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Added on January 23, 2009, 3:26 pm
man city wannabe line up

ROFL nice 11 there! XD

Arab tycoon to lead Chelsea takeover bid?

The Arab tycoon behind the takeover of Manchester City may become the man to finally test Roman Abramovich's Chelsea resolve.

The Russian billionaire owner insists he has no intention of selling the club - a position underlined by chief-executive Peter Kenyon at a fans' forum last weekend.

But Dr Sulaiman al-Fahim, working with a group of German investors, believes everything has its price - and may be ready to launch a takeover bid.

Fahim is understood to have drawn up a proposal with Falcon Equity - a Swiss-based private equity partnership.

Fahim, CEO of Abu Dhabi-based Hydra Properties, also chairs Falcon Equity, which is run by Holger Heims, former managing partner of 'DVC' Deutsche Venture Capital.

''We have looked before at some European clubs to see if the numbers added up, and now we are doing the same with Chelsea,'' admitted Heims. ''I can't go into more details at this stage.''

''I don't believe anything is ever not for sale if you come up with the right price. It's not about trying to buy a football team but about a business.

''You don't make money because 11 guys run around the pitch, you make money because of all the other commercial aspects that go with a football club, particularly real estate and television rights.''

Fahim added: ''It's not entirely clear if Chelsea is for sale, but regardless of that, we first need to see if we are in a position to buy it.

''Given that Roman Abramovich has invested more than £500m into the club, it would not be cheap, and with the current credit crunch, nobody wants to be over-exposed on one deal.

''But through a number of investors, there is money available to put together a deal,'' he told Arabian Business.

Abramovich's personal fortune is understood to have been affected by the global credit crunch but he is expected to underline his continuing commitment the club when their accounts are published next month.

But Fahim will have to come up with an exceptional deal to persuade Abramovich to relinquish his hold on the Blues - especially as he continues to reject any suggestion of selling up.

Kenyon said: ''We have had investment of £600m in the last five-and-a-half years with excellent facilities and football during that time.

''Next year we expect our operating profit to break even. Our financial accounts for 2007-08 are published in February and any notions about the owner losing interest are dispelled in that.

''The owner does not have to sell Chelsea and he doesn't want to.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...england&cc=4716

man city wannabe line up

i think we need to open 1 more new thread soon , if  dubai DIC group buy over liverpool fc. " will liverpool become then next man city"

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Added on January 23, 2009, 3:26 pm
man city wannabe line up

man city wannabe line up

Berbatov as keeper? That's wasting. Get Phil Neville  instead. He can play as full back, dm and even keeper!!!

Fuhyoo, last season when Howard was down on ground, he punched the ball out for Howard,showing his talent as a goalkeeper.Get him better la.   

Not star/popular enough la. That's the (only) reason.

Heskey to Villans.
England International For a mere 3.5million quids. Everybody else is sleeping.

I think MON is the Manager of the year.

That's 3.5million Villa have to pay. If they have waited until end of the season, Heskey is available for free. But, brilliant business for Villa to challenge the top four.

Berbatov as keeper? That's wasting. Get Phil Neville  instead. He can play as full back, dm and even keeper!!!

Fuhyoo, last season when Howard was down on ground, he punched the ball out for Howard,showing his talent as a goalkeeper.Get him better la.   

i think we need to open 1 more new thread soon , if  dubai DIC group buy over liverpool fc. " will liverpool become then next man city"

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Added on January 23, 2009, 3:26 pm
man city wannabe line up

Mark Hughes says his whirlwind summer of spending is over after the Club put his bold recruitment plan on fast forward and squeezed three years' work into nine months.
Manager Hughes presented his player wish-list and plans to overhaul City's playing squad to prepare for a challenge for the game's top honours at a pivotal board meeting in December 2008.

But instead of being expected to build his new-look squad over a period of four transfer windows as he expected, The Blues boss was given the green light to land 12 players in jut two.

He said: "You never say never in football, and you sometimes have to react to certain circumstances, but touch wood, we don't get any injuries that would change our circumstances.

"We are very comfortable with what we've been able to do. I outlined my plans to the board in December 2008, told them the players and the quality of players that we needed.

"Obviously at that point there was a budget allocated, but that budget was accelerated and we've done a lot of work in a short space of time - probably three years' work in nine months.


We've come close to getting almost all the players I spoke of in that meeting, which is fantastic - not just from my point of view, but for everybody connected with the Club.

It is no coincidence that Hughes has recruited players as much for their attitude and work ethic as their football ability as 2009 has transformed the make-up of his squad.

Hughes believes the December 2008 strategy, which has seen 14 players released, six sold and six sent out on loan since May 20, has given him a squad equipped to go up against the best.

He said: "We were often up against teams who had greater experience when we compared them, and we knew that was a factor last year when we didn't see games out. We had to address that.

"Along with the experience we needed players with a winning mentality, we wante to bring players with character and strength of mind, who were used to being around a winning culture.

"I think every one of the players who has come in has a different mentality to the ones who have left the Club. That makes the group demanding of me and more demanding of themselves." 
 
Hughes' canny acquisition of proven winners and experienced internationals has stunned football, but the manager stresses that it is the public face of an overall development plan.

He added: "There are things going on behind the scenes. The focus will always be on the players coming through the door, and that's understandable, but improvement is happening across the board at all levels to improve our standing in world football.

"We've acquired a lot of players through the market but investment is going into the Academy and scouting department. We'll be targeting players and developing them ourselves. There is a plan for the future and the Academy and scouting department is key to that.


The way that the football and business sides have been integrated is also key. I've been quite involved in the business side, that's the way the game is going today.


Mark Hughes

"A football manager has to have an understanding of the business. There is none of the confusion that can lead to conflict. I support their aims and the support I have received has been immense. It will be reciprocated."