Book Group Online - Football Anyone ???

Jeremy DEagle

16th November 2007, 08:11 AM

I'm a Blackburn Rovers fan but having two young girls I've not been at all this season and only once last season.

I'm also turned off by the money in the game now, its just obscene. Plus I have to accept that the top four clubs in this country Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the scum will always be at the top of the league with never a sniff of anyone else having a chance.

I'll watch England but find them so mindnumbingly boring that I struggle to care about them. club vs country for me every time.

I'm even thinking I want Russia to win tomorrow to get rid of McClaren.

Barblue

16th November 2007, 08:58 AM

I'm a Blackburn Rovers fan but having two young girls I've not been at all this season and only once last season.That's a great shame JDE because I think we've seen some of the best Rovers football at Ewood this year for many a day. Hughes has the team playing a much faster and slicker passing game now. That's not to say there aren't problems. In my opinion Pedersen is not the player he was two seasons ago and could do with a kick up his backside sometimes and Bentley isn't as fast as we might like him to be. But to watch Samba week in week out being a power in defence and then going forward to score occasionally is worth the entry money in itself. It reminds us a bit of the Shearer days when just watching that man run and score was pure magic.

As for costs. Our season tickets were substantially reduced in price this year and Rovers have a great many games where children can get into the game for only £1, as well as the adult price being reduced. They seem to be doing everything possible to encourage supporters. It has meant that we have had good crowds for most of the games this year. In fact the Liverpool home game recently had over 30,000 (albeit the whole of the Darwen End given over to Liverpool) and that has to be a first for a long time.

Have to admit I think McClaren should go. Whether I am prepared to pay the price of being knocked out of the competition is another question. I'm sick of seeing the lack lustre game he puts on and he should never have been appointed in the first place.

One thing I gripe about with football is the media commentary. Be it TV or newspapers, I sometimes wonder whether the so called pundits actually see the games I see. They praise players I feel are just not trying and criticise some that work really hard. They also label clubs unfairly with derogatory epithets that are unjustifiable in my opinion. I know I am biased, but when they keep referring to Rovers as a team of hard players, or worse, it annoys me. We've had teams at Ewood who have been extremely physical against us and yet no comment is made of that.

Right, having got that off my chest, I'll make a cup of tea and calm down. :o

Lovesreading07

18th November 2007, 08:46 PM

Since this is a footie thread.

I just want to say i now know why people moan about the ref. Its got proved in the scotland games. The free Kick at the end should of been scotland not italy.

Hazel

19th November 2007, 08:52 AM

Not that I cared a great deal, but, poor Scotland. :(

Lovesreading07

19th November 2007, 09:15 AM

As Alex McLeish said you have to be a lot better to beat those teams. In fairness Italy did get a goal ruled offside when it wasn't but Scotland were denied an early penaulty.

As someone said on the news a fan said the ref was shambless for both teams.

Lovesreading07

21st November 2007, 03:16 PM

Sorry to double post but I hope England gets a decent ref.

Royal Rother

21st November 2007, 05:48 PM

...one who lets the game flow and doesn't blow his whistle every time Crouch has the temerity to jump higher than a defender. I know he was lucky to score against T&T in the WC, whilst pulling the defender's dreadlcks out at the roots, but he's been paying for that ever since when in an England shirt!

Lovesreading07

21st November 2007, 08:18 PM

Ref will keep an eye on the ones who tend to get a red card a lot.

Barblue

21st November 2007, 08:56 PM

Well, I think we got a decent ref. Shame about our team. We didn't even look half decent for most of that game. Shocking tactics. Shocking pitch. Don't deserve to be in the European Championship anyway. Very sad.

MisterHobgoblin

21st November 2007, 09:05 PM

Looking on the bright side I've heard there is to be a home international series since none of the home nations qualified for the Euro finals. As an Englishman who has lived in the Celtic fringes for most of my adult life, this is a prospect that fills me with much more excitement than an English qualification to Euro 2008. Especially since the teams might actually be quite well matched right now.

Thank you Croatia. :)

Bill

21st November 2007, 10:41 PM

talk about football

Let's not.

Artegall

21st November 2007, 11:57 PM

Hello one and all, apologies for the prolongued absence...been busy.

Anyway, delighted to see we won't have any more misery over the Summer.

On the one hand, playing a good team like Croatia without your first choice back four or strikers is pretty tough.

On the other, McClaren was useless and shouldn't have got the job, the team are a bunch of overpaid arrogant fools, I can't stand the national side's 'supporters', and generally I feel shooting is too good for the lot of them. So I'm a bit torn on the issue.

Jeremy DEagle

22nd November 2007, 08:03 AM

Thank God, McClaren has been sacked. Why he didn't have the balls to walk is beyond me. Mayube something to do with a 2.5 million payoff...

Hazel

22nd November 2007, 08:08 AM

Welcome back Artegall!

Sorry, England. Of course my my English BGO friends I am truly sorry, but in general, I am quite pleased.

MisterHobgoblin

22nd November 2007, 08:52 AM

Thank God, McClaren has been sacked. Why he didn't have the balls to walk is beyond me. Mayube something to do with a 2.5 million payoff...
You'd think that they would have thought of putting performance targets in the contract - including qualification for Europe and the World Cup - with failure to deliver targets leading to a termination of the contract without compensation.

megustaleer

22nd November 2007, 11:44 AM

Welcome back ArtegallWelcome back from me too. Had to :lmao: when I re-read the last post before you absented yourself! I take it you went cold turkey!

My Friend Jack

22nd November 2007, 11:51 AM

A dire, dire performance. Forget the fact that half our team was absent - the fact is that the manager could not get the players to perform. There was a time when I took the success of the England side far more seriously than I did that of my club side. In recent years, though, I have taken a leaf out of the England players' book. I really don't care anymore.

mac

22nd November 2007, 01:49 PM

One of the worst first half preformances by an England football team I have ever seen. Slightly better second half but really it was inevitable, given an undeserved life line on Saturday and still we could`nt even draw. There was no passion in the play and the England players stood back and let the Croatians play, very few attempts to close them down. I take nothing away from the Croatians they are a fine side and deserved the win and did`nt it mean a lot to them even thorough they had already qualified.
McClaren had to go after all his comments about judging him on his results.

Lovesreading07

22nd November 2007, 09:03 PM

[QUOTE=MisterHobgoblin]Looking on the bright side I've heard there is to be a home international series since none of the home nations qualified for the Euro finals. As an Englishman who has lived in the Celtic fringes for most of my adult life, this is a prospect that fills me with much more excitement than an English qualification to Euro 2008. Especially since the teams might actually be quite well matched right now.
/QUOTE]

That would be good because Scotland has got a lot of better players now.

That would be interesting esp when it Scotland vs England

Artegall

23rd November 2007, 11:51 AM

Welcome back from me too. Had to :lmao: when I re-read the last post before you absented yourself! I take it you went cold turkey!

Actually, as it happens, somewhat ironically... I've been writing a book! Have to finish it by January but the pressure's off a bit now. Expect to see me popping up in Writers' Corner when it's done ;)

Lovesreading07

27th November 2007, 03:23 PM

Alex McLeish has leaved scotland F.C to become a Birmingham f.c Manager.

England and Scotland are both without a manager.

Barblue

28th November 2007, 07:53 AM

England and Scotland are both without a manager.Since they don't seem to be full-time jobs, does anyone think one person could take on both roles and succeed? ;)

Webby

4th December 2007, 03:00 PM

Due to our heady position in the table, it's finally become acceptable to say that I'm a Man City supporter without roars of laughter heading my way.

My Friend Jack

4th December 2007, 04:14 PM

You reckon? ;)

Welcome to BGO, Webby.

Lovesreading07

4th December 2007, 08:59 PM

Since they don't seem to be full-time jobs, does anyone think one person could take on both roles and succeed? ;)

LOL. Nah there proparly mess it up.

MisterHobgoblin

4th December 2007, 09:46 PM

Since they don't seem to be full-time jobs, does anyone think one person could take on both roles and succeed? ;)
Sadly no, as the working months and "holiday" months seem to be the same for both jobs.

My Friend Jack

9th January 2008, 12:12 PM

The fact that none of the newspaper writers or radio station callers seem to have picked up on is this: the F A Cup has been the victim of the success of the Football League. When I was a boy, the first 3 rounds of the F A Cup were my favourite days of the season. Success in a Cup game meant your season having an extra dimension for another few weeks. Once you were out of the Cup, it was back to the mundane league games.

Nowadays, that's all changed - and it's not just clubs in the Premier League - because any side that is involved in a promotion / relegation battle is likely to consider the Cup an unwelcome distraction nowadays. And therein lies part of the problem. Maintaining or improving League status is far more important than a Cup run. Ask Millwall! The English football authorities, in an attempt to make the game more appealing, made some vital changes in the last 3 decades. 3 points for a win. 3 up and 3 down at the end of the season, and 2 drop out of the Football League every year. And - to put the tin lid on it - the play-offs. Those changes have resulted in an astonishing increase in the importance of every league game. Almost every club has something to play for right up to the last couple of games of the season.

The other vital changes have been the amount of money paid to clubs via sponsorship and TV coverage, and changes in the way that players' contracts work. All of these things have meant that the financial effect on clubs and players, and the attractiveness of the game to supporters, have all been changed markedly since the 1970s.

Players know this. Dave Kitson's ill-chosen words merely reflect the feelings of the majority of professional players.

Managers know this. How many have lost thie job because they didn't have a Cup run? How many know they can't risk trying "fringe" players in League games, but are prepared to do so in the Cup?

Chairmen know this. How many couldn't be bothered to watch their teams in action last weekend?

Supporters know this. Look how many turned up to support Sunderland or Fulham last weekend.

You may wonder why some clubs (Tottenham, for instance) managed to have a full stadium for their game. Why were their supporters keen to turn up, when Fulham's weren't? Tottenham fans know that the only chance they have of seeing silverware this year is in the Cup. Plus, they were playing against the reserve side of a club they had put 6 past just 7 days before. Fulham fans know that a quick Cup exit will actually help their prospects of surviving in the Premier League, but who wants to turn up and watch a game in such circumstances?

Writers and commentators who lament the loss of the "romance" of the Cup are forgetting that what we have gained in its place is a League structure that is probably the most exciting and competitive in the world.

megustaleer

9th January 2008, 12:40 PM

How I miss the FA Cup as it used to be.
The men in the family all gathered round 'the telly' and the women gathered in the kitchen to man the teapot, the streets were empty and silent.
Then, it was all over (unless your local team won, when there was celebration for the rest of the weekend), the cricket season dominated the TV sports schedule and we were free of footie until the winter.:banana:

My Friend Jack

9th January 2008, 12:56 PM

:rolleyes:

Royal Rother

9th January 2008, 01:58 PM

Interesting take on it MFJ. To add my twopenn'orth, I'd say that a significant factor is that most of the top clubs field seriously weakened teams in the competition and, knowing this, the fans approach to the games is subtly different; they are still committed but with more than a hint of curiosity rather than outright blinding passion.

There is also that little fallback that if they get beaten that, well, it actually wasn't our first team anyway.....

It has a gradual drip drip effect of reducing the importance of Cup competitions to all and sundry. (That, and the fact that the financial rewards of cup runs to most clubs are far less important than they used to be, although that might be more cause than effect I suppose.)

vald

9th January 2008, 03:40 PM

DON'T MENTION THE F.A.CUP........ASTON VILLA SUPPORTER. (Sorry for shouting.)

My Friend Jack

9th January 2008, 03:51 PM

Interesting take on it MFJ. To add my twopenn'orth, I'd say that a significant factor is that most of the top clubs field seriously weakened teams in the competition

Indeed. I was trying to explain why this now happens.

Lovesreading07

9th January 2008, 04:19 PM

My friend and i were laughing as St mirren vs Rangers were pp again due to weather .

We were saying there might have to extand spl to july time.

Royal Rother

9th January 2008, 10:31 PM

Indeed. I was trying to explain why this now happens.
Yes, I suppose you were. Guess I'd forgotten that by the end of your post.. ;)

nonsuch

10th January 2008, 02:48 PM

Sweet FA. I remember as a kid going by bus to hear the Cup Final on my aunt's radio. Now I have the choice of many cup-ties every week - live in my own home. I can see French, Italian, South American, FA, Carling, Champions, Euefa cup - something every night. Is it all too much? Do we really need or appreciate this abundance?

My Friend Jack

11th January 2008, 11:14 AM

No,but surely the point is that we have the choice as to which games to watch. I have absolutely no interest in French, Italian, Scottish or South American matches, but will happily watch English League and Cup games at all levels.

Barblue

11th February 2008, 09:39 AM

So, apart from their fans (I understand there are many down south), how good was it seeing ManU lose to City yesterday. Typical of United to score a goal in time added on and spoiling what would have been an even better score line, but we must be grateful for what we get.

Then to crown a weekend full of brightness, Chelsea and Liverpool draw. Living with a lifelong Arsenal fan, these results have brought joy to this house.

This evening, however, we are locked on the horns of a dilemma. As Rovers' supporters, we desperately would love to beat Arsenal. MOH on the other hand is the one who suffers the most with these games each season. But let's face it, if we get a draw, then as a Rovers' fan, I will be extatic.

In answer to your comment Chuntzy (in the 21st Century thread - I didn't want to take up space with this there) I don't think DB will have too much support from the team tonight. We are missing key players and of late our team has been woeful to say the least. In fact the least said the better as far as our performances are concerned. We have not lost in recent games - but that has only been by luck and refereeing errors - in my opinion.

chuntzy

11th February 2008, 10:15 AM

....... Chelsea and Liverpool draw.
.

Let's hope that football supporters will scupper Richard Scudamore's scheme by sending a copy of that dreadful uninspiring match between some of the leading lights yesterday to Dubai and Sydney and the other foreign cities in the Premier League's great plan for the 2010-11 season.

Barblue

11th February 2008, 11:09 AM

Let's hope that football supporters will scupper Richard Scudamore's scheme by sending a copy of that dreadful uninspiring match between some of the leading lights yesterday to Dubai and Sydney and the other foreign cities in the Premier League's great plan for the 2010-11 season.Hear! Hear! to that. Have to admit we didn't watch it all ourselves - I had my nose in a book most of the time anyway - On The Road by Jack Kerouac - from the bits of the match I glimpsed, my read was a much more pacy and free moving piece than the game!

Barblue

12th February 2008, 07:13 AM

Watched the Arsenal v. Rovers game on Setanta last night - better than I expected from Rovers anyway. Okay, so we conceded in 3.58 mins. and let in another in time added on, but it could have been worse. As usual the team didn't 'arrive' on the pitch for the first half hour. In fact, we recovered our poise quicker than we have of late (we don't get there for the first half usually), so that's why I say it could have been worse. I could rant on for ages about McCarthy's ineptitude and Tugay's (much as I love him) fitness, but what's the point. :mad:

Just wanted to say Chuntzy, I was right about us not having enough skill and power to support Bentley. Though Emmerton (for all his world travelling lately) did provide some help - just not enough!

Barblue

25th February 2008, 10:06 AM

What an emotional football weekend this has been.
1. The horror of Eduardo's broken leg - plus Arsenal only managing a draw when Birmingham got a last gasp goal. Deep depression with MOH
2. Watching Rovers v. Bolton yesterday. The first half we actually played well, but only got one goal and that a dubious penalty - well not a penalty at all really. Then second half Bolton came out and scored twice - once offside - at which point we looked all at sea. Then we score three more (one a penalty - rightly this time) and end up 4-1 winners. Still not sure how! All very stressful.
3. Got home in time to see the end of extra time and Spurs (the first 1st division team I ever watched and still have a soft spot for) beat Chelsea to win the Carling Cup. Jubilation!
I am emotionally drained now!

nonsuch

25th February 2008, 10:41 AM

Yes, Spurs were magnificent! Everyone of them deserves a knighthood.

My Friend Jack

25th February 2008, 11:00 AM

I listened to the first half of Spurs v Chelsea on 5 Live. The commentators were so bored that they started discussing a variety of unrelated topics until Graham Taylor reminded them they were supposed to be commentating on the match. "Don't worry, if anything happens, we'll mention it," he was told.

I got home during half time, and watched bits of the second half (missed both goals), then watched the whole of extra time. Delighted that one of the game's smaller clubs has won a domestic trophy - well done, Spurs!

I watched bits of Saturday's MoTD after the Spurs game. Arsenal were robbed. neither of Birmingham's goals should have happened - 2 very poor decisions by the referee. As for Eduardo's injury... a dreadful shame. It certainly didn't look as if there was any malice involved. Arsene Wenger's post-match reaction and subsequent retraction were an interesting contrast to other incidents in recent seasons.

Royal Rother

25th February 2008, 12:32 PM

Good to see the retraction but it would have been nice if he'd seen fit to apologise for slandering Taylor as well.

nonsuch

26th February 2008, 09:32 AM

Chelsea 1 Spurs 2. True, the first half was all defences on top and keepers as spectators, no wide men to deliver crosses and nobody prepared to attack the ball. Two of the 3 goals scored were set pieces. Not many great moves and a far from classic match - unless you're a Spurs supporter.

What price Fulham for survival? I wouldn't put any money on it, after seeing them lose 0-1 against West Ham last Saturday.

My Friend Jack

26th February 2008, 11:17 AM

It's rare for me to smile at the mention of anything to do with West Ham, but I was amused to read that, when Fayed, the Fulham chairman, appeared on the pitch before Saturday's game, the Hammers fans sang, "There's only one Prince Philip," and "God save The Queen."

nonsuch

3rd March 2008, 11:11 AM

A great bunch of laddoes, the Hammers fans, still blowing bubbles even when they'd all burst after the Chelsea hammering. How can Fayed still show his face in public? Suggest a burka.

joshua

3rd March 2008, 03:21 PM

am a QPR fan and look forward to Fulham's relegation and beating them at Loftus Road next season

Barblue

10th March 2008, 04:32 PM

Having seen Fulham at Ewood on Saturday, I have to say they are inept. Which just puts into perspective how I feel about the fact that we only drew with them. Rovers were not even at the game, our whole team's attitude was wrong and they all deserve a pay cut! :grumble:

Radders

11th March 2008, 05:42 PM

Being a Liverpool fan I can already feel the butterflies in my tummy (and there's still 30 minutes until kick off :rolleyes: )

mac

12th March 2008, 09:57 PM

Well you did'nt need to worry. A comfortable win.

nospacesallowed

16th March 2008, 05:54 PM

Unlucky any Arsenal supporters out, there....for we are top of the table again!

How many points to Derby have? I don't think they'll beat the record this year....it's 15 set by urhm....I can't remember...S-s-s-something.

Radders

16th March 2008, 06:53 PM

Well you did'nt need to worry. A comfortable win.Thanks, Mac - didn't ignore your response, I've just not been able to get online for a few days. I'm not sure the Inter player deserved to be sent off but hey, that's the way it goes though :D

Barblue

9th August 2008, 11:19 AM

Reviving this thread because for me the season starts today. That is to say I am about to leave for Ewood Park to watch a friendly against NAC Breda - at this moment I am asking myself Why?

It is raining - has been all morning. The damp and cold will do my arthritis no good. The stadium will probably only have a few hundred hardy supporters in it. And lastly, NAC Who?

On the bright side, now I am a fully fledged Senior Citizen season ticket holder, the tickets only cost £5 each! ;)

So, I've got my waterproofs out and filled my flask with tea - Into the breach dear friends, once more.

Royal Rother

9th August 2008, 01:14 PM

Looking forward to seeing how Reading start the season away at Forest tomorrow. (Live on Sky)

Unlike many of our "supporters" I am confident we will be challenging for Top 2. We have not added much to the squad yet and have lost Little, Kitson and Shorey but there should be enough cover around the squad to cope with what the Championship can throw at us. (Plus it seems highly likely that a new left back will be in place soon to full Shorey's position.)

One thing's for sure, with the money not spent during the 2 years in the Premier League, £11m parachute payments for next 2 years and the money not spent from the above-mentioned sales we are a pretty wealthy club these days (comparitively).

As Derby and other carry on spending and hiking up their wage bills they are surely dicing with death. I look forward to a few more administrations in the next 2 or 3 years as recession (virtual or actual) impacts on football's irresponsible big spenders. Whicever division we find ourselves in, whilst John Madejski is at the helm Reading FC won't be amongst them.

Classiest player of the season will be Marek Matejovsky - with the greater space and time afforded in the CCC that boy is going to show some class.

Doyle and Lita will score 40+ between them.

Oh well, fingers crossed and good luck to Blackburn and all others out there....

PS I think Blackburn are heading for a bad bad season if truth be told and may well end the season with only the 3 promoted clubs below them. Sorry and all that but it doesn't seem like Ince has started off too well...

Barblue

9th August 2008, 08:06 PM

Have to agree with you RR after watching the display today. Okay, so the rain and cold didn't help my attitude, but to be honest we were not good.

First half there seemed to be no drive from midfield and no attack. Second half was a little better, especially when they bought on Tugay. We did manage to fashion a goal, and it was well worked, but it's just not enough in the Premiership.

Been watching quite a lot of Arsenal lately - MOH hasn't missed a game on TV - not sure what Wenger's up to with all these youngsters, but there seems to be a lot lacking at the moment. Hope they improve when the season gets underway next weekend.

Best wishes to Reading - we will be watching tomorrow. Hope you make it back next season by being top of the league. Just hope we are still there to meet up again.

MisterHobgoblin

10th August 2008, 06:43 AM

I've just looked at the 4th Division table and seen Luton on -30 points (yes, that's minus thirty). I'm sure they must have done something heinous to deserve that, but what's the point of the punishment? Unless they play like champions, they will be relegated - and I guess they won't attract many champion-like players with that kind of a millstone. And there is no real excitement for fans when they know their club is doomed from the outset - no hint of a challenge; jockeying for position with other clubs; faint glimmers of hope over the Christmas season; etc. If they wanted to relegate the club, they should have just done that and at least give them something to play for this season.

nospacesallowed

10th August 2008, 05:00 PM

Oh dear - Manchester United went to penalties with Portsmouth. :confused:

I'm worried about the new season :help:

My Friend Jack

11th August 2008, 12:25 PM

Well, I reckon there are about 20 teams in the Championship who have aspirations of a Top 6 finish, and there are a dozen or so who should be worried about relegation! Everything I saw of Birmingham, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Reading suggests it could be a very close campaign.

I was pleased to hear the Sky commentators giving some recognition to the fact that Reading still have 75% of the promotion squad from 3 seasons ago.

I was talking to a Forest supporter this morning who reckoned his team should have won. Had they managed to take a shot at goal from less than 20 yards, they might have scored, but there was never a point where that looked likely. At the other end, Reading managed one good attempt at goal, producing a terrific save from the Forest keeper who was lucky enough to push Doyle's attempt onto the crossbar.

I agree with RR on the financial side of the game. I predict relegation (again) for Derby, followed by administration.

As for Luton, they committed 2 sins - illicit payments, going into administration and not coming out of administration properly. Rotherham and Bournemouth did the latter two as well, which is why they started on -17. Throwing all 3 out of the league was simply not possible because of the effect it would have on the league structures at such short notice. The reason that clubs get docked points is that the alternatives (fining them could put such clubs out of business and in any case, a fine usually punishes the wrong people) are inappropriate. Remember how upset people were when Leicester got into financial difficulties and then reformed as a new company, having given 2 fingers to the various companies they owed money to? That's why the new rules were introduced, to ensure that clubs that are not run efficiently don't get an advantage from their financial profligacy. Besides, Luton have a horrible stadium.

nospacesallowed

11th August 2008, 07:40 PM

I reckon Reading will be lucky if they reach 1st or 2nd. If they reach the playoffs I think they'll win them depending on which other teams are involved.

Birmingham will come high. Same same for Notts For. and Sheffield United.

As for the Premiership, I hope Manchester United win. Chelsea will come close, Arsenal too. Liverpool are looking like a pretty strong side at the moment and so are some other teams, I think we may see a few shock wins maybe even a shocking top 4 this year.

Royal Rother

18th August 2008, 04:16 PM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=F8oN58cyp2c

Steve McLaren's recent interview on Dutch TV complete with Dutch/SvenGE accent.

If you haven't seen this before - prepare for a rare treat. The opening couple of minutes are tear-inducingly hilarious!

If they reach the playoffs I think they'll win them depending on which other teams are involved.
You sure about that? ;)

nospacesallowed

19th August 2008, 12:09 PM

My Friend Jack

22nd September 2008, 12:25 PM

I notice that the various pieces of video that were available on YouTube this morning showing Reading's first goal against Watford on Saturday have now been withdrawn becuase of a potential breach of the Football League's copyright. It's nice to know that the authorities are able to employ a smart legal time, despite not being able to find officials who know the difference between arse and elbow.

Never has there been such a compelling case for allowing referees access to video. The League have been left with a total embarrassment which - had the referee been able to view the incident again at the time - would have resulted in a corner kick, and the whole incident would have been forgotten within moments.

It really is farcical that the FA are able to over-rule decisions made by referees in the heat of the moment (John Terry's red card last week) without giving the benefit of second sight.

Royal Rother

23rd September 2008, 01:32 PM

Funniest football video clip I've seen in ages!!

http://i33.tinypic.com/16j58b7.jpg

nonsuch

26th September 2008, 09:13 AM

We all make mistakes, even refs and umpires. All should be encouraged to give an explanation of why they came to their decisions. That would be far healthier than silence, cover-ups and legal dodges. As long as they don't make too many aberrations, this would earn the officials a degree of respect.

moiz615

11th October 2008, 04:44 AM

I am a footie freak and my favorite team from England is Chelsea.

Chelsea is my favorite because?
-Chelsea have more players who belong to England and i love English player.Becks was my favorite after he went to Real Madrid though my current favorite player is Frank Lampard(Chelsea) & Steven Gerrard(Liverpool).ManChester United ( i don't like this club) RIVAL :p :p

_______________
Life's too short! http://photo-shack.com/img/6ea2ef7311b482724a9b7b0bc0dd85c6.gif

moiz615

11th October 2008, 04:46 AM

Funniest football video clip I've seen in ages!!

http://i33.tinypic.com/16j58b7.jpg

hahah Fergie got "Pissed off" hahah cool awesome.

_______________
Life's too short! http://photo-shack.com/img/6ea2ef7311b482724a9b7b0bc0dd85c6.gif

Jeremy DEagle

18th December 2008, 07:29 AM

As a Blackburn fan (though I admit my interest, certainly in Premier League football, as waned hugely these last three or four years) I'm kind of excited by the appointment of Sam Allardyce.

I admit I didn't want him at the start of the season but what he did for Bolton cannot be ignored and I think he is probably the best man for a club the size of ours with the resources we have (i.e. bugger all).

Barblue

18th December 2008, 03:59 PM

Like you JDE I didn't want Sam in the summer. Yesterday I wasn't happy either. But I have just watched his live press conference on Sky and have to admit he talks a good game. I will be at Ewood on Saturday as usual and hope to see him put at least some of his good words into use. I realise he will not have had long to win the hearts and minds of the players, so I hope the players realise how much they are to blame and pull out all the stops for him - and the supporters who spend so much of their hard earned cash to watch them play!

As an aside I think it is a tragedy that Paul Ince didn't make the grade quickly enough for not only the club, but for what is expected in the Premier League. As John Williams has just said on Sky, one day I think Paul will make a great manager in any division.

My Friend Jack

19th December 2008, 06:45 PM

As John Williams has just said on Sky, one day I think Paul will make a great manager in any division.

Like Macclesfield or Milton Keynes?

I was similarly surprised to see a comment in a daily newspaper earlier this week, suggesting that Ince's first attempt at football management was about to draw to a premature end.

Jeremy DEagle

20th December 2008, 11:04 AM

They did the same with Tony Adams at Pompey. Did everyone conveniently forget he was crap at Wycombe?

My Friend Jack

21st December 2008, 08:40 AM

Indeed. At least Ince was successful in his first two management jobs.

Good start for Big Sam!

And the Royals move into the top two with a superb performance at Birmingham.

nospacesallowed

29th December 2008, 08:30 PM

Listening to Man Utd vs Middlesbro' on 5Live as I don't have Setanta and literally as I am typing, Berbatov has scored. 1-0. GET-IN! ha. :)

Jeremy DEagle

12th May 2009, 06:11 AM

Barblue

12th May 2009, 07:51 AM

Another Blackburn fan here, but I have to say I would rather be in the Premiership than the Championship. The last time we went down a league I struggled for two years going to games that were uninspiring, to watch our team go down to their level of play. The only games that stand out are those against Burnley (reference to your comment JdE on the Reading thread). Firstly because we thumped them good and proper on the pitch, which was great, but secondly because it caused so much trouble in both towns, which was very bad. On both occasions the trouble was caused by Burnley followers - I would say fans but true fans are not usually like that.

However, back to the question you posed JdE, I love having those top Premiership teams visiting Ewood Park if only to see their footballing skills displayed before my eyes. Yes, it can be discouraging when we get beaten 4-0 (or maybe more - I am dreading Sunday against Chelsea if they are on top form) but Oh! the joy when we beat ManU 1-0 (as we have) or draw with Arsenal 0-0 (as we have). Those are the days when you feel it is all worthwhile.

I bet if you asked Hull or West Brom fans whether they are happy to be in the Premiership they would say they have had a great season watching the teams from the upper tier of that league on their own turf and would not change it for the world. Have we any Hull or West Brom fans amongst us to confirm or deny this?

I do agree with your JdE about seat prices. The higher up the league you go the more costly are those games. It has almost become obscene at Chelsea, Arsenal, ManU and Liverpool (to name but a few). If they are not careful, football clubs will price themselves out of the market. However, I have had a season ticket for 17 years at Ewood, and now that I am a Senior Citizen, the price is reasonable for the Premiership. I hate to think what it would be if I were in London or Manchester though even as a Senior Citizen.

Barblue

21st May 2009, 09:12 AM

Front page news in our Lancashire Telegraph today is that Blackburn Rovers season ticket prices start at £10 per game. This means season tickets start at £199 (£100 less than last year). Amazing. The club are slashing season ticket prices to what they hope will be affordable levels in these cash strapped times and I for one applaud the club for doing it. It is a huge gamble and it remains to be seen whether the local supporters and fans take up this amazing offer.

The club had an offer of £20 ticket for the final three home games (that's three games for £20) and that was taken up by 4000 people, so the support is there provided the price is right.

Not only have they offered a great price (in my opinion) but they are moving the away supporters to the upper tier at the Darwen End which means we get home supporters all round the pitch now. They have done this for the last two homes games. I have not been to these games because of my hospital incarceration and convalescence, but MOH tells me the atmosphere is great this way.

Obviously the club will have to reduce their players' salary bill otherwise I cannot see how they can afford it. So I think Santa Cruz will be going - if only we can get somewhere near the £20m that would be great but I have my doubts now.

Jeremy DEagle

21st May 2009, 10:08 AM

That is superb news. If I didn't have the kids I would snap that up.

Royal Rother

21st May 2009, 10:18 AM

I was going to post this in the Reading thread but it seems more of a general observation...

Do you Reading fans want to get back into the Premiership or would you rather be a good championship team away from all the obscene money and hype?

The reason I ask is that, as a Blackburn fan, I'm sick and tired of being in the Premier League. The money is sickening, the cost of tickets outrageous, the gulf between the top four and the rest is awful and the continual battle against relegation we face with no real hope of progression just makes the whole thing pointless.

I have to say I've hardly been to a game since we got promoted (yes that long!).

I think I may have posted on here before (if not I certainly have done on the Reading FC fansite) that I was really in 2 minds about the conclusion to this season. I wanted to feel the glory of promotion by whatever means but I think it would have been short-lived joy.

We have a terrific bunch of youngsters at the club, at least 13 of whom have been out on loan this (well last) season and, in the main, getting very good reviews from those clubs' supporters.

If we had gone up, those young players would hardly have got a game for us in the PL.

The old guard failed to achieve promotion and, in many cases, will now be offloaded; the young players must now be given a chance to build their careers at Reading.

Providing we don't enter a relegation dog fight or (God forbid) sink without trace, then I feel sure that the process of properly blooding these ex-Academy players will result in a far more rewarding season (for me) than if we had been playing in the PL.

I hope the new manager will be a guy who is happy to get involved on this basis and NOT have promotion as the No 1 target for 2009/10 - consolidation and building for the future is what it should be about I suspect.

As a small-ish but financially stable club, no longer reliant upon Madejski's money to keep us going, we are very well-placed to ride out the ultimate impact of this recession than other clubs, and have already started to pick up more young players from other clubs (Southampton for e.g.) who have had to curtail their Academies because of financial pressures.

For that process to pay its ultimate dividends we HAVE to get these young men in the 1st team - we will then be a very attractive proposition for all young players in the South of England.

And yes, I hate the hype, the prima donnas, the cheating, the interview everybody even though they have absolutely nothing to say crap that come with being in the PL...

My Friend Jack

21st May 2009, 11:33 AM

Do you Reading fans want to get back into the Premiership or would you rather be a good championship team away from all the obscene money and hype?

As with so many things in life, it's not so much being there, it's more the journey there that provides the fun. But you can't have the successful Championship campaign without then spending time in the PL, of course. Despite finishing 4th (Reading's 6th most succesful season ever, according to Sky, although I'm still not sure that's correct), this last season was not actually that much fun. At the start of the season, our home form was terrific but we were poor away. After Christmas it was the other way round, but it meant that throughout the season we were never putting a good run together. More than that, though, we were not playing decent football. Players who have proved themselves at PL level were struggling to cope with the different pressures of the Championship, and any comparison with the team of 3 years earlier was like champagne v Tesco plonk. It was always clear that if we did go up, the squad that got us there would need significant strengthening. But despite all that, we still finished 4th!

So I'm kind of on the fence here. I want the Royals to be successful, and that means getting back to the PL, and staying there. But I want the journey to get there to be fun, and if we had beaten Burnley last week and Sheff U this weekend, it would not alter the fact that most of this season was a grind. And next season would probably be a lot worse.

So, whilst I am very sorry to see Coppell leave (and I was surprised to discover that I was more upset at his departure than I was at losing to Burnley), I agree with RR's view that this is a chance to make a fresh start, and do things properly. I don't envy Nick Hammond and Sir John Madejski, though. Finding the right man to replace Coppell will not be easy.

To finish, I agree with JdE and RR about the hype and everything that surrounds the PL. We weren't there long enough for that to have too much effect, but I remember the first home game this season, after 2 years in the PL, and listening to the local BBC commentators saying how different things were from the previous 2 years. They were actually referring to the lack of people in the media suite and the drop in catering standards, but the point was well made. The thing I noticed, though, was the way we went from having a mention in the sports pages of the national dailies almost every day whilst in the PL, to almost disappearing off the face of the Earth after relegation. Supporters of long-standing PL clubs who have dropped down a level or two (Southampton, Coventry, Leeds, Norwich and a number of others) must have found that really hard.

MisterHobgoblin

24th May 2009, 07:30 PM

So - the end of another season of football - except the playoffs and cup finals.

I was looking at the Premiership table and thinking back to the days when I first took an interest in football - principally the early 1980s. It made me realise just how much the football landscape had changed, even though it appears to change so little year on year.

Just for interest, here is the First Division (when it really was the first division) table for 1982-83, the first year I really took an interest:

1. Liverpool
2. Watford
3. Manchester United
4. Tottenham Hotspur
5. Nottingham Forest
6. Aston Villa
7. Everton
8. West Ham United
9. Ipswich Town
10. Arsenal
11. West Bromwich Albion
12. Southampton
13. Stoke City
14. Norwich City
15. Notts County
16. Sunderland
17. Birmingham City
18. Luton Town
19. Coventry City
20. Manchester City
21. Swansea City
22. Brighton and Hove Albion

No Chelsea (18th, Div 2); no Newcastle (5th, Div 2); no Fulham (4th, Div 2); no Bolton (22nd, Div 2); no Portsmouth (1st, Div 3). For those who are interested, the promoted teams from the 2nd Division that season were QPR, Wolves and Leicester.

Of course, at the time, I assumed that this was the natural order as it had always been and always would be. Liverpool would be for ever unassailable. That first division teams would always be first division teams and that second division teams would always be second division teams. It was also one of those brief windows in history when teams other than Celtic and Glasgow Rangers were able to win the Scottish league.

My Friend Jack

25th May 2009, 07:29 AM

Only 11 of those 22 took part in this season's PL.

Next season, 6 will be in the Championsip, 3 in League 1, and one each in League 2 and the Blue Square thingy.

It was around this time that Maxwell announced he was taking over Reading and merging us with Oxgord to form a new club to be called Thames Valley Royals. Dark days, but without that particular problem, I doubt that Smee and then Madejski would ever have been involved, and we would probably be languishing alongside Notts County... or even Oxford!

chuntzy

25th May 2009, 10:40 AM

Come on you Blades this afternoon. It's the only way, if they get promoted, that I can see my Gunners live these days.

Barblue

25th May 2009, 12:47 PM

Come on you Blades this afternoon. It's the only way, if they get promoted, that I can see my Gunners live these days.I had not thought of that chuntzy. In that case I will be cheering for them for your sake. :arms: As I've said before, I'm just not sure about Burnley being in the Premiership and coming to Blackburn again!

chuntzy

25th May 2009, 04:04 PM

I had not thought of that chuntzy. In that case I will be cheering for them for your sake. :arms: As I've said before, I'm just not sure about Burnley being in the Premiership and coming to Blackburn again!

The Blades were v v poor today and Burnley were well deserved winners. Whow, Barblue, you've got enough teams in Lancashire to have 'enjoyable' derbies.

Barblue

25th May 2009, 06:01 PM

The Blades were v v poor today and Burnley were well deserved winners. Whow, Barblue, you've got enough teams in Lancashire to have 'enjoyable' derbies.Actually, I was hoping Preston would get through the play-offs. There is a lot of history behind the rivalry between Rovers and Burnley and though nobody has been able to explain it to me it seems to survive down the years and manifests itself in some very ugly behaviour when the two teams meet.

I thought Arsenal and Spurs were rivals when I lived in London (still do because my family are divided in their surpport) but that is polite and refined compared to the animosity locals here seem to harbour between Rovers and Burnley.

Commiserations. Maybe you could make it to London next season and see the Gunners live.