Todays Games

[Duck Egg]

3 hours ago, DazBob said:

I think you're doing them a massive disservice here. A smaller fanbase doesn't mean a less passionate fanbase.  If anything I'd say it's the opposite.

We stayed near Kew Gardens before the Wimbledon match last season. It was Brentfords first home game in the Prem and they beat Arsenal 2-0. The 'celebrations' in the pub we stayed at, just a mile or so from their ground were the most muted I had seen.  Just groups of middle class chaps and families chatting over a pint.  I remember thinking that same scenario in many northern towns would have been much more raucous.

[Not in Crawley]

Just now, Duck Egg said:

We stayed near Kew Gardens before the Wimbledon match last season. It was Brentfords first home game in the Prem and they beat Arsenal 2-0. The 'celebrations' in the pub we stayed at, just a mile or so from their ground were the most muted I had seen.  Just groups of middle class chaps and families chatting over a pint.  I remember thinking that same scenario in many northern towns would have been much more raucous.

Posh round there though.

[Zico]

4 hours ago, tomski said:

Strongest I agree with. That’s simply for the money. 

I never thought I’d see the day people leave Roma or whoever for Bournemouth as a move up. It’s mental.

Enjoyment can be different though. For example I loved early 90s prem (mainly when we were in it) but it wasn’t the strongest. 

I’m not mad on Spanish football but that derby was class last night. Some sight seeing people going mental in the stands at 11pm on a Sunday night. It was a Simeone masterclass at its best. 

Other leagues are strengthening, enough to go round. 


 

 

Aye, I'm sure wouldn't enjoy half the games in the PL and there's much better spectacles in other countries 

Due to an ACCA I watched a bit of Boavista v Benfica at the start of the season, highly entertaining towards the end 

Spain are skint, RM spent more on Bellingham than the other 19 teams combined in the summer (maybe not be deadline day but at the start of the season)

[bolty58]

12 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

In fairness, every club would likely see many empty seats with that level of performance. 

Stop being fair then 

[Leyther_Matt]

4 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I know exactly what you mean, a Rochdale fan is just as passionate as a Spurs fan.  Its just that there aren't many of them (and I love lower league/non league football and grounds BTW).  But when Reading or Wigan are in the Prem, they have fans in the stadium that frankly don't even support them, so the atmosphere is watered down and slightly false.  The minute they vacate the prem, those hangers on turn their back.  I bumped into a very keen Leeds fan on holiday (great lad, about 30) and despite relegation he can't get a S/T because there's been a waiting list for years, currently 22k.  Fans at their games are desperate to be there and its reflected in the atmosphere.

I sound more bothered by this than I am!  It started as a passing thought, and as ever I don't expect anyone to have the same view.

Leeds were practically begging folk to buy season tickets 5-10 years ago. One team city with probably the biggest catchment area in the country from Bradford right across to Hull, north to York (and more) and south to Sheffield. Biggest myth going.

Let’s not pretend we didn’t have plenty of hangers on in the Prem either given how much gates dropped when things started to head south. 

[Johnnyrotten]

Just now, Leyther_Matt said:

Leeds were practically begging folk to buy season tickets 5-10 years ago. One team city with probably the biggest catchment area in the country from Bradford right across to Hull, north to York (and more) and south to Sheffield. Biggest myth going.

Let’s not pretend we didn’t have plenty of hangers on in the Prem either given how much gates dropped when things started to head south. 

I've no reason to stick up for Leeds, I went there in 82-83 (1-1, Whatmore equaliser) and there were only 15k on (I thought it was a huge crowd at the time, double what we were getting!).  I do like Elland Road as a ground though, always have, its got a character the new grounds don't possess.  

I never pretended we don't have hangers on, my comments were about the attraction or otherwise of watching Prem matches as a neutral.  We have a lot in common with Reading/Wigan in the respect of hangers on in Prem days, but I'd be willing to bet we'd be a slightly more attractive proposition to neutrals when sharing the same division, because of our relative size, history, passion etc.  

[Tonge moor green jacket]

13 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Stop being fair then 

After that dark weekend at Burnden, and 6 of the worst, I reckon I'd probably have done likewise if it had been us getting thrapped.

We've had one or two bad events at this place too; Coventry for example. 

Must be an age thing, as I'm not sure I'd want to immerse myself into such drudgery again. 

[tomski]

Come on palace you shit bastards

[radcliffe white]

Casemiro oozes quality 

[freds dad]

9 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Casemiro oozes quality 

 

[Marc505]

10 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Casemiro oozes quality 

Two screening tonight mate? 😀

[Tonge moor green jacket]

5 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Two screening tonight mate? 😀

With his half and half scarf on!

 

[Marc505]

Just now, Tonge moor green jacket said:

With his half and half scarf on!

 

Actually saw a Bolton/United half and half scarf at Boro away once, mad.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

Actually saw a Bolton/United half and half scarf at Boro away once, mad.

That's full on ducking stool stuff.

[Leyther_Matt]

45 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

With his half and half scarf on!

 

Half Utd, half Utd U21s?

[Tonge moor green jacket]

3 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Half Utd, half Utd U21s?

I nearly put that out too..

[tomski]

Oh Mauro

 

 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

2 hours ago, tomski said:

Oh Mauro

 

 

Superb

I love watching things like that

[tomski]

Napoli have had a fuckin mare in regards to Oshimen

[DirtySanchez]

38 minutes ago, tomski said:

Napoli have had a fuckin mare in regards to Oshimen

Aye

Saw that 

Legal action 😃

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66933115

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

8 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

Aye

Saw that 

Legal action 😃

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66933115

All part of the game of forcing a move 

I imagine the social media bod's been called in for a meeting, though 🙂

[gonzo]

59 minutes ago, tomski said:

Napoli have had a fuckin mare in regards to Oshimen

Prem in Jan deffo.

[frank_spencer]

13 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Prem in Jan deffo.

Saudi probably 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

Chelsea I reckon

[gonzo]

11 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Chelsea I reckon

Ivan Toney will be in the offing as well.

Maybe Arsenal for him?