Football

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I wonder if Manchester United will go the way of AC Milan.

Let us view some statistics for comparison purposes this season:-

Manchester United
League position...7th
League matches played...29
League matches lost...9
League Goal difference...+12
Last league home match result...Lost 0-3
Last Champions League result....Lost 0-2

AC Milan
League position...11th
League matches played...28
League matches lost...11
League Goal difference...-1
Last league home match result...Lost 2-4
Last Champions League result....Lost 1-4

Spot any comparisons ?

 

[richw]

will we see another exodus of their supporters to FC United of Manchester ?

They've gone somewhere! I was reading the comments on a BBC Football article and numerous contributors describe themselves as "Ex Man Utd Supporter". My brother suddenly has no interest in football now they're doing badly.

Backs the Glory Hunter fan theory. One assumes there are suddenly many more Man City and Chelsea fans popping up

Its been reported that nearly a million people have unliked Manchester United's official Facebook page since full time after they lost to Liverpool yesterday

 

[Butts]

I think it would be a fitting reward for a lifetime dedicated to both Club and International Football if Liverpool were to win the title and Stevie G finally get's a Championship Medal.

However I fear it will not happen

 

[LaGareSergeant]

Now living in Bristol, bit life-long Liverpool fan here. Stevie G only has a few more season left in him. Would be great to see him get this this year. And I believe it can happen!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think it would be a fitting reward for a lifetime dedicated to both Club and International Football if Liverpool were to win the title and Stevie G finally get's a Championship Medal.

However I fear it will not happen

Manchester City, now having no involvement in the Champions League, will now go all out to secure the Premiership title. I still think that they have far more strength in depth and in quality than Liverpool.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Man Utd Facebook page has lost around 1 million followers since the Liverpool loss.

Lots and lots of glory seeker fans out there.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Man Utd Facebook page has lost around 1 million followers since the Liverpool loss.

Lots and lots of glory seeker fans out there.

Is that in the London or the Malaysia areas ?

 

[bb21]

More drama at Leeds?

http://www.theguardian.com/football...lino-leeds-united-takeover-tax-evasion-guilty

Prospective Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino guilty of tax evasion

Massimo Cellino's proposed takeover of Leeds United is likely to be blocked by the Football League after the Italian businessman was found guilty of illegally evading import duty on a luxury yacht.

Cellino, who has been bankrolling Leeds since his 75% takeover of the Championship club was announced in February, was fined €600,000 after a court in Cagliari convicted him of failing to pay €400,000 in import tax on Nelie, a yacht seized by Italian police and customs officials in Sardinia.

The League's "fit and proper persons" rules prohibit people with unspent convictions for dishonesty offences from being directors, 30% owners or from exercising control over one of its clubs. Last week, they delayed a decision whether to ratify Cellino's takeover to wait for the outcome of his trial but have promised to rule by the start of next week

....

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spor...cellino-found-guilty-of-tax-evasion-1-6504817

Leeds takeover stalls as Cellino found GUILTY of tax evasion

THE ownership of Leeds United was thrown into chaos this morning after reports that prospective owner Massimo Cellino had been found guilty of tax evasion by an Italian court.

The court ruled on allegations regarding non-payment of more than £300,000 in import duty on a luxury yacht Cellino purchased in 2010 - and he now looks likely to fail to satisfy the Football League’s Owners and Directors Test to take over United.

The league had been waiting until the outcome of the trial before deciding whether to ratify Cellino’s 75 per cent takeover of United. A further announcement is likely from them this week.

The Owners and Directors test, formerly known as the fit and proper person’s test, prohibits people with unspent convictions for dishonesty offences from being directors, 30 per cent owners or from exercising control over one of its clubs.

...

Admin on the horizon, or would the League make a mockery of its own rules, again?
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Statement from the League.

http://www.football-league.co.uk/fo...league-statement-leeds-united_2293334_3719289

Football League statement: Leeds United

A Football League spokesman said: "The Football League has noted the outcome of the Court hearing earlier today regarding Massimo Cellino.

"We are engaged in an ongoing dialogue with his legal representatives in this country and cannot comment further at this time."

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Let us view some statistics for comparison purposes this season:-

...

Spot any comparisons ?

Whilst it may not be evident this season looking at numbers it certainly appears to be a strong possibility in the long run - look at a typical AC Milan XI a decade ago: an immense 'keeper on his day and one of the best ever penalty stoppers I've ever seen (Dida), a back four with three of the greatest defenders of all time (Cafu, Maldini and Nesta), a midfield diamond that dreams are made of (Pirlo, Gattuso / Rui Costa, Seedorf, Kaka) and one of the most prolific strikers in recent decades (Shevchenko). Waiting on the subs bench you had the likes of Crespo, Inzaghi and Stam. They were regular QFs or SFs in the Champions League and the only thing that stopped them dominating Serie A was the fact that Juve and Inter were also very decent. Where are they now? Mid-table in Serie A and going out in the last 16 of the CL (to be fair to a very good team) with a squad consisting of Adel Taarabt, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari...

 

[Oswyntail]

... would the League make a mockery of its own rules, again?...

That's where my money would go:roll:

 

[familyguy99]

Your optimism indeed does you credit and you should be given an honorary season ticket at the Butcher's Arms ground...

I prefer to have honorary season ticket at Boundary Park then at Droylsden.

I have York as third best rated in the league at the moment (that doesn't mean I think they will finish third - I just mean I think they are the third best side currently) behind Chesterfield and Fleetwood. I also have York rated better than three teams in League One (Carlisle, Notts County and Shrewsbury). I have Chesterfield a long way better than any other team at the moment in League Two.

I think you can add Oldham onto that lists too as Oldham not been playing well special in second half of season and I sure York probably beat Oldham if they were in same division this season.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looks like the English football chiefs are set to disallow any proposed change of club name by Hull City to that of Hull Tigers.

 

[Morden Via CHX]

I think you can add Oldham onto that lists too as Oldham not been playing well special in second half of season and I sure York probably beat Oldham if they were in same division this season.

You're nowhere near as bad as some of the other teams down there. I think you will stay up. That last minute goal at Crewe the other day though was a killer for you.
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Unbelievable scenes in the Wigan game

 

[richw]

You're nowhere near as bad as some of the other teams down there. I think you will stay up. That last minute goal at Crewe the other day though was a killer for you.
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Unbelievable scenes in the Wigan game

5 goals in the last 8 minutes! Wow!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Accrington Stanley 5...Morecambe 1

A very good performance by Accrington Stanley to consolidate their recent rise up the table from what looked like a fraught position a few months ago. Now up to 15th position, with 44 points from 37 games.

 

[Morden Via CHX]

For me, Moyes should have dropped RVP tonight after a few lackluster performances. I really don't want to join the Hate Moyes bandwagon because I feel that Fergie has caused a lot of the problems he is facing today, but I think this is probably a mistake.

 

[richw]

For me, Moyes should have dropped RVP tonight after a few lackluster performances. I really don't want to join the Hate Moyes bandwagon because I feel that Fergie has caused a lot of the problems he is facing today, but I think this is probably a mistake.

I'm not jumping on bandwagon, however in his press conference his speech and body language is far too negative. This will impact onto the players no doubt. I get the impression he is low on confidence at present.

I saw an interesting fact earlier, that suggests Moyes has performed consistently at Man Utd as he did at Everton at the 29 match stage so performing as expected.

Everton 2012-13
Played 29
Scored 46
Conceded 35
Points 48

Man Utd 2013-14
Played 29
Scored 46
Conceded 35
Points 48

 

[Minilad]

Actually Yanited have only conceded 34. So he is improving

And with that they go 1 up

 

[306024]

For me, Moyes should have dropped RVP tonight after a few lackluster performances. I really don't want to join the Hate Moyes bandwagon because I feel that Fergie has caused a lot of the problems he is facing today, but I think this is probably a mistake.

Or maybe not.......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How much financially in terms of the competition prize money, will both Chelsea and Manchester United gain from moving towards the next stage of the Champions League ?

 

[Butts]

For me, Moyes should have dropped RVP tonight after a few lackluster performances. I really don't want to join the Hate Moyes bandwagon because I feel that Fergie has caused a lot of the problems he is facing today, but I think this is probably a mistake.

.....Humble pie time !!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

How much financially in terms of the competition prize money, will both Chelsea and Manchester United gain from moving towards the next stage of the Champions League ?

€3.9m

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Europa League

Benfica 2...Tottenham Hotspur 2

Being 3-1 down from the first leg was roo much of a hurdle to overcome for Tottenham as Benfica scored first in the second leg to go 4-1 up on aggregate, but two second-half Tottenham goals brought the tie score to 4-3 but Benfica scored very near the end to equalise on the night and went through 5-3 on aggregate.
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Champions League quarter-final draw

FC Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
Paris St.Germain v. Chelsea
Manchester United v. FC Bayern Munich.

 

[richw]

FC Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea v PSG
Manchester United v. FC Bayern Munich

I think with Bayern and PSG having home advantage in the second leg, that they will both win. Barcelona Vs Atletico I think will be a draw with the winner being the team with the best away goals.
Real Madrid will surely beat Borussia Dortmund.

 

[Butts]

FC Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
Chelsea v PSG
Manchester United v. FC Bayern Munich

I think with Bayern and PSG having home advantage in the second leg, that they will both win. Barcelona Vs Atletico I think will be a draw with the winner being the team with the best away goals.
Real Madrid will surely beat Borussia Dortmund.

I will be cheering for Chelsea and United, although I suspect the former will alone reach the next stage

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I think with Bayern and PSG having home advantage in the second leg, that they will both win. Barcelona Vs Atletico I think will be a draw with the winner being the team with the best away goals.
Real Madrid will surely beat Borussia Dortmund.

There are no easy matches in the Champions League, once you reach the quarter-final stages.

 

[Minilad]

There are no easy matches in the Champions League, once you reach the quarter-final stages.

I think Bayern may have one

 

[Kite159]

Hopefully Dortmund will repeat last year's semi-final and win against the money-bags of Madrid.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Chelsea 6...Arsenal 0

Arsene will not remember his 1,000th match with much happiness..:roll:

 

[SS4]

West Brom fans must be fuming at Chris Foy. Another dodgy penalty condeded?