- 02:18 PM
- 12/22/24
Yeah but Ipswich were relegated last year and Sunderland finished 4th bottom, 1 point off relegation. You can have a good flash in the pan season, but to qualify for the champions league on a regular basis is a bit tougher. I agree with the loans thing - Clubs are just desparate to bring their wage bill down. Liverpool are a case in point trying to offload Litmanen etc.
posted by no7 at 03:59 AM on July 22, 2002
The asking price for Duff is rumoured to be more like £15m due to a couple of decent performances in the world cup. Having seen the Bowyer deal fall through - this one looks more likely. He's a good player but not worth £15m. Liverpools problem with getting rid of bench warmers is that their wages are so high that nobody is willing to take them on. Liverpool have a squad of about 30 players and the wage bill must be the highest in the Premiership. Jari Litmanen is a case in point. See link
posted by no7 at 03:53 AM on July 22, 2002
Sorry - Heres da link! http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,447216,00.html
posted by no7 at 04:31 AM on July 16, 2002
Big Calm - Think this link fits the bill. Quite a complicated spat involving FIFA, UEFA and the EU. I agree with Worldcup2002 that Newcastle & Man City are gambling big. Especially City - I live in Manchester and some of the blues I know seriously think they are going to be challenging for the title next season! Not being involved in a relegation dogfight after Christmas would be a more realistic target. It takes years to build a credible title challenge in the premiership as Leeds have just found out & I fear Newcastle will learn the same this year.
posted by no7 at 04:29 AM on July 16, 2002
As Leeds are a plc shouldn't information on which players are 'mortgaged' be available? Or is that 'commercially sensitive' (embarassing)?
posted by no7 at 09:25 AM on July 15, 2002
Berger & Barmby were supposedly offered to Leeds. Venables likes Barmby & could see him as a replacement for Bowyer. Litmanen is also rumoured to be on his way and most worryingly the Didi Hamann link to Real Madrid is still doing the rounds. Less worringly Pegguy Arpexhad might be leaving his beloved Anfield!
posted by no7 at 08:49 AM on July 15, 2002
This transfer takes one step closer: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/teams/l/liverpool/newsid_2119000/2119220.stm From LFC point of view I reckon it's good news. If we sign Duff from Blackburn we could be on this year - when you look at the squad - it's there in all departments. From LUFC point of view I'm sorry but I reckon Ridsdale has blown it. McClaren could have turned it around but I'm not too sure about Cockney-Wide-Boy El Tel. I heard the Mc Claren deal failed because he wanted to get rid of Kidd & Leeds could not afford to pay Kidd off as he's still in contract. El Tel was not so fussy about his backroom staff.
posted by no7 at 06:06 AM on July 12, 2002
Samii Hypia cost Liverpool £2.6m in 1999. At the same time Man U paid about £10m for Jap Stamm. The only reason they have to go out & spend all this money on Rio is that Ferguson spat his dummy over the Stamm afair. Interestingly things might be going full circle. www.marca.es links Stamm with a move back to the premiership at Leeds!!