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Football
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RailUK Forums
SS4
Established Member
It's a risk assessment. Whilst sad, players and staff dying on club facilities remains extremely rare and could happen in the UK too.
As for their salaries I do think they pay too much and that clubs are being propped up by their owners and are nowhere near self-sufficient.
Cracking couple of free kicks
What kind? It's hard to tell when Scotland are playing*
* please note I've not actually seen the game or any highlights so I'm just making a stereotypical joke about Scottish fondness for kicking
Clansman
Established Member
Gutted at Kane's goal yesterday, never thought I'd go from the most memorable game I've attended at Hampden to feeling like I've been stabbed in the heart, along with 43000 other Scotland fans. Went from wanting to kiss Leigh Griffiths, hugging strangers, snapping seats and ending up yards away from where I originally was.... to murdering Stuart Armstrong and Craig Gordon. The hostility was top class, as usual, always cherish these games - the most passionate international game in world football by far in my opinion. The fact that we can despise each other for 90 minutes and stand together for the silences (in both games) sums the quality up - although I wish the same could be said for on the pitch! Hope you English lot enjoyed experiencing what a proper atmosphere is 
Although them 5 minutes was the most Scottish thing I've ever seen us do - nothing new there, all part and parcel of being a Scotland fan, unfortunately.
Safe trip home guys.
Although them 5 minutes was the most Scottish thing I've ever seen us do - nothing new there, all part and parcel of being a Scotland fan, unfortunately.
Safe trip home guys.
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RichmondCommu
Established Member
England were dreadful tonight. France look so much better in all departments, England can only play at one pace. No real options on the bench either. Dismal performance.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Send in the kids 
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Does anyone feel that France had a far better midfield strategy, with far more technically gifted players in that part of the team than England possess?
Old Yard Dog
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2011
- Messages
- 1,823
The National League has just voted to allow the 6th and 7th teams in its three divisions to take part in the play-offs. This is bonkers.
Last season two teams in NLS, Hungerford and Poole, and one team in NLN, Darlington, were barred from the play-offs due to inadequate ground grading. This allowed the teams finishing 6th and 7th to take part. If the same happens next season then, pro rata, up to 3 teams could be banned meaning a team finishing 9th or 10th could find itself in the play-offs. This is absurd. Last season Southampton finished 8th in the Premier League having won 12 and lost 16 games.
In my opinion, natural justice says that the team finishing 2nd in any league should be promoted automatically. In a pyramid structure like we have with only two promotion spots per division, this would leave no scope for play offs. Then so be it!
Non-league play-offs are a lottery played in indecent haste a couple of days after the season ends. Workington, for example, had two days to arrange a Monday night trip to Stourbridge, not even knowing who, where or when they would be playing until then.
Last season Tranmere got 95 points and stayed down. And Emley once got 100 points and stayed down. Is that fair?
We could end up with a long established Football League club being replaced by a small mid-table National league side like Solihull Moors or Boreham Wood without the playing, financial or ground infrastructure for big time football (no disrespect to these two clubs who have achieved miracles just to get to where they are).
Last season two teams in NLS, Hungerford and Poole, and one team in NLN, Darlington, were barred from the play-offs due to inadequate ground grading. This allowed the teams finishing 6th and 7th to take part. If the same happens next season then, pro rata, up to 3 teams could be banned meaning a team finishing 9th or 10th could find itself in the play-offs. This is absurd. Last season Southampton finished 8th in the Premier League having won 12 and lost 16 games.
In my opinion, natural justice says that the team finishing 2nd in any league should be promoted automatically. In a pyramid structure like we have with only two promotion spots per division, this would leave no scope for play offs. Then so be it!
Non-league play-offs are a lottery played in indecent haste a couple of days after the season ends. Workington, for example, had two days to arrange a Monday night trip to Stourbridge, not even knowing who, where or when they would be playing until then.
Last season Tranmere got 95 points and stayed down. And Emley once got 100 points and stayed down. Is that fair?
We could end up with a long established Football League club being replaced by a small mid-table National league side like Solihull Moors or Boreham Wood without the playing, financial or ground infrastructure for big time football (no disrespect to these two clubs who have achieved miracles just to get to where they are).
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familyguy99
Member
I see League Cup first round draw took place today (somereason in Bangkok :?) and I see Oldham have draw against Championship Burton which is winnable match for Latics.
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roversfan2001
Established Member
Just our luck to get the most southern team in the Northern Section (let's not mention the multiple more northerly teams than Coventry that are in the Southern Section...).
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Interesting home draw for Forest Green Rovers against MK Dons.
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
That is indeed ridiculous- Coventry is North yet Wolverhampton is South?
I'm just pleased that this year we wait until the next round before our annual no-show against Shrewsbury/Scunthorpe/whoever...
bb21
Emeritus Moderator
- Joined
- 4 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 24,451
Perhaps to balance the distribution of teams from each division, or such like?
It's because half the teams were seeded, based on league position. Each group was then divided into north and south.
SS4
Established Member
I might not like the politics of Russia but they do have one of the best national anthems out there
edit: in case you thought this belongs in the random thoughts thread it's here because Russia vs New Zealand has just kicked off
edit: in case you thought this belongs in the random thoughts thread it's here because Russia vs New Zealand has just kicked off
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SS4
Established Member
This video review system is long overdue.
adrock1976
Established Member
Fixtures for the second tier have been released today.
The not so mighty nowadays Aston Villa host a recently former top flight team Hull City on the opening day (Saturday 5 August). This has a 17:30 kick off, as it it televised live.
Villa's first away fixture is Saturday 12 August, for the trip to Cardiff City (don't Wales have their own league system?).
The big ones of the season is Saturday 28 October and Saturday 10 February, where the Villa are away and host respectively the dirty Bluenoses. This is the one and only time I ever pay attention to what the Bluenoses are up to when they play against the superior Villa.
Fixtures have yet to be released for my adopted team Partick Thistle.
The not so mighty nowadays Aston Villa host a recently former top flight team Hull City on the opening day (Saturday 5 August). This has a 17:30 kick off, as it it televised live.
Villa's first away fixture is Saturday 12 August, for the trip to Cardiff City (don't Wales have their own league system?).
The big ones of the season is Saturday 28 October and Saturday 10 February, where the Villa are away and host respectively the dirty Bluenoses. This is the one and only time I ever pay attention to what the Bluenoses are up to when they play against the superior Villa.
Fixtures have yet to be released for my adopted team Partick Thistle.
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roversfan2001
Established Member
The fixture computer appears to have been rather kind to us - a lot of local away games in the first half of the season.
Kite159
Veteran Member
I saw part of the Russia v Portugal game...
...Nice to see the Portugal players up to their usual tricks and trying win an Olympic gold medal in diving
...Nice to see the Portugal players up to their usual tricks and trying win an Olympic gold medal in diving
I'm really looking forward to seeing Mohamed Salah playing for us next season, an excellent player who will undoubtedly add further quality to Liverpool's starting eleven. Hopefully we'll sign some more excellent players over the summer.
SS4
Established Member
Gabby needs to score his two goals a season somehow
Old Yard Dog
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2011
- Messages
- 1,823
The football season starts in earnest this week with Bala Town, Connah's Quay and Bangor City taking on Europe's finest in the Europa League.
Because of ground grading, Bala have switched their game with Vaduz of Liechtenstein to Rhyl while Connah's Quay have had to switch their game with HJK Helsinki to Bangor. In both cases, this means journeys of getting on for 50 miles each way for supporters.
Changes of ground for European competitions are not confined to Wales - they are widespread, particularly in smaller nations. Even Tottenham moved their European games to Wembley last season. And Maltese clubs play all their domestic games at just two or three stadia, with two back-to-back fixtures each Saturday and Sunday at Ta Qali.
So an interesting question must be "What percentage of Europa and Champions League fixtures are actually played at the ground that the home club usually uses for domestic league fixtures?"
Because of ground grading, Bala have switched their game with Vaduz of Liechtenstein to Rhyl while Connah's Quay have had to switch their game with HJK Helsinki to Bangor. In both cases, this means journeys of getting on for 50 miles each way for supporters.
Changes of ground for European competitions are not confined to Wales - they are widespread, particularly in smaller nations. Even Tottenham moved their European games to Wembley last season. And Maltese clubs play all their domestic games at just two or three stadia, with two back-to-back fixtures each Saturday and Sunday at Ta Qali.
So an interesting question must be "What percentage of Europa and Champions League fixtures are actually played at the ground that the home club usually uses for domestic league fixtures?"
backontrack
Established Member
Surely Bala should be playing at Bangor while Connah's Quay should be playing at Rhyl?
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Darlington have just signed a defender, Dom Coillins, a a free from moneybags Fylde. The word is that his wife (a teacher) got a new job in the north east and he needed a new club. That doesn't happen in the premier league...............
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Not quite the same, but players' spouses have often influenced moves. Remember David Unsworth in the late 90s/early 00s? There's also Aaron Mooy, who is hopefully going to be signing a permanent deal with Huddersfield Town in the coming days, with HTFC agreeing a deal with Manchester City. Apparently he was not listening to offers from down south as his partner is from Falkirk and wants to stay reasonably close.
For another trivia question, which 3 Premier League stadiums for the 17/18 season will also host Rugby League fixtures?
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Bang on!
They're playing home games there, ergo it is their home stadium. Last season had 2 grounds shared with RFL: Old Trafford and KC Stadium. There may be a 4th in the coming season depending on where Super League decide to hold the Magic Weekend. Newcastle quite likely from what I hear.
SteveP29
Member
From what I've been reading in our fanzines, the rumour is, we'll not be seeing Magic Weekend at SJP next time, which is a shame.
Not a rugby fan at all, but it was a great weekend with all those fans coming up and having a great time in the city