What those two said basically. Money isn't a guarantee of success in any competition let alone one like the Champions League where the margins are as fine as they are. Their record isn't exceptional but it's not that bad either.

I'm just comparing it to everyone saying Arsenal's record is poor when they're realistically done very similar to Chelsea (obviously without the big win that everyone wants) and spent a fraction of the money.

#254441 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 19:15:07

By The Platypus | On 19 March 2015 - 19:01 PM

Abramovich took over in June 2003, so it's nearing 12 years. (And it's two finals, not one)

And aren't we going to mention Chelsea's crisis, if we take Real's into account?

What crisis?

Oh yeah, forgot about the Man Utd one.

#254436 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 18:54:32

By The Platypus | On 19 March 2015 - 18:50 PM

iirc, it's the same number of times as Real Madrid and Bayern, in the same amount of time.

As mentioned Real Madrid went through a small 'crisis' in the late 00's, but have came out stronger and are now in a stronger position than Chelsea.

Bayern, fair enough.

But I'd expect more than 1 final in 13/14 years for a team with unlimited money.

#254408 The England National Team

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19 Mar 2015 17:52:18

By Ninja | On 19 March 2015 - 15:57 PM

Who? The only player I can really think of is Ryan Mason, and the main problem about him is he's not very good and has only played a handful of games for Spurs. Barry's been diabolical whenever I've seen him this season, and thats about it.

Jack Cork has had a solid season, as has Colback and Cattermole.

I know they're unfashionable and also not very good - but they're something.

There literally isn't one defensive minded midfielder in that squad. There's no wonder we get hammered by better sides.

#254405 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 17:50:08

By bluemoon. | On 19 March 2015 - 17:38 PM

You don't half talk some shite.

1 win in 14 years for a side with pretty much unlimited money is poor?

#254376 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 14:18:23

Man City should definitely be doing better than they are given the amount of money they spend, same with Chelsea. 1 win since Abramovic is quite poor.

Arsenal's problems are well documented.

#254369 The Wrestling Thread.

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19 Mar 2015 13:58:37

I'd agree with that too.

Daniel Bryan defending the Intercontinental title against all comers shawn micheals style is clearly what they're going for though.

I always thought the intercontinental title was a good title to give to the best worker in the company, though.

That surely has to be Ziggler/Rollins/Bryan

#254367 The England National Team

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19 Mar 2015 13:55:42

Young instead of Townsend, literally any holding midfield player over Barkley and Austin over Welbeck and that would be alright.

Think Bertrand deserves a go too, but so do Gibbs and Shaw.

Jones and Smalling aren't very good either. But neither are anybody else.

#254344 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 11:08:52

Also it'll be the season after next.

And if we do lose the 4th champions league spot hopefully we give the 3rd spot to the FA Cup winners too.

Would encourage teams to take it seriously and stop relying on finishing 4th.

#254328 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 10:37:43

By Ninja | On 19 March 2015 - 10:33 AM

I think what's clear from the stats is that if Chelsea's argument is 'better teams get more penalties' we've been shafted virtually every year since the Premier League began on the amount of penalties we've been given.

http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Premier_League_Penalty_Statistics.html

Man Utd have always got favourable decisions until the last few years though.

#254326 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 10:32:07

I don't think it's really wise posting it on their official website but it holds truth.

But there'll be seasons in the past/future where Chelsea will lave got loads of daft penalties - happens to every club.

#254325 The Wrestling Thread.

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19 Mar 2015 10:29:57

By Shola | On 19 March 2015 - 10:18 AM

Just be who really hates guys going backwards? Once you have world belts should leave the mid card ones alone.

I agree in an ideal world it wouldn't happen.

But WWE love promoting guys way too early, people like Ziggler/The Miz/Khali have held the world title and they're just not good enough.

#254317 Champions League 2014/15

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19 Mar 2015 09:46:21

Aye I've been thinking it's all being made a bit much of.

Especially as City have been knocked out by Barcelona a lot recently, and I'm almost certain Arsenal have played Bayern twice. If not twice definitely once.

Unlucky draws.

#254312 The Wrestling Thread.

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19 Mar 2015 08:59:02

Cena with the US title would elevate it well though. Just because Cena wins doesn't mean he won't be putting Rusev over.

#254194 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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18 Mar 2015 16:18:20

Big move.

If he gets found guilty now

#254073 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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17 Mar 2015 23:01:02

By Shola | On 17 March 2015 - 20:48 PM

Sunderland reviewing Johnson. Fucking hell.

Was having this discussion with my Sunderland supporting friend this morning - if they had came out and supported him from the start on the 'innocent till found guilty' line of reasoning then I would understand but it seems ridiculous to do it after he's been suspended for a bit.

He's bound to score against us isn't he.

#253823 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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16 Mar 2015 21:23:55

Dick Advocaat is the new Sunderland manager, apparently.

#253809 Grand Theft Auto V

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16 Mar 2015 19:35:08

Who moved those trees?

#253767 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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16 Mar 2015 16:45:10

By Shola | On 16 March 2015 - 10:50 AM

Solano was pretty much done at this point, his last game for Newcastle, Owen and Dyer were never fit. Nicky Butt was hardly a great shake. And Milner wasn't really playing very well yet.

I reckon Poyet has done a really good job at Sunderland. Did well to keep them up last year and has since lost Borini, Ki, Alonso and Colback. And had a fairly small budget to replace several players and sign new ones. Bad at transfers mind.

And Sunderland can't beat Newcastle and go on a decent run. If Sunderland win they'll all be hungover/pissed for the remaining fixtures. They've won one since the last one. I mean ffs we've won 3 since and I think the past three months, may have been about the worst we've played since returning to the league.

Dyer was superb when he was fit though - 02/03 was majestic from him in centre attacking midfield. Butt wasn't bad too, he's definitely better than Colback/Tiote

#253683 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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16 Mar 2015 08:16:58

Poyet sacked, also.

Can't wait till they appoint a new manager, beat us - go on a decent run before signing some shit players in the summer and sack the new manager around february march time next year.

#253682 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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16 Mar 2015 08:16:09

Given, Solano, Milner, Butt, Dyer and Owen would walk into our team atm.

We were under performing then hugely - now we're achieving pretty much what we should be with our team - which is the problem.

#253631 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 22:40:22

By Based Jorge | On 15 March 2015 - 21:25 PM

Newcastle's squad is an abomination. Neither of the Taylor's are good enough, Coloccini is a mid-table standard defender, Williamson would be lucky to get in the Burnley squad and I honestly think Sammy Ameobi is a pile of wank. Huge re-investment needs to be made but I can't see the Toon reaching anywhere near the Europe spots in the forseeable future.

This.

#253596 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 20:50:55

By Shola | On 15 March 2015 - 20:32 PM

In your honest opinion how many lower half Premier League CB's are Championship at best?

And Ameobi is quick, has a god shot on him, can beat a man and can cross. Best crosser off the ball since Solano at Newcastle. If he had a different surname and was signed for £9m from Lyon or Marseilles you would have a different view of him.

And we won't move forward, ever unless an owner spends £100's of millions. Or football fundamentally changes.

I wouldn't think differently of him, because he has no stamina, no first touch and no footballing intelligence.

His 'good shot' has equalled a grand total of 2 career goals - one of which was an error from the goalkeeper.

He can beat a man, but his delivery leaves a lot to be desired - and saying that is an insult to Ryan Taylor, Wayne Routledge, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko, Daryl Janmaat, Jose Enrique, Mathieu Debuchy and I'm sure a lot more who can definitely cross better than Sammy Ameobi.

It has nothing to do with his surname - I didn't mind Shola as 4th choice striker. I wouldn't mind Sammy as 4th choice winger either - my issue is he's starting and playing every minute of every game despite offering absolutely nothing.

#253586 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 20:23:33

Ameobi is hopeless, can't do anything. Obertan would be alright backup at a push.

And Williamson is as bad as people make out, no pace at all and not aware enough to play against anyone other than a big lump of a target man (rare these days).

Championship at best.

4-3-3 with De Jong Sissoko Colback would be alright but would probably get dicked on by bigger teams.

As I said, we won't move forward with Ashley here, so this discussion is pretty pointless. Which is quite sad.

#253573 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 19:48:31

Unsure if Lascelles will make the step up though, whereas Taylor is a liability when fit - which is rarely. Williamson is poor. Coloccini isn't getting any younger, 2 good centre backs are a must imo.

Think de Jong is more attacking than a flat out centre mid.

Tbf all depends on who we bring in to manage us. If it's Carver we need a target man and 2 proper wingers.

You're forgetting that Ameobi and Obertan are very poor and won't offer much so need to be replaced.

#253559 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 18:24:44

By Shola | On 15 March 2015 - 18:16 PM

Keep everyone. Try and keep everyone fit.

-Bring in an extra RB. Look to bring in a Coloccini's long term replacement. And maybe another extra CB.
-Replace Tiote and Sissoko if need be (They don't look interested right now)
-Replace Cisse if need be (Reckon he might be crocked)

Spend a bulk of the remaining budget on maybe a striker/winger. Hope that De Jong, Riviere and Cabella can do more next year.

Also - we tried to bring in Coloccini's long term replacement in Mbiwa - but played him left/right back and generally didn't give him enough time to settle.

Coloccini was god awful for about a year and a half before he got to grips with England.

As soon as Mbiwa didn't start against Villa in the game after we signed every cunt from France I had doubts whether we'd give him enough of an opportunity.

#253557 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 18:21:54

By Shola | On 15 March 2015 - 18:16 PM

Keep everyone. Try and keep everyone fit.

-Bring in an extra RB. Look to bring in a Coloccini's long term replacement. And maybe another extra CB.
-Replace Tiote and Sissoko if need be (They don't look interested right now)
-Replace Cisse if need be (Reckon he might be crocked)

Spend a bulk of the remaining budget on maybe a striker/winger. Hope that De Jong, Riviere and Cabella can do more next year.

Need to replace Anita too - he's not up to it. He's had plenty chances and just doesn't look good enough for the Premier League.

We need 2 striker/wingers imo - Ameobi/Obertan/Gouffran aren't good enough.

#253550 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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15 Mar 2015 18:06:18

Nothing much will really change without a change in recruitment policy. By my reckoning we need to do this.

Out: Williamson, Ameobi, Gouffran, Anita, Tiote, Obertan and R.Taylor.

In: CB x 2, LB x 1, RB for backup, DM x 2, CM x 1, AMC x 1, AMR x 1, AML x 1 and ST x 1.

Never gonna happen.