Football

[Ivo]

To change the subject slightly, what the hell are Liverpool thinking? It was a joke the other year when you know "Liverpool are not one to live in the past, here's to Dalglish as manager" but seriously?

The thing is he is held in high regard, personally I think he is somewhat overrated but that's my opinion and doesn't mean much. I find it a bit hard to believe that they are considering approaching him to join the club given his departure last year, I know he would for the fans but for the club?

Liverpool are becoming more of a laughing stock by the day. And that isn't Everton bias speaking - it's common sense.

Next thing you know, they'll be offering £50M for Michael Owen, whilst also revising their stadium plans to an alternative new build - in Wallasey.

And six months later, they'll be staging a rather amusing derby against Tranmere in the Championship (Assuming they get promoted of course.)

 

[Butts]

Liverpool are becoming more of a laughing stock by the day. And that isn't Everton bias speaking - it's common sense.

Next thing you know, they'll be offering £50M for Michael Owen, whilst also revising their stadium plans to an alternative new build - in Wallasey.

And six months later, they'll be staging a rather amusing derby against Tranmere in the Championship (Assuming they get promoted of course.)

Unfortunately there is some substance to your allegations

"When I were a Lad" they were the best team in the UK - bar none and arguably "The Barcelona" of their day

 

[Oswyntail]

...
The thing is he is held in high regard, personally I think he is somewhat overrated but that's my opinion and doesn't mean much. I find it a bit hard to believe that they are considering approaching him to join the club given his departure last year, I know he would for the fans but for the club?

Perhaps he will be much like Bobby Charlton at MUFC who is wheeled out at big occasions but otherwise only let out to make derogatory statements of no value about other clubs or England. I believe he is referred to as an "Ambassador", as Dalgleish is. (I just hope British Ambassadors are more diplomatic!)

 

[Chew Chew]

Rangers have not been represented at all in these talks

The new club are only associate members, they don't have voting rights.

Can I just remind everybody that the Rangers that currently play in the 3rd Division are NOT a new club?

I think you had better tell Charles Green and Jom Traynor, 2 very high ranking officials at The Rangers that.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just to clarify matters, the meeting that is to be held on 31st January is said to be that to discuss the 12-12-18 restructuring proposals for football in the highest level in Scotland is, at this stage, one that current proposals say in the announced preamble as being of no plans for a formal vote requirement upon the matter.

It is stated that all the clubs involved will receive a detailed Schedule of Proposal document detailing the options available in good time for them to evaluate this matter prior to this meeting being held.

Whilst the matter of football in Scotland is currently being discussed on this thread, can any forum member expound upon reports now surfacing that both the Association and the League governing bodies in Scotland are considering an amalgamation.

 

[Karl]

£62 for an away supporter's ticket at the Emirates?!!!!!!!!!

I'm not surprised Man City have returned thousands of unsold tickets!

How do Arsenal justify such a price? This is just another nail in the coffin of pricing out the general working class punter.

I never did like prawn sandwiches anyway

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

As UEFA won't allow cross border leagues it would be interesting to find out where they intend going.

There was a case in 1985 of a club from Northern Ireland , Derry City FC, being granted a special dispensation by both UEFA and the IFA to play in Eire in the League of Ireland, on the grounds that the security situation in Northern Ireland in 1985 being not conducive to the security of either the players, officials and supporters.

However, bad as is the sectarianism is in certain districts of Glasgow, surely no similar comparison today to the matter of Derry City FC in 1985 can be made. Do not forget that it was not just UEFA who were involved in that decision, it also required the approval of the Football Association of the country where the move was to made to, before the final approval could be granted.

Looking at the parables and sayings of certain times in the New Testament, one could use the hoped-for move of Rangers FC to play in an English league and to consider...
It will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Rangers FC to be granted permission to compete in the English Football League

Here endeth the Lesson for the Day.

 

[Johnuk123]

Rangers won't play in England, it's just guff, they'll just carry on in the backwater which is Scottish football.

 

[Oswyntail]

....How do Arsenal justify such a price?

Presumably at that price they can sell sufficient tickets to meet their financial requirements from ticket sales. Of course, they could take the Chelsea approach, or the Portsmouth approach - or even the Rangers approach.

....This is just another nail in the coffin of pricing out the general working class punter. ...

(Though I am sure you didn't mean what you wrote) Oh please, since when has football been required to practice social engineering? What has "working class" - whatever romantic notion that may be associated with these days - got to do with anything, least of all the entertainment industry? It's little more than a couple of tickets for the cinema, or a round of drinks in London. If you want an afternoon out at the footy, pay for it - if you can't afford it, don't. Common sense, nothing to do with "class".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rangers won't play in England, it's just guff, they'll just carry on in the backwater which is Scottish football.

Another thought has just occurred to me with regards to this particular matter. Within the support for Rangers FC lies a section with historical links to the organisation that sees its beginnings in support for the monarchy that is the House of Orange.

Why, in that case, could a tentative application be made to Koniklijike Nederlandse Voetalbond, the Royal Dutch Football Association who are the governing body of football in the Netherlands, by Rangers FC, to see if they would give their approval for such a move to the football leagues in the Netherlands.

 

[Whistler40145]

Should Blackpool approach Micky Mellon for the Manager's job or is Steve Thompson up to stepping up from Assistant Manager?

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Geezertronic]

Apologies if it's been mentioned before but how do Cardiff and Swansea get around playing in the English Leagues?

 

[Ivo]

Apologies if it's been mentioned before but how do Cardiff and Swansea get around playing in the English Leagues?

Their joining the English league system came long before UEFA came to exist.

The same applies to Newport, Wrexham, Merthyr and Colwyn Bay. Note that the former two are currently 3rd and 1st in the Conference respectively and are therefore in with a realistic chance of joining the League next season.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Why on earth would Appleton leave Blackpool for a short term contract of a few months to go to a club who are a laughing stock.

The chairman - Oysten is apparently one hell of a difficult guy to work with, one of the reasons I believe why Holloway left for Palace.

Looking at the parables and sayings of certain times in the New Testament, one could use the hoped-for move of Rangers FC to play in an English league and to consider...
It will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for Rangers FC to be granted permission to compete in the English Football League

Here endeth the Lesson for the Day.

Stranger things have happened. Also depends how big the needle is. If it's the size of John Prescott, it may fit through. If it's the size of a mansion, it will fit. You get the idea...

Another thought has just occurred to me with regards to this particular matter. Within the support for Rangers FC lies a section with historical links to the organisation that sees its beginnings in support for the monarchy that is the House of Orange.

Why, in that case, could a tentative application be made to Koniklijike Nederlandse Voetalbond, the Royal Dutch Football Association who are the governing body of football in the Netherlands, by Rangers FC, to see if they would give their approval for such a move to the football leagues in the Netherlands.

Can't tell if serious or not. Either way, never in a trillion years - there is a link to the House of Oranje, yes, but in the same way you could also argue there's a link to England because of the vast love of Cromwell among the same selection of people and history.

 

[Ivo]

Meanwhile, another amusing development at Liverpool which shows just how much the rest of us disapprove of them at present

(Source = BBC)

Luis Suarez 'could be driven out of England'

Luis Suarez could quit English football if he continues to be "victimised", says former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli.

The Reds striker has been involved in a number of controversies since joining from Ajax in 2011.

"It'll be an absolute shame for English football if this victimisation drives him away," Comolli told BBC Sport.

"As the biggest league in the world you want to keep the biggest players, not drive them away for crazy reasons."

Liverpool signed Suarez for a then club record £22.7m and the Uruguay international has scored 40 goals in 80 appearances.

But there have also been a number of unsavoury incidents, most notably the confrontation with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra that led to Suarez being handed an eight-match ban for racial abuse.

The 25-year-old has been accused of diving and stamping, had a run-in with Everton boss David Moyes and his winning goal in Sunday's FA Cup win at Mansfield was helped by the ball touching his hand.

Comolli was responsible for bringing Suarez to Anfield and believes the public and media should focus their attention on his talent.

"I find it extremely hard to understand why people look at all the bad aspects and not how good the player is," said the 40-year-old, who was sacked by Liverpool in April 2012.

"He is a fantastic individual and professional - totally committed to his club, team-mates and job. He'll give you everything, he's a winner.

"People need to be very careful what they say and stop criticising him. He's someone you'd want to go to war alongside. I don't think you can captain Ajax as a foreigner at 21 years of age if you're not a great individual."

Obviously Comolli doesn't know the difference between "shame" and "wonder"

...whoops, is this contributing to the exact ploy he is trying to stop?

[It] depends how big the needle is. If it's the size of John Prescott, it may fit through.

An excellent analogy if I may so young Sir

 

[steamybrian]

Apologies if it's been mentioned before but how do Cardiff and Swansea get around playing in the English Leagues?

Note- Berwick Rangers have they home ground in England but play in the Scottish League

 

[SS4]

Suarez has been on the wrong end of media attention that much is fair to say with the jury being out on whether or not it's justified. Has he really been so much worse than any other PL player though? Somehow I doubt it

 

[Donny Dave]

Feel sorry for Newcastle fans .... Coloccini has now said he wants to leave the club this month ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20985928

Anyway, was it not 18 months ago where there was a lost of speculation about Wesley Sneijder joining Manchester United for £35m? He's reportedly in talks with Galatasary and could join tomorrow in a transfer worth "just" £8.2m ....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Suarez has been on the wrong end of media attention that much is fair to say with the jury being out on whether or not it's justified. Has he really been so much worse than any other PL player though? Somehow I doubt it

It is worth remembering that he comes from Uruguay, where racial attitudes may well be different than in Britain. If so, he is a victim of his own heritage.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Can't tell if serious or not. Either way, never in a trillion years - there is a link to the House of Oranje, yes, but in the same way you could also argue there's a link to England because of the vast love of Cromwell among the same selection of people and history.

I really was quite serious, as if you will recall some years ago, there was an idea "doing the rounds" for teams from Scotland, The Netherlands, Belgium, etc, forming a European League.

Don't say that I have dreamed that one......I am sure there are those on the Football thread who will remember this proposal being discussed.

 

[CC 72100]

It is worth remembering that he comes from Uruguay, where racial attitudes may well be different than in Britain. If so, he is a victim of his own heritage.

I'm afraid I don't buy that. I don't think there is much excuse for such ignorance these days if that's what it's being put down to. Either he needs top learn himself, or there should have been a support network at Liverpool for better integration of people used to different cultural norms in order to avoid such situations. Hundreds of foreign players, including several from Latin America and other Spanish speaking countries have successfully integrated without causing so many problems with regards to their racial attitudes - why hasn't he?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm afraid I don't buy that.

Well, that has taught me a lesson not to be "kind and understanding" about his obvious shortcomings..

 

[CC 72100]

Well, that has taught me a lesson not to be "kind and understanding" about his obvious shortcomings..

We can all try and be kind and understanding, but I don't have much kindness for Suarez.
Great player, got a bad reputation for being a bad boy, and you don't get such a reputation for nothing!

 

[Robinson]

I think you had better tell Charles Green and Jom Traynor, 2 very high ranking officials at The Rangers that.

Neither of whom have said we are a new club. There is a difference between a newco and a phoenix club.

What happened to us is no different to what happened to Leeds United in 2007 - when the SPL's own Neil Doncaster was party to the decision that the newco Leeds should stay in League 1.

Still, whatever floats your boat.

 

[Oswyntail]

....Great player, got a bad reputation for being a bad boy, and you don't get such a reputation for nothing!

Really? In a world where many a player has had an undeserved good reputation over-inflated by the press department of his club (with a view to selling on)? Does the opposite never happen? How much of the "hatred" of Suarez can be traced to the club PR of "Mr Sportsman" Evra? Pinches of salt all round!

 

[CC 72100]

Really? In a world where many a player has had an undeserved good reputation over-inflated by the press department of his club (with a view to selling on)? Does the opposite never happen? How much of the "hatred" of Suarez can be traced to the club PR of "Mr Sportsman" Evra? Pinches of salt all round!

The whole Suarez/Evra stuff was bad for both parties. But the reputation that Suarez has got stems from more than just that. Even in his Ajax days he was creating controversy , biting opponents on the shoulder, and then there was the whole stuff about the world cup with his handball on the line - all of this even before he arrived on English shores.

The Evra incident was by far the most high profile, but as these examples show - even before we start talking about the diving (not that United players are innocent by any stretch of the imagination, before it moves onto that) -that Suarez has built up a bad reputation out of his own behaviour, it was not just one isolated incident.

 

[Ivo]

Don't say that I have dreamed that one......I am sure there are those on the Football thread who will remember this proposal being discussed.

I'm not sure I recall a proposal from Scotland, Belgium, Holland et al, but I do of course recall the Super League proposals from the late 90s or whenever it was - essentially a league competition for the top clubs of Europe, represented from an English perspective at the time by United and Arsenal (and possibly Chelsea, I can't remember for certain).

If such a format did exist now, the likely top three at present would be Barcelona, United and Real Madrid - in that order. As Celtic's victory over Barca proves though, no club is invincible - and the Last 16 in the Champions' League this year may yet cause 2nd and 3rd to swap...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'm not sure I recall a proposal from Scotland, Belgium, Holland et al, but I do of course recall the Super League proposals from the late 90s or whenever it was - essentially a league competition for the top clubs of Europe, represented from an English perspective at the time by United and Arsenal (and possibly Chelsea, I can't remember for certain).

No, it was not that one that I was referring to. It was the Atlantic League proposals which only concerned clubs from Scotland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, with a possibility of a few clubs from the Scandinavian Leagues.

 

[SS4]

Great player, got a bad reputation for being a bad boy, and you don't get such a reputation for nothing!

You can also get it through positive feedback - someone is portrayed by the media as dirty, so referees subconsciously pick up on it and give more fouls/cards against said player, enhancing the reputation of being dirty and so the cycle repeats.

That may or may not be the case RE: Suarez but I cannot bring myself to believe that he is as dirty as the media makes him out to be, especially given the baselessness of the latter.

 

[Ivo]

No, it was not that one that I was referring to. It was the Atlantic League proposals which only concerned clubs from Scotland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, with a possibility of a few clubs from the Scandinavian Leagues.

You mean this? Can't say I recognise it; its reasoning is certainly sensible, but I don't think it would be able to compete on a level playing field as hoped for. The suggestion on Wikipedia is that PSV started the idea, and Celtic were the most interested.

 

[SS4]

No, it was not that one that I was referring to. It was the Atlantic League proposals which only concerned clubs from Scotland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, with a possibility of a few clubs from the Scandinavian Leagues.

Sounds more like a North Sea League (except Portugal)