Great article on Spain and their footballing dynasty........
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/aug/16/the-question-spain-football-dynasty
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The dearth of English talent......
Taking a look at those players that were eligible to play for England’s U-21 those who either played or made the match day squad numbered only 35% (7 out of 20) saw any match time.
Out of that 35% that played, 57% were from Manchester United, roughly 29% were from Liverpool, and final piece of the pie was Steven Caulker at Swansea. Manchester United also boast the highest ratio of English players in their squad out of the ‘top 4′ teams from last season.
This compares very unfavourably with Spain, Germany and France. No wonder Capello is bailing out after next year – he won’t have players available for a squad come the next World Cup!!!!
FFL Season 2011/12 Week One
Well what can I say? An outstanding debut. The lad has settled in immediately and looks like he will be a big hit this season. Well done Gary Neville...........
Aside from Gaz Nev's brilliant Sky Sports debut there was very little to shout about on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Putting aside Monday night's bitter blue wankathon against the might of Wales (results and points added to week 2) FFL managers will be busy looking at transfer possibilities - injuries, players left out, suspensions..............
Fabregas has gone - thank fuck for that. What will three-time champion McNick do?
Vidic is out for three weeks - over to you Sid
Ferdinand was always only ever going to play a maximum 20 games -DP?
Poor Rafael - another one who is out for a while. McNick? Lucky 8 transfers this season eh?
Gervinho (what a spam head) and Sturridge both suspended -no attack for me for two weeks!
No Luiz for Chelsea - what will Stathi do who also has Kolarov and Milner.
Etherington has fucked his shoulder - what will Rico do?
And finally Carrol - Harry rumour has is that new Sunderland signing Wes Brown was arrested after the match as he was suspected of leaving with £35m in his pocket!!!!
Anyway, here is the first table of the new season.
DP is quickest out of the traps and with points from Monday's game (Clichy and Dzeko) it looks like Don is intent on making it three FFL titles. But take note, Aguero's 8 points and other city clean sheets leave the table very differently after Monday!
Aside from Gaz Nev's brilliant Sky Sports debut there was very little to shout about on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Putting aside Monday night's bitter blue wankathon against the might of Wales (results and points added to week 2) FFL managers will be busy looking at transfer possibilities - injuries, players left out, suspensions..............
Fabregas has gone - thank fuck for that. What will three-time champion McNick do?
Vidic is out for three weeks - over to you Sid
Ferdinand was always only ever going to play a maximum 20 games -DP?
Poor Rafael - another one who is out for a while. McNick? Lucky 8 transfers this season eh?
Gervinho (what a spam head) and Sturridge both suspended -no attack for me for two weeks!
No Luiz for Chelsea - what will Stathi do who also has Kolarov and Milner.
Etherington has fucked his shoulder - what will Rico do?
And finally Carrol - Harry rumour has is that new Sunderland signing Wes Brown was arrested after the match as he was suspected of leaving with £35m in his pocket!!!!
Anyway, here is the first table of the new season.
| Diff |
| Total Points | |
|
| 1st | Don | 9 |
| 1 | 2nd | Nick Ach | 8 |
| 1 | 3rd | Sid | 8 |
| 2 | 4th | Theo | 7 |
| 3 | 5th | James | 6 |
| 3 | 6th | Rico | 6 |
| 3 | 7th | Mike | 6 |
| 3 | 8th | Stathis | 6 |
| 6 | 9th | Nick Ath | 3 |
| 7 | 10th | Harry | 2 |
DP is quickest out of the traps and with points from Monday's game (Clichy and Dzeko) it looks like Don is intent on making it three FFL titles. But take note, Aguero's 8 points and other city clean sheets leave the table very differently after Monday!
Harry has the dubious honour of having the first negative player points courtesy of Foster's -1.
It's a long season. A marathon, not a sprint. Some managers will be over the moon with their teams, others sick as parrots. But, most will take it one week at a time.
'Till next week, your August / September chairman
Pieri
PS - one transfer from me. Osman OUT, Larsson IN (James you were right!!!!)
Friday, August 12, 2011
Interesting transfer data..........
taken from:
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/08/12/arsenals-net-spending-of-48m-in-a-decade-puts-them-9th-in-premier-league-120802/
Arsenal fans frustrated by lack of activity in the transfer market know their club have not been big spenders in recent times but might be shocked to realised their net transfer spend over the past decade places them only ninth among the 20 clubs who will contest the Premier League in 2011-12, which begins on Saturday.
A year by year assessment of net spending shows Arsene Wenger has spent only £47.6m net in the past 10 years, or £467.9m less than Chelsea’s net spend in the same period (£515.5m).
Year by year net spend for each club is in the table below.
Chelsea have been the No1 spenders followed, in order, by Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Sunderland come next, with Aston Villa and Stoke both outspending Arsenal.
On the one hand this indicates Wenger has worked miracles to make his side top-four contenders (and title winners) during the period. On the other it shows Arsenal are not matching their peers in outlay and haven’t for some time.
At the bottom of the table are Blackburn Rovers, with net income of £42.5m over the 10 years – making them the only club with no net spend.
Manchester United are ranked only fifth primarily because of the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, which netted them such a bumper sum (£80m) two years ago.
Without that freakishly large chunk of income for one deal, United would be No3 in the list below, behind only the Abramovich-backed Chelsea and the Sheikh-fuelled Manchester City.
All transfer sums have been sourced from the transfermarkt website; while 100 per cent accuracy in such matters is never guaranteed, using the same source for all clubs over a long period at least brings some degree of relative consistency.
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/PL-decade-spending.jpg
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/08/12/arsenals-net-spending-of-48m-in-a-decade-puts-them-9th-in-premier-league-120802/
Arsenal fans frustrated by lack of activity in the transfer market know their club have not been big spenders in recent times but might be shocked to realised their net transfer spend over the past decade places them only ninth among the 20 clubs who will contest the Premier League in 2011-12, which begins on Saturday.
A year by year assessment of net spending shows Arsene Wenger has spent only £47.6m net in the past 10 years, or £467.9m less than Chelsea’s net spend in the same period (£515.5m).
Year by year net spend for each club is in the table below.
Chelsea have been the No1 spenders followed, in order, by Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Sunderland come next, with Aston Villa and Stoke both outspending Arsenal.
On the one hand this indicates Wenger has worked miracles to make his side top-four contenders (and title winners) during the period. On the other it shows Arsenal are not matching their peers in outlay and haven’t for some time.
At the bottom of the table are Blackburn Rovers, with net income of £42.5m over the 10 years – making them the only club with no net spend.
Manchester United are ranked only fifth primarily because of the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, which netted them such a bumper sum (£80m) two years ago.
Without that freakishly large chunk of income for one deal, United would be No3 in the list below, behind only the Abramovich-backed Chelsea and the Sheikh-fuelled Manchester City.
All transfer sums have been sourced from the transfermarkt website; while 100 per cent accuracy in such matters is never guaranteed, using the same source for all clubs over a long period at least brings some degree of relative consistency.
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/PL-decade-spending.jpg
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Week 41
There was only going to be one image if Theo won. Congratulations TC !! You are this year's FFL Champion. I'm sure you're all shook up. But didja ever get one of those days boy, ever get one of those days, when it all went right from 4.00pm til night, didja get one of those days!! Congratulations also go to our own Scottish Bravehart McNick who made a valiant fight until the end. Further respect is due to Mr Marneros, who with a scratch side managed to avoid relegation position ahead of Rico.
Its been a pleasure being chairman, but there is more chance of Gary Glitter being made patron of Child Line than me doing it next year!
Signing out
The Chairman
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Week 40
At the end of last season, these two clowns said the only player worth keeping was Scottie Parker. They made Zola's life hell and there was not a spare minute when one of them was not spouting shite. Unfortunately, this Gold is Ratners and anything they touch turns to shit. Stick to what you know boys!!
As the football season draws to a close only two major honours are left, the Champions League Final and the winner of the Fantasy Football League 2010/11. Theo is fighting McNick in the final furlong with whip in hand and a five point lead. One player could clinch it for either on the final day with a hatrick or a brace. At the bottom Stathis has overtaken Rico in our own relegation dogfight. This weeks Dave Whelan is John with 16 points, the "Stan" Gold and "Ollie" Sullivan combo are Rico and me with two points.
No Transfers
The Chairman
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Week 39
Well the seesaw world of McNick and Theo continues. An astute purchase by Ossie Junior sees his purchase of Pennant yield 5 points quicker than he can get a mobile phone vibrating up his arse (allegedly). In this week of Twitter allegations Theo is this weeks Imogen with 11 points whose super injunction prevents her from naming play away Ryan Giggs, Donald is this weeks Jemima Khan with -1 (Clarkson??? Jumped up petrol head who looks like Mr Ben in a curly wig???Its just wrong girl and you should deny it!!!)
No Transfers
The Chairman
Friday, May 06, 2011
Week 38
Oh well Jose. You're not so special after all. If you had beaten Barcelona you would be claiming that you had beaten one of the best ever sides and you deservedly one. When you lose its because Barcelona get decisions. Graciousness would make you special. Move on to the next big club where you have loads of money or prove you are indeed really Special and come to Spurs and work miracles !!
If this seesaw between McNick and Theo continues guess who will be the winner in the final week? Well for now McNick regains a 5 point lead. This weeks Pepe Guardiola is McNick with 18 points. This weeks Jose Moaning-Maether-Ho is Theo with 4 points.
Transfers
Theo brings in Pennant for Richardson.
The Chairman
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Week 37
Mighty things come in mini packages. Our two mini packages continue to battle it out week in week out as the lead seesaws again. Theo leads by 9 points thanks to his Dutch minivans (Persie and der Vaart). His score of 26 points was still not worthy of the top spot. This weeks mercurial Messi was Mike with 28 points as Torres finally remembered where the goal was. Donald slips even further away as his zero points leaves him as this weeks Jimmy Krankie.
Transfers
Donald brings in Hernandez for Berbatov. As requested the current players list.
The Chairman
Friday, April 22, 2011
Week 36
Its tighter than a gnat's chuff at the top and the bottom. McNick takes the lead again, however, Theo has a host of points from mid-week. Hold on to your chips as it be a rocky ride til the end with the Two Fat FFL Slags battle it out for top spot. The bottom is even tighter than a virgin's daughter with 6 points separating the bottom three. James is this week's Billy the Fish with 17 points. Mike is this week's Norbert Colon with an arse squeezing zero.
No Transfers
The Chairman
Friday, April 15, 2011
Week 35
Its all to play for at the top and the bottom. Theo is back on top, but McNick scored heavily in mid-week so has points for week 36 already lined up. James is this weeks Ballabriggs with 22 points, Rico is this weeks Muffin the Mule with 3 points.
Transfers
McNick bring in Valencia for Hitzlperger
The Chairman
Friday, April 08, 2011
Week 34
Message from the grave. Sender Robert Pershing Wadlow. "Peter, giants like us were not meant to play football, you clumsy wanker !!"
As we approach the final few weeks it is McNick reaching new heights. He strides passed Theo to take the lead (Congratulations on your fourth title McNick!). John is this weeks Jolly Green Giant with a highly impressive 32 points. Theo with -2 is this weeks "Crouch-ing Tiger Hidden Circus Freak"
No Transfers
The Chairman
Monday, March 21, 2011
Week 32
A day in the life of Jay Spearing.
Jay and his girlfriend search the floor for some brekkie .
Jay tries to flog some hookie gear on the way to the game. Typical scally !!
Jay showing solidarity with fans in Liverpool scarf.
Jay takes some time out to have a photo with a Liverpool fan. " Its the fatsies, she's eaten all the pies."
Jay celebrates winning the most dubious penalty ever for the scousers. "I tricksies them ", he was quoted saying after the game. "I won the preciousssss !"
Post match celebrations down at Gandalf's nightclub where Jay does a regular dj spot.
In pensive mode, Jay at home composing his memoirs.
As the two hobbits McNick and Theo (well they are both short and hairy!!) battle it out for the precioussss coveted FFL ring, Nick has the honour of being Throdo to Theo's Samwise Gamgee with 15 points to 13. Nick was helped in part by Jay Spearing (the only living human who could turn Medusa to stone !!) whose dodgy pen was tucked away by the other Liverpool rose Dirk Kuyt. Orc of the week is John with -1.
Tranfers
TC and DP both went for Smalling, Donald with Djourou and Theo with Dunn. Both have the same value. Theo gets Smalling as his transfer was made earlier, last week Tuesday.
The Chairman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)