?

Roman Abramovich has been at Chelsea now for over 10 years, and if I was a Chelsea fan I'd be a bit disappointed how little has been done to promote kids from within into the first team, I was wondering If fans of the club felt the same way or aren't too fussed about the lack of internal progression made through the ranks at Chelsea.

When Rooney was submitting his transfer request at United for the second time he probably had great illusions of playing for some continental heavy weight like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich or at the very least a move to a new moneys-no-object side like PSG to take home an even more extravagant pay-cheque than he already does. But instead the strongest interest in him so far has come from...Newcastle United.

http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/premier-league/245...

Maybe he was a little too hasty setting fire to those bridges.

FIFA rules state that "violent conduct" and challenges made with "excessive force" warrant a red card.

Meanwhile "reckless" challenges made with "complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent" warrant a yellow card.

Surely Nani's foul fits into the latter?

Beating Sweden 3-0 at half-time. If only the seniors were half this good.

If there one thing Manchester United and Liverpool seem to share at the moment it's that each of them have one of their players targeted by the media. Luis Suarez makes headlines across the sports pages for any remotely controversial thing he does. Meanwhile De Gea rarely gets any media attention when he makes game saving performances but when he makes on error the rumour mill goes into overdrive that he will be departing and are quick to list possible replacements.

It would seem both Suarez and De Gea are picked out for events and mistakes that their peers would get away with.

If I was the Sheik I'd be asking serious questions. The team as a whole seem to have regressed despite the squad strengthening during the summer and meanwhile performances in Europe have got no better. What's wrong with them?

If technology to assist match officials was to come into professional football how far would you like to see it implemented. For instance do you think goal line technology and no further, or full video playback for the ref to call on, or would you rather keep it technology free.

"I'm ambitious, obviously, and maybe one day, if I'm still good enough, a Premier League team might shine the eyes at me and it'll be something to consider," Neil Lennon

"I am closing a deal with an English club. I will play in Manchester in January,"

Is this City's alternative to De Rossi or United looking to strengthen their weakest area?

In Britain he's been the surprise appointment to the Bank of England job and will be taking over there next year. Our Chancellor made the comparison that he was the central banking equivalent of Pep Guardiola or Sir Alex Ferguson. Just wondering how successful he's been in Canada.

Only a few years ago English football was at it's peak. The top 4 of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool reached a total of 7 out of the last 8 champions League finals. For a while the only thing that seemed capable of knocking an English team out of the competition was another English team and even the likes of Real Madrid were hammered comprehensively by Liverpool 5-0 on aggregate only 3 years ago.

Now in the present English teams are generally struggling to perform well against almost any European team and many are struggling to justify themselves as top ten sides in Europe.

What has caused this significant change?

Admittedly The yellow card that got Torres sent of was the wrong decision and for me should have been given to Johnny Evans for a foul instead.

However beforehand Torres kicked Cleverly in the arm and chest when he had absolutely no chance of getting the ball, surely wasn't he lucky not to get a red card for that?

And for all those conspiracy theorists if Ferguson had paid off the ref then surely wasn't that the best opportunity for him to send Torres off?

In 2005 estimates put Manchester City's total global support at approx. 2 million. Now it is estimated at upward of 18 million.

Surely doesn't this now mean that City are a team supported primarily by international glory hunters. The exact same thing they despised their neighbours for being for so long?

in the transfer market, and what would be fair wages for him also.

Last night on match of the day 2?

Gave the ref 10/10, not sarcasm either.

Money spent is one issue many raise as the most important to a clubs success. Many City fans in particular identify United's success as been down to transfer spending yet in truth little has generally separated the two clubs when it comes to spending over the last 20 years.

In the first ten years of the Premier League (1992-2002) Manchester United's net spending on transfers was £62 million to City's £58 million. Yet in terms of Silverware haul United won a total of 11 major trophies, City by contrast won no major trophies.

In the next period of 2002 - 2008 United's net spending was a total of £93 million to City's £35 million. Trophy haul was a total of 6 to none.

Then from 2008 to the present United's net spending was £62 million to City's £406 million. Trophy haul over that period has been United 4, City 2. And both are still considered as the two favourites at the bookies for the league with little to separate them.

So back to the question if football is just about money why haven't City won as much or even anywhere near the amount of United over the last 20 years?

With France and Germany previously united in their desire for the Eurozone to address its economic problems through austerity, will the election of a socialist leader in France break that previous united front?

Which is he more likely to choose

By the sound of things at the moment it would seem he is edging more towards City.

Not just the 11 players on the pitch but the whole 23 man squad?

I would have though Rooney, Hart and Ashley Cole, Terry and Gerrard probably and maybe a winger such as Young just to give them that option.

And who would actually make the starting 11. I'd have though Rooney and Cole but that's about it.

Obviously they have very wealthy owners but will a lack of club revenue hinder them come the introduction of Financial Fair Play or will revenue have increased to the necessary levels by that time and if so how?