Spike

Show me the source of the £58m bid for Oscar.

Do you really think the club wouldn't have an option to buy first? Geez, even a 13 year old on Football Manager does that.

I'd say the reason he was loaned is because of two reasons: the first being that he hasn't played football since the Brazilian league ends at the beginning of December. Secondly, it is because his contract expires at the start of next January therefore if he is signed in June, he will be cheaper. This is a very clever move. If he succeeds, he will be cheaper, if not he goes back to Corinthians.

I know. The word is still Chinese and it was introduced through China. It may be more common throughout SE but that doesn't refute it's origins. It's pretty much the same as dimsum anyway.

I'm more of a lumpia man, myself.

I much prefer the former, it is more profound. Thanks for sharing.

My cousin lived in China for over six years manager a telecommunications country. He said it's possibly one of the most racist places he has ever lived. Well, in his experiences anyway. I also know people that taught English in China without having those issues one of them is even engaged to a local girl. So it probably depends on the province and city. Vice is pretty shit, take their documentaries with a pinch of salt.

Sounds like Stoke.

What does Chelsea stand for? Regarding Conte it is as if you haven't read the last two pages of this thread. People have explained sufficiently and concisely why Conte's achievements with Juve are to be respected.

Haha, Robguima son you just got smacked in the face with the 'Analects of Kilmanjaro'.

It's rotten character to want to earn more money? Not everyone that plays the sport even enjoys it, some are in the game just purely they are talented at it and can earn a living through it. People have different ideals on what is 'success' and what is 'ambitious' just because you have different standards to them doesn't make them 'rotten'. How do you know that he doesn't want to maximise his earnings so he can do more charity work? Maybe he supports dozens of people back in his hometown? I'd gladly choose earning a lot in China over winning a few win cups in England. Why? So I can establish charities and fund missionary work in countries like the Philippines.

Yeah, I've noticed that the 4-4-2 is coming back into fashion. Funny how the game runs in cycles like this.

So far I've enjoyed @CHOULO19 proving everyone wrong about their presumptions on Conte, Allegri and Juve. Keep it up soldier.

I'd rather one set in stone style that the fucking idiocy happening on the pitch right now.

I wasn't confusing anything; I think you are the one confused by thinking I'm confused.

Good for you, I never said I would either. Or did I? Regardless of FFP balancing the books is a good thing. What you think the Russian money will stick around forever? Or would you rather the club continue to spend money illogically till there is nothing left and only a shell remains? Diamonds aren't forever and Jack Walker died in 2000. Being frugal doesn't necessitate that, it never has and never will.

Arsenal is an extraordinary well run club and I have no idea why people give them stick. They are possibly the most well run club in the world. Go then, spend the Russian billionaire's cash, go spend the money of a man in a faltering economy. See how long the club will last with that model when that sugar daddy money stops being pumped in.

Pogba: Ay, yo wassup AM, my main man? Allegri: Ain't nothing much, OG. Pogba: Yo, I wanna join that team in London that has no stability, no continental football, no prospects of winning the league and no manager at the moment. JUST FUCK MY CAREER UP, YO! Allegri: So no more, fam, I'll get on the phone.

I'd rather have a team of 'not-so-good' players that fit a specific philosophy than a collection of mercs that only get by on flashes of individual brilliance. I'd rather watch Chelsea develop into a attacking team for a few years, being frugal, buying the right players and maybe not winning too many trophies over panicking and buying expensive 'stars', winning trophies and having to go through a 'rebuild' period every third year. The club doesn't need world class, it needs players that fit a specific tactical and philosophical approach to the game. Buying world class players and shoving them into the team is so stupid and is entirely unsustainable.

Actually sorry, it was Scolari and Guus Hiddink. The idiot in control that first gave Ivan a start as a RB in the 08/09 season.

Carlo Ancellotti during the 09/10 at the end of which Ivanovic was voted into the team of the season as a RB. So stupid, what an idiot that Ancellotti!

I know, that is why I said

He has nearly exclusively been a RB at Chelsea.

According to these sources. China has about 82,000,000 living in poverty, Russian 22,000,000 and England 13,000,000. China's population is 1,357,000,000 so that is 6% living in poverty Russia's population is 143,000,000 so that is 15% living in poverty. England's population is 53,000,000 so that is 24.5% living in poverty. This raises the question: which country defines it's poverty the lowest and which country defines their line the highest? I'd wager the people living in poverty in England have more food, clothing and shelter than those living in Russia and China. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-cost-living-13-million-people-now-poverty-warns-joseph-rowntree-foundation-1476278 http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/china-more-82-million-people-live-below-poverty-line-1470313 http://www.ibtimes.com/russians-living-poverty-rise-nearly-22m-amid-inflation-falling-wages-2090650

If anyone is interested in the sporting culture of China read 'Mao's Last Dancer' by Li Cunxin - a Chinese-Austrlaian ballet dancer that fled China to Australian. You may be thinking: "Ballet? Piss off, Spike you mad bastard". Some of the ordeals he went through, physical and emotional hardship to be the best ballet dancer he could makes athletes look like pansies. As a teenager I was fortunate enough to hear a lecture given by him in Brisbane, the emotion carried in his words were phenomenal.