Post: #301

Rafa is only the second manager to have ever won 3 UEFA competitions with 3 different clubs.

Torres is the only player to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Championship and World Cup.

Fuck off Chelsea.

Post: #302

(05-15-2013 04:15 PM)MattC Wrote:  Rafa is only the second manager to have ever won 3 UEFA competitions with 3 different clubs.

Torres is the only player to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Championship and World Cup.

Fuck off Chelsea.

I've watched football for the longest time and I never came across a club so lucky as chelsea.

Post: #303

Everyone is going off about how great this is. They forget that Chelsea is only in the frigging Europa League because they were knocked out at the Champions League group stage!

Post: #304

(05-15-2013 04:15 PM)MattC Wrote:  Rafa is only the second manager to have ever won 3 UEFA competitions with 3 different clubs.

Torres is the only player to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Championship and World Cup.

Fuck off Chelsea.

That's incredible !

Post: #305

I was watching the game and Benfica were dominating the first half, Chelsea playing like shit and all defensive and I said fucking Chelsea are gonna do it again and win this undeservedly. Knobs

Post: #306

(05-15-2013 04:53 PM)Frontenac Wrote:  Everyone is going off about how great this is. They forget that Chelsea is only in the frigging Europa League because they were knocked out at the Champions League group stage!

They also had the easiest route to the final playing absolute no marks.

Post: #307

Lots of rumors in recent days of Neymar to Bayern.

Sounds crazy, until you realize they have three regular Brazilians in and around the first XI.

Post: #308

I'm not sure what to believe in this Neymar saga anymore. Just a few days ago I read in some Catalan newspaper that the deal was done for him to move to Barca.

Post: #309

Hehe, love all the bitter Chelsea hating comments! Makes this victory all the more sweet.

Say what you want about the team but we have an incredible spirit and fighting quality that makes us suited to cup competitions. Branna's header was epic and good to see Torres do well on the big stage again.

I know it's 'only' the Europa league but damn it feels good to be the first team to hold both cups simultaneously.

Football: funny old game.

Post: #310

What's with all the hate?

Hats off to Chelsea. They're winners. Ivanovic is a beast, just like Drogba was, always comes up with the goods. Cashley Lamps even Terry (I guess) are winners and thus great athletes, never mind their supposed personalities. And Rafa is a solid manager even if he's a dweeb, he delivers. Chelsea could do worse than hang onto him. Look at the red scouse since Rafa left, they're glad to end up behind Everton in 7th and think they're having a decent season.

Post: #311

There is some fascinating discussion going on in England relating to the issue of parachute payments for relegated EPL clubs.

Richard Scudamore takes big stick to Championship over parachute money

Quote:The Premier League has been accused of heavy-handedness with Football League clubs in the tortuous negotiations about how much of its forthcoming TV billions it will share with the rest of football. In a stormy Football League meeting at Walsall on Wednesday, some clubs accused the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, of unjust interference with the Football League's freedom to run itself.

The row broke out over the Football League's proposals to close the financial gap in the Championship. With the Premier League's 2013-16 TV deals expected to reap £5.5bn, clubs relegated to the Championship will be paid substantially increased parachute payments to £59m over four years.

That vastly exceeds the money paid to other Championship clubs competing with them, from the league's own TV deal, which is £195m a year from 2012-15, just 3.5% of the Premier League's deal. Each championship club receives £2m a year from that Football League TV deal. Three years ago, the Premier League began to make a payment to the Football League in an attempt to narrow the gap slightly, so the clubs who do not receive parachute payments receive £2m in "solidarity".

Because parachute payments are due to go up by around 45% from the last deal, the Football League proposed two ways in which the financial gap with clubs in the championship might be eased. The first was that relegated Premier League clubs would no longer receive their £2m a year share of the Football League's own TV money, and instead that would be redistributed to the other clubs in the Championship. The second was a proposed salary cap, limiting spending on wages to £16m for relegated clubs in the first year, then reducing to £10m in 2014-15, and £8m in 2015-16.

Greg Clarke, the Football League chairman, had informed Scudamore of these proposals and asked for his view of them. At 9:30am, before the meeting was due to start at 11am, Scudamore emailed Clarke to say that if either proposal was implemented he would withdraw the current offer of "solidarity" money and review it – Scudamore was saying he would pull the money the Premier League pays to the Football League if the Championship clubs voted for the proposals.

Several clubs are understood to have objected to this, arguing that Scudamore was unduly interfering with their right to decide how to share money. A majority of clubs voted in favour of a motion that they would have passed the two proposals had Scudamore not threatened to withdraw the offer. However, as they faced losing the "solidarity" money, they withdrew the proposals.

The Football League declined to comment when asked about the meeting. A Premier League spokesman said of Scudamore's position: "A generous solidarity offer has been made to the Football League; however if the basis on which that original offer was made materially changes, then it is reasonable to review it."

I'm all for the increase in TV and "solidarity" pay to non-EPL clubs for their stability and for greater parity overall. Right now it is becoming impossible for a good team looking for a promotion to hold hope of competing with the Chelsea's and the Man U's of the world without overspending. Teams are having to break the bank just to have a shot at competing after getting promotion, and even those who spend big are finding themselves relegated (ex: QPR this year). Then they're left in an untenable situation with a big EPL budget to trim to almost comically decreased Championship size. This makes movement between the tiers hazardous, which is a problem in a system relying on promotion and relegation.

Increase the base level of the championship to more closely match the EPL and you'll go at least somewhere in solving these problems.

Post: #312

No it's not that though Athlone. The most financially astute teams who have been promoted have tended to be the ones who stay up. The teams that overspend like QPR tend to go back down. QPR bought practically 2 whole new teams this season, in comparison to Southampton and West Ham, both teams who are staying up who got 2/3 new signings and relied on their already well oiled teams to stay up.

You can't expect to come into the premier league and expect to challenge for the title straight off. It takes years to build up from relegation candidate to mid table to european competitions to champions league spot contenders to title contenders. It's about having a project, a manager and his style of play you can trust and investing in that. Many clubs don't have the patience, however Swansea you can see do. Since their promotion they've moved up fast, relying on the same playing style despite different managers. They've moved up 3 divisions in the past 5 years.

Post: #313

Have a good retirement Becks. Anyone who disses that guy is an idiot.

Post: #314

I'm late to this thread but as a Man Utd fan I've obviously busy with reading about the retirement of first Sir Alex Ferguson and then Paul Scholes. Never mind winning the league!

Lot's of fans of opposing teams seem to think/hope that United without SAF will now start a downfall much like Liverpool in the late 80's/early 90's. Personally I think we will be less dominant but I can't see us not being in at least the top 4 every season. I think Moyes will be given 4-5 years even if he's unsuccessful at a start, as United has a different policy to, say, Chelsea. In about 10 years time I can see any combination of Neville/Giggs/Solskjaer taking over.

Also, it seems the pendulum has swung again regarding which European league is the most dominant. In the 90's it was all about the Italian Serie A and since then la Liga and the Premier League have generally been considered the best leagues. Judging by this years' Champions League final it is now the German Bundesliga although I do wonder about the rest of the teams there.

By the way, Teedub you're a Utd fan too right? Anyone else?

Post: #315

Agreed. Chelsea is a team with a TON of big personalities, with HUGE COJONES and true leaders. As long as they have the same backbone, they will continue to be winning. I'm referring to Czech, Ivanovic, Lampard, Terry, Cahil, Mata. They don't have any prima donas or pussies on their team like that fagget of Nasri or that clown of Adebayor. I'd even put Ibra on the pussy category as he has never done jack shit in the big games in the CL. Always scores a ton crap of goals domestically against the average teams but when you really need him and count on him to step up in the big stages in the crucial moments, he shines for his absence. The difference between a good player and a world class player is that the world class players delivers in the biggest games while the good player gets crushed by the pressure and dissapears. In that regard, Chelsea are blessed to have the money time players who step up when needed. Well done Chelsea!

Chelsea would be crazy to get rid of Benitez! He has been proven time after time that he is a top top coach! What he has done this year alone at Chelsea is nothing short of remarkable! It'd be a total pity to bring that overrated portuguese clown with the big ego to wreck the balance in the dress room.

All in all, well done Blues! Vorkuta, Congrats amigo!

(05-16-2013 02:54 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  Hehe, love all the bitter Chelsea hating comments! Makes this victory all the more sweet.

Say what you want about the team but we have an incredible spirit and fighting quality that makes us suited to cup competitions. Branna's header was epic and good to see Torres do well on the big stage again.

I know it's 'only' the Europa league but damn it feels good to be the first team to hold both cups simultaneously.

Football: funny old game.

Post: #316

Meet Roque Junior, an average at most Brazilian central defender who won literally everything that there is to win in football.
Paulistão, Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup with Palmeiras, then the Champions League, European Super Cup, Serie A title, Coppa Italia with Milan and finally the Copa America, World Cup and Confederations Cup with Brasil.
Can anyone match, let alone beat that? Yet, how many still remember him? Or even noticed him while he was playing?
What a legend indeed this Roque Junior!

(05-15-2013 04:15 PM)MattC Wrote:  [b]
Torres is the only player to have won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, European Championship and World Cup.[b]

Post: #317

(05-16-2013 02:01 PM)solo Wrote:  By the way, Teedub you're a Utd fan too right? Anyone else?

Yeah I am mate. I also agree with you that United aren't going to decline. I read a fascinating article the other day which basically said Fergie and David Gill's final present to United was ratifying the FFP rules. I'm trying to find it as I write this, but I'm not having any luck. Basically, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U will benefit from it, but it will make the league less competitive as only teams with self generated revenue will be able to spend large amounts. Sure, attempts will be made, and am sure they will be successful, to circumvent it. There already are examples of this with Etihad sponsoring City - they're effectively owned by the same family. Same with Gazprom and Chelsea. FFP will make it harder though. In a way, I think 'fair enough, you can't just buy the league out of nowhere, you should have to build over time.' On the other hand, it could turn the major Euro leagues into the Scottish League. Where literally only two teams ever win. La Liga is basically that way now already.

Post: #318

It will interesting to see just how much the FFP rules will impact. The importance of money has grown a lot in recent years and is one of the reasons I've decided to not be so passionate about the PL and United any more. I agree with what you said a few pages ago about not investing emotional energy into something which doesn't care about you. Anyway, I hope the Premier League won't turn into La Liga in that there are only two teams in the running for the title. The PL is still vastly superior to all other leagues in term of entertainment value, even though the very best players like Messi (and Ronaldo) play in Spain.

It sure is a summer of change that is upon Manchester United, with David Gill (who I rate highly) also stepping down. However since a lot of the other top teams will be changing their managers as well, maybe things will cancel themselves out. Manchester City has made a big mistake in firing Mancini IMO.

Post: #319

Lampard is a legend:

Post: #320

I really admired him for doing that. He's a smart bloke too.

Tabloid journos and the like need bringing down a peg or two for shit like that. It's the sort of crime you'd get respect for, battering a crappy sensationalist reporter like Piers Morgan or someone. Jezza Clarkson did it. Haha.

Post: #321

What a prick the disc jockey was.

Good on Frank for destroying him with common sense.

I met Frank at the Chelsea team hotel in Moscow before the Champions League final in 2008. He was sitting in the lobby of the Ritz on Tverskaya Street when I walked in a few hours before kick off. Top bloke, took time to chat and posed for a few photos. Always had big respect for him on and off the field.

Post: #322

I heard a story about Frank Lampard, Sr. who is the father of Frank Lampard. He is an ex-player himself and goes to every England game to support his son.

Anyway - at one game he was getting sick of a fan (who was watching the match with his 9 year old son) who was shouting abuse at Frank Lampard.

After a few minutes of this - he asked the fan to stop doing it since it was his son he was shouting at.

The fan replied that he had paid for his ticket. And could shout what he wanted.

'How much did you pay for your ticket?', asked Frank Lampard, Sr.

'Fifty pounds'

He then took out fifty pounds from his wallet, and gave it to the fan.

Looking at the 9 year old kid - he turned to the dad and asked 'Is that your son?'

Post: #323

In preparation for Sunday:

Post: #324

Another thing...

I always felt Gerrard has never really done that well for England.

Always seemed to me that when England play badly and they can't think of a player to give Man of the Match to - that Gerrard gets given it as the unthinking default.

Post: #325

Beckham worked his ass off in every England game I saw him in. Always put in a shift. He did have the pretty boy image going on, but he always seemed to me as someone who was tough as nails. I remember when he joined the Galaxy, a few hacks on other teams were cutting him down every time he got close to the ball, obviously so they could brag that they took Beckham out. But instead of going down and staying down, he got right up and into their face. He was also the best crosser of the ball I've ever seen. When he was on the '99 team, half of Yorke and Cole's goals seemed to come from a cross Beckham put on plate for them. And when they brought in RVN, United were even more deadly.
I'm a centreback by trade, but Beckham has always been my favourite England player.

I agree about Gerrard not being as effective for England as he was with Liverpool. But it may have been difficult for him, and Lampard too, because they both played a similar position. Thus, when both were on the pitch, they were likely played out of position because only one of them could operate in the hole behind the strikers. When they were were on their club teams, this wasn't a problem because no one came close to sharing that position with them, and so they could be more effective. I always thought though that Gerrard was a good, solid England player, in that he put in tackles and started attacks. But because he didn't score the goals he did in the league, people didn't think he was really effective.