Man City were also in the lower leagues not so long ago but as you say circumstances change. I do know Coventry well as my wife and two of my daughters went to Warwick University - nearer Coventry than Warwick - and one of the daughters still works and lives there. She often goes to games. Coventry's downfall was caused, as usual, by fan pressure. Like Norwich and Ipswich at the time Coventry was owned and run by a family - the Robbens. After they won the cup the fans wanted more success and more money spent which Robbens did not have. A load of Spivs came along promising a new stadium and millions for new players, the fans turned on Robbens and he sold out. The old stadium was sold for a fortune by the new owners for redevelopment and a new stadium was built with the proceeds but the new stadium, unlike the Highfield Road stadium, was never owned by the Club but owned by the new owners Company. The millions promised for new players never happened, Coventry were relegated, struggled in the Championship, the owners of the Stadium evicted the football Club to use the ground for other purposes and Coventry ended up playing their home games at Northampton whilst the mess was sorted out. They have slowly progressed since then but in view of the size of the City they should be doing better.
Coventry spent 34 consecutive years in the English top flight (1967 to 2001). Only 12 clubs can boast longer consecutive runs, of which 12 clubs, three, like Coventry, are currently in the Championship -- Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United.
We’ve known about the binners being relegated for quite a while, but it’s finally been mathematically confirmed now, earlier today. All three promoted teams have been very weak and it’s not like - Ipswich aside - they are new to the Premier League in recent years. This is the earliest in terms of matches (four remaining) that all three relegation spots have been confirmed. Southampton also the earliest ever team to get relegated. It’s all round really unimpressive. But it also says a lot more about the state of the league. I’ve been generally a little sceptical about the idea that the gulf between Championship and Premier League has grown over the last few decades - generally speaking (and excluding this season) the stats don’t necessarily fully back that story. This season swings it though. Leeds and Burnley, plus one other, are going to have a hell of a job proving otherwise.
Luton now relegated in successive seasons. We will play ITFC again next season Wrexham have now achieved three successive promotions.
Watched Inter v Barcelona last night. Best game I've watched for years. Plenty of attacking football, not much faffing about at the back. Didn't our football use to be like this?
For years we have been told that unlike other European leagues English football does not have the complete domination by one or two Clubs but the quality in the Premier League spreads from top to bottom. I am a season ticket holder at Nice and have seen more quality and entertainment at every game compared to the dross served up last night by Spurs and Manure. If not being able to string three passes together, scoring a scrappy goal and defending that lead against a clueless team by sticking 10 behind the ball is quality then the word needs redefining.
Agree about the game last night. It was absolute ****e. If that's a showcase for The Premier League, it was complete garbage. No attacking flair from either team. Persistent fouling, feigning injuries, time wasting, typical of most Premier League games I have seen this season. Give me Championship, far more entertaining.
Spuds best MU but cannot see Maddisons name among the squad. Is he out of favour? Looks to have been a carp game.
Apparently he was interviewed at the end and said something like “no, I won’t celebrate with them I don’t want to do a John Terry”
I did find it funny that he was there in his full kit despite not being on the bench. But I completely get it to be fair
Watched PSG v Inter last night. PSG were unbelievable. There young players were a different class. Looking good for them in the future
Amazing isn't it. When we played them at our patch they were crap and lucky to get a point and then we beat them 3-1 in the return fixture. Other times the team that beat Arsenal and Inter turn up and you can't believe it. Mind you 2 dead and nearly 600 arrested sums up their fan base - good job they didn't lose!!
Jon Rowe is at 9 for the England U21s in the first group B game of the UEFA Championship, against the Czech Republic. 51 mins gone and England are 2 up courtesy of a first half goal by Harvey Elliott and a 2nd half goal from Rowe (originally given as an OG). Oops! now 1:2 to England. Finished 1:3 to England.
