*Official* English Football Season 2008-2009

[BoyBrumby]

Newcastle were amongst the 'big 4' at one point, though. Nothing is certain.

Not really, IMHO. Themselves, Chelsea & Leeds all qualified for the CL more than once in the pre-Abramovich era but they were never on quite the same level as Man U & Arsenal once Wenger took over.

In any case they and Blackburn both had some pretty serious (for the early-mid 90s) investment from homegrown sugar daddies. Difference now is the £60m Jack Walker pumped into Rovers doesn't buy squat anymore; it's (give or take the odd few million) the operating loss United accrued last season when they won the Prem & CL. For all the abuse Ashley's got from the Geordie fans he's invested nearly 4 times what Uncle Jack did already.

Only hopes for a crack in the big 4 is Citeh getting their act together, another similarly minted foreign bod buying another club or one of the big 4 (most likely to be Chelsea if Roman decided Formula 1 or the NBA looks more fun, but Liverpool and Man U aren't as safe financially as all that with the borrow their respective American buyers attached to them during the leveraged purchases) imploding with debt a la Leeds.

 

[grecian]

Newcastle were amongst the 'big 4' at one point, though. Nothing is certain.

Leeds, champions league semi-finalists, within the last 10 years too

 

[aussie]

Leeds, champions league semi-finalists, within the last 10 years too

, The days of Great David Batty...

 

[Neil Pickup]

Financial ruin is our one hope.

Personally I think all teams should be deducted a point per million pounds of debt before the season begins. Minus 750, Manchester...

 

[cpr]

Financial ruin is our one hope.

Personally I think all teams should be deducted a point per million pounds of debt before the season begins. Minus 750, Manchester...

We'd just sell our stadium (land its sat on is worth serious, serious money, think of the stupid investment going on in Media City just a couple hundred yards away, with both ITV and BBC literally begging for every scrap of land around there....) and move into the Council House (unless City finally pay for it, surely they too should get the option under the Right To Buy scheme)


Considering the amount of property, hotels, etc we hold, pretty sure we could clear the debt easily if banks gave us 3 months notice, and not have to worry about touching the team

 

[The Sean]

Financial ruin is our one hope.

Personally I think all teams should be deducted a point per million pounds of debt before the season begins. Minus 750, Manchester...

 

[Pratters]

GO BARCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! z

 

[James_W]

Praying for a Barca one. I think the ratio of United fans is bigger in Belfast than anywhere else in the world (perhaps exaggeration but I wouldn't doubt it), I really couldn't put up with the glory-hunters for the second year in a row. Please Barca, win!!

 

[grecian]

Goooooooooo barca

I'm remaining pretty neutral on this one

 

[aussie]

Haa Ronaldo leading the line....interesting from Big SAF...

 

[GIMH]

come on barca

 

[superkingdave]

Such a beautiful horizon

 

[grecian]

Oh dear, totally against the run of play, never mind

 

[superkingdave]

United's defence a bit all over the place at the moment

 

[Scaly piscine]

Manure basically shepherded that attack into the 6 yard area. ITV commentators throwing out endless cliches to save on some precious brain cells.

 

[superkingdave]

Manure basically shepherded that attack into the 6 yard area. ITV commentators throwing out endless cliches to save on some precious brain cells.

Why do we keep having to endure David Pleat? surely feedback on his commentary can never have been good yet he's managed to keep his gig for yonks. Then Neil Warnock of the commentary box..his partner in crimes ain't great either

EDIT: Just realised its on Sky as well, Gray and Tyler aren't what they used to be but they are a million times better than itv's trash

 

[Scaly piscine]

That's the sort of thing that should be a straight red. Blatant professional foul (remember when we actually had those?)

Either that or make it a penalty.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Why do we keep having to endure David Pleat? surely feedback on his commentary can never have been good yet he's managed to keep his gig for yonks. Then Neil Warnock of the commentary box..his partner in crimes ain't great either

It can't be worse than us. I'm stuck with a radio commentator who restarts his voice every 30 seconds (he gets too excited and has to go down an octave) and mentions the colour of the kit every five minutes...

 

[chalky]

After Utd's strong start it's almoast ole' stuff from Barca as Utd are struggling to get the ball.

N.B. Iniesta is sooo good controlling the midfield at the mo

 

[aussie]

Fair to say Barca took that mid-field battle, game of chess developing here..