Football

[JD2168]

Remarkable final day today in the German Bundesliga. Bayern Munich won the title on goal difference over Borussia Dortmund after a last minute winner by Jamal Musiala against Cologne after Dortmund had come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Mainz.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Remarkable final day today in the German Bundesliga. Bayern Munich won the title on goal difference over Borussia Dortmund after a last minute winner by Jamal Musiala against Cologne after Dortmund had come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 against Mainz.

That's the best football news I've heard today after Luton Town's promotion to the PL.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Why are the Germans so proud of what has become Europe's most predictable league?

Well done Luton. I bet when Eric Morecambe doubled up as president of both Luton and Morecambe, he would never have imagined that Morecambe would, for a short while, end up as the senior club.

Bradford PA and Luton fans used to get on well. In the 1960s, I remember our supporters' coach stopping off at Luton on the way back from Brentford so we could play Luton fans at Subbuteo in a clubroom under the old Bobbers Stand. Our paths now seem to have diverged. I understand the Bobbers stand is now going to be rebuilt to increase capacity at Kenilworth Road.

We might have been relegated but at least we have a candidate for National League North Goal of the Season.

Vanarama National League North - Goal of the Season

We've got eight goals to choose from. Watch them and then vote for who you think deserves to have their strike crowned Goal of the Season for the Vanarama National League North!

docs.google.com

 

[Haywain]

Our paths now seem to have diverged. I understand the Bobbers stand is now going to be rebuilt to increase capacity at Kenilworth Road.

It will be the second rebuild since the days you remember! It's been executive boxes for the last 30 years or so. Not sure what the new version will look like but work will start in a matter of days.

Oh, and "We are Premier League!". I can't quite believe I'm typing that.

 

[JamesT]

I understand the Bobbers stand is now going to be rebuilt to increase capacity at Kenilworth Road.

I believe the rebuilding is not for additional capacity, but to provide the media facilities needed for the Premier League.

 

[Bantamzen]

It will be the second rebuild since the days you remember! It's been executive boxes for the last 30 years or so. Not sure what the new version will look like but work will start in a matter of days.

Oh, and "We are Premier League!". I can't quite believe I'm typing that.

Just as a matter of curiosity, are there any plans we can see for the rebuild?

 

[Haywain]

I believe the rebuilding is not for additional capacity, but to provide the media facilities needed for the Premier League.

This is correct, although it will, apparently, provide a small increase in overall capacity.

Just as a matter of curiosity, are there any plans we can see for the rebuild?

The planning consent was granted in July last year, and as such will be available on the Luton Council planning portal. The main change is that it will extend the stand upwards to create an upper tier - at present the main TV camera positions are on a temporary scaffolding type arrangement over the roof of the stand, and they will then be under a proper roof.

 

[Bantamzen]

The planning consent was granted in July last year, and as such will be available on the Luton Council planning portal. The main change is that it will extend the stand upwards to create an upper tier - at present the main TV camera positions are on a temporary scaffolding type arrangement over the roof of the stand, and they will then be under a proper roof.

Thanks, just had a nosey at it. As you say its mainly about extending the roof as well as making some changes to the floodlights to comply with PL standards.

 

[AlterEgo]

Why did Luton change where the cameras were? The away end always used to be on the left of the TV angle, and now is on the right. Something to do with not wanting to show the bizarre box arrangement on that stand, or something more boring and pragmatic?

 

[Haywain]

Why did Luton change where the cameras were? The away end always used to be on the left of the TV angle, and now is on the right. Something to do with not wanting to show the bizarre box arrangement on that stand, or something more boring and pragmatic?

I think it was a bit of both, the potentially boring and pragmatic bit being the new gantry was more spacious. The downside, from the broadcaster's perspective, being that are are pretty much directly above the dugouts so it's more difficult to show the managers, subs and fourth official. I guess the PL requirements have so many camera positions that this will no longer be a problem.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 May 2023 ==

Thanks, just had a nosey at it. As you say its mainly about extending the roof as well as making some changes to the floodlights to comply with PL standards.

According to a piece in the local paper this week (which I've only just read) a lot of it is about providing a "media centre for cameras, journalists, VAR and data" and having to put in studios, a canteen, toilet facilities and provide everything that is required for the Premier League's 100-odd broadcast contracts. Upgrading the floodlights needs to be done on top of that. The club will look to make as much as possible transferrable to the new stadium when it's built.

 

[JD2168]

With the results of today’s final matches Everton have stayed in the Premier League with a 1-0 win against Bournemouth. This means that Leicester City are relegated despite winning 2-1 against West Ham & Leeds United are relegated after a 1-4 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.

 

[adrock1976]

It has just been confirmed that the most played top flight fixture will continue next season as Everton have managed to stay up.

Commiserations to Leicester City and Leeds Utd, who will be joining Southampton in the second tier.

 

[AlterEgo]

Told you Everton would stay up!

 

[AntoniC]

As a Liverpool FC season ticket holder I am not sure how I feel about them staying up.
They need to sort out the financial structure of the club or I can see this happening again and the trapdoor opening - as what happened to Wigan

 

[Mcr Warrior]

As a Liverpool FC season ticket holder I am not sure how I feel about them staying up.

Extremely disappointed?

 

[AntoniC]

Extremely disappointed?

Not really, as the development of the new stadium is regenerating the area BUT unless Everton sort out their club structure relegation will still haunt them

 

[150249]

There's the end of Jeff Stelling on Gillette Soccer Saturday. There goes the last part of my childhood. Devastated.

 

[Ascotroyal]

Have Sky said who is replacing Jeff Stelling yet?

 

[Jimini]

Have Sky said who is replacing Jeff Stelling yet?

Big old boots to fill..

 

[birchesgreen]

Have Sky said who is replacing Jeff Stelling yet?

Big Sam.

 

[Harvester]

Maybe Everton should be congratulated for completing/surviving 68 consecutive seasons in the top flight!

 

[Haywain]

Maybe Everton should be congratulated for completing/surviving 68 consecutive seasons in the top flight!

When there is financial doping (possibly cheating) going on?

 

[150249]

Maybe Everton should be congratulated for completing/surviving 68 consecutive seasons in the top flight!

Boooooooo Everton! Wasn't it 69?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

One of my neighbours holds a season ticket for Stockport County and is very crestfallen to know that Stockport were winning 1-0 with just five minutes to play at the play-off final at Wembley and successive promotions, then Carlisle equalised. Extra time came and went with the score remaining at 1-1 and then Carlisle won the penalty shoot-out 5-4.

 

[Iskra]

Leeds down with a comedic whimper yesterday, with question marks over the ownership of the club. We fielded a team with 6 defenders yesterday, and still conceded 4 and with only a handful of players looking at all interested and the tactics just baffling. Our chairman and directors were all absent from the game yesterday, which is a bit odd, not even featuring in the programme notes and the club statement on relegation is signed off by nobody.

A couple of comedic moments as described on the BBC match report:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65661818

Chairman and majority owner Andrea Radrizzani was not at the game but was told in no uncertain terms to sell the club by the Leeds supporters, who chanted "sack the board" during the latter stages.

And, after a pitch invader had been hauled away by half a dozen stewards 15 minutes from time, they chanted "he's got more fight than you" in a damning assessment of their team - with further songs in support of Marcelo Bielsa, the beloved coach who returned Leeds to the top flight in 2020 but was sacked last season.

There is air of toxicity around Elland Road. And, when striker Georginio Rutter, who has started once since his £36m move to the club in January, threw his shirt into the crowd as the players slowly made their way around the pitch at the end, it was thrown straight back.

Personally, I'm not overly worked up about relegation. Despite the chaos, the club is in much better shape than the last time we left the PL, and the last few seasons have demonstrated the potential of the club to investors nicely. The Championship is certainly better for match-going supporters, more competitive and it is a great opportunity for a clear-out, rebuild and to lose some of the PL hangers-on, on and off the pitch. Rumours are that the San Francisco 49'ers will complete a takeover imminently. I've nothing against Radrizanni, and I'm sure we'll appreciate him more in the future, but Bielsa's success seemed to go to his head and it has been apparent for some time that he had taken the club as far as he could.

Yesterday, was still a great day out courtesy of Leeds' fine hostelries, which is why I am posting a day late.

- - - - -

Hoping Barnsley can win today in the League 1 Play Off Final in the Dingle Derby.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hoping Barnsley can win today in the League 1 Play Off Final in the Dingle Derby.

Thought the "Dingle Derby" was an Irish horse race!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Leeds down with a comedic whimper yesterday, with question marks over the ownership of the club. We fielded a team with 6 defenders yesterday, and still conceded 4 and with only a handful of players looking at all interested and the tactics just baffling. Our chairman and directors were all absent from the game yesterday, which is a bit odd, not even featuring in the programme notes and the club statement on relegation is signed off by nobody.

A couple of comedic moments as described on the BBC match report:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65661818

Personally, I'm not overly worked up about relegation. Despite the chaos, the club is in much better shape than the last time we left the PL, and the last few seasons have demonstrated the potential of the club to investors nicely. The Championship is certainly better for match-going supporters, more competitive and it is a great opportunity for a clear-out, rebuild and to lose some of the PL hangers-on, on and off the pitch. Rumours are that the San Francisco 49'ers will complete a takeover imminently. I've nothing against Radrizanni, and I'm sure we'll appreciate him more in the future, but Bielsa's success seemed to go to his head and it has been apparent for some time that he had taken the club as far as he could.

Yesterday, was still a great day out courtesy of Leeds' fine hostelries, which is why I am posting a day late.

- - - - -

Hoping Barnsley can win today in the League 1 Play Off Final in the Dingle Derby.

Imagine how bad Leeds would’ve been if they hadn’t had a manager who was better than Pep

Thought the "Dingle Derby" was an Irish horse race!

I thought it was Burnley v Blackburn

 

[Iskra]

Imagine how bad Leeds would’ve been if they hadn’t had a manager who was better than Pep



I thought it was Burnley v Blackburn

To be fair to Big Sam, the damage was done a long time ago. If he'd have come in earlier, he might have just kept us up. He was just another poor decision in a long string of poor decisions.

 

[SuspectUsual]

To be fair to Big Sam, the damage was done a long time ago. If he'd have come in earlier, he might have just kept us up. He was just another poor decision in a long string of poor decisions.

Very noticeable how he used “they” rather than “we” in his interviews after the match

 

[Iskra]

Very noticeable how he used “they” rather than “we” in his interviews after the match

Yeah, he was very mercenary. I didn't like his blame-merchant post-match comments yesterday. I'm sure he's laughing counting his cash as I type.