Early Doors - Your morning briefing blog

Moneychest-er City

Tue Nov 11 08:54AM

According to research conducted by dusty academic types, a downturn in the economic cycle invariably leads to people spending more money on entertainment (stretch, yawn, sleep).

For evidence of this you need look no further than the soaraway success of AC/DC's new album, ‘Black Ice'. Number one in 29 countries and counting, the veteran rockers are doing rather nicely from this global recession with their rasping one-trick shtick.

Call it escapism; call it rock'n'roll therapy; call it a schoolboy fetish - whatever you call it, this trend for spending frivolously when there is barely enough to go round has been in evidence since the Romans handed over their monthly salary to watch people get mauled by lions.

All of which leads us nicely into the news that Manchester City are reportedly planning to offer Jose Mourinho £15million/year to become their manager - an amount of money Early Doors would happy fight a lion for.

But the dusty academics will not be happy. While AC/DC and glorified human sacrifice clearly represent entertainment to the masses, Mourinho is unlikely to lift the gloom in the Premier League by turning City into a dull, attritional force with eight holding midfielders who everybody hates. Now, that's not entertainment.

Furthermore, if Mourinho does arrive at Middle Eastlands City will start winning things, and if that happens the world's most fatalistic fans will lose everything they stand for.

Being a City fan is about suffering; about losing football matches to a soundtrack of Joy Division and holding on desperately in the hope that one perfect afternoon their team might humble the dark force that is Manchester United. If they were to win the league their very soul would be ripped out and fed on a plate to Peter Kenyon.

It is for that very reason ED is today launching a campaign for Kevin Keegan to return to the club. Now that's entertainment.

- - -

Andy Cole has announced his retirement from the game, bringing to a close a career that peaked during Manchester United's 1998/99 treble season and was punctuated by prolific mention of himself in the third person.

"I want to give something back," he told The Times. "I don't think it's the end of the Andrew Cole story. Hopefully it's a new chapter."

ED is praying that new chapter will incorporate the long-awaited follow-up to his smash-hit ‘Outstanding', a streetwise rap number that included some of the best lyrics ever set to music. For the uninitiated, here's an extract.

A summer time rhyme and a party jam
Sharp like a razor, speed to amaze ya
Best ya like, Ali did Joe Frazier
I reminisce back to the school yard
I used to work hard, I used to play hard
Got my kicks from hitting the net, not drugs
You bet, we're outstanding

Inspired.

- - -

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "What made everybody happy in this election was that nobody knows what Obama's ideas are, but the system has brought someone to the top just because they have the quality and nothing else. I think that's right." Is Arsene Wenger comparing himself to the president elect?

FOREIGN VIEW: "Football is a world that doesn't interest me anymore; I don't want to come back." Disgraced former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi, banned for five years for his involvement in match-fixing, makes a decision that has already been made for him.

COMING UP: Follow our LIVE coverage of tonight's Carling Cup action, where Premier League behemoths will bless us with the very best players their reserve and youth teams have to offer.

Comments61 - 90 of 329
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percieved price differential
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:17AM
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After three years or so you'd get nothing back from Henry where as Bent (if he had a decent three year strech) you could still probably recoup 10 -12 mio at age 28
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:19AM
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83 Sorry mate wasn;t trying to take thepiss
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:23AM
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Have to agree with Jay. Henry was the best player I've seen in the EPL and Bergkampf was not far behind. If Rooney carries on and has another couple of seasons like the present then there might be a question.
From james_ssmith on Tue Nov 11 11:23AM
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The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
From channel_island_wannabe on Tue Nov 11 11:24AM
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nah not buying that at all FBF, u could justify Henry being priced at £16million but Bent was no way worth the money tottenham paid for him (and yes i am taking age into account). They sold Defoe to pompey for about £5million less than bent yet defoe is in the england team and bent is not.
From jay8my on Tue Nov 11 11:24AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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100 took you long enough
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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&*^k off sunkamm you cockney @#$%!!....if i were you i'd stay down south in your warm armchair drinking your shandy.
From spezzato65 on Tue Nov 11 11:26AM
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88 You got it bad for me eh?
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:27AM
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I see the bad moon arising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightning
I see bad times today
From channel_island_wannabe on Tue Nov 11 11:28AM
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Robinho should be thinking of leaving man city next football season for the almighty CHELSEA...but we still regrate the departure of the best and coaching legend Mourinho
From ngoefabian on Tue Nov 11 11:28AM
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Duuuuuubaaaaaaaaaaaatuuuuuuuuuuuu! Got it again
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 11:28AM
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But Jay if look at my maths and he was sold on for 12 mio 2 or 3 years down he line then they only really paid 4 mio for his services
I agree about Defoe though what a bargain
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:29AM
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104 I've regrated many things in my life especailly cheese
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:32AM
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I do do do
Shoobey doobey do
I do do do
Shoobey doobey do
From channel_island_wannabe on Tue Nov 11 11:33AM
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ilurvemen22 if you want to sing to me thats fine just avoid ballads unless Donovan or somebody of that ilk
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:35AM
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Thats the thing FBF, i dont think Defoe was a bargain i think tottenham got the right money for him. Modern day prem strikers have to have a bit of everything. Look at F.Torres quick, good in the air, strong, and has has fantastic hold up play. Alot of teams play one up top and defoe couldnt do that role succesfully thats why T.Adams dropped him in his 1st game incharge. The defoes and owens of football seem to be abit rare these days and i blame the 4-5-1 formation that mourinho introduced to the prem.
From jay8my on Tue Nov 11 11:37AM
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No Danny mate I'm fairly sure its ilurvemensbottoms22 just being a twatgland
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:38AM
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111 wow very insightful tactic analysis and you have made a very interesting point. Is there a place for a diminutive forward in todays EPL?
Seeing as you put it like that I'd probably have to say no not in a starting eleven but when the game gets streched later on they would still be valuable as a sub to exploit space and tired legs
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:42AM
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113
Friendonone how appropriate
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:45AM
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