General Football Thread

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woodbine said:
Hull was probably the better team but it wasn't a very exciting game. Pleased for Snodgrass though, was a bit unlucky last time in the Prem getting injured, so hopefully he can have another shot at the premier league.
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I don´t think excitement would have been high on the list of either agendas today, woodbine <laugh> - too much at stake, A cautious opening from both sides, Hull then lifted their game to a reasonable level, Wednesday never did, and certainly the goal was worthy of winning any game.
 
royalbarclayfan said:
Hull were easily the better team today Braveheart, and the only reason Sheff W actually reached the final, was because of Kieran Westwood, and he almost kept Hull out single-handedly again here. Still, justice was seen to be done, in the end. <ok>
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HMMM - I seem to remember he played a blinder against us a couple of seasons ago and yes, the commentators said that Hull were easily the better side.
WTF - Clattenburg refereeing the CL final!!!
 
How come the Championship final was yesterday? League 1 today? Didn't we go to Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday? Thought the Lower ones get done then the Championships last?

Is it because of the Euros? More chance of players being called up?
 
Cromercanary said:
Squad for Euros announced. No Drinkwater but Sturridge gets the (expected?) nod.
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Can't disagree with that too much. If it were me I'd have taken Carrol as a very different option to what we have. Rashford may be very good in the future but i thought his MotM award from Hoddle was as farcical as it gets. Yes he scored, but I'm not convinced it wasn't a mishit, and he is so clumsy and raw he can only be there for experience because he looks well short on merit, skill, experience, quality and in offering a tactical alternative. I'd also have taken Sturidge, as if fit he is as likely a goal scorer as we have. I just have this horrible feeling Woy will crowbar Rooney into the side to it's detriment!

Bah!
 
General Melchett said:
Can't disagree with that too much. If it were me I'd have taken Carrol as a very different option to what we have. Rashford may be very good in the future but i thought his MotM award from Hoddle was as farcical as it gets. Yes he scored, but I'm not convinced it wasn't a mishit, and he is so clumsy and raw he can only be there for experience because he looks well short on merit, skill, experience, quality and in offering a tactical alternative. I'd also have taken Sturidge, as if fit he is as likely a goal scorer as we have. I just have this horrible feeling Woy will crowbar Rooney into the side to it's detriment!

Bah!
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Seems like we're all agreed on that selection!!!! <ok>
 
Cromercanary said:
Squad for Euros announced. No Drinkwater but Sturridge gets the (expected?) nod.
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We don't usually take that many strikers do we?! At least that's something positive. Also great experience for Rose, Smalling, Stones, Alli, Barkley, Lallana, Kane, Rashford.
 
woodbine said:
Feel bad for Drinkwater, based on this season he deserved to go, unlike Wilshere.
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I can't believe he left him out! We all knew he would, but hoped he would show some decency and common sense. I bet injured, 1 90 minute Premiership game all season Delph was ahead of him too.
 
UEFA planning 'tweaks' to the CL -
"Amendments on the table range from tweaks to the Champions League’s entry criteria to the introduction of a fully-fledged European Super League, although more likely is an overhaul of a group stage many believe has become stale and is holding back Uefa’s ability to generate revenue.
“We need a format by the end of the year,” said Marchetti. “We are consulting and we are listening.”
Specific options include more guaranteed entries for the strongest leagues, protected places for the biggest clubs, and playing matches on Saturdays rather than midweek to appeal to Asian and American audiences."
Some of the biggest European teams are also worried about the growing financial chasm between themselves and sides from Premier League, where the bottom club will earn £100m from next season, far in excess of the winner of the Champions League. <doh>

Full article here - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...on-major-champions-league-revamp-in-december/

Edit - Just read this as well - "Leicester were very fortunate with injuries, or their lack of. Bar a small layoff for Vardy in December/January, they were never plagued by long-term absences for any of their key players. Having a settled team, playing week in week out is crucial to a championship winning team. The Foxes made the fewest amount of changes in a season by any title winning side, which shows how stable the team were."
The author of the article thinks Leicester could be relegated!!! <doh>
I'd say that they are more likely to finish in the top 10!!! <ok>

I hope AN is taking notes re the highlighted text!!!!

Read more at http://community.nowtv.com/t5/NOW-T...elegated-next/ba-p/371465#yH3IMWuk3i5DLdFd.99
 
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Braveheart said:
Specific options include more guaranteed entries for the strongest leagues, protected places for the biggest clubs, and playing matches on Saturdays rather than midweek to appeal to Asian and American audiences."
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It's becoming more of a cartel with every tweak. Worst thing about what I've quoted above is the idea of playing at weekends - surely has to disrupt all the domestic leagues who also play (pr used to!) on Saturdays.
So TV revenue from Asia & the USA is more crucial than the legions of fans who travel the length and breadth of the lands each weekend supporting their teams? What will we do, stage all domestic matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? <doh>
The day that happens is the day I focus 100% on cricket or something and leave football in the megarich gutter where it's heading rapidly :(.
 
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Cromercanary said:
It's becoming more of a cartel with every tweak. Worst thing about what I've quoted above is the idea of playing at weekends - surely has to disrupt all the domestic leagues who also play (pr used to!) on Saturdays.
So TV revenue from Asia & the USA is more crucial than the legions of fans who travel the length and breadth of the lands each weekend supporting their teams? What will we do, stage all domestic matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? <doh>
The day that happens is the day I focus 100% on cricket or something and leave football in the megarich gutter where it's heading rapidly :(.
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I would hope that it would be met with fan protests in this country and boycotts of games. But in reality how bigger change will it end up being. they move all the teams from pillar to post already anyway, Monday night games FFS. None of it has ever been to the benefit of the attending fan. Of course the other side is that the championship already plays a number of games on tuesday or wednesday nights, so it can work. I would expect it to be the PL and it's clubs who would be the ones who will stop this at all costs. There is a reason why the PL is coining it in and that is because it appeals to and has matches on the very days the CL now may want to play. SO will we give up domestic spondulicks for our foreign ones? I can't see it.

Bah!
 
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Cromercanary said:
It's becoming more of a cartel with every tweak. Worst thing about what I've quoted above is the idea of playing at weekends - surely has to disrupt all the domestic leagues who also play (pr used to!) on Saturdays.
So TV revenue from Asia & the USA is more crucial than the legions of fans who travel the length and breadth of the lands each weekend supporting their teams? What will we do, stage all domestic matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? <doh>
The day that happens is the day I focus 100% on cricket or something and leave football in the megarich gutter where it's heading rapidly :(.
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IMO, it's ludicrous that the team which finishes in 20th place in the PL receives more money than the European champions!!!!
 
Braveheart said:
IMO, it's ludicrous that the team which finishes in 20th place in the PL receives more money than the European champions!!!!
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Why though? It is supply vs demand. There is great access to a number of different footballing leagues and indeed sports now in global media. The cut and thrust of the PL with most games outcomes uncertain has a great appeal. That is why it generally usurps it's european counterparts leagues. And again why it will remain more profitable as long as it's strongest globally recognisable teams stay than any champions league or other comp. When the CL starts serving up entertaining and more occationally unpredictable football then we may see some progress in revenue. Until we do, why would BT et all fork out as much for the rights for the CL? ANd if they, SKY and the rest of the world broad casters won't pay as much then where is the greater prize money to come from?
To also put it in context, whilst the winner may not win as much from the CL as 20th in the PL, I'm fairly sure that all of the clubs ultimately contesting the later stages, will still be bringing in inxs of that last place finisher from their own domestic rights and winnings.
With the new rights deal the playing field may begin to level in the PL as that added income starts to further talent strip the lesser financed leagues in Europe. I genuinely fear for all the other leagues as the increased spending power here, in china and the US could strip them of most of the best. It could leave those leagues even worse exposed to their top twos or threes who can constantly qualify for the CL and as a result maintain domestic dominance as the talent differeential increases. La liga is bad enough with only 2-3 possible winners, imagine if the rest are unable to keep their best players as the PL can destroy their wage offerings. The gap grows and the league becomes even less appealing. PL domination grows!

Murdocks evil master plan in action!

Bah!
 
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