Football

[WCMLaddict]

In my books the title sponsorship of a major stadium is worth at least 10 times more than a logo on a training kit.
You're right though. It isn't double standards. It is hipocrisy.

 

[Ivo]

As I said a few days ago, in relation to my third club:

Sigh...

Another season in the Championship awaits...

I think West Ham will take some beating in the Championship play-off final. I can easily see them returning to the Premiership next season. As with all clubs coming up I hope they spend wisely if they need to or consolidate their team to give them the best chance of staying up.

They still must beat Birmingham or Blackpool first of course, both of whom will be trying just as hard for their chance.

Here is hoping Blackpool/Birmingham do a number on them and put the scum in their place

 

[richw]

In my books the title sponsorship of a major stadium is worth at least 10 times more than a logo on a training kit.
You're right though. It isn't double standards. It is hipocrisy.

I'd agree with this. A stadium in the public eye for 90 mins plus a time on tv to millions, compared to a training kit that might get 5 mins of publicity to the same audience. 18 times as much by my calculations.

 

[SS4]

The suspicion is not in the stadium deal but that the owner is basically paying over the odds via a subsidiary company. Newcastle have done the same albeit with less cash

 

[richw]

Are wigan playing for a draw tonight, A draw should be enough for them to stay up unless there is a 10 goal swing against them in the goal difference column at the weekend. A draw will also see blackburn gone

 

[WCMLaddict]

For past 40 minutes they have been very much playing for a win. Blackburn had around 30% of possession. At home. Against Wigan. It speaks for itself.

 

[SS4]

So nobody's chickening out?

 

[richw]

For past 40 minutes they have been very much playing for a win. Blackburn had around 30% of possession. At home. Against Wigan. It speaks for itself.

Could of done with some fans getting behind the players instead of worrying about getting the manager sacked. This applies to the whole season really.

 

[Butts]

What are the odds on Aston Villa doing the Treble Next Year ????

Premier League Champions , FA Cup Winners and League Cup Winners

Or alternatively.....

Getting relegated and knocked out of both cup competitions at the first stage

 

[EM2]

It's strange, but at no point during the West Ham match today did I feel nervous. Next Saturday, however, I will be a gibbering wreck!

 

[richw]

blackburn 0 Wigan 1, 86th min goal. Martinez has got to have pulled off the Great Escape yet again...

 

[SS4]

Wigan have just scored effectively condemning Blackburn to relegation.

Cannot condone people throwing objects though

 

[Eng274]

Hibernian finally secure top flight status with a comprehensive victory over Dunfermline, who are relegated to the first division.

We can now start to rebuild a team around James McPake hopefully, who was absolutely outstanding tonight, as he has been since he arrived. Was bolting down the right crossing into the box, was solid as a rock in defence and let nothing past him. Hopefully relegated Coventry will sell him to us for a song since they will need to trim their own wage bill.

Feel sorry for the Pars - but not their ex-hearts manager. Few more highland jaunts to play Ross County next season though!

And of course the Scottish Cup Final on the 19th - bring 'em on, we have nothing to lose

The future's bright, the futures green 'n' white GGTTH

 

[SS4]

Can see this getting very sour at full time

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Protests both inside and outside Ewood Park when I left. Rovers were poor tonight; Wigan deserved the win. Aside from the goalmouth scramble Blackburn did not come even remotely close. Kean out, Venky's out. As for the chicken release, pitch invaders, season ticket and golf ball throwing, and sit in at the end; well, let's just say I can understand their frustrations.

 

[Ivo]

What's this about a chicken?

This has been coming for several years now. It will be interesting to see how long it takes Blackburn to return.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Someone released a chicken in blue and white halves into the Wigan box in the first half. Removed by Ali Al Habsi and the Yak. Took about two minutes to resume the game!

 

[Ivo]

Found it on Youtube!

[YOUTUBE]TQt8Hs4uT8I[/YOUTUBE]

 

[richw]

Post match interviews, roberto martinez wouldn't accept any credit, the press were congratulating him on a good job, and he kept saying it was his players hard work and not his hard work. Steve kean just tried making excuses as usual, as a neutral he came across very much thinking highly of himself.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This of course, is the very same Blackburn Rovers who made such a dramatic contribution to what now looks like seeing Manchester City become the Premiership Champions...rather than Manchester United, who decided to lose to both Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers in the last few weeks, when they were quite a few points clear of Manchester City.

 

[Robinson]

Talk about Manchester City not fielding enough "home-grown" players; Wigan fielded a starting 11 with no English players at all - and only 2 on the bench!

 

[richw]

Talk about Manchester City not fielding enough "home-grown" players; Wigan fielded a starting 11 with no English players at all - and only 2 on the bench!

Man city have Joe hart, lescott, gareth Barry, all regular starters, plus Adam Johnson,

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

 

[Robinson]

Man city have Joe hart, lescott, gareth Barry, all regular starters, plus Adam Johnson,

2

Precisely; I was trying to counter the argument that they don't play enough home-grown players

Although if your definition of home-grown means they have to field players from Manchester, then that negates the point somewhat...

 

[Donny Dave]

Quick explanation for "home-grown" for those who don't know....

For a player to be considered home grown (trained at club), they have to be trained at the club for 3 years between the ages of 15 and 21. For example, Cesc Fabregas is considered a home-grown (trained at club) player for Arsenal, as he first signed for them when he was 16.

To be classed as home-grown (trained in nation), it's similar, except that he has been signed after he gets home-grown (club) status with another club in the same country.

Just look at the Man Utd squad ....

Amos, Fabio, Rafael, Evans, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, Cleverly and Welbeck are all home-grown (club) players with Jones, Ferdinand, Smalling, Carrick, Young, Owen and Rooney are all home-grown (nation) players. That's 16 players, which is more than enough for the FA* and Uefa** squad limits for competitions. (I've probably missed a few players off that list, but I've not included players that only get the odd game.)

* Squad limit of 25 players, of which 8 (IIRC) must be home grown. Players under the age of 21 do not have to be registered, but can still be used.

** Squad limit of 25 player, of which 8 must be home-grown (nation). Off those 8 players, 4 must be home-grown (club). Players under the age of 21 do not have to be registered, but can only be used if they have spent a minimum of 2 years at the club.

 

[Ivo]

You know it's an imperfect system though when a pair of Brazilians qualify though...

On a side note, why do richw's posts always seem to end in "2" these days...?

 

[WelshBluebird]

Gutted about today (well, technically yesterday now I suppose). We were outclassed, no doubt about it. But I just wish we made more of a fight of it. We know we are better than what we showed in both playoff games. Its just so frustrating (I think that sums up being a Cardiff fan tbh).

One thing does make my mind wander though. Would it have been any different if the ref had given us a penalty in the first half? I have not watched any of the match since, but certainly at the time it seemed a definite foul on Miller and thus should have been a pen (and the commentators agreed).

Oh well. There's always next season.

 

[Ivo]

Oh well. There's always next season.

Too bad we can probably predict what'll happen next season too - yep, another Play-Off defeat

One day, I will watch Cardiff vs Everton in the Prem in person. One day.

 

[Johnuk123]

I think Blackburn could be out of the Greed League for several years.
The amount of debt they have is huge which is really going to hamper them.

I expect Bolton will join them and us (Wolves) as I expect them and QPR to lose next Sunday.

The Wolves are almost unique in having no debt but I also expect them to be in the championship for several years.

We have a chairman who knows all about building houses but nothing about football and it shows.

 

[Badger]

I am glad Wigan have stayed up. Their performance this season has been spectacular and great to watch, for a team I'd largely ignored as a relegation regular up until now. Obviously gutted for Villa but it's highly unlikely they'll go down now, Bolton would have to win 17 nil, so practically speaking it's guaranteed survival if not technical.

Between QPR and Bolton I am really not sure. QPR are probably going to lose to City (but it's not a cert), but Bolton and Stoke is iffy.

Anyway, would like to see Wigan beat Wolves, they deserve it more than us and deserve to finish in a respectable position in the table, 2 points below 11th place.

 

[richw]

You know it's an imperfect system though when a pair of Brazilians qualify though...

On a side note, why do richw's posts always seem to end in "2" these days...?

I've noticed it since using tapatalk 2. I have signature off but still noticed this "2" at the end of my posts made using my phone. I'm posting this from my laptop
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I am glad Wigan have stayed up. Their performance this season has been spectacular and great to watch, for a team I'd largely ignored as a relegation regular up until now. Obviously gutted for Villa but it's highly unlikely they'll go down now, Bolton would have to win 17 nil, so practically speaking it's guaranteed survival if not technical.

Between QPR and Bolton I am really not sure. QPR are probably going to lose to City (but it's not a cert), but Bolton and Stoke is iffy.

Anyway, would like to see Wigan beat Wolves, they deserve it more than us and deserve to finish in a respectable position in the table, 2 points below 11th place.

Ironically bolton and blackburn both were promoted to the premiership together in 2001! (along with Fulham). Pretty sure that was the last time that 3 promoted teams have all stayed up, Which could be repeated this year if QPR survive.
Wigan were 6 points from safety in March, and Blackburn were 6 points above the drop zone!