Cesc Fabregas signs for Chelsea (page 190)

[Lancet Fluke]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

There are plenty of politics in play.

Chelsea know City want Fabregas, they are playing games on a number of levels.

It is also linked into Mangala and Benatia, other targets Chelsea feel they can do with or without.

Chelsea want to force City into spending big and before we are ready.

Mourinho is quite happy to wait to sign Fabregas.

Paris and Chelsea are in cahoots, they did the Luiz deal at the level they did, because PSG quickly wanted to force the issue on Yaya.

Sneaky bastards.

If this is the case Tolm, why don't we just call their bluff? Let Chelsea sign Fabregas, Costa and Mangala, that's the best part of £100 million spent. Surely that would be them spent for the summer.

I believe Fabregas and Mangala are non essential targets for us, let them play games, if they are doing it just to piss us off then they are going to wind up the clubs, players and agents and make things harder for themselves in future.

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

If PSG and Chelsea are in cahoots and trying to make life awkward for us then that's not good but I can't help but feel a large part of our problems at the moment have been caused by Yaya kicking off so publicly and then seemingly refusing to allow it to be sorted until after the world cup. That leaves us in limbo in terms of knowing who we need to target and that makes us massively ripe for PSG and Chelsea to take the piss regarding Fabregas/Yaya.

 

[jimbopm]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

If this is the case Tolm, why don't we just call their bluff? Let Chelsea sign Fabregas, Costa and Mangala, that's the best part of £100 million spent. Surely that would be them spent for the summer.

I believe Fabregas and Mangala are non essential targets for us, let them play games, if they are doing it just to piss us off then they are going to wind up the clubs, players and agents and make things harder for themselves in future.

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

If PSG and Chelsea are in cahoots and trying to make life awkward for us then that's not good but I can't help but feel a large part of our problems at the moment have been caused by Yaya kicking off so publicly and then seemingly refusing to allow it to be sorted until after the world cup. That leaves us in limbo in terms of knowing who we need to target and that makes us massively ripe for PSG and Chelsea to take the piss regarding Fabregas/Yaya.

Seluk has obviously had PSG on the phone, telling him how much they would be prepared to pay Yaya (and him by consequence). They then went and found the most petty reason they could for Yaya to be upset and used that as a catalyst to try and get City to respond with a better offer. Obviously City weren't going to offer yet another new contract to Yaya and hence the stand off.

 

[JamesMCFC]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Chelsea rent boy bastards

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtDT0qkPv5U[/video]

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

If this is the case Tolm, why don't we just call their bluff? Let Chelsea sign Fabregas, Costa and Mangala, that's the best part of £100 million spent. Surely that would be them spent for the summer.

I believe Fabregas and Mangala are non essential targets for us, let them play games, if they are doing it just to piss us off then they are going to wind up the clubs, players and agents and make things harder for themselves in future.

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

Call me daft but I don't understand why there should be such unease re the Yaya situation.

Let's say Yaya does indeed want to leave and has made that clear to the board. If i was Ferran Soriano I would say:

"Fair enough but we will not sell you unless a bid of £50 million comes in, not a penny less. Unless those conditions are met you're going nowhere, you've got 4 years left on a contract you wanted to sign a year ago".

We then either a) reach a deal with a club and have money to spend (Pogba or Vidal for me not Fabregas) b) he backs down and carries on for City or c) he continues to throw a wobbler and we stick him in the reserves.

Nice in theory, but City don't want to sell Yaya.

You don't pay someone of 31 £200k a week and stick him in the reserves. He has three years remaining.

And certainly to someone who has an agent who would have us in the papers every day.

A pissed-off Yaya, inside our dressing room, would be a very bad thing for our team on the pitch.

He is a very forceful character.

City have to be prudent and keeping a watching brief on Fabregas makes plenty of sense at this stage.

I suspect Yaya will announce it was all a huge misunderstanding, but we'll see.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

If this is the case Tolm, why don't we just call their bluff? Let Chelsea sign Fabregas, Costa and Mangala, that's the best part of £100 million spent. Surely that would be them spent for the summer.

I believe Fabregas and Mangala are non essential targets for us, let them play games, if they are doing it just to piss us off then they are going to wind up the clubs, players and agents and make things harder for themselves in future.

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

If PSG and Chelsea are in cahoots and trying to make life awkward for us then that's not good but I can't help but feel a large part of our problems at the moment have been caused by Yaya kicking off so publicly and then seemingly refusing to allow it to be sorted until after the world cup. That leaves us in limbo in terms of knowing who we need to target and that makes us massively ripe for PSG and Chelsea to take the piss regarding Fabregas/Yaya.

Nail. Head.

You win Bully's special prize, mate!

Let's hope City aren't looking back at the end of this window being told 'Look what you could have won!'

We will all feel a little better when Sagna and Fernando are announced. Two great signings and showing clever insight into the shortcoming in the squad.

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Tolmie, slightly off topic but as I saw you were in here posting, have you heard anything around our intentions for Rekik this season or are we still at the stage of reviewing our openings for the likes of Lopez, Rekik, Hughes and Facey once we have concluded dealings post WC ?

 

[dancity19]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

Call me daft but I don't understand why there should be such unease re the Yaya situation.

Let's say Yaya does indeed want to leave and has made that clear to the board. If i was Ferran Soriano I would say:

"Fair enough but we will not sell you unless a bid of £50 million comes in, not a penny less. Unless those conditions are met you're going nowhere, you've got 4 years left on a contract you wanted to sign a year ago".

We then either a) reach a deal with a club and have money to spend (Pogba or Vidal for me not Fabregas) b) he backs down and carries on for City or c) he continues to throw a wobbler and we stick him in the reserves.

Nice in theory, but City don't want to sell Yaya.

You don't pay someone of 31 £200k a week and stick him in the reserves. He has three years remaining.

And certainly to someone who has an agent who would have us in the papers every day.

A pissed-off Yaya, inside our dressing room, would be a very bad thing for our team on the pitch.

He is a very forceful character.

City have to be prudent and keeping a watching brief on Fabregas makes plenty of sense at this stage.

I suspect Yaya will announce it was all a huge misunderstanding, but we'll see.

The misunderstanding is likely to be a cover up, obviously.

As you say, we don't want a pissed off Yaya in the dressing room.

I would of course like him to stay for his ability, but if he is going to cause issues/not play to the best of his ability, then we should sell. In fact, there are compelling arguments to sell anyway. After his best season we will never get more for him- though the outburst will have dampened this.
But, in light of FFP, would it not be better to let a high earning, unhappy player go? Of course, I wouldn't be saying this was it not for his outburst...

It's a decision that needs to be made by those who know the situation, and how much we could reasonably get for him.

 

[adrianr]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

We're not over that much of a barrel either. The squad + Sagna and Fernando could easily go and win the league again next season, and make a bigger dent in the CL.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Tolmie, slightly off topic but as I saw you were in here posting, have you heard anything around our intentions for Rekik this season or are we still at the stage of reviewing our openings for the likes of Lopez, Rekik, Hughes and Facey once we have concluded dealings post WC ?

Not a Scooby, bud.

Rekik has made it clear he is not bothered about coming back if we don't have a slot for him.

 

[blueinsa]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

Call me daft but I don't understand why there should be such unease re the Yaya situation.

Let's say Yaya does indeed want to leave and has made that clear to the board. If i was Ferran Soriano I would say:

"Fair enough but we will not sell you unless a bid of £50 million comes in, not a penny less. Unless those conditions are met you're going nowhere, you've got 4 years left on a contract you wanted to sign a year ago".

We then either a) reach a deal with a club and have money to spend (Pogba or Vidal for me not Fabregas) b) he backs down and carries on for City or c) he continues to throw a wobbler and we stick him in the reserves.

Nice in theory, but City don't want to sell Yaya.

You don't pay someone of 31 £200k a week and stick him in the reserves. He has three years remaining.

And certainly to someone who has an agent who would have us in the papers every day.

A pissed-off Yaya, inside our dressing room, would be a very bad thing for our team on the pitch.

He is a very forceful character.

City have to be prudent and keeping a watching brief on Fabregas makes plenty of sense at this stage.

I suspect Yaya will announce it was all a huge misunderstanding, but we'll see.

We might not want to sell him but its the right decision given his age, his value, our predicament this summer and the fact that both Chelsea and PSG seemingly want to play games.

Do the deal now, £50M to PSG and we spend the cash and move on.

Fuck Yaya, fuck PSG, fuck Chelsea and fuck UEFA

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Tolmie, slightly off topic but as I saw you were in here posting, have you heard anything around our intentions for Rekik this season or are we still at the stage of reviewing our openings for the likes of Lopez, Rekik, Hughes and Facey once we have concluded dealings post WC ?

Not a Scooby, bud.

Rekik has made it clear he is not bothered about coming back if we don't have a slot for him.

Yeah, I believe he was looking for assurances of circa 20 games, If we were guaranteed long runs in the domestic cups it may have been tempting but to guarantee would not fit with a sensible negotiating stance with our younger players. Looks like another season on loan then, I think Facey may get some time with the first team this year in training and on the bench, possibly a C1C appearance if results allow. Hughes another loan and Lopez I really dont have a clue.

Keep up the good work Blue and keep on sharing, its what makes the world go round you know !

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

If PSG and Chelsea are in cahoots and trying to make life awkward for us then that's not good but I can't help but feel a large part of our problems at the moment have been caused by Yaya kicking off so publicly and then seemingly refusing to allow it to be sorted until after the world cup. That leaves us in limbo in terms of knowing who we need to target and that makes us massively ripe for PSG and Chelsea to take the piss regarding Fabregas/Yaya.

Nail. Head.

You win Bully's special prize, mate!

Let's hope City aren't looking back at the end of this window being told 'Look what you could have won!'

We will all feel a little better when Sagna and Fernando are announced. Two great signings and showing clever insight into the shortcoming in the squad.

We really should be giving Yaya an ultimatum IMO, in fact I'd like to think we did that a couple of weeks ago. Tell him to get his deal done immediately or he's staying. If it isn't sorted before the world cup then tell him there is no way he is leaving as we need to plan the window. Only obvious issue then is Yaya potentially playing silly cunts on the pitch during the season.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Like many things, when told in conversation, you nod your head and believe you have got a handle on it.

Trying to articulate the various intentions on this board, even I am reading it back, wondering, 'Does it compute for fellow blues, outside my own mind?'

Chelsea want us to call bluffs, they want us to believe that they can outbid us in any auction, because they have that Luiz money, being waved around like a big dick. Paris were more than happy to accommodate as they wanted, Luiz, anyhow, and they want Yaya.

Mangala was certainly an essential target for us, and Fabregas is our iron in the fire, more so, because of the ongoing unease surrounding Yaya.

Call me daft but I don't understand why there should be such unease re the Yaya situation.

Let's say Yaya does indeed want to leave and has made that clear to the board. If i was Ferran Soriano I would say:

"Fair enough but we will not sell you unless a bid of £50 million comes in, not a penny less. Unless those conditions are met you're going nowhere, you've got 4 years left on a contract you wanted to sign a year ago".

We then either a) reach a deal with a club and have money to spend (Pogba or Vidal for me not Fabregas) b) he backs down and carries on for City or c) he continues to throw a wobbler and we stick him in the reserves.

As much as fans would love to see it sometimes, the sooner everyone accepts that we won't just chuck a multi million pound asset in the reserves to prove a point the better.

I gather you weren't here when Tevez was at the club ?

 

[Andouble]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

So my FIFA dream of having both Cesc and Yaya is dead in the water, it's just a one or the other situation?

:(

 

[Craggers]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Chelsea sign Fabregas, they win.

Paris sign Yaya, we sign Fabregas, Chelsea win.

Without wanting to sound thick, why would PSG signing Yaya and us getting Fabregas be a win for Chelsea?

Because Chelsea can genuinely take it or leave it with Fabregas.

A City team without Yaya only enhances Chelsea's attempts to win the league back.

A further example of Chelsea's games...

They were recently telling Sagna that they wanted him and were prepared to pay him the big bucks. It was pretty much bullshit, but they knew City were at the table and would have to cough up a bit more in wages.

City should have demanded that UEFA kept the terms of our punishment a secret, but UEFA had the convenient situation of also having to open it to the floor for other clubs to appeal.

Everyone has been allowed to formulate a strategy around our own constraints and targets/sales in this summer's market.

I find it rather odd PSG are playing such games considering they, like us, are also under UEFA's FFP restrictions.

Granted they obviously don't give two hoots about FFP, but they are playing a dangerous game in my opinion.

Either way I feel with Cheeky in command of things, we really couldn't have anyone better at managing this type of situation.

Just hope it all ends well and we stick 2 fingers up at Chelski come the end of the summer.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

So my FIFA dream of having both Cesc and Yaya is dead in the water, it's just a one or the other situation?

:(

I'm not sure that's what Tolmie is saying, although I could be wrong.

FWIW I remain totally convinced that a) Chelsea won't sign Fabregas and that b) if he moves from Barca with Arsenal ruling themselves out his only destination is City.

I definitely think there's games being played by Chelsea behind the scenes to make our life difficult. There were a lot of rumours around the time of Yaya little strop that Chelsea had dangled a contract in front of his agent. I can fully see Mourinho trying to unsettle us and our key players, and also trying to make our lives difficult in the transfer market.

There's very little love lost between ourselves and Chelsea going all the way back to when Hughes was sacked. That situation was precipitated by HIddink's agent saying City wanted him, which at the time was seen as the Russian trying to unsettle us due to his very close relationship with Hiddink and the agent involved.

What's going to be interesting is just how we deal with what's currently going on. Reading the Mangala stories this morning which again have no quotes from him but is still being run by several publications, I can't help but feel there's a concerted effort going on to fuck us from all angles. Personally I think it's a fools errand doing that with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon.

All we have to do is say "we're not interested in Fabregas anymore - bye", same with Mangala, give Toure a new contract, and go and sign players not handled by Mendes or the Russian mafia. Ultimately money trumps everything in football and we have more than anyone else.

As a side note, I don't entirely agree with people saying that we've been hamstrung by the FFP rulings. There has been absolutely zero clarity from UEFA regarding how the net spend is calculated, and much like the 21 man squad ruling, the reason for the lack of transparency is because IMO the calculations will be based on what goes through the books rather than the headline fee.

 

[OB1]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

So my FIFA dream of having both Cesc and Yaya is dead in the water, it's just a one or the other situation?

:(

I'm not sure that's what Tolmie is saying, although I could be wrong.

FWIW I remain totally convinced that a) Chelsea won't sign Fabregas and that b) if he moves from Barca with Arsenal ruling themselves out his only destination is City.

I definitely think there's games being played by Chelsea behind the scenes to make our life difficult. There were a lot of rumours around the time of Yaya little strop that Chelsea had dangled a contract in front of his agent. I can fully see Mourinho trying to unsettle us and our key players, and also trying to make our lives difficult in the transfer market.

There's very little love lost between ourselves and Chelsea going all the way back to when Hughes was sacked. That situation was precipitated by HIddink's agent saying City wanted him, which at the time was seen as the Russian trying to unsettle us due to his very close relationship with Hiddink and the agent involved.

What's going to be interesting is just how we deal with what's currently going on. Reading the Mangala stories this morning which again have no quotes from him but is still being run by several publications, I can't help but feel there's a concerted effort going on to fuck us from all angles. Personally I think it's a fools errand doing that with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon.

All we have to do is say "we're not interested in Fabregas anymore - bye", same with Mangala, give Toure a new contract, and go and sign players not handled by Mendes or the Russian mafia. Ultimately money trumps everything in football and we have more than anyone else.

As a side note, I don't entirely agree with people saying that we've been hamstrung by the FFP rulings. There has been absolutely zero clarity from UEFA regarding how the net spend is calculated, and much like the 21 man squad ruling, the reason for the lack of transparency is because IMO the calculations will be based on what goes through the books rather than the headline fee.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea are playing silly games: they really are a horrid little club.

Like you, I think that they are fools if they think they messing with Mansour and KAM is a good idea.; City will play the long game.

 

[SebastianBlue]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

So my FIFA dream of having both Cesc and Yaya is dead in the water, it's just a one or the other situation?

:(

I'm not sure that's what Tolmie is saying, although I could be wrong.

FWIW I remain totally convinced that a) Chelsea won't sign Fabregas and that b) if he moves from Barca with Arsenal ruling themselves out his only destination is City.

I definitely think there's games being played by Chelsea behind the scenes to make our life difficult. There were a lot of rumours around the time of Yaya little strop that Chelsea had dangled a contract in front of his agent. I can fully see Mourinho trying to unsettle us and our key players, and also trying to make our lives difficult in the transfer market.

There's very little love lost between ourselves and Chelsea going all the way back to when Hughes was sacked. That situation was precipitated by HIddink's agent saying City wanted him, which at the time was seen as the Russian trying to unsettle us due to his very close relationship with Hiddink and the agent involved.

What's going to be interesting is just how we deal with what's currently going on. Reading the Mangala stories this morning which again have no quotes from him but is still being run by several publications, I can't help but feel there's a concerted effort going on to fuck us from all angles. Personally I think it's a fools errand doing that with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon.

All we have to do is say "we're not interested in Fabregas anymore - bye", same with Mangala, give Toure a new contract, and go and sign players not handled by Mendes or the Russian mafia. Ultimately money trumps everything in football and we have more than anyone else.

As a side note, I don't entirely agree with people saying that we've been hamstrung by the FFP rulings. There has been absolutely zero clarity from UEFA regarding how the net spend is calculated, and much like the 21 man squad ruling, the reason for the lack of transparency is because IMO the calculations will be based on what goes through the books rather than the headline fee.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea are playing silly games: they really are a horrid little club.

Like you, I think that they are fools if they think they messing with Mansour and KAM is a good idea.; City will play the long game.

The more and more I think it over, the more I think the "conspiracy theory" I proposed about PSG and Chelsea colluding to artificially inflate Luiz's transfer fee to destabilise the market could be plausible. I think they are doing quite a bit more than that, much of which has already been proposed, but that action is the perfect platform from which to launch a more articulated strategy.

 

[IanBishopsHaircut]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

I think a lot of people are forgetting we are the Champions of England for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, Theoretically we could sign noone and still challenge...in fact more so as the team knows each other

Realistically if we just signed Sagna and a centreback we would be in good shape

 

[BobKowalski]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Call me daft but I don't understand why there should be such unease re the Yaya situation.

Let's say Yaya does indeed want to leave and has made that clear to the board. If i was Ferran Soriano I would say:

"Fair enough but we will not sell you unless a bid of £50 million comes in, not a penny less. Unless those conditions are met you're going nowhere, you've got 4 years left on a contract you wanted to sign a year ago".

We then either a) reach a deal with a club and have money to spend (Pogba or Vidal for me not Fabregas) b) he backs down and carries on for City or c) he continues to throw a wobbler and we stick him in the reserves.

As much as fans would love to see it sometimes, the sooner everyone accepts that we won't just chuck a multi million pound asset in the reserves to prove a point the better.

I gather you weren't here when Tevez was at the club ?

Ah the good old days when we did banish multi million pound assets to the reserves (or Argentina) until they toed the line or issued public apologies. Ade and Bellers also did time there if I recall. But that was growing pains as we went through our troublesome teens and it would be nice to think we have got past all that.

As to Chelsea/PSG or whoever trying to fuck us over well fucking your immediate rivals over is kind of the point but playing silly buggers over the Fabregas transfer to the point where Chelsea win if they either a) do get him or b) don't get him strikes me as a little far fetched. City have to resolve the Yaya situation one way or the other and if selling him is the answer then so be it. We can start to identify replacements right now if a sale becomes the best option further down the line but I don't quite see where it says that the only answer to Yaya is Fabregas - a player who has sparked a wave of apathy from the majority of top clubs.

We had a transfer strategy worked out for the summer so stick to it. If Yaya causes a bigger problem further down the line then 'fix it' with some more cash or sell him. A big player kicking off after a stellar season is not exactly a new problem in football and one that Txiki and Ferran should be perfectly capable of resolving. What I don't want is people whining that other clubs ganged up on us and made life difficult and it wasn't our fault guv. Shades of the Mancini/Pellegrini debacle during FA Cup final week where everyone was 'explaining' how it wasn't Txiki's fault but big bad Barca picking on us. Well boo fucking hoo. If we can't cope with other teams trying to fuck us over then employ people who can cope. For what its worth Ferran and Txiki are big boys and know the big boy rules so I am sure they will cope.

Having said all this still not arsed about Fabregas. Tell the truth with two titles and two cups and CFG expanding all over the shop not being arsed is pretty much my default setting. I kind of like it.