Premier League (Official Thread)

[jlb1705]

Looks like Benitez has finally about had it with the fans at Chelsea.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...elseas-FA-Cup-victory-over-Middlesbrough.html

 

[Smudger]

Arsenal poised to be subjected to ?1.5bn takeover bid from Middle East consortium within the next few weeks - Telegraph

The cash offer, which is more than twice the amount at which Arsenal were valued two years ago, will be for 100 per cent of the club, and if successful would wipe out debts that stand at around ?250 million according to the last full year’s financial results.

According to a bid source, there would be substantial transfer funds made available to transform the club into a major force in European and world football. There would also be a pledge to reduce ticket prices at the Emirates Stadium — currently among the highest in the world — as well as an attempt to recreate “some of the feel of the old North Bank” at Highbury.

The bidders would like to unite the ownership, putting all the shares together in one fund. The offer will be for the full 62,217 shares which have been issued, but effectively it will be to buy out Kroenke, in the first instance, paying around ?830 million for his 66.83 per cent shareholding (41,581). The offer equates to around ?20,000 per share.

The deal would provide the American with an approximate profit of ?400 million given the majority owner is believed to have paid around ?430 million to build his stake in the club since he first became involved in 2007. When Kroenke made his mandatory cash offer for Arsenal in April 2011, buying up the stakes owned by Danny Fiszman and Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, it valued the club at ?731 million.

What a move this would be. Kroenke would be insane to turn down such an offer. I'll believe it when I see it, but man, as much as I despise Kroenke, he's going to look like a genius if he makes out with that profit.

 

[Smudger]

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott & Giroud.

Spurs: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Dembele, Parker, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Bale & Adebayor.

Always one fixture that never disappoints. Hopefully Adebayor won't ruin the whole game by getting sent off early with a ridiculous challenge like last time.

 

[jlb1705]

Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal, Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott & Giroud.

Spurs: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Dembele, Parker, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Bale & Adebayor.

Always one fixture that never disappoints. Hopefully Adebayor won't ruin the whole game by getting sent off early with a ridiculous challenge like last time.

Glad to see Sigurdsson get a start. Hopefully his luck has finally turned for the better. Leaves Holtby to come off the bench as an impact sub - which is where he has been best for Spurs in his short time with the club. It's too bad Dempsey is still out. I'm afraid his work rate and knack for goals in big games will be missed today.

 

[OSU_D/]

Arsenal poised to be subjected to ?1.5bn takeover bid from Middle East consortium within the next few weeks - Telegraph

What a move this would be. Kroenke would be insane to turn down such an offer. I'll believe it when I see it, but man, as much as I despise Kroenke, he's going to look like a genius if he makes out with that profit.

It would be great to not have to sell or let your best players continue to walk! I hope he pulls the trigger.

 

[Buckeye513]

Arsenal poised to be subjected to ?1.5bn takeover bid from Middle East consortium within the next few weeks - Telegraph

What a move this would be. Kroenke would be insane to turn down such an offer. I'll believe it when I see it, but man, as much as I despise Kroenke, he's going to look like a genius if he makes out with that profit.

I dislike the thought of Arsenal turning into City or PSG more than I dislike Kroenke.

I want them to be able to keep players and make occasional investments, not go apeshit in the market with oil money.

 

[Smudger]

That didn't take long to open things up.

 

[Smudger]

I dislike the thought of Arsenal turning into City or PSG more than I dislike Kroenke.

I want them to be able to keep players and make occasional investments, not go ape[Mark May] in the market with oil money.

I feel the exact same way. While the big influx of money is a plus, it just floods the transfer market with highly inflated costs in players & those teams you mentioned (City & PSG) just throw around money like it's nothing getting whoever they want, whenever they want. While that's a great luxury to have, it's destroying the sport, especially the lower clubs who have no chance in keeping there best players, let alone being able to find suitable replacements at marked up costs. The competition is increasingly becoming between fewer & fewer teams as more of these "tycoons" enter the fray.

What startles me the most is how these clubs, who were pretty much average, if not mediocre on any given year, all of a sudden became world giants overnight. They had the financial muscle to compete with any club & as a result, quickly became strong contenders. The dispersion of top-tier player talent is shrinking significantly because of this & it's very concerning.

 

[jlb1705]

Spurs were in this position last season, and fell apart. Glad they made it to halftime without conceding though.

That was a blistering pace from Arsenal at the start. I don't often find myself saying that Spurs need to slow the game down to get it under control, but those first twenty-five minutes were nearly unsustainable for the defense. Dawson and Vertonghen were immense.

That incisive through ball from Sigurdsson was precisely the thing that's been missing from the Spurs attack lately. I was really in disbelief when Parker followed it up with one of his own just moments later. Quite a time for what might have been his first successful forward pass of the season.

I can see it though - mistakes are coming and Adebayor is going to get himself sent off if Defoe isn't ready for some minutes.

 

[jlb1705]

I dislike the thought of Arsenal turning into City or PSG more than I dislike Kroenke.

I want them to be able to keep players and make occasional investments, not go ape[Mark May] in the market with oil money.

I feel the exact same way. While the big influx of money is a plus, it just floods the transfer market with highly inflated costs in players & those teams you mentioned (City & PSG) just throw around money like it's nothing getting whoever they want, whenever they want. While that's a great luxury to have, it's destroying the sport, especially the lower clubs who have no chance in keeping there best players, let alone being able to find suitable replacements at marked up costs. The competition is increasingly becoming between fewer & fewer teams as more of these "tycoons" enter the fray.

If my club were in that position I'd feel the same way. We could probably have an entire thread on what petro-dollars are doing to the sport.

 

[Smudger]

If my club were in that position I'd feel the same way. We could probably have an entire thread on what petro-dollars are doing to the sport.

That we could. I can't wait until they all become the next Malaga.

 

[jlb1705]

Here we go.

 

[Smudger]

Here we go.

C'mon now. You well know, no lead is safe in this affair, no matter how many goals either team is ahead.

 

[jlb1705]

Should've scored.

 

[jlb1705]

Get up, Adebayor. This is ridiculous.