Absolutely. That's why I wanted Bayern to win yesterday. Abramovich has finally achieved what he wanted to do for the last 8 years or so. He's spent (according to one report I read last week, so I don't know for sure) in the region of $1BILLION of his ill-gotten gains to see his team lift the Champions League trophy. Hope he's happy and he now abandons them for his next plaything. A very, very sad end to the footie season IMO.
So what if he's spent £1billion would it matter if he'd spent £10billion of his personal money? What would your reaction be if someone wanted to spent £1billion on Barnsley FC would you then want every team they played to beat them?
Well first of all, I'm not sure I agree with "personal money" - Abramovich was turned down as a prospective investor in the National Hockey League (can't remember if was Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning) because he did not meet their "fit and proper" test - his ill-gotten gains completely overshadow anything that Redknapp may or may not have done (allegedly). All of it is completely wrong IMO. Secondly, and as I have said to you before, I would not want to see someone plough £1billion into BFC. If they did, I would honestly walk away from the club. Again, as I have said before, I would absolutely love it if someone supported the club to the tune of £10million or so in sponsorship just to keep us competitive with the rest out there. The sport that I have loved for 40 years is being / has been destroyed by these oil barons (and Sky) making the game uncompetitive for the rest of the "genuine" clubs out there. I'm not sure I can be bothered with the Premier League / Champions League any more. And as for the Euros........ I think I'll find something else to do in June.
Well lets hope no billionaires are willing to invest in the club, otherwise they will have invested into a club with no fans if every fan walks away on principle. If your reading this Sheik Whoever take your cheque to Leeds, Doncaster, Rotherham or Sheffield they will appreciate it more the Barnsley fans are happy been skint and surviving in the bottom 5-6 of the Championship season after season. I suppose the same applies to Sky keep Barnsleys share of the TV revenue because your killing football so no one will watch Barnsley on Sky due to the principle.
At what point do you stop supporting them then? It's ok for Paddy Cryne to whack a few million in though. This board is full of hypocrites.
He does a lot more with football and money other than chelsea. He's one of and maybe the biggest investor in youth football in Russia.
What's wrong with the Euros then? I'm actually really looking forward to it, as it's just about the only thing in football that hasn't been corrupted by money yet. My only problem is that I don't know who to support in this year's tournament!
Ah yes, Patrick Cryne, life long Barnsley fan. Chucked a few million in to keep his hometown club alive. Not quite the same as an oil baron from thousands of miles away that has nothing better to do than spend his money on a flight of fantasy, is it? But yes, I'm a hypocrite, if you say so.
abramovich is a life long chelsea fan he used to stand on the shed, he said his favourite player was kerry dixon
Was that before or after he had a few people "bumped off" in oil pipeline deals, allegedly, of course? And if I were in his position I would say that too. I heard that he wanted to buy Chelsea because he had once stayed at a hotel overlooking the ground when it was being re-done in the 90s and thought "I'll have that". Just as likely to be true as the information you have read. When I was at Manchester Uni I used to stand in the Stretford End and The Kippax Stand, because I love to watch football. Probably saw United and City more times than Abramovich saw Chelsea before he splashed his billions. Again, not the same as Cryne in way, shape or form, IMO.
Nothing wrong with the Euros, per se. Generally a better standard of football than the World Cup. I just have an issue with the bunch of idiots (largely) that represent England, with whom I have nothing in common any more. So, Tomi, when you have picked a team, let us know, and tell us why!
his 1st preference was Middlesbrough but he didnt like the smog up there as his favourite player used to be bernie slaven - true story