The Footie Thread

[Don Barzini]

This is another reason why I feel this has been one of the worst Premier league seasons (from my perspective).

The club I support has been horrific, and given me no direct pleasure in the league
There has been no title challenge. Is this one of the worst title challenges in Premier League history? There is usually at least a 2 horse race.
The relegation scrap is non existent
The only "highlight" is the competition for European spots. Yet, we don't even know what spots get what, as it can all change depending on what happens in Cups

Just a dreadful dreadful season.

I guess it's all about perspective isn't it?

Cos from my point of view, this has been a cracking season. And I would say that even if Forest weren't where they are.

115 FC a shadow of their former self for a large chunk of the season.

Two of the Protected Six absolutely blinkin’ awful and languishing near the bottom of the table.

Race for European places wide open for quite a few clubs

Very real possibility that two non-Protected Six clubs play CL football next season

Fair enough Liverpool haven’t had much of a challenge. And relegation spots sorted very early is a crying shame. Spurs and Man Utd should be feeling very relieved that the promoted three were so bad. In most other seasons they’d have been in a proper relegation scrap. I know “them’s the rules”, but the fact that one of them will play CL football next year is pretty crazy!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Remember the saying “ todays headlines are tomorrows chip-paper”
If it’s left alone, the topic will drop away.

Do you really think that people shouldn’t talk about incidents that happen that’s outside the norm on a sporting field ?

The way the media works and even more so social media has evolved significantly, it’s there to be found in an instant even weeks later

There is no chip paper anymore from yesterdays news

Right now the incident is top od the rolling daily news on both BBC and Sky sport , it was in the sports news this morning on all the channels , it was discussed across 5 live and talksport - it will be there until the next incident comes along

 

[Swango1980]

I think its been a great season, its competitive from 2nd down to 7th and some teams 8-12th were in with a chance of Europe 5/6 weeks ago.

Yes, since the turn of the year Liverpool haven't really had a challenger, and yes, relegation has been all but confirmed for about 10 weeks, but the middle pack of the PL is getting really competitive and play great football.

The only big big issue for me is that 2 years in a row the 3 promoted teams have gone straight back down, we need that to stop to keep refreshing the league - incredibly hard to achieve though, the only model that seems to stand a chance is signing a lot of players and gambling a bit on staying up. Very risky though!

I would say that fans of clubs in that pack will be enjoying this season, no issue with that. However, I'm sure there have been many seasons that it has been competitive from around 2nd to 7th? It is just that we often don't notice it (unless our club is one of those clubs), because there is a title challenge going on, or a really competitive relegation scrap.

I'm not sure people will be looking back in 10 years, and say "do you remember the great 24/25 season, when there was great competition between Clubs 2nd-7th?"

And, The challenge for European spots is only heightened because so many are available. On one hand, we say we love the competition for European spots, on the other we mock the fact that so many European spots are available.

 

[Aztecs27]

I guess it's all about perspective isn't it?

Cos from my point of view, this has been a cracking season. And I would say that even if Forest weren't where they are.

115 FC a shadow of their former self for a large chunk of the season.

Two of the Protected Six absolutely blinkin’ awful and languishing near the bottom of the table.

Race for European places wide open for quite a few clubs

Very real possibility that two non-Protected Six clubs play CL football next season

Fair enough Liverpool haven’t had much of a challenge. And relegation spots sorted very early is a crying shame. Spurs and Man Utd should be feeling very relieved that the promoted three were so bad. In most other seasons they’d have been in a proper relegation scrap. I know “them’s the rules”, but the fact that one of them will play CL football next year is pretty crazy!

There is also (mathematically), the possibility that the top five are rounded out by:

Villa, Newcastle and Forest with City and Chelsea missing out.

Obviously, the chances of that are very, very, VERY slim, but it would be great.

 

[Bdill93]

I would say that fans of clubs in that pack will be enjoying this season, no issue with that. However, I'm sure there have been many seasons that it has been competitive from around 2nd to 7th? It is just that we often don't notice it (unless our club is one of those clubs), because there is a title challenge going on, or a really competitive relegation scrap.

I'm not sure people will be looking back in 10 years, and say "do you remember the great 24/25 season, when there was great competition between Clubs 2nd-7th?"

And, The challenge for European spots is only heightened because so many are available. On one hand, we say we love the competition for European spots, on the other we mock the fact that so many European spots are available.

Theyre only available because our teams have done well in Europe this year though. Shows how strong the league is in comparison to other leagues. Our current 6th place team (Villa) made the quarter finals of the UCL. Every other team in the quarters - Arsenal, PSG, Inter, Bayern, Madrid, Barcelona, Dortmund.

All of which will be 1st or 2nd in their divisions this season (bar Dortmund but they qualify most seasons).

The fact that our 17th and 16th placed teams are in the Europa final should be embarrassing to other leagues - not ours!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

There is also (mathematically), the possibility that the top five are rounded out by:

Villa, Newcastle and Forest with City and Chelsea missing out.

Obviously, the chances of that are very, very, VERY slim, but it would be great.

Think a lot of fans would love that

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Theyre only available because our teams have done well in Europe this year though. Shows how strong the league is in comparison to other leagues. Our current 6th place team (Villa) made the quarter finals of the UCL. Every other team in the quarters - Arsenal, PSG, Inter, Bayern, Madrid, Barcelona, Dortmund.

All of which will be 1st or 2nd in their divisions this season (bar Dortmund but they qualify most seasons).

The fact that our 17th and 16th placed teams are in the Europa final should be embarrassing to other leagues - not ours!

The Europa Lge has suffered due to CL leagues not dropping down

It’s dropped the standard of the competition

It’s why United and Spurs are there in the final because they are the two strongest teams in that comp despite being so poor in the Prem

They imo need to bin off the Conference Comp

 

[Swango1980]

Theyre only available because our teams have done well in Europe this year though. Shows how strong the league is in comparison to other leagues. Our current 6th place team (Villa) made the quarter finals of the UCL. Every other team in the quarters - Arsenal, PSG, Inter, Bayern, Madrid, Barcelona, Dortmund.

All of which will be 1st or 2nd in their divisions this season (bar Dortmund but they qualify most seasons).

The fact that our 17th and 16th placed teams are in the Europa final should be embarrassing to other leagues - not ours!

Surely they are primarily available because there are for more teams playing in Europe these days?

Looking back at a random season, 2000/2001, there were 209 European Clubs that qualified to compete in Europe that season (either direct entry, or into qualifying rounds).

This season, I worked it out that 321 clubs qualified to compete in Europe this season, either direct entry or the chance to qualify. And with so many extra spaces, you'd expect the top leagues in Europe to really benefit by getting the most available spots. And if things keep going the way they do, I can honestly see a day where you qualify to compete in Europe simply by being in the Premier League, regardless of where you finish and regardless of how you do in other competitions.

 

[Swango1980]

Unfortunately they appear to have voices that carry weight - same with a lot of the media and pundits

Neville and Carragher both appear to be getting too “big” - if that’s the right word

Too many hang on their word

both of them shouldn’t be near any game involving United or Liverpool as well

Why?

Do fans really tune in to hear punditry because they are not good enough themselves to analyse a game of football, and they need an ex-footballer to tell them about tactics in a calm, robotic way? If they are pundits for other games that don't feature Man Utd or Liverpool, are they top value for those games?

I generally never paid an awful lot of attention to pundits, but that changed when Sky brought in the likes of Neville, Keane, Carragher, and they did things like MNF and really went to town on it. Yes, I enjoy some of their tactical discussions, but I also like it because they are passionate about what they talk about. I don't want to hear some robot talking about a game of football. I want to hear some anger, joy, frustration from pundits who know their football, but are also emotionally involved. I can agree with them sometimes, I can disagree sometimes, but that is what football is about. Strong, emotional opinions.

As long as it doesn't get amateurish, like FanZone they used to do on Sky (or whatever they called it), then I'd rather have pundits working on matches they have an emotional connection to.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Why?

Do fans really tune in to hear punditry because they are not good enough themselves to analyse a game of football, and they need an ex-footballer to tell them about tactics in a calm, robotic way? If they are pundits for other games that don't feature Man Utd or Liverpool, are they top value for those games?

I generally never paid an awful lot of attention to pundits, but that changed when Sky brought in the likes of Neville, Keane, Carragher, and they did things like MNF and really went to town on it. Yes, I enjoy some of their tactical discussions, but I also like it because they are passionate about what they talk about. I don't want to hear some robot talking about a game of football. I want to hear some anger, joy, frustration from pundits who know their football, but are also emotionally involved. I can agree with them sometimes, I can disagree sometimes, but that is what football is about. Strong, emotional opinions.

As long as it doesn't get amateurish, like FanZone they used to do on Sky (or whatever they called it), then I'd rather have pundits working on matches they have an emotional connection to.

Why ?

Because both can’t hind their bias for either team in either or positive or negative way

As much as it was enjoyable watching Neville squirm ( as United got stuffed a few times ) it can’t commentate a Liverpool game without hiding or not allowing his dislike/hatred for the club

It’s the opposite end of the scale with Carragher -shouldn’t be near commentary for a Liverpool game


They can both sit there afterwards and a analyse the game but not as commentators imo

 

[Neilds]

Can someone get a pot and a kettle

 

[Bdill93]

The Europa Lge has suffered due to CL leagues not dropping down

It’s dropped the standard of the competition

It’s why United and Spurs are there in the final because they are the two strongest teams in that comp despite being so poor in the Prem

They imo need to bin off the Conference Comp

I do agree, no drop downs does make the competitions far easier for those in it, but I also kind of like that. Everyone gets their shot at their competition and when you're out - you're out!

Conference is a weird one - a good competition for teams new to Europe in my opinion but not something that's going to attract a neutral fan to watch.

Has anyone watched a Chelsea game this season?

 

[Swango1980]

Why ?

Because both can’t hind their bias for either team in either or positive or negative way

As much as it was enjoyable watching Neville squirm ( as United got stuffed a few times ) it can’t commentate a Liverpool game without hiding or not allowing his dislike/hatred for the club

It’s the opposite end of the scale with Carragher -shouldn’t be near commentary for a Liverpool game


They can both sit there afterwards and a analyse the game but not as commentators imo

I can't say I've seen Neville commentate on Liverpool games where he has shown a hatred. I mean, we all know as a fan that Liverpool success will hurt him, but he isn't exactly a Man Utd youtuber that shouts and screams hatred towards LFC. Perhaps it is just that you get a bit upset when a vocal ex-Man Utd player is critical of your club, and you would be less offended if someone like Alan Smith or Ally McCoist said exactly the same thing?

And, as much as I hated Carragher as a player, I honestly don't mind him on Liverpool games. I accept he is a passionate Liverpool fan, and I don't exactly enjoy seeing him ecstatic. I'll also not agree on everything he does or says about MUFC. But, he at least gets fans talking, and that is probably the key role of any pundit. Pundits that keep their stronger emotions to themselves aren't exactly the most engaging of pundits, unless they have other tricks, like great comedy.

 

[Don Barzini]

Great S-housery Nuno, get in!!!! My manager!

 

[SteveW86]

Remember when the hull team had their team talk on the pitch at half time

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Do you really think that people shouldn’t talk about incidents that happen that’s outside the norm on a sporting field ?

The way the media works and even more so social media has evolved significantly, it’s there to be found in an instant even weeks later

There is no chip paper anymore from yesterdays news

Right now the incident is top od the rolling daily news on both BBC and Sky sport , it was in the sports news this morning on all the channels , it was discussed across 5 live and talksport - it will be there until the next incident comes along

Just looked at the BBC sports headlines....
I suppose the page must be around the chips now then...

 

[Aztecs27]

Taiwo needed emergency surgery and now likely to miss the last two games of the season. All because a lino can’t flag for offside when the attacking player was in another postcode. Cheers for that

No wonder Marinakis was so livid

 

[clubchamp98]

Taiwo needed emergency surgery and now likely to miss the last two games of the season. All because a lino can’t flag for offside when the attacking player was in another postcode. Cheers for that

No wonder Marinakis was so livid

It’s the rules that’s the problem.
They are instructed not to flag.
VAR again .

 

[Aztecs27]

It’s the rules that’s the problem.
They are instructed not to flag.
VAR again .

Oh aye. I know, such a ridiculous rule

 

[Swango1980]

Oh aye. I know, such a ridiculous rule

Again, though, if they are not 100% certain, they can't flag. If they did, and it was onside, they'd be crucified.

I appreciate it might have been miles offside (didn't see it), but sometimes even clear offsides are not clear live, as a fraction of a second earlier they might have been onside and the lino may not be 100% certain the exact position when the ball is played. I'd still say they are professional and trained enough to make the call better than 99.9% of the rest of us in any given moment.