The Football Thread - Season 2014/2015

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Greek said:
Glad we won but feel sorry for the Reading players, especially the keeper. They gave everything today and in a way it was their cup final. Thought we were poor today but a wins a win and I'll take the same performance and result in the final.
Click to expand...

They set out to be physical where ever they could, kicking, pushing etc, just didn't let Arsenal play. Still, I understand why, and with Shezza in goal we were always going to vulnerable at some point. Still, you can't keep down class. 2 goals for Alexis, 2 assists for Ozil. It was a different game when Giroud came on, he is so strong and powerful in the air.
 
Fair play to Villa. Best team won on the day.

Unfortunately, we just didn't turn up, look a very deflated team.
 
My Grandad would be happy today.

He was a Villa man.
 
Few reports tonight that Gundogan to Man United is a done deal.
 
Watford looking like they have one foot in the PL, but so tight at the top, amazing to think that 4 teams could have a chance of automatic promotion on the last day, or 2 could be certain to be up today.

At the bottom Rotherham having 3 points docked may give Millwall or Wigan a reprieve - a potentially great last day in the Championship at both sides of the table.

As for QPR, if, and it's a big if, we beat West Ham today, we find ourselves out of relegation zone and with quite a few teams below us if results go our way. But it's been like that for a while, the bottom 5 teams really are awful this year! Out last game of the season is Leicester away, could be interesting, or could be all over for both.
 
akr said:
As for QPR, if, and it's a big if, we beat West Ham today, we find ourselves out of relegation zone and with quite a few teams below us if results go our way. But it's been like that for a while, the bottom 5 teams really are awful this year! Out last game of the season is Leicester away, could be interesting, or could be all over for both.
Click to expand...

Or back i the real world we might not win, and Leicester and Hull might...oh well....

But Watford are up, and if Bournemouth win Monday as good as up also, hope they do it. Still tight at the bottom of the table, down to the last day.
 
Well done to Watford. You have to ask what happened to Derby, were they not 10 points clear at one point ? And now find themselves in 5th....

Arsenal just need to win 2 more games this year. Tomorrow, and beat the Chavs, and the cup final. As long as we're top 4 and win those 2 games I'll be happy (happier if we finish 2nd mind....)
 
Jelster said:
Arsenal just need to win 2 more games this year. Tomorrow, and beat the Chavs, and the cup final. As long as we're top 4 and win those 2 games I'll be happy (happier if we finish 2nd mind....)
Click to expand...

I'll be watching Everton v Man United today and hopefully I'll get to see Arsenal v Chelsea later.

IF United win we'll go 2nd in the table and remain there IF Arsenal draw or loose so that would be the best outcome for us.

Lots of IFs though and I think Everton will be a tough match.
 
I didn't have a good feeling about today's game. De Gea's past it so I think we should get what we can for him this summer :rolleyes:
 
Disappointed with United today. Yes we controlled the game and dominated possession but that's nothing to write home about when the other team are playing counter attacking football. Creatively we were ponderous and predictable, defensively we were careless.

We've just gone from challenging for 2nd to fighting to secure 4th.
 
Last edited:
dinners said:
Yes we controlled the game and dominated possession but that's nothing to write home about when the other team are playing counter attacking football. Creatively we were ponderous and predictable, defensively we were careless.
Click to expand...

Sounds like Liverpool for the last month. :( :rolleyes:

Liverpool can only dream of 4th. Keep on playing like they are, and the teams around Liverpool get a run of form, then there may be no Europe next year. The only plus Liverpool have is the game in hand, but if you're not playing well....:thinking:
 
Congratulations Bournemouth - great stuff.
 
akr said:
Congratulations Bournemouth - great stuff.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. And what a great story. In 2008 they went into administration and were 5 minutes away from being liquidated. In 2009 they survived being relegated from the Football League with a late goal in the last game of the season. And only 6 years later, here they are going into the Premier League, with the same chairman and the same manager as in 2009. Remarkable!
 
Big result for Hull tonight v Liverpool and (dare I say) a welcome result for United.

Certainly puts the heat back on Villa if Leicester and Sunderland can get something from their games in hand.
 
Great result for Hull tonight. :clap: They were defensively very good. Liverpool were toothless. With Balotelli up front what do you expect. They were so predictable, and so easier to defend against. For a team with two very good young wingers in Ibe and Sterling, but both seemed unwilling to go past on the outside, and so were turning into a packed defense repeatedly.

Borini and Lambert must be terrible in training for Rodgers to persist with Balotelli. There was even talk of a young 22 year old, who has been injured for two years, possibly getting a game before hand.

As I said previously, I think Liverpool will struggle for any European competition with this form. :(


dinners said:
Quarter of a Century ago today

http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ars-ago-today-but-what-has-happened-since8230
Click to expand...

Ooh, a lovely little article having a big dig at Liverpool. :rolleyes:

Phil Neal won 23 trophies compared to Giggs's 34, in half as many games while Utd weren't winning titles. :thinking: And Phil Neal had 4 European Cups in there too. ;) I wouldn't have been counting Charity Shields in the trophy haul, but then the numbers would be a lot smaller wouldn't they. ;)

And what has the number of goals Messi and Ronaldo has got to do with anything? :thinking:
 
Last edited:
redhed17 said:
Ooh, a lovely little article having a big dig at Liverpool. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I wasn't having a dig. I just came across the article and today is 25 years to the day.

United had to wait 26 years (the stick we used to get ;))

If you'd told me 25 years ago that Liverpool were about to embark on what will now be 26 years - I'd have called you mad.
 
dinners said:
I wasn't having a dig. I just came across the article and today is 25 years to the day.

United had to wait 26 years (the stick we used to get ;))

If you'd told me 25 years ago that Liverpool were about to embark on what will now be 26 years - I'd have called you mad.
Click to expand...

I did say the article was having a dig. ;)

If I said to you now that Utd won't win the League again for quarter of a Century or more, I doubt you'd believe it. And I doubt I'd believe it. I know some Utd fans are on a downer, but this season has shown that even if it is perceived to be a stinker of a year, they are still not too far off. And there is a lot of money to be able to be spent. Although as Liverpool have shown in those 25 years, money does not guarantee winning the League. It will probably lead to some success though.

You can never say when the success will stop. Not that Liverpool haven't been successful in those 25 years of course. ;) :) Just not won the League. :(
 
This season will be only the second time the PL will have been won by three different teams over three seasons, the last time being 2004/05. This just occurred to me, may well be wrong, or has been pointed out by someone else.
 
new2me said:
This season will be only the second time the PL will have been won by three different teams over three seasons, the last time being 2004/05. This just occurred to me, may well be wrong, or has been pointed out by someone else.
Click to expand...

I don't like 'since the Premier League began' things but assuming Chelsea win it will be the third time.

  • 1992/93: Manchester United
  • 1993/94: Manchester United
  • 1994/95: Blackburn Rovers
  • 1995/96: Manchester United
  • 1996/97: Manchester United
  • 1997/98: Arsenal
  • 1998/99: Manchester United
  • 1999/00: Manchester United
  • 2000/01: Manchester United

  • 2001/02: Arsenal
  • 2002/03: Manchester United
  • 2003/04: Arsenal
  • 2004/05: Chelsea

  • 2005/06: Chelsea
  • 2006/07: Manchester United
  • 2007/08: Manchester United
  • 2008/09: Manchester United

  • 2009/10: Chelsea
  • 2010/11: Manchester United
  • 2011/12: Manchester City

  • 2012/13: Manchester United
  • 2013/14: Manchester City
  • 2014/15: Chelsea (elect)
 
Last edited:
Knew i'd get it wrong :D
 
Only 5 different winners in 23 years, and I can't see anybody making in more than that in 25 either. Seems quite strange that over half of them were won by 1 team... Maybe there should be a format where the teams at the bottom get more money than those at the top. That way we may some "equality" in the league.
 
Jelster said:
Maybe there should be a format where the teams at the bottom get more money than those at the top. That way we may some "equality" in the league.
Click to expand...
Would that happen in any other industry? They are businesses after all.
I only heard a little bit of it, but a Talksport correspondent yesterday was expressing his disgust at how Real Madrid and Barcelona pretty much oppress lower teams with government backing. Once again I stress, I may have got that wrong :D
 
new2me said:
Would that happen in any other industry? They are businesses after all.
I only heard a little bit of it, but a Talksport correspondent yesterday was expressing his disgust at how Real Madrid and Barcelona pretty much oppress lower teams with government backing. Once again I stress, I may have got that wrong :D
Click to expand...

Premier League teams (at the moment) are part of an 'equal share' package which is split fairly amongst the teams although it differs a bit due to final placings and how many times each team features on TV

BnmZqCNIEAAPPoe.png:large


Real madrid and Barcelona on the other hand get much more than other Spanish teams

1Real Madrid 103.74
2Barcelona 103.74
3Valencia 35.57
4Atletico Madrid 31.12
5Sevilla23.716Athletic Bilbao 23.71
7Villarreal 23.71
8Real Betis 22.23
9Espanyol 20.75
10Real Sociedad 18.53
11Malaga 18.53
12Getafe 18.53
13Osasuna 16.30
14Celta Vigo 16.30
15Levante 16.30
16Granada 13.34
17Elche 13.34
18Valladolid 13.34
19Rayo Vallecano 13.34
20Almeria 13.34
 
Jelster said:
Maybe there should be a format where the teams at the bottom get more money than those at the top. That way we may some "equality" in the league.
Click to expand...
new2me said:
Would that happen in any other industry? They are businesses after all.
Click to expand...
In the NFL, the order in which teams get to choose players in the annual draft is the inverse of their finishing positions in the previous season: worst team picks first, Superbowl champions pick last. That is deliberately intended as an equaliser, and it works.

Compare and contrast.

Champions since 1993:
  • Manchester United [13] 93-94, 96-97, 99-00-01, 03, 07-08-09, 11, 13
  • Chelsea [4] 05-06, 10, 15
  • Arsenal [3] 98, 02, 04
  • Manchester City [2] 12, 14
  • Blackburn Rovers [1] 95
Runners up since 1993 without being champions:
  • Liverpool [3] 02, 09, 14
  • Newcastle United [2] 96-97
  • Aston Villa [1] 93
Champions since 1993:
  • New England Patriots [4] 02, 04-05, 15
  • Dallas Cowboys [3] 93-94, 96
  • Baltimore Ravens [2] 01, 13
  • New York Giants [2] 08, 12
  • Green Bay Packers [2] 97, 11
  • Pittsburgh Steelers [2] 06, 09
  • Denver Broncos [2] 98-99
  • Seattle Seahawks [1] 14
  • New Orleans Saints [1] 10
  • Indianapolis Colts [1] 07
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers [1] 03
  • St Louis Rams [1] 00
  • San Francisco 49ers [1] 95
Runners up since 1993 without being champions:
  • Buffalo Bills [2] 93-94
  • Arizona Cardinals [1] 09
  • Chicago Bears [1] 07
  • Philadelphia Eagles [1] 05
  • Carolina Panthers [1] 04
  • Oakland Raiders [1] 03
  • Tennessee Titans [1] 00
  • Atlanta Falcons [1] 99
  • San Diego Chargers [1] 95
The NFL is as ruthlessly focussed on money as any other sporting organisation in the world. The TV rights over the current contract period go for over $5 billion per season, which is twice as much as the current Premier League TV deal. And yet they have this deliberate equalisation policy, and 22 out of the 32 teams in the league have appeared in the Superbowl since 1993. Makes you think, doesn't it?
 
StewartR said:
In the NFL, the order in which teams get to choose players in the annual draft is the inverse of their finishing positions in the previous season: worst team picks first, Superbowl champions pick last. That is deliberately intended as an equaliser, and it works.

Compare and contrast.

Champions since 1993:
  • Manchester United [13] 93-94, 96-97, 99-00-01, 03, 07-08-09, 11, 13
  • Chelsea [4] 05-06, 10, 15
  • Arsenal [3] 98, 02, 04
  • Manchester City [2] 12, 14
  • Blackburn Rovers [1] 95
Runners up since 1993 without being champions:
  • Liverpool [3] 02, 09, 14
  • Newcastle United [2] 96-97
  • Aston Villa [1] 93
Champions since 1993:
  • New England Patriots [4] 02, 04-05, 15
  • Dallas Cowboys [3] 93-94, 96
  • Baltimore Ravens [2] 01, 13
  • New York Giants [2] 08, 12
  • Green Bay Packers [2] 97, 11
  • Pittsburgh Steelers [2] 06, 09
  • Denver Broncos [2] 98-99
  • Seattle Seahawks [1] 14
  • New Orleans Saints [1] 10
  • Indianapolis Colts [1] 07
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers [1] 03
  • St Louis Rams [1] 00
  • San Francisco 49ers [1] 95
Runners up since 1993 without being champions:
  • Buffalo Bills [2] 93-94
  • Arizona Cardinals [1] 09
  • Chicago Bears [1] 07
  • Philadelphia Eagles [1] 05
  • Carolina Panthers [1] 04
  • Oakland Raiders [1] 03
  • Tennessee Titans [1] 00
  • Atlanta Falcons [1] 99
  • San Diego Chargers [1] 95
The NFL is as ruthlessly focussed on money as any other sporting organisation in the world. The TV rights over the current contract period go for over $5 billion per season, which is twice as much as the current Premier League TV deal. And yet they have this deliberate equalisation policy, and 22 out of the 32 teams in the league have appeared in the Superbowl since 1993. Makes you think, doesn't it?
Click to expand...

Indeed, and salary caps - I'm not sure how those are worked out but it does appear to stop some teams taking all the best players also.
 
akr said:
Indeed, and salary caps - I'm not sure how those are worked out but it does appear to stop some teams taking all the best players also.
Click to expand...

I think the salary cap is based on a total per team, so it allows all teams to have a couple of highly paid superstars, or a wide range of "average" paid players.
 
There are some good ideas from American sports in theory. The salary cap being a good idea, but it is just not workable in Football because there would be too many teams doing sneaky things to get round such things as there are with the Financial Fairplay Rules now. Once the maximum football wage was abolished in 1961 it would be near impossible to get something like that again.

The equalizing of teams in the draft is based on the US College system which supplies the vast majority, if not all, of the young of players. Nothing like that exists in any other county as far as I'm aware.

There are obviously many bad things in the NFL and one of them is the way teams can move from city to city. Thankfully I can only think if Wimbledon doing that in England.

In a country so prone to litigation, it is amazing how many sports players seem to give up a lot of their rights to free movement. I suppose having no other country playing the sports, NFL and NBA, to such high levels, and paying such high wages, means that players either fall in or opt out.
 
redhed17 said:
There are some good ideas from American sports in theory. The salary cap being a good idea, but it is just not workable in Football because there would be too many teams doing sneaky things to get round such things as there are with the Financial Fairplay Rules now.
Click to expand...
So why don't NFL teams try to get round it?
 
StewartR said:
So why don't NFL teams try to get round it?
Click to expand...

I'm no NFL expert by any stretch of the imagination, but looking from the outside, it is very owner run, and so they all want an even share of any TV deals. And they all want a chance to win the Superbowl. I would assume that having competitive games are easier to sell on TV too. All the games are shown on TV, like the Premier League, and there are prime times to games too, like Sunday Night Football, but even these games are not the most popular teams all the time. And because they started like, or at least has evolved to this system, no team dominates for too long. It is up to each team to make the most of their advertising and attracting fans whilst they are winning, or at least successful.

They make so much money though, that they can play cities off against each other to give them money, build stadiums for them, to make them move. Not something I have seen happen in Football.

Up to now it has been a purely American thing because there was enough money there, but now they are considering plonking 'franchises down in other countries, with London having the possibility of a team because there is more money to made.

It seems the total opposite of Football, and Spanish Football as the extreme example imho.
 
Might explain the irregularity of his appearances and form for qpr. Difficult to cope with daily tasks with all that going on in the background!
 
Sir SR said:
Might explain the irregularity of his appearances and form for qpr. Difficult to cope with daily tasks with all that going on in the background!
Click to expand...

Quite.

I just read the BBC article and was amused at the last line.....

" Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham, south-east London, was capped by England 81 times and has also played for West Ham United and Leeds United.
 
Last edited:
dinners said:
Quite.

I just read the BBC article and was amused at the last line.....

In a statement, the west London club said: "The thoughts of everyone at Queens Park Rangers Football Club are with Rio and his family at this immensely difficult time." Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham, south-east London, was capped by England 81 times and has also played for West Ham United and Leeds United.
Click to expand...

And some small team who played in red....can't remember their name now......[emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]
 
Thoughts are with Rio and his family, especially the kiddies. :(

Sir SR said:
Might explain the irregularity of his appearances and form for qpr. Difficult to cope with daily tasks with all that going on in the background!
Click to expand...

It certainly explains why he hasn't been in the squad for the last month or so. I think it was said at one point that it was because of illness.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top