I watched Spurs on the box tonight and although entertaining it wasn't the effort from Spurs that I'd been expecting. Then came the goal that was disallowed by Defoe. I was curious to see the reaction of the Spurs fans to the decision when the Ref seemed to have given it originally. Now clearly Defoe had fouled one of theirs on the line before he eventually poked the ball home for those that didn't watch. The 5th Official was the one to tell the Ref there was a foul and the Ref acted on that. By the rule book Defoe should have been sent off but there wasn't even a booking. At first Spurs fans were shouting the odds about a duff Ref although that did calm down in the aftermath. No mention of the late late challenge with studs by Defoe or lack of booking so still a tad blinkered. But then a few comments started about Europe or rather this competition being a distraction and it would be no bad thing if they were out. I then went onto the Man U site to see if there was much reaction to their exit at the hands of Palace in the Carling Cup tonight. It is bad enough when teams put out a three parts second 11 but when their supporters start saying "well it's a crap competition anyway and it doesn't matter" then you have to wonder what football has come to. Teams who could not care less about a domestic competition or a European one and their fans agree. As I said, what is this world coming to and where is the pride to win all matches there used to be in this Country.
If these teams think the competitions they are entered in are crap then they should pull out and leave it clubs that would give their right hands to win. I've always said that when man u pulled out of the fa cup to go to some fifa competition in south america (I think), they should have been banned from it for a period of seasons , say 5 years.
For the last 10 years every club who has been to the Champions League and then only achieved Europa League the next season has been lackluster in it, the quicker they get out the more games they have left to catch up in the Premier League. It has become a "Mickey Mouse" cup (I mean no disrespect to any team in it), where only teams like Stoke and Fulham give their all as they may not get in to Europe again for a while. Other teams like Spurs and Man City (last season) just think it is an inconvience as only a couple of days after playing they have a Premier League to play that could see them get into the top four (not always the case but last season, Man City's attitude was pretty much this). The money given for the Champions League spots is 8 times what they get for Europa League so its no surprise they don't care about it. The Carling cup has been a minor event for the top clubs for years. Arsenal and Man U have always played their youngsters in it since it was the Coca-Cola cup as they would rather have their stongest eleven fit for the saturday game rather than risk injury. Once again it comes down to money, you get (based on figures a couple of years back) something like £400,000 for winning the Carling cup but you get £1,500,000 for the FA cup as well as several million for a top four finish. Unless it is worth the risk clubs would rather enter a youth team and get beaten than risk losing on the important matches (Premier/FA cup/Champions League). It is wrong but money is what they care about not a good contest.
The League Cup and the EUFA Cup died and the FA Cup became very sick when the European Champions Cup became a League: more teams admitted - 4 from England and another 3 or 4 challenging for those positions next year - and many more games in the group phase. A plum FA Cup 3rd round tie now involves playing Man U's reserve or youth teams and that's not the same thing is it? Perhaps the League Cup should be allowed to die peacefully in return for a greater distribution of Premier League money. The extra space in the calendar could be used to favour the international teams where presently the announcement of a friendly game causes a rash of mystery injuries and need for urgent surgery amongst our not-so-patriotic England squad.
Trouble is Distant the cup competitions might not mean much to the glory teams but it means loads to the non-league/lower league teams especially if they knock a big team out, and for the money they can receive. I have been saying for years now that the players who play for England should be picked from the Championship down .... players who still have fire in their bellies and where playing for their country is an honour and something to be proud of. The players who constantly get picked for the squad at the moment lack passion and pride and they shouldn't just be picked because of who they are !
wasnt watching the football last night, happy that Man U have been knocked out by an underdog. What was the Spur result? I know someone who supports Man u for no rason I can think of other than they win things
Gat I do understand the need for cash - but the League Cup is becoming an embarrassment. What I find most sickening is the way the big clubs suddenly start playing something like a full team when they reach the semis or the final. As the big teams are always complaining about too many games - which presumably requires them to carry bigger squads than they'd otherwise need - cancel the competition and get them to pay extra cash across to the lower leagues, regular, reliable income for all instead of a rare windfall draw. A bit of a tongue in cheek suggestion as we all know the elite would merely arrange extra PR tours of Asia or America to fill in the extra time and pocket any spare cash! I see Fulham & Stoke are in action in the Europa Cup tonight - bet they won't be fielding significantly weaker sides. I was going to watch Spurs on the box last night but turned it off when I saw their line-up. They got what they deserved. Likewise Man U and well done Crystal Palace.
Sad to say it but football is ruined as we all know....the richest club will normally lead and win the Prem. and the poorest will go to the Conf. Thank God we have come out of admin. and signed a few players! It's about time all players wages were capped! COYG.....
I agree with the sentiment hp_bedoboy but can't see capping happening anytime soon. It is an entertainment industry like film and music to a degree and the stars of those get mega riches also. If the people concerned got less then the producers of that entertainment would simply pocket the extra cash themselves. The argument of the famous is that they produce the saleable product so expect to get a reasonable return for their efforts. I can't blame them for that particularly and can see that as an argument. Maybe the answer would be for them to charge the public less for their entertainment. As I see it if it was cheaper to follow then more people would do so. If that was the case then they could make it even cheaper again with the extra cash that would generate and so on. Maybe I'm just being a little too simplistic. The reason for my original go at outrage was because of the reasons some have already stated on here so there is obviously a train of thought to lower league supporters that runs through it. Often the only chance of a real payday for a small club is an unusual run in a cup competition until you meet one of the mighty. The supporters would generally give an arm and leg to win something of note. To the big boys it is an irritation of sorts but to rubbish it in the way they so clearly do is just plain bad form. For the supporters of those clubs to adopt the same attitude is even worse. Maybe it is time for a re-think on all of these competitions and to kill off the already dying ones and do what notdistant is suggesting in getting the big boys to help support the small fry with bigger regular amounts of dosh. I doubt Man U and a few others even notice the revenue they get already.
A small club desperate for money would sometimes be heartbroken to be drawn at home against one of the Premiership giants.........the money meaning far more than the actual match,the big club would deny the small club even the excitement of playing against their star players.............contempt for the small fry. With the improvement of playing surfaces even with smaller clubs.............the chance of winning on your sloping paddy field of a ground has even lessened,.......... the days of having to change your kit at half-time because all twenty two players look alike isn't there anymore.........all the fun has gone.
Always admire your comments Sensible....you should have been a writer! Likewise Plymborn, but taken me back yrs. now playing on a sloping pitch! Remember it well at St. Pauls RC School, St. Budo. One day we had supposed to have played St. Thomas Patrick More School from Exeter for a charity game whatever, they were the bees knees at the time. That afternoon it was pissing down and made us stand in our positions on the pitch for an hour or more, hense they were late arriving...was a must win game! After another half hour or more finally told us it was too wet and were returning home. While returning to there coach we all looked at each other including our parents and guests etc. in a fit of rage, so us lads on the pitch were giving the other team stick during all this and decided to have a go at them. Did'nt realise that all the parents & the headmistress..a Nun! was closely behind us. The bus made a quick exit down Barn Lane followed by us, my father in his naval uniform, a nun and the rest. What a comedy! The following day was a day off school, and they never phoned to appologise. Will never forget it!
As a kid I used to think it was great playing on a "soft" pitch. All that mud and falling about was great fun. My parents lived next to a park where us kids played out local school matches so it was more or less outside my front door. This was in the days when changing rooms at local parks were non existant so the entire school team changed in our house both before and after the game. Mother was always quite happy before the game but with half a pitch in the hall after it was not quite so pleased to have helped out. I occasionally see one of the team of 1960 and he still remembers it and comments. In those days you played other schools before the PC brigade took over and stopped any competition in schools or between them in case kids were scared for life having lost. Some of the pitches were more fit for mountain goats and others had swimming pool pits all over them which were great doing sliding tackles through. First there was a Sunami and then a bog monster appeared out of the other side like something out of Scooby Doo. I can't remember which was the worst pitch as there were so many.
When my son was about 11 his footy team won after a string of losses and after the match the whole team before anyone could stop them glided across the mud face down, they thought it was great !!! I remember taking one of his socks off turning it inside out trying in vain to rub some of the mud off of his face and when we got home making him strip of just inside the front door while I went up to run him a bath .... he still talks about that match 7 years on !
I've sort of resurected this thread again having just watched Man U go out of Europe along with Man City. Baring in mind what was said about the Carling Cup competition I can't bring myself to go look on their website tonight. I bet they aren't so dismissive this time. Only the crap old second string competition for losers left now. Oh dear how sad.
Am doing the Doo like Betty Boo this morning...drinks in bar ladies and gents. Poor Utd!...probably the ref. was no good....
It must be terrible to be knocked out of Europe................I wouldn't mind trying the experience just once...................it's avoiding the Conference, that is my main thrill wish for this season.............how the other half live !!!
What makes us special Plymborn.....rock bottom at moment but still belief...maybe hit us sooner than we think...the new year will hopefully give us a hint.
Particularly pleased at Man city's downfall given their attempts to buy success, thus damaging the whole world of football by bidding up prices for players. This of course includes the excellent £27m Edin Džeko, who £ for lb makes Rory Fallon look like a decent player in anybody's book. Hats off too to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for pointing out the obscene levels of Man City's overspending.
If you want to get knocked out of Europe plymborn I'll meet you in Calaise on Tuesday as I will probably be there. Anything to oblige. I'll bet Liverpool supporters are pissing themselves today. I'll bet there isn't one comment about "concentrating on the League" in Manchester today either. Bet the Fergie out calls don't start though. What price a reserve side for the next European match then. Wonder how many plastic people have not gone into work today because they are melted to their armchairs? My next door neighbour is a Man U person who speaks with a perfectly good Janner accent. Arf arf!!!!!
