2004/05 Premier League

[marella jube]

English FA stated overnight they'll back 4th place in Premier Lge over a potential Liverpool win in Istanbul wrt the last English spot in the 2006 Chmps Lge.

One way to engender/maintain interest in the situation near the top of the domestic Premier Lge , I guess ...

 

[Leysy Days]

Is that right MJ,
bit suprised by that, thought that a champions League win would carry more weight!

Big weekend for my teams Crystal Palace & Hartlepool, its all to play for!

 

[marella jube]

Leysey ,

Agree.

Would have thought being the current Chmps Lge holders (assuming Liverpool win) should count for something .A precedent was set a few years ago when Real Madrid won the CL & finished 5th in the Primera Liga. Real were allowed the opportunity to defend their CL title the next year over the claims of the 4th placegetter.

Perhaps the English FA think that domestic achievements are being unfairly understated by following this precedent. I can sympathise with Everton/Bolton,whoever,but the stark fact is the pts earned by the 4th place in the Premier League (same last year) closer to relegation than it is to the League winner.

In a sense it's rewarding relative mediocrity. As mentioned earlier, prefer to see a trophy winner (FA Cup,at least) given a go v 4th place.

Mind you, the counter view is that same mediocrity was good enough to get to the CL final (if not win it) then why not give the team that achieved that same domestic 'status' this year their opportunity in the CL next year.

Yes, prefer Palace over Southampton (Harry Redknapp has NFI). Good luck to all teams involved in the various promotion/play-off/relegation jousts....Rams , a draw will do nicely , please ...

 

[Leysy Days]

yeah, It's a tough one but your right about Real & the Primera Liga precedent a few seasons ago.

wouldnt give FA winners a birth into CL though, although winners do get entry into Uefa Cup & if they've already qualified it then goes to Runners-up ie Millwall last year.

its the nerve-racking time of year

 

[Liverpool]

Those couple of pitch invaders almost cocked things up (ala Australia v Iran & 1982 GF) else couldn't justify 6 minutes extra otherwise.

Curious to see how your mob approach the rest of the domestic season..Should Everton get rolled by Newcastle on the w/end they then become very vulnerable re 4th place,with away matches at Arsenal + Bolton to finish up the season. 3 pts down but a better goal difference + slightly better fixtures (Aston Villa at Anfield after visiting Highbury) ....Do you put all the eggs in the 2005 CL final or belatedly perform domestically for 'insurance' ? Gerrard surely can't walk away now ?

Thats exactly what crossed my mind too, when that happened....wouldn't have been surprised if they were Chelsea fans trying to interrupt the flow of the game, but they actually had Liverpool scarves and that...so...don't know what the hell they were thinking! :

Can't see us getting 4th, and to be honest, can't see us beating Arsenal this weekend anyways, as the players are just on such a high from the Champs.League game, that they'll find it hard to get up for the match at Highbury.

So, it'll come down to the FA to decide 4th (Everton) or 'potential Champs.League winner' (Liverpool).

To be fair to all parties, they should either have a one-off playoff match, or even a home/away series, to decide who goes into Champs.League and who doesn't.
Least that way, it will be decided on the pitch, and not by a bunch of *smile* in suits!

Plus, think of the extra money they would get from having such a blockbuster match....Everton.v.Liverpool...derby rival....winner gets into Champs.League....worldwide TV audience, sponsorships deals, etc.

 

[Ready]

Strugs, good to see your mob finally limp past the 40-point barrier. Delia is putting on a spread if you roll over next week.

LD, have fun down at the Birkenhead docks and see you in Cardiff!

(Wigan makes Birkenhead look like Venice. If they can make in into the top flight then anyone can!)

 

[specialagent]

Hey, with these Francis Bourke types playing, the Premier League better look out

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - Wigan Athletic striker Jason Roberts fired the northern club into the Premier League playing with a broken leg.
Roberts scored and set up another as Wigan, who were only elected to the Football League in 1978, clinched second place and automatic promotion with a 3-1 home victory over Reading on Sunday.


'I fractured my fibia early in the game and it's going to take six weeks to recover,' Roberts told The Independent newspaper.

'I'm going to go home to Grenada and relax. But I'm confident I'll be fit for the start of the season.'

Roberts scored 21 goals this season as Wigan, bank-rolled by Dave Whelan, the multi-millionaire head of the JJB sports retail empire, finished seven points behind champions Sunderland.

 

[Ready]

Takeover near as Glazer buys Irish stake

US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer formally launched his £790.3million takeover bid for Manchester United today after winning the support of its biggest investor.
A statement from his Red Football bid vehicle said he will pay 300p a share to acquire the 28.7% stake held by Irish racing tycoons JP McManus and John Magnier.

The deal means Glazer has control of the club with a 56.9% stake, but he needs more than 75% of shares for the offer to go unconditional. He will now make an offer for the remaining shares.

It comes a fortnight after the board of Manchester United said it would not be recommending the takeover proposal to investors because Glazer's business plan appeared 'aggressive'.

Mr Glazer clinched the deal with the Cubic Expression vehicle of McManus and Magnier less than a week before a deadline set by the Takeover Panel for a formal offer was due to expire.
(continues...)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=333210&cc=3436

Interesting times at Old Trafford. Supporters not happy at all.

Meanwhile, Bees are into the cauldron at Hillsborough tonight in front of 35,000.

You can do it, lads!

 

[marella jube]

1st leg - Sheffield Wed 1 Brentford 0

Still anyone's tie....

Hartlepool play early Sat morning...West Ham v Ipswich 1st leg tomorrow night & Preston v Derby 1st leg on Sunday night..

Very interesting Summer ahead indeed at Old Trafford. Are there any options available to fans to express themselves in a meaningful & constructive way ? Don't really see what they can do now that the Irish have sold effectively passing technical control to Glazer..What of Sir Mad ?

Everton's belting by Arsenal .....Just a bad night for the Blues or highlighting the paucity of 4th place claims (in general - nothing to do with Liverpool's situation) to a Champs Lge spot ?

 

[Leysy Days]

yeah gotta still eb a decent chance of going thru Ready,

geez I've got a big weekend ahead.
Hartlepool r at home to Tranmere tonight, can you believe Pools sacked there mgr Neale Cooper last week, no reason given. He's done an unbelieveable job since taking over at the start of last season, they were favs for the drop after coming up a division & made the playoffs, & now they sack him on the verge of the playoffs again...........

the soccer clubs are unreal getting rid of there mgrs arent they. only takes a falling out with the chairman & they're gone.

Then i've got a nailbiter on super sunday with Crytal Palace trying to avoid the drop.
am still stunned at Southampton's equaliser on the fulltime whistle lastw eek, they were finished, you could see harry redknapp on the sidelines, he had given up any hope of stayin up.

we're still a chance though, if we win at Charlton, we then have to rely on norwich not winning at fulham & southampton not winning against Man U

fingers crossed

 

[Leysy Days]

heres more on the Man U takeover

Knifed
By NEIL CUSTIS


ALEX FERGUSON is heading for the exit at Manchester United after he was knifed in a £790million takeover by Malcolm Glazer.

JP McManus and John Magnier yesterday triggered the deal by selling out to the American tycoon.

The pair, Fergie’s rivals since the Rock of Gibraltar racehorse row, made a £76m profit as Glazer paid £227m for their 28.7 per cent holding in the club.

They were encouraged by pal and Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond who is also fuming with Fergie for taking Liam Miller on a free from the Scots.

A source said: “He has never forgiven Ferguson for that.”

Glazer, who now has control of the Red Devils, will want to make wholesale changes.

That could see boss Fergie pushed out or even make the jump himself after 18½ years at Old Trafford.

Magnier and McManus gave Rock of Gibraltar to Ferguson as a gift but their friendship broke down when the Scot wanted a chunk of the lucrative stud fees.

Glazer, who owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gridiron team, swooped yesterday to seize nearly 72 per cent of United.

Magnier and McManus accepted his offer of £3 a share.





That took Glazer’s holding to 56.9 per cent before he bought 6.5 per cent from Scottish mining entrepreneur Harry Dobson.

The share went up again as the American, 76, plundered the market buying from smaller investors.

If he acquires 75 per cent, Glazer can de-list the company and transfer debts he will have incurred on to United’s books.

An effigy of Glazer was burned last night as around 1,000 fans turned up to protest outside Old Trafford.

 

[gers]

I am no lover of Man U but today I am feeling quite gutted for the average fan. They must feel like their club has been stolen from them.

This appears to be a take over from a raider with no love of the game or the club, and it sounds like the debt that the plc will be burdoned with will make it near impossible for the club to attract the calibre of player required for success.

Interesting to see that Dermot Desmond's name has been connected with this. I am not surprised. :

 

[Liverpool]

I am no lover of Man U but today I am feeling quite gutted for the average fan.  They must feel like their club has been stolen from them.

This appears to be a take over from a raider with no love of the game or the club, and it sounds like the debt that the plc will be burdoned with will make it near impossible for the club to attract the calibre of player required for success.

Interesting to see that Dermot Desmond's name has been connected with this.  I am not surprised.   :

G'day Gers!

Good to see another blue-nose on here...yeah, I know I follow the Reds, but in Scotland, follow the Gers! 8)
Not all us Reds support Celtic you know!

Sorry to see Moorey go from the club earlier in the season...I guess thats what happens when you don't get along with the manager.
Funnily enough, he's down in Germany playing for a team coached by the old Gers boss, *smile* Advocaat...hope things go well.

Do you think Prso has lived up to expectations since coming from Monaco? or?

 

[marella jube]

Leysey ,

Well done to your Hartlepool taking a 2-0 advantage to return leg at Tranmere later in the week. Unfortunately my Rams conceded the same at Preston & have a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg.Ipswich are reasonably placed following a 2-2 at West Ham.Brentford & Sheff.Wed open at 0-1 .

Hard luck Palace. Leaking late goals in consecutive games really did hurt turning a potential 6 pts into only 2.Look forward to meeting them in the Championship next season.

 

[FightingFury]

Bloody Hell Fulham win 6-0 in a game with no bearing on their season!!

I was amazed that West Brom were the side who survived as they were bottom of the table 24 hours ago,but were the only side in the bottom 4 to win and survived!!

Good luck to West Ham as they're my second favorite side.

 

[Leysy Days]

Leysey ,

Well done to your Hartlepool taking a 2-0 advantage to return leg at Tranmere later in the week. Unfortunately my Rams conceded the same at Preston & have a mountain to climb in the 2nd leg.Ipswich are reasonably placed following a 2-2 at West Ham.Brentford & Sheff.Wed open at 0-1 .

Hard luck Palace. Leaking late goals in consecutive games really did hurt turning a potential 6 pts into only 2.Look forward to meeting them in the Championship next season.

yeah cheers MJ,

firstly to Palace, well how gutting was that, listened to the radio coverage last night whilst watching foxtel.
When Andy Johnson got his penalty, thought we were home,
but letting late bloody goals in has cost us dearly.
Also the fact that the owner Simon Jordan didnt splash any money on strengthening the team didnt help matters...............

As for Pools, well a great job, look a huge chance for Cardiff now,
my girlfriend is from Hartlepool & making the final would be there finest achievement in over 100 yrs,
She's even looking at flights to get there to watch

 

[Ready]

Brentford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Wednesday through 3-1 on aggregate.

Disappointing finish but we've done extraordinarily well to get this far and provided some great moments along the way. At the start of the year we were favoured for relegation.

Well done Bees :clap

And West Ham! Hands off Martin Allen!! ;D

 

[marella jube]

Ready ,

Sorry to learn that result. Wish you better luck in 2005/6 & may you take 6 pts from matches v red scum Forest....

 

[evo]

Sorry to see the Saints relegated . :'(

 

[Leysy Days]

yeah commiserations ReadOne,

good season none the less,  hopefully you;ll hold onto your mgr & key players for a return to a shot at promotion next year