Random footie

[sussexpob]

In more positive news, great to see Deniz Undav formerly of Union getting picked for the German National Teams squad for the Euros....

Great lad. Happy for him

[Durhamfootman]

Bayern have appointed Kompany as their new manager

I confess that a week or so ago that would have seemed highly unlikely

[sussexpob]

FIFA, UEFA and national governing bodies (as well as governments) really need to start to do a lot more to stop idiots investing in football clubs, and the "fit and proper" tests that apparently exist need to start being a lot more robust. It seems nowadays that these investors can just buy up football clubs all over the place with no real care about what happens; if a pillar of the community disappears under your gamble within 2 years, who cares right?

KV Ostende were officially wound up as an entity last night. They were bought a couple of years back by a faceless investment corporation headed by some Yank, Paul Conway, at a time of success. Top league, good squad, great manager, heading towards Europe... in little over two years they have been relegated twice to amateur level, bankrupted, and now no longer exist. And the Belgian public administrator put in charge of overseeing the death of the club spared no doubt on who was to blame. Conway pretty much chose to bankrupt the club rather than see it saved. A potential takeover was found to clear the debts and continue, but Conway demanded what the administrator called "a fee for the club that was unrealistic even in fantasyland". When it was explained to him the club was worthless, and that accepting 1 Euro for it would at least save it, and there was no other alternatives, he chose to reject the 1 Euro and ask for millions. The next day they were declared bankrupt. 300 people lost their jobs, and several local suppliers who had debts owed to them had to swallow the losses.... all because this giant f*cktard seemingly didn't care.

Its no problem for him, though. He is now apparently talking up investing elsewhere in a mid-level Premier League cub with 500 million to burn. No doubt the PL will decide he is competent to run a club.... Although he has invested in several clubs already. And lets just look at that....

KV Ostende... no longer exist. Relegated twice and bankrupted under his guidance in a short space of time.

Esjberg in Denmark.... relegated straight away, went bankrupt but saved by a fan buyout. Additionally disgraced himself after hiring a manager that violently assaulted several players, and cancelled several players contracts after they spoke out, calling them unprofessional. Universally hated in Denmark.

FC Thun... relegated straight away, barely able to financially continue.

Barnsley.... promoted once, relegated twice under him. Was kicked off the board by other investors for mis-management, currently awaiting a EFL investigation to decide its punishment for 5 charges relating to dodgy accounting. Has been stripped of any decision making by board vote.

AS Nancy... The once proud club of Platini, relegated to the amateur division. Recently sold to someone else.

Den Bosch.... finished 19th in the last two seasons, only avoided relegation to the amateur league twice on a weird rule in Holland whereby amateur divisions winning promotion decline to move up to Professional football as they cannot afford it. In essence, turned into the worst professional team in Holland.

Like 777 with Everton though, I am sure Richard Masters will tell us he is not remotely interested in who PL chairman sell their clubs too, and that he is a fit and proper person to run a PL. Look forward to him buying Wolves or Crystal Palace and bankrupting them in 4 years.

[Durhamfootman]

'tyranny of the majority'. Is that not a long winded way of saying democracy?

[sussexpob]

'tyranny of the majority'. Is that not a long winded way of saying democracy?

Not sure what that has to do with football, but there is a sub-section of the American alt-right who argue Democracy is undemocratic because of that principle... Idiots.

[Durhamfootman]

It's the claim that Man City are making in their law suit against the PL

[bigfluffylemon]

I am no lawyer, but I can't see how they have a leg to stand on here. Also not at all apparent who they've appealed to - who has jurisdiction to overturn the FA rules?

Unless it's a breach of the law of the UK, surely the FA can set whatever rules it wants to.

[sussexpob]

I am no lawyer, but I can't see how they have a leg to stand on here. Also not at all apparent who they've appealed to - who has jurisdiction to overturn the FA rules? Unless it's a breach of the law of the UK, surely the FA can set whatever rules it wants to.

Put the question in the context of a different example in the world of business....

Would OFCOM be acting legally if they barred Vanguard, the majority shareholder of ITV, from being able to invest their own money into purchasing or creating cutting edge shows with a view to increasing their viewing figures, solely on the basis that Channel 4 and BBC voted in favour of the move because they didn't want to lose viewers?

That would be absurd, wouldn't it?

[Durhamfootman]

got to love the footie papers

Ever since the end of last season all we've heard up here is talk about.....

Guimaraes leaving... everybody wants him, everybody wants to activate his release clause.... blah, blah

Isak leaving..... top of every big clubs Christmas wish list.... blah, blah, bollox

Gordon leaving... Liverpool want him, then turn him down, then want him again, Gordon's head has been turned...... yatter, yatter

the latest... Eddie Howe is asked about his future, he says he is 100% committed to Newcastle, loves everything about his job, wants to be the man to bring home that trophy finally, will stay Newcastle manager as long as he is happy and feels supported...

the papers?
FA on full alert as Howe tells Newcastle, back me or lose me.... pfffffffff.......

[Durhamfootman]

San Marino have won their first ever competitive football match, beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations thingy

It's also 20 years since they beat the same team by the same scoreline in a friendly, which was their only other win

the goal scorer wasn't even born the last time they won a match

Sir Gareth would still have played 2 defensive mids against them (I'm going to have to let it go at some point)

[Gingerfinch]

Sol Campbell is on another level

"I think for me when it comes to honours and lists, if it comes to a popularity contest there's a lot of people who are unpopular who have Sirs, OBEs and MBEs," he said. "If you look at what I've done and what I've gone through playing football and the consistency over the course of two decades, under severe pressure in a football sense, I'm up with some of the sporting greats of our country.

[Durhamfootman]

not lacking in self confidence, then?

or is this a racism claim?

[Durhamfootman]

according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, Francesco Totti is considering coming out of retirement to play for a Serie A club

He's 48! surely that's just a stupid bollox made up paper story

[Durhamfootman]

not quite Stanley Mathews, who might be considering a footballing return himself..... maybe...... will it sell a paper? then print it

[Arthur Crabtree]

I heard England have a German manager. OMG!

https://www.theguardian.com/football/pi ... akes-later

(Guardian cartoon).