Has football vanished up its own backside?

jimmythecuckoo

Too much money, too little discipline, a lack of respect for officialdom, small town gang mentality.

Sky have a lot to answer for in my opinion.

They have taken the game away from the man in the street and left it for rich people who hadn't seen a match before Euro '96 and thugs.

Even at the lowest levels ( I watch the Conference ) greed is more important than entertaining people who put money through the turnstiles to be entertained.

I can't believe I am falling out of love with our national game

john74

i agree after watching the rugby world cup. it was nice to see the officials being in charge and no one argueing with the ref. it just bought home how bad football is getting with total disrespect for the game and the officials (steven gerrard last saturday). they are a bunch of overpaid actors who fall over at the slightest touch. i would be embarrassed to fall over in front of millions of people with the slightest of touches (rivaldo world cup 2002). i play sunday league and half of those players wouldnt survive the first half with the tackles we have to put up with.

i reckon the players should only get paid if they win.

spasypaddy

league two all the way mate! Watch lower league football and you'll know that its not all about the money. Barnet is a family club that puts its fans before anything else

spen666

spasypaddy wrote:

league two all the way mate! Watch lower league football and you'll know that its not all about the money. Barnet is a family club that puts its fans before anything else

it certainly doesn't put winning before anything

ivancarlos

I feel exactly the same way. I used to be a season ticket holder at a major club, went to a lot of away games too. I ended up giving it all up 4 years ago. Part of the reason was it took up too much of my time and part of it was for the reasons Jimmy gave. For me it all began post Heysel when they did away with terracing.

secretsam

the standard of play and stadia has improved a lot, more women at the games, less (overt) racism, etc. etc.

But on the whole, I agree with you, certainly it's made dreams of the high life just that...dreams

FYI: Bristol City

spen666

ivancarlos wrote:

I feel exactly the same way. I used to be a season ticket holder at a major club, went to a lot of away games too. I ended up giving it all up 4 years ago. Part of the reason was it took up too much of my time and part of it was for the reasons Jimmy gave. For me it all began post Heysel when they did away with terracing.

Terracing remained long after Heysel. it was after Hillsbrough that the late Lord Justice Peter Taylor produced his two reports and terraces were banned in the top 2 divisions

spen666

ivancarlos wrote:

I feel exactly the same way. I used to be a season ticket holder at a major club, went to a lot of away games too. I ended up giving it all up 4 years ago. Part of the reason was it took up too much of my time and part of it was for the reasons Jimmy gave. For me it all began post Heysel when they did away with terracing.

Terracing remained long after Heysel. it was after Hillsbrough that the late Lord Justice Peter Taylor produced his two reports and terraces were banned in the top 2 divisions

emaichael

it is pathetic watching a match, and constantly the game stops because someone dived. (apparently there hurt....bullshlt)

ivancarlos

"spen666 wrote:

it was after Hillsbrough that the late Lord Justice Peter Taylor produced his two reports and terraces were banned in the top 2 divisions

My mistake. Thats what I meant.

allaction

The premier league is the most over-rated league in the world. I am a season ticket holder at Newcastle (I know I've been certified twice!). We often say over the course of a season you come out having seen a handfull of decent games. According to Sky there is no such thing as a bad game, just watch Rednap and Keys waffle on about what a classic that match was. Propaganda all the way.

jimmythecuckoo

spasypaddy wrote:

league two all the way mate!

I am even losing interest in that. My avatar is my village team and I own shares in the Conference underachievers Weymouth.

In fact I will be skipping riding the turbo to go to their FA cup replay at Hitchin tomorrow... anyone going?

el_presidente

I am a Reading FC fan and long term season ticket holder. At the end of the 04-05 season I was seriously fed up with it. We lost the last 3 games and missed out on the play-offs by 1 point.

I nearly didn't renew my ST, eventually I persuaded myself. Cue the most glorious season ever, all time points record, 99 goals, etc etc, and soem awesome football that bordered on the sublime at times. Followed another brilliant season in the premiership. This season looks like bing more of a rollercoaster but it is rarely less than entertaining.

I do however agree with the OP to a certain extent. I love watching Reading though because we don't have many stars, we play as a team. We don't dive (well not much) and we never harrass referees. Coppell tells it like it is and will never whinge and moan at refs.

It is ridiculously expensive though for what you get. I think I am addicted all over again now though.

jimmythecuckoo

I am pleased for you matey, I only wish I could get the interest back myself.

wastelander

Surely it was always up it's own backside - I can't remember a recent time when it wasn't. Forget footy - a sport that's played for 90 mins with the ball in play for around 40 mins in a premiership game. Get your backside to your nearest EIHL team and watch some top flight UK ice hockey.

End to end action, goals, unbelievable skills and dexterity, goals, brute force, fights, goals (you'll never seen a 0-0 in hockey as all games have 5 mins sudden death o/t and penalty shoot outs if it's still tied!) 2 goal combacks in the last 5 mins more than possible (did I mention goals?) and if you play/skate yourself it's good training for cycling too! Add the fact that they play for 60 mins (stop clock), don't fall over when 'hurt', and if they are really hurt lay get themselves off to the doc to get stitched up and come back and play some more!!!! You'll have more entertainment and save a fortune

secretsam

el_presidente wrote:

I am a Reading FC fan and long term season ticket holder. At the end of the 04-05 season I was seriously fed up with it. We lost the last 3 games and missed out on the play-offs by 1 point.

I nearly didn't renew my ST, eventually I persuaded myself. Cue the most glorious season ever, all time points record, 99 goals, etc etc, and soem awesome football that bordered on the sublime at times. Followed another brilliant season in the premiership. This season looks like bing more of a rollercoaster but it is rarely less than entertaining.

I do however agree with the OP to a certain extent. I love watching Reading though because we don't have many stars, we play as a team. We don't dive (well not much) and we never harrass referees. Coppell tells it like it is and will never whinge and moan at refs.

It is ridiculously expensive though for what you get. I think I am addicted all over again now though.

Plus you've got Leroy, the Congo Cannon, up front...BTW, can you please sell him 'cos my lot need a few bob from the usual clause

jimmythecuckoo

I went to a Peterborough Phantoms game the other week and it was very entertaining. Not sure I could get into it full time but Ice Hockey did impress me.

another jacko

At the last match I went to a lifelong fan asked what I thought of the latest megastar signing, clearly expecting my approval. When I said he looked bored and didn't seem to be working very hard my friend made the excuse "Everyone's entitled to an off day now and again"

Football fans get what they deserve if they have that attiude. They are mug enough and undemanding enough to pay extortionate amounts of money for a slim chance of entertainment from overpaid mercenaries who are happy to take their money and give very little back.

People who are paid £100,000 a week for just 90 minutes work are NOT entitled to an off day.

Do these same football fans give doctors, pilots, bus drivers, police officers, firemen, teachers and social workers the right to have an 'off day'?

wastelander

jimmythecuckoo wrote:

I went to a Peterborough Phantoms game the other week and it was very entertaining. Not sure I could get into it full time but Ice Hockey did impress me.

Peterborough play at the equivilent of the Coca Cola Championship - try and get to Nottingham/Sheffield and watch an EIHL game which is the UKs top flight. Sure, they're mostly overseas players from Canada/Eastern Europe but it's a much mor entertaining product that fottball could ever be, even if some of the rules seem a little weird at first (like no punting the puck down to the other end of the rink!)