The General Football Thread

Spurs losing 2-0

 

Toby gets one back 1-2

 

Real Madrid losing at home 1-0 to Sporting Lisbon

 

3-0 Leicester, Mahrez penalty. Brugge have been terrible though, it has to be said.

 

Can't help but like Leicester. Does Idles like them, or are they not on the list?

 

Do you have to mention the name.?

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...iev-will-host-the-2018-champions-league-final

2018 CL final to be held in Ukraine......I guess the Russians will have taken over by then.

 

Interesting article on Leicester's impact in the Champions League and how it being turned into a closed shop: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37366826

The second paragraph sums up what Leicester's PL title has done: Like a lot of neutrals, I am looking forward to seeing how Claudio Ranieri's side get on in their first season taking on European football's elite. To be honest, it makes things much more exciting than usual.

And I've no doubt that opinion is far more prevalent than those who want one of the glamour clubs to have the competition all to themselves. If only those in power and the media would actually realise that there is a whole swathe of disenfranchised supporters out there who don't give a monkey's about ManU, ManC, Arsenal, Spurs, etc.., but would jump onto a Leicester City bandwagon for a season, just to back a smaller team. I don't see Leicester doing it, but I hope we see them kick a few big arses in the CL this season.

But it looks like the CL will become even duller from 2018. Few surprises, less competition. Entirely missable, especially if a Leicester City, or maybe a Southampton, aren't there. Those in power don't get it. We don't want the same, season after season. We want variation and competition.

 

Who is this "We"? I am sure the majority of football fans globally would rather watch Barcelona v Man Utd than Barcelona v Leicester. This is why it won't be too long before a global league replaces the champions league imo

 

Ah, you don't get it either. You've been brainwashed into thinking we must watch ManU v Barcelona or Real Madrid. Actually, MOST people aren't ManU fans or Barcelona fans. These are the collective supporters of OTHER teams who would like to see ANYBODY else occasionally, just for some interesting variation.

Actually, MOST people aren't even football fans, but that's another topic.

 

I can't wait for the "big clubs" to cut off their noses to spite their own faces, and join a global league.
I give it one season before their supporters start whinging about finishing in the bottom half of the league, with little or no chance of winning silverware, because they aren't the biggest fish in the new pool.
Then there's the fans that go to away games who can no longer do so, because of the distance/cost/time off from work.
Just make sure that any club that joins the global league has to exempt itself from all English competition. No being allowed to play a B team in the Premier League or FA Cup etc.
If they go, they go totally, in my book, and an extra benefit would be the Premier League becoming more equal.

 

You say there is a whole swathe of disenfranchised supporters, I actually bet that is far outweighed by the huge number of Man U/Barcelona/Real fans.

I like smaller teams doing well, so I normally pick an unfavourable team in the Champs league to follow, not just support an English team.

 

Yes MOST aren't Man U or Barcelona fans, just like MOST fans of the PL do not live in England and the majority of them have zero interest in the small teams, and support one of the top 5/6. Majority of fans in China/India/Africa would want to see something like Bayern v Chelsea every week and the TV companies would pay a fortune for the rights which is why I could see it happening in the future

 

This is the issue though, it is that clubs don't really need to give a **** about fans that attend the games anymore. The sheer amount of money from TV means that ticket sales are almost irrelevant for the top teams. So by staying in a league where they get to play teams with minimal global appeal (see 13 teams in the PL) which may turn off the millions of fans globally versus playing a Real or equivalent each week it becomes a no brainer

 

How about a big combined CL-EL seeded knockout competition. Like the FA Cup. Might have mentioned this before, actually.

 

Breaking News....

Team sheet is in from the boys:

..................................Rob...................................

Eddie..............Tom...............Jamie..........Josh


................Jenson.......JJ........Max...................


...........Fats Jnr.......Ollie P...... Connor...........



4-3-3

No precious stones in sight.

 

Happy with that, as long as JJ remembers to drop back when Eddie and Josh push forward!

 

Hat trick for fats jr.........then your sell him to Liverpool.