Official Premiership 2008/09 thread

[METALMAN]

I hope they do get added. Then get relegated. Then go bust.

[-A-]

The Old Firm won't join anyway, they'd stop qualifying for Europe, and then gates'd drop because they're losing every week to teams like Everton and Fulham. There's no sense in them joining the Premier League, especially since the TV money would be spread out across the 36 teams and not 20.

The money they'd make simply for being in the Premiership over the SPL would probably cover them getting to the group stages of the CL every year (which they don't do) and more. Would gates drop because they're losing to Everton or would they increase because they aren't playing St. Mirren any more? What are Newcastle's attendances like? Or Sunderland's? They keep figures high when they're losing, it's just when off-the-field stuff happens that they drop. Both Old Firm teams would be guaranteed sell outs for matches against all of the Big 4 and each other at a minimum. That's 10 games a season that absolutely won't be anything apart from a sellout regardless of league position.

Their biggest problem would probably be the fact that there's a good chance they'd both be in danger of immediate relegation because their teams are so poor at the moment.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Can't we just move Bolton, Blackburn, Stoke and Portsmouth into the Scottish league?

True it's quite an away trip for Pompey but still.....

[9 to 5]

The thinist of thin ice, Hammy.

[Turbo Yannis]

You make the SPL sound second rate

[Crybaby Bunting]

If the Old Firm wanted to come to England, then surely that'd require a vote from every Premier League team in the first place. On equal footing that wouldn't work, because Premier League teams wouldn't just say it's alright for another two teams to come into the league when they could potentially replace them. The idea is then set out that Rangers and Celtic would have to pay to get into the Premier League, I think £100m has been banded about, the idea being that if Premier League teams get another £10m each, they'd be happy accepting Celtic and Rangers into the league.

The only problem then is where Celtic and Rangers are going to get this £100m from, lets consider that it will be paid over 10 seasons, something sustainable, there are two blatant questions to be asked:

How will Celtic and Rangers be able to pay this without the likes of Champions League money?

How will Celtic and Rangers be able to build a team capable of being more than a mid-table club so soon without spending too much?

The first question is easy enough, they'll get 30m per season from the Premier League right? Now lets consider that they pay their £10m off then and there, they've got £10million to spend (considering that wages will consume a HUGE chunk of the money left) How do you go about drastically improving your team from the likes of Wigan and Bolton with only £10m

I'm not comparing Celtic or Rangers to the likes of Bolton or Wigan in terms of club size or structure I just figure that they'd be about the level of Portsmouth last year (plenty of average domestic player with one or two good internationals). I just think that considering so many Championship teams have made the mistake of buying players that sound good, but really arent, Celtic and Rangers may well end up wasting the first two years moneypot. Kris Boyd was one of the biggest names in the SPL, yet failed dramatically whilst playing for Derby, if these sort of mistakes happen then surely they will start to falter in the league.

Then there's the final point of saying that at the moment, Celtic or Rangers falter the second they are above the other in the league, how would they actually cope with losing maybe twice or three times in a row? They rely on momentum a lot of the time, but once they start getting humbled by the likes of Wigan they might not be able to turn around slumps in form that great.

I'm constantly reminded by the huge support of Rangers and Celtic, but that just reminds me of Newcastle at the moment, it doesn't matter how loud they shout or how many there are of you, you're not untouchable. You could have all the fans in the world, but the second your team starts to falter outside of the transfer window, or begin to lose morale from being unable to cope with the league... there's nothing that really can be done.

[METALMAN]

Rangers and Celtic aren't untouchable?

I wish the SFA subscribed to your way of thinking...

[-A-]

Liverpool's title challenge is in serious danger - they're 1-0 down to Arsenal at half time. It's tough to see United dropping points in three games before the end of the season (especially because Liverpool would have to win the remainder for that to be enough.)

[Matt]

Fuck you Arshavin, I'm not signing you again on FM... OK maybe I might, but I'm not happy

[-A-]

Hahah

(9:08:07 PM) Blake: Looks like you might be winning the title tonight

(9:08:41 PM) Blake: jinx

(9:08:42 PM) [suntoucher]: FOR FUCKS SAKE DUDE

(9:08:49 PM) [suntoucher]: YOU DID THAT

(9:08:50 PM) [suntoucher]: YOU CUNT

[-A-]

Hahah, now I'm just getting even more abuse. Awesome.

[AJ]

Is anyone watching this game, and is it any good? I've been desperately trying to get a feed but to no avail. R5 Live it is then.

edit: Holy shit, 3-2 Arsenal.

[therockbox]

And for the umpteenth time this season, the defence undoes all the good work our attack has done.

[Turbo Yannis]

Blimey, what a game.

[-A-]

It's crazy. Arshavin's hardly touched the ball apart from the three times he's scored. Good football, though. Liverpool have been dominant but haven't really capitalised and their defending's had a hand in a couple of the goals.

EDIT: God, football has been great so far this year.

Edited April 21, 2009 by -A-

[Turbo Yannis]

I shall say again:

Blimey, what a game.

[therockbox]

There you go. Title's Man Utd's.

[-A-]

Holy shit!

Amazing game, Arshavin has dominated. Football is great

[Turbo Yannis]

Arshavin's fucking brilliant.

Fucking hell, this is mental.

Edited April 21, 2009 by Turbo Yannis

[AJ]