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[Rad-]

Just got back from a week in Barbados so I'm proper jet-lagged right now.

Just read that Real Madrid left Roysten Drenthe, Sergio Canales, Lassana Diarra and Pedro Leon out of there preseason tour. Seems like a pretty standard way to find out that you're not wanted these days.

A few reports this morning that Gibson won't be joining Sunderland as his wage demands are too high. United fans take to twitter en masse to express their delight.

I doubt Canales gets sold. He's crazy talented, like a mixture of Raul and Guti. Though then again, it's Real so anything can happen. But I think he will get just loaned out.

 

[dc89]

Also, after reading that article more carefully, it's a piece of blatant tabloid tosh. The "spokesman" quote (spokesman of who?!) reels out a rudimentary stock reply as though they are responding to a journalist's prodding. There's no reference to City, only that UEFA examines any and all major sponsorship deals, and considering City just signed off on a major deal, it's obvious the deal will be scrutinised. The only colour in the story is a quote from a Bayern Muncih exec and a spokesman for the "Arsenal Supporters Club". I mean, come on. What a beat-up. :lol

Well that's the levels they sink to these days. Anything to get a negative story printed about City.

 

[Sage00]

Also, after reading that article more carefully, it's a piece of blatant tabloid tosh.

The Independent is tabloid tosh? Really now.

 

[Mastadon]

The Independent is tabloid tosh? Really now.

To be fair, having read the story, it wouldn't look out of place in the tabloids.

 

[Salazar]

Well that's the levels they sink to these days. Anything to get a negative story printed about City.

City-GAF seemed to be winkingly congratulating themselves on the slyness of the deal a few pages back.

In any case, it's not a "negative story".

 

[Gareth Bale]

The Independent is tabloid tosh? Really now.

I think he was just jumping on the back of a better structured argument by the other City fan.

Also, there's this association of the current Real Madrid model with massive losses that doesn't really ring true. If you have time read this article. It provides a much better explanation of their finances than I ever could.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

db, sorry.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

City-GAF seemed to be winkingly congratulating themselves on the slyness of the deal a few pages back.

In any case, it's not a "negative story".

How is it not negative?

I think he was just jumping on the back of a better structured argument by the other City fan.

What do you mean? And do you stand by your posting of that Independent article, in retrospect?

The Independent is tabloid tosh? Really now.

I never said the paper was 'tabloid tosh', I clearly said the article was. I've honestly never read The Independant, but that article was a beat-up. By the sounds of it, the paper isn't a tabloid, but it doesn't mean they're incapable of publishing wafer-thin beat-ups.

 

[Salazar]

How is it not negative?

It's speculative, if anything. It doesn't outright call you cheating bastards. Granted, they print a deprecatory metaphor from some gooner, but you should be able to absorb that.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

It's speculative, if anything. It doesn't outright call you cheating bastards. Granted, they print a deprecatory metaphor from some gooner, but you should be able to absorb that.

Does it need to call us cheating bastards to be regarded negative? It's certainly a negative slant on the deal. There's no quote from City, and the headline is tabloidy in the sense that it uses dramatic language to insinuate 'a probe', rather than outlining the fact that the stadium deal will be investigated like any would, regardless of City's involvement. It relies on the dramatic nature of the headline to ensure page-clicks. It certainly isn't positive, or even-handed.

 

[Feorax]

Just saw SSN reporting Arsenal might be looking to hijack our bid for Downing in order to replace Nasri.

Sense. It makes none.

Anyway, I agree that City's owners are far too smart to have overlooked the FFP issues surrounding the stadium deal. Its good to see City being reasonably reserved this summer too. Plenty of interest from them in good players, but they're strengthening without spending stupid money so far. Good on them.

 

[Gareth Bale]

I bolded the important point from that article. If you want to try and argue that a £400 million sponsorship deal doesn't sit well outside the industry benchmarks then be my guest.

 

[kitch9]

Jesus that City deal is so blatant it's untrue.

 

[Yurt]

I bolded the important point from that article. If you want to try and argue that a £400 million sponsorship deal doesn't sit well outside the industry benchmarks then be my guest.

Holy shit ? Mansour owns Etihad right ? You're allowed to sponsor yourself ?

Ferrari should sponsor Juventus then :/

 

[Kermit The Dog]

I bolded the important point from that article. If you want to try and argue that a £400 million sponsorship deal doesn't sit well outside the industry benchmarks then be my guest.

No you didn't, you bolded a floaty, unspecified collection of words that was never in reference to the City situation.

"using appropriate industry benchmarks" - These 'benchmarks are at UEFA's complete discretion, and neither you or I have any knowledge of what they refer to. Like I said, it was a stock-standard reply dished out by a "spokesman". There was nothing news-worthy in that article, unless you consider to the opinion of an Arsenal supporters club spokesman to be newsworthy. Considering there have been several well-written, well researched opinions detailed in this thread alone by well-informed sceptics of both City's deal and the FFP guidelines, I do not regard the opinion of this spokesman relevant.

 

[madmackem]

I bolded the important point from that article. If you want to try and argue that a £400 million sponsorship deal doesn't sit well outside the industry benchmarks then be my guest.

Of course it doesnt but so what, does that mean if someone is offered way more for something they shouldnt take it?. As i said once uefa try to take action over something like this it will be taken to court and tossed out imho.

 

[Gareth Bale]

No you didn't, you bolded a floaty, unspecified collection of words that was never in reference to the City situation.

"using appropriate industry benchmarks" - These 'benchmarks are at UEFA's complete discretion, and neither you or I have any knowledge of what they refer to. Like I said, it was a stock-standard reply dished out by a "spokesman". There was nothing news-worthy in that article, unless you consider to the opinion of an Arsenal supporters club spokesman to be newsworthy. Considering there have been several well-written, well researched opinions detailed in this thread alone by well-informed sceptics of both City's deal and the FFP guidelines, I do not regard the opinion of this spokesman relevant.

That first sentence was so ridiculous that I'm not even going to bother. If you really want to understand the basis of my argument then do some research into naming rights deals.

 

[dc89]

Manchester City have dismissed Bayern Munich's claims that contact has not been maintained regarding the proposed transfer of Jerome Boateng.

Bayern want to take former Hamburg defender Boateng back to the Bundesliga and have already agreed a four-year contract with the Germany international.

However, a deal has yet to be agreed between the two clubs after Bayern offered £12million in contrast to City's reported £17million valuation.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_7030397,00.html

The Sunday Times - you have to pay to see the article but I found it anyway:

Nasri to double wages in £22.2m City transfer

French international set to earn £185,000 a week and become the latest Arsenal player to head to the blue half of Manchester

Samir Nasri has agreed to join Manchester City in a move that will more than double the French international’s weekly wage to £185,000. Arsenal have still to agree a fee but, conscious that 24-year-old Nasri has just a year left on his contract and could go for nothing in 12 months’ time, they are ready to sell for £22.2m.

Any deal will be made against the wishes of Arsène Wenger, underlining the manager’s reduced power at Arsenal since Stan Kroenke’s takeover. Though Wenger yesterday told Arsenal’s website that “we will do everything we can to keep him [Nasri]”, Kroenke authorised initial transfer talks once it became clear that Nasri intended to exploit his value as an imminent free agent.

The deal continues an Arsenal pattern of losing disgruntled players to City. Since the Abu Dhabi group’s 2008 takeover of City, Arsenal have sold Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gael Clichy to the Premier League’s most affluent club. Clichy forced last week’s £7m sale by employing the same strategy as Nasri — running down the final year of his contract.

The purchase of Nasri will also emphasise City’s increased power after last week’s agreement of a 10-year “Partnership Deal” with Etihad Airways. Even though Nasri will earn more than double Arsenal’s best offer, the Frenchman still trails behind Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure on the City pay scale. The deal follows the refusal of Udinese’s Alexis Sanchez to countenance a move to Eastlands. The Chile international prefers Barcelona, Chelsea or Manchester United.

 

[Arnie]

No you didn't, you bolded a floaty, unspecified collection of words that was never in reference to the City situation.

"using appropriate industry benchmarks" - These 'benchmarks are at UEFA's complete discretion, and neither you or I have any knowledge of what they refer to. Like I said, it was a stock-standard reply dished out by a "spokesman". There was nothing news-worthy in that article, unless you consider to the opinion of an Arsenal supporters club spokesman to be newsworthy. Considering there have been several well-written, well researched opinions detailed in this thread alone by well-informed sceptics of both City's deal and the FFP guidelines, I do not regard the opinion of this spokesman relevant.

Bungieware is right. The standard price for naming rights deals is around £100 million, and that's the figure we were looking at when the stories about us going after naming rights deals were floating around.

And that's a club like Liverpool with a history of having a deep relationship with its ground and the fans within it.

No offense but if you think the naming rights to the newly built City of Manchester stadium, with a capacity of 48,000 and a team that don't really have much global reach (at the moment) are worth four times the standard amount then you really need to do some research.

That's probably why the article sounded so cynical, because it's hard not to.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

That first sentence was so ridiculous that I'm not even going to bother. If you really want to understand the basis of my argument then do some research into naming rights deals.

:lol You were the only who posted a ridiculous "news story" in order to justify your sour opinion on City, and the stadium deal. The story turned out to be bollocks. For you to suggest I should do some proper research is deliciously ironic.

City's reported £17million valuation.

He ain't worth 17. Settle on 13 - 15 and be done with it. Learn from the mistake. If we want to be well regarded on the transfer world stage, we need to trade with respect.

I get a sense the owners are doing their best to gather as much coin as possible before the release of our financial losses. :lol

 

[Kermit The Dog]

Bungieware is right. The standard price for naming rights deals is around £100 million, and that's the figure we were looking at when the stories about us going after naming rights deals were floating around.

And that's a club like Liverpool with a history of having a deep relationship with its ground and the fans within it.

No offense but if you think the naming rights to the newly built City of Manchester stadium, with a capacity of 48,000 and a team that don't really have much global reach (at the moment) are worth four times the standard amount then you really need to do some research.

That's probably why the article sounded so cynical, because it's hard not to.

With all due respect, you completely missed the tone of my dissent. I am not defending the deal (I even admitted there was definitly elements of wink-wink about it), I'm calling him out on his posting of a nonsense article, and then his refusal to back down on it.

Neither you, Bungieware or I have any clue on the inner-workings of the City deal, or the proposed Liverpool deal, nor the differing elements of the FFP guidelines. Indeed, the article he posted only underlined that further.

 

[Salazar]

:lol You were the only who posted a ridiculous "news story" in order to justify your sour opinion on City, and the stadium deal.

I hereby vow not to further express my opinion that Arthur Daley arranged City's stadium valuation.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

I hereby vow not to further express my opinion that Arthur Daley arranged City's stadium valuation.

A reference so obscure it is borderline criminal. :lol Lucky I'm Victorian.

 

[Plasma]

Just saw SSN reporting Arsenal might be looking to hijack our bid for Downing in order to replace Nasri.

Sense. It makes none.

Think I'd rather stick with Arshavin than sign Downing.

 

[Mastadon]

Wonder if that means we are more likely to get Mata? Apparently Downing would prefer a move to Liverpool though.

 

[Salazar]

A reference so obscure it is borderline criminal. :lol Lucky I'm Victorian.

Nope, the real Arthur.

 

[DOBERMAN INC]

Kroenke overriding Wenger? I wonder how this will effect the focus of the club.All we have known in the recent past is absolute power in Wenger's hands.

Please don't destroy our club Kroenke.

 

[Scum]

Morning, lads.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Barcelona are confident they will complete a deal for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas this week.

Jose Mourinho's decision to leave midfielder Lassana Diarra out of Real Madrid's pre-season tour of the United States could alert Manchester United and Tottenham.

Manchester United and Manchester City are poised to sign Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero respectively in deals worth a combined total of at least £100m.

Tottenham are set to offer striker Jermain Defoe plus £5m in exchange for Sunderland's Asamoah Gyan.

Tottenham are planning a £22m bid for Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov and defender Jonny Evans.

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates says the Potters are in negotiations to sign West Ham striker Carlton Cole and former Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate.

Arsenal could be set to hijack Liverpool's move for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

Liverpool are set to let midfielder Raul Meireles speak to Italian clubs Juventus and Inter Milan about a £12m move.

Real Madrid will offer Manchester City either of strikers Gonzalo Higuain or Karim Benzema plus £25m cash in exchange for Carlos Tevez.

Alternatively, Tevez could be on his way to Chelsea as part of an £80m double swoop by the Blues for the Argentine striker and Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says that Latics may be forced to sell midfielder Charles N'Zogbia, who only has one year left to run on his contract at the DW Stadium, with Liverpool, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Sunderland all interested.

Arsenal are ready to bid £12m for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will try to tempt his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson into letting him have striker Danny Welbeck on loan for another season.

Rangers are close to signing Spanish defender Raul Rodriguez and will enter negotiations with Espanyol, who value the 23-year-old at £500,000, on Monday. (Sunday Times)

Ally McCoist admits Rangers' bid for Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar is nearing collapse and the Ibrox manager has voiced his frustration at agents preventing him speaking directly with players. (News of the World)

Spartak Moscow's Croatia goalkeeper, Stipe Pletikosa, will fly into Glasgow this week for a trial with Celtic. (News of the World)

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he is an admirer of Craig Gordon but is unsure whether the Glasgow club could afford Sunderland's asking price for the Scotland goalkeeper. (News of the World)

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he is in no rush to sell Efrain Juarez but stresses that the Mexican midfielder must improve to claim a regular first-team place. (Sunday Mail)

Scotland midfielder Scott Brown says he wants to stay with Celtic but has urged the club to speed up talks about extending his contract, which ends next summer. (Sunday Mail)

Scott Brown has renewed his determination to reject overtures from Newcastle United and other top English clubs to extend his stay with Celtic. (News of the World)

Former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst says fellow Dane Morten Rasmussen needs to leave the club as soon as possible for the sake of the striker's career. (Sunday Mail)

Motherwell striker Jamie Murphy says he is no rush to quit the club despite being linked with English top-flight outfits Bolton Wanderers and QPR. (Sunday Mail)

Hibernian manager Colin Calderwood says he would love to sign on-trial striker Cillian Sheridan, who has left CSKA Sofia. (News of the World)

OTHER GOSSIP

Paul Scholes blames England's international failures on "very selfish" stars who use the Three Lions as a platform to boost their club careers and bank balances rather than playing for the team. He revealed: "I got fed up. When you are going to a team, you want to be part of a team and play well, but there are individuals who are after ­personal glory.

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has told Tottenham they are wasting their time trying to keep midfielder Luka Modric. Spurs have told the Croat he would not be allowed to leave White Hart Lane, but Wilkins believes he will soon join Chelsea, who had a £22m bid rejected this summer. "I think it will be extremely difficult for Tottenham to hold on to Modric if you look at the numbers being thrown around."

However, Tottenham are prepared to offer Modric £80,000-a-week to stay at the club.

Striker Craig Mackail-Smith says he received no offers to join Premier League clubs before signing for Brighton.

QPR's hopes of signing World Cup winning defender Fabio Cannavaro have been ended by the Italian's decision to retire.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist says the early start to the Scottish Premier League has made it more difficult for Scottish clubs to bring in new players. (Sunday Mail)

Dundee United manager Peter Houston believes the early start to the season will not help Scottish clubs in Europe - but summer football would. (Sunday Mail)

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels believes Scottish football will be held back until there is a switch to summer football as it would help clubs develop young talent. (Sunday Mail)

Colin Calderwood laughed off heckling from Hibernian fans during their 3-1 friendly win over East Fife following reports that the Edinburgh club's manager is keen to move to Birmingham City or Nottingham Forest as their assistant. (Sunday Herald)

AND FINALLY

Manchester City lead Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and ­Barcelona in the chase for Anderlecht's 14-year-old midfielder Charly Musonda.

Europe's top clubs will petition Uefa to block Manchester City's new stadium sponsorship deal.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9534396.stm

 

[Salazar]

Manchester City lead Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the chase for Anderlecht's 14-year-old midfielder Charly Musonda

Sounds ugly.

edit: And not just because City are in front. Lower them guns.

Are there limits with respect to what one can legally offer a 14 year old ?

 

[Heppell]

Beating Stoke was big. It won us our first trophy in 35 years. Just like beating Tottenham was big, qualified for the CL for the first time to. The score line is irrelevant at the end of the day. If we won both games 5-0 we'd have still got the same cup and qualification.

Also City have had several meetings with UEFA since the take over, they have had a 'open dialogue' on how City plan to meet FFP. I'm sure if UEFA weren't overly happy with anything we'd have heard by now and they wouldn't have allowed that deal to go through.

People are just graspim at straws now, just let City get on with what they are doing.

You really dont believe that do you, if some major clubs like Arsenal and Bayern are concerned about it, then that makes there is enough doubt that there is something privy about that deal

 

[elseanio]

Bungieware is right. The standard price for naming rights deals is around £100 million, and that's the figure we were looking at when the stories about us going after naming rights deals were floating around.

And that's a club like Liverpool with a history of having a deep relationship with its ground and the fans within it.

No offense but if you think the naming rights to the newly built City of Manchester stadium, with a capacity of 48,000 and a team that don't really have much global reach (at the moment) are worth four times the standard amount then you really need to do some research.

That's probably why the article sounded so cynical, because it's hard not to.

For £400m, I think I'd let them name the stadium whatever they want

Unfortunately, that deal is an absolute joke. At least we all know FFP is nothing to worry about when Uefa do nothing.

 

[Arnie]

For £400m, I think I'd let them name the stadium whatever they want

Unfortunately, that deal is an absolute joke. At least we all know FFP is nothing to worry about when Uefa do nothing.

Aye, I'd let the stadium be called the Rice Pudding Stadium for £400 million.

Yep FFP is a joke. A mere smokescreen used to boost the reputation of UEFA more than anything.

 

[Feorax]

Think I'd rather stick with Arshavin than sign Downing.

Oh, it gets better.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7030442,00.html

Skysports.com understands Arsenal have lodged an £18million bid for Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing.

Arsene Wenger has been surprisingly quiet in the transfer market so far this summer, with the Gunners yet to show their hand.

It is, however, widely acknowledged that they will require fresh faces if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

They may even struggle to retain their top-four standing if they fail to add, with a number of their rivals having been busy bolstering their ranks.

Favourites

England international Downing has been identified as one possible new recruit, and it is understood that a big-money offer was put to Villa on Friday.

The 26-year-old has hinted that he will be on his way out of Villa Park in the near future, with contract talks having been shelved.

Liverpool are also keen on the former Middlesbrough man, and it is believed that they remain the favourites to secure his signature.

Kenny Dalglish is, however, yet to meet Villa's asking price and Arsenal are hoping they can lure Downing to the capital.

£18 million is a lot of money for Downing, and that's coming from someone who actually does want to see him at Liverpool.

Still, if you guys want him that badly, I'm sure I wouldn't be too heartbroken if we turned our attentions to Mata instead.

 

[Arnie]

I hope the Arsenal move for Downing indicates that we're in talks with Mata. To clarify I'm a big fan of them both but I think for the futures sake Mata might be my preferred option.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

However, Tottenham are prepared to offer Modric £80,000-a-week to stay at the club.

:lol

I hope United get Sneidjer, would be great to see him in the PL.

 

[Vivalaraza]

In respect of City and Chelsea: it's like shagging a hooker, it wouldn't have happened without the money. Read that on another forum last night, brilliant analogy :lol

Chelsea are on their way to becoming a big club, and will get there if they continue succeeding and win in Europe. Same for City. But it'll always be tainted for me, because you know the success is down to one single factor only. That said, I sometimes wonder how bad that is. In this day and age if you dont have money you can't get to the top. FFP in a way puts limits on who can succeed, the bigger clubs generate so much money the others can never catch up. So whilst it might be morally wrong to go out and spend way above your means and buy glory...it might be worse still to maintain a status-quo and create a further elite within the sport where effectively the rich get richer and the rest are damned. City and Chelsea want to win, they need to use money, they have, and on the whole it's probably made everything alot more interesting. The only downside is the massive wages and transfer fees...but I think FFP can limit those somewhat.

As far as City's £400m deal goes. It's clearly a joke. But it will pass. It's £40m a year for the shirt sponsorship, stadium naming rights and the entire 80acre site around the ground. £20m shirt sponsorship deals are about these days, £25m in Barca's case. They could easily push for £10m a year with the naming right on the ground if Arsenal take £6.7m for theirs. So you can get to about £30m/£35m when looking at existing deals. Obv City wouldn't get that type of offer..but in terms of the Market, not that crazy.

 

[Jeff Albertson]

I honestly don't get it, the way I see it is:

-City and Ethiad sign a blatantly manufactured deal to bypass the rules and effectively name their stadium the 'United' stadium

- city fans in here laugh about it and accept it's a ruse

- independent reports the same

- city fans get all bitchy and claim everybody is out to get city!

Where has this come from? Nobody is out to get you. I dont dislike city due to the new owners or their new relative success but I do have a bit of a dislike to them because over the years their fans (or a percentage of) act like absolute scumbags at ewood, the worst I can recall. Oh and the gallagher brothers and this new found arrogance dont help.

I Hope that threenote kid is gone for good what an absolute bellend. Do the mods know about his pms meus?

 

[Gareth Bale]

:lol You were the only who posted a ridiculous "news story" in order to justify your sour opinion on City, and the stadium deal. The story turned out to be bollocks. For you to suggest I should do some proper research is deliciously ironic.

Interesting that you ignore my point entirely and instead focus on the credibility of the article that I posted. I bolded part of the quote that was central to the point I was making. You waited for someone else to put forward their opinion on UEFA's relationship with City regarding FFP, before deciding that you too had exactly the same opinion. I expect no less of you.

So it's clear, the spokesman quoted was a UEFA spokesman. Although he was quoted by The Independent, you will find similar quotes regarding industry "benchmarks" from other sources at UEFA. Clearly "benchmarks" are very much part of their assessment criteria with regards to FFP. It's pathetic that you attempt to brush over this by asserting that I have no idea what these industry benchmarks may be. You've clearly made no attempt to look at the industry in more depth as I suggest. Arnie provided an idea of the current market to you, and your response had no substance to it whatsoever. The benchmarks are there and because you have failed to make an attempt to understand this part of the industry, for whatever pathetic reason you are yet to give, I urge you not to try and tackle these areas until you have this understanding.

Having said that I fully expect you to assume your standard baseless opinion that everything I have written is wrong. Please don't. Although you're very rarely right on anything football related in this thread, and have personally insulted many of us over the course of your stay, it's fair to assume that most people still read and respond to your posts. The problem is you have this reputation of being spiteful and incredibly uninformed on the world of football, made clear by the fact that you only make two types of posts in this thread; those about City and those that insult the teams we support. It's incredibly tiring going through these cycles of you arguing with various people on here.

 

[Kermit The Dog]

- independent reports the same?

The Independant didn't 'report' anything. They speculated that UEFA will probe the deal, got a stock UEFA quote that only said ALL stadium deals are scrutinised, got the view of 'Arsenal Supporters club' and an indifferent Bayern Munich exec, then splashed a dramatic headline on it. The article was tosh.

I have no problems with criticism of the deal. I, for one, admitted it's a bit rich. However, I will contest people passing off utter bullshit in order to substantiate an argument. There seems to be a reading comprehension issue in here, so I'll make it clear and Bungieware the text so those having trouble can read it: the deal is iffy. I don't deny it. I never did.

Pile it on City if you want, just do it properly, and expect a rebuke if its clumsily executed.

 

[Joel Was Right]

I don't want Downing. Dont see how we can keep Nasri. Messi himself is not worth 185k a week, so he's riding City's back here and laughing all the way to the bank twice a day

 

[Scum]

I don't want Downing. Dont see how we can keep Nasri. Messi himself is not worth 185k a week, so he's riding City's back here and laughing all the way to the bank twice a day

I just wish it was 'football talks' instead of 'money talks'. ;-/

 

[Salazar]

I just wish it was 'football talks' instead of 'money talks'. ;-/

If managers played keepy-uppy to decide transfers, Liverpool would be more powerful than most of us want them to be.

 

[Seep]

I think it's time for a wage cap in the prem, then players will choose a club for the right reasons.

Chelski and City broke the league.

 

[Gareth Bale]

I don't want Downing. Dont see how we can keep Nasri. Messi himself is not worth 185k a week, so he's riding City's back here and laughing all the way to the bank twice a day

Messi's shirt sales would probably bring in enough money in one season to pay for the entirety of his contract

 

[elseanio]

I think it's time for a wage cap in the prem, then players will choose a club for the right reasons.

Chelski and City broke the league.

Then we'll get Etihad sponsoring players' image rights for 100k a week

 

[Scum]

Messi's shirt sales would probably bring in enough money in one season to pay for the entirety of his contract

:O

 

[Joel Was Right]

Messi's shirt sales would probably bring in enough money in one season to pay for the entirety of his contract

Doesn't make it right at all. The ethical dilemma is just too huge to ignore when you consider how many of those fans, who essentially pay for his contract, are unemployed or working minimum wage. I don't care if you're scoring a hattrick a game, nothing can ever justify that sort of money (or what they earn now to be honest) for kicking a ball about

 

[Salazar]

Doesn't make it right at all. The ethical dilemma is just too huge to ignore when you consider how many of those fans, who essentially pay for his contract, are unemployed or working minimum wage. I don't care if you're scoring a hattrick a game, nothing can ever justify that sort of money (or what they earn now to be honest) for kicking a ball about

And dickheads will, until the end of time, mumble the same platitudes about how the market dictates these increases - for all the world as if this were a tide that was raising all ships, and as if that were an intellectually or ethically adequate response to their (painfully apparent) dubiousness. And as if that "market force" had the capacity to move downward.

 

[KidA Seven]

I think it's time for a wage cap in the prem, then players will choose a club for the right reasons.

Chelski and City broke the league.

That would give them one more reason to opt for other leagues.

 

[Gareth Bale]

Doesn't make it right at all. The ethical dilemma is just too huge to ignore when you consider how many of those fans, who essentially pay for his contract, are unemployed or working minimum wage. I don't care if you're scoring a hattrick a game, nothing can ever justify that sort of money (or what they earn now to be honest) for kicking a ball about

I don't an ethical dilemma in players pay. It's tends to fall in line with the clubs revenue. If we didn't watch they wouldn't get paid at all. If players were paid less, clubs would be better off and then competition would push their pay up anyway. Football is a business, or a toy if you have unlimited money.

If any club can afford to shell out £250,000 a week and in doing so secure the best players, then why wouldn't they?