[Archived] Other premier league 2011-12

[rock steady]

villa this season have been like us last season. pretty awful, but scraping their way to survival.

the difference is they will learn their lesson and get in a new manager.

[A cup of beans]

villa this season have been like us last season. pretty awful, but scraping their way to survival.

the difference is they will learn their lesson and get in a new manager.

Villa have been incredibly lucky to have survived.

Atleast they have acted.

Villa fans will hope Lerner picks better managers than his last 2! At villa, both Gerard Hoola-hop and 'Big 'eck' were only marginally better than Kean!

[Aberdeen Blue]

At villa, both Gerard Hoola-hop and 'Big 'eck' were only marginally better than Kean!

But most Rovers fans would gladly swap Coco for either of those; that’s how incompetent the deluded one is

[Audax]

West Ham let Zola go too in that year they had a season like Villa, mediocre but the next season, West Ham went down. Sacking MacLeish is probably the right thing to do but Villa have been on their back-heels really since O'Neill left.

I'm certainly not for Man City but it is a bit tiring to see one club, Man Utd., win it almost every year. And in the end, City win it on goal differential, both winning 28, draw 5, lose 5.

[sharpysharps]

West Ham let Zola go too in that year they had a season like Villa, mediocre but the next season, West Ham went down. Sacking MacLeish is probably the right thing to do but Villa have been on their back-heels really since O'Neill left.

I'm certainly not for Man City but it is a bit tiring to see one club, Man Utd., win it almost every year. And in the end, City win it on goal differential, both winning 28, draw 5, lose 5.

I think at the time West Ham where massively stagnating, Gold and Sullivan had just come in and wanted to make a statement. They felt sacking Zola would do that but they brought in a much worse manager. I think Zola is probably more of a coach but if he had been given the money that Avram Grant spent at West Ham then they could've made a fight of it.

Villa's problem is the same they had last season when searching for a manager. Randy Lerner doesn't appear to want to spend the money that they need to spend to be a top half team again. First and foremost they need to convince their bext striker to stay on, and to do that they need to make some impressive signings starting with an exciting manager. Massive summer for Villa to try and get it right, otherwise I can see them as relegation fodder next season.

[roverthemoon]

That reaction is brilliant! Phil Jones and Fergie's beats it though!

I'm delighted City won (my Grandad and all my Mam's family are City fanatics, so are 3 friends!).

My Grandad was in tears at the end! 82 terminally ill! He never thought he'd see the day!

Sadly, I don't think I'll ever see Rovers celebrating anything again! Depressing!

I'm also delighted, cos I cannot stand Man United; Fergie, Ferdinand, Rooney, - and all their plastic glory hunting fans!

I would love City to win the league for the next decade,- IF ONLY, to upset the Red lot.

They haven't really won the league, they bought it.

[Mattyblue]

So? good for them, otherwise no club would have broken Man Utd and Chelsea's stronghold.

THe cartel at the top needed shaking up.

[Ricky]

Woah, hang on a minute. That's been thrown at us for years and now your saying another team has 'bought it'.

I've always hated it when it was said about us.

[Sandiway Blue]

They haven't really won the league, they bought it.

Show me a team that hasn't....

[Resigned Rover]

They haven't really won the league, they bought it.

Always annoys me when i read that....i mean if a club with money wants to win the league but doesnt have players capable of doing it, wtf are they supposed to do other than buy

players that are capable??

[sweet]

Show me a team that hasn't....

Arsenal 97/98?

[Mr. E]

I am struggling to see how any real football fan can possibly be ok with Arab Oil Money FC winning the title over Man United. United are at least a traditionally successful club, they are part of English football. Arab Oil Money FC is a squad of international superstar mercenaries thrown together to win a title for their Arab prince. (Or whatever royalty is in control) Arab Oil Money FC is a slap in the face of tradition, a slap in the face of building a proper hard-working, loyal team, a slap in the face of fair play and sports integrity - it proves that the one and only thing that matters in football is massive amounts of money. Same way that Abramovich FC bought success. United, for all their faults, have spent peanuts in comparison to these two clubs over the years, and have been winning trophies for many, many decades. They don't get handed their success.

Arab Oil Money FC and Abramovich FC are what opened the door for Venkys to slither in and poison our club. Except that, with our luck, our foreign overlords turned out to be clueless chicken farmers who have an unexplainable love affair with a certain idiot in charge of the club.

[BuckyRover]

Our title bid was funded by a Jersey based tax exile.

Your lack of self-awareness is stunning. Unless you were against the title win of 94/95.

[davulsukur]

Big eck has been sacked.

Take note Venkys.

[Mr. E]

Show me a team that hasn't....

There is endless difference between buying a few new players to strengthen your squad and building on last season, as every team aspires to do, and buying pretty much a completely new squad of established stars who otherwise would have never in a million years even heard of that club, and winning the title overnight.

[Mattyblue]

We came from the bottom half of the second tier to Champions in 4 years- it was the stuff of dreams.

I suppose as our benefactor was a local boy done good over foreign oil wealth we can take a bit of a moral high ground, but so what, the City fans will be having the time of their lives.

[Resigned Rover]

I am struggling to see how any real football fan can possibly be ok with Arab Oil Money FC winning the title over Man United. United are at least a traditionally successful club, they are part of English football. Arab Oil Money FC is a squad of international superstar mercenaries thrown together to win a title for their Arab prince. (Or whatever royalty is in control) Arab Oil Money FC is a slap in the face of tradition, a slap in the face of building a proper hard-working, loyal team, a slap in the face of fair play and sports integrity - it proves that the one and only thing that matters in football is massive amounts of money. Same way that Abramovich FC bought success. United, for all their faults, have spent peanuts in comparison to these two clubs over the years, and have been winning trophies for many, many decades. They don't get handed their success.

Arab Oil Money FC and Abramovich FC are what opened the door for Venkys to slither in and poison our club. Except that, with our luck, our foreign overlords turned out to be clueless chicken farmers who have an unexplainable love affair with a certain idiot in charge of the club.

Let's not start all this "real football fan" stuff again. In an ideal world Man City would have been taken over by a local business man and fan with deep pockets and a huge passion for the club. But not every club can have a Jack Walker and if we're talking about an ideal world then lets go one further and wish money wasnt even needed in the game. Unfortunately, as the last 18 months has demonstrated, we don't live in an ideal world.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

Can't believe a couple of the comments.........Man Utd have spent a ridiculous amount....always have done.

30 million on Berbatov, Rooney and Ferdinand.......15-20 million on Nani, Ashley Young, Anderson, Carrick, Valencia, Hargreaves, Phil Jones, De Gea......10 million on Smalling......7 million on Vidic, Evra and Bebe.........they had to pay money for Tevez.

Previous to that all the money spent on Ronaldo, Saha, Van Nistelrooy, Veron, Barthez, Yorke, Stam, Andy Cole and evry1 else.....Forlan etc.

No team has ever not "bought the league". Alright maybe certain Arsenal teams might not have spent as much as the likes of Chelsea and Man City did but they still spent more than basically all the other teams that year or in the previous year.

For the guy who said "Arsenal 97/98".....they had just spent a lot on Overmars on Vieira among others the season before as well as Bergkamp the year before that.

I have no problem with teams spending money to win the league......I do have problems with the teams spending ridiculous money and not winning it eg Liverpool and Spurs.....altho at least Liverpool have challenged for the league before

[adopted scouser]

We came from the bottom half of the second tier to Champions in 4 years- it was the stuff of dreams.

I suppose as our benefactor was a local boy done good over foreign oil wealth we can take a bit of a moral high ground, but so what, the City fans will be having the time of their lives.

All the premier league winners over the years have 'bought' the title, yes all. The difference with Jack was that he grew up in the town and loved the club.

To those who say we didn't buy the title, would we have won the premier league without his investment ? I think we can all answer that one

[A cup of beans]

I am struggling to see how any real football fan can possibly be ok with Arab Oil Money FC winning the title over Man United. United are at least a traditionally successful club, they are part of English football.

staggering! United are successful due exploiting marketing and sponsorship opportunities and spending huge amounts of money.

If you dont believe me.. read this.

Man united arent funded at all!

They exploit numourous revenue streams. Too many to mention - Turkish Airlines etc..

More evidence Nigerian Billionaire

[Mattyblue]

The argument is Man Utd generate the income themselves, they don't have a benefactor pumping it in.

Fair point, but without the benefactors (and the Glazers crippling them) Utd would be walking the league every year, the income they generate is enormous.

Still, FFP will put an end to all these upstarts trying to eat at the top table.

[sweet]

Can't believe a couple of the comments.........Man Utd have spent a ridiculous amount....always have done.

30 million on Berbatov, Rooney and Ferdinand.......15-20 million on Nani, Ashley Young, Anderson, Carrick, Valencia, Hargreaves, Phil Jones, De Gea......10 million on Smalling......7 million on Vidic, Evra and Bebe.........they had to pay money for Tevez.

Previous to that all the money spent on Ronaldo, Saha, Van Nistelrooy, Veron, Barthez, Yorke, Stam, Andy Cole and evry1 else.....Forlan etc.

No team has ever not "bought the league". Alright maybe certain Arsenal teams might not have spent as much as the likes of Chelsea and Man City did but they still spent more than basically all the other teams that year or in the previous year.

For the guy who said "Arsenal 97/98".....they had just spent a lot on Overmars on Vieira among others the season before as well as Bergkamp the year before that.

I have no problem with teams spending money to win the league......I do have problems with the teams spending ridiculous money and not winning it eg Liverpool and Spurs.....altho at least Liverpool have challenged for the league before

Yes, they bought those players you mentioned (aresenal 97/98). However, they paid no more than what other top teams were spending at the time (united, rovers, liverpool, newcastle).

The players you mention were not expensive players at all either. Viera cost 3.5 mill, Overmars cost 5.5m and Bergkamp 7.5m.

When you consider shearer went to newcastle for 15 million and lee sharpe went to leeds for 4.5 million around that time, then I don't see how you can claim they bought the title.

[A cup of beans]

The argument is Man Utd generate the income themselves, they don't have a benefactor pumping it in.

Fair point, but without the benefactors (and the Glazers crippling them) Utd would be walking the league every year, the income they generate is enormous.

Still, FFP will put an end to all these upstarts trying to eat at the top table.

It doesnt matter where the money comes from, Matty. United bring in money from all over the globe. Are you a closet red ?

FFP will put an end to all these upstarts trying to eat at the top table.

doubt it, Matty. Look at Real and Barca.

City's acheivements this season shouldnt be tarnished by the 'Arab Money' tag.

They are building for the future, too.

Mr E should have more of an issue with the Glazers, and Roman at Chelsea. His investment is far more short-term than Citys.

Good luck to City and their loyal fans.

I'm sure we all wish Rovers had their investment.

[Mattyblue]

United were just so very lucky in that their era of dominance started just as the PL was taking off- the exact opposite of what happened to Liverpool.

[Amo]

We didn't buy the title.

City did.