daniel robert chapman wrote:this article

That was excellent.

I love learning about other leagues around the world.

Thank you, Daniel Robert Chapman.

Nico Adie wrote:In this month's issue, there was a great article about the Marseille corruption scandal

Which one?

Ruben23 wrote:

Nico Adie wrote:In this month's issue, there was a great article about the Marseille corruption scandal

Which one?

The match-fixing scandal of the 92/93 season. I found it of personal interest because it involves Valenciennes, the team geographically closest to my mother's side of the family.

Ruben23 wrote:

Nico Adie wrote:In this month's issue, there was a great article about the Marseille corruption scandal

Which one?

I'm sure you'd all like to read a succint yet comprehensive assessment of just what the fuck is happening at Leeds United. Well, so would I, so if anybody finds one...

What has happened is that Bates' gamble didn't work and the Inland Revenue want their money. His last minute improved offer (8p in the pound) didn't work, and whatever he tried to do at the High Court didn't work today either. There is another hearing date in September.

Other people are coming in talking about offers, but they've been doing that for a while. Apparently the administrators, KPMG, could end the court proceedings at any time by declaring Bates' offer void and selling again to the highest bidder, which now Bates has shown his hand would not be him. This wouldn't have to be voted on, so Bates couldn't use his influence.

But it has seemed to me all along, what with the fifteen minute administration process, that KPMG and Bates are together on this. Which leaves open Bates' other way out - take the ball home, and liquidate the club. There was a story today in the Evening Post about increasing concern at the Council that this is just what Bates will do.

As it is, Leeds cannot deal in the transfer market. They can allow players to leave on frees, but not for a fee - so they still have David Healy, for example. Nobody can be signed. The first pre-season friendly is tomorrow, at Shelbourne in Ireland; I will be very interested to see who plays. There are a lot of 'secret' trialists and hope-to-be-signed players training with Leeds, but I don't know if they can play in friendlies even. According to the official website, the current Leeds squad is:

4 Jonathan Douglas Midfielder
7 Ian Westlake Midfielder
8 Tore Andre Flo Striker
9 David Healy Striker
11 Eddie Lewis Midfielder
15 Frazer Richardson Midfielder
16 Gylfi Einarsson Midfielder
17 Sebastien Carole Midfielder
18 Kevin Nicholls Midfielder
19 Matt Heath Defender
21 Jermaine Beckford Striker
21 Shaun Derry Midfielder
24 Manuel Rui Marques Defender
25 Richard Cresswell Striker
27 Tresor Kandol Striker
28 Robert Blake Striker
30 Ben Parker Midfielder
33 Jonathan Howson Midfielder
34 Robert Bayly Midfielder
36 Jonathan Lund Goalkeeper
37 Tom Elliott Striker
39 Fabian Delph Defender
42 Danny Rose Midfielder

That goalkeeper is about fourteen.

Arsenal have signed some goal crazy striker with 34 goals in 32 Croatian league games last season. Carlos Tevez wasn't lying about his love for the Premiership, just he meant the Salford end up things rather than Larndarn. Spurs are continuing to sign every player in Europe under 21. Eriksson is manager of Manchester City as of today, so at least there'll be some entertainment in the Premiership next season. Liverpool have signed Torres, but will he dislodge Crouch?

And Scarborough went out of business. I hope that isn't a precedent for the summer in Yorkshire.

daniel robert chapman wrote:Eriksson is manager of Manchester City as of today, so at least there'll be some entertainment in the Premiership next season.

I have marked my calendar with a black spot, and I will shed tears for Dudley and Man City fans everywhere. Colin Bell replica shirt is now going into safe storage.

On Thursday, I bought my new season ticket (120 euros). I hope Nice will do a better season than the last one.

Sly Bug wrote:On Thursday, I bought my new season ticket (120 euros). I hope Nice will do a better season than the last one.

See, if Leeds United season tickets were 120euros, I'd buy one of the damn things.

Leeds won their first pre-season game against Shelbourne tonight. Turns out trialists can play:

United (first half): Gay, Bayly, Marques, Coughlan, Lewis, Carole, Fry, Howson, Westlake, Blake, Elliott.

United (second half): Gay, Richardson, Heath, Douglas, Boertien, Mullan, Thompson, Prutton, Delph, Constantine, Kandol.

Some interesting names. Prutton was quality but pushing a referee over was maybe ill-advised; a midfield with him, a fit Alan Thompson and Shaun Derry would be effective. Constantine - hmm, okay, a new journeyman striker to replace the old journeyman strikers. Boertien is another player I have heard of, so that's something at least. Coughlan is a lower-league defender who appears to have won an armful of 'player of the season' awards from his various clubs, which could be what we need.

Leeds could be allowed to sign three players before coming out of administration as, at present, they only have seventeen. Apparently the terms of a transfer embargo are flexible if a club has less than twenty players, which is kind of embarrassing, really.

The goalkeeper there is from non-league (although he did get a couple of games for Norwich): Danny Gay. Apparently the team sheet at Shelbourne identified him as 'Gay Danny'. Oh, it's going to be a fun season.

And KPMG have offically put Leeds up for sale. Bates is going on Yorkshire Radio (which he owns) tomorrow. I have no idea what to think.

Folk, right now on BBC2: a Storyville about New York Cosmos and football in the States. It's on til midnight and looking good. Hope some of you catch this in time.

I'm just about to watch the second half of the Copa America final. It's currently Brazil 2-0 Argentina.