Football

[75A]

How are the Northern Irish teams getting on?

All long gone as usual.
The standards here on not very good, most teams would struggle in league two in my opinion.

 

[Haywain]

How does the number of qualifying teams in these competitions compare with 60 years ago?

In 1963-64 there were 4 English teams in the 3 European competitions but the then Inter Cities Fairs Cup was a smaller competition than it later became. In 1973-74 it was 6 English teams and from then on until the ban on English teams in the 1980s it was generally 6 or 7. So, overall, the current numbers are only a very small increase over what they have been in the past.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that Maguire has been included in the England squad for the next two matches. Will he be kit-man or in charge of cosmetic supplies to the team?

 

[Cheshire Scot]

In 1963-64 there were 4 English teams in the 3 European competitions but the then Inter Cities Fairs Cup was a smaller competition than it later became. In 1973-74 it was 6 English teams and from then on until the ban on English teams in the 1980s it was generally 6 or 7. So, overall, the current numbers are only a very small increase over what they have been in the past.

In 63/64 UEFA had 33 Member nations, in the current era there are I think 55 (happy to be corrected) due to the break up of the USSR and Yugoslavia, the division of Czechoslovakia plus admission of a number much lesser nations - Andorra, Gibraltar, Faroe Islands, San Marino plus Lichtenstein (see below). Note Russian clubs are currently excluded.

In 63/64 each nation got one place in each of the European Cup (Champions) and Cup Winners Cup (Cup Winners - or beaten finalists if winners were also Champions) either 1 or 2 places in the Fairs Cities Cup. Note however Wales only got a place in the Cup Winners Cup and teams such as Wrexham and Cardiff often did well in that competition. The winners of the competition nominally qualified for the next seasons competition but if they had already qualified domestically no extra place was granted.

Today most nations get a minimum of 4 places across the three competitions, up to a maximum of 7 - although Lichtenstein only gets one place for Cup Winners as their top teams compete in the Swiss Leagues (just as for Welsh clubs playing in the English Leagues in the earlier years). The number of places and the split across the competitions is based on the national co-efficient, (which is based on clubs performance for each nation over the previous five seasons of European participation)with obviously the most successful nations getting the highest number of places.

A small number of nations get less than 4 places and in a similar manner to before the winners of the competition qualify for the next seasons competition in principle although there are 'rules' around this plus as noted previously the Conference League winners go into the Europa League.

 

[AlterEgo]

I see that Maguire has been included in the England squad for the next two matches. Will he be kit-man or in charge of cosmetic supplies to the team?

One of your better contributions to this thread, ha ha,

Mind boggles how he's been included, actually.

 

[JD2168]

I see that Maguire has been included in the England squad for the next two matches. Will he be kit-man or in charge of cosmetic supplies to the team?

In other strange call ups to the squad Jordan Henderson who is now playing in Saudi Arabia & Kelvin Phillips who can’t get a game at Manchester City have both been included.

The Champions League draw has been made with the British teams getting the following teams:
Arsenal have Sevilla, PSV Eindhoven & RC Lens.
Manchester City have RB Leipzig, Red Star Belgrade & Young Boys.
Manchester United have Bayern Munich, FC Copenhagen & Galatasaray.
Newcastle United have Paris Saint Germain, Borussia Dortmund & AC Milan.
Celtic have Feyenoord, Athletico Madrid & Lazio.

 

[75A]

Just enjoyed a cracking end to end game in the Europa League. Aberdeen were @ home to the Swedish Champions BK Hacken, the visitors won 3-1 (5-3 on aggregate). Fantastic performance from Ibrahim Sadiq who wouldn't be out of place in the Premier League.
There was very little timewasting and a great performance from the German Referee, who used common sense, yellow carded people when he needed too, but really let the game flow. twice he used the VAR pitchside monitor and both times he changed his original decision and awarded a penalty ( one to each side).
I also liked the Commentator and pundits who although were all Scottish spoke without bias.
Aberdeen are still in Europe though, dropping down to the Europa Conference unlike Hearts & Hibs who both got well knocked out of that. competition, Hearts 6-1 on aggregate & Hibs 8-0 after two games with the Villa.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Just enjoyed a cracking end to end game in the Europa League. Aberdeen were @ home to the Swedish Champions BK Hacken, the visitors won 3-1 (5-3 on aggregate). Fantastic performance from Ibrahim Sadiq who wouldn't be out of place in the Premier League.
There was very little timewasting and a great performance from the German Referee, who used common sense, yellow carded people when he needed too, but really let the game flow. twice he used the VAR pitchside monitor and both times he changed his original decision and awarded a penalty ( one to each side).
I also liked the Commentator and pundits who although were all Scottish spoke without bias.
Aberdeen are still in Europe though, dropping down to the Europa Conference unlike Hearts & Hibs who both got well knocked out of that. competition, Hearts 6-1 on aggregate & Hibs 8-0 after two games with the Villa.

As an Aberdeen fan I have to admire your post - as well as admiring the play of the Swedish side, and, as you say the performance of the referee.
With Pot 4 seeding the Conference League will be tough too!

 

[75A]

Well I shall be following them with interest for the rest of the competition and look forward to tomorrows draw.

 

[THC]

As an Aberdeen fan I have to admire your post - as well as admiring the play of the Swedish side, and, as you say the performance of the referee.
With Pot 4 seeding the Conference League will be tough too!

Celtic fan here. Wishing Barry Robson and Aberdeen all the best in the ECL. Would love to see him as Celtic manager one day but only when he's won a truckload of trophies at Pittodrie first. Especially if they're at the expense of the tribute act!

THC

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Especially if they're at the expense of the tribute act!

I wish every team success against the tribute act!

And could luck to the Bhoys in their Champions League group which looks tough but aren't they all!

 

[SJL2020]

Newcastle United have Paris Saint Germain, Borussia Dortmund & AC Milan.

A tough group, but at least two great away-day destinations for the fans.

 

[1D54]

I wish every team success against the tribute act!

And could luck to the Bhoys in their Champions League group which looks tough but aren't they all!

Not forgetting that this 'tribute act' have done so well for the game north of the border in the Europa League in recent seasons that the points system has probably played a major role in C****c getting automatic qualification in to the CL!!!

 

[SteveM70]

A tough group, but at least two great away-day destinations for the fans.

Mate of mine is a Newcastle fan. Back in the mid 90s when they were in europe and neither of us had kids, we did a couple of away trips. Coincided with an EasyJet two-for-one deal both times - Barcelona and Monaco (via Nice).

The natives in Monaco looked in total shock, apart from one entrepreneurial bar owner who had a blackboard outside with “we sell brown ale” on it

Lost both games, 1-0 and 3-0, but that was a mere sideshow

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Not forgetting that this 'tribute act' have done so well for the game north of the border in the Europa League in recent seasons that the points system has probably played a major role in C****c getting automatic qualification in to the CL!!!

I do have to acknowledge that whilst noting that level of success (which has earned them a Pot 1 seeding in the Europa League) has been achieved whilst year after year they continue to operate beyond their means with the books only balanced by multi million pound share issues each and every year - sometimes more than once in a year - which the compliant Scottish press mis report as 'investment', when in fact it is a means of keeping the lights on and paying wages.

 

[dangie]

Manchester City have completed the signing of midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53m.

This should be good news for rail workers. It shows going on strike can get you what you want.

I’m sure he’ll get a rapturous reception at the Molineux on 30th Sept when Wolves host Man City

 

[AlterEgo]

Luton are in trouble. 2-0 down at home, no points so far. But plenty still to play for. Edit: 2-1 now.

 

[SteveM70]

Luton are in trouble. 2-0 down at home, no points so far. But plenty still to play for. Edit: 2-1 now.

They’re very, very poor, but they should have had a penalty at the very end

 

[75A]

Good shout for a Luton penalty near the end but nowhere near enough 'shots on target'

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Talking to someone who was coming back home from Friday Prayers at the Cheadle Masjid earlier today, he is of the opinion that Muslim professional footballers would welcome the opportunity to play in the new Saudi professional league for religious reasons.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think some are being a bit harsh on Luton here. They earned their place in the top flight, and haven't gone crazy with money in a probably vain attempt to compete. At least they haven't signed a load of utter charlatans on crazy contracts, unlike a few other less glamorous clubs that found themselves in the Premier League... including the team I support.

Sure, they'll probably finish in the bottom three... but it isn't a foregone conclusion this early in the season, and to suggest that it's inevitable is a little disrespectful in my opinion.

 

[JD2168]

The Europa League & Europa Conference League draws have been made. The British teams have the following opponents, Europa League first:
West Ham have Olympiakos, SC Freiburg & TSC Backa Topola.
Brighton have Ajax, Marseille & AEK Athens.
Rangers have Real Betis, Sparta Prague & Aris Limassol.
Liverpool have LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise & Toulouse.

In the Europa Conference League the British teams have the following:
Aston Villa have AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warsaw & Zirjinski.
Aberdeen have Eintracht Frankfurt, PAOK & HJK Helsinki.

 

[75A]

I think some are being a bit harsh on Luton here. They earned their place in the top flight, and haven't gone crazy with money in a probably vain attempt to compete. At least they haven't signed a load of utter charlatans on crazy contracts, unlike a few other less glamorous clubs that found themselves in the Premier League... including the team I support.

Sure, they'll probably finish in the bottom three... but it isn't a foregone conclusion this early in the season, and to suggest that it's inevitable is a little disrespectful in my opinion.

Or as the West Ham fans were singing near the end.
'Premier League you're aving a larf, Premier League you're aving a larf'

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Or as the West Ham fans were singing near the end.
'Premier League you're aving a larf, Premier League you're aving a larf'

It's not that long ago they were in the second tier... much like Manchester City, they've benefitted from being gifted a new stadium too.

 

[75A]

Very true.

 

[Haywain]

Or as the West Ham fans were singing near the end.
'Premier League you're aving a larf, Premier League you're aving a larf'

They were also claiming to be "Champions of Europe", so I think we know who was having a laugh.

 

[SJL2020]

much like Manchester City, they've benefitted from being gifted a new stadium too.

'Gifted' may suggest City got it for free.

Instead, the City Council still own the stadium and the club pay an annual lease.

Obviously, the club have funded the various extensions and improvements that have occurred over the past 20 years.

 

[londonbridge]

One of the bugbears of football these days is in booking train tickets and not knowing whether the game is going to be moved for Sky/TNT. The EFL website states that Sky have agreed to a five week minimum public notice period when announcing games selected for tv broadcast. It also has a list of dates, by which the tv games for a specific round of fixtures are to be announced. It stated that tv selections for 23rd September to 7th October would be announced by 18th August.

On 18th August Blackburn vs Leicester, originally on Saturday September 30, was announced as the Friday night game to be played on the 29th. Based on this I booked advance tickets from London to Sheffield for the 30th for Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland, costing £50.

Yesterday, it was announced the Blackburn game will now be played on the Sunday and the Sunderland game has been moved to the Friday to replace it. This is obviously not five weeks notice, and comes two weeks after the league and Skys self imposed deadline for announcing tv fixtures. Apparently it’s due to Blackburn and Leicester league cup ties having to be played Wednesday 27th due to the scheduling and commitments of their opponents (Liverpool and Cardiff), so the game can no longer be played on the Friday. So I’ve now lost £50 on my trains! Sick of Sky taking us fans who actually attend matches for mugs and screwing us over. It won’t get anywhere but I’m inclined to send Sky a letter before action saying I’ll start legal action if they don’t pay me my £50.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

One of the bugbears of football these days is in booking train tickets and not knowing whether the game is going to be moved for Sky/TNT. The EFL website states that Sky have agreed to a five week minimum public notice period when announcing games selected for tv broadcast. It also has a list of dates, by which the tv games for a specific round of fixtures are to be announced. It stated that tv selections for 23rd September to 7th October would be announced by 18th August.

On 18th August Blackburn vs Leicester, originally on Saturday September 30, was announced as the Friday night game to be played on the 29th. Based on this I booked advance tickets from London to Sheffield for the 30th for Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland, costing £50.

Yesterday, it was announced the Blackburn game will now be played on the Sunday and the Sunderland game has been moved to the Friday to replace it. This is obviously not five weeks notice, and comes two weeks after the league and Skys self imposed deadline for announcing tv fixtures. Apparently it’s due to Blackburn and Leicester league cup ties having to be played Wednesday 27th due to the scheduling and commitments of their opponents (Liverpool and Cardiff), so the game can no longer be played on the Friday. So I’ve now lost £50 on my trains! Sick of Sky taking us fans who actually attend matches for mugs and screwing us over. It won’t get anywhere but I’m inclined to send Sky a letter before action saying I’ll start legal action if they don’t pay me my £50.

When booking rail tickets in advance for travel on Fridays or Saturdays, is there enough time in advance to know how proposed rail strikes on those days could affect rail travel?

 

[1D54]

Can you not change tickets for a fixture in the near future? Okay there will be a £20 administration fee for each single ticket but better than losing the lot. If of course there is industrial action called then your problem is solved!