If I thought FFP could be implemented in a fair way for all clubs I'd be all for it. But I know it's just to benefit the United's, Bayern's and Barca's of this world to become more successful. Just like the inception of the Premier League and Champions League in the 92/93 season.
The FFP rules will be a minefield where Real and Barca are concerned. Did you see Leeds got bought by a mega rich middle eastern consortium?, imagine a mega-rich Leeds.
If the "xenophobic right wing" hates Abramovich, then why did the Daily Mail (as a frequent target of such accusations) put so much effort into tapping up Luka Modric on behalf of Chelsea?
On a day we find out RDM is sacked and Benitez is appointed, Arsenal win & Leeds are taken over. Sucks to be a Chelsea fan Takeovers always seem to be completed just before we play a team. We were the first team City played under the Sheikh after a last minute spending spree
Even if there were attacks on a daily basis you'd have to prove they were motivated by xenophobia and not, say, support of another club
It will be difficult to trace articles back to 2000-2002 but many will remember the Xenophobic abuse Ranieri got on a daily basis from the media. Same applies to Abramovich early on in his ownership of the club. Unlike (Covert) Racism, Xenophobia is not hard to prove.
DL in some ways the American owners are worse but they are quite different to the owners of City & Chelsea. They tend to target wealthy clubs and then bleed them for profit. Man U. would be a much bigger threat to the rest of us if they had not been taken over by the Glazers at United's expense.
Interesting! I wonder if there's any truth in it?... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...axed-if-he-dared-to-drop-Fernando-Torres.html
A lot of people seem to think that Rafa was chosen,because he has Managed Torres before and knows how to get the best from him
More important than this entire thread, i've seen rumours suggesting that Eva Carniero has left too, but it's gone unnoticed!! Levy... If there's one signing u need to make...
no, we would have to many players pretending to be injured just so they can have their bit's rubbed by her.
as it's from the sun, its likely to be bullshit. However, this is abramovich we're talking about, so it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest! Unbelievable if true!!
Absolute bilge. The guy at Blackburn got a lot of criticism (Jack Walker?) when he bought a title for Blackburn, and how does Abramovich fit in with our supposed dislike of non caucasions? Any objection to these people is due to the damage they are doing to the game. I would applaud Mansoor for any investment in Manchester and the football club, as long as the club is then run in a self perpetuating way. Stock piling players so nobody else can play them, paying £250k pw salary so that they are out of reach to all bar 2/3 clubs is a form of cheating. If you think that has anything to do with the colour of their skin you are very much mistaken.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...key-to-di-matteos-chelsea?source=breakingnews Interesting look at how it works behind the scenes at Chelsea SPECIAL REPORT By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent One of the enduring themes of the Roman Abramovich era has been the influence of one of footballâs most forceful and political dressing rooms. Whatever the identity of the man patrolling the technical area on matchday, a cabal of senior players, strong characters all, have wielded enormous power. This proved most advantageous in the final remarkable two months of last season, when Didier Drogba rekindled his Chelsea fire, dragged others up with him and inspired one of the most glorious denouements to any club career. But it has been counter-productive on other occasions, most pertinently when a playing clan so antagonised by Andre Villas-Boasâ stand-offishness effectively downed tools to remove him from the Stamford Bridge landscape. Roberto Di Matteo was fired and replaced by Rafael Benitez in the wake of Tuesdayâs 3-0 defeat to Juventus. The Italian did not have anywhere near the unpopularity of Villas-Boas but the axe came after his coaching team had been undermined by a number of senior players, including Fernando Torres and John Terry. Few at Chelseaâs Cobham training ground did not expect the axe to come following the explosive events in the aftermath of last Saturdayâs 2-1 defeat at West Brom. The pressure was growing on the squad and backroom staff following a month in which Chelsea had fallen off the Premier League summit, been embroiled in allegations against referee Mark Clattenburg and lost their grip on the Champions League trophy they had lifted six months earlier. Di Matteoâs communication skills and relaxed demeanour were appreciated after Villas-Boasâ intensity but it is understood that the man who was promoted from the Portugueseâs assistant in March never had full control of the multi-millionaires at his disposal. One well-placed source said Terry had the âreal controlâ in the changing room, more than the manager in many ways. Not only is he the longest-serving player and the loudest, most outspoken figure, but he also has a hot-line to the boardroom. Younger players are in awe of him at Cobham. His words have real resonance. Terry has a knee injury and was not involved at the Hawthorns but he remains integral to the daily rhythms of the club, acting as a motivating force and sounding board to those in the team. Di Matteo was unable to demonstrate to the players that he was in total control. All the internal politics, egos and frustration boiled over as fingers were pointed in the away dressing room at West Brom. At the heart of the inquest were Di Matteo and Torres, who had been substituted after 63 minutes following yet another atrocious performance. It was a heated exchange. Voices were raised and fingers were pointed as the pair traded strong words, with each blaming the other for the Spaniardâs failure to deliver the goods once again in a Chelsea shirt. Other players also waded into the row as they had their say on why the team had failed to win their fourth consecutive league match. he mutinous scenes were overheard by others in the bowels of the Hawthorns, where the dressing rooms are within close proximity of where select members of the television, radio and written press are shepherded after matches. Di Matteoâs mask of nonchalance had been ripped off and many club figures, only too aware of Abramovichâs impatience and his delay in appointing the former midfielder as full-time manager in the summer, felt it was now only a matter of time before he was served his P45. The word around Cobham was that the team had to win in Turin three days later. Di Matteo, who was deprived of Torresâ understudy Daniel Sturridge through injury, played his final hand, axing the £50 million striker, replacing him up front with an attacking midfielder, and shifting right-back Cesar Azpilicueta further up field. The gamble failed. Chelsea lost and Di Matteo was the collateral damage, a victim of results that unimpressed the oligarch owner but also of the notorious Stamford Bridge player power. Benitez enters the lionsâ den on Thursday morning, ostensibly a more detached man manager than Di Matteo. His first task: win over the players.
