Football 2012-2013

[The Nal]

So either way, there's not really any salvation for Utd fans. They've got a mid-guided manager if he flops.

[thetime]

Fergie out!!

[strummer77]

The bigger news about United is surely this floating on the US stock exchange. Must admit I have no idea what the long-term ramifications of this move will be and neither do journalists or fans it appears... some see it as positive some as negative.

But it does represent United finally recognising that the debt will stifle their progress, something Ferguson had done his best to deny for a while.

[eFestivals]

Fergie a bad loser, its not like your saying something new.

It's not like he's slagged of he's talents, just very disappointed he's moved elsewhere and the way its been handled. Which the way Fergie has signed players In the past he can't complain.

but he is - which is what I'm getting at.

Always find him gracious when he loses a title challenge aswel, unlike say certain managers like rafa. So not always a bad loser, just a great winner.

So not always a bad loser, but a bad loser.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

But it does represent United finally recognising that the debt will stifle their progress, something Ferguson had done his best to deny for a while.

[eFestivals]

Fergie out!!

Talking of 'out', what's the view of Utd fans on the latest of a long line of floatation plans from the Glazers?

The current moves look a little better than the previous ones - cos it's a New York listing rather than a dodgy Singapore one - but it's the same bit in the background of any people who buy a share get to buy nothing of worth.

Given that the accounts are now hidden away in Delaware so no one has any way of knowing what the company they might invest in is actually doing, to add to the no-dividends and no-say in how the company is run, I still can'ty see it being particularly appealing ... and especially when they're understating the debts by several hundred million from the little I've read.

And to cap it all, it's an attempt to cash in in the biggest way possible thru tax avoidance. How many Utd fans who've been slating bankers recently will be zipping their lips about this one?

[lharris92]

well we technically didn't lose any of our matches (not counting penalties) whereas other teams did in the competitive matches.

[eFestivals]

England are still rated 4th IN THE WORLD!..?? and Italy have climbed to 6th??

what are the rankings based on? It can't be anything logical like results

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jul/04/england-rise-to-world-no4

England were 5th in the world before the Euros, so they've risen one.

They are based on results, but because not every team plays every other team they're (is this the right word?) aggregated, from the result of every other team.

I'm guessing that England's elevation in the rankings is the result of them not having lost a match during the Euros, along with one of those matches being against Italy who were runners up, plus Holland's dismal performance (I'm guessing they're the team who have dropped out of the top 5, I've not looked to be sure).

They're defo based on results, but it's nothing as simple as a standard league.

[The Nal]

Talking of 'out', what's the view of Utd fans on the latest of a long line of floatation plans from the Glazers?

The current moves look a little better than the previous ones - cos it's a New York listing rather than a dodgy Singapore one - but it's the same bit in the background of any people who buy a share get to buy nothing of worth.

Given that the accounts are now hidden away in Delaware so no one has any way of knowing what the company they might invest in is actually doing, to add to the no-dividends and no-say in how the company is run, I still can'ty see it being particularly appealing ... and especially when they're understating the debts by several hundred million from the little I've read.

And to cap it all, it's an attempt to cash in in the biggest way possible thru tax avoidance. How many Utd fans who've been slating bankers recently will be zipping their lips about this one?

[thetime]

So to summarize Fergies a bad loser and the owners are corrupt feckers.

In other big news Ryan giggs makes his debut for united.

Edited July 4, 2012 by thetime

[strummer77]

I haven't and wont be reading about football and finance. Bored of it all to be honest.

[thetime]

Sad isn't it that this is what football's become. Great footballing institutions including the likes United, Leeds, Liverpool & Rangers all affected over the last decade because of money men...

[eFestivals]

I haven't and wont be reading about football and finance. Bored of it all to be honest.

I have a feeling that if all this goes ahead, you won't be able to avoid reading about it.

Cos I can see a HUGE fuss being kicked up about tax-avoiding offshore companies with Utd at the heart of if this happens. There's perhaps no other company in the UK which will hammer home to the average person on the street just how much this country is being ripped by the offshore scam.

After all, no matter how much Utd might point to parts of their money-making which come from overseas, they're much more rooted in the UK than any other company might be considered to be - because OT can't be picked up and moved to outside the UK.

It'll be very interesting how this pans out I reckon - not particularly for what Utd are doing, but for how what Utd are doing will focus minds on the offshore scam.

[thetime]

I have a feeling that if all this goes ahead, you won't be able to avoid reading about it.

Cos I can see a HUGE fuss being kicked up about tax-avoiding offshore companies with Utd at the heart of if this happens. There's perhaps no other company in the UK which will hammer home to the average person on the street just how much this country is being ripped by the offshore scam.

After all, no matter how much Utd might point to parts of their money-making which come from overseas, they're much more rooted in the UK than any other company might be considered to be - because OT can't be picked up and moved to outside the UK.

It'll be very interesting how this pans out I reckon - not particularly for what Utd are doing, but for how what Utd are doing will focus minds on the offshore scam.

[jump]

FIFA ranking is based on the match results (it's possible to get a points if you lose on penalties and penalties win is worth less than a 90min win), match status (friendlies worth less than qualifiers, qualifiers worth less than tournament etc), opposition strength (their ranking but if their team is outside the top 200 it's worth less than half a point) and the strength of the region (so a weak team in Euro is stronger than a weak Asian team) and it's worked out from the last 4 years but results from the last year are worth more. It use to include things like goals scored and home/away advantage but that was scrapped a few years ago.

The problem right now is the South American teams haven't gained points as the Euro teams had a tournament and they haven't so less matches therefore less potential points to be gained.

Edited July 4, 2012 by jump

[thetime]

FIFA ranking is based on the match results (it's possible to get a points if you lose on penalties and penalties win is worth less than a 90min win), match status (friendlies worth less than qualifiers, qualifiers worth less than tournament etc), opposition strength (their ranking but if their team is outside the top 200 it's worth less than half a point) and the strength of the region (so a weak team in Euro is stronger than a weak Asian team) and it's worked out from the last 4 years but results from the last year are worth more.

It use to include things like goals scored and home/away advantage but that was scrapped a few years ago.

[eFestivals]

I would of thought if an American buys a company that company would become American not English, or am I wrong.

you're wrong.

If in no other way, the Glazers have proven that themselves with their previous plan to float Utd on the Singapore stock market.

It's all dodgy as fuck but its football.

nah, it's nothing football, it's 100% the dodgy as fuck 'business practices' that are the current trend, which results in people like you and me paying at least 2% more in income tax than we'd otherwise do.

(that 2% figure comes from what Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said last week. The true figure is likely to be hugely more than that, given how Alexander is saying "I'm ripping you all off" by admitting even that 2% figure).

[jump]

Also only competitive games, reason Brazil have gone down rankings as they haven't had qualifying games.

Edited July 4, 2012 by jump

[The Nal]

June 16 - Liverpool FC News ‏@LiverpooIFCNews

Sigurdsson is a great signing, 22 years old, 18 appearances, 7 goals and 4 assists from midfield for Swansea last season.

15 minutes ago - Liverpool FC News ‏@LiverpooIFCNews

Glad the Sigurdsson saga is over now, he was hyped up for weeks but reality is 99% of us didn't know who he was before Swansea loan.

[eFestivals]

I bet Sigurdsson lasts longer at Spurts than his manager.

[The Nal]

I bet Sigurdsson lasts longer at Spurts than his manager.

[eFestivals]

The LFC lads are right though (the 2nd part). Bit of an unknown and Liverpool can't really afford another one of them.

he wouldn't be the first player to have a great half-season and then turn to shit, tho that's probably not the case here. I suspect that Spurts have got an excellent player.

Then again, if they're losing Modric, they're probably a fair bit weaker even with Siggy coming in.

[strummer77]

The good thing about united is the worse it gets for glaziers and united, the better it will be for united in the long term. They wouldn't have any other option to sell and there wouldn't be any shortage of buyers.

Which is the difference between Leeds/ liverpool/ rangers and united.

Edited July 4, 2012 by strummer77

[lharris92]

June 16 - Liverpool FC News ‏@LiverpooIFCNews

Sigurdsson is a great signing, 22 years old, 18 appearances, 7 goals and 4 assists from midfield for Swansea last season.

15 minutes ago - Liverpool FC News ‏@LiverpooIFCNews

Glad the Sigurdsson saga is over now, he was hyped up for weeks but reality is 99% of us didn't know who he was before Swansea loan.

[Benj]

I have a feeling that if all this goes ahead, you won't be able to avoid reading about it.

Edited July 4, 2012 by Benj