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.

Comments91 - 120 of 329
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If your a friendonone does that make you an enamy to all?
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:47AM
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FBf #114- yeah i agree with that, pacey little gits introduced at the end of the game stretching teams, it really is a defenders worse nightmare.
From jay8my on Tue Nov 11 11:47AM
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Jay all this debate about SAF replacement I think it should be a joint effort between you and me.
Then we could ruin them proper mwuhahahahah
From fitbutfrustrated on Tue Nov 11 11:49AM
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Leave ACDC alone. Quality music unlike the article !
From edwardthetrooper on Tue Nov 11 11:59AM
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32 years
From steveb2174 on Tue Nov 11 12:03PM
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Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue
Like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you
From channel_island_wannabe on Tue Nov 11 12:04PM
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Seems like you've missed the point of ED's article: If more foreign players come to Man City (or other Premier League teams) there will be even fewer chances for english players to play for the top teams - England National Team will suffer as Premier League directors and fans want instant success NOW (so long to another 10 more Premier League nmangers in 08/09 season). Then we'll find a self fulfilling prophecy of no more youth academies just at the time when Plattini finally manges to put "a cap" on non - british players playing for an english team in the European Champions League etc! I'm not Captain Mannering, nor am I pannicking yet - but I am stating the logical result of teams like Man City trying to buy success!!
From jonathangrosskopf on Tue Nov 11 12:06PM
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I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Comin down on a sunny day?
From channel_island_wannabe on Tue Nov 11 12:12PM
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the greatest ever premiership player is STILL playing, her plays for Manchester United and he is Welsh. No single modern player comes close!! Henry, Bergkamp and Cantona can all fight it out for 2nd place, but there can only be one number one and his name is RYAN GIGGS!!!!!
From destruktorobots on Tue Nov 11 12:18PM
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what giggs is the most OVERATED player in the prem
From mattymogo on Tue Nov 11 12:25PM
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jose for city!!!!!never in a million years.
From bernard_mcshane on Tue Nov 11 12:29PM
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OK bernard_mcshane: if it isn't Jose Mohrinio then who? because Mark Hughes is a lame duck manager - he wasn't the arabs choice; they just inheited him from the previous lot!
From jonathangrosskopf on Tue Nov 11 12:40PM
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please dont tell me im the only one who tried to make there avatar look a little bit like themselves (obviosly i dont always have a rainbow behind me) but you get the idea
From mattymogo on Tue Nov 11 12:45PM
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Giggs? Overrated?!? No chance matty. He's maybe not as flashy and eye-catching as Henry & co, but he's consistently played for one of the biggest clubs in the world for around 15 years now. His trophy cabinet speaks for itself. And his '99 FA Cup goal against Arsenal is surely one of the greatest goals ever...
From jcverm on Tue Nov 11 12:55PM
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Wow this is great fatfuckingKeith must near suicidal
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 12:55PM
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But why are your arms in the air matt?
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 12:57PM
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Anne, don't tempt him - soon Keith's gonna start going for the 50s as well...
From jcverm on Tue Nov 11 12:57PM
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Hey jcverm I cant keep typing that everytime its too slow Ill call you Harry from now on is that ok?
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:00PM
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Hiya Danny Ive sorted messenger out it was mine it was out of date Johnny says we are sharing pics later Ill IM you
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:01PM
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cus im always happy whaaaaaaaaaaaaay and shocked
From mattymogo on Tue Nov 11 01:01PM
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No such luck Danny I was working but I would rather be in a meeting ;_) any day of the week
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:02PM
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I cannot understand why so many use this blog to discuss such garbage: why not e mail your friends direct and leave this blog to football enthusiasts!
From jonathangrosskopf on Tue Nov 11 01:03PM
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Sure Anne, depends which Harry though. I'd prefer Prince to Potter... But just plain jc is even quicker...
From jcverm on Tue Nov 11 01:03PM
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Thats nice Matt why are you shocked this morning nothing serious I hope
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:03PM
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What does jc stand for I have to have a name in my head to remember you initials just dont do it for me
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:04PM
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150 great idea jcverm this waiting is driving me insane
From keith.brown51 on Tue Nov 11 01:06PM
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Which garbage particularly offended you jonathangrosskopf. Are you sure you dont want to post on Jim White's blog?
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:06PM
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Like a street with many cars you can control close and far, but make no mistake there is a risk to take, do this at your peril
From hamster.jamster on Tue Nov 11 01:10PM
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Ok Danny after all a promise is a promise
From anne_helm on Tue Nov 11 01:10PM
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Sorry guys, I opened the worm can...
From jcverm on Tue Nov 11 01:10PM
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