Manchester City

[Bredbury Blue]

Yeah, deffo tough start but to be fair to Pellegrini I haven't heard him bleat on about anything since he came.

He's very impressive, isn't he. There are other managers who could learn a thing or two about how to carry yourself.

He doesn't speak enough English to get himself into trouble.

You reckon. For a manager who's never worked in the uk before last season, I reckon his english skills are very good. Yes, like anybody speaking a foreign language he over uses "important" words (as I do when try to talk in thai)...I think you're confusing his smartness not to say too much to the media - and pretty dull stuff when he has to fulfil such commitments - with lack of english skills.

[BangrakBob]

I reckon Pellers nightcap is fat blunt with a fine glass of Pauillac Malbec. He is one chilled dude, man

[StevieH]

I reckon Pellers nightcap is fat blunt with a fine glass of Pauillac Malbec. He is one chilled dude, man

i reckon he's all over the single malts mate. 20 year old snifter, gitane in the right hand. man's old school. got a touch of the gainsbourg about him.

[BangrakBob]

I reckon Pellers nightcap is fat blunt with a fine glass of Pauillac Malbec. He is one chilled dude, man

i reckon he's all over the single malts mate. 20 year old snifter, gitane in the right hand. man's old school. got a touch of the gainsbourg about him.

haha I like it. I'd drink and smoke with him.

[Bredbury Blue]

Aguero the most lethal marksman in BPL history

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/sergio-aguero-becomes-most-lethal-scorer-in-premier-league-history.html

[mrbojangles]

Dzecko isn't doing too bad on that ratio list either is he BB

[Chicog]

Aguero the most lethal marksman in BPL history

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/sergio-aguero-becomes-most-lethal-scorer-in-premier-league-history.html

What silly straw clutching.

By that measure, Costa is already more lethal than he is.

[Bredbury Blue]

Aguero the most lethal marksman in BPL history

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/sergio-aguero-becomes-most-lethal-scorer-in-premier-league-history.html

What silly straw clutching.

By that measure, Costa is already more lethal than he is.

That's a fair point, but apply a bit of perspective please.

[Bredbury Blue]

Dzecko isn't doing too bad on that ratio list either is he BB

Yes Dzeko is doing surprisingly well...and he's prove you can teach a Dzeko a new trick

[Bredbury Blue]

Really recommend this Les Chapman Interview with Ben Thatcher to everybody...yes he talks at length about that moment

http://video.mcfc.co.uk/services/player/bcpid1555958105001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAmGi6Ok~,1XzRvnR-bI8aclRpKxsXauaMFtRLVG5n&bctid=3743731084001

Hope the link works ok

[Chicog]

Aguero the most lethal marksman in BPL history

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/sergio-aguero-becomes-most-lethal-scorer-in-premier-league-history.html

What silly straw clutching.

By that measure, Costa is already more lethal than he is.

That's a fair point, but apply a bit of perspective please.

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

[Bredbury Blue]

Aguero the most lethal marksman in BPL history

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2014-15/aug/sergio-aguero-becomes-most-lethal-scorer-in-premier-league-history.html

What silly straw clutching.

By that measure, Costa is already more lethal than he is.

That's a fair point, but apply a bit of perspective please.

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

Think you maybe probably correct. If my maths is correct, at Aguero’s current scoring rate, he would need 426 games to score 260 goals (a faster rate than Shearer) or about 9.5 seasons…but it’s highly unlikely Aguero will stick around for a further 7.5 seasons. [Please can someone check my maths...not a strong point].

[BangrakBob]

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

Think you maybe probably correct. If my maths is correct, at Aguero’s current scoring rate, he would need 426 games to score 260 goals (a faster rate than Shearer) or about 9.5 seasons…but it’s highly unlikely Aguero will stick around for a further 7.5 seasons. [Please can someone check my maths...not a strong point].

Chicceers is just pissed that the great hope for this season Giroud is out forever and now Sanogo is going to be leading the front line.

[BangrakBob]

DP

Edited August 27, 2014 by BangrakBob

[mrbojangles]

Take no notice of Chicog BB. Anybody would be happy to have the likes of Aguero in their team. Not only is his skill and goal scoring potency beyond doubt but he's also a great lad.

[BangrakBob]

TP

Edited August 27, 2014 by BangrakBob

[Bredbury Blue]

So how did Utd get on last night?

[jellydog]

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

Think you maybe probably correct. If my maths is correct, at Aguero’s current scoring rate, he would need 426 games to score 260 goals (a faster rate than Shearer) or about 9.5 seasons…but it’s highly unlikely Aguero will stick around for a further 7.5 seasons. [Please can someone check my maths...not a strong point].

Chicceers is just pissed that the great hope for this season Giroud is out forever and now Sanogo is going to be leading the front line.

Cold, cold porridge that is.

[wilai]

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

Think you maybe probably correct. If my maths is correct, at Aguero’s current scoring rate, he would need 426 games to score 260 goals (a faster rate than Shearer) or about 9.5 seasons…but it’s highly unlikely Aguero will stick around for a further 7.5 seasons. [Please can someone check my maths...not a strong point].

Chicceers is just pissed that the great hope for this season Giroud is out forever and now Sanogo is going to be leading the front line.

Naah, they have a new guy on his way

" Wenger called on Tuesday and stressed his desire to sign him" Nikola Zigic's agent

[Chicog]

Take no notice of Chicog BB. Anybody would be happy to have the likes of Aguero in their team. Not only is his skill and goal scoring potency beyond doubt but he's also a great lad.

I'm not criticising the player, am I, you chump?

I'm just criticising the arbitrary statistic.

As I said, Costa beats it with a goal every 90 minutes.

[Chicog]

I'm applying all the perspective that's required.

It's a completely abritrary statistic and means jack s***.

The statistic that matters for strikers is goals scored, and I don't think we're ever going to see someone eclipse Shearer's record.

Think you maybe probably correct. If my maths is correct, at Aguero’s current scoring rate, he would need 426 games to score 260 goals (a faster rate than Shearer) or about 9.5 seasons…but it’s highly unlikely Aguero will stick around for a further 7.5 seasons. [Please can someone check my maths...not a strong point].

Chicceers is just pissed that the great hope for this season Giroud is out forever and now Sanogo is going to be leading the front line.

Naah, they have a new guy on his way

" Wenger called on Tuesday and stressed his desire to sign him" Nikola Zigic's agent

I'm actually trying to work out which would be worse. Then again Santi wanted Crouchy.

[Bredbury Blue]

So how did Utd get on last night?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mk-dons-taunt-manchester-united-7682672

[smokie36]

Mouthwatering mrboj!

[mrbojangles]

What is Smokes?

Or have you been ear wigging a phone call I just made 10 minutes ago to the restaurant. Indian mix for starters followed by Thai style beef and noodles. And of course my home brew Jack Daniels and coke (better than the real stuff)

Yep, I'm back in the sandpit

[smokie36]

What is Smokes?

Or have you been ear wigging a phone call I just made 10 minutes ago to the restaurant. Indian mix for starters followed by Thai style beef and noodles. And of course my home brew Jack Daniels and coke (better than the real stuff)

Yep, I'm back in the sandpit

Arriving on a Thursday is cunning.....nice one!

[Bredbury Blue]

I don't often agree with The Mail's Martin Samuel, but i do here!

Champions League draw is a tedious and bent travesty that rewards the mediocre old-guard instead of domestic champions

• Manchester City to face Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow and Roma
• Liverpool handed Real Madrid test as well as Basle and Ludogorets
• Arsenal in Group D with Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht
• Chelsea to play German side Schalke as well as Sporting Lisbon and Maribor

So here comes another one, just like the other one. The best team in England have the toughest Champions League draw. Again.

Manchester City will play Bayern Munich. Again. And CSKA Moscow. Again. Meanwhile, Arsenal meet Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea face Schalke 04. Again, again.

Each tie listed here is a repeat of last year’s pairings. It is so tame, so predictable. When will UEFA sort out the abomination that is their seeding system?

For a body so keen on fairness, the concept goes out of the window whenever the dead hand of UEFA reaches for its little balls in bowls.

The elite are protected so that Arsenal, who last won the title in 2004 and needed to pre-qualify this year, are shielded from the toughest opposition, while Manchester City, reigning champions with two title wins in three years, must again climb a mountain to reach the later stages.

It is warped. Bent in favour of the established elite so that there were more champions in pots B and D than in marquee pot A. This produces ferociously unfair match-ups.

Every team in Group A, for instance, are national champions — Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Olympiacos and Malmo — while Arsenal and Chelsea have to contend with a single league winner apiece, Anderlecht of Belgium for Arsene Wenger, Maribor of Slovenia for Chelsea.

Manchester City face Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow, champions of Germany and Russia.

The whole process reeks of protectionism. Michel Platini, UEFA president, says he will address this at the next Champions League summit, but then bleats that he needs the permission of the clubs to change. He means the old, rich ones of course — it is not as if the others matter.

The co-efficient rankings that are used to insure the most powerful against their mediocrity could equally be used to implement a fairer competition. UEFA’s points system also reveals the identity of the strongest leagues in club competition — currently Spain, England, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Russia and France.

So the champions of those countries should be the seven top seeds, plus the Champions League holders. This would create a more egalitarian pot A, comprising Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Juventus, CSKA Moscow, Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid. Fairer already.

Pot B would then be taken from the champions of the next eight leagues off the rank, if they had qualified – meaning Ukraine (Shakhtar Donetsk), Holland (Ajax), Belgium (Anderlecht), Switzerland (Basle) and Greece (Olympiacos), plus the second-placed teams from Spain (Barcelona), England (Liverpool) and Germany (Borussia Dortmund).

Using this system, pot C would be Malmo, BATE Borisov, Apoel Nicosia, Sporting Lisbon, Roma, Zenit St Petersburg, Monaco and Chelsea, and pot D the remainder, including Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, who cannot surely expect to come fourth and be seeded any higher. That way there would be genuine movement in the rankings, and fresh match-ups each year.

And, yes, under that system Manchester City could end up with Olympiacos, Apoel Nicosia and Ludogorets Razgrad and Arsenal with Real Madrid, Ajax and Roma — but as one team won its league and the other came fourth, why should it be any other way? This is the Champions League. That title should mean something.

Instead, domestic success counts for nothing and the same teams meet year after year, often with the same results.

This is the third time in four seasons that Manchester City will have faced Bayern Munich at the group stage, and the same applies to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. How is that healthy, or compelling?

When the Champions League began it felt exotic and new, now the group stage only gets interesting if one of the big boys messes up.

It is a routine revenue-generating process, there to fill TV primetime and only undertaken as a means to an end.

We know the serious stuff begins after Christmas, once a free draw heralds the arrival of the knock-out stage.

Deep down, that is what football’s establishment fears, of course: not being good enough, not being up to the test.

It is to UEFA’s shame that they then indulge this naked protectionism. Either Platini is complacent, or foolish; probably both.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2737164/Champions-League-draw-tedious-bent-travesty-rewards-mediocre-old-guard-instead-domestic-champions.html#ixzz3Bk5P22e4

[StevieH]

i'm confused. the mail absolutely loves things that are "Bent in favour of the established elite". or does equality of opportunity and fairness for all only count when talking about football?

[mrbojangles]

Never mind your personal feeling of the Mail Stevie, do you agree with what is written in the article? I most certainly do.

[Bredbury Blue]

Never mind your personal feeling of the Mail Stevie, do you agree with what is written in the article? I most certainly do.

Mr BJ you beat me to it...StevieH do you agree with the article or not agree?

[StevieH]

i do, the seeding system is a nonsense. it should be an open draw, an honest, anyone can play anyone draw. it should be possible to have a group containing man city, liverpool, chelsea and arsenal. and another group containing barcelona, real madrid, juventus and bayern munich. then it would be an open and fair competition.

but it is still very weird reading what amount to socialist ideas being put forward by the mail and in particular that flabby reactionary berk martin samuel.