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The Premiership is boring now, a monopoly of 4 clubs, kick all 4 out and let them play in an as yet unformed European League, after all it's Europe where all the money is. As to "the bet" how short is your memory, I have said they will go down, still think that despite recent signings. One thing I will say, £1,300,000 for one player, that's as much as my company turns over in a year, but of course there are silly beggars like me who pay over £20 a game to watch a bog standard and usually boring 2nd division game. The problem is David, it's in the blood and that's why I have no time for people who switch clubs , a colleague of mine switched from PNE to Rovers when they bought there place in the Prem. How ethical is that?
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Noel, I am 100% behind you on that one. Like my father, who taught me the ethics of loyalty to my home town club, It`s a case of supporting them through thick and thin even if they are playing on Moor Park in the Sunday school league.
One thing I cannot agree with and that`s that I really don`t think they will be relegated. Irvine will prove to be a first rate manager.
Jim
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They've now had a $2,000,000 bid rejected for the American Twellman??? that David mentioned earlier, apprently the NSL hold his contract and won't allow him to better his-self. Shades of Brian Mcbride, though he appeared later for Fulham.
A gentleman and a scholar, Brian McBride....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McBride
I can understand the MLS wanting to get the very best price for their players. Soccer is still a very third rate spectator sport here in the USA, even I can't be bothered watching it, so the MLS need every cent they can muster to try to promote the game.
Twellman, what I have seen if him, would probably be a hit in the Championship, but he will never be a McBride.
McBride never made his full potential in England because of illness, (blood clot at PNE) and injuries elswhere, but he gave 100% every time he was out there.
BTW Noel, when you refer to the 4 club's ?? I'll assume you mean Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, and Manchester United, the only 4 clubs ever to win the Premiership ?? But in reality, you're probably including Liverpool in your four ?? Why ? Just interested [  ]
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Noel, Just,`Keep the Faith`. If you recall, Ferguson had people calling for his head during his first couple of seasons at United and look what he went on to acheive.
I`ve always had a very strong gut feeling about Irvine - just you see.
Jim
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Liverpool are included as they have a far better recent history of winning cups than Blackburn and are far more likely to finish in the top 4 than Blackburn, who were only ever there because of Jack Walker's millions and benevolence. Now sadly he has gone so all Rovers will ever do is cling on. They are the clingons of the premiership. The team that should be 4th is the Toon, based on attendances and sheer passion of their supporters, pity they sack so many managers, I'm sure they'd love to have Keegan and Shearer in charge .
Anyway back to my team, I'm on the game today, the reason I am so pessimistic is they've given themselves such a lot to do and handed out points to fellow strugglers, a double whammy. I expect they'll lose all 3 games in the rest of January, against top, 2nd and 4th in the league. Can't see Chris Brown making much difference based on his scoring record, 1 goal every 6 games, and Chaplow who I think is a really good buy hasn't been playing in the 1st team recently so it's going to take a while to see him up to full strength.
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And Mr Twellman is not a happy man.
Preston North End's pursuit of Revolution striker Taylor Twellman ended after Major League Soccer rejected a transfer deal worth more than $2 million yesterday.
Preston plays in the Coca-Cola Football League, England's second division.
Twellman, who is training with the US national team in Carson, Calif., said the deal would have been worth more than $2.5 million with incentives and Preston had offered an annual salary worth more than $1 million. Only three MLS transfers have been for more money: Clint Dempsey to Fulham ($4 million), Stern John to Nottingham Forest ($3.5 million), and goalkeeper Tim Howard to Manchester United ($3 million).
"My salary would have tripled what it is now," said Twellman, who has completed one year of a four-year contract worth $395,000 annually. "There has to be an adjustment and the fair thing to do would be either to sell me or adjust my pay accordingly."
Twellman has scored 101 goals since joining the Revolution in 2002, more than any MLS player and more than any US-born player in any first division league in the world.
"Something's got to give," Twellman said. "They made me sign a contract for the minimum salary [in 2002] and I've jumped through every hoop with a smile on my face. They said I hadn't scored for the national team, and now I've scored six goals, then they said I never received an international offer of any magnitude, and now I have that offer. Now, they can either re-sign me and make a long-term commitment to me, or they can make money off my sale and I'll be gone. They can't withhold me from making three times as much money as I make here."
Revolution director of soccer Mike Burns confirmed the deal was off.
Twellman has twice renegotiated contracts since signing for the league minimum $24,000 in 2002, a year ago receiving a four-year deal (three years guaranteed) worth $1.6 million. Twellman's salary is considered the league maximum (not including designated players), but players such as Kansas City's Eddie Johnson, who have received transfer offers, are earning more
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quote:
Originally posted by noel
Blackburn, who were only ever there because of Jack Walker's millions and benevolence. Now sadly he has gone so all Rovers will ever do is cling on. They are the clingons of the premiership.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
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Noel, They really sound like a gang of cut-throats in that US league. I can`t see what they mean about only guaranteeing 75% of the contract. What gives in the forth year? I bet he rues the day he let them steamroller him into signing a minimum wage contract. They appear to be holding all the cards.
Jim
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quote:
Originally posted by TonyL
quote:
Originally posted by noel
Blackburn, who were only ever there because of Jack Walker's millions and benevolence. Now sadly he has gone so all Rovers will ever do is cling on. They are the clingons of the premiership.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
Hard for you to face up to Tony, but yes we are superior[^]
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