*Official* English Football Season 2005-06

[marc71178]

The evidence Steds presented proves otherwise.

I notice no response to the evidence.

What evidence?

The amount of money Whelan put in got them out of the bottom leagues and has lead to where they are now.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The evidence Steds presented proves otherwise.

I notice no response to the evidence.

No it doesn't!

Pre-Whelan (i.e.pre-1995) they were the same as any other below average Lancastrian side (Rochdale, Bury...) playing in a crumbling dump - and without him they would still be there. It's about more than transfer fees, it's about wages and being able to hang on to young prospects who would otherwise have to be sold in order to avoid debt.

 

[Loony BoB]

Let's face it, money will be in the picture no matter what. All good managers have a lot of money to play with. I think the whole point of this debate is whether a manager is good because of money or talent, right? Sounds like Whelan has done well if he's paying for young prospects rather than buying new players in...? I think that's what Halsey was getting at. Might be wrong though. But yeah, no manager is going to get by in the Premiership without money.

 

[marc71178]

Whelan's not even the manager

 

[Loony BoB]

Manager, coach, whatever. I'm a New Zealander, I'm not even supposed to know how the offside rule works.

 

[marc71178]

Owner - the one who's put all the money in which is the ONLY reason they are where they are now.

 

[Tom Halsey]

What evidence?

The amount of money Whelan put in got them out of the bottom leagues and has lead to where they are now.

They've spent a lot below average by Premiership standards. 4 of their side on Sunday didn't even cost anything. I fail to see how that's putting in money.

 

[Tom Halsey]

being able to hang on to young prospects who would otherwise have to be sold in order to avoid debt.

That's probably a fair point and Whelan may have helped in that respect, but still, that is not enough to get you into the Premiership alone.

 

[Matteh]

Didn't Fulham make a bit of a meal of coming up through the divisions because of money?
although granted they got there in the end...

I agree with Neil...Wigan were just an average Div 3 team until Whelan put some money into them - a 96(i think) Mansfield team even beat them 6-2....kinda shows how low they were

 

[TheEpic]

I have fairly strong opinions, which may be unjustified about some of the teams currently clogging up the Premier League.

Take Wigan. They are a rugby league town who are only in the Premiership because of the dedication and, more importantly, financial backing of the owner. They have an identikit ground which they can barely half-fill unless they play one of the big 3 or 4. They have a team made up of botched rejects, never was-es and hasbeens. The whole idea of Wigan Athletic[/B being in the Premier League is baffling to me. Their kit is horrid too!

Fulham also came up because of financial clout, and they have a rubbish stadium as well. The whole club is just...nothing and again, their squad is made up of some weird players who have no place in the Premiership. Charlton are pointless and Birmingham seem to exist primarily for clubs to offload their junk onto. And don't get me started on Pompey!

I'd much rather see teams like Leeds (obviously), Coventry, Southampton, Wolves, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich in there. Teams with diehard support, rich history and a bit of interest.

Haha, forgot about Middlesbrough. We'll leave that one for now I think...

 

[Tom Halsey]

I agree with Neil...Wigan were just an average Div 3 team until Whelan put some money into them - a 96(i think) Mansfield team even beat them 6-2....kinda shows how low they were

They've had a hell of a rise but as far as I'm concerned it is more to do with good management than huge money.

 

[James]

Some interesting UK Newspaper headlines today:

DAILY MIRROR: Ruud van Nistelrooy is ready to quit Manchester United at the end of the season after the amazing Carling Cup final snub by Sir Alex Ferguson.

DAILY EXPRESS: Sir Alex Ferguson will be given an open cheque book in the summer - and told to take on Chelsea at any cost.

DAILY MAIL: Chelsea have won the race to sign Michael Ballack - and they will make him the highest paid footballer in the world when he joins this summer.

 

[Neil Pickup]

XPRESSION FM NEWS: Xpression FM FC make it three straight wins and 200 minutes without conceding a goal as captain Walker bundles the ball home from three feet following a goalmouth scramble after Pickup's corner.

 

[Tom Halsey]

DAILY MIRROR: Ruud van Nistelrooy is ready to quit Manchester United at the end of the season after the amazing Carling Cup final snub by Sir Alex Ferguson.

I'm sure Ruud isn't too bothered about missing the Mickey-Mouse final.

It wasn't a surprise to me anyway - Saha has socred goals to get us there, why not give him the final?

 

[Loony BoB]

Nistelrooy on the 15th stated that he was wanting to stay at United for a few more years. So far the only people who have said otherwise are The Mirror, who quoted his agent. It will be very interesting to see how it all pans out, however I don't see Ruud leaving, especially as he openly rejected any desire to leave so recently. So far I've not seen any reliable news source stating this one, only tabloids.

I was surprised that Ruud wasn't subbed on to the field but I wasn't surprised that he didn't start.

As for the open cheque ordeal, I wouldn't be surprised given that Man Utd are about to make a world record for shirt sponsorship with Mansion (should that deal go ahead).

Don't know much about the last one.

EDIT: Further on the Mirror's talk about Ruud...

RED VAN ON THE CHEAP
We're drowning in exclusives here this morning. This time it's The Mirror who want to tell us about 'gutted Ruud' who is ready to leave Manchester United in the summer because he didn't play on Sunday. Awww. The 'disillusioned striker' will be allowed to go 'for around £10m.' How does the paper know all this? Well, Van Nistelrooy confirmed as much by saying: 'I was very disappointed but I could understand why he wanted to play Louis Saha...I've scored a lot of goals this season and I hope to be back in the team for the game with Wigan next Monday.' Blimey, that's a sensational quit threat, and it was backed up by his agent Rodger Linse who 'refused to comment.

Doesn't look anything special.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Some interesting UK Newspaper headlines today:

DAILY MIRROR: Ruud van Nistelrooy is ready to quit Manchester United at the end of the season after the amazing Carling Cup final snub by Sir Alex Ferguson.

DAILY EXPRESS: Sir Alex Ferguson will be given an open cheque book in the summer - and told to take on Chelsea at any cost.

DAILY MAIL: Chelsea have won the race to sign Michael Ballack - and they will make him the highest paid footballer in the world when he joins this summer.

Only one of those newspapers I trust as far as I could throw them is the Express, and they have a tendency to sensationalise. Van Nistelrooy will be grumpy for a while, but won't quit Man Utd, Fergie'll spend but won't spend enough, and Ballack'll go somewhere else - it's not like Chelsea really need to bring him in with Lampard and Essien in their midfield as it is.

 

[Barney Rubble]

XPRESSION FM NEWS: Xpression FM FC make it three straight wins and 200 minutes without conceding a goal as captain Walker bundles the ball home from three feet following a goalmouth scramble after Pickup's corner.

Short corner. After Pickup's short corner. Wouldn't want anyone thinking you have some sort of technical ability, now would we?

 

[marc71178]

They've spent a lot below average by Premiership standards. 4 of their side on Sunday didn't even cost anything. I fail to see how that's putting in money.

They spent a heck of a lot more than the other sides in the lower 2 divisions, that's the only reason they're where they are now.

 

[marc71178]

They've had a hell of a rise but as far as I'm concerned it is more to do with good management than huge money.

In spite of the evidence to the contrary?

 

[Tom Halsey]

They spent a heck of a lot more than the other sides in the lower 2 divisions, that's the only reason they're where they are now.

Even by Championship standards that is not big money. Only in League 1 would that be anything above the average.