacing Drogba with Anelka tells me money bags is getting bored with the whole thing so his checkbook is staying in his pocket. That's like replacing your Ferrari with a toyota prius.

No, Roman and Avram just wanted someone who is not cap tied for the CL. I'm not sure there's anyone who fits that criteria that is significantly better.

a prius sounds way more practical :o

i know you hate anelka, but he can score in the prem in a similar system, with a far shittier team. like the judge says hes not cup tied. i would bet they bring in someone else for depth in the summer, but i totally hope romie is bored and punts the whole silly club

You know what I don't get about the ANC - it's not like this was sprung on anybody. It's always been this way, so why didn't more teams plan accordingly?

And I think the Judge is spot on. It was all about the CL.

speaking of wacky owners, is it true that all of manusa's gigantic profits last year went to paying interest on the debt the glazers used to buy the team? :eek:

Originally posted by vansmack:
You know what I don't get about the ANC - it's not like this was sprung on anybody. It's always been this way, so why didn't more teams plan accordingly?

one of the dozen or so reasons that newcastle is managerless right now. the stories coming out (sir bobby telling big sam not to buy germeni, sam wanting to sell oba and taylor to buy more defensive midfielders and european defenders) are getting worse and worse

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
speaking of wacky owners, is it true that all of manusa's gigantic profits last year went to paying interest on the debt the glazers used to buy the team? :eek:

Yes. But all the huge profits mean is that they can purchase more players and still service their debt obligations on schedule.

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
speaking of wacky owners, is it true that all of manusa's gigantic profits last year went to paying interest on the debt the glazers used to buy the team? :eek:

Well, they have the strongest squad they've had in years….amazing strength in depth, fill their 75,000+ stadium week in week out and sit atop of the toughest league in the world, so they must be doing something right….

Toon could sure do with a rich yank right now huh?

BTW, I met one of the owners recently…..came to test drive a Quattroporte, he gives me a bit of inside scoop now and again.

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:

BTW, I met one of the owners recently…..came to test drive a Quattroporte, he gives me a bit of inside scoop now and again.

One of the brother's wife was a law school classmate of mine. After the purchase I sent her a note and she said she knew that I would be the only person from school who cared anything about this deal. She was happy to know that I approved of the purchase and wasn't one of the many fans who threatened her husband's life.

i am just a little floored that they were so successful last year and dont even pay on the principle. guess that's what happens when you have doodles in charge ;)

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
Toon could sure do with a rich yank right now huh?

not sure i could ask for more than an english owner that plowed half a billion dollars into the club in 8 months

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i am just a little floored that they were so successful last year and dont even pay on the principle. guess that's what happens when you have doodles in charge ;)

Originally posted by Brain Walrus:
Toon could sure do with a rich yank right now huh?

not sure i could ask for more than an english owner that plowed half a billion dollars into the club in 8 months

1/2 billion could buy you a decent team including stadium…..so you could ask for a lot more actually. In fact, you could probably buy chelski for that come June…

looking like its going to be houllier with alan shearer possibly working under him. interesting

shite, I was holding out hope he might stoop low enough to manage ireland