Football

[YorkshireBear]

Don't be too disheartened at Stocksbridge Steels losing to Droylsden in the FA Cup 3rd qualifying round, as Droylsden have done well in this competition recently and last season, they took Leyton Orient to a replay before going out.

I did not mention the Sheffield derby match, as I thought that you would be on here much sooner to make your posting on this match.

Yeah i know but i hoped they could win and transfer some momentum and morale into league.

I was only joking about being disgraced by it I was at home without my laptop so couldnt make postings most of weekend.
Very happy day. Although the fact that at half time we had had about 7 shots on target to their 2 and we were losing 2-0 i was rather disheartened but they proved me wrong and made an already good weekend fantastic.

Just on a side note, apart from me and paul do we have another league 1 followers here? interested to know which teams people support that we may be up against in the not so distant future.
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Some interesting matches on Tuesday and Wednesday this week:-

Tuesday

Rangers play Liverpool at home in a "friendly" match

Champions League
Manchester City v Villarreal
SC Otelul v Manchester United

Wednesday

Champions League
Chelsea v Genk
Marseille v Arsenal

Man city will lose, they cant quite hack it in champions league yet i dont think. very different to preimer league.
Man Utd should win if they don't let giggs be in the wall when SC Otelul take any free kicks.
Chelsea win emphatically.
Arsenal will have a miserable night and probably lose by more than 1.

My predictions but i will watch with interest!
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15336398.stm

please god dont let this happen.....

 

[SS4]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15336398.stm

please god dont let this happen.....

That would be the most retarded thing to happen to football since letting foreigners own clubs in the first place.
What incentive does that give the championship clubs? The top of the PL is already largely a given, seeing who'll get relegated is the only excitement now (unless it's your team!)

Thankfully I can't see it happening largely at UEFA's behest (the FA being seemingly controlled by the PL)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Come on Rangers match is hardly interesting, unless you was showing lots of sarcasm

The point that I was making was it was another chance to see how the Premiership clubs of both countries would fare against each other and I only added it to my other match postings in case some forum members were unaware that this friendly match was being played. (The European competitions occasionally have matches between English and Scottish clubs).

I never make sarcastic postings on football threads, as this will annoy other forum members. I do make certain critical postings about my own club, Oldham Athletic, who still seem to be the most inconsistent team in League 1, leaving me to despair of their motivation against some of the lower teams in that division, when they have a good record against some of the better teams, such as Scunthorpe and Milton Keynes Dons.
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That would be the most retarded thing to happen to football since letting foreigners own clubs in the first place. What incentive does that give the championship clubs? The top of the PL is already largely a given, seeing who'll get relegated is the only excitement now (unless it's your team

We do not want to see something like the current situation that occurs with the top flight of Rugby League clubs.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

If anything they should add a fourth relegation place, it would make it more interesting!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If anything they should add a fourth relegation place, it would make it more interesting!

Strange that you should mention this, as I have been trying to think of ways that the Premiership could be reduced to 16, rather than the current 20 clubs, that seems to be suggested by various parts of British and European football authorities. The problem would be the accommodation of four more teams into the Football Championship/Division 1/Division 2, as there are already 46 league matches per season there at present. The establishment of a new Division 3, bringing the top Conference clubs (most of which already have League experience and ground standards that meet the requirement) would require a brave decision by the football authorities, but something needs to be done to bring English football into the 21st century.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Strange that you should mention this, as I have been trying to think of ways that the Premiership could be reduced to 16, rather than the current 20 clubs, that seems to be suggested by various parts of British and European football authorities. The problem would be the accommodation of four more teams into the Football Championship/Division 1/Division 2, as there are already 46 league matches per season there at present. The establishment of a new Division 3, bringing the top Conference clubs (most of which already have League experience and ground standards that meet the requirement) would require a brave decision by the football authorities, but something needs to be done to bring English football into the 21st century.

I'd go for:

16 team Premier League, including winter break;
24 team Championship;
20 team League 1;
16 team North and South League 2s.

OR

16 team Premier League, including winter break;
24 team Championship;
24 team League 1;
20 team North and South League 2;
16 team Conference, a sort of half-way house between league and non-league;
20 team Step 2 leagues.

 

[Chew Chew]

The point that I was making was it was another chance to see how the Premiership clubs of both countries would fare against each other and I only added it to my other match postings in case some forum members were unaware that this friendly match was being played. (The European competitions occasionally have matches between English and Scottish clubs).

Rumours in Scotland that the reason Rangers set up the friendly against Liverpool was because without the income from it they'd struggle to pay their players this month as they have about £3.3m frozen by the courts at the moment for one of their tax cases and the Martin Bain unfair dismissal case.

Another former directer is suing them and trying to freeze funds and 2 further directors resigned this morning.

 

[ole man]

Scottish football is in a mess, not just Rangers and Celtic, the premier league is full of players that are not that good, the teams can't afford decent players.
The national team are suffering due to the league being weak.
Rangers and Celtic need to go into English Premier league to survive and make any headway in european football, losing to Maribor and Sion proves this.
After all we have Cardiff/Swansea and Wrexham in our league's

 

[Zoe]

Scottish football is in a mess, not just Rangers and Celtic, the premier league is full of players that are not that good, the teams can't afford decent players.
The national team are suffering due to the league being weak.
Rangers and Celtic need to go into English Premier league to survive and make any headway in european football, losing to Maribor and Sion proves this.
After all we have Cardiff/Swansea and Wrexham in our league's

Is it time to have a single UK FA? A single UK league system would benefit Celtic and Rangers as they would get the chance to play in the premier league and a UK national team would have the best players from all of the UK. I know there will be a lot of opposition to this idea and there are historical reasons for the UK to have four separate teams but it may be that the UK can no longer justify having separate teams when the US is only allowed a single team.

 

[Chew Chew]

the teams can't afford decent players.

That's what happens when the overall SPL TV rights are worth about 1.5-2% of the overall EPL TV rights.

The SPL is an irrelevance to Sky and ESPN never mind foreign broadcasters.

Rangers and Celtic need to go into English Premier league

Never going to happen IMO. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas and the teams in the Championship would rightfully be up in arms over it.

 

[ole man]

That would never work,people want to keep there nationality and would never be agreed by any FA's.
You try asking a Scot/Welsh person if this is a good idea i guarantee one reply!!

 

[SS4]

I'd go along the lines of

16 Team Division 1
20 Team Division 2
24 Team Division 3
14 Team Division 4 North
14 Team Division 4 South

However, the four teams lost from the prem would join a pan European super league, not unlike the Champions league at the moment. TV money would be sucked out, the existing league would become more sustainable and all the top clubs will get what they deserve regarding diving. In addition add a wage cap and whoever doesn't like it can be shown the door.

As well as harmonising the leagues and giving them sensible names again the purpose of giving the lowest league fewer teams is to ease the pressure on travelling (time and money) and to enable a winter break since they're the ones with the poorest grounds.

In addition I'd introduce a straight red card for diving and unsporting behaviour. The first team to go under 7 men forfeits the match and is fined three points. The flip side is that technology must be introduced and referees obliged to justify their decision.

 

[Zoe]

In addition I'd introduce a straight red card for diving and unsporting behaviour.

When taking a penalty, do you count running up to the ball and stopping just before it to see which way the goalkeeper goes so you can kick it the other way as unsporting?

 

[ole man]

When taking a penalty, do you count running up to the ball and stopping just before it to see which way the goalkeeper goes so you can kick it the other way as unsporting?

My hero John Aldridge used to do that at Tranmere and never missed.
If a player doesn't make it to obvious then it's ok, everybody seeks an advantage

 

[SS4]

When taking a penalty, do you count running up to the ball and stopping just before it to see which way the goalkeeper goes so you can kick it the other way as unsporting?

Only if it happens to the Villa

Seriously though, that would not be the case. Largely what is already defined as unsporting such as diving and harrassing the ref

 

[ACE1888]

Rumours in Scotland that the reason Rangers set up the friendly against Liverpool was because without the income from it they'd struggle to pay their players this month as they have about £3.3m frozen by the courts at the moment for one of their tax cases and the Martin Bain unfair dismissal case.

Another former directer is suing them and trying to freeze funds and 2 further directors resigned this morning.

When a 'Legend' like John Greig resigns, whether your a fan of the club or not, that is a very sad day all round

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd go for:

16 team Premier League, including winter break;
24 team Championship;
20 team League 1;
16 team North and South League 2s.

This is good, as you mention League 2 North / South, which would save on long distance expensive travelling expenses for clubs hard pressed to afford it.

I did not mention the obvious winter break for the Premier League in my posting, as the reduction of eight Premier League matches per season, had already been put forward as the raison d'etre by interested parties in football, citing European leagues already using this winter-break system.

 

[SS4]

This is good, as you mention League 2 North / South, which would save on long distance expensive travelling expenses for clubs hard pressed to afford it.

I did not mention the obvious winter break for the Premier League in my posting, as the reduction of eight Premier League matches per season, had already been put forward as the raison d'etre by interested parties in football, citing European leagues already using this winter-break system.

The Premier League does not need a winter break. It would dearly like one however.
How many premier league games have been called off due to weather recently?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Premier League does not need a winter break. It would dearly like one however.
How many premier league games have been called off due to weather recently?

It is not just the matter of pitches in the Premier League (with the advent of undersoil heating), but the last two winters have been quite severe after some years of mild winter weather. My contention is that a winter break is viewed as quite acceptable in those European leagues that actually incorporate this in their fixture lists. There is the other matter cited by such countries that a winter break is of help in having their international players less stale when international matches are to be played.

 

[Chew Chew]

When a 'Legend' like John Greig resigns, whether your a fan of the club or not, that is a very sad day all round

Yeah, it is a sad day for Rangers especially with the statement released.

It would be nice if they kept him on in another capacity at the club, perhaps to do with hospitality and coming in on matchdays and meeting and greeting the folk in the corporates or something like that.

 

[EM2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15336398.stm

please god dont let this happen.....

I'd be quite happy to see the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool all bugger off to some antiseptic, hermetically-sealed, no-promotion-no-relegation, never-never-land European Super League, leave the remaining 88 clubs split into four divisions of 22 teams each (42 games a year) and let us get back to proper competitive football.
The only provisos are that the ESL clubs are exempt from the European Cup (which will go back to being for League winners), as they are in effect playing a Champions League anyway, nor will ESL clubs be eligible for any domestic Cups.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I'd be quite happy to see the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool all bugger off to some antiseptic, hermetically-sealed, no-promotion-no-relegation, never-never-land European Super League, leave the remaining 88 clubs split into four divisions of 22 teams each (42 games a year) and let us get back to proper competitive football.

I notice that both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are not on your list. I suppose your plan might give either of these two teams the chance to be English champions, that on current Premiership team involvement basis is not very likely.

Are you either Arsene Wenger or Old 'Arry Redknapp in real life?..:roll:

 

[Chew Chew]

Another court order given against Rangers today, this time to freeze £300k. They never even had anyone represent them in court.

Are they going to end up in administration?

 

[SS4]

I'd be quite happy to see the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool all bugger off to some antiseptic, hermetically-sealed, no-promotion-no-relegation, never-never-land European Super League, leave the remaining 88 clubs split into four divisions of 22 teams each (42 games a year) and let us get back to proper competitive football.
The only provisos are that the ESL clubs are exempt from the European Cup (which will go back to being for League winners), as they are in effect playing a Champions League anyway, nor will ESL clubs be eligible for any domestic Cups.

Me too although I'd be tempted to place Arsenal and Spurs in there too. Of course the issue is where to draw the line. I also think a transfer and/or wage cap would be needed for those left behind to prevent the same thing happening again (although I can see the huge tv losses contributing to that)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Me too although I'd be tempted to place Arsenal and Spurs in there too. Of course the issue is where to draw the line. I also think a transfer and/or wage cap would be needed for those left behind to prevent the same thing happening again (although I can see the huge tv losses contributing to that)

How do you think the British 50% tax rate affects the aspirations many of the British and overseas players at present. I have heard something about "image rights" as a way circumventing the tax liabilities, but I know that in the La Liga situation in Spain, the clubs seem to have power over these players "image rights" as Cristiano Ronaldo found out during his negotiations prior to joining Real Madrid.

With the matter of a "wage cap", I am unsure as to the legal position on that matter under the present regulations. As usual, there will no doubt be a European law that will supersede our own laws. The TV rights monies is an interesting issue that you have raised, but in what proportion are these monies distributed amongst the clubs in English football?.

 

[HST Power]

If I owned a club, I would take a quarter payment from the weekly wage of every player found to have committed an unacceptable act (eg: drugs, prostitution (Rooney, I'm looking at you), swearing at the media (Rooney, again, I'm looking at you) and give it to charity.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If I owned a club, I would take a quarter payment from the weekly wage of every player found to have committed an unacceptable act (eg: drugs, prostitution (Rooney, I'm looking at you), swearing at the media (Rooney, again, I'm looking at you) and give it to charity.

Ashley Cole would be very unhappy with these proposals....

 

[HST Power]

Ashley Cole would be very unhappy with these proposals....

With John Terry and Peter Crouch right behind him!

 

[EM2]

Are you either Arsene Wenger or Old 'Arry Redknapp in real life?..:roll:

As a fan of one of the sides which regularly yo-yo between the top two divisions, and one which has suffered under a tenure of Mr. Redknapp, believe me, you couldn't be further from the truth!
I only picked four teams as it means the remaining number can be easily divided. But it would, as you say,give any club a better chance of being English champions.
A sealed domestic top division is a very, very bad idea.
A sealed European League is, in my mind, a very different animal.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Stupid football, a night of goal after goal in the Conference and almost nothing in the Championship ensures most of my Prediction League guesses are way off

Must be awful to be a Gateshead or Braintree fan tonight, losing 3-2 and 5-4 respectively after being 2-0 up until the 67th minute and 2-1 up until the 51st respectively.