nPower Football League Thread 2011/12

[Matt]

Delph

Pugh

Townsend

Keogh

O'Dea

Clayton

McCarthy

Lichaj

Livermore

McCartney

Bannan

Gonzalez

Ankergren

Martin

Lucas

Flahavan

Stack

Adam Johnson

Jemal Johnson

Kishishev

Ormerod

King

Douglas

Michalik

Gradel

Blake

Ehiogu

Sodje

Naylor

Gray

Carl Dickinson

Liam Dickinson

Kilkenny

Graham

Kandol

Thompson

Doyle

Vokes

Lowry

O'Halloran

DeVries

Andrews

I'm struggling now.

[The Lusophone]

Two Exeter City directors have flown to Rio de Janeiro in the hope of setting up a match between the League One club and the Brazil national team.

The Grecians are hoping to celebrate the centenary of the national team, who played their first-ever match against Exeter in 1914.

Vice-chairman Julian Tagg and business development manager Bruce Henderson are in Brazil to meet officials.

Exeter marked their own centenary with a game against Brazil Masters in 2004.

In the side that day were former Brazil stars Dunga and Careca.

"Whilst we have no guarantees that we can deliver a repeat of that amazing first game, we owe it to ourselves, the club and its supporters to explore ways in which this important centenary for both Brazil and for Exeter City can be celebrated," said chairman Edward Chorlton.

"The Brazilians are keen. I am sure that during their visit our ambassadors Julian and Bruce will do their best to progress negotiations so that we can pull this off and do so in our normal way without cost or risk to the football club."

The Exeter duo have been invited to Brazil by Fluminese official Eric de Menezes and they are hoping to set up contacts with television companies and potential sponsors.

"There is long way between a dream and reality and we harbour no false illusions or hopes," Julian Tagg said.

Exeter are no strangers to high-profile occasions.

In 2002 Michael Jackson was made an honorary director of the club after he and magician David Blaine visited St James Park as guests of then-Exeter City director Uri Geller.

Despite not being a fan of City (more a "supporter" when they aren't in the same league as Plymouth Argyle, who will stay up. They willwillwillwillwillwillwillwillwillwillwill), i'd love for this to happen in Exeter. Couldn't go to the 2004 one cos of a stupid knee operation on the same day

[hugobomb]

Havn't Hereford loaned a shit ton of players in the last few years?

I know the year they went up to League One they had a load of loanees

[Lineker]

A businessman trying to buy Portsmouth has withdrawn from the process in a dispute over the terms of the sale.

Italian businessman Joseph Cala warned earlier on Friday that he would end his interest in the Championship club.

He failed to agree terms with the club's major creditor Portpin, controlled by Pompey's former owner Balram Chainrai.

Cala told BBC Radio Solent a planned conference call with the Football League had been postponed.

Meanwhile the administrator handling the sale of the club described Cala's decision to speak publicly about his bid as both "extraordinary and disappointing."

Andrew Andronikou is not expecting to finalise a deal until next week, and although earlier this week he told BBC Sport there was a preferred bidder, he now says two or three parties remain in contention.

Pompey's parent company, Convers Sport Initiatives entered administration in November, forcing the Championship club to search for new owners.

There is an urgency to complete a deal, as investment is needed if Portsmouth are to meet ongoing running costs.

BBC South understands any purchaser would need to provide £12m as proof of funds, and assurances they could meet another £20m in repayments to former creditors, Chainrai and Alexandre Gaydamak.

Only one potential buyer has gone public in the process, Italian-American Cala.

Portsmouth's chief executive David Lampitt last week told BBC Radio Solent he had been left "gutted" by the club's latest financial crisis.

Andronikou acted as an administrator at Fratton Park in 2010 and has been involved in a similar role with CSI.

[Matt]

I will be bitterly disappointed if no-one brings one of these masks into the pub tonight.

[Matt]

We are just awful. Apparently the players are looking like they couldn't give a fuck, suppose that's what happens when the club captain is forced out of the club because "the club wanted the money more than they wanted Howson".

[Matticus]

Thames Sports Investment Ltd, a newly-founded private investment company, are very pleased to have signed Heads of Agreement with Sir John Madejski on Friday to acquire a significant holding in Reading Football Club.

Our agreement is now subject to due diligence and the normal procedures from the Football League.

The transaction is due to complete in March 2012, but the Heads of Agreement, as agreed with Sir John Madejski, includes providing Reading Football Club with some limited funding now to enable Brian McDermott and Nick Hammond to strengthen the playing squad during this January transfer window. TSI have met with Brian, Nick and the club to begin this process.

TSI is also delighted that Sir John Madejski has agreed to remain Chairman of Reading Football Club until at least 2014, and to become Life President if and when he decides to step down.

TSI wishes to emphasise that Reading Football Club's management team will remain unchanged, as will the fundamental policies of the club, including prudent fiscal management. Since Sir John Madejski took over at Elm Park in 1991 this club has rightly earned a first class reputation, on and off the pitch. TSI value and respect the ethos and approach held by everyone associated with Reading - the Chairman, staff, players and supporters.

TSI's financial support aims to allow the club to retain its best players and acquire additional players as the football management team see fit. It will also enable the club to expand and further improve its successful Academy and scouting operations.

[Dingle]

Leeds are fucked, again >_>.

I'll be happy (ish) with a draw against Derby today, although I'd love for McQuoid to come on and go goal crazy just for the fun of it ^_^.

[Matt]

McCarthy just got sent off on his return to Elland Road, then we equalised when Sonko passed straight to Snodgrass. Seems we only look competitive when the other team does their best to fuck it up for themselves.

[Dingle]

Like when we got a red card ¬_¬, even then you struggled .

0-0 will do, considering most people seemed to think Derby would stomp a mudhole in us and walk it dry.

[Matt]

I said competitive, not good. Papered over the cracks today, had to have the game handed to us by a poor side, before Ipswich decided to capitulate they were by far the better side. We need more experience at the back (and by that, I don't mean some 37 year old never-has-been on a free transfer).

[The Lusophone]

Blanchard you beautiful piece of French defensive meat you.

And Dag lose 4-1 to Crewe. Huzzah!

Just got to hope they lose their game in hand.

And welcome back Mr Plymouth Argyle, Paul Wotton.

[Lineker]

Michael Duberry scored two own goals for Oxford Utd today, before scoring in the correct goal right at the end to earn his side a draw!

[Jimmy]

I we didn't have to play the final 30 minutes, we'd be in the top six. It's now a suprise when we don't throw away a lead.

[Lineker]

Portsmouth are facing a winding-up order from HMRC.

[Adam]

Michael Duberry scored two own goals for Oxford Utd today, before scoring in the correct goal right at the end to earn his side a draw!

One with his left, one with his right and one with his head. Perfect!

I loved how the commentator on TFLS reported on it like he was attacking both of the goals too, just made it funnier for some reason.

As for Leeds, wow and damn. Ibrahima Sonko has to be the worst defender on earth. The first goal was just CRIMINAL, and I'm sure it was him on the second one too who just ambled back and joined the keeper in a game of 'nah, he's got it!' before Leeds just slotted it in.

[Lineker]

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has agreed personal terms with Rochdale ahead of a potential move.

The League One club made an official approach to Accrington on Sunday, seeking permission to speak to Coleman.

The two clubs will now discuss a compensation package for the Liverpudlian manager who has a contract at The Crown Ground until 2015.

Chris Beech has been in caretaker charge at Rochdale since Steve Eyre left in December.

Accrington currently sit 10th in League Two, just two points off the play-off places.

Dale have struggled in the league this season and lie 23rd, four points from safety.

Last year, under the management duo of Keith Hill and David Flitcroft, they managed a ninth-place finish before the pair moved to Championship side Barnsley.

Accrington boss Coleman, and assistant manager Jimmy Bell, have been with the Lancashire club since 1999, taking them from the Northern Premier League First Division back into the Football League and reaching the League Two play-offs last season.

Stanley chief executive Robert Heys said: "We will always be absolutely fair to John and Jimmy, who have given their all to our club."

Speaking after Saturday's goalless draw at Aldershot, Coleman told BBC Radio Lancashire: "If the sum of your ambitions is to manage in League Two with a club who are on a small budget, I think our club wouldn't benefit from it.

"If our club didn't realise I was ambitious we'd possibly still be in the UniBond."

Coleman has been in charge longer than anybody else in the Premier and Football Leagues, apart from Ferguson and Wenger. If he does make the move, the top ten will be Ferguson (Man Utd), Wenger (Arsenal), Moyes (Everton), Still (Dag & Red), Pulis (Stoke), Tisdale (Exeter), McCarthy (Wolves), Brown (AFC Wimbledon), Evans (Crawley), and Jackett (Millwall).

And to show how crazy the manager turnover rate is - if one of those goes before Redknapp leaves Spurs (hopefully not via prisontime), he'll have cracked the top ten himself!

[jack95]

I'm pleased to see Coleman moving up in the world though, he's done such a tremendous job at Accrington Stanley. I hope he shines at Rochdale.

[Liam]

I'm kinda glad to see Still still at Dagenham. He got them promoted up to League 1 out of nowhere really, and am glad that he hasn't been punished by us returning to where they realistically should be, scrapping at the bottom of League 2.

[Adam]

I guess Coleman just wants a change but jeez, leaving an upwardly mobile Accrington Stanley for a Rochdale side mired in the relegation battle in League One? This 'lets take other teams managers' thing is beyond pissing me off now.