The European football thread

[Sdpm100]

Middlesbrough beat Chelsea 2-1, then lose next time out 4-0 (currently) to Portsmouth - new manager, same old Middlesbrough.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Because I'm the only one that likes him?

The best reason of all to have him on your avi.

[Sdpm100]

You couldn't believe this was the same player that scored two goals tonight, could you? I guess they say "a change of scenery can be good for you".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jQG73v7X0U

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

Middlesbrough beat Chelsea 2-1, then lose next time out 4-0 (currently) to Portsmouth - new manager, same old Middlesbrough.

One of the bets bets there is is to bet against the team that has just pilled off a huge upset. They almost always have a big let down.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

You couldn't believe this was the same player that scored two goals tonight, could you? I guess they say "a change of scenery can be good for you".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jQG73v7X0U

What are Portsmouths chances this year?

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

The best reason of all to have him on your avi.

Sweet!

Originally Posted by bababui

What are Portsmouths chances this year?

I would say they will finish in mid-table.
When Redknapp came back from Southampton in the middle of last season, he got them out of what looked to be an impossible position with regards to relegation, and with form that rivalled the top 6 got them out of it.

[bababui]

I must go finish up work. Cya later SDPM100. Remember...2007 by Tuesday in FM

[Sdpm100]

Originally Posted by bababui

Remember...2007 by Tuesday in FM

You know it's just not gonna happen. Au revoir.

[zoraster]

A bank holiday trip to Worthing saw us collect another three points today. That is three wins on the bounce, and ten points in the bag. We made hard work of the last twenty minutes, having missed a hatful of chances in the first hour on our way to securing a 2-0 lead. Our rookie gaffer then pulled off our two creative widemen Wood and Watts, along with uber-poacher McDonnell. From then on we were on the back-foot, and Worthing did pull a goal back. It felt a bit dicey at times, but in truth Worthing didn’t really go close to getting an equaliser. Nonetheless it was a bit of needless stress in a match we totally dominated.

Next up home to Slough and a trip to Folkestone to keep our run going. We’ll have to do it without two of our stars who are off on international duty. Junior Kadi has been called up by Sierra Leone for their cup of nations qualifier against Mali, while Tony Boot is off to Germany to play for England in the learning disabilities World Cup.


Diving in with a comment or two on today's conversation:

Originally Posted by Sdpm100

As I said, IMO it is utter madness for Sunderland to have Keane in as manager.

Totally agree. Keane will be a train wreck manager unless he has a number two who not only has some serious man management skills but more importantly can control Keane’s excesses. He is certainly going to have to change his approach if he wants to be a successful manager.

Originally Posted by bababui

What are Portsmouths chances this year?

They’ve got some serious financial clout, so relegation should be out of the question. Even if they have a disastrous first half they‘ll be able to buy their way out of trouble in January once again. They’ve got the financial muscle to compete for Europe at the moment, but Redknapp has found it impossible to find the players to buy. Their squad is pretty run of the mill lower-midtable fare. Depending on new recruits and injuries that is where I’d expect them to end up, possibly breaking the top half if they stay healthy.

[Raderick]

Does anyone have a schedule of UEFA Champions League matches ESPN will be broadcasting?

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Raderick

Does anyone have a schedule of UEFA Champions League matches ESPN will be broadcasting?

I'd like to know this too.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Raderick

Does anyone have a schedule of UEFA Champions League matches ESPN will be broadcasting?

Looks like nothing before 10-15

[bababui]

Will this move open up the way for Benedict Hargreaves to go to England?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...377405&cc=5901

Vam Bommel to BM

[magnet]

Do two teams advance from each group in the UEFA Champions League first phase?

[bababui]

Originally Posted by magnet

Do two teams advance from each group in the UEFA Champions League first phase?

Yes....then they draw the knock out round out of a hat

[magnet]

Group F looks interesting, with Man U, Celtic, and FC Copenhagen

[bababui]

A warning to the premiership

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...377510&cc=5901

[QUOTE]
Fans warn Premiership clubs over falling crowds

Fans warn Premiership clubs over falling crowds

The Football Supporters Federation have warned the elite game in England could implode unless more attention is paid to the fans.


The new Premiership season has thrown up some interesting results on the pitch - but also some concerning statistics off it.


Last night's Middlesbrough v Portsmouth game attracted only 24,834 fans to the Riverside while just 19,398 saw champions Chelsea take on Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Charlton have not sold out either of their homes games while Fulham are yet to hit 19,000 this season.

'We have certainly been warning the Premier League for some time we think the bubble is in danger of bursting because of continued price increases and messing people around with kick-off times,' said FSF chairman Malcolm Clarke.

'It is also an uncompetitive division so a lot of games are meaningless before the season has even started.

'We are going to do detailed work on this, comparing attendances on a game-by-game basis.

'We'll be watching closely and talking to the Premier League about it because once these trends start they can move very quickly.'

The demands of television meant Portsmouth supporters had to travel from the south coast to the north east on a Bank Holiday for an 8pm kick-off.

Last season, Middlesbrough had to wait until December 31 for a traditional 3pm kick-off on a Saturday afternoon. Their first seven home games were all live on television.

West Ham supporters will face similar scheduling upheaval if their side progress through to the group stage of the UEFA Cup.

Hammers supporters had to leave in the early hours of Saturday morning to get to Anfield in time for a noon kick-off against Liverpool.

Clarke added: 'The game at the top is at bigger risk of falling than has been recognised so far.

'The Premier League set up an attendance working party last season but we've heard nothing from it. When we meet them next time we'll be asking what they've found out.'

With television money rather than gate receipts now increasingly the main source of income for Premier League clubs, there is an argument which states ticket prices could be reduced to help fans.

The Premier League would certainly be a far more attractive television product when matches are played in front of full houses rather than banks of empty seats.

It is an idea the FSF believe has merit.

'That would be the common-sense and intelligent way for the Premier League to respond,' said Clarke.

But the Premier League insist there is no need to panic just a week into the new season, which is traditionally slow as fans come back from holiday or make the most of the final weeks of summer.

And they have assured supporters every effort is being taken to keep the game affordable.

'The working party was set up a year ago to look at issues in and around attendances and how to encourage new fans into stadiums and into supporting Premier League football teams,' a spokesman said.

'More broadly it is looking at attendance levels and ticketing issues. We are very keen to canvas the opinion of fans which we do every year in our fans' surverys.

'Attendances have grown 55% since the start of the Premier League. Last season we had 93% occupancy rate, but no club rests on its laurels and we are seeing some innovative ways of ensuring attendances stay healthy.

'This happens every year. We say the same things every year - you can't judge attendances this time of year, you have to take the broader picture.'

On the issue of kick-off times, the Premier League insist a number of factors have to be taken into account including the views of fans groups, police, the clubs and television companies.

The Football League have also suffered with some disappointing crowds over the opening weeks of their season.

But they will not draw any conclusions until the end of the month, when crowd figures can be analysed for the first time.

But a Football League spokesman added: 'The crowds are up 3.7% for the first round of the Carling Cup.'

[bababui]

Why is Anelka in Bolton and not in Newcastle?

[zoraster]

Originally Posted by bababui

Why is Anelka in Bolton and not in Newcastle?

For the same reason he was plying his trade last season in Turkey rather than one of the major leagues. The term dressing room cancer doesn’t do him justice. Really he is a vintage Big Sam signing, a problem player who Sam will hope to get every last ounce of value from to keep Bolton punching way above their weight. Only difference is this time Sam has spent big bucks, so will be getting his fingers burnt if he turns out more Bridges than Davies.

I seriously doubt Newcastle ever had any interest in Anelka back when the rumours were circulating in the summer. We knew Anelka was angling for a return to England so I’d put money on that story having come from his camp. It says a lot that he was available for months, but even at their most desperate Newcastle never made a formal approach.

His list of clubs is rather a long one for a 27 year old. PSG, Arsenal, Real Madrid, back to PSG, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahce, and now Bolton. As Keegan so famously stated a few years ago “24 years of age, but he has been around a lot longer than that”

[bababui]

Zoraster.