Football The 2013 / 2014 Season Thread

[caLLous]

Well if we're talking Mickey Mouse cups we won one more recently that you lot.

 

[Embattle]

The game at Anfield was always going to be hard no matter if everyone was available for Chelsea, but all season our weakness has been clear to everyone and now with our additional injuries, bans, etc he is just prioritising what he thinks is more important considering those factors although I suspect it'll be every bit as hard in the CL. I suspect he will play those who are banned from the CL and those who are cup tied, but who knows what will make up the rest.

 

[Scouse]

He's talking shit @Embattle. His "weak" team will still cost more than liverpool's squad.

The only reason Chelski aren't actually top is that you sold us Sturridge a year ago 'cause you didn't think he'd make a good striker...

 

[Raven]

And loaned out Lukaku because "he isn't ready" or some shit.

 

[Ch3tan]

It's clearly because the are both darkies.

 

[caLLous]

And Moses. Christ I think you're onto something here...

 

[Embattle]

He's talking shit @Embattle. His "weak" team will still cost more than liverpool's squad.

The only reason Chelski aren't actually top is that you sold us Sturridge a year ago 'cause you didn't think he'd make a good striker...

Yeah so I keep hearing

We sold you Sturridge because it wasn't working for him at Chelsea and I think it was the right thing to do at the time for him and us, it does happen and not just to Chelsea.

And loaned out Lukaku because "he isn't ready" or some shit.

I would of preferred not to but perhaps someone hoped Torres would finally make a difference although it has probably helped him to be at Everton but there is no guarantee that we will be keeping him.

And Moses. Christ I think you're onto something here...

Liverpool can buy him if they want

 

[Moriath]

What about when Benitez did it for the Champions League at his time at Liverpool - or does that only count as 'squad rotation' in that instance because they had fuck all chance to win the league?

No it applies I all instances. In a perfect world each manager would try with their best 11 to win each game. It doesn't work like that tho

 

[Moriath]

He's talking shit @Embattle. His "weak" team will still cost more than liverpool's squad.

The only reason Chelski aren't actually top is that you sold us Sturridge a year ago 'cause you didn't think he'd make a good striker...

Price sometimes doesn't equal a good player .... Torres a prime example

 

[Bodhi]

He's talking shit @Embattle. His "weak" team will still cost more than liverpool's squad.

The only reason Chelski aren't actually top is that you sold us Sturridge a year ago 'cause you didn't think he'd make a good striker...

It does make me laugh when the professional victims up North start bleating about how little their squad cost in relation to ours. If you look at FFP, if Liverpool had actually been anywhere near Europe, they'd be fucked right now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27041079

Chelsea made a £49.4m loss last year but registered a £1.4m profit in 2012 so will comply with the new regulations.

Liverpool, who have lost £90m over the last two years, and clubs like Ligue 1 side Monaco, are not playing in Europe this season and will not have to pass the FFP rules until next autumn.

So remind me again how Liverpool can take the high road about the cost of their squad? As something is clearly costing a lot for such a massive club like Liverpool to be losing so much money.

Anyway, if you listen to Mourinho's comments, I reckon he'll just play the players who are suspended/cup-tied for Wednesday, the rest should be a fairly strong squad. Only omission I can think of is I doubt he'll risk Hazard or Eto'o.

 

[Raven]

Wasn't that "Profit" a massive cash investment to clear debts by the owner just before the fairplay rules started to kick in?

 

[Bodhi]

That was about 8 years ago now iirc, we made a profit by winning the Champions League.

 

[DaGaffer]

It does make me laugh when the professional victims up North start bleating about how little their squad cost in relation to ours.

"Ours", says the Scotsman talking about "up North". Your roving fandom does make me smile.

 

[Bodhi]

"Ours", says the Scotsman talking about "up North". Your roving fandom does make me smile.

Part of moving around a lot, when you don't stay in one place that long it gets interesting putting down roots as I'm sure you can attest. However, ignoring the Juventus phase at uni (a mixture of not watching the Premiership at the time and a heavy drugs intake), I've stuck with my "local" team (Dundee United) and my English team, which is Chelsea. I've always followed them since the 1994 Cup Final, but my interest varied depending on the league I was following at the time.

Plus, when you live in Staffordshire, would you honestly choose to support one of the teams round here? Stoke? Vale??? Stafford Rangers????? I'd rather watch cricket (and I fucking hate cricket).

 

[Bodhi]

And loaned out Lukaku because "he isn't ready" or some shit.

Hmmm, looking at his appauling performance in the Euro Super Cup final I'd say he wasn't ready either. And to be fair to the lad, if we'd chucked him in the deep end and he'd sunk (which was entirely possible) that could finish him, so sending him out seemed sensible.


But then, of course I forgot that you spent most days at Cobham evaluating players, so clearly know more than one of the best football managers in the world. Silly me.

 

[Raven]

Yeah, except he hasn't sunk has he? He also had a blinding season last time round.

But still, holding on to Torres just because you were stupid enough to spend 50 mil on a 3 legged donkey was the correct thing to do, just one more chance to show he isn't a spent force? A 2mil defender would be a better option up front than Torres.

 

[Billargh]

Blimey. Tito Vilanova's popped it at 45.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/25/tito-vilanova-dies-aged-45-barcelona

 

[Embattle]

Shame, thought he was getting better last time I saw him.

 

[soze]

So remind me again how Liverpool can take the high road about the cost of their squad? As something is clearly costing a lot for such a massive club like Liverpool to be losing so much money.

While I do agree that this Liverpool doing it on a shoe string and bargain basement signings is shit as they have spent a fair bit on the squad you two are worlds apart. Your owner threw £1 billion at winning the champions league. That is unreal and why any success Chelsea have will be purchased in the eyes of a lot of fans. Liverpool lost the owner lottery and got a pair of guys who took a lot of sponsorship money upfront and walked away with it. It will take Liverpool a while to get out from under the bad owners and the current one is not interested in losing money either he will not bleed them dry but he will also not spend £1b. It is unreal how lucky you guys where with Abramobitch.

 

[Raven]

The same could be said about UTD really, bought with debt and nothing (compared to the likes of City and Chelsea...and various Euro teams) spent on players in the last 2-3 seasons

I might have a dig at Arsenal now and again and I still think if they had spent 50 mil properly they would be competing, but the money boys who have bought success really boil my piss. I really want to see Liverpool win it simply because they play seriously attractive football and have done it with spending (relatively) nothing.

Its hilarious when Maureen moans about his squad, it is the 2nd most expensive in the prem and has looked dogshit at times, at least Pellegrini has the dignity to accept that he makes mistakes, Maureen just comes out with a different excuse each time and ends up looking like a buffoon

Willian is a perfect example, excellent player, totally not needed at Chelsea, bought to stop an opponent buying him...a glaring hole up front and they buy a midfielder that they don't desperately need, ship out the only real options they have up front and buy an ageing (although better than I thought he would be) striker. Who Maureen embarrassingly called over the hill.

The man is an arsehat who plays boring 19th century football against good opposition then bitches and whines when lower teams do it to him.

 

[Vladamir]

Except Willian is the exact mould of a player that Mourinho uses.

And Mourinho wins trophies, Pellegrini has won one since he moved from South America to Europe, and that was the Capital One Cup.

Team's that spend little to nothing win fuck all, teams that spend money win trophies, simple as that

 

[Raven]

Yeah except Liverpool are about to win the prem and Chelsea are about to win nothing.

Maureen will be fired again before he wins the premier league or champions league.

 

[Vladamir]

Mourinho has a 4 year contract and given the lack of consistency with other managers and his continued success away from Chelsea - I would say Chelsea will win at least one of those in the next 3 seasons if neither is won this year.

Chelsea have a squad that, a handful of additions aside, is set for the next 4-5 years, only City can/will match Chelsea's spending, Liverpool will also have to play a full season rather than 2/3's next season on the back of the world cup, don't expect them to be as competitive next season unless they spend heavily in the summer - and then they've spent money so they will lose their moral highground.

 

[Himse]

Liverpool will be able to buy anyone they want once Suarez goes to Madrid

 

[Raven]

Except he wont be going to Madrid.

 

[Ch3tan]

That was about 8 years ago now iirc, we made a profit by winning the Champions League.

Was two years ago just before the rules came in. Fix.

 

[Raven]

He has cleared them several times afaik.

 

[caLLous]

 

[Embattle]

Except Willian is the exact mould of a player that Mourinho uses.

And Mourinho wins trophies, Pellegrini has won one since he moved from South America to Europe, and that was the Capital One Cup.

Team's that spend little to nothing win fuck all, teams that spend money win trophies, simple as that

As discussed in various previous posts all other clubs pay in magic beans

I'm more interested in next year personally since Mourinho will change the team some more to one that suits what he wants, I just hope he is given the proper time required

I suspect we will still have trouble in the return leg of the CL next week but either way at least doing well again in the CL will provide some more money. The new TV CL deal with BT starting 2015-2016 should provide a nice boost to the prize winning fund, I suspect it'll be even more important to get in to the CL that year.

 

[caLLous]

Other clubs pay within their means*