Football

[SS4]

Don't fancy your chances but you never know, well done Villa.

We certainly won't be favourites but, as you say, you never know what'll happen on the pitch

Need to make sure we stay in the league though and playing Man City next won't be easy

 

[fowler9]

We certainly won't be favourites but, as you say, you never know what'll happen on the pitch

Need to make sure we stay in the league though and playing Man City next won't be easy

Well done to Villa. Handed us our ars*s. Good luck in the final.

 

[Clip]

 

[Kite159]

Never mind, I'm sure a quick game against a local pub team can be arranged to give Stevie G a winning send off

Am I right in thinking that the Europa league spot isn't getting given to the runners up from now on, like the league cup if the winners are already in by finishing top 5 the uefa cup spot goes to 7th place?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Highland League

Brora Rangers have been a very good model of consistency all this season and after their 2-0 away win over the weekend at Rothes, their league statistics now read:-

P 34....W 30..D 4..L 0....F 134..A 13....Points 94

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Shame it's worth nowt - this year is the first season promotion to the Scottish football league would be possible, yet if Brora achieve that it could very well send them bust.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The judge behind the original hearing dismissed the story outright on the grounds the stand had a zero value for insurance purposes as it was for demolition

The myth is that the car park was full of steel, with the stand due to be pulled down and replaced the very next day. That simply isn't true- the stand wasn't due to be demolished, no steel was in the car park, the stand was intended to remain how it was. The only work intended to be carried out was a replacement of some of the tar roof. Popplewell is wrong if he's bought into that myth.

That said, torching something with people inside it wasn't Heginbotham's style. He did it when it was quiet and nobody was around. If Valley Parade had had a mysterious electrical fire during the close season, I could have imagined him being behind it. But not a stand full of 5000 people, including club officials, their families and the players' families and friends. It wasn't Heginbotham's style.

I find it fascinating that the book isn't going after the joint Chairman, Jack Tordoff of JCT600 fortune, too, as he'd surely be just as responsible. Maybe I'm cynical, but Tordoff is alive and well and has enough money to sue for libel. Heginbotham is dead and you can't libel the dead.
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Am I right in thinking that the Europa league spot isn't getting given to the runners up from now on, like the league cup if the winners are already in by finishing top 5 the uefa cup spot goes to 7th place?

Yeah, it's the same for both cups. The winning team gets a Europa League spot. If they already qualify for Europe due to their league position then the spot is re-distributed based on league finish.

This year Chelsea won the League Cup, which means 6th gets a Europa League spot. If Arsenal win the FA Cup then 7th will also get a Europa League spot. If Villa win the FA Cup then Villa get the European spot.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Shame it's worth nowt - this year is the first season promotion to the Scottish football league would be possible, yet if Brora achieve that it could very well send them bust.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Peterhead and Elgin City all came from the Highland League and all are still occupying positions in the Scottish League.

Is there all that much difference financially in being a member of Scottish League 2 and a member of the Highland League?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Peterhead and Elgin City all came from the Highland League and all are still occupying positions in the Scottish League.

Is there all that much difference financially in being a member of Scottish League 2 and a member of the Highland League?

Apparently the finances are 'very vague', and as the article I just linked alludes to, it is a lot easier for the clubs based further south in places like Aberdeenshire to make a go of it. If Brora do get promoted their closest league match will be at Elgin, just under 100 miles and 2 hours away: if Arbroath win promotion to SFL1 then the second nearest team is East Fife, roughly double the time and distance as Elgin. Further, the four former Highland League team you list all come from much bigger settlements - Dingwall is ~5,000, Elgin and Peterhead ~20,000 and Inverness is growing rapidly: Brora has just over 1,200 residents and their stadium capacity is three times that of the village.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....This year Chelsea won the League Cup, which means 6th gets a Europa League spot. If Arsenal win the FA Cup then 7th will also get a Europa League spot. If Villa win the FA Cup then Villa get the European spot.

Which *could* lead to the rather amusing situation of Spurs fans hoping Arsenal lift the Cup......

 

[SS4]

Which *could* lead to the rather amusing situation of Spurs fans hoping Arsenal lift the Cup......

That would be amusing and it would be nice to disappoint Spurs fans again

In all honestly I do not think we're ready for European football, our squad is too thin and inexperienced. I'll still take it though

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Apparently the finances are 'very vague', and as the article I just linked alludes to, it is a lot easier for the clubs based further south in places like Aberdeenshire to make a go of it. If Brora do get promoted their closest league match will be at Elgin, just under 100 miles and 2 hours away: if Arbroath win promotion to SFL1 then the second nearest team is East Fife, roughly double the time and distance as Elgin. Further, the four former Highland League team you list all come from much bigger settlements - Dingwall is ~5,000, Elgin and Peterhead ~20,000 and Inverness is growing rapidly: Brora has just over 1,200 residents and their stadium capacity is three times that of the village.

I thank you for your observations above and noting what you say about a football team such as Brora with a small population base, I am minded of the population in a similar high-level non-league team in England, Forest Green Rovers, who have now played for a number of years in the Conference Premiership. I am led to believe the settlement where they hark from is also very small in population terms, but they still seem to carry on financially.

 

[richw]

We certainly won't be favourites but, as you say, you never know what'll happen on the pitch

Need to make sure we stay in the league though and playing Man City next won't be easy

I think you are more likely to be Arsenal than we would of been. We are terrible in big games lately.

 

[les.]

I thank you for your observations above and noting what you say about a football team such as Brora with a small population base, I am minded of the population in a similar high-level non-league team in England, Forest Green Rovers, who have now played for a number of years in the Conference Premiership. I am led to believe the settlement where they hark from is also very small in population terms, but they still seem to carry on financially.

Forest Green Rovers actually play in Nailsworth a lovely part of The Cotswolds. The nearest large (ish) place (and train station) is Stroud.

They look set to finish in the play-offs again this season with a chance that we might be playing them (if they finish 4th). The reason why they can compete at the level they do though is that they are bankrolled by "green energy" multi-millionaire tycoon Dale Vince.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Vince

 

[Stonesourscotty]

Ecotricity i'm sure they have some link with Gary Neville..

 

[Antman]

That was a bit of a shocker although Bayern will no doubt fancy their chances of turning it around in the second leg

5-0 to Bayern at half time

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

5-0 to Bayern at half time

Finished 6-1, so Bayern Munich go through 7-4 on aggregate.

 

[Kite159]

So UEFA have changed the seeding system for next years champion's league so the top tier are the current holders and champions from top 7 leagues.

Should be interesting to see if it makes any sort of difference.

 

[CC 72100]

So UEFA have changed the seeding system for next years champion's league so the top tier are the current holders and champions from top 7 leagues.

Should be interesting to see if it makes any sort of difference.

Well, it will certainly mean we will be seeing more of the 'big clubs' drawn against eachother in the group rounds.

Just out of interest, do we know which leagues the top 7 are. I'm guessing

- England

- France

- Germany

- Spain

- Italy

then maybe Netherlands + Portugal?

 

[Kite159]

From http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/

7th is Russia, so the team Arsenal will probably get drawn against in the group stage, with Man Utd & Man City getting Bayern Munich or Barcelona in their group.

Shame the wrong Madrid team is into the semi final draw

 

[Tetchytyke]

So UEFA have changed the seeding system for next years champion's league so the top tier are the current holders and champions from top 7 leagues.

Should be interesting to see if it makes any sort of difference.

I'm not sure how much of a difference it will generally make.

Some of the current second seeds (e.g. Juve, Zenit, PSG) will now be top seeds and some of the current top seeds (e.g. Dortmund, Atletico Madrid) will now be second seeds. I doubt it will change the strength of the groups too much, as two teams from the same country still cannot be drawn together. It'll probably harm the smaller third-seed teams the most to be honest, especially if they end up with Bayern and Real Madrid in the same group, for instance.

7th is Russia, so the team Arsenal will probably get drawn against in the group stage, with Man Utd & Man City getting Bayern Munich or Barcelona in their group.

Ironically it'll probably help Arsenal, who have just slipped to 9th in the European coefficient ranking.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

BREAKING NEWS...

Rotherham United have been deducted three points by a Football League commission, with immediate effect. This may provide Millwall with an extra incentive coming into the penultimate round of fixtures.

 

[Antman]

BREAKING NEWS...

Rotherham United have been deducted three points by a Football League commission, with immediate effect. This may provide Millwall with an extra incentive coming into the penultimate round of fixtures.

Just a glimmer of hope for Millwall but the odds are still very much against them

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Just a glimmer of hope for Millwall but the odds are still very much against them

I'd probably agree, having just looked at the table again. Had they won their game in hand it might be different, but now it's Rotherham with the game in hand and still ahead even after the deduction.

 

[Smudger105e]

BREAKING NEWS...

Rotherham United have been deducted three points by a Football League commission, with immediate effect. This may provide Millwall with an extra incentive coming into the penultimate round of fixtures.

Shame Brighton didn't get the three points, although they are all but safe now with Millwall's defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

 

[ExRes]

Shame Brighton didn't get the three points, although they are all but safe now with Millwall's defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

I think the betting patterns might be under scrutiny if Brighton go down, they would have to lose both their remaining games while Millwall would need victories in both of theirs and make up a 24 goal deficit

 

[AndyHudds]

BREAKING NEWS...

Rotherham United have been deducted three points by a Football League commission, with immediate effect. This may provide Millwall with an extra incentive coming into the penultimate round of fixtures.

I'm not even sure how this happens anyway, the club secretary has been a bit sloppy, he needs to be given a right roasting. This will give Millwall a psychological boost and have Rotherham looking over their shoulders nervously but I'm still not convinced Millwall will stay up. Can't imagine George Binns making an error like this!!

 

[Antman]

Wigan Athletic could still escape the drop, even with just two draws if Millwall and Rotherham lose their remaining games.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Southampton 2...Tottenham Hotspur 2

This result of the Saturday early kick-off Premiership match, with both sides gaining a solitary point, does not really add any undue pressure on the club lying in fourth place in the table.

 

[familyguy99]

Well done to Watford as they are playing Premiership football next season after they beat Brighton 2-0 and Middlesbrough and Norwich both failed to win.

Wigan will be relegated on Tues night if Rotherham pick up point against Reading.

Well done to Shrewsbury who are promotion back to League One after they beat Cheltenham 1-0, Cheltenham and Tranmere have both been relegation to non league as Hartlepool beat Exeter 2-1 to send them two teams down.

Well done to Barrow who are promotion to Conference premier league division as they beat Lowestoft 3-2 to finish top of Conference North division.

Walsall 2-0 Oldham

Oldham last away game of season end in defeat and we didn't even had shot on target in whole game.