Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

l think we better call this a score draw as we are both using different stats and viewpoints to state our points.:);):)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

It's not really a score draw though. Inter, AC Milan and Juventus are all bigger clubs than Arsenal and i say that as an Arsenal fan (though admittedly, i have a big soft spot for Inter and Italian football in general as well).

I don't think anybody with a full, unbiased view of world football would think otherwise. Arsenal may be richer and have more fans on a worldwide scale, but this is purely because of the surge in popularity of English football - the popularity which Italian football had during the 90's. Outside of that, those Italian sides outdo Arsenal in pretty much every area. The same goes with clubs like Benfica, Porto, Bayern Munich etc etc - it's only the money and popularity of a league (or lack of) which distorts the prestigiousness of certain clubs.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

They're all big clubs with great traditions and history. Wasn't it the Woolwich Arsenal that the Italians were expecting to represent England in the "first World Cup" in the early 1900s

If the Dennis Waterman film of the Lipton trophy was accurate, the Italians expected the world renowned Woolwich Arsenal because they had the same initials as the mining team who were actually there.

In typical Alf Tupper fashion the miners beat the best that Europe could muster to win the trophy, hammering Juve in the final. :D

edit... and a quick google finds the site of the Durham miners, West Auckland AFC:

http://www.westaucklandweb.com/

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

A few years ago maybe. Newcastle couldn't get sold at £100m now they've just sold a player for £35m making one player worth nearly half of the club.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Just takes one good season for the Value to rocket back up.

Been a very good start to transfer business for us with money being spent wisely and not all on one player. Can see a above average season ahead with the Completely revamped Midfield and revamped strikers. We expect one more striker incoming but its all being kept quiet. Local sources claim its Bendtner but I never believe them.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

AC Milan did in 1991, when their league was in full pomp, infact they went 58 games unbeaten 9 more than the invincibles.

---------- Post added at 06:45 ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 ----------

Yes one of us is using trophies and the other cash, wonder what most Arsenal fans would rather have in the bank.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Well l know what l want at my club Liverpool and thats the Premiership.:);):)

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Here is a nice picture for all the Gooners, pity it won't last for long.:p::D

League table

Jim.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Big club status isn't confined to either money or trophies although it's the former that makes the difference in transfers. Historically AC Milan and Juventus are bigger clubs than Arsenal but that's not really true anymore. Juventus are let to really recover the status they lost after the scandals and Italian football itself has fallen behind the Premier League in terms of audience and money.

I think it's hard to define a club or big or not so big anyway. Man City can command some of the best players in the world and their trophy count isn't brilliant but they can pay £200,000 a week.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Newcastle strikers are absolutely terrible. Shola should have gone years ago, Lovenkrands is past it, Demba Ba was a strange signing but providing his wages aren't too high he's acceptable, Best was an impulse waste of money buy and Ranger should be put out on loan or sold because he's not up to a good enough standard (yet).

Multiple strikers need to be signed, Gutierrez has an ego and no skills to back them up and Barton should have gone for the trouble he stirred a month or two ago.

If these promotion teams are any good we're in trouble.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

The question Newcastle supporters need to ask is where is the money from the Carroll deal.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Jun 2011 Yohan Cabaye Lille £TBC
Jun 2011 Demba Ba Unattached Free
Jun 2011 Sylvain Marveaux Stade Rennes £TBC
Jul 2011 Mehdi Abeid Unattached Free

Including agent fee's and wages the money is right there. There was never any plans on blowing £35million on a single player. With bidding ongoing for an un-named striker I'm pleased with current business.

I recall Andy Carroll scoring quite a few, I also recall Nolan scoring a bundle from starting as a Centre Forward.

But lets base it on facts rather than opinion, Newcastle were 6th for goals scored, 3 behind Liverpool and 4 behind Manchester City. January came and Carroll left. People claimed we couldn't score goals. Arsenal fans learnt the hard way.

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

But l am a Liverpool supporter and we generally beat Newcastle with our eyes closed.:D:):D

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Indeed, But I simply do not want to be thought of as one of those Toon fan that expects Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer and to spend 35million on a single player. Mike Ashley has put a lot of money into the club and a lot of people fail to realise that. Blame is pointed at Ashley for relegation when the truth is it was coming for a long time due to spending a lot of money on unknown and rubbish players.

P.S http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/9268294.stm

Re: Football Season 2011/12
 

Mike Ashley also spends a lot of money on frivolous luxuries which would annoy the fans no-end if they knew about them.