The Football Thread.

bloodandtears

A Spurs fan since '86...

I think this is the season where Champions League qualification has never meant so much to the club as previous years...   doing so helps keep Kane interested and at the club, which in turn help Conte build on his good work; lets face it, he may walk if Kane does.. and then we have a serious issue.

guitars4you

tony99 said:

TeleMaster said:

tony99 said:

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

Oh it’s going ahead. 

https://theathletic.com/news/european-clubs-presented-with-new-champions-league-qualification-model-with-two-slots-for-historic-performance/DVqx3odGwM0u/?amp=1

yeah in another form I suppose. Just another example of what I believe is wrong with the modern game, there are plenty more. But if people enjoy it as it is then good luck to them I say!

The whole concept of that potential elite league is wrong on so many levels - And too many points to discuss with just a few sentences - But give the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona more income, then do you think they will a) spend spend spend and end up with even more debt and a business model that is flawed or b) suddenly realise that they can run a profitable and sustainable business - I know where my bet would be going

There are plans in place to amend the way clubs in the EFL can run - Is it something like only 70% of their income can be spent on wages - Looking at the whole mess Derby got themselves into and they won't be the last, then something needs to change - Think Stoke have effectively written off over 100 million by converting some of the  'loans' into share capital/equity and writing off other parts of the loan to the owners

I think it is wrong that Derby look like they will be only paying a small part of their HMRC payment, under the new owners/administrators - around 25 or 30p in the £ but final details to be updated if/when the sale goes through - Meanwhile loads of other small struggling clubs pay the full amount due to HMRC , albeit they stay in business and don't get any points deducted 

DB1

I have been a Birmingham City fan since 1968 and a season ticket holder for gawd knows how long. Just shoot me now. Actually, one of the strikers should do it because they'll miss.

guitars4you

TeleMaster said:

guitars4you said:

That Thurs night fixture appears to be a killer - I remember the days when European fixtures were a Wed, across all 3 tournaments - Okay TV won't allow that - But the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup was something worth entering with pride - Not it is seen by so many as a kiss of death, so maybe it should be looked at by UEFA - I don't get this 2nd tier UEFA competition at all 

We can do it and we have about 8 players. I don’t see how the bigger clubs with their huge squads claim they are struggling because of it. 

Look at it sure, but it’s a seriously difficult competition and it brings a lot of money in for smaller clubs. It’s also a chance to have European football, versus prestigious clubs for smaller clubs who may struggle to get Champions League football, or any European football at all.

You support Leeds. Wouldn’t you be absolutely ecstatic if you reached the semis of the Europa league considering the fact you haven’t been in Europe for decades? 

I'll be cheering you on and hope you go on to win

I think 2 issues with the Thursday night matches is

a) travelling, often long distances and not getting back home until Friday morning - So only light training Friday, the day after the match - Only light training Sat, the day before a match - So little preparation time and we all know what it is like when we go on holiday overseas - The flight might only be 2/3 hours but look at the time from leaving your front door to getting to your hotel room and vice versa - This is an issue many fans/managers/clubs moan about

b) Granted there are some good teams in the UEFA league - But equally there are many teams, often more east European, who would struggle to compete in the EFL, let alone PL, so too many 'meaningless' matches in the early group stages - I think the UEFA competition should continue and be something clubs should be proud to enter and win - With good income receipts paid accordingly - But feel it could be a 2 tier tournament, like say the FA Cup, were lower ranked teams compete in the early rounds - Be it a straight knock out, over 2 legs, or a mini group stage - The various winners then go through to stage 2

 Stage1 winners then join teams who are allocated 5th/6th (whatever) from the major leagues, along with the teams who finished 3rd from the CL (and now eliminated) - They now compete in a straight knock out tournament from Jan/Feb on-wards 

But wishing you all the best in the semi's and then hopefully the final

kaypeejay

rlw said:

I live in York so no point in having any interest in football.

Used to follow Leeds and Millwall - my local team - many years ago but don't really have any interest at all now.

York still have a team and this year they got to the FA Trophy semi final. No team can be winning all the time, following your team is always a journey. I don’t watch much ‘top flight’ football nowadays, I get all my trials and tribulations from the ups and downs of Wrexham. It still ruins my Saturday if they lose and leaves me with a massive smile on my face if they win and I only follow the results via the live match thread on Wrexham’s forum. 

Gallagherone

Newcastle born and bred, although only the past few years I've really gotten into football. I think this season has been the most exciting for us in a long long time. We were sat bottom of the league at Christmas and everyone had pretty much accepted relegation. But now for us to be 11th place with 40 points is huge. Eddie Howe has been incredible in how he's transformed the work ethic and dynamic of the players.

Yes you can say that we spent big in the January transfer window and that has kept us up. But to see more of a transformation in the existing players (Joelinton, Schar, Krafth, Fraser) I think shows the remarks of a very good manager. I know he won't win manager of the season as he's not Klopp or Guardiola, but I think if it was based off biggest transformation then he'd be in with a good shout. There is such a togetherness in the team at the moment, I definitely think we have an exciting future.

There is lots to be said on the new ownership and definitely some discussions/clarity wanted by the fans, so hopefully we will get that in future.

axisus

I've been a Man U fan since 84, and although we have had a rubbish 10 years, I am so happy that I lived through all those glory years with Fergie. It was a wonderful ride.

I am also a long suffering Luton fan, having lived here pretty much all my life. Luton have been down and out for a great many years, I am so excited about this season! I so hope we make the play-offs, I would LOVE to see Luton in the Prem. Sure, we would get totally stuffed every week but it would be amazing.

I can also appreciate great players and teams even if they feel like the enemy. Liverpool and Man C are both amazing these days, but my fave ever team that wasn't Man U was Arsenal when they had Henry, Bergkamp, Adams, Viera, Keown et al. I hated them nicking trophies, but I look back with great fondness of a superb team. I could happily watch old Man U vs Arsenal matches from back then.

TeleMaster

Does anyone listen to the Quickly Kevin podcast about 90’s football? It’s great and they often have icons from the era on. 

scrumhalf

I don't understand the difference between Wed/Sat and Thu/Sun. It's the same gap between the two games. Thu/Sat would be a bit crap but some Champions League teams play Sat/Tue for half of their games.

guitars4you

scrumhalf said:

I don't understand the difference between Wed/Sat and Thu/Sun. It's the same gap between the two games. Thu/Sat would be a bit crap but some Champions League teams play Sat/Tue for half of their games.

But many of the Wed matches the teams can/do play on Sunday so they get the extra day/time

Part of me say's no sympathy as they earn more than enough - But we all know from our own trips the flight time is only part of the whole door-door time so often 10-12 hours total time

But it is not me who is moaning - I'm only putting a point across that many moan about - Fans, pundits, even managers

The easy option is to finish out of European places and just play the PL

P0wderF1nger

Leicester City fan since the late seventies. Obviously been a wonderful recent few years for us, though had to put up with a lot of rubbish football over the years. Always thought the highlight of my supporting them would never be surpassed by watching them win the League Cup at Wembley in 2000 (the 1997 win ended up at Hillborough).
Only issue I have with our recent success is everyone assumes you've just jumped on a bandwagon, but I can take that, seeing as never in my wildest dreams did I think we'd ever win the first division. So this century I've managed to see my team win League Division One, Championship, Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Charity Shield, so have to say, I feel blessed by that, even though modern football is unrecognisable compared to when I first started watching. I remember our strike force in the early 80's of the experienced Steve Lynex alongside the young local lad Gary Lineker. Steve Lynex is now a plumber and I'm not sure what happened to the Lineker bloke.

matt_sefton

Toon army born and bred!

tony99

guitars4you said:

tony99 said:

TeleMaster said:

tony99 said:

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

Oh it’s going ahead. 

https://theathletic.com/news/european-clubs-presented-with-new-champions-league-qualification-model-with-two-slots-for-historic-performance/DVqx3odGwM0u/?amp=1

yeah in another form I suppose. Just another example of what I believe is wrong with the modern game, there are plenty more. But if people enjoy it as it is then good luck to them I say!

The whole concept of that potential elite league is wrong on so many levels - And too many points to discuss with just a few sentences - But give the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona more income, then do you think they will a) spend spend spend and end up with even more debt and a business model that is flawed or b) suddenly realise that they can run a profitable and sustainable business - I know where my bet would be going

Yeah I suppose you're right; although as @TeleMaster says, it may be a moot point as the changes to the CL make it a de facto super league anyway.

thecolourbox

West Brom fan here, season ticket holder for 22 years but this may be my last for a while, not just because they've been utter shite this season though that has contributed, but I've found it an inconvenience for a few seasons with very little to make it worthwhile. Basically we have run out of puff, we reached tenth or so in the prem but that was basically overachieving so there was only one way to go from there as we have no money and we are shit at recruitment. We are roughly where we should be in the league, so I don't see the point of keep going as there's very little to care about really. No hero players, very little interest in the playing style, and a cabbage head for a manager. 

Also I don't want to watch a relegaton battle next season! At least in the prem it was worth it to watch good opposition Teams but the quality of the championship is very very poor

Philly_Q

Swansea City supporter as that's where I was born and grew up, although my local (big) club is now Crystal Palace.

I'm a keen follower of results and league tables rather than a watcher of actual games.  On a personal level I've always been hopeless at sport and although I definitely have a brain I do not have a "football brain" - I can't watch a game and see what formation they're playing, or that they're leaving huge gaps in midfield or that they're exposed down the left flank....

I don't go to games but I listen to a lot of sports talk and commentaries on the radio.

CHRISB50

I'm an Arsenal fan. 

I think I now have a good understanding of what manic depressives go through in life.

We're so inconsistent. Not as bad as some but not where I'd like us to be either. 

(I hope) Times look like they are changing. We've started building a decent squad of youngsters. Hopefully we can keep the group together while making some shrewd additions. 

I used to go a lot, but life took over and now I don't. Arsenal season tickets are like rocking horse shit and I couldn't justify the cost, even if I could get one.

I cancelled my membership after the Super League debacle.

Looking like the match against our neighbours on 12th May could decide 4th. I can’t believe we gave away the advantage we had over the last few matches, but beating Chelski out a smile on my face. 

MagicPigDetective

kaypeejay said:

rlw said:

I live in York so no point in having any interest in football.

Used to follow Leeds and Millwall - my local team - many years ago but don't really have any interest at all now.

York still have a team and this year they got to the FA Trophy semi final. No team can be winning all the time, following your team is always a journey. I don’t watch much ‘top flight’ football nowadays, I get all my trials and tribulations from the ups and downs of Wrexham. It still ruins my Saturday if they lose and leaves me with a massive smile on my face if they win and I only follow the results via the live match thread on Wrexham’s forum. 

As a Welshman I do follow the results of Wrexham, Swansea and Cardiff, though I don't really support any of them (my Welsh team being Newtown AFC!);  Wrexham are having a hell of a season…some crazy and dramatic results, a cup final and play offs to come; it's been very entertaining watching the activity of your two new owners, they've completely bought into the culture of the club, you've struck gold with them. Good luck!

Non league football can be very entertaining, I’ve seen some Welsh Premier matches and I've been impressed with the level,  seen some good matches...... the experience at the grounds is very real, you're right up close to the pitch, you can wander round the pitch, lean on the barrier, see and hear everything. 

TTony

CHRISB50 said:

(I hope) Times look like they are changing. We've started building a decent squad of youngsters. Hopefully we can keep the group together while making some shrewd additions. 

10 years or back, I (as a Spurs fan) used to look enviously at Arsenal, and wonder how we’d ever get back on level terms.

Wenger was in total charge.  Seemingly endless stream of youngsters coming through, but never disturbing the identity of the core team.  Impressive new stadium with massive capacity.  (Proper) European football every year.

Then we got Poch in.

CHRISB50

TTony said:

CHRISB50 said:

(I hope) Times look like they are changing. We've started building a decent squad of youngsters. Hopefully we can keep the group together while making some shrewd additions. 

10 years or back, I (as a Spurs fan) used to look enviously at Arsenal, and wonder how we’d ever get back on level terms.

Wenger was in total charge.  Seemingly endless stream of youngsters coming through, but never disturbing the identity of the core team.  Impressive new stadium with massive capacity.  (Proper) European football every year.

Then we got Poch in.

Indeed Wenger was a great coach. I can understand your envy. We had some great years under him. 

Poch was a great coach for you guys. It’s just shame he never cemented his legacy by winning anything. 

UnclePsychosis

stufisher said:

This is a shout out for lower league and junior league teams ... I'm a Queen Of The South fan and we're on the brink of relegation to SFL 3rd flight. It's gut-wrenching.

I suspect it'll take 5+ years to get back into Championship division ... nae money, nae squad, nae fans, nae easy solution given society's bigger economic challenges right now.

I stopped watching premiership and premier league football a long time ago because it's so far from reality most of the time ... grass-roots stuff always feels more 'honest' to me.

So, I wonder who else has a similar outlook?

Queens going down has felt like a long time coming tbh. On the plus side you'll get to laugh at Falkirk in person next year so that must be a positive ;-)

Thistle have had a distinctly meh season and appear to have fallen into the playoffs, mainly by virtue of being marginally less shite than Raith (and not torpedoing our own season by signing a rapist). Suspect we'll embarrass ourselves against Inverness and then need to look forward to next season. Hopefully we can also get rid of the viper in our boardroom too.

Like you I've basically given up on the premier league. It's the emperor's new clothes in football form.