Football

[DarloRich]

Absolutely nothing wrong with supporting a lower league team but obviously expectations are a lot lower, Arsenal fans are paying top dollar and so obviously there are high expectations.

they have great players, a nice stadium and relative success. They have failed, for the first time in 20 years, to qualify for the European Cup. They didn't get relegated or go bankrupt. They need to get real. They might be ready for a new manager but it hasn't been a terrible season and it hasn't been a terrible decade or two! I think they are overreacting to a less good season. They could be Orient fans and have something to complain about.

BTW why are my expectations lower? I want us to win and get promoted and do well in the cups. Do Premier League fans have bigger or different expectations? Do they want to play on the moon?

 

[backontrack]

A reminder that the RailUKForums Fantasy Football League has finished for this year. PM me your team to nominate it, but remember that Oldham, Chester, North Ferriby and Braintree are relegated and thus out of consideration.

But Villa can now return...

 

[richw]

And Sunderland agreed to it pre-match, stating that they would put the ball out of play to facilitate it.

Doesn't sit well with me at all.

Are we looking at match fixing then??

Loads of bets were placed that he would be subbed in the 26th minute.

The FAs definition of match fixing includes the sentence "an event that is agreed prior to the match"

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Are we looking at match fixing then??

Loads of bets were placed that he would be subbed in the 26th minute.

The FAs definition of match fixing includes the sentence "an event that is agreed prior to the match"

Certainly a strong aroma of "spot-fixing" about this... it does more harm to the game than a team deciding to rotate their squad, anyway.

 

[Darandio]

And now David Moyes has gone.

More to follow here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40003697

 

[EM2]

All this talk of what it's like in the Premier League is almost making me want to lose next week... If we go up, all we'll hear is how we need to spend millions on so-called "premier league quality" players. Truth is that whether we do or don't, we'll most likely end up getting relegated anyway- so I'd rather we do the exact same recruitment whether we beat Reading or not.

Yes, but even if you finish bottom you'll rake in something like £100m just in prize money and TV revenue.

 

[DarloRich]

Yes, but even if you finish bottom you'll rake in something like £100m just in prize money and TV revenue.

£99.9m actually

£106m for Boro finishing second bottom - I wonder how this money gets transferred? Do the PL send a cheque? is it paid at various points or all in one go?

 

[Darandio]

£99.9m actually

£106m for Boro finishing second bottom - I wonder how this money gets transferred? Do the PL send a cheque? is it paid at various points or all in one go?

Pretty sure that the main bulk is the tv rights money paid over the course of the season, what they earned for finishing 19th is the merit payment, and is only £4m. I assume this now gets paid.

 

[Butts]

And now David Moyes has gone.

More to follow here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40003697

And he has had the decency to go without a "handout" unlike a lot of other high profile failures.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Clearly you have some grudge against Chelsea and JT?

It was a fairly meaningless end of season fixture and Sunderland sportingly went along with it, what harm was done?

John Terry has been a terrific captain for Chelsea but yesterday was a really good example of navel gazing if ever there was one. I don't think a player should ever be the one to decide when he or she is substituted. Those who remember the European Cup final against Bayern will know that John Terry has form for this kind of thing. Its all a bit of a shame really.

 

[Antman]

John Terry has been a terrific captain for Chelsea but yesterday was a really good example of navel gazing if ever there was one. I don't think a player should ever be the one to decide when he or she is substituted. Those who remember the European Cup final against Bayern will know that John Terry has form for this kind of thing. Its all a bit of a shame really.

Well it was a special occasion like in Munich, and he did of course play a not insignificant role in getting Chelsea to the final.

 

[Antman]

And he has had the decency to go without a "handout" unlike a lot of other high profile failures.

Fair play to him if that's the case.

I feel a bit sorry for him really, done a great job at Everton but it was all downhill after accepting that poison chalice from Fergie.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Well it was a special occasion like in Munich, and he did of course play a not insignificant role in getting Chelsea to the final.

Although he did get himself sent off in the semi final. Did he really have to dress up in the full Chelsea kit to collect the trophy?

 

[Antman]

Although he did get himself sent off in the semi final. Did he really have to dress up in the full Chelsea kit to collect the trophy?

Yes he had only himself to blame for the fact he was suspended for the final, I guess the post match frivolities were a private matter between him and the club?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yes he had only himself to blame for the fact he was suspended for the final, I guess the post match frivolities were a private matter between him and the club?

Yes I dare say they were but he looked really silly getting changed into his kit to collect the trophy when perhaps wearing a suit would have been more suitable. John Terry gives the impression that he is bigger than the club. I don't recall another Chelsea legend Frank Lampard doing anything as silly when he played his final game at the 'Bridge.

 

[backontrack]

I have no qualms with the farewell, but I can hardly think of a less-deserving individual.

I don't think we owe John Terry anything. And I don't understand how the Terry apologists think that being good at football makes this:

(calling) Anton Ferdinand a "f****** black c***"

anything less than completely and utterly unacceptable.

And he's been racist to Ledley King too.

 

[backontrack]

Unless rules have changed recently players have to have played in five games to get a winners medal:roll:!

Aké could have come pretty close...

 

[EM2]

And I don't understand how the Terry apologists think that being good at football...

I've never thought that he was *really* that good.
If Ledley King had knees, he and Rio would have been first-choice centre-halves for England, and if Jonathan Woodgate hadn't been so injury-prone he'd have been the first-choice backup.
Terry gives the impression of throwing himself in and being the last line of defence, but very often it's his own mistake that's made that necessary.

 

[backontrack]

Terry gives the impression of throwing himself in and being the last line of defence, but very often it's his own mistake that's made that necessary.

The first Watford goal last week was proof of that.

 

[Drogba11CFC]

Although he did get himself sent off in the semi final. Did he really have to dress up in the full Chelsea kit to collect the trophy?

Yes, UEFA said that all players celebrating had to be in full kit. As were Ivanovic, Ramires, Meireles, and every squad member who didn't play in that year's tournament.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Yes, UEFA said that all players celebrating had to be in full kit. As were Ivanovic, Ramires, Meireles, and every squad member who didn't play in that year's tournament.

Fair enough.

 

[adrock1976]

I am one of these people who do not recognise Chelsea's "win" of the European Cup in 2012 (similar as I do not recognise Man Utd 1999 and Liverpool 2005) as they did not win the top flight division the previous season.

Contrast that with my team the once mighty but not so mighty nowadays Aston Villa, when they won it in 1982 by doing it the proper way i.e. winning the top flight division the previous season. None of this present day nonsense of finishing runners up, third, or fourth.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I've never thought that he was *really* that good.
If Ledley King had knees, he and Rio would have been first-choice centre-halves for England, and if Jonathan Woodgate hadn't been so injury-prone he'd have been the first-choice backup.
Terry gives the impression of throwing himself in and being the last line of defence, but very often it's his own mistake that's made that necessary.

The problem is though, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate were blighted by injury; we have to answer these questions in reality. JT, as many others have pointed out, is an absolute **** of a man, but my was he good at his job for both club and country. Him and fellow debatably-nice former colleague Ashley Cole are two of the greatest English products of the past two decades.

Does the fact that Gigi Buffon only ever became a goalkeeper (he started as a midfielder IIRC) as the two on his team were injured one day preclude him from being the greatest of all time? Should that go to someone who only ever got to where they were without some coincidental good fortune and circumstance?

 

[backontrack]

I've never thought that he was *really* that good.
If Ledley King had knees, he and Rio would have been first-choice centre-halves for England, and if Jonathan Woodgate hadn't been so injury-prone he'd have been the first-choice backup.

Where were Sol Campbell and Jamie Carragher in the pecking order?

 

[EM2]

Where were Sol Campbell and Jamie Carragher in the pecking order?

Campbell was already getting on a bit by the time that Terry emerged, and I'd put Carragher at the same level or slightly behind Terry.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Where were Sol Campbell a...

Some say he's still sliding to this day! Superb defender mind, always get overlooked in these sort of grand debates.

 

[EM2]

... but my was he good at his job for both club and country. Him and fellow debatably-nice former colleague Ashley Cole are two of the greatest English products of the past two decades.

Cole I'd agree with, but Terry makes far too many mistakes. As for English products, Lampard, Scholes and Gerrard are streets ahead of Terry, and that's just off the top pf my head.

Does the fact that Gigi Buffon only ever became a goalkeeper (he started as a midfielder IIRC) as the two on his team were injured one day preclude him from being the greatest of all time? Should that go to someone who only ever got to where they were without some coincidental good fortune and circumstance?

No, Buffon has proved himself to be better than almost anyone else in that position (Casillas being the possible exception). Terry certainly has not.

 

[Antman]

I have no qualms with the farewell, but I can hardly think of a less-deserving individual.

I don't think we owe John Terry anything. And I don't understand how the Terry apologists think that being good at football makes this:



anything less than completely and utterly unacceptable.

And he's been racist to Ledley King too.

Old news and Anton Ferdinand hardly came out of it smelling of roses.

And who is 'we'? Has anybody suggested that you owe JT anything?

 

[NSE]

I can't stand Terry either. Even my Chelsea mates agree. I respect any talented football, regardless of whether they've played for my club, our rivals or neither. But Terry, no chance.

 

[FGW_Lad]

Yep, I enjoyed that too, can't stand him.

As for the playoff final, I'm torn. I hate Reading, always have, even before their graceless FA Cup quarter final win against us by cheating- plastic club, plastic fans

We're not all plastics by the way! A few fans spoiled the night for us then now we have stupid over policing. Don't judge all of our fans by a few morons!