Five Premier League teams feature in the Deloitte’s list of football’s top 10 richest clubs in the world, the BBC reports.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are included with Real Madrid taking top spot for the eighth year running ahead of La Liga rivals Barcelona.
The rankings were compiled using data from the 2011/12 season and has Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as the top ranked English team in third spot with revenue streams of 396 million euros.
Local rivals City jumped from 12th to seventh, the joint biggest rise, with their Premier League triumph and a lucrative sponsorship deal ensuring their earnings rose from 286m euros from 170m euros on the previous season.
Chelsea occupy fifth place after their coffers were boosted thanks to success in the Champions League and the FA Cup, with Arsenal dropping down a place as a result, while Liverpool remain in ninth after a 30 million euros increase in their revenue despite a poor domestic campaign and failure to qualify for European football for the first time since 1999/2000.
Deloitte Football Rich List
1. Real Madrid: 513m euros
2. Barcelona: 483m euros
3. Man Utd: 396m euros
4. Bayern Munich: 368m euros
5. Chelsea: 323m euros
6. Arsenal: 290m euros
7. Manchester City: 286m euros
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8. AC Milan: 257m euros
9. Liverpool: 233m euros
10. Juventus: 195m euros
Check out our infographic about finance in football below
Ever since Crystal Palace fans started to sing “South London is ours” the way results have gone since January prove otherwise, yes they won 1-0 at The Den, but the Lions finished above them in the table, and on Saturday, despite having a 2-0 lead, the Lions fought back for a 2-2 draw.
Palace fan group ‘The Ultras’ welcomed the traveling supporters by hanging a banner showing a confused gorilla in a Millwall shirt holding a turkey flag (hilarious I know) with signs pointing to ‘League One” and “extinction”.
Not like Palace had to win on the final day to save themselves a couple years back or that they nearly went of existence just weeks later? Nice one ultras, but stick to your flags and balloons.
Despite the Lions not having James Henry or Andy Keogh in the squad they started out the better team with Darius Henderson heading just wide early on. Millwall were building pressure, but when Wilfried Zaha is on the other team, you know a counter attack is on the way.
Palace took the lead when a corner came out to midfielder Mile Jedinak, who hit a curling low drive from 35 yards to make it 1-0. One of the clichés of football is that you are most vulnerable when you just scored, but that should now be the other way round as the hosts doubled their lead just three minutes later when Damien Delaney headed home.
The Lions needed a way back into the game and quick.
A cross from Scott Malone was headed on by Darius Henderson and was going in, until Dean Moxey decided to play volleyball and pushed it over the bar, penalty to Millwall and Moxey was sent off. Lifeline! Up stepped Liam Trotter to put it in from 12 yards, the Lions were back in it, and almost went in level as a fantastic wide ball from Liam Trotter saw Chris Taylor head the ball on to the bar just before the break.
The second half was basically defense vs. attack.
The Eagles thought they had a penalty when Glen Murrary went down, but replays showed he dived. The Lions went full frontal attack to try and find a leveler and found it 13 minutes from time when Mark Beevers’ back leg connected on the crossed ball and past Speroni in the Palace goal. 2-2 it remained.
This meant the Lions had drawn their last three away games and are now unbeaten in four. I believe the main reason for the upturn in form is the change of style and formation. We’ve gone from playing tippy-tappy football in a 4-3-3 to a more “blood and guts” football in a 4-4-2 formation. With much better results.
Next up for Millwall is the visit of Birmingham City to The Den, a team surprisingly in the lower dregs of the table, or not surprisingly after appointing Lee Clark, a man who couldn’t get Huddersfield out of League One with a huge budget and 40-goal-a-season striker. With their poor form and the Lions starting to move up the table, I see the game as a 2-0 win for the Lions.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has told his players they must show more ‘steel’ in order to improve their inconsistent form so far this season, the Independent reports.
In the last three matches Rodgers has seen his side lose comprehensively at home to struggling Aston Villa, hammer Fulham the following game and then lose away at Stoke, summing up the Reds inconsistent campaign.
The Liverpool chief feels it is adamant his players begin to show more steel in order to cut out the mistakes, if his side want to seriously contend for European places and silverware in the future.
“If you are going to affect the top of the league, which is what we want to do in years to come, you have to have more steel than that,” said Rodgers.
“But if you concede goals like that it is going to be difficult to win games anywhere.”
“Every game is learning. We learned after the Villa performance and responded well against Fulham and I am sure we will get a reaction on Sunday.”
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“But we want to be more consistent than that. We can’t be reacting al the time.”
The manager will look to strengthen his squad in January to help their cause, but will hope to see an improvement from his current crop of players when they travel to Harry Redknapp’s struggling QPR on Sunday.
With the economy leading to tough times, a lot of people don’t have the luxury to be able to spend a lot of money every weekend just to watch a match of football, especially when it comes to the Premier League. Taking in the cost of travel before you even pay for your match day ticket, the life of a football fan can be an expensive one. But do you get enough excitement and action for the money you pay, or are you being over-charged?
The BBC Sport Price of Football survey 2012 found the cheapest and most expensive match day and season ticket prices for each club. The average cheapest match day ticket costs £28, whilst the most expensive averages at £58. For season tickets, the average cheapest ticket is £468, with the average for the most expensive season ticket coming in at £865.
Adding the cost of fuel or train tickets, plus food and drink for every match, loyal supporters can be paying a minimum of £100 every match day. With so many games being broadcast live on TV now, is there any need to pay so much money when you can watch the game from home?
But what TV broadcasters can’t do is portray the excitement and atmosphere of a live football match. The feeling of singing along with your fellow fans, before celebrating a goal live is something that can be recreated. With an average of 2.8 goals a match this season, fans are often paying for dramatic and high scoring matches.
Gary Neville’s build up to a match is nothing compared to feeling the anticipation grow from in the stands, waving your scarf and saying your last minute prayers. You may not get replays or the ability to pause the match, but you get to share your passion with thousands of similar fans around you. Surely that is worth the money?
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Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his team’s problems in defence may soon be over with the return of 22 year old Chris Smalling to training this week. The defender has been out since last season, recovering first from a groin injury, and then breaking his metatarsal during training in July.
Man United’s backline has conceded first in six of their nine games this season and been subject to much criticism. Tottenham put three past the red devils in a famous victory at Old Trafford last weekend, and on Tuesday in the Champions League, Fergie’s side again conceded first to Romanian minnows F.C Cluj.
With key defender Nemanja Vidic sidelined another six weeks, and Phil Jones unable to train until next month, a change in personnel has not been an option for Ferguson. The United boss has had to rely on the partnership of Johnny Evans and Rio Ferdinand who have both been accused of poor performances, as well as youngsters such as Scott Wooton.
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Smalling, who can play at right-back or in central defence, may take a place on the bench this Sunday against Newcastle, however Ferguson will be hoping the defender is ready for more first team football sooner rather than later.
Manchester City have been given a boost by the news that Sergio Aguero is back training once more.
The Argentina international suffered a knee injury in the Premier League champions’ opening fixture of the campaign against Southampton on August 19, and has been working his way back to fitness since.
The South American forward has been pictured working with the club’s physios, running, stretching and doing ball work, whilst Aguero has tweeted that he can’t wait to get back to action.
City had initially hoped that Aguero would be fit to return by mid-September, but his rehabilitation has taken slightly longer than expected.
The club have admitted that ‘whether the league match on Saturday away against Stoke is too soon for a return or not remains to be seen’ according to The Guardian.
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Meanwhile, The Sun states that Aguero is eyeing the Champions League game against Real Madrid as a possible match to return to action in.
Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Japanese wonder kid, Hideki Ishige, from Shimizu S-Pulse.
The Asian youth player of the year has shone in recent weeks and has been a key factor behind the success of his club’s march to the Nabisco Cup final on Saturday, on top of their late surge up the Japanese league.
Shimizu manager Afshin Ghotbi would love to keep the 18- year-old at his club, but would not stop the teenager in gaining experience at a club like City.
“If you want to build top-class players, you have to give them various experiences and opportunities to see first-hand what the world level is about,” Ghotbi told Japans Kyodo news.
“And what better experience for Ishige than to train with the first team of Manchester City, the champions of England, and have manager Roberto Mancini see him first hand and train with some of the top players in the world.”
“There is interest in him, not just Man City but many clubs in Europe and he deserves it. He’s a real fantastic talent.
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“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not for sale and we want him to be a part of S-Pulse for the next few years to come. There has been no offer, City just want to see him and we are doing the same with other players with other clubs.
“The greatest asset of Japan is its youths. I’m very, very positive about the youth players in Japan and their qualities. Ishige is a perfect example of what I’m talking about.”
France head coach Didier Deschamps has revealed that new Tottenham signing Hugo Lloris is unhappy with comments made by club boss Andre Villas-Boas.
The goalkeeper made a deadline day switch to White Hart Lane from Lyon, and is viewed as the long-term successor to Brad Friedel.
However, Villas-Boas has stated that the new signing is not guaranteed a first-team place automatically after moving to north London, which has apparently frustrated Lloris.
“Hugo has not appreciated the statements of his coach,” Deschamps told reporters at a press conference, published in The Guardian.
“I am not going to create a problem that I do not need today. But if it were to happen then it would need some consideration. I do not want Hugo to find himself in this situation.”
Friedel made a number of excellent saves in Spurs’ most recent fixture, a 1-1 draw with Norwich, and it remains to be seen who AVB will select between the sticks in the side’s next game after the international break.
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West Ham United have been, surprisingly, one of the most active teams in the transfer market this summer.
The Hammers have already purchased Argentine attacking sensation Mauro Zarate, defender Cheikhou Kouyaté, and marauding left-back Aaron Cresswell… as well as about to announce the signing of Diego Poyet.
At this rate many Irons fans are already hoping for the Premier League kick-off to see their new stars in action, but with two months of potential transfer activity still remaining, West Ham could do with a few more additions.
The World Cup has now reached the semi-finals and the we’re only a week away from celebrating a new world champion, but were there any players that stood out in the group stages that West Ham can swoop in to sign?
We take a look into Group F, which saw Argentina and Nigeria progress at the expense of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran. Are any players worthy of Sam Allardyce’s notice?
Here are SIX WORLD CUP STARS West Ham should sign from Group F.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON AHMED MUSA TO SEE THE FULL LIST!
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Ahmed Musa
Age: 21
Club: CSKA Moscow
Position: RW
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £10million
Ahmed Musa has been regularly scoring at his young age but really burst into the scene when he scored both goals in Nigeria’s tight contest against Argentina this summer, the first Nigerian to score two goals in a World Cup fixture.
West Ham would love to have a winger capable of chipping in with a few goals, with his menacing pace and dribbling down the right side a danger for any opponent.
He would however be one of West Ham’s more expensive purchases, with a £10million believe to be the minimum.
Augusto Fernandez
//www.youtube.com/embed/vY5q36GZ7Os
Age: 28
Club: Celta Vigo
Position: RW
Nationality: Argentina
Estimated Value: £5million
Sam Allardyce has promised some attractive attacking football this coming season and a swoop for Augusto Fernandez could be exactly what the Hammers need.
Mauro Zarate’s adapting to Upton Park won’t be easy, but the signing of Fernandez would help with that aspect as well as give an added dimension to the West ham attack.
Usually deployed as a right winger, the 28-year-old is good on the ball and capable of putting through an incisive through ball to a forward… especially of Zarate’s calibre. A swoop of around £5million could see the La Liga outfit negotiate for his transfer.
Muhamed Besic
Age: 21
Club: Ferencváros Budapest
Position: CM
Nationality: Bosnia-Herzegovina
Estimated Value: £2million
One of the stars of the Bosnian side, the young central-midfielder has amazing stats of 91% passing accuracy in the group stages (6th in the rankings). Besic has also played centre-back, proving his versatility and ability.
Although West ham have just signed midfielder Diego Poyet, a player of this calibre for only £2million would be a steal and would provide the Hammers with for once a midfield capable of controlling the pace of the game.
Kenneth Omeruo
Age: 20
Club: Chelsea
Position: CB
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £2million or Loan
Chelsea have been known to purchase young talent and send them out on loan, but with Omeruo’s amazing performances during the World Cup West Ham should come knocking to sign the Nigerian centre-back.
Omeruo is extremely strong in the air and a very capable tackler. The 20-year-old won 12/14 aerial duels (whoscored.com) and would be a reliable partner for the future to newly signed Kouyate. If not the Hammers should even consider a loan, making their back-line extremely difficult to penetrate.
Ashkan Dejagah
Age: 27
Club: Fulham
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Position: RM
Nationality: Iran
Estimated Value: £3million
Don’t let Dejagah’s choice to play for Asian side Iran fool you, the Fulham man has played for Germany in all Youth levels and impressed while doing so. He also won the Bundesliga back in 2008 with Wolfsburg, being an essential player in the triumph.
The right winger is quick and good on the ball, but more importantly tracks back well, contributing to the team’s defence. West Ham could use a player of this ilk, as Sam Allardyce may have promised attacking football but in the end still values defensive solidity.
With the Cottagers relegated, the Hammers could lure Dejagah for around £3million.
Efe Ambrose
Age: 25
Club: Celtic
Position: RB, CB
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £4million
With the signing of Aaron Cresswell completed, ‘Big Sam’ has a left back that pushes up in support of the attack. And if the manager wants balance on the other side, could make a bid for Nigeria right-back Efe Ambrose.
The Nigerian is a useful outlet during an attack but is extremely solid defensively, and has a large amount of experience playing all four of Nigeria’s World Cup games as well as regular games in the UEFA Champions League for Celtic.
If Sam Allardyce can convince the 25-year-old to make a move to Upton Park, Hammer fans could very well see the revolution they were finally hoping for.
Arsenal have been given renewed hope in their chase of Juventus forward Mirko Vucinic, after Inter Milan pulled out of a deal to bring the forward to the San Siro, according to the Metro.
Inter were expected to complete the surprise deal, which would have seen former Chelsea target Fredy Gaurin move in the opposite direction.
However, with Vucinic three years older than the 27-year-old Guarin, and on a considerably higher salary, Inter decided against completing the deal.
A statement on the club’s website read:
“Internazionale would like to announce that we have decided not to proceed in negotiations with Juventus for the transfer between Fredy Guarin and Mirko Vucinic.
President Thohir, after discussions with Massimo Moratti, his son Angelomario and with the company directors, considered that the conditions were not met, technical or economical, to reach an agreement and has already given a mandate to the technical team to evaluate other opportunities in the market, with the aim to strengthen in respect of the economic parameters set by the Financial Fair Play.”
That has put Arsenal back in the frame to land Vucinic, who looks set to leave the Old Lady this month.
The 30-year-old has struggled for first team football since the summer arrivals of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente.
The Gunners are hoping to complete the signing of the forward on loan until the end of the season.
Click below to see Arsenal, Fulham and Everton in action this weekend!