wacko

Whether the article is true or not, that would be standard operating procedure for a private equity firm like DIC. That is certainly the scenario that I fear. The reason they're sitting on 10bn in cash is because they don't spend it, they just use it as collateral against loans.

jjasonuk: that's an overly complex way. He could more easily pump in the money via a sponsorship deal. That's not necessarily the case. If they (LFC) can borrow the money at lower interest than the return they'd expect from their investments, it makes more sense to borrow and hold on to your capital. That's why DIC is still sitting on a mountain of cash--because they leverage their buyouts heavily (as they say on their website). I'm still sceptical about this whole deal. Are we being bought by a private equity firm to squeeze money out of or are we being bought as a flagship brand of an empire?

It's only a matter of time till they come up with "greenscreen" hoardings and digitally add ads relevant to the broadcast market. If I had the faintest idea how to do that, I'd make squillions.

Massive attendances in the Bundesliga. You can get into the ends for EUR 10 at most top division games. It's almost impossible to get my hands on Schalke tickets, even for the silliest friendly. They pack in 65K for Bundesliga games (standing) and about 45K for European and international games. They've also just signed a new shirt sponsorship deal with Gazprom. For EUR 25m/year. That's more than the Glams' deal is worth.

It makes sense to let LFC pay for the stadium itself so they can hold on to their 10bn to buy other companies.

It's a sound theory, but Chelsea have huge strength in depth and haven't faltered yet since Mourinho arrived, while the Glams always seem to play a blinding end to the season. It looks like we're starting to get some rhythm and fluidity going in what is essentially a 16-man first 11, but it might already be too late. At any rate, it will certainly bear us in good stead if we are still in all the cups come the business end of the season. Injuries will be crucial. I think Rafa's policy of making sure everyone gets a game regularly, if not often, makes us better able to cope with injuries than teams relying on guys who've been sitting on the bench all season.

That's what they'd likely get if they went anywhere else, anyway.

I know a lot of English and Irish round here who've been in Germany considerably longer and still speak next to no German. I agree that it's disgraceful, like, but it's far from uncommon.

Just one of those things. Pornography isn't allowed in Britain, but we still like to shag.

I'd wager a fair few of us feel the same about our jobs.

Brilliant!

The organising body of the competition should pay for insurance. Associations like UEFA and FIFA makes oodles of cash from their international competitions, essentially on the backs of the labour of the clubs' employees. Of course, national associations benefit, too, but it would be infinitely simpler for the organiser to pay insurance rather than to try and work out how much each association could afford to reasonably pay.

No slouch, indeed, but he's not exactly reknowned for his aerial prowess, is he?

Indeed. Ninjas for referees and snipers in the stands. Give them all lashings of PCP before the game.

I'd be very surprised if we get Alves now.

The safety issues are complete balls. It's perfectly safe there. It'd be easier to stampede where there are seats as they're a lot easier to climb over than the metal bars on the terraces. It cost about 125 million quid in '98. Schalke are now, by all accounts, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy due to the cost of the stadium. They've flogged the naming rights and apparently pawned their gates for the next few seasons to secure finance. They fill it for EVERY game. Tickets are dirt cheap (about 8 quid for the terraces) but their big mistake was assuming they'd get a lot of concerts and other events thanks to their slide-out pitch and roof. Unfortunately, the venue is terribly expensive and no-one willingly goes to Gelsenkirchen. It's a fantastic stadium. Just a shame the team is a bit pants.

I like the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen. Good atmosphere and nice stadium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veltins-Arena Bit much blue, like.

If it had anything to do with achievement, Nicole Cooke should walk it. A phenomenal athlete who will dominate her sport for years. Unfortunately, it doesn't. So the fit, royal totty will win.

He certainly has the biggest chin. Lazy mofo, too.

I feel good, confident. PMT around 3.5. Derek will do the business.

Can we call him "Igor", mum?

Actually, we save only 23.9 million by not using nail clippers. BuY BiG MoWeRs.

And here was me clicking on the latest pages expecting to read something about Sinama...

I still desperately want us to sign Alves. No idea why, like. But I'm desperate.

The memory of those two games is burned into my brain. As soon as I heard we were getting him, I thought, "Yay! We'll be ripping teams to shreds like that, too, soon!"