Football : Season 08/09
 

the new season is all set to start with the Championship League One/two and non league starting next weekend and the Premier League ko on the 17th let the season begin :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

C'mon Liverpool!!!! though Robbie Keane??? £20m???? what's that about???

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

hmm, I would cheer my team but you'd all laugh at me ;)

Kymmy

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

the first games of the new season is Barrow v Oxford Utd (Blue Square Premier) friday night 19:30 :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I wouldn't worry about it, we already laugh at Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool anyway. :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

how rude!!!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

...but true ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It might not start on time up here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/7541887.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

But in the case of Arsenal, so very necessary!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Rangers are out of Europe

I bet the Celtic fans are laughing in their stella.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Good thing to after what there fans did in Manchester

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

What. You mean the 199,958+ who came, had a good time, didn't get arrested and didn't trash the place or the 42 who did come (from all over the UK funnily enough not just Glasgow) and did act like animals, did get arrested and did (in one case anyway) get savaged by a Police land shark.

Anyway back onto topic its a shocking result. The team played absolutely pants and the better team on the night went through. Perhaps a referee strike is the best option for Rangers right now as they've been rank all pre-season.

It does mean the excuse that the team were tired after mid-week European matches can't be trotted out this year.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I agree, it's what they deserve :tu:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ronaldo speaks at last.

It looks like he might be staying then, for one more season at least.
I guess he will be in for a torrid time from a lot of football fans this coming season.
As good as he is, I for one wouldn't be that sorry to see him go, he is his own worst enemy in a variety of ways imo.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/7546390.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

So he's got 3 years left on his contract, which means from the middle/end of next season he'll sign for Real.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

That's what I think.
If he is going to go, let him go now, otherwise this saga will continue and get very tiresome.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

With a bit of luck he'll do a Ronaldinho and his form will drop like a stone around that time, his stock value will drop too and Real's interest will cool. Suddenly staying at United will seen like a very attractive option and he'll sign a new contract.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If his form doesn't drop too much it won't be that big a problem for me. He's the best player in the world, so i think i can live with the papers constantly saying he wants out. I don't mind if his price drops from now to the end of the season if we get another good season out of him.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yes I think you've hit the nail fairly square on the head there. I thought he'd go now to be honest, but I think he's definitely going to go at the end of next season. I wonder how the fans are going to react to him? I suppose if he plays like he did last season then it'll be forgotten quite quickly.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

but C_R if there is 1 fangroup more hypocryt its those of ManUre, after the Worldcup 2006 when Rooney got sent off due to Ronaldo afterwards the fans celebrated him again.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well I agree that a lot of Man United fans are a bit odd, so many support them and they are the best team - it can't be a coincidence! I disagree about Ronaldo getting Rooney sent off though - he blatantly stamped on someone and has nobody to blame but himself.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Fans of other teams are a bit odd...they do seem pre-occupied with what Utd do, more than what their own teams do at times ;) :p: :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

come on man city...trust me with mark hughes on his high heels toppling over our thai presidents money...man city will be fourth (they better be)....just watch out for Jo, Bojinov, Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Benjani with a stready defence and many more world class signings...man city gonna rule the country...soon lol

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Corluka is set to join Spurs according to some (Crotian media mainly, but rumours still persist in British media)

Also considering Thaksin's fortune has been frozen, Hughes doesn't have much to trip over. It looks like Man City will flogged off cheap as he needs every buck he can get atm.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/08/18.png

That is how the league could of ended if the scores remained unchanged for the second half. Brum must of really screwed up after half time.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Anyone ever see this lad play, how good was he?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7553678.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

you do realise that not all man u fans think ronny got rooney sent off? ronny was made the scape goat as there is always someone to blame for our failing team (eg mclaren)

how many liverpool fans were ****ed off with england players yet celebrated gerrard's free kick the next game? now people will say the free kick will show gerrards quality but to me it makes the old question 'why don't englands players play like they do for their clubs?' appear once again.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

he only ever had one reserve game for us so never saw him play but seems he had a future in the game so in one way its good to see the hard work he had put in to get that far is being rewarded

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Hope oxford win tonight need a good win after friday :(

good season for everton
 

I fancy Everton to win some thing this season possible FA cup

snails

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Barwick out...

Link

FA politics?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

BB King........We know you love Silvestre.

So, just to let you know..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...al/7573520.stm :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

That has to be one of the weirdest/shock signings ever lol

O'Shea to Chelsea next?? :D

Re: good season for everton
 

You're joking right? Everton have the smallest squad in the premier league at the moment and have bought absolutely nobody so far, yet let 3 players go. One or two injuries and they've had it!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Ronaldo to Chelsea :p:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I'm bookmarking this page ready for when Arsenal win something (ie when BBking will show his face in a football thread again) :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Dimitar Berbatov's agent is in London for crisis talks as the player attempts to force a move to Manchester United from Tottenham, BBC Sport understands.
The London club are threatening to let Berbatov "rot in the reserves", according to reports

Link

I remember people in the media, and on this site as well, slateing Ferguson when reports came out saying that Ronaldo would be left in the reserves rather than be sold to Madrid. I wonder if they will come out now and call Ramos and Levy "spiteful" and a "bully" like they did with Ferguson, i highly doubt it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Due to player contracts these days they can't let a player "rot in the reserves" as most contracts have a minimum "first team appearances" set in them. Means that if the club doesn;t meet the minimum then the player can leave due to breach of contract.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's not a clause in their contracts, it's a FIFA regulation which states...

So they could let him "rot in the reserves" for a whole season

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Peter Kenyon believes Andriy Shevchenko provided value for money during his time at Chelsea
Link

What has Kenyon been smoking?

He cost £30million and scored 9 goals, so each goal he scored cost the club about £3.4million. Yeah, great value for money :erm:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Man Utd to face Celtic in the Champions League can't wait to see the 2 games :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

That groaning sound you might hear is the sound of Greater Manchester Police at the thought of another Glaswegian invasion. :erm:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If it were a like-for-like situation then I would agree with you. Levy isn't exactly well loved amongst the Spurs fan community as he was smirking in the stand whilst firing our much loved, respected, and arguably most successful manager in decades (2 points/1 place from CL place beats Carling Cup in most people's minds), by text message, mid-match, after weeks of undermining his position. He's more interested in counting Joe Lewis's beans than improving Spurs as a club.

However, its not the same. He wasn't dropped as punishment for requesting a transfer, he was dropped because He requested not to play and was fined a week's wages for it. Also noone on the team wants to play with him (1, 2.) For players to turn on another player like that, is quite rare and says quite a lot about how Berbatov must be behaving behind closed doors.

Also, United didn't want to sell Ronaldo out of spite. Real were willing to pay, or do, anything to secure him. We are happy to grant Berbatov his transfer. Ramos and Poyet have also made it clear in interviews that they are also willing to reverse that should Berbatov actually want to play for us. However, it is not unreasonable to request that your lot cough up a sensible amount of money for him for him first. If Tevez is worth £32m, then Berbatov is worth more than £20m. Also another stumbling block is that Ferguson won't apologise for what he's done wrong. Again, not an unreasonable request when Ferguson soley is the cause of his unsettlement in the first place.

---------- Post added at 21:18 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

Also, Spurs are flying out to Monaco to meet with United and thrash out a last minute deal. Again, that's far from the angle that Levy is trying to ruin Berbatov's career out of spite, like the Glazers and Ferguson was happy to do.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

First off, Ronaldo was never dropped and isn't going to be dropped where as Berbatov has been dropped. Who's ruining who's career? Ramos has come out saying that he wasn't in the right frame of mind to play, i'm not sure if thats the same as him refusing to play.

As for Ferguson apologising, what for? The FA have had these so called years of documents from Spurs showing his apparent wrong doings for about a month now and we've heard nothing.

I think £20million is about fair for a player who's apparently handed in a transfer request, playing in the reserves and doesn't want to play for the club they are at and players at that club don't want him there. If he isn't sold in this transfer window and this all continues i think Spurs would be extremely happy if they got £20million for him rather than £30million they are demanding now.

By the sounds of it Spurs are going out to Monaco to get Arshavin rather than sell Berbatov going by this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/7586497.stm

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Why? The green side of Glasgow have always behaved themselves when they have been to Manchester before. It's just the blue side who don't ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Uh huh. Ask Lancashire Police how many Celtic fans were arrested when they played Blackburn in 2003. They manage to beat Rangers record for most fans arrested during a Uefa cup match in England. ;)

Re: good season for everton
 

They must have found some spare change down the back of the couch as they've just signed Saha from Man U and some Ecuadorian midfielder from Red Star Belgrade.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

When they have been in Manchester though, which was referred to in your post, they have been perfect ;)

They have been down for numerous times for friendlies...okay not competitive where they could get all stroppy and riot if they lost, but they have still been down here en-masse... ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

We played them two seasons ago in the Champions league and there was no problems then as well.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

GIRUY 4-2 and miller wooooo

mendes what a 30 yarder

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Spurs pulling off the surprise result of the season so far.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...074143,00.html

Hmmmm.......

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

This is the best bit -

Seriously, did they not realise what they were doing for the past four months?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Is anyone else following the [urhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7590492.stm]BBC sport transfer tracker?[/url]

Its normally a great laugh. You have to take it with a pinch of salt though. Half the rumours in there are for a windup. Someone's said he's spotted a player arriving at Hull who is currently in prison in Columbia. Loads of this "My brother's cleaner's auntie's sister-in-law said she saw Berbatov at a service station on the M6" stuff...

My fav so far:

"My mate owns a burger van outside Old Trafford and he's just had to remind Dean Windass and his agent that he's not open till 11. You heard it here first!"

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Apparently, Man City have been sold off...

A bet that you were all expecting a joke other than City ;) :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

That's not the best bit. They've bid for Berbatov :)

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....y_berbatov_bid

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Being a mancunian myself I half expected it, ever since the first season when Thaksin didn;t get his cupboard full of silver trophies and then sacked the manager and then ran back to the UK from his court trial...

---------- Post added at 12:49 ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 ----------

I wonder if there was anything in the Corluka deal to give them a preferential first bid???

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I've never found a reason to want to hate Man City.

Until now that is - if they manage to get him.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I am hoping and praying that this true...For me, City can have him... ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I've never really seen the point of having a transfer window, can anyone explain the benefits over a clubs being able to sign a player any time throughout the season?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I've never liked it. We need to abolish the transfer window system. That way anyone can buy anyone else whenever they like. No more panic buys, inflated prices, or frozen out players. Transfers happen when its best they happen.

I have not really come across a good reason why we can't do this. Platini wants to make it worse and do away with the winter transfer window. The pleb.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

The only time I agree with what Platini says is when his mouth is closed.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

It's supposed to stop bigger clubs constantly buying players throughout the year if key players get injured. The idea is that smaller clubs wouldn't be able to do this so it makes it fairer if bigger clubs can't as well. In my opinion it doesn't work at all and all it does is push player prices up much higher than they would be if there was no transfer window.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

WTF?

Berbatov and Villa?!?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Err no it isn't, that's what they'd like us to believe. Remember a few years back when the EU were talking about scrapping the transfer system, well this is the result, the EU orderd FIFA to adopt it in Europe or else. The thing with Europe is they love a bit of harmony, don't matter how much people suffer, as long as we are all suffering together.

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/sport...Doncaster.aspx

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If City get Berbatov then CF is going to have one very narked off admin online tonight....

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I know....


Brilliant ain't it :) Levy can atone for a lot if he manages to offload Berbatov to City :p:

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I thought the reason Berbatov wanted to leave Spuds was to play Champions league football?

Anyway, i'm sure he will fit in at citeh, seeing that they are a massive club and all ;)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I can't see him staying at Spurs after the last few weeks, and if they refuse United's offer than he may well end up in a blue shirt.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Randomly, whoever the company are who have just invested in City (read that as 'bought Shinawatra out') want to use the club as a showpiece for Dubai, in order to increase their standing in the sporting world.

It would seem that they've not only agreed to pay off any outstanding debt, but put up a massive amount of cash for players as well. May be too late for this window, but it'll be interesting to see what happens in January. According to The Guardian website, a spokesman's said he wants them in the top four this year! May be that they don't realise what club they've bought...

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

"We will support him by bringing in the best players and it is his job to support them," Al-Fahim said. "We really have deep pockets. By closing a deal with one of the players today they can see we are serious in developing the club into one of the top four."

From what I know about Arabs from Dubai, they have do indeed have very deep pockts and huge egos. They will want this club to be the biggest in the premiership and I can see them spending huge amounts of money to achieve those goals.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I can imagine how the conversation went...."Hey Ali, go buy me that massive English club, you know...manchester something-or-other" :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Probably quite a shock when he went to look around FC United then - Gigg Lane's not the best ground in the world :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

If there's one thing that will make Taggart and the septics raid their piggy bank for more than £20m, it would be him going to City. The relationship between THFC's administration and Berbatov has broken down to the point he'd go almost anywhere else than stay. Besides, they way everyone's talking, City will be the new Chelski. They will buy all 4 cups by next season.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Russ, you a MUFC fan???

[edit] Got my answer in PM [/edit]

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

He'll have more chance of doing it a City than Spurs, the spuds make me laugh, to deluded to realise they are nowt more than a feeder club these days, the times when they were a genuine challenger aren't remembered in most peoples life times

I wouldn't say they were massive, they have always struck me as relying on local support and genuine fans

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Is it not obvious?? ;)

Saying that, I also support Swansea and should we make it to the premiership next year, when United come to visit I'll be in the home section of the Liberty Stadium cheering the Swans on and it'll be the only time I'll be praying for a United loss :)

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Anyway, if Fergie really wanted Berba maybe he should have offered close to the asking price (25million would have been more realistic) than trying to buy him on the cheap.

I bet until this morning he was thinking he'd still get berba on the cheap as spurs would have been forced to sell him. Bet you he aint feeling so smug now.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/7592272.stm

Not good.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

According to Sky sports Fergie picked Berbatov up himself from Manchester Airport and took him to Carrington training ground for talks, Fergie left but Berbatov is still there apparently.

Oh and Real Madrid have put a bid in as well lol

---------- Post added at 17:09 ---------- Previous post was at 17:06 ----------

Wouldn't any manager want to do the same though? If it wasn't for these Arabs that have bought City, i bet Spurs would have accepted the bid from United and Berbatov would be a United player by now.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Without Berbatov (or in the absence of any real firepower) the scousers at Anfield on saturday will tuck us up in no time.

---------- Post added at 17:41 ---------- Previous post was at 17:25 ----------

Breaking news: BBC Sport can confirm that Real Madrid have not put in an offer for Dimitar Berbatov.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

20 million for a player who will be 28 in January is a fair price to me. Unlike Chel$ki, and it seems now, Man City, normal clubs have to consider a sell on value. If Berbatov was offered a 5 year contract, that would make him 33 if Man U decided to sell him at the end of his contract. He would be worth practically nothing. It must be nice to be able to buy players, and not giving a toss about such trivial matters as sell on values eh?

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Funniest comment from the transfer page on the BBC (where people can text in with the names of which new footballers they've seen arrive on transfer day):

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Well it's now upto the player...

Am I the only one happy that he might be going to city?? Or am I the only one supid enough to admit to supporting City (well I was born in Moss-Side)

:D

---------- Post added at 19:31 ---------- Previous post was at 17:57 ----------

Don;t you just love transfer rumours...Now the BBC text a rumour page is linking city with Robinho...you just gotta laugh!!!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

:D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Next we'll be getting a new manager called A.Ferguson

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

berbatov to utd, robinho to city:D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

City have agreed a deal for Robinho now. They seem to be in the market of messing up other clubs transfers lol

Sky Sports news has pictures of Berbatov shaking hands with David Gill and Fergie at Old Trafford after passing a medical, so it would seem he is either going to United or staying at Spurs, not going to city.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

But when did Spurs give United permission to speak to him?

---------- Post added at 00:09 ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 22:37 ----------

Confirmed: Robinho has signed for Man City. Looks like they certainly will be following Chelsea's lead and trying to buy the title as quickly as possible. Expect more activity from them in january.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Berbatov to United - Done deal :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yep!

Finally confirmed - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/7592272.stm

Let's hope he's worth it.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

yep, makes both manchester teams happy tonight

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

So, Robinho to City and Berbatov to Utd. One for almost £32 mill + a player and the other for £32.5 mill. I know which one I'd prefer and it's not the lazy, sulking Bulgarian!

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

But surely even non-United fans will get pleasure out of knowing a team managed to outbid Roman? :D

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I was shocked to see that one go through, couldn't believe it. I totally believe the new owners when they say they want to make Man City the biggest club in the UK/Europe/World. You just need to visit Dubai to see some of the crazy construction schems they have in place to see how money is no object to them.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Money can buy you a lot of players, a lot of world class players, but putting them together into one, none world class team is a whole different thing and I think the new owners are in for a big shock at just how hard it really is, even when you have 'unlimted' money.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I think the Robinho deal is more one where the agent just wanted to the money. I don't think Robinho has an clue about the English league and the agent has said City are a great club and he can win things there. Players only listen to agents and this is the end result.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Yep, players can be great, but unless the person running the team knows how to make the team great it can be a major flop.

Well Mr. Hughes is unproven but has got potential, also as long as the new owners don't do the same as a certain Thai did on Sven and actually give him the promised 3 years I think that there's a chance....

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

I think you will find that these 'Arabs' are not from Dubia. ;)

Jim.

Re: Football : Season 08/09
 

Sorry my bad Abu Dhabi --- but I do believe they have major developments across the entire UAE. And as far as I know, Abu Dhabi is richer than Dubai.