Fatty: right now, nothing. i have a diet coke though?

Virgin: 69

Hooligoon: i am worried city are going to win the premiership this year

Polololololtics: meh

Generic: gym and script writing - am being grown up and resisting attempts of evil friend to drag me to the pub
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:45, 2 replies, latest was 14 years ago)

V = Great fun, definitely.
H: It's going to happen, I'll be shocked if it doesn't.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:47, Reply)

When they beat Man U 6-1
I immediately bet a mate £50 they'll finish behind Man U this season. They're Real Madrid v2.0 - talented individuals, not a team, with a manager that's barely holding the egos together.

And there's an awful lot of commentator mutual cocksucking going on over a team that haven't had to play an even half-decent side on level terms yet this season. Oh, wait, oh no, they did, didn't they? Bayern Munich. That went well. Oh, and Man U in the Charity Shield. Yeah, that one turned out OK for them too.... oh, wait..
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:52, Reply)

You make a very good point
Ah well, Liverpool will still lose to them on Sunday.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:53, Reply)

you do know
that now part of me WANTS them to win just so that you are proven wrong, right??!
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:53, Reply)

Why, so I lose £50?
that's 3 cocktails I'd never be able to buy you. Think about it.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:57, Reply)

no, just because i wanted to be right when you were wrong
but now you've brought cocktails into the equation...
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:13, Reply)

I'm sure there's a million times where you'd be right when I was wrong, my dear.

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:17, Reply)

blimey
you're remarkably accommodating this evening. i shall frame this page.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:17, Reply)

City aren't going to win the premiership
but the stupendous mid-season meltdown from their collection of spoilt brat mentals is going to be EPIC.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:47, Reply)

I'm with Badger on this one
My pathological hatred of Man Utd makes this season a win-win; said meltdown would be spectacularly funny, but so would watching SAF chewing gum so hard that he bites his tongue off as City are crowned champions
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:52, Reply)

i think they might
which sucks. firstly because it's CITY. secondly because it is such an overwhelming stinking wet fish in the face of anyone who thinks there is anything left in football other than who has the fattest chequebook.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:52, Reply)

...because United are a model of frugality
How much did that Berbatov chap cost? The one who can't buy a place in the first team?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:53, Reply)

not disputing this

( rachelswipe with a fork, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:54, Reply)

I always root for Arsenal to win the title
Partly because of the way they play football, partly because of their reasonable approach to running a football club's finances, and partly because I don't want to support someone who actually might win it until Forest get back to the top.

HA HA HA
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:58, Reply)

I'm becoming more of a fan of Wenger again
Since their slump, RVP has hit blistering form, Wenger has picked the right team, and more importantly, he's shut the fuck up. No more whinging, no whining, just getting it done. And look at how much better they're doing now.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:01, Reply)

RVP is an incredible striker
and vindication of Wenger's long-term buying policy. How much did he cost, as a youthful backup for Bergkamp? Ditto Clichy when Cashley wanted out, Wilshere, Ramsey...
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:07, Reply)

When Fabregas was leaving, I said that as long as they keep RVP, it's not the end of the world for them
And look at that, isn't he now the top scorer in the league?
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:08, Reply)

31 Premier League goals in 2011
THIRTY-FUCKING-ONE. In the league alone.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:10, Reply)

United don't fail UEFAs financial fair play regs.
And, the answer to your question is, "about a quarter of a Ronaldo"

You have to spend money to compete. What is objectionable is spending money you didn't EARN in order to compete.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:56, Reply)

Another good point, good sir.
Let's be fair; 3/8ths of a Ronaldo. Nonetheless I quite agree; I'm amazed more wasn't made of City's owners renaming their stadium so as to justify a huge "sponsor's bonus". That sort of operation paints a frankly terrifying picture of the future.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:59, Reply)

Also, how many of United's players have come from their own academies?
One could argue that they've been buying the league for a while.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:58, Reply)

they won the league with their academy
they used the money earned from sustained dominance of the game to buy better players and maintain their dominance. Also, they have a fairly astute transfer policy most of the time, and make a lot of money from selling players.

Apart from the general moaning about money in football, which is a fair point but not relevant here really, how is that in any way wrong?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:01, Reply)

I have no issue with them.
It's simply the number of people who after the City game came out and said "They're only buying the league anyway!".
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:02, Reply)

Well, they are and those people have a point.
If you want to buy, earn first. Run as a business.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:04, Reply)

however, I still don't think they'll win the league.
Balotelli is a walking disaster and they can't rely entirely on Silva.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:05, Reply)

You make a very good point about Silva
What do you think the chances are of them trying to pick up a similar player in January?
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:07, Reply)

*cough*Samir Nasri*cough*

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:11, Reply)

They already have one
and he can't buy a game. Nasri.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:15, Reply)

Erm
Balotelli Rooney
Silva Nani
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:09, Reply)

I don't think Nani's had a decent game for weeks, so that's hardly relevant
And Rooney, while a liability, plays for the team in the most part and doesn't suffer from what is known in the trade as "Nicholas Bedntner Syndrome"

Let me put it this way. When Balotelli scored against man U, he showed that tshirt and got booked, right? Well, there's two things about that which define why he is a nightmare. Firstly, "why always me?" everything is about him, and that makes him a nightmare to play with and manage and secondly, do you doubt for one fraction of a second that he's have done it anyway, even if he was already booked, and therefore got sent off? The man is a tool. Neutrals love him being in the game, but every Man City fan I know is petrified when he's on the team sheet because who knows which one will turn up?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:15, Reply)

You're right, it's not a fair comparison
And yes, Balotelli is a fuckwit. Nonetheless, should he be suspended for shitting on the ball before kick-off or injured attempting to score with his nostril, they can replace him easily; as they'll have to when his form peters out anyway. United without Rooney are just not as potent an attacking force. And he WILL get suspended for doing something absurdly thick.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:17, Reply)

United without Rooney can still play as a team
City, I don't think can. They perform individual roles well, and Silva can create brilliance (at least against mediocre opposition) but beyond that .. Nah. They were put under pressure against Munich, and they collapsed. Ditto Charity shield, although meaningless. And let's not forget they barely deserved their lead befor Evans was sent off. They've done nothing yet to suggest they are any better than last year, except they've scored more goals against dross.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:22, Reply)

well, your second point is an interesting one
since, to date, no one has been able to buy even vaguely sustained dominance of any league in Europe... but, yeah. City. Fuckers.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:54, Reply)

I would argue that Real Madrid have bought sustained dominance of second place in La Liga

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:00, Reply)

50p and a mango would buy you sustained dominace of second place in La Liga.
Barcelona are no better financially, they are just slighly less objectionable in other areas.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:03, Reply)

Agreed, the way they spunk money on strikers is eye-bleeding
and that interminable Fabregas saga did them no favours. Nonetheless they can lay claim to having home-grown rather more of their team than Real can
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:06, Reply)

Can I join in this excellent chat please?
Now I'm 'into football' this is right up my street.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:04, Reply)

Right you are Monters
Do you feel that the 4-4-2 formation has any remaining merit in this era of holding midfielders and false nines?
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:08, Reply)

Worked for us against Chelsea
I still can't believe how well Bellamy has been playing for us.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:09, Reply)

There's a man with some fucking determination about him
Refuses to let anyone write him off. Honestly, I wish he was English
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:09, Reply)

He also gets points for repeatedly telling John Terry to fuck off

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:14, Reply)

In which case I get points too
What an unbelievable fucking cunt that man is
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:15, Reply)

Yes, definitely.
'We' used it the other day against Pikey Wednesday and it really paid dividends.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:20, Reply)

Yes. Remember to point out tomorrow
how sooner or later Arsenal's frugality will pay dividends in the long run. it's inevitable, because footballers are all of course motivated far, far more by the financial stability of your club then how much someone will pay them to kick a white thing at a net for 90 minutes and then fuck off to spit-roast models, and so will never leave Arsenal for other clubs in search of better wage deals. NEVER.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:09, Reply)

Errr - I disagree.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:20, Reply)

excellent, chap
*firm handshakes* you'll do fine.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:30, Reply)