...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 1)

[Hodgey.]

I know it's just a rumor but arent City thinking about seeling Jovetic to Juve?

[Max]

No we have 2 more seasons at UP, it's going to be weird. I've had a season ticket for 11 seasons so I've literally grown up at that place, still onwards and upwards.

 

The thing about Big Sam is, you have to see it all in context. The club is going through a massive transition. We're watching the worst football most can ever remember, but we're being charged some of the highest prices in the league. We're slowly clawing our way out of debt which nearly ended the club's existence a few years ago and yet we're being told by the Board that they're looking to invest to build a team 'worthy' of the Olympic Stadium. We're leaving a home we've had for over a century for what some see as a ground unfit for for football, while also doing a major rebranding of the club,including crest, carried out by Ms Karren Brady. She's also been responsible for some pretty shabby treatment of back room staff, in particular academy legends such as Hampson and Carr who brought through most of England's best talents in the last 30 years.

 

Basically I think a lot of fans feel that the club is losing it's identity and Big Sam is the ultimate epitome of that (partially) unwelcome change. His relationship with the fans is diabolical and he's openly called the fans 'deluded' about the West Ham way. If you believe it or not is besides the point, we believe it, so it should be respected by our manager. We've seen no youth brought through in 3 seasons. We've seen no improvement in style or personel. We feel we've been repeatedly lied to by the board and Sam and short changed. We're pissed off that Big Sam only has one way of playing and no back up plans and yet is the 13th highest paid manager in the world. And we're fed up of seeing Nolan start every f*cking game in one of the most key positions in modern football when he can't pass, he can't run, he can't tackle and he can't create.

 

I think most rational West ham fans like myself appreciate that Big Sam has achieved everything asked of him for the last 3 years. But he's done it in an incredibly destructive way and now the club is so divided and so restless that I think a change, sooner rather than later will benefit everyone. We can't go on watching the sh*t we've been served recently and nor can the team keep getting away with playing so badly and still staying up much longer.

 

Rant Over, glad that's off my chest. Here's a very well written and accurate article about the situation if you guys want a read: http://www.thematch.co.uk/allardyce-vs-west-ham-way/

[Crokey]

I know it's just a rumor but arent City thinking about seeling Jovetic to Juve?

You were right the first time, it's just a rumour. From all the reports I've heard, we're not doing that much else in the way of transfers other than those already in the pipeline.

[Joseph Cooke]

Jovetic is a cracking player in my opinion. Didn't get a chance cos of injury last season. But anytime he has played he's been quality; reminds me of Tevez in how he has no fear of trying things.

[Nlwt]

Jovetic is a cracking player in my opinion. Didn't get a chance cos of injury last season. But anytime he has played he's been quality; reminds me of Tevez in how he has no fear of trying things.

Hopefully he doesn't turn out to be a massive c*nt like Tevez.

[GTA_stu]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28673372

 

So Gullit, Phil Neville and Ferdinand will be new faces on MoTD. Christ, there's actually going to be a Chelsea connection! Neville and Ferdinand though... f*ck me. They're both absolutely terrible. Neville is just one of the most boring people I've ever heard talk and Rio comes across as too ghetto for my liking. He talks like a Ali G. It's got nothing to do with them being ex-Utd, because I genuinely think Gary Neville is one of the best pundits around, but those 2 are just awful.

Edited August 6, 2014 by stu

[Nlwt]

Not really sure why people are calling Ferdinand a terrible pundit. Neville I get as he's as bland as a jacket potato. Rio actually knows what he's talking about, despite all this 'gangster' talk everybody keeps criticising.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Nlwt

[Banks.]

Phil Neville yes but Rio is good and knows his stuff. He's miles better than Shearer, Savage, Murphy, Keown and whoever BBC dish up.

[I cucked Alex Jones]

Rio should have his own dance show.

[Nlwt]

Robbie Savage is an absolute tosspot. Completely clueless as a pundit.

[Crokey]

Robbie Savage is an absolute tosspot. Completely clueless as a pundit.

Exactly, that comment during the World Cup about a ref from Peru shouldn't be reffing a game because the league in Peru is pants, was down right disrespectful, if we were to do a pot/kettle scenario then I'd call him out for commenting on football since he's Welsh, and the Welsh league is not exactly sparkling is it?

[Der_Don]

No CL football for Celtic. Is there actually anything their fans are looking forward to now? No CL, no Old Firm. Their season is basically over before it really started.

[Mark]

Aye that's why a few of my workmates up at the Glasgow office are more interested in the Scottish Championship as the teams in there are more fun and most have larger followings than half the SPL.

[Max]

They should have gone ahead with the league restructuring and consolidated it into only 2 leagues rather than 4 professional ones. Scottish football is f*cked.

[Vercetti42]

Why do Scottish teams not play in the EPL unlike Welsh teams?

Edited August 7, 2014 by Vercetti42

[Hodgey.]

Why do Scottish teams not play in the EPL unlike Welsh teams?

 

Well there are only two Welsh teams that play in the EPL the rest play in the Welsh league system.

[Nlwt]

 

Why do Scottish teams not play in the EPL unlike Welsh teams?

 

Well there are only two Welsh teams that play in the EPL the rest play in the Welsh league system.

 

Isn't that something to do with the fact there wasn't a Welsh league that existed when the clubs were originally founded, or am I talking complete bollocks there? Same story with Wrexham I think.

[Max]

Yeah Wrexham also play in the Football league so, 3 clubs.

[I cucked Alex Jones]

Don't forget Newport County.

[Inactive]

Vermaelen's back. Arsene has confirmed the bids.

 

This guy's back too :

 

Edited August 7, 2014 by Inactive

[Nlwt]

Just over a week until the new season starts. I can't f*cking wait.

[A J]

 

Why do Scottish teams not play in the EPL unlike Welsh teams?

 

Well there are only two Welsh teams that play in the EPL the rest play in the Welsh league system.

 

 

How dare you forget my most local team!

[Crokey]

Aye that's why a few of my workmates up at the Glasgow office are more interested in the Scottish Championship as the teams in there are more fun and most have larger followings than half the SPL.

Damn straight, the Championship looks the best league in Scotland right now, what with Ranger, Hearts, Hibs, Raith and Falkirk, looks like it's going to be an interesting league.

 

They should have gone ahead with the league restructuring and consolidated it into only 2 leagues rather than 4 professional ones. Scottish football is f*cked.

This what fans in Scotland have been shouting for, for years and yet those buffoons in charge in the SFA and the SPL don't want to entertain it, even though the consensus from all fans and pundits alike is that this would actually help to save Scottish Football.

 

Why do Scottish teams not play in the EPL unlike Welsh teams?

It goes back to historical reasons in that Scotland already had a strong assortment of teams when the English FA first formed and because of this there was no real reason for the teams to merge into one or for them to mix. Also at this time teams in Scotland and England were on a par and if they were to be compared by todays standard then both countries would have 4 Champions League places and a 2 Europa League places. Also because Scotland and England are still technically separate countries joined in a union of the United Kingdom (The Union of 1707) then UEFA still see them as separate, the difference here with England and Wales is that Wales, although considered to be a country is technically a Principality of England and not actually a country in it's own right, even though they have an international team.

 

Owing to this odd political arrangement Welsh teams who can play in the English leagues can still qualify for Europe and play in the English setup and the Welsh teams who play in the Welsh league can also qualify for Europe via the Welsh leagues. The history of Welsh teams in the English system however goes back the opposite of the Scottish setup as mentioned above in that because there was such limited competition in the Welsh league (effectively just Swansea and Cardiff and at a push Wrexham) they could apply to the English FA on the Principality status.

 

As things stand right now however any Scottish team (or even and English team in the reverse) could apply to join the English FA, but it would need the approval of a majority of English clubs to allow them to join, and from this UEFA would have to allow it. This was raised a few years ago with Rangers and Celtic, but was rejected by the English clubs, there was no real reasons given as to why this was the case, however the unspoken feeling was due to the sectarian issues that The Old Firm of Rangers and Celtic could have brought to the English game, which the English FA do not want as this isn't an issue with clubs in England... clubs in England just hate each other because reasons.

[Venom]

[...] while also doing a major rebranding of the club,including crest, carried out by Ms Karren Brady.

And it's God-awful at that.

 

I know Colwyn Bay are playing in the Conf. North - they've played the team in the town other from me a few times.

They play in the English leagues because they always have done. The Welsh league is newer and the teams decided not to play in it.

 

I do, however, find it slightly funny that a few weeks ago Celtic were complaining 'Why do we have to qualify for the Champions League?!'; well, your league's sh*te and you lost to a Polish side 6-1 on aggregate.. that's why you have to qualify.

[I cucked Alex Jones]

How long do you guys think a team besides Celtic wins the SPL?

[ddyoung]

How long do you guys think a team besides Celtic wins the SPL?

Probably not until Rangers get back up there in a few years time.

[Hodgey.]

I do, however, find it slightly funny that a few weeks ago Celtic were complaining 'Why do we have to qualify for the Champions League?!'; well, your league's sh*te and you lost to a Polish side 6-1 on aggregate.. that's why you have to qualify.

 

Celtic are that good even when they do lose 6-1 on aggregate the still go through to the next round.

 

How long do you guys think a team besides Celtic wins the SPL?

 

Only team that will/can challenge them is Rangers and with the way that club is run at the moment it could be another 7 - 10 years before they are true contenders.

[Mark]

Hah Warsaw you idiots.

 

Talk about a bit of luck for Celtic.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Mark

[AndyGanteks]

Poor guy only played for 4 minutes.

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28701951

 

Also, CL final qualifying round draw:

 

Edited August 8, 2014 by AndyGanteks

[Der_Don]

How these things can happen on a professional level, I will never understand. Celtic now against Maribor with a decent chance.