dubai_phil

Even Matt Slater & his buddies are having a laugh about Cala's assets being losses

My take on it as well and would explain the "leaks" We probably started off with a derisory low offer to test the water, the second bid was the first real one, and then the noises where basically everyone has let each other know the boundaries of what they would do to make the deal work. I think we've let them know this is our take it or leave it bid as we will now go after someone else. Down to the Celtic Board, not Lennon But let's face it, 6mil including Puncheon for Hooper & Ledley is still a good deal:) He isn't for Sale. Put your price up

Stories about the deal in the Scottish Press eh? Read this excellent blog by a Celtic fan about the mess Rangers are in http://rangerstaxcase.com/

He is SO going to fit right in down there. His ONLY assets are LOSSES.

And there Ladies and Gentlemen you have it. Proof (once again) that since the summer the posters n this thread have been RIGHT. Despite all the statements, despite Lampitt's appointment, and DESPITE THE FL OVERSEEING THE CLUB CLOSELY - an admission in Public that the club HAS been run in a way that it has NOT been under wise Financial Stewardship - AGAIN. Proof that they still spent money that they did not have UNLESS CSI gave it to them. But again - Joe baby. You CANNOT simply tear up footballers contracts. Those liabilities will stay with you for YEARS. You think a 10 point penalty is a problem? Hell you tear those up and you won't be embargoed, or deducted you'll simply be banned AND still taken to court for the full amounts due.

So, in summary then Somehow, poopey could be getting the takeover that everyone wanted. Us for the lolage The FL for finally living within their means And the few have a new owner with Vision and Dreams

No. I could misspell pages on that subject alone, but it is Totally utterly WRONG that it can do so.

I look at Reality. Reality is that a US President cannot be elected without the support of and money from "The Jewish Vote" THAT is the Elephant in the room, always has been and always will be. Better relations - why yes of course. BUT again the psyche down here is alien to many Western ways - you'd call it two faced I guess. Yes of course we will stop building bombs.... Resolve the Palestinian Issue - impossible, they can't even stop expansionism by settlers, heck they are starting to have problems with their own "Ultra Orthodox extremists" Still, don't worry Tony Blair is on the case, he'll solve it Obama WAS a new Government with a less interventionist approach - hell even an understanding of Islam, but behind the scenes besides the Political support issues are the local Military Industrial combine. Spend defence dollars or put entire States out of work. Have to have an enemy or you can't justify the spending. How to change that? get elected President and rip up Washington... How do you get elected President? With donations from "Key Interest Groups" oops sorry backers. There WAS a time for closer ties, 15 or so years ago, but the US had to balance being friendly with Iraq & Iran to maintan the status quo. 10+ years ago Dubya came along and wasn't going to talk to anyone - Honestly MUCH more than the Shah etc, it is that one man who has so framed the mess Remove Oil & Gas - THAT is the answer - hit their revenues. That will hit the Middle Calsses and THEY will not be happy about it. THAT is the way, but even so you get excuses from Greece, Spain. the Chinese aren't that keen on joining in an embargo. It could take months to rebuild Greek refineries to take other types of Crude (who's ginna pay THAT bill?) So it could take 3 to 6 months to have an impact. And then still where are we? MORE Oil pumped from Qatar Saudi Kuwait, and put into MORE ships and sailed right past? Iran. They won't hot a Tanker or two? Well they did before, they just have to declare the Straits closed and woosh Insurance and costs fly through the roof and teh global economy gets hit just when it cannot cope with it The suggestions are sensible. Ain't going to happen, unless the PEOPLE of Israel want it as well

Well, from the youngsters point of view, they are probably taking the short term view to ensure they stay in football beyond 11 weeks from the next takeover

Uh NO Sorry Ashley, not a hope in hell. The ONLY criteria will be MONEY. It CANNOT be anything else. The FL have specific published criteria in regard to their FAPPT. ANY potential investor who meets THOSE criteria and yet who the FL "don't like the look of" could sue the ass off the FL if they were barred from ownership by something that was NOT in the rules. UNTIL the FAPPT regulations are changed, it cannot happen that way (Even though of course, it SHOULD)

Oh dear. So JoCa's big plan is rumbled straight away. He's going to come in and breach all known UK, EU, UEFA and FIFA regulations regarding Contracts. Someone should have a word - for the sake of the few decent fans they have left. Oh and he's got 20 million. How wonderful. Let's see. 17.8mil at Chinny's 20% interest is Oh 20mil

Look this is NOT a debate about Israel. Go start another thread about that mess, in the same way that this is not a debate as to whether extreme interpretations of Islam mean that Western Values must be destroyed. It's about whether War is Inevitable? Options - Stop Iran building Nukes Tell Israel not to defend itself because you won't talk to them again Sit in a cave with fingers in ears going lalala Make America Vanish Pray for Divine Intervention in the form of a new revolution in Iran Send TDD down the Med to Nuke Israel ourselves because it's all their fault Or do the Jack Nicholson let's all get along speech from Mars Attacks. Nobody is saying whether it is right or wrong. It's just going to happen and to all intents and purposes already has (Car Bombs), and was made inevitable by the Moron Bush & the Leftie luvvies in UK at the time Simple answer - We are concerned at the situation. That concern level is higher than at any time in the past 18 years

Well duh yes. And it STILL would not stop them bombing the hell out of any attempted movement of warheads in Iran. The Israeli psyche is built upon Persecution. You HONESTLY think that some Western Politician could stand up in Public and say Don't defend yourselves or we won't talk to you or trade with you ever again? Oh dear

would argue that some component of Iran's power in the region is the direct result of US-led intervention. We have done that pages ago. EVERY component of modern Iran is influenced by decisions taken by The US during the Cold War days. Hell the entire Middle East is built on random lines in the sand drawn up by the West. However, just because people who existed in power 40, 50 or 60 years ago made decisions based on the THEN Geo Political situation. Obviously Today those decisions can be seen for what they are, but if you had argued against "intervention" back then you would in all likelihood have been labelled a Commie and arrested in the US. Times change, mistakes stay. However, to step away and NOT have concerns about what is happening simply because of bad decisions? Come off it, that is rubbish - People or Regimes can't accept a mistake and move on to the new reality? Would Saints would have to forever stay in the Lower Leagues because of mistakes made by previous regimes? As it was all there fault? In invading Iraq, they left Iran as the big boys in that part of the world Totally different regime different time line different mistake - Dubya made THIS mistake. People tried to tell him, they were hounded out. I got into a heated argument with the Yanks I worked with - Bush was (at the time) seen as a God for Corporate America - NOBODY wanted to listen. the world has never done something that everyone TRIED to argue against? Ha they ALWAYS do it - that's "Political Opinion" for you! - no forget the Anti-War demo type's I mean serious experts. They were ridiculed and pilloried - an EXACT replica of the idiots that created the Euro - did ANYONE listen to people tyring to argue logically? It was IDIOTIC to create the Euro with the structure they did in the same way it was IDIOTIC to invade Iraq in exactly the SAME way it would be IDIOTIC to invade (or even bomb) Iran. (But if Invasion was IDIOTIC, the total lack of a PLAN for what to do AFTER the war was criminal) But FFS you are talking about the Americans here - they've made IDIOTIC mistakes TWICE already. And the Lefties were no better THEY made the same mistake in Afghanistan that the British made way back in the days of the Khyber Pass. Again great WAR guys. What was the plan once you won? (I refer everyon to the last 15 minutes of Charlie Wilson's War btw) Anyway the POINT is Rhetoric, pressure and a Media Battle = Fanbloodytastic. As long as that is ALL that happens. BUT the harsh REALITY (ie sod everyone's opinions on here) The MINUTE Iran starts to move materials or warheads around to fit onto their ICBM's Israel's intelligence service will know about it and will bomb it. The "fallout" in both senses of the word will be a disaster. The ONLY way to stop the inevitability of it? Force them to stop BEFORE they reach that point.

Just a point. So by this logic any country that wants to have it's own weapons of mass destruction should be allowed to create them? Without any pressure being applied or any global pressure or UN or IAEA led sanctions? And PLEASE tell me that you mean "intentions to USE weapons" as there is no doubt that they have "intentions to create weapons"

Totally agree, We should rise above taking the p1ss out of such a beautiful country. Mind you with so many leaving to live elsewhere, most of the p1ss has already left & these days it's just exiled English living up ther after selling their bedsits in London and buying Mansions & Farms up there and saying God Bless BAA FlyBE & EasyJet. So leave the beautiful scenery alone peeps and if you want to be nasty about a race how about ze French?

Well...... Actually......... Very nearly. At current exchange rates, 6 mil is around about 34 and a bit mil Dirhams

Only England player with a brain today would post more but bandwidth bad & tiny pics frozen

Yeah totally know where you're coming from. But trust me, slapping myself for THINKING of it while in the room was funnier

Still think we'll ruffle their feathers one more time at least

This thread really screws you up. Just blagged my way in to Matt Prior's Press Conference (see Gen Sports) When the PR girl said anyone have any other questions.... I REALLY had to bite my lip to stop asking his opinion on the skates live on SSN et al. Jeez, time to take a day off from here methinks

Okey dokey Just back from the game fred. Got there at tea time (work got in way) park in sand, trudge through sand to a portacabin window to get my ticket for 3.50. Trudge through sand to the security gate - "You have Lighter?" - yes - "Not allowed" hmm OK - you come back here no problem you want smoke... So in the general seating area at midwicket saw 3 balls bowled & get a call from a mate & upgraded to a VIP Box - Sweet. Anyway missed the food sat up in the roof but at least Swann & Prior tried to wag the tail. yes there is a Barmy Army contingent here I'd say 95% of the England fans were visitors (hard to blag time off here). with a decent core of about 40 BA in the Premium Seats and another 100 or so in the Platinum Seats. Plenty of Flags. The Trumpet player pipes up and a chorus of Rule Britannia et al.... Leading to a Security Guard telling him "this not allowed" Oh dear. This then led to a series of get your Boss, Get the Stadium Boss, Get the ICC and then a rousing chorus of "You're Getting Sacked in The Morning"..... Met Reporter from The National (Abu Dhabi) who was running an article on the poor suffering English fans. No not to do with the cricket but that so many had paid to come over to watch the Test in the Desert and were now to be seen huddled under their flags freezing their nuts off (and not having any sign of sunshine all day as only half the stadium was actually opened to the public and of course NOT the part that is in the Sun all day. (Have to say it WAS cold - I was frozen & watched the last few overs from inside the Box sipping coffee) Of the general seating - certainly LESS than 1% full - saw a skate shirt so he must have felt right at home. The seats with the bar access probably 15% The posh central area seats (for the tourists) prob 60% full Bar - (was driving so no beer for me today) a BOTTLE of Becks was Aed 35 - that's US$9.50 or about 6.50... Youch Both teams staying at The Grand Hyatt while in Dubai (youch boring hotel) Jimmy Anderson organising Golf Days & after Dinner speaking engagements on off days (200 quid a ticket) Took a wrong door on the way out & walked in to the Press Conference - listened to Matt Prior say Well quite easy really I just played straight and treated each ball on it's merits - then said Upper Order batted like Twonks (well words to that effect). Sub-Continental Cricket is attritional blah blah. Had to leave as work meeting this evening. Coming out in typical Dubai Stylee, not ONE of the Tourists had thought to pre-plan their get away so there were about 450 people (shivering) in a queue for the one taxi that serves the entire area. Sort of finished off a miserable day for them I guess. In a spirit of good naturedness (and an attempt to blag a freebie ticket for the Box again tomorrow) I gallantly offered to get the guys back to at least a part of civilisation where they could get a taxi back to their hotel BEFORE play begins tomorrow. Match Report Cracking stadium to watch cricket from but of course soul-less when empty. Thursday afternoon it will get busier and IF the match lasts into Friday (hahahaha) will be at least a semblance of a crowd. We are going to get frecking walloped - Swann didn't seem to be doing much with the ball, Tremlett looked quick but over pitching, Anderson's first overs were useful. Think they are going to regret leaving Monty out. Also think Swann may need to bowl a bit quicker on the track than he is used to. The Pakistani tweakers sure seemed to be zipping the ball down But as Prior said after - we've saved and even won matches from this position before so we have to get back into the game. True it did look like we would struggle to get 100 at one point. Will try & post some pics later Oh didn't take the flag today as was only going to be there a short while, but it IS packed for tomorrow

94/6 Morgan out - another probable rash shot choice. Trust me I could have been sitting up there with the other 20 spectators having a really bad day. Thank fook for the SatMan! Maybe tomorrow as we spin them to oblivion....... Broad Swann & Prior left - need to get to 250 or will have some real problems. Note that in tests Dubai has only ever had one score of 400 and while I type that Broad goes

You clearly have never had to have many dealings with a British Embassy & Visas.... Jeez the fun we used to have getting visit visas for "Foreign" employees and customers to visit factories in the UK. One staff member was transferred to UK and even once she had the approvals it still took nearly 3 months to get the final paperwork all in the same office at the same time. Sure that won't happen with Lee but it is understandable.

OK an honest response. I saw that we have put together a VERY strong backroom team led by Les Read. I saw that there was friction & division on this (on here and maybe at SMS) when AP was around. I FELT that the systems, processes and people we had put in place to build on our "sourcing of players" was strong I had confidence that the machine would have been working flat out all through the run up to 1st Jan to produce the targets that "The Club" (in which I include NA) wanted to sign. So I had confidence that the "lack of activity" in the first few days of the month was nothing to get excited about. Your opinion was valid but when others tried to reason you strongly. perhaps aggressively defended your own view and didn't actually acknowledge other views that perhaps things were being done. So anyway THAT raised the smile at my end - not you or me being right just that the middle ground should always be "a possibility" in a debate. Going back to Integration. The whole logic in my "opinion" of our Backroom team, and, to an extenet what we have seen on the pitch (in MOST games this season) also gives me confidence that we seek out not just players with Technical Abilities, but also that we seek out players with the right Mental Attitudes. It's the reasoning why I had always argued against Puncheon ever being allowed to get back on the bus. So, right Mental Attitude to fit into a proper TEAM environment, a backroom team that have clearly done wonders for our "L1 donkeys" like Hammond & RL and a Manager with a brain. I think we would actually ONLY be signing players that THEY all believe will integrate into the TEAM straight away, and, with a few appearances off the bench would then become 1st team regulars. I'd also argue a concern which is of course that the right Mental Attitude to integrate may NOT mean they become a 1st Team player - SDR is a good example of that (at the moment - he MAY have missed his chance now to establish himself because of his groin strain) and of course, the much lauded Lee Holmes is another