Football Thread No. 9

[Quackers]

*cough* Cashley *cough*

Haha this is the best line from his autobiography. You really get the measure of the man:

It all started while I was sitting in the sunshine at Sopwell House, the hotel in Hertfordshire used by England before we flew out to Portugal for Euro 2004, when an eager voice called out, “Ashley!” Mr Dein was stood there. He told me I wasn’t earning enough and my salary was going to be increased. My face- cracking smile told him all he needed to know. I was buzzing, really buzzing. His tone soon wiped the smile from my face. I felt his attitude suggested he was doing me a favour, like I was a 17-year-old trainee.

The deal he offered was a £10,000-a-week increase to £35,000. A hell of a lot of money. But, when taken in the context of football wages and his own estimated value of me of £20 million, and when placed next to those other Arsenal wages of between £80,000 and £100,000 a week, his offer was a piss-take. It was a slap in the face, not a pat on the back.

Fair enough a bit of a piss take.

But then:

“Ash! Are you listening?” said a virtually hyperventilating Jonathan. “I’m here in the office and David Dein is saying they aren’t going to give you £60k a week. They’ve agreed £55k and this is their best and final offer. Are you happy with that?”

When I heard Jonathan (Barnett) repeat the figure of £55k, I nearly swerved off the road. “He is taking the piss, Jonathan!” I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. I suppose it all started to fall apart for me from then on. I’d trusted Mr Dein to push the deal through.

Only 55k/week? That is trembling with rage worthy

 

[Truronian]

Plus, using a telephone while driving. At least he got fined in that tapping up scandal.

 

[Takhisis]

Wish I could have seen the Argentina Germany match. Anyone think Argentina are the team to oust Spain from world dominance? If you look at their players they have now, they are certainly a match in certain areas.

All those players are from the midfield up. Their coach is a relatively incompetent idiot who'll insist on fielding players from teams he's managed, but at least he's a coach and he fields players in their normal positions. Not like Maradona who made a defense out of four or five central defenders and put five holding midfielders and left Messi to run half the field with a single area striker trying to head in loose balls.Argentina won't play prettily but they'll get there, and at least they won't put on the shameful performances that Maradona, Batista, etc. have made us get used to. Also, Heinze's out so much of the off-field trouble is over, same goes for Verón who is deservedly reviled.

Yet… they were being pressed and controlled by the German team which wasn't their full team, and even after the penalty and expulsion it wasn't in Argentina's favour, they just got lucky with an own goal in added time from a very poorly executed corner. Khedira flubbed it, because he should have kicked it upfield again and the danger would've been gone.
So, we'll see.

 

[Quackers]

Maradonna's antics on the touchline and in press conferences made up for it

 

[Takhisis]

Yes, but for comedic value I have the IT Crowd, Mitchell and Webb, Adventure Time, etc… for good football you don't have as many options.

 

[Mise]

This may be a bit optimistic, but I registered this domain last night. Anyone else expecting RVP to do a Torres? http://hasrobinvanpersiescoredformanutd.com/

 

[del62]

Weren't Torres's performances for Liverpool poor prior to his transfer.

 

[Dell19]

Plus, using a telephone while driving. At least he got fined in that tapping up scandal.

Technically he could have been using a hands free phone.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

Given the history of Cashley and mobile phones, I guess it was hands-free. Fits with him talking out of his arse, as well.

 

[Verarde]

This may be a bit optimistic, but I registered this domain last night. Anyone else expecting RVP to do a Torres? http://hasrobinvanpersiescoredformanutd.com/

Going to be watching that closely.
What will you do when/if he scores?

 

[Takhisis]

Dance a jig around the room? Or just sigh and pay up.

 

[Mise]

I'll be gutted if he scores on Monday...

 

[Takhisis]

Who do you support Mise-man?

 

[Quackers]

Gaston Ramirez, eh? Well thanks for the tip AVB + Brendan Rodgers. The true, big club will step in for him now, but errrr if you fellas want a job as scouts we have positions for you

 

[Mise]

@Takhisis: Arsenal, but my support for them is best described as "nominal". They've been my team since I was 8 or so, on the basis that, at the start of the league, before any matches had been played, they were always at the top of the table, if only alphabetically.

 

[Truronian]

 

[rugbyLEAGUEfan]

Can Fulham hold on for another 37 games to their position at the top of the League? Come ooooon.

 

[Takhisis]

Fulham? Hmph.

West Brom 3-0 Liverpool
Fulham 5-0 Norwich
West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 2-1 Spurs
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Reading 1-1 Stoke City
QPR 0-5 Swansea City

Interesting results.

btw Song has moved to Barça at long last.

Everton v. Man Urited
Wigan - Chelski
Man City - Southampton

Ross county eprform as well as they bloody well should.

@Takhisis: Arsenal, but my support for them is best described as "nominal". They've been my team since I was 8 or so, on the basis that, at the start of the league, before any matches had been played, they were always at the top of the table, if only alphabetically.

Hmm, good reason.

 

[Verarde]

The Arsenal-Sunderland and West Brom-Liverpool results are surprising. Figured Arsenal would win, and Liverpool can do better than that.

Unfortunately, I'm in church while Man City plays, so I'll be missing the match.

C'mon Everton.

 

[Takhisis]

Another advantage of Catholicism: several services spread through the Sunday, both in the morning and in the evening.