04 Oct 2015 00:38:54
Interested in everyone's opinion here . We are second in league, no doubt we'll win it. We lose over 2 legs to Malmö yet draw 2 games in Europa league I'm sure everyone would agree with teams better than Malmö. You look at the epl and see their teams struggling then Southampton beat Chelsea 3 1 who By the way couldn't get through to Europa league groups. This is by far not the greatestceltic team but is football in general dropping standards. Strange world out there at minute . Can't get my head round it. Take Bayern , Madrid and maybe barca ( they lost tonight ) is football standards possibly dropping
04 Oct 2015 08:31:36
I'd agree with you. The game has definitely changed over the last 15-20 years becoming more fitness based, athletic and tactics orientated. There is less space in the game for technically gifted players unless they are athletes. Hazard is a prime example at chelsea when jose wouldn't play him as he wasn't good enough defensively. Robben has changed his game massively and is more fitness based.
The term "world class" is thrown about like confetti and honestly who could be considered world class bar messi and ronaldo and possibly ibrahimovic and aguero. When I say world class who could walk onto any team in the world.
Look at the quality United had when they won champs league in 99. France team of 98. Brazil with Ronaldo Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. Would Ronaldinho survive in the game now as he wasn't the best trainer/athlete but is one the most entertaining players i've ever seen.
04 Oct 2015 09:26:48
The game has sold its soul to cash -
The money and pressures of relegation, bonuses, jobs loss etc. have encouraged players and managers to do WHATEVER it takes to get results (dive, antagonise, insult,physically abuse - basically cheat)
Players are overpaid and actually belive the msm,
Sponsors dictating when games are to be played and too much control (agree or not but it should not be McDonalds and Coaca Cola telling Blatter to p*ss off, it should be football people/
Referees either of a poor standard or, dare I say it? Cheating? (when was the last time you heard a football ref explain his decision?)And while on that subject - what about players crowding the ref.Captain only should be allowed to at leat put his teams point across.
Football authorities too blinkered (or again, dare I say it? Cheating) to allow the use of technology which is used very successfully in other sports.
Chapions League (there is a joke title) full of teams which have come second/thisrd or fourth in their respective leagues (again money orientated) While ACTUAL League Champions have to play 2/3/ qualifying games.
Fans getting sick of (all of the above) archaic authorities and greedy/incompetent boards.
Players who concentrate on winding up oppositions players and/or dive and again that word CHEAT.
Fans using hard earned cash to attend sports which have not totally sold control to the sponsors (yes, like it or not, we do need their investment)and also DO allow the use of sensible technology.
As for fitness - sick of hearing managers/players/experts rabbiting on about the players being tired after that midweek game. FFS, its their ONLY job of work. T
I am also sick of listening to so called experts in msm coming on and explaining how the manager and players failed/suceeded etc. (I love watching the highlights so I have to put up with them or use the alternative of not buying, switching off etc - so my choice)
All that said, I love the game but I am becoming more disillusioned because of the reasons above.
Just my own personal feelings and thoughts
{Ed001's Note - that is without getting into the drug cheats and match fixing issues being swept under the carpet to avoid damaging the game's rep and losing the sponsors.}
04 Oct 2015 09:32:21
Was working on a post reply but it went before I finished.
Anyway,
Fitness - These guys should try working two weeks away, 12 hours a day for the 14 days on a fecking oil rig in North Sea for nowhere near the money some of them are making.
They play an away game in midweek and on Sat/Sun we hear managers/players and 'experts' rattling on about players being tired FFS its their job of work. I have never been a professional player so maybe some of you on here can tell me how hard the players work when they are not actually playing a league or cup game. I may have the wrong end of the stick on this one.
{Ed001's Note - you don't have the wrong end of the stick, they should look at tennis players, who will play 5-6 hours of tennis a day almost every day or many other individual sports of a similar type. They are not living like professional athletes, then moaning they are tired. Spurs train twice a day and, yes they looked tired last season, but this season, as the players grow used to it, the benefits are becoming clear. The players look fitter and stronger and fresher, despite doing more.}
04 Oct 2015 09:37:34
Bobbygal I don't think teams like Southampton or indeed any of the EPL teams actually want to play in Europa League! You can see that they don't put out their best team. Its about money. A run in Europa normally means a drop in places in EPL. Look at Everton last season. If you consider that finishing 6th in EPL gives the team something like £60mill and a drop to 12th gives you something like £30 mill then financially it's better to move up even 2 places in EPL. I think there is more money in the Europa this season but maybe the teams from the bigger leagues just find it a distraction? Only a thought.
{Ed001's Note - the English teams lose money playing in the Europa League.}
04 Oct 2015 12:08:04
Ed if they lose money playing in Europa then that says it all. What is the point in playing? I knew there was something strange about it as I think it was West Ham that qualified under fair play awards and they didn't want to take up the qualifying place.
{Ed001's Note - for me the point is to win trophies and not money. Winning trophies brings fans and sponsorship and future revenue.}