The Football Thread.

TeleMaster · April 2022

I can’t see a regular football thread. Forgive me if there is one, but I love football and would love to have a good thread here where we can discuss it.

I’m a West Ham fan. I’m a season ticket holder. I go to nearly every home game and watch the away game in the pub with my mates.

I can’t believe the last two seasons. 6th last year and 7th at the moment with a chance for 5th/6th and the semi finals in the Europa League against Frankfurt, a side who I believe we should be beating after we knocked out the holders and record winners Sevilla, and then Lyon who knocked Man City out of the Champions League a couple of years ago. Obviously a tough game but I believe in the Moyesiah.

What has been done with a small squad is nothing short of a miracle. And what can I say about Declan Rice? Watching him week in week out, he is exceptional. I honestly believe that he is one of, if not the best box to box, ball winning midfielders of his type in world football right now. A future England captain.

What’s your favourite team? Do you watch a team regularly?

Do you think Ten Haig will turn Man Utd’s fortunes around? (I don’t) and will he be sacked by Christmas?

MagicPigDetective · April 2022

I'm a Liverpool fan, but slightly weary of saying, as previous football threads have shown some serious dislike of the club from some.... though this appears to have subsided recently, now that we are back to playing football bloody well. Let's leave out the hate and have a good natured discussion here.

I have a lot of friends and work colleagues who are Man Utd fans (in north Wales most my age and older are Liverpool or Man U fans), I could be reveling in their downfall but I can't be bothered with winding them up, I'd rather have proper discussions with them football and their concerns.. they're livid with the Glazers and how the club is run. Until that changes, I can't see them coming back as a force (getting rid of Hicks and Gillet was the start of things turning for the better for LFC).

West Ham are having a hell of a season... we did very well to beat you at Anfield. You do wonder how Moyes would have done at Man U with more time...... he's gone from zero back to hero, quite a turnaround.

As for our season... we shall see... even if we don't win another trophy this season, we have an incredible squad now and Klopp is the best thing that could have happened to us, he's lifted the club, players and fans and his shoulders, united us all and made us believe. I bloody love him! The level that LFC and Man City are at now is insane. I think there's a good chance we'll meet them again in the CL final.

I haven't been to Anfield since 2017 unfortunately...I really need to go back. I watch every game on my ipad on a dodgy stream!

I also follow Newtown in the Welsh Premier, the town I grew up in. We've had an incredible season, and will finish 3rd.

Devil#20 · April 2022

I just hope United finish low enough down the table that doesn't involve European football next season (and certainly not Thursday night football). It's not a distraction we need right now. Massive clear out from top to bottom required. It'll take years.

RobDavies · April 2022

Brentford fan and season ticket holder for forty plus years…. So, I can’t currently believe my luck. Never thought I’d see the day when we were in the top division AND beating big teams convincingly.

I’ve done every game home and away this season, apart from Arsenal at The Emirates - and that was only because the trains were screwed after the big storm.

Wazmeister · April 2022

Although I live in the Black Country, Ive been a Q.P.R. all my life.

Top 6 all season, till the last few months when we have collapsed…

kaypeejay · April 2022

I’ve been following Wrexham for 52 yrs, the last 30 or so as an exile in Yorkshire. After some dismal years in the doldrums, it seems we finally have something to smile about.

@MagicPigDetective it's great that you follow your local team, I wish more people would do that.

guitars4you · April 2022

MagicPigDetective said:
I have a lot of friends and work colleagues who are Man Utd fans (in north Wales most my age and older are Liverpool or Man U fans), I could be reveling in their downfall but I can't be bothered with winding them up, I'd rather have proper discussions with them football and their concerns.. they're livid with the Glazers and how the club is run. Until that changes, I can't see them coming back as a force (getting rid of Hicks and Gillet was the start of things turning for the better for LFC).

So true

I'm a Leeds fan and have been since the late 60's - Have seen some good days and bad days, but will never change my support - I manage to get there about 5-8 games a year and have done so be it PL, EFL and even when we were in League 1 for 2 years, a while ago - A Tues night playing Walsall, peeing down with rain, in the 3rd tier and losing, can test you desire

But I agree with you - So many morons can have a 'I hate XYZ' etc etc - Just ignore them - I love the game and prefer a good chat about genuine aspects of their team etc rather than this crap surrounding hate

guitars4you · April 2022

Devil#20 said:

I just hope United finish low enough down the table that doesn't involve European football next season (and certainly not Thursday night football). It's not a distraction we need right now. Massive clear out from top to bottom required. It'll take years.

That Thurs night fixture appears to be a killer - I remember the days when European fixtures were a Wed, across all 3 tournaments - Okay TV won't allow that - But the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup was something worth entering with pride - Not it is seen by so many as a kiss of death, so maybe it should be looked at by UEFA - I don't get this 2nd tier UEFA competition at all

mudslide73 · April 2022

I'm a West Brom season ticket holder. This will be our lowest finish in 20 years and it's been a hard watch. Some great results against the top sides but mainly players not turning up for the rest.. we're like a junior United in the Championship with a massive clear out needed.

Massive props to Brentford and Palace as I thought they'd both really struggle. I'm very pleased for you @RobDavies as I know how long you've waited for this. Treated to a season like that when you're going home and away..

scrumhalf · April 2022

European football suffered from the dissolution of the USSR, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. It increased the number of potential teams hugely.

The UEFA cup used to be great, I can remember nany great nights at White Hart Lane under the floodlights when Spurs played some great sides.

Many of the teams participating used to be on their way up, having finished well in their domestic leagues the season before and still improving whereas the European Cup often featured teams who had peaked when winning their league and were on their way down.

The Cuo Winners Cup was just an oddity, anyone could be in it.

Personally I think that the Eurinal League could be promoted better and as for the Eurinal Compost League, it's just a joke (and not just because we couldn't find our arses with radar in it).

TeleMaster · April 2022

guitars4you said:

Devil#20 said:

I just hope United finish low enough down the table that doesn't involve European football next season (and certainly not Thursday night football). It's not a distraction we need right now. Massive clear out from top to bottom required. It'll take years.

That Thurs night fixture appears to be a killer - I remember the days when European fixtures were a Wed, across all 3 tournaments - Okay TV won't allow that - But the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup was something worth entering with pride - Not it is seen by so many as a kiss of death, so maybe it should be looked at by UEFA - I don't get this 2nd tier UEFA competition at all

We can do it and we have about 8 players. I don’t see how the bigger clubs with their huge squads claim they are struggling because of it.

Look at it sure, but it’s a seriously difficult competition and it brings a lot of money in for smaller clubs. It’s also a chance to have European football, versus prestigious clubs for smaller clubs who may struggle to get Champions League football, or any European football at all.

You support Leeds. Wouldn’t you be absolutely ecstatic if you reached the semis of the Europa league considering the fact you haven’t been in Europe for decades?

If someone supports a club like Chelsea that regularly gets CL football, I can see how you’re spoilt and don’t hold it in high regard, but it is of course a competition worth fielding your best teams for especially if you don’t get Europe often. And the fans would deserve it.

If West Ham win the Europa league, it will be one of the greatest nights of my life.

Neil · April 2022

West Ham fan here. What Moysie has done is nothing short of miraculous.

We have excellent players in all positions apart from real cover for Antonio and I really think we can win the Europa.

COYI!

stufisher · April 2022

This is a shout out for lower league and junior league teams ... I'm a Queen Of The South fan and we're on the brink of relegation to SFL 3rd flight. It's gut-wrenching.

I suspect it'll take 5+ years to get back into Championship division ... nae money, nae squad, nae fans, nae easy solution given society's bigger economic challenges right now.

I stopped watching premiership and premier league football a long time ago because it's so far from reality most of the time ... grass-roots stuff always feels more 'honest' to me.

So, I wonder who else has a similar outlook?

rlw · April 2022

I live in York so no point in having any interest in football.

Used to follow Leeds and Millwall - my local team - many years ago but don't really have any interest at all now.

TeleMaster · April 2022

Neil said:

West Ham fan here. What Moysie has done is nothing short of miraculous.

We have excellent players in all positions apart from real cover for Antonio and I really think we can win the Europa.

COYI!

Me too. COYI!!!!

tony99 · April 2022

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

TeleMaster · April 2022

tony99 said:

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

Oh it’s going ahead.

https://theathletic.com/news/european-clubs-presented-with-new-champions-league-qualification-model-with-two-slots-for-historic-performance/DVqx3odGwM0u/?amp=1

jellyroll · April 2022

Man City fan for 50 years. The first 40 weren't so great...

Enjoying the ride of our lottery win.

Yes, I have reservations about the money...but I've been supporting them a long time. And as I remind my family regularly, you can change your religion, you can change your gender, you can change your wife....but you can't change your football team.

tony99 · April 2022

TeleMaster said:

tony99 said:

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

Oh it’s going ahead.

https://theathletic.com/news/european-clubs-presented-with-new-champions-league-qualification-model-with-two-slots-for-historic-performance/DVqx3odGwM0u/?amp=1

yeah in another form I suppose. Just another example of what I believe is wrong with the modern game, there are plenty more. But if people enjoy it as it is then good luck to them I say!

TTony · April 2022

TeleMaster said:

I’m a West Ham fan. I’m a season ticket holder. I go to nearly every home game and watch the away game in the pub with my mates.

I can’t believe the last two seasons. 6th last year and 7th at the moment with a chance for 5th/6th and the semi finals in the Europa League

Spurs fan since the 60s .

I think West Ham are now reaping the benefit of sticking with a decent manager and giving him time to build a team and get them used to playing together. Lots of lessons to be learned there for most clubs (Spurs included!). I've never really understood the Spurs/WestHam aggro - as far as I'm concerned, West Ham play decent football and have produced a lot of excellent players through the years.

Devil#20 said:

I just hope United finish low enough down the table that doesn't involve European football next season (and certainly not Thursday night football). It's not a distraction we need right now. Massive clear out from top to bottom required. It'll take years.

I couldn't agree with that enough. Those Thursday games seem to kill any chance of competitiveness in the Premier League games. I'd rather Spurs hadn't qualified for Europa/Conference league competitions, and just focused on getting the team together in domestic competitions.

Champions League - OK - that's a worthwhile competition in which you can compete against decent teams, and it's a definite "reward" for domestic success.

TeleMaster · April 2022

TTony said:

Spurs fan since the 60s .

I think West Ham are now reaping the benefit of sticking with a decent manager and giving him time to build a team and get them used to playing together. Lots of lessons to be learned there for most clubs (Spurs included!). I've never really understood the Spurs/WestHam aggro - as far as I'm concerned, West Ham play decent football and have produced a lot of excellent players through the years.

Well, I don’t really go in for rivalries in a serious way at all but I do like a rivalry in the lightest terms.

I will not abide with the racism and fighting that goes along with the West Ham/Spurs rivalry and for me it’s just about spicing up the match a bit more, and wanting to beat you just a little bit more for bragging rights and that’s it.

bloodandtears · April 2022

A Spurs fan since '86...

I think this is the season where Champions League qualification has never meant so much to the club as previous years... doing so helps keep Kane interested and at the club, which in turn help Conte build on his good work; lets face it, he may walk if Kane does.. and then we have a serious issue.

guitars4you · April 2022

tony99 said:

TeleMaster said:

tony99 said:

Still gutted over the european super league not going through; that could well have been the first step for the english leagues going back to something watchable and less concerned with commercialism. As it stands the game's no longer what it was.

Oh it’s going ahead.

https://theathletic.com/news/european-clubs-presented-with-new-champions-league-qualification-model-with-two-slots-for-historic-performance/DVqx3odGwM0u/?amp=1

yeah in another form I suppose. Just another example of what I believe is wrong with the modern game, there are plenty more. But if people enjoy it as it is then good luck to them I say!

The whole concept of that potential elite league is wrong on so many levels - And too many points to discuss with just a few sentences - But give the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona more income, then do you think they will a) spend spend spend and end up with even more debt and a business model that is flawed or b) suddenly realise that they can run a profitable and sustainable business - I know where my bet would be going

There are plans in place to amend the way clubs in the EFL can run - Is it something like only 70% of their income can be spent on wages - Looking at the whole mess Derby got themselves into and they won't be the last, then something needs to change - Think Stoke have effectively written off over 100 million by converting some of the 'loans' into share capital/equity and writing off other parts of the loan to the owners

I think it is wrong that Derby look like they will be only paying a small part of their HMRC payment, under the new owners/administrators - around 25 or 30p in the £ but final details to be updated if/when the sale goes through - Meanwhile loads of other small struggling clubs pay the full amount due to HMRC , albeit they stay in business and don't get any points deducted

DB1 · April 2022

I have been a Birmingham City fan since 1968 and a season ticket holder for gawd knows how long. Just shoot me now. Actually, one of the strikers should do it because they'll miss.

guitars4you · April 2022

TeleMaster said:

guitars4you said:
That Thurs night fixture appears to be a killer - I remember the days when European fixtures were a Wed, across all 3 tournaments - Okay TV won't allow that - But the Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup was something worth entering with pride - Not it is seen by so many as a kiss of death, so maybe it should be looked at by UEFA - I don't get this 2nd tier UEFA competition at all

We can do it and we have about 8 players. I don’t see how the bigger clubs with their huge squads claim they are struggling because of it.

Look at it sure, but it’s a seriously difficult competition and it brings a lot of money in for smaller clubs. It’s also a chance to have European football, versus prestigious clubs for smaller clubs who may struggle to get Champions League football, or any European football at all.

You support Leeds. Wouldn’t you be absolutely ecstatic if you reached the semis of the Europa league considering the fact you haven’t been in Europe for decades?

I'll be cheering you on and hope you go on to win

I think 2 issues with the Thursday night matches is

a) travelling, often long distances and not getting back home until Friday morning - So only light training Friday, the day after the match - Only light training Sat, the day before a match - So little preparation time and we all know what it is like when we go on holiday overseas - The flight might only be 2/3 hours but look at the time from leaving your front door to getting to your hotel room and vice versa - This is an issue many fans/managers/clubs moan about

b) Granted there are some good teams in the UEFA league - But equally there are many teams, often more east European, who would struggle to compete in the EFL, let alone PL, so too many 'meaningless' matches in the early group stages - I think the UEFA competition should continue and be something clubs should be proud to enter and win - With good income receipts paid accordingly - But feel it could be a 2 tier tournament, like say the FA Cup, were lower ranked teams compete in the early rounds - Be it a straight knock out, over 2 legs, or a mini group stage - The various winners then go through to stage 2

Stage1 winners then join teams who are allocated 5th/6th (whatever) from the major leagues, along with the teams who finished 3rd from the CL (and now eliminated) - They now compete in a straight knock out tournament from Jan/Feb on-wards

But wishing you all the best in the semi's and then hopefully the final

kaypeejay · April 2022

rlw said:

I live in York so no point in having any interest in football.

Used to follow Leeds and Millwall - my local team - many years ago but don't really have any interest at all now.

York still have a team and this year they got to the FA Trophy semi final. No team can be winning all the time, following your team is always a journey. I don’t watch much ‘top flight’ football nowadays, I get all my trials and tribulations from the ups and downs of Wrexham. It still ruins my Saturday if they lose and leaves me with a massive smile on my face if they win and I only follow the results via the live match thread on Wrexham’s forum.

Gallagherone · April 2022

Newcastle born and bred, although only the past few years I've really gotten into football. I think this season has been the most exciting for us in a long long time. We were sat bottom of the league at Christmas and everyone had pretty much accepted relegation. But now for us to be 11th place with 40 points is huge. Eddie Howe has been incredible in how he's transformed the work ethic and dynamic of the players.

Yes you can say that we spent big in the January transfer window and that has kept us up. But to see more of a transformation in the existing players (Joelinton, Schar, Krafth, Fraser) I think shows the remarks of a very good manager. I know he won't win manager of the season as he's not Klopp or Guardiola, but I think if it was based off biggest transformation then he'd be in with a good shout. There is such a togetherness in the team at the moment, I definitely think we have an exciting future.

There is lots to be said on the new ownership and definitely some discussions/clarity wanted by the fans, so hopefully we will get that in future.

axisus · April 2022

I've been a Man U fan since 84, and although we have had a rubbish 10 years, I am so happy that I lived through all those glory years with Fergie. It was a wonderful ride.

I am also a long suffering Luton fan, having lived here pretty much all my life. Luton have been down and out for a great many years, I am so excited about this season! I so hope we make the play-offs, I would LOVE to see Luton in the Prem. Sure, we would get totally stuffed every week but it would be amazing.

I can also appreciate great players and teams even if they feel like the enemy. Liverpool and Man C are both amazing these days, but my fave ever team that wasn't Man U was Arsenal when they had Henry, Bergkamp, Adams, Viera, Keown et al. I hated them nicking trophies, but I look back with great fondness of a superb team. I could happily watch old Man U vs Arsenal matches from back then.

TeleMaster · April 2022

Does anyone listen to the Quickly Kevin podcast about 90’s football? It’s great and they often have icons from the era on.

scrumhalf · April 2022

I don't understand the difference between Wed/Sat and Thu/Sun. It's the same gap between the two games. Thu/Sat would be a bit crap but some Champions League teams play Sat/Tue for half of their games.

guitars4you · April 2022

scrumhalf said:

I don't understand the difference between Wed/Sat and Thu/Sun. It's the same gap between the two games. Thu/Sat would be a bit crap but some Champions League teams play Sat/Tue for half of their games.

But many of the Wed matches the teams can/do play on Sunday so they get the extra day/time

Part of me say's no sympathy as they earn more than enough - But we all know from our own trips the flight time is only part of the whole door-door time so often 10-12 hours total time

But it is not me who is moaning - I'm only putting a point across that many moan about - Fans, pundits, even managers

The easy option is to finish out of European places and just play the PL

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