Damian_de

Like when Chang were their sponsor and they appointed a Chinese Marketing Director

Part of that Bayern commercial factor, and I think anyone who's ever lived in Germany will back this up, is their unbelievable high profile compared to all other clubs, and when you have 80m+ population that really matters. Bayern shirts out number other shirts by a ridiculous factor all over the country with the young'uns, all I used to see was Kahn and Ballack, guessing its the same now with Ribery and Robben. Then they are constantly on the TV, not just games, but advertising big brands - D-Telekom, McD's etc. For a country that lacks a royal family they have an equivalent in Bayern, and particularly Beckenbauer.

Said the same just above. We were quite good at this when Houllier was in charge, but we had Sami, and Didi who were perfectly suited to this approach and had the ability to organise. Right now I don't actually think we have the players to be able to play that way - personally, I enjoy watching us press high and dominating the possession (as we did when Rafa's sides were at their best yadda yadda don't go there), but that doesn't mean a thing - not having the players to play that kind of entrenched football, however, does. I just can't see us getting anywhere with the approach we have seen us take in the last 3 matches, even given that it takes time for the manager to get his ideas across and do the training ground work...

Quite so.

Totally. They essentially had 4 vs 2 in there because of the way Tevez was dropping in, or Milner. I have no idea what the idea was with having Kuyt and Jova so incredibly narrow either. They didn't stop them overmanning us in the middle, it left us with little out ball when we did manage to get it off them, and worst of all it left Agger exposed to get absolutely shafted by Johnson. The inverted wingers thing really showed how it can work there, Agger looked horrible tracking him inside all the time, and goals came on the back of it. I hate watching us play a game where we surrender possession purposely and then don't even press to get it back until they are half way inside our half. It's rubbish.

Especially if Masch and Poulsen aren't in it.

More mental than us wanting to start with Joe Cole behind Torres?

Bit cheeky if what Elisha and others have said has some truth

Obi Mikel and Essien were not exactly cheap, Palacios neither.

Obviously it's Beardo, but getting shot of Friedel for peanuts doesn't look so clever now.

which he might've except for the van Gaal factor, but still, his time at Barca was also blighted by injuries. He was finished when he left Ajax

it is rather tempting

You have to expect this kind of thing to happen to such a young team from time to time, though.

Hodgson knows what he's up against now, I suppose. I'm not a believer in the referee conspiracy theories but f***ing hell, I'm having my faith tested after that display. Arsenal will be happy with that result come the end of the season, and they didn't deserve it.

brave sub under the circumstances...

It would be class if we signed someone, and at the press conference they said "I'm moving to Liverpool." I'd be made up with that

That is a truly grim deal edit: for us, it's boss for Barca

Well played

He's one of my 3, yup

Don't think it's been posted... if it has, just point me to the answer post Christian Poulsen is the 7th player to play in England, Spain, Italy and Germany top flight. I've got 3 of the others (only...). Anyone want to join in?

Never even the best player in any of the England teams he played in. Bizarre he could become a 'national treasure' on the back of that.

Sky Sports making up news again. Quality programming.

Yup, course. Thanks

Like saying if we sell Torres for 50m and can use the proceeds to bring in Darren Bent it's good business

Doing my head in now that I can't remember where that place was... someone put me out of my misery?