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BBKing · 18-03-2004, 21:34

That lanky twit Pallister was on the radio earlier saying how cruel it was to ban Rio when he had only missed a test and not taken any drugs. Missed the point, you have to have the same punishment for missing/refusing a test (same thing) as actually testing positive, otherwise cheats have an incentive to miss a test if they know they're positive. In any other sport Rio (and all those Dutchmen the other year) would be looking at anywhere north of a year's ban, football needs to get round to this mindset ASAP otherwise it'll look like a cheat's charter.

Man Utd in decline? Yes, I think so now. Look at the youth brought through recently - United have a few decent players but nothing in the Giggs/Scholes/Beckham class. Chelsea and especially Arsenal have some superb youngsters. The younger you get them, the more passion, the easier they fit in, all good sides have a home-grown core or at least a core who've been together for years (Arsenal back four, United late 90s midfield).

Also top stars can now have a choice in English football - a few years ago they had a choice of Man U or nowhere if they wanted Champions League football, now they can go to Arsenal or Chelsea, live in London rather than Manchester, avoid the hairdryer and have an enlightened modern manager like the urbane Wenger or Ranieri/Eriksson/Hitzfeld (delete as applicable) who won't **** them off in public or kick footwear at them. And they'll still have their Champ's League football with teams that actually reach the quarter finals.

Chelsea have nicked two players who could make a real difference to United (Duff/Robben) and Ronaldinho decided he was ugly enough without a Fergie Footwear Facial.

So Arsenal have the best of the youth of Europe at under-21 level* and the pick of the best talent who aren't completely money-obsessed, Chelsea have about 15 midfielders and anyone they fancy in the summer (except Henry, please). United have the prospect of an 'improved' (i.e. not as ****e) Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba, plus Plug coming back from his suspension, if he remembers the way to the training ground, and surely O'Shea won't be as ****e as he has been this season. Frightening.

*Ahem. Reyes, Bentley, Hoyte, Fabregas, Senderos, Stack. Three out of those have been nicked from under the noses of the best clubs in Europe, the other three are home-grown.

18-03-2004, 21:34	#694
BBKing R.I.P. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London Services: 20Mb VM CM, Virgin TV Posts: 5,983	Re: Football talk That lanky twit Pallister was on the radio earlier saying how cruel it was to ban Rio when he had only missed a test and not taken any drugs. Missed the point, you have to have the same punishment for missing/refusing a test (same thing) as actually testing positive, otherwise cheats have an incentive to miss a test if they know they're positive. In any other sport Rio (and all those Dutchmen the other year) would be looking at anywhere north of a year's ban, football needs to get round to this mindset ASAP otherwise it'll look like a cheat's charter. Man Utd in decline? Yes, I think so now. Look at the youth brought through recently - United have a few decent players but nothing in the Giggs/Scholes/Beckham class. Chelsea and especially Arsenal have some superb youngsters. The younger you get them, the more passion, the easier they fit in, all good sides have a home-grown core or at least a core who've been together for years (Arsenal back four, United late 90s midfield). Also top stars can now have a choice in English football - a few years ago they had a choice of Man U or nowhere if they wanted Champions League football, now they can go to Arsenal or Chelsea, live in London rather than Manchester, avoid the hairdryer and have an enlightened modern manager like the urbane Wenger or Ranieri/Eriksson/Hitzfeld (delete as applicable) who won't **** them off in public or kick footwear at them. And they'll still have their Champ's League football with teams that actually reach the quarter finals. Chelsea have nicked two players who could make a real difference to United (Duff/Robben) and Ronaldinho decided he was ugly enough without a Fergie Footwear Facial. So Arsenal have the best of the youth of Europe at under-21 level* and the pick of the best talent who aren't completely money-obsessed, Chelsea have about 15 midfielders and anyone they fancy in the summer (except Henry, please). United have the prospect of an 'improved' (i.e. not as **e) Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba, plus Plug coming back from his suspension, if he remembers the way to the training ground, and surely O'Shea won't be as *e as he has been this season. Frightening. Ahem. Reyes, Bentley, Hoyte, Fabregas, Senderos, Stack. Three out of those have been nicked from under the noses of the best clubs in Europe, the other three are home-grown.