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Desolation_row

Listed below are comments made by Desolation_row between Sunday, 6th September 2009 and Sunday, 29th November 2009.

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Spurs show top four style 11:26am on 29 Nov 2009 If you just look at the teams in terms of how much the current squads cost Spur's should be expecting a top four finish:
Man City 253.4 million
Chelsea 208.85 million
Man Utd 196.6 million
Spurs 169.6 million
Liverpool 152.2 million
Arsenal 92.3 million

Obviously there are other key factors, the amount clubs like Arsenal spend on scouting and of course the overall wage bill. Also just to note the Man United side of 2006-2007 won the league with a squad which cost less than the current Spurs team does against a Chelsea side which cost about 230 million so it is possible to win the league at that cost.

As an extra point of intrest this is the net expenditure of these clubs over the past 5 years:
Man City 228.8 Million
Chelsea 97.5 Million
Spurs 93.4 Million
Liverpool 87.99 Million
Man Utd 4 Million
Arsenal –27.9 Million

Personally I feel the cost of squad table provide's a more accurate assesment of the current teams as certain factors can effect it heaviley. If I had chosen to review spending over the last 4 years for example Chelsea's net spend would have been around 8 million meanwhile the Man United figure does not include players such as Ferdinand and Rooney who were bought before the period.

Nevertheless it does again show that Spur's spending is at a level where they should expect to be a main contender for Champions League football and probably should be putting up a stronger fight for the league title itself. It also serves to proove how farcical City's recent run of results have been as, in terms of finance, they should be in another league to the other contenders.
Time to play England's 2018 trump card 1:30pm on 26 Nov 2009 I realise this article is supposed to be about uniting Englands bid but you can only roll your eyes at the typically selfishness displayed by London. Three was pushing it let alone four. Hopefully what the World Cup will provide is a clear contrast between the single City experience of the Olympics and the country-wide approach of the World Cup.

Hopefully this will not only come in the form of new stadiums but redevelopment of some of the old great ones, giving Hillsborough and Elland Road a face lift. I wouldn't be suprised also if the South Stand at Old Trafford is expanded, although whether the bid will be keen on the idea of providing finance for Old Trafford's capacity to exceed that of Wembley is another matter.
Anfield's day of destiny 2:45pm on 23 Oct 2009 I think it was Alan Hansen who made the point that to have season defining matches in October is a disaster in itself.

That said to be honest I wouldn't be surprised to see Liverpool win on Sunday, United rarley produce quality performances at Anfield despite their strong recent record (five wins in seven I think it is. United's defence have looked quite shakey however intrestingly they have only conceeded two at home this season compared with seven away, and if United's defence have looked weak Liverpool's has appeared non existant at times tis season, particularly from set-pieces.

I don't expect a classic nor indeed will it be decisive for Benitez if they lose, however, as you rightly state Beniez's main fear should be descent from below not above. This could easily become Liverpool's fourth season without silverwear in a period where United have won dominated the league and taken added a european cup to their own haul. Benitez has when it suited him pitted the fans against the owners, if he loses the fans, as the boo's on tuesday night at his decision to sub Benayoun suggested he's begining to, then he will find himself swiftly removed.
Capello's World Cup contenders 07:44am on 15 Oct 2009 Intresting I'd reverse your decisions on the wings, for me Milner has been far more impressive than any of the left-wing options including Gerrard who doesn't fit Capello's system (you seem to have missed out Young for consideration). On the right-wing Beckham has been by far the most consistent. He can tuck inside to sure up central midfield, he has vision that the other wingers could only dream about and he is willing to get back and help cover for Johnson's defensive weaknesses.

England are awash with quick, skillful but ultimatley light-weight wingers who rarley produce good crosses and are bullied out of most games by average defenders. Whether Beckham could play so many games in a row is another question, however for my money the best England performances have come when Milner and Beckham are on the pitch and I'd chose them over the likes of Lennon(who was non existent last night) any day.
Chelsea & Liverpool under scrutiny 08:50am on 02 Oct 2009 Liverpool really need to perform at the weekend, it's all well and good hammering the likes of Hull and Burnley at home but so far they have lost their three toughest matches. They did get an away win at West Ham however even in that match they conceeded two.

The real prolem for Liverpool is they got a huge points boost against there title Rivals as a result of defeating both Man Utd and Chelsea home and away. As a result if for example they draw both games against Chelsea they'll have to make up 6 points somewhere else to catch them.

That for me is the big Achilles heel in the predictions many have been making that this is Liverpool's year. While they took 14 points in top four clashes, the latter two took only 5 and 4 points respectivley. It is highly unlikley that will be the case again this year, United have taken maximum points from matches against City, Spurs and Arsenal who all maybe challenging for Champions League positions and indeed all had 100% records when they met United.

In short given the points Liverpool took in the big encounters last year they should have won the league, now without Alonso and with their defence looking very shakey they need to proove they are capeable of challenging on Sunday because on current evidence it's hard to see them finishing within ten points of this seasons champions.
Giggs is Manchester United's shining knight 11:44am on 27 Sep 2009 I can't help but feel a little frustrated by the way the press keep moving the goal posts for United.

Before the season and especially after Burnley we heard how the United attack couldn't function without Ronaldo, United had scored only one goal in two games and missed a penalty.

In the five matches since then (three of which have been away from home) United have won all five and scored 16 goals (SIXTEEN). Now apparently because Giggs is in good form United are over-reliant on him (this is the line Paul Wilson in the Guardian has also chosen to follow).

I can't help but feel the journalists are clutching at straws and if it were Chelsea or Liverpool doing this that they would be recieving far more praise especially when you consider United's last four fixtures were Arsenal, Spurs, City and then Stoke away.

Let me be clear here, I'm not saying the media hate United e.t.c just that since many journalist's had predicted United would struggle in preseason and also because the majority of journalists are too proud to see let alone admit their mistakes they are searching hard for any possible criticism of United.
Giggs is Manchester United's shining knight 09:31am on 27 Sep 2009 Giggs has been immence his entire career, to start at the age of 17 and still have the passion and desire to keep playing and winning trophies after you've won everything there is to win is a great testament to him.

With regards United I can't help you criticism is a bit lacking given it seems mainly to be based on one poor performance last may. United were disjointed last season put in a handful of excelent performances and had Vidic to thank for the title.

This season in contrast they are playing far more like a team. Berbatov and Rooney are working well together up front, Scholes and Evra who had poor seasons last time around are looking far better. Fletcher and Giggs have been outstanding, I do think the loss last may should be put in the context that United had been stripped of their two defence midfielder's in Hargreaves and Fletcher and consequetly forced Carrick to play out of position with disatorous consequences.

While I can see your point regarding options in the middle and the wings, I think United should have more than enough to cope, Nani was disappointing yesterday but Valencia is improving and let's not forget such are United's options Ji Sung Park didn't even make the bench yesterday. In the middle I'm looking foward to seeing if Lijic will get opportunities when he arrives in January. He looks like a really excellent player and play's behind the strikers which is an option we really need (he also played on the wing in the recent U-18's tournament).
Ferguson talk must please Man City 1:29pm on 18 Sep 2009 Ferguson is obviously concerned for the moment, City certainly have the side to challenge for the title. However regardless of the result on Sunday little will be decided. Two seasons ago City beat United home and away however it wasn't a sign that they were up to challenging for the title, they actually have a pretty good record this century in head to heads against United.

It may actually tell us more about City's capability to challenge for the title if they lose. So far everything has been going well for City in terms of results, however the current injury problems which have been exacerbated by Adebayor's actions. If City do get knocked back on Sunday it'll be intresting to see how they react.

In the long term talented as this City side are, they are far to many players with combustible personalities in the changing room. That fact was shown to everyone by Hughes being forced to defend not only Adebayor's celebration but his stamp on Van Persie. Hughes position is too weak to allow him to stand up to individuals and once one of Adebayor, Robinho, Tevez or Bellamy start playing up it's only a matter of time.
Adebayor madness mars Man City win 10:56am on 13 Sep 2009 Adebayor showed again why despite his immense ability, he is a deeply flawed player. Their is simply no defence for his actions, the reaction from the Arenal support was inveitable and it was lucky no-one was injured. I heard a few pundits yesterday trying to defend his actions after the goal as simply being in the "heat of the moment", that is not excuse at all virtually every single infringment that takes place in football is in the "heat of the moment" that doesn't mean players should avoid punishment.

Hopefully the FA will come down hard on Adebayor with a 5 or 6 match ban giving him time to truley cotemplate his actions.

As for City the speed they hit on the break was breath taking especially given Robinhio and Tevez were out. Still far to early to count them in to any top four or title race however it should be a very intresting match next Sunday.
Defoe makes case for England start 1:50pm on 06 Sep 2009 I'd like to see Milner start on the left on wednesday, he offers more physical opposition to defenders then young and he's more willing to stay out on the left then the likes of Gerrard. Indeed given some of the football England played against Holland I'd be tempted to drop Gerrard out of the starting XI and go with a midfield of:
Beckham, Barry, Lampard and Milner.

Not a huge amount of pace I'll grant you but they are good at holding possesion and allowing the full backs to get forward. Plus it means the pace will be available from the bench when the defenders are tiring.

Re. the striker debate, Heskey an Rooney haven't been setting the world alight together in recent matches so I don't see it as much of a gamble to start Defoe.

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