General Football Nonsense

[dazthegooner]

Talking of Mickey Mouse competitions. Bayern Munich's opening Club World Cup opponents, Auckland, are facing a major crisis after several of their players failed to get time off work to play in the tournament. :sarcy:

[Letters]

Talking of Mickey Mouse competitions. Bayern Munich's opening Club World Cup opponents, Auckland, are facing a major crisis after several of their players failed to get time off work to play in the tournament. :sarcy:

:haha:

I know that in some sense all football competitions are made up, but this one is the madeupest and a clear attempt at a cash grab

[dazthegooner]

What makes it worse.
Bayern Munich’s first Club World Cup opponent are Auckland City

The club are semi pro and the players don’t even earn a salary.

Auckland City are ranked 5,074th globally. For comparison, lower league Macclesfield, England’s lowest-ranked club, are around 2,900th.

Some couldn’t make the trip to the U.S. due to day jobs. The squad includes a teacher, a hairdresser and a real estate agent…

What could we be about to watch ��

[HCZ_Reborn]

Auckland have done amazingly well at keeping it to 6 frankly

If they avoid losing by double figures that’s almost a win

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's 7-0 now.

13-0 was in my head prior to this one starting.

I'm not watching any of this tournament, FIFA can go fuck themselves.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

8-0. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

9-0. :rose:

[Letters]

Stop, stop he’s already dead and so on

[HCZ_Reborn]

10-0 pity

This tournament is a golden dog turd

[Letters]

10-0 pity

This tournament is a golden dog turd

Spurs would still have an open top bus parade if they won it

[HCZ_Reborn]

Spurs would still have an open top bus parade if they won it

Spurs would have to win the European cup to even be in it surely?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ten. :lol:

[Letters]

Spurs would have to win the European cup to even be in it surely?

I’ve literally no idea what the criteria were for the invite.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’ve literally no idea what the criteria were for the invite.

Basically it was champions league winners - Bayern, Chelsea, Real Madrid and City plus teams that had scored a high UEFA coefficient

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Inter Miami were invited. :lol:

Charity just for Messi probably.

[Letters]

Basically it was champions league winners - Bayern, Chelsea, Real Madrid and City plus teams that had scored a high UEFA coefficient

Auckland have a high UEFA coefficient? :blink:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Auckland have a high UEFA coefficient? :blink:

Specifically for European teams I should have said. The rest I think either won their own equivalent of the champions league for their own confederation or performed well. Oceania has its own confederation so a team with non league attendance at games can be the top representative, largely because Australia belongs to the AFC (Asian confederation).

[HCZ_Reborn]

The premier league fixtures due out tomorrow have been “leaked”. Only issue is loads of the fixtures don’t make sense, like Forest playing twice on the same day and Leicester City included

Apparently our opening fixture was meant to be away at Leeds. So will see who we actually play when the fixtures released tomorrow

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Starting off with Leeds brings back funny memories from the O'Leary days.

Who would have thought that with all the ambition they showed during his days they'd become a yoyo club (and not even a good one for that matter).

[HCZ_Reborn]

Starting off with Leeds brings back funny memories from the O'Leary days.

Who would have thought that with all the ambition they showed during his days they'd become a yoyo club (and not even a good one for that matter).

Ambition has to be sustainable

They ended up in the position they did because Peter Ridsdale was mortgaging the clubs future on title runs and qualifying for the champions league. They failed to get into the CL in 2001 and it spiralled from there, they frankly couldn’t afford to spend what they were spending, and the player sales couldn’t cover the costs of the debts he accrued. They were actually quite fortunate not to have been put out of business.

[Letters]

Ambition has to be sustainable

They ended up in the position they did because Peter Ridsdale was mortgaging the clubs future on title runs and qualifying for the champions league. They failed to get into the CL in 2001 and it spiralled from there, they frankly couldn’t afford to spend what they were spending, and the player sales couldn’t cover the costs of the debts he accrued. They were actually quite fortunate not to have been put out of business.
I saw some thing about that - some documentary or something. And yeah, Leeds spent big to break in to the CL places and...didn't. They then went double or quits, spent big again assuming they'd get the CL money the following year and...they didn't qualify the following season either. So then they were in all kinds of shit financially and sank like a stone.

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8rpxjgr8mjo

This competition continues to be a roaring success.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Our first game of the season is away at Old Trafford

Whilst clearly not the daunting fixture it was, also not the fixture you’d want to start the season with

[HCZ_Reborn]

First three away fixtures are

United (A), Liverpool (A), Newcastle (A)

We finish the season away at Palace

[HCZ_Reborn]

So fixtures of note up to the end of the year

Liverpool (A) - August 30th - likely to be moved to lunchtime or evening of that date or Sunday afternoon of August 31st

Man City (H) - September 20th - as above

Newcastle (A) - September 27th

Tottenham (H) - November 22nd

Chelsea (A) - November 29th


Aston Villa - Play them twice in December, away the first weekend in December and at home provisionally on December 30th (a Tuesday)

[HCZ_Reborn]

This the same Santo that got sacked after 10 league games by Spurs, and the same one that managed to get one point from their final four home games for Forest in the season just gone. Or is it his far smarter twin brother?

[Mac76]

This the same Santo that got sacked after 10 league games by Spurs, and the same one that managed to get one point from their final four home games for Forest in the season just gone. Or is it his far smarter twin brother?

It's the Santo that was giving everyone a good thrashing until other teams got the hang of Forest's tactics and stymied them, plus I think Forest ran out of puff

Could Santo have counteracted that? perhaps, but still it was a very good effort overall with what he had

and tbh he doesn't have to be faultless to be smarter than another manager, Arteta or otherwise, it's a question of degree

[HCZ_Reborn]

It's the Santo that was giving everyone a good thrashing until other teams got the hang of Forest's tactics and stymied them, plus I think Forest ran out of puff

Could Santo have counteracted that? perhaps, but still it was a very good effort overall with what he had

and tbh he doesn't have to be faultless to be smarter than another manager, Arteta or otherwise, it's a question of degree

Intelligence is relative you’re right. When I call you stupid it’s not that I think you’re the same intellectual level as some of the poor bastards who can’t wipe their own backsides, it’s more that you’re a fairly good example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Despite my many differences with Arteta I don’t question his intelligence (although like you, he’s no where near as intelligent as he thinks he is).

Plus Nuno hasn’t had to work under a shoestring at Forest, he’s done better there than Steve Cooper managed, just as he did well at Wolves. But those kind of clubs are about his level, a bit like in reality how Emery’s level is Aston Villa.

Is Arteta good enough to win the major prizes at Arsenal…I have significant doubt, but he’s not totally out of his depth at a big club clearly

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c628d92wnr9o

That’ll learn them :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c628d92wnr9o

That’ll learn them :rolleyes:

I think that's very unfair. They have mistaken a delay of kick-off for their typical style of play. Same thing could happen to us.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

I think that's very unfair. They have mistaken a delay of kick-off for their typical style of play. Same thing could happen to us.

:lol: quite apt.

[Mac76]

A team that consistently delays KO should have a player (chosen by the opposition manager) sent off for every minute of delay

[HCZ_Reborn]

A team that consistently delays KO should have a player (chosen by the opposition manager) sent off for every minute of delay

Or smacked in the knee with a polo mallet. For entertainment purposes

[Ollie the Optimist]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c628d92wnr9o

That’ll learn them :rolleyes:

they got fined 2 million last year so clearly fines are doing the trick!

[HCZ_Reborn]

Chelsea lose 3-1 to Flamengo. You love to see it

[Niall_Quinn]

Chelsea lose 3-1 to Flamengo. You love to see it

I actually love not to see it. Bet it ws painful to watch, as a neutral I mean. Bullshit, nothingball.

[Niall_Quinn]

A team that consistently delays KO should have a player (chosen by the opposition manager) sent off for every minute of delay

And cheerleaders could show us their knickers as the player walked off. Love it! Let's do it!

[Niall_Quinn]

Of course if men were still available, the game would be so different. But we only have queers. Make do I suppose.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I actually love not to see it. Bet it ws painful to watch, as a neutral I mean. Bullshit, nothingball.

Christ. I was talking figuratively. I wouldn’t ever encourage anyone to watch that torrent of diarrhoea tournament

Well done ? I guess

[Niall_Quinn]

Christ. I was talking figuratively. I wouldn’t ever encourage anyone to watch that torrent of diarrhoea tournament

Well done ? I guess

Won't stop the media whores writing you up as a glowing endorsement for the latest, greatest, "sporting" extravaganza.

[dazthegooner]

Cazorla leads Real Oviedo back to LaLiga
Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has led boyhood club Real Oviedo back to LaLiga for the first time in 24 years - at the age of 40.

Cazorla has been playing for the club on the lowest wage allowed by the Spanish regulations since returning in 2023.

The two-time European Championship winner scored a penalty as Oviedo bounded back from a 1-0 first-leg defeat to beat Mirandes 3-1 on Saturday to secure their top-flight return via the play-offs.

Oviedo had been beaten by Espanyol at the same stage last season but ensured they went one better this time around, with Cazorla equalising from the spot after Joaquin Panichelli had fired their opponents in front on the night. :scarf:

[Mac76]

Santi :bow:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

If any of our ex players deserved their dreams coming true, he'd definitely be top of my list.

Congrats Santi :bow:

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy7ng4vj8leo

Merde!

[Mac76]

I was hoping, for Palace's sake, that Textor selling his shares would be enough, this must be gut-wrenching for Palace fans

[Ollie the Optimist]

can't have clubs like Crystal Palace playing in Uefa competitions. much easier to enforce rules on them rather than the likes of City who have been cheating for years with no punishment

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/clynqpvg783t#Report

roflcopter

[Mac76]

yeah funny but I'd have preferred it if they'd got to the final and lost after ET and pels (with a few injuries along the way)

[HCZ_Reborn]

yeah funny but I'd have preferred it if they'd got to the final and lost after ET and pels (with a few injuries along the way)

Nah, that would still have been quite a successful outing for them as they and Chelsea are making quite a bit of money out of this tournament and presumably the further into the competition they get the more money they get.


FIFA far from trying to stymie financial doping, seem to want to actively facilitate it

[Marc Overmars]

The prize money is comparable to the CL and you get it for playing far fewer games too. The whole thing is just a cash cow and while it’s a tournament that rightfully most don’t give a shit about, those competing in it will benefit greatly.

[Mac76]

i'd like to know what the TV audiences are, if they're as poor as the attendances I can't see how this thing is sustainable - it's just Infantile's egotrip

[Letters]

Tell you what. Pep and the managers of other clubs taking part had better not bloody whine about fixture congestion next season, having hauled their teams off on a money making exercise all summer.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

yeah funny but I'd have preferred it if they'd got to the final and lost after ET and pels (with a few injuries along the way)

Definitely better they go out early, though TBH I woke up pretty surprised at the news.

Also, apparently Rodri picked up a knock again, so he might be out for a while once more

[HCZ_Reborn]

Definitely better they go out early, though TBH I woke up pretty surprised at the news.

Also, apparently Rodri picked up a knock again, so he might be out for a while once more

I only watched the highlights but both sides looked atrocious defensively, I think for many of the goals the original shot gets blocked but it doesn’t get cleared and there’s someone there to pounce

[Marc Overmars]

Diogo Jota has died in a car accident. Fucking hell.

https://news.sky.com/story/liverpool-star-diogo-jota-28-killed-in-car-crash-report-13391751

[HCZ_Reborn]

Diogo Jota has died in a car accident. Fucking hell.

https://news.sky.com/story/liverpool-star-diogo-jota-28-killed-in-car-crash-report-13391751


Absolutely terrible

RIP

[Letters]

That's awful :rose:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Fuck.

He only got married a couple of weeks ago as well.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Diogo Jota has died in a car accident. Fucking hell.

https://news.sky.com/story/liverpool-star-diogo-jota-28-killed-in-car-crash-report-13391751

This is terrible news.

Mentioned Reyes recently and the similarities are truly upsetting.

I pray for a bit of comfort to his family in this awful time.

[HCZ_Reborn]

This is terrible news.

Mentioned Reyes recently and the similarities are truly upsetting.

I pray for a bit of comfort to his family in this awful time.

I don’t know anything about the accident that killed Jota and his brother

As sad as it is to say, JAR was driving extremely recklessly (220km per hour in a 120km zone)

But they of course both died in Spain and travelling with family members

[HCZ_Reborn]

Ok following on from this I did read about Jota’s accident. Tyre blowout which caused him to lose control of the car and upon impact the car burst into flames

To say the least grim.

[Letters]

Yes, the early indications are he wasn't being particularly reckless.
Reyes was. Still a tragedy but as a friend is wont to say, you play silly games you win silly prizes.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yes, the early indications are he wasn't being particularly reckless.
Reyes was. Still a tragedy but as a friend is wont to say, you play silly games you win silly prizes.

Also known as FAFO

[Letters]

Also known as FAFO

Ha. Had to Google that. But yes, basically.

[Mac76]

Diogo Jota has died in a car accident. Fucking hell.

https://news.sky.com/story/liverpool-star-diogo-jota-28-killed-in-car-crash-report-13391751

only just found out about this - what awful news

RIP :rose:

now just seen his brother died also :rose:

[Letters]

only just found out about this
Really?
Interesting. I was talking to someone about this earlier because in general - and you seem to be the exception which proves the rule - everyone knows everything immediately these days.
Back in the day news percolated far more slowly. A notable counter example, I was about 16 when Thatcher resigned and that news spread like wildfire. Bearing in mind this was before mobile phones or the information super-highway.

[Mac76]

Really?
Interesting. I was talking to someone about this earlier because in general - and you seem to be the exception which proves the rule - everyone knows everything immediately these days.
Back in the day news percolated far more slowly. A notable counter example, I was about 16 when Thatcher resigned and that news spread like wildfire. Bearing in mind this was before mobile phones or the information super-highway.

well, I was busy with a work deadline and really wasn't checking my phone

[Letters]

:good:

You don't need to justify yourself. It's just interesting because these days it's almost impossible not to hear about things almost immediately.

[Mac76]

:good:

You don't need to justify yourself. It's just interesting because these days it's almost impossible not to hear about things almost immediately.

sure, was just explaining :)

i was really shocked when I saw it though

the family will be devastated

[HCZ_Reborn]

:good:

You don't need to justify yourself. It's just interesting because these days it's almost impossible not to hear about things almost immediately.

I was in a departmental meeting all day a couple of weeks ago, and was hot desking somewhere else so left my phone there on charge. And so it wasn’t until a few hours after it happened that found out about that crashed Air India Dreamliner

[Letters]

England Women lost their opening game 2-1 vs France.
Got thumped really - had an early goal chalked off by VAR, very marginal offside. After that it was all France really.
We got a goal back with about 5 minutes left which raised the possibility of an improbable draw. It was all too little, too late and a point would have flattered us.
Work to do if we're going to progress.

[The Wengerbabies]

Nobody gives a fuk

[Letters]

Nobody I don’t gives a fuk
Don’t reply then. :good:

[Mac76]

:lol:

[Letters]

Sadly much like Reyes I think we're heading for FAFO

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4l1n45l1xo

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Sadly I think it was always likely with him "overtaking", on a motorway, in a Lamborghini, in the early hours.

[Mac76]

not to speak ill of the dead specifically, but it's a shame most footballers always want these dick-extension cars, i always liked the way Klinsman drove an old 2CV :lol:

[dazthegooner]

Heard he was trying to overtake someone when the tire burst, apparently he was only driving because he was advised not to fly due to lung issues so was taking a ferry back.

[Letters]

not to speak ill of the dead specifically, but it's a shame most footballers always want these dick-extension cars, i always liked the way Klinsman drove an old 2CV :lol:

Young men are, by and large, idiots. Give them more money than they could possibly spend then what else is going to happen? :shrug:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Always feels awkward to say something after someone has bought it, but yeah it seemed to me that whilst the tyre burst could have just been caused by debris in the road, that he must have been going at a fair old rate for the impact to have caused the car to catch fire the way it did.

If this is confirmed, it’s his own recklessness that left his wife a widow and his kids without a dad

[HCZ_Reborn]

Young men are, by and large, idiots. Give them more money than they could possibly spend then what else is going to happen? :shrug:

Lightening the subject (arguably inappropriately) if money was no object what’s people’s car of choice ?

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Somewhat cliche, an E type Jag. But with modern innards so it'd you know, work.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’m at odds whether to get retro with Aston Martin DBS

Or just go completely out there with a Bugatti Chiron

[Letters]

Lightening the subject (arguably inappropriately) if money was no object what’s people’s car of choice ?

Couldn’t give a shit about cars.
But there is a road near me with literal mansions on. I do wonder what the hell the people do who live there, and sometimes daydream about having a place like that.
Although in practice I would only actually use a tiny fraction of the rooms

[Mac76]

Young men are, by and large, idiots. Give them more money than they could possibly spend then what else is going to happen? :shrug:

pretty much, yeah

[HCZ_Reborn]

Couldn’t give a shit about cars.
But there is a road near me with literal mansions on. I do wonder what the hell the people do who live there, and sometimes daydream about having a place like that.
Although in practice I would only actually use a tiny fraction of the rooms

Im not big on cars either but at same time if money no object why not get the best things

Either the DB6 or the DBS that Lazenby drives in On her Majesty’s Secret Service

Or something silly and impractical

Houses never been of big interest to me, especially ones with more rooms than I’d know what to do with. My cousin’s husband who is a paint and decorator was doing up some guys place who wanted to turn one of his rooms into a home cinema. It’s a nice idea but I think I’d get bored of it after a while.


As I get older I appreciate Gardens far more than I ever used to, although I still wouldn’t know one plant from another

[Mac76]

Couldn’t give a shit about cars.


Me neither, my main aim is not having anything people would want to steal

[Letters]

Im not big on cars either but at same time if money no object why not get the best things
If I had the infinite money cheat turned on then I’d definitely have a nicer car, but sports cars leave me cold. It just makes me laugh when I see boy racers or people having a midlife crisis driving round town at 20 miles an hour in a stupidly loud sports car. Always makes me think they must be compensating for something

With 2 kids I need a family car. So yeah, I guess I’d get a better one but I’m not interested in fast cars.

As for property, I’d probably want a nicer rather than much bigger house. With you on the garden. Ours is small but nice thanks to the efforts of the previous owner which we are still reaping the benefits of.
Met up with my cousin recently. She’s got a place up in Berkhamsted with a bloody great garden and the field next door is theirs too.

Sometimes I feel like I’m doing it wrong!

[Mac76]

If I had the infinite money cheat turned on then I’d definitely have a nicer car, but sports cars leave me cold. It just makes me laugh when I see boy racers or people having a midlife crisis driving round town at 20 miles an hour in a stupidly loud sports car. Always makes me think they must be compensating for something



totally

always remember being sat outside a pub on a sunny day on the corner of a crossroads in London somewhere - the lights were red and some balding guy drew up in his shiny red sportscar and sat there revving the engine

but when the lights changed he stalled it - everyone just fell about laughing :lol:

[Letters]

:haha:

Brilliant.

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah cars aren’t my thing at all either. Any disposable income I have I put into my house or a holiday.

[Mac76]

I remember that Stan Bowles saying " I spent most of my money on booze, horses and women - the rest I wasted"

[The Wengerbabies]

Sadly much like Reyes I think we're heading for FAFO

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4l1n45l1xo

This was obvious to me from the start but I don't like to speculate before more facts are known.

[Letters]

This was obvious to me from the start but I don't like to speculate before more facts are known.

You definitely do.
But it did always seem the most likely thing.
Which doesn’t actually make it less of a tragedy.

[Letters]

I saw something on FB this morning, it was a graph of Jota's transfer value over time, which obviously dives to 0 following recent events.

The AI feature on FB smashed another one out of the park with its first suggested question "Can Diogo Jota recover from this setback".

I'm going to go out on a limb and say...no.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I saw something on FB this morning, it was a graph of Jota's transfer value over time, which obviously dives to 0 following recent events.

The AI feature on FB smashed another one out of the park with its first suggested question "Can Diogo Jota recover from this setback".

I'm going to go out on a limb and say...no.

Just needs the services of a decent necromancer

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I saw something on FB this morning, it was a graph of Jota's transfer value over time, which obviously dives to 0 following recent events.

The AI feature on FB smashed another one out of the park with its first suggested question "Can Diogo Jota recover from this setback".

I'm going to go out on a limb and say...no.

:haha:

[Letters]

England ladies beat the Dutch 4-0.
This is the best result against the Dutch since Euro ‘96 :cool:
Their ‘keeper is hilariously slow to move and react

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7vrj58560go

I’ve always hated this kind of shit, I know it’s only one match but it’s bullshit. How is it the Italian league being played in fucking Australia. Want to reach out to fans in Australia? Play an exhibition match in the off season

[The Wengerbabies]

England ladies beat the Dutch 4-0.
This is the best result against the Dutch since Euro ‘96 :cool:
Their ‘keeper is hilariously slow to move and react

Nobody cares.
No it's not.
What did you expect?

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7vrj58560go

I’ve always hated this kind of shit, I know it’s only one match but it’s bullshit. How is it the Italian league being played in fucking Australia. Want to reach out to fans in Australia? Play an exhibition match in the off season

It's more meaningful if it's a competitive game, like the NFL games here.
It's a pretty blatant money-grab and marketing opportunity, but that's not news in the modern game.

[HCZ_Reborn]

More meaningful?

Don’t blame us because no one outside of Australia is remotely interested in Aussie Rules football. But they’ve got their own shit, greedy antepodeans

[Marc Overmars]

My problem with the idea of playing league games abroad is that you can’t maintain the integrity of playing home and away. Unless you do the return fixture abroad too but that seems very unlikely.

[HCZ_Reborn]

My problem with the idea of playing league games abroad is that you can’t maintain the integrity of playing home and away. Unless you do the return fixture abroad too but that seems very unlikely.

That’s not my only problem with it, but it’s definitely one of my problems

[Letters]

More meaningful?

Don’t blame us because no one outside of Australia is remotely interested in Aussie Rules football. But they’ve got their own shit, greedy antepodeans

Well, yeah. It’s a competitive game. Are you more bothered about league games during the season or preseason friendlies. I’m not saying this is a good idea…unless they’re trying to generate as much money as possible. Which they are.

MO’s point makes sense, but since when to clubs care about integrity when there’s money to be made?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well, yeah. It’s a competitive game. Are you more bothered about league games during the season or preseason friendlies. I’m not saying this is a good idea…unless they’re trying to generate as much money as possible. Which they are.

MO’s point makes sense, but since when to clubs care about integrity when there’s money to be made?

I’m not disagreeing with you


I’m saying fuck what’s more meaningful. They should consider themselves lucky if they get to watch them play friendly games

[Mac76]

It's more meaningful if it's a competitive game, like the NFL games here.
It's a pretty blatant money-grab and marketing opportunity, but that's not news in the modern game.

the trouble is the Kroenkes will I'm sure be among those pushing for a PL game or two in the US, to make $$

and if they want it to be successful then it means a big game, e.g. Liverpool or Citeh which would be disgraceful for home fans to miss it

[dazthegooner]

They're always going on about players needing rest no doubt having to play a few games in a different time zone won't do them much good.

[Mac76]

good point

[Marc Overmars]

Palace demoted to the Conference League, while Forest are bumped up to the EL.

Punished because they can’t play in the same competition as Lyon who have the same owner.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Palace demoted to the Conference League, while Forest are bumped up to the EL.

Punished because they can’t play in the same competition as Lyon who have the same owner.

Load of shit when you think UEFA allow Man City and Girona in the same competition, by just fudging the ownership structure

Feel for Palace. Like with FSR, it feels the richest clubs are allowed to get away with whatever they want and only the smaller clubs are forced to play by the rules

[Letters]

They're always going on about players needing rest no doubt having to play a few games in a different time zone won't do them much good.

Any manager who dragged his side to the Club World Cup and then moans about fixture congestion this season can do one.

[Letters]

Like with FSR, it feels the richest clubs are allowed to get away with whatever they want and only the smaller clubs are forced to play by the rules
Is that news to you?

[WMUG]

Any manager who dragged his side to the Club World Cup and then moans about fixture congestion this season can do one.

Do they have much choice in the matter?

It's not like there was some big push from clubs for this bollocks competition, it was imposed from on high by a corrupt organisation guzzling Saudi cash.

They could've refused to participate I guess, but that's above the manager's pay grade and who knows what sanctions could've been imposed.

[Letters]

That’s probably fair, I doubt it’s the manager’s decision.
I don’t know how much they can or would push back on that sort of thing

[Mac76]

I don't think it's about sanctions, most club owners would want to do it for the money plain and simple, even if it's short-sighted because it damages their following season

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Chelsea 2-0 PSG. :lol:

Football. :rose:

[Marc Overmars]

Ugh. :sick:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

3-0 Joao Pedro.

[Globalgunner]

3-0 Now

[Marc Overmars]

Joao Pedro makes it 3

Football. :lol:

Just always finding new ways to inflict misery.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Joao Pedro makes it 3

Football. :lol:

Just always finding new ways to inflict misery.

:gp:

[Letters]

Joao Pedro makes it 3

Football. :lol:

Just always finding new ways to inflict misery.

Couldn’t give a monkeys. It’s a nothing tournament

[dazthegooner]

Yeah but somerhing that Chelsea will gloat more than the spuds did when they won a tin pot cup.

[Letters]

Yeah but somerhing that Chelsea will gloat more than the spuds did when they won a tin pot cup.

They can if they like. And I guess you could argue the strength of opposition is higher.
I just can’t take it seriously as a competition.
Haven’t watched a minute of it.

[Letters]

England women 5-0 up against Wales in the Euros by the way :lol:

[Letters]

Finished 6-1. Think we are playing Sweden next

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Well Chelsea have won it....and they just had to win it in this sort of fashion to make it more annoying.

Hopefully we get some good news this week in the transfer market...we really need to make this upcoming season count.

[Mac76]

Finished 6-1. Think we are playing Sweden next

I think the English population outnumbers the Welsh by about 20 to 1, so Wales did quite well really...

[The Wengerbabies]

Pretty cool photo though

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GvxPmqsXoAE95xR?format=jpg&name=large

[Mac76]

literally what the whole thing was about

there's no way i'd stand in that photo with that ****

oh and should anyone care that the trophy isn't actually a cup?

[Letters]

there's no way i'd stand in that photo with that ****
Harsh on Reece James.

[Letters]

I think the English population outnumbers the Welsh by about 20 to 1, so Wales did quite well really...

That's not really how football works though, is it? By that logic China and India should be dominating...well, everything.
I think it's fair to say the women's game is a lot more mature in England than in Wales - and than most countries, actually. Notable counter-example being the US, I think "soccer" is regarded as more of a girl's game there anyway.

[Mac76]

Harsh on Reece James.

:lol:

[Mac76]

That's not really how football works though, is it? By that logic China and India should be dominating...well, everything.
I think it's fair to say the women's game is a lot more mature in England than in Wales - and than most countries, actually. Notable counter-example being the US, I think "soccer" is regarded as more of a girl's game there anyway.

well I wasn't being serious and sure, success at football or any sport is partly down to how much of a priority it is to the country concerned - look at NZ and rugby for example

[HCZ_Reborn]

That's not really how football works though, is it? By that logic China and India should be dominating...well, everything.
I think it's fair to say the women's game is a lot more mature in England than in Wales - and than most countries, actually. Notable counter-example being the US, I think "soccer" is regarded as more of a girl's game there anyway.

It kind of does work a little bit that way (not totally), but when you look at the winners of the World Cup both men and women they generally more often than not come from the more populous countries that have footballing interest. India ? They are cricket mad to the exclusion of everything else, China I think if they put in as much money into football as they have with the Olympics it wouldn’t take them long before they were on the same level as Japan and South Korea and beyond.

Of course with football you do get countries like the Netherlands and Belgium punching above their weight somewhat, same with Croatia (although it’s a fragment of the former Yugoslavia which also did reasonably well in football tournaments)

[Letters]

I don't think population is either irrelevant or the be all and end all. Obviously if you've got a bigger pool of people to pick from then it helps, but the level of interest and investment in a sport are big factors, I'd argue bigger than population.

[HCZ_Reborn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn5kpd4y2yvo

See I get how this could be seen as insensitive, but at the same time Dwarves aren’t in indentured servitude. These guys offer their services for private events.

For me this reminds me a little bit about the row about the girls in skimpy costume at the Darts or the F1.

And as you might expect, the performers themselves didn’t see the problem.

[Marc Overmars]

We got a dwarf for my best mates stag do and it was hilarious tbf. He was a good sport and earned a lot of money out of us.

No different to hiring a clown for a party tbh.

[Mac76]

For me it depends on whether there's a loss of dignity or whatever, if not and it doesn't encourage negative attitudes then I guess it's ok

Out of curiosity, what did the dwarf do at the stag do exactly?

[IBK]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn5kpd4y2yvo

See I get how this could be seen as insensitive, but at the same time Dwarves aren’t in indentured servitude. These guys offer their services for private events.

For me this reminds me a little bit about the row about the girls in skimpy costume at the Darts or the F1.

And as you might expect, the performers themselves didn’t see the problem.

The usual expression of outrage at something that might not be politically correct or to many peoples' taste, but that ultimately doesn't really hurt anyone, and wouldn't be a thing unless a celebrity was involved. Personally, I feel a little bit uncomfortable about 'exploiting' sterotypes here, but the performers have a business entertaining at parties and if that is what they want to do...

[Letters]

We got a dwarf for my best mates stag do and it was hilarious tbf. He was a good sport and earned a lot of money out of us.

No different to hiring a clown for a party tbh.

It was nice to meet you <_<

(Before anyone else starts)

[Marc Overmars]

For me it depends on whether there's a loss of dignity or whatever, if not and it doesn't encourage negative attitudes then I guess it's ok

Out of curiosity, what did the dwarf do at the stag do exactly?

He was handcuffed to my mate and came out drinking and mingling with us all night. I can’t say it was completely dignified but as I said he was a good sport and none of us were disrespectful to the point of making him feel uncomfortable and none of us went on to hold negative attitudes towards dwarfs. :lol:

[HCZ_Reborn]

I’m not really sure how one can hold a negative attitude towards a Dwarf, unless the Dwarf was a prick and then that would be about them being a prick, not about being a Dwarf. I’d pretty much guess none of us have the attitude towards Dwarfism that Tywin Lannister holds at any rate :lol:

I think as a lot of people here have said, it’s about how they are treated when hired out. Don’t take the piss, they are people not props. Poor bastards often have lifelong medical problems to deal with unlike Midgets, but if they themselves are available to hire for entertainment and it all stays within agreed guidelines, not an issue.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf.

I guess it depends which side the dwarf picks to fight in the race war.

[Mac76]

He was handcuffed to my mate and came out drinking and mingling with us all night. I can’t say it wasn’t completely dignified but as I said he was a good sport and none of us were disrespectful to the point of making him feel uncomfortable and none of us went on to hold negative attitudes towards dwarfs. :lol:

:lol: well again he must have known what he was letting himself in for

[Letters]

England 2 - Sweden 2
Currently in extra time.
2-0’down and looking dead and buried before 2 quick goals made it level.
:scarf:

[Letters]

Looking like pels

[Letters]

It is :popcorn:

[Letters]

Hampton saves the first Swedish pel!

[Letters]

And then we immediately have the next one saved :doh:

[Letters]

Oh fuck off. Our 3rd one saved too

[Letters]

Sweden hit the post! So we are level again!

[Letters]

Oh fuck OFF!
Another awful pel from us. Easily saved

[Letters]

We have to score this one or we are out

[Letters]

Which she does. But Sweden can still win it with their final pel

[Letters]

:haha:

Their ‘keeper takes one and does a Waddle.

Sudden death :lol:

[Letters]

Fucking hell another awful pel saved.
Sweden another chance to win it

[Letters]

SAVED!

This is the worst penalty taking I’ve ever seen

[Letters]

Oh! We actually scored one!
Now Sweden have to score

[Letters]

:haha:

Blazes it over. England through

[HCZ_Reborn]

That’s possibly the shittest bunch of pels I’ve ever seen.

Their keeper made four saves, yet they blazed over twice and hit the bar :lol:

[Letters]

:lol:

I said the same to a couple of mates.
Definitely the most inept penalty shootout I’ve ever seen.

[Mac76]

I'd say Sweden were better in the first 90 mins, but taking Blackstenious off just before pels and then the goalie taking the fifth one was so suicidal it makes me wonder if their coach had put a few krone on England...

[Letters]

The ‘keeper taking one that early was odd.
5 out of 14 penalties scored :haha: