Football

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Being in a "dark" mood at present, a side-effect from supporting Hyde, I have just had an idea for a competition for four teams who usually view a cup run as something not for them, so this competition would fill in those blank fixtures when other teams are in cup competitions. The four teams are:-

Hyde......................Current goal difference of -20
Fort William............Current goal difference of -33
Strathspey Thistle....Current goal difference of -41
Rothes...................Current goal difference of -54

A suitable name for the tournament would be "The St Jude Trophy", as he is said to be the patron saint of "lost causes"....:roll:

 

[bb21]

Norwich have sacked their first-team coach.

With their resources, they really should be challenging at the top of the table, and I expected them to too at the start of the season, but that was a strange move.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29987450

Norwich City sack first-team coach Mark Robson

Norwich City have sacked first-team coach Mark Robson following Saturday's 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.

The Canaries have not given a reason for the 45-year-old's departure.

But the move comes with the Canaries only 10th in the Championship and with just one in win in eight games.

...

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that Ched Evans is being allowed to train with the Sheffield United club.

 

[CallySleeper]

Norwich have sacked their first-team coach.

Hardly surprising when you loose to forest

 

[bb21]

Hardly surprising when you loose to forest

Yes but how come not the manager?

Forest are playing a bit crap atm.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that the Football Association have been making their views known as a result of the actions by certain players in the match at Villa Park on 2nd November between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, by fining each of the two clubs £20,000 for failing to control their players in that match.

Is a fine such as this seen to be sufficient these days for Premiership clubs?

 

[Antman]

I see that Ched Evans is being allowed to train with the Sheffield United club.

Maybe they'll offer Stuart Hall a job on the tannoy when he is released

 

[Kite159]

I see that the Football Association have been making their views known as a result of the actions by certain players in the match at Villa Park on 2nd November between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, by fining each of the two clubs £20,000 for failing to control their players in that match.

Is a fine such as this seen to be sufficient these days for Premiership clubs?

If they are going to fine the clubs, make it a reasonable sum of money. £20,000 is pennies to those clubs who pay more than that a week for a player 's wages

 

[SS4]

I see that the Football Association have been making their views known as a result of the actions by certain players in the match at Villa Park on 2nd November between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, by fining each of the two clubs £20,000 for failing to control their players in that match.

Is a fine such as this seen to be sufficient these days for Premiership clubs?

Probably not but I imagine it's just as well when the FA is judge, jury and executioner for domestic football.

Out of interest if you'd answer no to your own question what would you replace it with and should a means-scaling fine be used in the wider world like the German speeding system?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Out of interest if you'd answer no to your own question what would you replace it with and should a means-scaling fine be used in the wider world like the German speeding system?

What you have to consider is how finance rules the Premiership with all its money-attracting elements, such as TV rights, that the best I can say is to refer you to the words of a well-known song from "The Mikado"...."To let the punishment fit the crime".

 

[Amberley54]

Probably not but I imagine it's just as well when the FA is judge, jury and executioner for domestic football.

Out of interest if you'd answer no to your own question what would you replace it with and should a means-scaling fine be used in the wider world like the German speeding system?

Making them play fixtures 'behind closed doors' might be a more appropriate punishment in financial terms.

It was used by the FA in England in the 1970s and 80s, but usually when clubs had failed to control their supporters and large scale aggro on the terraces resulted.

More recently, used as a punishment in European competitions after clubs failed to tackle racist elements amongst their supporters. Didn't Man Citaay play a fixture in Moscow recently ostensibly in an empty stadium, but with around 2,000 'stewards' in attendance. :roll:

 

[MCR247]

More recently, used as a punishment in European competitions after clubs failed to tackle racist elements amongst their supporters. Didn't Man Citaay play a fixture in Moscow recently ostensibly in an empty stadium, but with around 2,000 'stewards' in attendance. :roll:

Yes, so CSKA had 2000 fans and Man City had 0. Who was being punished again? :roll:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes, so CSKA had 2000 fans and Man City had 0. Who was being punished again? :roll:

Is the CSKA stadium a smaller one with only in the region of 30,000 in capacity? In answer to your point, I too wonder what action will now be taken against CSKA for this breach of stricture.

 

[CC 72100]

I thought figures said that it was closer to 600 CSKA-supporting 'neutrals', not 2000?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...nthem-in-anger-at-governing-body-9839263.html - around 300 according to that article.

I'm not saying it's not bad, but 2000 compared to 600 is a very reasonable difference.

Mind you, City fans don't turn for their own games when they're permitted to, so they can't say anything really http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29437526

(Sorry, that was a cheap one, I know!)

 

[MCR247]

Tbh I wasn't sure of the figure, I was going on what amberley54 said

And don't get me started on Man city fans

 

[Johnuk123]

http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram...ed-of-corruption-investigator-fbi-to-press-on

FIFA on Thursday cleared the way for the next two World Cups to continue as planned, closing an internal corruption investigation brought on by allegations that officials from Russia and Qatar bribed their way into hosting rights.
But the man in charge of the investigation announced Thursday he intends to appeal FIFA’s decision, saying that FIFA’s summary of his 18-month probe “contains numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations,” according to CNN and The Washington Post.

Seems quite convenient that FIFA is based in Switzerland as trying to uncover courtroom standard corruption in that country is virtually impossible because of very strict secrecy laws.

Now the FBI is on the case though it's possible that finally after so many years some FIFA officials might actually face criminal prosecution.

The FBI reportedly will attempt to gain access to Garcia’s full report in a FIFA corruption investigation of its own. The bureau has been looking into FIFA corruption for three years now, according to CNN, and its investigation could potentially result in corruption charges against senior FIFA officials if sufficient evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered.
A person close to the situation told The New York Times that Garcia uncovered ethics violations among a group of senior FIFA executives, noting that some could face charges.
"It is not just the usual suspects" involved in the alleged foul play, the source said.

 

[richw]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30037729

Fifa's report into allegations of corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has been questioned - by the man who investigated claims of wrongdoing.

Michael Garcia, who conducted a two-year inquiry, said the report "contains numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations".

The report cleared World Cup hosts Russia and Qatar of wrongdoing.

It also accused the English Football Association of flouting bid rules.

But Garcia's statement, issued less than four hours after the report was published, has reopened the debate about the validity of the bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 competitions.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

European Championship

Greece 0....Faroe Islands 1

That was one I did not expect....:roll:

 

[Butts]

Two former Celtic Managers came face to face at Celtic Park last night when Scotland defeated The Republic of Ireland 1-0.

Gordon Strachan got one over on Martin O'Neill and put Scotland back on track for possible qualification. (Butts is not confident by any means )

Well done Maloney

 

[Chapeltom]

Attended Hua Hin City 3-1 Phichit at Fort Thanarat Military Base in the Thai Division Two Champions League Group A this afternoon. Kicked off at 8:30am GMT, 3:30pm local time but only 29C at kick off, so a cold day, damn these harsh winters! The group blown wide open now especially as Prachuap lost again, never ceases to amaze me how incredibly well supported/how good the atmosphere is at lower level Thai games. This was a 3rd tier match. Admission, shirt, travel, food/water for £13, bargain football in an incredible country once again.

 

[familyguy99]

European Championship

Greece 0....Faroe Islands 1

That was one I did not expect....:roll:

Greece sack they manager this Morning following that shock 1-0 defect to Faroe Islands.

Oldham draw 1-1 to Crawley early this afternoon, on loan Aston Villa player Daniel Johnson scored on his debut and played quite well for us in the match, Crawley score were down to poor play from our goalkeeper and defender and we should played better in second half to have win this match.

Chelsea are only team in England to have unbeaten record as Swindon ended Bristol City unbeaten start to season as they won 1-0 in West Country derby.

 

[Amberley54]

Macclesfield Town, the bookies pre-season favourites for relegation from the Conference Premier, have just quietly slipped into the play-off places after today's draw at Welling.

Just need Altyscum to drop down into the relegation zone now

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Two notable Highland League results today...

Buckie Thistle 1...Fort William 2.....

Huntly 0...Brora Rangers 8


Meanwhile, back in the "Slough of Despond" that is the Conference North...

Harrogate Town 4...Hyde 1...:roll:

If the timing reports are correct, after "0" minutes, two players from each side received a yellow card...hock:

 

[ReverendFozz]

San Marino got only there 3rd competitive in there history drawing 0-0 with Estonia, there first ever point in a Euro Qualifier, the last coming in WCQ games against Turkey in 1993 and Latvia in 2001...They aint won a game since 2004 and have not scored a goal in a while

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Whilst grudgingly accepting the principle of the World Cup, once every four years, as this brings national teams from the world over into qualification stages onwards, I see no reason whatsoever in a European competition, with its early associated group stages, running on a two year tandem intermediate four year basis with the World Cup. Money now totally rules this particular sport and as many competitions that are feasible to attract inward income from vision based media is considered to be the norm.

The existing club league structure of club football teams in Europe already has its own club competitions for the highest grade of achievers in both the Champions League and the Europa League.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I'm not entirely sure how it could be a reflection of the money now involved in football since it has been around for way longer than money has been the primary factor in the game. I'm not a huge fan of international football but I prefer the Euros to the World Cup, it's a lot less hyped, is a more level playing field and actually spawns some really good football (see Greece back in 2004, you'd never get that in the World Cup). It also gives lesser entities like Russia, Austria and even the Home Nations the chance to play in a competitive international finals, and legitimises international football for two years: if it was all friendlies no-one could care less, domestic clubs would be in a very powerful situation to stop players playing internationally, and that in turn would affect all international teams for when the World Cup comes around.

 

[Amberley54]

San Marino got only there 3rd competitive in there history drawing 0-0 with Estonia, there first ever point in a Euro Qualifier, the last coming in WCQ games against Turkey in 1993 and Latvia in 2001...They aint won a game since 2004 and have not scored a goal in a while

An international equivilent of Hyde United?

Sorry Paul, couldn't resist

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

An international equivilent of Hyde United?

Sorry Paul, couldn't resist

No problem....just sorry that I did not think of it myself first...:roll:

 

[SS4]

Whilst grudgingly accepting the principle of the World Cup, once every four years, as this brings national teams from the world over into qualification stages onwards, I see no reason whatsoever in a European competition, with its early associated group stages, running on a two year tandem intermediate four year basis with the World Cup. Money now totally rules this particular sport and as many competitions that are feasible to attract inward income from vision based media is considered to be the norm.

The existing club league structure of club football teams in Europe already has its own club competitions for the highest grade of achievers in both the Champions League and the Europa League.

In my opinion the financial state of play (on which I am in total agreement) makes international competition more, rather than less, desirable. Not being able to change national allegiance after a certain age (or is it playing a game at senior level?) makes it harder for those with the most money to simply buy their way to success whilst depriving their rivals of the players needed to make a push.

The Financial Fair Play (FFP) has simply locked in the current status quo thanks to the positive feedback loop of the champions league and the Europe league to a lesser extent.

Club football is stale at the highest levels - I know full well that Villa will be a mid table club at best barring a significant amount of money being spent on players. The PL will be won by one of 4 clubs and that is high compared to the likes of Spain or Italy. Arguably it's the same at international level but at least you're forced to invest in your own countrymen if you want to win.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

To further prove my recently-made point about Liverpool and Sturridge, both De Gea and Blind now find themselves added to the injury situation at Manchester United as a result of matters that occurred at the recent European Championship matches.