The English Football Thread

FETCHER. · 05-22-2022, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadis

Personally I find the worst way to lose is how Barcelona lost to Liverpool in the Champions League semis a few years ago: they were up 3:0 from the first leg, went to Anfield and completely collapsed, losing 4:0. That was painful to watch even as a neutral.

Jesus, that is a kick in the guts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

And then there was Man City. Went into the semi-final 3-0 or something up, and just fell apart and ended up being soundly beaten in really the last like ten minutes or so. All that work for nothing in the end. Can't say I was sorry; I support Villa but I'm a follower of Liverpool unofficially.

I was quite happy to see Villa lose today and Man City to win the league

for no other reason than Steven Gerrard done Rangers dirty

jadis · 05-23-2022, 03:56 AM

Gerard and Coutinho handing the title over to their old club is a bit over the top narrative-wise, so I'm glad City came to their senses. What a goal by Coutinho though. Brazilian magician!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKeL...hannel=ManCity

Trollheart · 05-23-2022, 05:13 AM

Fantastic end to the season! Couldn't have been closer really. Liverpool ****ed up early, going behind within minutes, and it looked all over, but then City were worse, going two down. Really looked for a while as if Liverpool were going to beat Man City at their own game (remember Fergie just before "AGUERRRRROOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!" ?) but in the end the Blues proved they deserved to win and came through. One point in it though!

Congrats to Leeds, who fought like demons to remain in the Prem and deserved to achieve that. Also congrats to Sunderland, who I believe came up this season so we'll be seeing the Black Cats back on Match of the Day later on in the year.

Villa even gave a good account of themselves, not folding, and made it hard for City for almost half the match. Overall brilliant and could not be happier, unless Palace and United had gone down.

music_collector · 08-31-2022, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Also congrats to Sunderland, who I believe came up this season so we'll be seeing the Black Cats back on Match of the Day later on in the year.

Damnit! You spoiled the ending for Sunderland til I die!!!!

Trollheart · 08-31-2022, 11:09 AM

Well maybe not. It looks like I was wrong: I see no sign of Sunderland in the Premiership this season.

Edit: right, I was half correct. They did come up, but from League One to the Championship. So no MOTD for them! Yet.

music_collector · 08-31-2022, 12:37 PM

My friend has educated me on the various leagues across England. He told me that teams moving to the Premiership not only go up to the top league, but they get a ton of financial incentives, such as TV rights/deals.

From what I've seen in the Sunderland documentary, those teams wind up almost never graduating to the Premier league. They develop their young talent, only to see it go to a richer club. It's basically like baseball in North America. If the Yankees need a pitcher, they'll buy the ace from Oakland, for example.

Trollheart · 08-31-2022, 01:19 PM

Not quite true. Sunderland have been in the Prem a few times, and there are many teams in the Championship and even League One who have also spent time there. But it's becoming harder for the smaller teams to move up, as ridiculous money is spent to keep the bigger teams in the Prem, and owners with deep pockets buy up all the best clubs. Often what will happen is that someone playing for a small team may get noticed and then signed to a larger one, as in the case of Jamie Vardy, who started off playing for Forest Green Rangers, who play in I think Division 3 or 4, low anyway. He got signed to Leicester and then became their star striker, helping them pull off an impossible feat in 2015/16 and win the Premiership title for the first - and probably only - time in their history.

The FA Cup is great for smaller teams too, as every team is allowed play and the smaller ones have a reasonably good chance of being matched up with a bigger one, which means if they can get through the first leg and not be beaten they can guarantee big gate receipts at their home ground when the big team come to play them in the second leg. That's why it can be so heartbreaking for these teams to lose in the last minute or so while playing away; that means they don't get the return big pay day they hope for.

music_collector · 08-31-2022, 01:32 PM

Players seem to have a lot of power, don't they? In that Sunderland series, one of their top young players, Josh Maja I think his name is, decided not to discuss a contract extension, as he knew a top club would throw a Brinks truck at him.

Trollheart · 08-31-2022, 02:44 PM

Some players do, and some abuse it. We have a situation at one of the clubs where a player wants to leave, it's being negotiated but meanwhile he was put on the team sheet for Saturday's match but didn't bother his arse turning up. I mean, he's going, fine I guess, but a bit of loyalty to your team? On the other hand it can be better for a young player not to move too soon. A big club might buy him but then find there's no place for him in the team, or the management might change and the new guy's style of play might leave no room for the young player, who could spend half his career sitting on the subs bench. All a case of balance and not letting your ego run away with you.

music_collector · 09-03-2022, 06:52 AM

Player loyalty to any team, in any sport, is gone. In our hockey league, it's not uncommon for a player to appear on a dozen teams. Players can pick any team they want after they hit 27, as long as their current contract is up. Even before then, players can tell a team they refuse to renew their contract, at which point they get traded.

I'm not complaining about it. It's the name of the game now. In hockey's case, players often don't want to play in Canada, where media and fan scrutiny is high. If Man U was a hockey club, there would be few Canadians playing on it. They would rather be in a place like Florida, where they can play without anyone knowing they exist.

Do football players do this? Do they demand to be transferred to a city where they can be anonymous?

05-23-2022, 05:13 AM	#7713 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Fantastic end to the season! Couldn't have been closer really. Liverpool ***ed up early, going behind within minutes, and it looked all over, but then City were worse, going two down. Really looked for a while as if Liverpool were going to beat Man City at their own game (remember Fergie just before "AGUERRRRROOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!" ?) but in the end the Blues proved they deserved to win and came through. One point in it though! Congrats to Leeds, who fought like demons to remain in the Prem and deserved to achieve that. Also congrats to Sunderland, who I believe came up this season so we'll be seeing the Black Cats back on Match of the Day later on in the year. Villa even gave a good account of themselves, not folding, and made it hard for City for almost half the match. Overall brilliant and could not be happier, unless Palace and United had gone down. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018*

08-31-2022, 11:09 AM	#7715 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Well maybe not. It looks like I was wrong: I see no sign of Sunderland in the Premiership this season. Edit: right, I was half correct. They did come up, but from League One to the Championship. So no MOTD for them! Yet. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-31-2022, 01:19 PM	#7717 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Not quite true. Sunderland have been in the Prem a few times, and there are many teams in the Championship and even League One who have also spent time there. But it's becoming harder for the smaller teams to move up, as ridiculous money is spent to keep the bigger teams in the Prem, and owners with deep pockets buy up all the best clubs. Often what will happen is that someone playing for a small team may get noticed and then signed to a larger one, as in the case of Jamie Vardy, who started off playing for Forest Green Rangers, who play in I think Division 3 or 4, low anyway. He got signed to Leicester and then became their star striker, helping them pull off an impossible feat in 2015/16 and win the Premiership title for the first - and probably only - time in their history. The FA Cup is great for smaller teams too, as every team is allowed play and the smaller ones have a reasonably good chance of being matched up with a bigger one, which means if they can get through the first leg and not be beaten they can guarantee big gate receipts at their home ground when the big team come to play them in the second leg. That's why it can be so heartbreaking for these teams to lose in the last minute or so while playing away; that means they don't get the return big pay day they hope for. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-31-2022, 02:44 PM	#7719 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Some players do, and some abuse it. We have a situation at one of the clubs where a player wants to leave, it's being negotiated but meanwhile he was put on the team sheet for Saturday's match but didn't bother his arse turning up. I mean, he's going, fine I guess, but a bit of loyalty to your team? On the other hand it can be better for a young player not to move too soon. A big club might buy him but then find there's no place for him in the team, or the management might change and the new guy's style of play might leave no room for the young player, who could spend half his career sitting on the subs bench. All a case of balance and not letting your ego run away with you. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

05-23-2022, 03:56 AM	#7712 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 1,483	Gerard and Coutinho handing the title over to their old club is a bit over the top narrative-wise, so I'm glad City came to their senses. What a goal by Coutinho though. Brazilian magician! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKeL...hannel=ManCity

08-31-2022, 12:37 PM	#7716 (permalink)
music_collector Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Canada Posts: 744	My friend has educated me on the various leagues across England. He told me that teams moving to the Premiership not only go up to the top league, but they get a ton of financial incentives, such as TV rights/deals. From what I've seen in the Sunderland documentary, those teams wind up almost never graduating to the Premier league. They develop their young talent, only to see it go to a richer club. It's basically like baseball in North America. If the Yankees need a pitcher, they'll buy the ace from Oakland, for example.

08-31-2022, 01:32 PM	#7718 (permalink)
music_collector Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Canada Posts: 744	Players seem to have a lot of power, don't they? In that Sunderland series, one of their top young players, Josh Maja I think his name is, decided not to discuss a contract extension, as he knew a top club would throw a Brinks truck at him.

09-03-2022, 06:52 AM	#7720 (permalink)
music_collector Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Canada Posts: 744	Player loyalty to any team, in any sport, is gone. In our hockey league, it's not uncommon for a player to appear on a dozen teams. Players can pick any team they want after they hit 27, as long as their current contract is up. Even before then, players can tell a team they refuse to renew their contract, at which point they get traded. I'm not complaining about it. It's the name of the game now. In hockey's case, players often don't want to play in Canada, where media and fan scrutiny is high. If Man U was a hockey club, there would be few Canadians playing on it. They would rather be in a place like Florida, where they can play without anyone knowing they exist. Do football players do this? Do they demand to be transferred to a city where they can be anonymous?