Duff for Spurs

TheMonster

wonder has he a "bellamy" style clause in his contract?;)

Thanx 4 The Fish

Fair play to Duff, if he thinks that there is a chance that he is going to be one of the ones that can Push Newcastle towards the top of the league then fair play to him. I wonder if this is a Sheppard signing or a Roeder signing though, FS has on a number of occasions bought and sold players without the manager knowing a whole lot about it until they are gone or arrive on the training ground.

Big Nelly wrote:

Have Liverpool said they tried to sign him? no it was just reported in the press, Bene seems to be only able to sign a player if he came from Spain or South America. Wonder what % of player that he has signed is from PL, 2 or 3%?

First team signings By Benitez - Crouch, Bellamy, Fowler, Bolo - From the premiership.

From Spain & South America - Gonzalez, Nunez (Gone),Josemi (Gone), Garcia, Alonso, Aurelio, Paletta, Reina, Morientes, Pellegrino(gone), Sissoko (French/Malian but came over from spain so I will leave him in that bunch for you as it makes no difference in proving you wrong again))

Then there is Agger, Kronkamp who fall outside your criteria.

So Liverpool have signed 11 from Sp & S Am ( may have forgotten some but not many I would say). And 4 from the prem with two falling outside your criteria. They are still sniffing around some other players but none of them that I can recall are spanish so lets not include them because they would ruin the numbers that you plucked out of the sky even more. So lets give you a quick lesson in Mathematics. For the 4 (about 20 - 24% of signings) prem players (and there are many more english players he has signed that are reserve/youth players but they do not count for the purposes of this post) signed to equate to 2-3% of the team would mean that Rafa has bought more than 100 players in his two year reign. Now that is simply not true is it Nelly and once again you have been shown up to know absolutely nothing about the subject you have chosen to have a dig at liverpool about. Perhaps in a few years time when you are more capable of putting together a reasoned argument with some kind of data to back it up you could contribute more constructively to this forum until then, I would recommend sticking to posting on subjects that you have some knowledge about.

zAbbo

Big Nelly wrote:

Wonder what % of player that he has signed is from PL, 2 or 3%?

Thats just silly, I'm surprised even you can be that ignorant.

Back on topic, Spurs look to be in a much better position than Newcastle. Spurs have a solid structure of good young players, a good manager, and a strong team spirit. I'd rather see one of Irelands best players at Spurs who are on the up, than the uncertainity of Newcaslte.

Playboy

Big Nelly wrote:

When did Spurs become a top team compared to Newcastle? Spurs and Newcastle are in the same boat only Newcastle have a bigger fan base.

Spurs have become a top team when compared to Newcastle because people can see that as a club from top to bottom Spurs have developed into a potential threat to the top 4. We have a great squad, manager and a chairman who is commited to the long term development of the club over short term success. Newcastle are in a transition stage with an unproven manager who has been relegated twice from the premiership with Watford and West Ham. They have a very unbalanced team with no strikers and a poor defence. They have an idiot of a chairman who has no long term game plan for the club, someone who likes to throw money at any available celebrity footballer without taking into consideration the balance of the team.

Newcastle wrote:

Why sign for Spurs where they have too many midfielders that the manager doesnt know what to do with half of them and alot of the time is playing them out of position. Davids on the wing????

If you knew anything about the system we played last season then you would know that Davids on the left of midfield wasnt that unusual. We played with overlapping fullbacks and Davids would come into a more central role with jenas getting foward to support the strikers. We played with one winger which was lennon. Spurs atm have two weak positions in the team left wing and and right back. We only have Andy reid if we want to play with a left winger which is why duff would have been an excellent signing for us and he would have played week in and week out for us. This is in contrast to Newcastle who's strongest postion last season was left midfield with N'Zogbia and Luque able to cover.

BaZmO*

Playboy wrote:

Spurs have become a top team when compared to Newcastle because people can see that as a club from top to bottom Spurs have developed into a potential threat to the top 4.

Ah that old "potential" word. I'd prefer to look at facts and the facts are that over the course of the Premiership's existence Spurs and Newcastle have been mid table teams fighting to get into the European spots with Newcastle generally coming out on top as the more successful team.

92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06
Spurs 8...15...7...8...10...14...11...10...12...9...10...14...9...5

New N/A...3...6...2...2...13...13...11...11...4...3...5...14...7


If you have a look at where each team finished each season you will see that Newcastle have a much better record.
They've finished second on 2 occasions and third on 2 occasions also. Spurs have never finished in the top 4.

People forget that Newcastle are a huge team with massive support. I think the most important thing for Duff is that he gets regular football. And as for people saying that he needs CL football with a bigger club, that's fair enough but sometimes the bigger clubs go out in the first round and Duff has warmed the bench many of times in a CL match.


edit- list didn't come out too goodm but you get the jist.

super_furry

Indeed. I can't understand why Tottenham are suddenly being touted as a 'big' club on the back of finishing 5th in the league. They didn't even make the Champions League.

Salmon

You might find this interesting!!!
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/07/24/SOCCER_Newcastle.html&TEAMHD=soccer

Big Nelly

Playboy wrote:

If you knew anything about the system ....We played with one winger which was lennon.

Well seeing as you know so much can you explain why Lennon spent most of the season on the bench and only started to play towards the end of the season

So Liverpool have signed .......you have some knowledge about.

As usual go on the attack when anything about Liverpool is posted, the topic and my point was made against the post and not the poster unlike your usual rants. The poster said that Duff should of went to Liverpool(read back if you want) and I asked where Liverpool even involved or made a bid? this has not been answered in your page long rant. Bene seems more interested in bringing in players from Spain etc which are unproved in the PL, your post even shows that with the number of player from spain compared to the those from PL. This thread is a Duff thread and not a Liverpool one no matter how hard you try. Have Liverpool ever made an attempt to sign Duff? No it was just press talk.

Hobart

Salmon wrote:

You might find this interesting!!!
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/07/24/SOCCER_Newcastle.html&TEAMHD=soccer

It looks like the Barcodes got themselves a bargain.

If the story is ture, and I have no way of debunking it, it seems that it was not a question of money and more a question of the players wishes to not join Suprs and opt for Newcastle. I seem to remember hearing somewhere that he actually prefers the N/E of England as opposed to life in London.

Hobart

Big Nelly wrote:

WAs usual go on the attack when anything about Liverpool is posted, the topic and my point was made against the post and not the poster unlike your usual rants. The poster said that Duff should of went to Liverpool(read back if you want) and I asked where Liverpool even involved or made a bid? this has not been answered in your page long rant. Bene seems more interested in bringing in players from Spain etc which are unproved in the PL, your post even shows that with the number of player from spain compared to the those from PL. This thread is a Duff thread and not a Liverpool one no matter how hard you try. Have Liverpool ever made an attempt to sign Duff? No it was just press talk.

You seemed to indicate that you were ignorant of the percentage of players signed from PL clubs by Rafa. You indicated that you thought it was 2%or3%. From what I can see, TFTF was pointing out to you that the percentage is actually a lot higher.

I don't believe that Liverpool made a bid for Duff, as I don't believe they need him. Have they ever had an interest in the player? Yes, of course they have, back in his Blackburn days they showed an interest and just before he signed for Chelsea, they also made enquiries. I hope that clears it up for you.

Thanx 4 The Fish

Big Nelly wrote:

Well seeing as you know so much can you explain why Lennon spent most of the season on the bench and only started to play towards the end of the season




As usual go on the attack when anything about Liverpool is posted, the topic and my point was made against the post and not the poster unlike your usual rants. The poster said that Duff should of went to Liverpool(read back if you want) and I asked where Liverpool even involved or made a bid? this has not been answered in your page long rant. Bene seems more interested in bringing in players from Spain etc which are unproved in the PL, your post even shows that with the number of player from spain compared to the those from PL. This thread is a Duff thread and not a Liverpool one no matter how hard you try. Have Liverpool ever made an attempt to sign Duff? No it was just press talk.

Once again you show up your lack of knowledge, of course liverpool tried to sign Duff, it was a while ago but they did try. And once again, you try and change your mind halfway through the thread, so one of your posts which contained nusubstantiated rubbish was debunkjed and then away you go moving the goalposts as usual. I am not going on the attack, I am once again showing you up as having little or no knowledge on your chosen specialist subject (Liverpool signings and how bad rafas unproven signings are.)
I do not dispute that raf signed alot of players from spain, I disputed the rubbish you decided to post as regards the percentages of signings. You are wrong, live with it, grow up and move on.

My apologies to the OP for the off-topicness but these fallasies by Nelly needed to be addressed and him put straight.

Big Nelly

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote:

Once again you show up your lack of knowledge, of course liverpool tried to sign Duff, it was a while ago but they did try. And once again, you try and change your mind halfway through the thread, so one of your posts which contained nusubstantiated rubbish was debunkjed and then away you go moving the goalposts as usual. I am not going on the attack, I am once again showing you up as having little or no knowledge on your chosen specialist subject (Liverpool signings and how bad rafas unproven signings are.)
I do not dispute that raf signed alot of players from spain, I disputed the rubbish you decided to post as regards the percentages of signings. You are wrong, live with it, grow up and move on.

My apologies to the OP for the off-topicness but these fallasies by Nelly needed to be addressed and him put straight.

Again attack the poster. My question again is have Liverpool tried to sign Duff? if not then go back to the post where the poster said he should of went to the pool

Oh yeah noticed you left a little bit of the post out. Wonder why. And don't post a reply to any more of my posts. Ignore been used for the first time on boards. Its a sad day.

Thanx 4 The Fish

Big Nelly wrote:

Ignore been used for the first time on boards. Its a sad day.

Not for me

Playboy

BaZmO* wrote:

Ah that old "potential" word. I'd prefer to look at facts and the facts are that over the course of the Premiership's existence Spurs and Newcastle have been mid table teams fighting to get into the European spots with Newcastle generally coming out on top as the more successful team.

92/93 93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06
Spurs 8...15...7...8...10...14...11...10...12...9...10...14...9...5

New N/A...3...6...2...2...13...13...11...11...4...3...5...14...7


If you have a look at where each team finished each season you will see that Newcastle have a much better record.
They've finished second on 2 occasions and third on 2 occasions also. Spurs have never finished in the top 4.

People forget that Newcastle are a huge team with massive support. I think the most important thing for Duff is that he gets regular football. And as for people saying that he needs CL football with a bigger club, that's fair enough but sometimes the bigger clubs go out in the first round and Duff has warmed the bench many of times in a CL match.


edit- list didn't come out too goodm but you get the jist.

Look Spurs have shown a steady improvement in the last couple of seasons under Jol. We have also made some great signings and and secured one of the largest sponsorship deals in world football. We have a very young squad with the average age under 25. We also are very well run financially and have very little debt. Now it is obvious to most people including the media that spurs have put together a plan that will see them challenging the top4 in the very near future.

Newcastle in comparison have an erratric chairman who is prone to making bad decisions. They have an unproven manager who has been relegated with 2 other clubs. They have an enormous amount of debt and an unbalanced team. For most sane people spurs look the better club atm. Newcastle also have the potential to be challenging the top 4 in the near future but they have a lot of work to do first.

BaZmO*

I'm not saying that Spurs don't have good squad and are an up and coming club, they are, and I've always had a soft spot for them. I was just pointing out that they aren't a bigger club than Newcastle.

Bateman

He's leaving a "big" team though. It seems that a guarantee of first team football has not just been the biggest factor for Duff personally here, but possibly the only one. I just hope he doesn't live to regret it.

godtabh

Sorry if this has been posted all ready but did you see what price Duf went for?

Soccernet says it was for £5m. Thats nothing. I'm surpiced it was so low and would have thought the £10 would be a fair price for him.

Thanx 4 The Fish

I have no idea why but perhaps Newcastle could not afford the wages so to ensure that Duff did not go to Spurs, who challenged Chelsea more than Newcastle did and are their derby rivals, they smoothed the way by allowing the 5 mill over the amount of years to go to Duff in wages. That is just an idea but I can see no other better explanations out there, expecially considering that Spurs are supposed to have bid 10

ctrl-alt-delete

kearnsr wrote:

Sorry if this has been posted all ready but did you see what price Duf went for?

Soccernet says it was for £5m. Thats nothing. I'm surpiced it was so low and would have thought the £10 would be a fair price for him.

Yeah I seen that, seems Chelsea obviously didn’t want a champions league club or a London club getting hold of him.

I think its a good move for duff, yes he is going to an underachieving club - but he will be guaranteed first team football and the admiration he is going to get from the Newcastle fans will be something he will have never experienced, I think he will be the new shearer up there. Not in terms of a goalscorer but in terms of a huge fans favourite.

Im sure we will find out at 2 o clock his reasoning behind the move anyway.

Limerick Dude

haha 5 million what a bargain!!!!!

godtabh

Suppose Chelsea do have to money that they dont have to worry about an open markeket. They can buy and sell any player at any price they want

The Muppet

ctrl-alt-delete wrote:

Yeah I seen that, seems Chelsea obviously didn’t want a champions league club or a London club getting hold of him.

.................................
Im sure we will find out at 2 o clock his reasoning behind the move anyway.

Duff said he went with his heart when signing for the magpies, He also indicated that he had rejected an offer to move to Liverpool.

TheMonster

The Muppet wrote:

Duff said he went with his heart when signing for the magpies, He also indicated that he had rejected an offer to move to Liverpool.

that would suggest going with his head

el rabitos

The Muppet wrote:

Duff said he went with his heart when signing for the magpies, He also indicated that he had rejected an offer to move to Liverpool.

source?

Benedict XVI

el rabitos wrote:

source?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/5204958.stm

Duff said on Monday: "A lot of people - Liverpool fans in Ireland - will ask 'why didn't you sign for them?'.

"But I just listened to my heart and it told me to come to Newcastle. That's all it is."

Bateman

Funny Duffer, because this was posted on another forum, as passed on by a "well-connected" Spurs fan. Don't know how true any of the below is BTW

Pat Devlin was asked to broker a deal with Chelsea for his client all parties knowing that we had a sweet deal pending as a result of the Arneson affair. Devlin did his bit and a knockdown fee was agreed as Chelsea were also happy to have him of the payroll.

The crunch factor was the salary was going to be a stumbling block for us and this was known from the start. It was agreed with Levy that a sizable signing fee would be paid to compensate for the cut in wages that he would suffer.

No problem to date save that when the deal was supposedly sorted Levy tried to pull a smart one by spreading the signing on fee over the term of the contract......contrary to what had been agreed at the start.

Devlin blew a fuse..........as he already had strong links with Newcastle he set about pursuing that avenue......Levy called his bluff.

Duff all the while was happy to sign for us and having burnt his boats with Mourhinio as he was already half way out the door at Chelsea.

He did not go to Newcastle until Thursday evening.

Limerick Dude

Duff explains why he snubbed spurs :

"There was one London club in for me and that was Spurs," said Duff.

"But when I go to a club I put my heart and soul into it and for the past three years I've been a Chelsea fan.

"So I couldn't go to Spurs it's as simple as that.

"I spoke to the people there and told them that and hopefully they understood."

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=405469&CPID=8&clid=4&lid=&title=Duff+explains+Spurs+snub

redspider

Duffer going for as low as 5m was a surprise. Whats not a surprise is that he went to Newcastle.

The fact of the matter is that Chelsea wouldn't allow Duff to be transferred to a rival. So, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U are clearly out, no matter what they bid for him. Duff knew this before he got the go-ahead to move. Spurs, with recent success (league position) are also moved to the 'rival' category, it seems.

With those clubs out of his options, only Newcastle and a few others were bidding for his services and hence the low price. I'd say he had no interest in going to a foreign club and with his lack of profile at Chelsea last year and no Ireland in the world cup, there wasnt any of the big clubs knocking on the door. Also, the 'glut' of Italian footballers on the market are a factor. As is Chelsea's now visibe public ambition of winning the CL. Thats what Abramovich now wants most of all. They are going possibly for a 4-4-2 formation, and hence Duff is completely surplus to requirements. Even Robben, Wright-Philips and Cole will get less action this coming year, although Mourinho may mix it up a bit, who knows.

I hope for Ireland's sake and for Newcastle that Damien does well. Newcastle need some luck what with Owen probably out for the season. It would also rub some salt into Abramovich's face if Duffer does have a fantastic season elsewhere. A pity that Damien moved to Chelsea in the first place as it has affected his career. Now lets hope it gets back on track.

Redspider

BaZmO*

redspider wrote:

The fact of the matter is that Chelsea wouldn't allow Duff to be transferred to a rival. So, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U are clearly out, no matter what they bid for him. Duff knew this before he got the go-ahead to move. Spurs, with recent success (league position) are also moved to the 'rival' category, it seems.

Is that 'Fact' or 'Opinion'?

Salmon

redspider wrote:

with his lack of profile at Chelsea last year and no Ireland in the world cup, there wasnt any of the big clubs knocking on the door.
Redspider

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/info/tm_objectid=17444036%26method=full%26siteid=50081%26headline=duff%2dsnubbed%2dinter%2dfor%2dtoon-name_page.html

astrofool

Well of course its going to be opinion unless Chelsea come out and say "we won't sell to X Y and Z", but anyone with half a brain cell would know that it basically is a fact, and Chelsea won't sell anyone who might come back to haunt them to any close competitors. If it weren't fact, then they'd have got more than 5m for him.

BaZmO*

astrofool wrote:

Well of course its going to be opinion unless Chelsea come out and say "we won't sell to X Y and Z", but anyone with half a brain cell would know that it basically is a fact, and Chelsea won't sell anyone who might come back to haunt them to any close competitors. If it weren't fact, then they'd have got more than 5m for him.

Don't be so stupid, players are sold to rivals all the time.
The reason why he went so cheap is because he only had a year left on his contract.

Rollo Tamasi

redspider wrote:

I hope for Ireland's sake and for Newcastle that Damien does well. Newcastle need some luck what with Owen probably out for the season. It would also rub some salt into Abramovich's face if Duffer does have a fantastic season elsewhere. A pity that Damien moved to Chelsea in the first place as it has affected his career. Now lets hope it gets back on track.

load of old rope! especially the above bit. Why would it rub salt into Roman's face? Was it not Jose who sold him?

BaZmO*

He has a problem with RA. Every post about Chelsea alludes to this.

Chucky the tree

He had two years left on his contract didnt he?

Big Nelly

redspider wrote:

I'd say he had no interest in going to a foreign club and with his lack of profile at Chelsea last year and no Ireland in the world cup, there wasnt any of the big clubs knocking on the door.

Usually agree with your posts but no way is that true, every manager in the World knows what Duff can do, everytime he plays in an international at least 2 or 3 players are marking him. The only thing is he doesnt have the same media pull that Beckham has, he is a family man, with his Chelsea signing on fee he bought his mum a house! not much to stick into the junk press. Not like Beckham who he is twice the player. Its all got to do with marketing with alot of top clubs.

herbieflowers

I dunno, he's been indifferent at best for both Chelsea and Ireland the last couple of seasons but that's just down to lack of first tema football

eirebhoy

I'm actually suprised at how highly Duff is rated by fans of all teams considering he has hardly played well since January '05. I just read that Newcastle article and I honestly believe Duff would be happier winning the FA cup with Newcastle being a major part of the team than winning the Premiership with Chelsea after pretty much buying the title. I'd still have preferred to see him go to Inter or Valencia.

Lemlin

eirebhoy wrote:

I'm actually suprised at how highly Duff is rated by fans of all teams considering he has hardly played well since January '05. I just read that Newcastle article and I honestly believe Duff would be happier winning the FA cup with Newcastle being a major part of the team than winning the Premiership with Chelsea after pretty much buying the title. I'd still have preferred to see him go to Inter or Valencia.

Watch his performances for Blackburn before that though. What a player he was and every PL manager knows that. They were picking him out as a player to watch on shows like MOTD when he made his debut for Rovers before they were relegated.

eirebhoy

Aye, I know that. There's few bigger fans of Duff than me on this planet.

[Jackass]

Chucky the tree wrote:

He had two years left on his contract didnt he?

As far as I know, he was going into his final year and made it clear he wanted to leave, so they were deffenatly going to sell him rather than get nothing for him (not that it really matters to chelsea.)

But I suppose I'd agree with redspider that it's one of the biggest clubs he would have been "allowed" to go to by Chelsea....should he have seen out his remaining year and hope for a bigger club? Possibly, but now that he's left chelsea it's a good thing and he has regular premier league football, so it's not all doom and gloom.

Good luck to him, I hope it turns out to be an inspired decision.

redspider

BaZmO wrote:

Don't be so stupid, players are sold to rivals all the time.
The reason why he went so cheap is because he only had a year left on his contract.

No, players are not sold to rivals all the time. In fact, it rarely happens. It can happen, when clubs are willing to pay 'silly money', contracts run out, sales level clauses, etc. Think about it if you were running a club. Why would you sell a good player to a rival. Wouldnt you prefer to sell him to somebody else, in fact someone else that could take points off your rivals? Makes sense to me.

In Duff's case, both Spurs and Liverpool were willing to pay Chelsea more than what they accepted for him, yet it was who was offering the money rather than the amount that was important.

Rollo Tamasi wrote:

load of old rope! especially the above bit. Why would it rub salt into Roman's face? Was it not Jose who sold him?

Abramovich owns Chelsea, Mourinho is an employee. It was Abramovich that sold him.

BaZmO wrote:

He has a problem with RA. Every post about Chelsea alludes to this.

I have a problem with criminality and criminals using their money. In Chelsea's case, far too many people are accepting Abramovich's spending, yet u-12's in the park are talking about how his cash is 'disturbing the game' due to his excessive spending which has no intention of making a return. He is running Chelsea intentionally at a loss as it is his plaything, all paid for by the sweat of the Russian people who ended up with nothing, yet the gun-toting Oil smugglers leveraged their 10's of millions into 100's of millions and then billions, thanks to Yeltsin.

I'm glad for Duffer that he has left Chelsea, as taking filthy lucre is morally weak, granted footballers are mercnary professionals most of them, but it does show even if its just a factor that Damien has some moral fibre.

Big Nelly wrote:

Usually agree with your posts but no way is that true, every manager in the World knows what Duff can do, everytime he plays in an international at least 2 or 3 players are marking him. The only thing is he doesnt have the same media pull that Beckham has, he is a family man, with his Chelsea signing on fee he bought his mum a house!

His currency has gone down in the last season. Being dropped from the Chelsea first team is not a good sign for other clubs.

In terms of media pull, you can still be as quiet as a sheep as be marketable as long as you do it on the pitch - Ronaldo (the original) was an example of that a few years ago. Mind you, Brazillian footballers are more marketable than Irish ones, it has to be said.

Even though we may disagree on the why's and wherefore's of his transfer, I think we are all in the same camp of wishing him success at Newcastle and for Ireland in the coming season.

Redspider

eirebhoy

Looks like Duff's back to his old self again without the shackles. Newcastle fan quotes from the game against PSV:

"Duff is causing havoc creating loads of chances, but as he is playing off the front man, there is only Shola in the box against the 2 centre halfs"

"Duff looks great - playing in a suporting role."

growler

redspider wrote:

. It would also rub some salt into Abramovich's face if Duffer does have a fantastic season elsewhere. Redspider

why would anyone rub salt into someone's face ?

what a strange thing to say.

must be a russian gangster thing ?

BaZmO*

redspider wrote:

No, players are not sold to rivals all the time. In fact, it rarely happens. It can happen, when clubs are willing to pay 'silly money', contracts run out, sales level clauses, etc. Think about it if you were running a club. Why would you sell a good player to a rival. Wouldnt you prefer to sell him to somebody else, in fact someone else that could take points off your rivals? Makes sense to me.

We'll have to agree to differ on that one.

redspider wrote:

In Duff's case, both Spurs and Liverpool were willing to pay Chelsea more than what they accepted for him, yet it was who was offering the money rather than the amount that was important.

It was Duff's decision to go to Newcastle.

redspider wrote:

I have a problem with criminality and criminals using their money. In Chelsea's case, far too many people are accepting Abramovich's spending, yet u-12's in the park are talking about how his cash is 'disturbing the game' due to his excessive spending which has no intention of making a return. He is running Chelsea intentionally at a loss as it is his plaything, all paid for by the sweat of the Russian people who ended up with nothing, yet the gun-toting Oil smugglers leveraged their 10's of millions into 100's of millions and then billions, thanks to Yeltsin.

That's fair enough, but do you have to go on about it in every post about Chelsea? We all know where he got his money.

redspider wrote:

Even though we may disagree on the why's and wherefore's of his transfer, I think we are all in the same camp of wishing him success at Newcastle and for Ireland in the coming season.

Agreed.