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Are the Chinese clubs bound by the financial fair play rules? I can't think there's a hope in hell of them demonstrating that the ludicrous* money they are paying in transfers and wages is covered by their crowd income and sponsorship!

* I was trying to think of a word that describes the level of their payments, but I'm not sure there is one!
 
Are the Chinese clubs bound by the financial fair play rules? I can't think there's a hope in hell of them demonstrating that the ludicrous* money they are paying in transfers and wages is covered by their crowd income and sponsorship!

* I was trying to think of a word that describes the level of their payments, but I'm not sure there is one!
"Financial fair play grows out of the barrel of a gun" - Mao Tse Tung (slightly paraphrased)
 
As Hull are playing Everton, why isn't there anyone in the studio that played for either side? Seems a bit odd.

Everton will miss Gueye badly when he goes of to the African Nations.
He's been outstanding for them, so far. Actually played well for Villa too, but everyone else was ****.
 
As Hull are playing Everton, why isn't there anyone in the studio that played for either side? Seems a bit odd.

Everton will miss Gueye badly when he goes of to the African Nations.
He's been outstanding for them, so far. Actually played well for Villa too, but everyone else was ****.

Everton's team needs major surgery. The goalkeeper, at least 2 centre backs, the midfield apart from Gueye.....basically they need to ditch everyone apart from the full backs, Lukaku and Gueye The rest? It's time for a clearance sale.
 
Everton's team needs major surgery. The goalkeeper, at least 2 centre backs, the midfield apart from Gueye.....basically they need to ditch everyone apart from the full backs, Lukaku and Gueye The rest? It's time for a clearance sale.
Not sure I'd go that far. They've got some talented players, but the balance seems a bit off.
I'd clear out all of the average players that they have, buy a few quality ones with the money and use their youth system.
They seem to have a fair number of good youngsters on the verge of breaking through.
 
Not sure I'd go that far. They've got some talented players, but the balance seems a bit off.
I'd clear out all of the average players that they have, buy a few quality ones with the money and use their youth system.
They seem to have a fair number of good youngsters on the verge of breaking through.

Agree on the youngsters but of the current first team picks, I'd not be keeping more than those 4 and McCarthy if they can talk him out of leaving [unlikely]. The rest are either over the hill or not up to snuff, I'm afraid.
 
Agree on the youngsters but of the current first team picks, I'd not be keeping more than those 4 and McCarthy if they can talk him out of leaving [unlikely]. The rest are either over the hill or not up to snuff, I'm afraid.
I think that their back four is good enough, but they need better backup.
Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines? Can't see them improving on that. Gueye in front of them's excellent, too.
They concede because the rest of the side doesn't do enough and their keepers are average.

Do you think McCarthy's good enough, then? He's a strange one, for me.
Never quite sold on him.

I'd start with the likes of Gibson, Besic, Kone, Cleverly, Robles and Oviedo.
Waste of wages and most of them have serious fitness issues, too.
 
I like Williams but don't rate Funes Mori and Jagielka's time at this level is up. Barry's yesterday's man as is Lennon. Deulofeu is not going to make it in a Dos Santos style. The ones you name are shockingly bad and I'd add Mirallas to that list. It's a write-off, Ronald.
 
Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov are available for nothing in January.
Hull should go for it, especially as Mbokani's off to the ACON.
Go full Hullspurs. <ok>
 
1-1. Marshall goes walkabout on a corner and it's level. Poor.
Edit: He's punched it into his own net! <laugh>
 
2-1 to Hull. Snodgrass free-kick, as Robles palms it into the top corner in sympathy with Marshall.
Spurcat will be doing his nut tonight! <laugh>