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What do we make of this alleged/paper talk/pie in the sky about Sheikh Mansoud's half brother taking over LFC for £700m. Part of me would be very suspicious about the club heading down that route, but is it *really* much different than Henry owing it? And if he pumped in the guts of a billion quid on players and wages, would we care, if it meant a League title coming back to Anfield?

Which paper was that in?

Mitchels are in good shape for a team who was playing their first game of the season although they probably won't score 2 softer goals all year.

Are Celtic debt free?

Is Arsenals problem not that they don't have the money but that Wenger won't spend it?  Do they not have over 100m cash in the bank ?

Think its nearer to £200m but FFP does restrict them going out on spending it all at once. I do think their probably waiting for when Wenger moves on and giving the next manager that money.

I think Arsenal got burned in the whole FFP saga also. They ran a tight ship thinking it would be implemented whereas City, Chelsea and not PSG  made a laughing stock of it. West Ham will be the next mega club once they move to the Olympic Stadium. The two David's will make a fortune selling them to a foreign investor.

In fairness to Chelsea they've taken it seriously in recent years, they've really balanced the books in the last few years and haven't spent anything like they have done in previous years.

I'm not sure about West Ham, the media have gone overboard about this cheap deal with the stadium. Its a good deal for West Ham but the first £4m of any naming rights go to the owners of the Stadium and then its  a 50;50 split there afterwards and there's something similar with the catering. Gate receipts won't be anything like Arsenal or Spurs would achieve either. Its obviously a great deal but and agree the two owners will make a fortune from this but not sure I see West Ham being a regular top 4 challenger.

Could be wrong but think Chelsea (with the signing of Kenyon) stole a march on all their peers in the Asian market, including United. This gave them a huge foot hold. Arsenal were hamstrung with the Emirates naming rights deal which at the time appeared good but quickly were overtaken.

When does this cash hit a ceiling though? Hopefully Leicester can do it but they are well bankrolled themselves.

Re: Vardy one of Leicesters best performances was away to Spurs in the FA Cup without him, Spurs stole a draw. I think Ozaki and Ulloa are decent strikers but Mahrez will have to pull it out of the bag over the next 4 games. He looks as if he's running on empty!

FFP hasn't gone away so clubs have to be clever like City and their various 'alleged' artificial commercial deals to inject money into the club.  City & PSG are getting away with at the moment but not sure how long the big clubs around Europe will put up with it. PSG & City don't sell many shirts around the world but yet make more money commercially than the likes of United, Barca & Real. Its not odd at all that most of these deals are with companies who have connections with the owners of the 2 clubs.

If Vardy is banned for the extra game and misses the United game then I'd fancy United to get to beat them, he's not missed one league game this season and without him they don't have any pace up top. If Spurs win every game Leicester need 8 points as Spurs have the better goal difference, I can see it going to the final day and you'd have to wonder how bothered Chelsea would be although look at Liverpool on the final day in 95 when they knew taking points of Blackburn would do United a favour. Then again look at QPR in 2012 they were brilliant for 90 minutes then downed tools in injury time when they knew they were safe.

Stoke were poor last night but thought Spurs were excellent, I'd make them favourites for the league next season as long as they buy well this summer. I'm surprised City are 5/4, new manager who is going to change the way City play completely and likely change half the team.

Arsenal must be starting to worry with Spurs building a new stadium too, Arsenal haven't really taken advantage of being a top 4 side for the last 20 years commercially like United & Chelsea have and Spurs will fancy their chances of catching them at all levels.

You sure Vardy has played every game?? I thought there was a spell he missed 2-3 games. Could be wrong.

I've said before, this assumption Spurs will be cash rich from moving into a new stadium is nonsense. Arsenal are a much bigger club financially and they struggled to be competitive both on/off the field due to a move. Spurs' top players only earn in the region of 60-90k (as far as I know). Once they become a force they will want a huge raise!

You cant compare Arsenal,commercially to Man United. Its like chalk and cheese! The problem there is Wenger is 10 years out of date but that's a whole other matter!

Also - we all assumed Chelsea would dominate after last season so I'd hold my horses yet.

i thought Vardy had missed a game but apparently was that was a cup game, his stats say he's played 34 league game this season too.

I don't know what the costs each year will be of the new stadium but I'd imagine gate receipts will be similar to Arsenal so that would mean an extra £50-£60m for them and then there's the naming rights too plus next seasons CL money. That will be at least £110m worth of revenue to them, they could close the gap very quickly. I agree Arsenal are a much bigger club both in terms of success and financially too but they gap could be closed considerably off the pitch if Spurs can qualify for the CL for the next few years but more importantly keep hold of the manager and their best players. Arsenal shouldn't have been left behind by Chelsea commercially considering the huge head start they had on them.

While I have no evidence that Giggs did orchestrate a csmpaign against LvG, he certainly hasn't defended him, or by association, himself. As for Fergie orchedtrating behind the scenes, that is very possible. The whole class of 92 have got a bit above themselves in this affair too imo. Scholes constant bickering around Christmas, while justified  how come he hasn't been bitching about the club since the board gave LvG their backing?

Scholes went from slating LVG to say he needed more time in the role once he knew that his mate Giggs wasn't getting the job. Fergie seems to think the fans want Giggs which is very far from the trust, the fanzines have done a few polls and very few fans want Giggs. So many of mates would not have wanted Mourinho near the place a few years but now most of them want him.

If Vardy is banned for the extra game and misses the United game then I'd fancy United to get to beat them, he's not missed one league game this season and without him they don't have any pace up top. If Spurs win every game Leicester need 8 points as Spurs have the better goal difference, I can see it going to the final day and you'd have to wonder how bothered Chelsea would be although look at Liverpool on the final day in 95 when they knew taking points of Blackburn would do United a favour. Then again look at QPR in 2012 they were brilliant for 90 minutes then downed tools in injury time when they knew they were safe.

Stoke were poor last night but thought Spurs were excellent, I'd make them favourites for the league next season as long as they buy well this summer. I'm surprised City are 5/4, new manager who is going to change the way City play completely and likely change half the team.

Arsenal must be starting to worry with Spurs building a new stadium too, Arsenal haven't really taken advantage of being a top 4 side for the last 20 years commercially like United & Chelsea have and Spurs will fancy their chances of catching them at all levels.

i had to laugh at Mike Dean not sending off Zabaleta on Saturday, it was a very obvious 2nd yellow and this was the same ref who couldn't get his card out quick enough to send Mata off against West Brom even though Zabaleta's challenge was a much more cynical.

Can anyone provide one shred of evidence that any of this is true??

There's plenty of evidence out there that Giggs is not to be trusted

Trusted by who?

They're all looking out for number 1 (who isn't) but I genuinely have not seen one sign of Giggs doing anything to undermine Van Gaal. If you know different I'd be keen to know.

Perhaps LVG will let loose once he's out the door bit the orchestrated campaign by Fergie to get the jobs is comical. Every week we've had an ex team mate of Giggs come out and tell the world how Giggs should get the job, many of them are club ambassadors which will not have gone down well with Woodward.



I haven't heard much in the media recently how United had lost its soul with all the players LVG had brought in and how the club was falling apart at youth level. United had terrible results at youth level this season because its best players were all playing in the u21's and now the first team. Chelsea on the other hand are in their 5th FA Youth Cup Final in a row which hasn't led to anything of note just yet.   

Can anyone provide one shred of evidence that any of this is true??

There's plenty of evidence out there that Giggs is not to be trusted

Even Fergie has given up hope now, he's accepted Mourinho is on the way. I said at the time that LVG shouldn't have let Giggs anyway near the place and he'd regret it, i doubt LVG will be a complimentary about Giggs as Moyes was.

The club needs a lift and Mourinho will provide it.

Why what did giggs do wrong as an assistant?  As far as I see lvg made the ball of it all on his own.

His sneakiness behind the scenes, he's hardly been loyal to LVG.

What are you talking about?

Encouraging ex United players in the media to slate LVG and tipping of journo's about various stories.

How true is any of that though?  Anyway, Giggs has no managerial experience therefore shouldn't be anywhere near consideration.

Very true, I doubt LVG will be as diplomatic about Giggs as Moyes was.

Even Fergie has given up hope now, he's accepted Mourinho is on the way. I said at the time that LVG shouldn't have let Giggs anyway near the place and he'd regret it, i doubt LVG will be a complimentary about Giggs as Moyes was.

The club needs a lift and Mourinho will provide it.

Why what did giggs do wrong as an assistant?  As far as I see lvg made the ball of it all on his own.

His sneakiness behind the scenes, he's hardly been loyal to LVG.

What are you talking about?

Encouraging ex United players in the media to slate LVG and tipping of journo's about various stories.

Vardys seding of looked harsh, hope he gets it sorted on appeal.

Look at the way he moves in front of the defender then throws himself to the ground, the ball has gone to the left whilst he's gone to the right. I'll be very surprised if the ban is rescinded.