The English Football Thread

[Martina 210]

Sir Alex Ferguson must leave Manchester United completely when he decides to retire

If Ferguson is to go, it will not be a surprise to his employers. They will have been working at it for some time, identifying potential candidates. He himself will want to be part of the process.

Hints of inside thinking has been there in questions raised by senior figures about some of those reckoned in with a chance, about Jose Mourinho’s fondness for politicking or David Moyes’s lack of big-budget experience.

Now the talk can no longer be about those who don’t fit, but the one who does.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10042888/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-must-leave-Manchester-United-completely-when-he-decides-to-retire.html

[Martina 210]

Mourinho 6/4 for Man Utd post

Jose Mourinho has been backed in from 20/1 to 6/4 to be the next Manchester United manager amid speculation that Sir Alex Ferguson is considering his position.

Borussia Dortmund's highly-rated manager Jurgen Klopp is the third favourite, coming in from 20/1 to 8/1 with some backing, while Ryan Giggs is 20/1 alongside Mike Phelan.

Sky Bet Football Trader Chris Spicer said: "We saw a surge of backing for David Moyes to be the next Manchester United manager on Saturday despite no real noises surrounding Ferguson's future but, with a national paper now reporting that an announcement could be made before the end of the week, Mourinho is now attracting the majority of the money.

"The 'Special One' looked destined to return to Stamford Bridge, but if the job at Old Trafford became vacant then his head could be turned."

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/8698336/mourinho-6-4-for-man-utd-post

[mybodyisready 155]

Does AVB ever shut the f*ck up? His been talking so much chit in reason weeks. Still bitter over being such a chit manager I see.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-agree-puma-kit-deal-1874661

WHY ARSENAL 30 MIL PER YEAR AND CHELSEA ONLY 17?!

[Rmpr 8,977]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-agree-puma-kit-deal-1874661

WHY ARSENAL 30 MIL PER YEAR AND CHELSEA ONLY 17?!

Chelsea contract with Adidas is 160mi/8seasons and it was agreed in 2010 (when the market prices were different). At the time, it was the second best deal in the country and the 7th biggest in Europe...

Now, the prices have gone up and Puma is, of course, desperate to have at least one 'big' club in their football kit range (a bit like the weird American company sponsoring Liverpool). It is up to each club to decide weather they want more money or a big company like Adidas or Nike behind the marketing campaigns and kit designs!

Chelsea has no financial problems, so I am not worried with Adidas, they are doing an excellent job so far. However, we could try to make more money by using the youth academy, by upgrading our stadium (only if we dont leave SB) and by making a new improved deal with Samsung (they are in their last year of contract and they vasty underpay).

[Leif 6,006]

Purely from a fashion point of view, I believe Puma is looked down on in the UK now for being 'out of fashion', so ha and ha to Arsenal.. as usual

[Strike 7,249]

Wait Wtf? Ferguson may retire?

[Thomas Williams 166]

Saw this is an online Forbes article
http://b-i.forbesimg.com/zachslaton/files/2013/04/Top-Four-Odds.png

came from this article
http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/2013/04/19/projected-epl-table-with-5-matches-to-go/

It predicts the final position in the EPL based off current success, but also factors in the amount paid on players and also some sophisticated modeling that includes pythagorean expectations (if you are unfamiliar it was really successful with american baseball, it basically calculates the "luck of a team" based off the goals they score an allow. E.g. Manchester United had more points than they deserved mathematically, and therefore should lose some points over time as luck tends to balance itself out).

Anyway, it gave Chelsea a 90% chance of finishing top 4 a few weeks ago (week 33) when we were in a much more worrisome position imo, and I thought that prediction was bollocks- I thought we were looking at much closer to 50% considering our remaining schedule. Looking back now though, it seems Chelsea now have all but guaranteed a spot in the Champions league, so maybe all that math and such has something to it after all.

It also predicted United would start dropping points, but I feel that's more easily explained by the fact they don't care anymore, lol.

EDIT:
In his most recent article: This now means that Spurs only have a 41% chance of finishing in the Top 4 while Arsenal sit at 66% and Chelsea have a 92% :cfc:

[Danelka 209]

Benítez to be an interim manager at United until Fergie has his hip surgery done?

[NishC300 1,865]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-fergie-ponders-retirement-reports-223321982.html

Fergie could be retiring. Not sure what to make of these headlines but I think if he wanted to retire this would be the right season for him as he would retire as a champion.

Personally, I don't want him to retire. I want him to be the manager of United when United have their fall.

[Ollie 4,400]

My Dad's had a hip replacement and he's in his 50's, it was painful for him and he was suffering for a bit after the operation. It's one painful operation. A 70 year old Ferguson would really struggle to come back from this. I've got a bad feeling about this (Jose). I don't think Man Utd would pay £20m for Mourinho if we wont though... Hope not anyway. I don't think Jose suits them anyway.

Interesting story.

EDIT: HE'S GONE!

[Strike 7,249]

HE'S GONE! THE GUM CHEWING PRICK IS GONE!

[Ankit 3,176]

BREAKING Manchester United confirm Sir Alex Ferguson is to retire at the end of the season. More to come

[Ollie 4,400]

We ended Guardiola and now Fergie lol

[Strike 7,249]

United will hire Moyes. Out of contract. Free. Scottish.

They won't pay the money for Jose

[Fernando 6,482]

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

[Kojo 4,676]

Probably the most disturbing picture I've ever seen

It's fucking gollum in a Chelsea jersey.