BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 May 22 - 03:23 PM

Our club football should be regulated back to how it was - mostly locals in MEANINGFUL competition.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 May 22 - 03:15 PM

Well congratulations to Liverpool on winning the FA cup, can't say I thought the match was scintillating in any way and I dislike penalty shoot-outs, I would much prefer a re-play.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 07:06 AM

He was a true legend who played in the Burnley team that won the league in 1960. Well before the mighty Johann Cruyff made the style his own, Burnley played a form of Total Football that was beautiful to behold, a far cry from the somewhat gritty Burnley style of play of today!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 06:55 AM

No and a bit before my time by the looks of things. I've found the Wikipedia entry for him in case others are also interested.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 06:14 AM

I hope so. I was a Burnley supporter when I was a lad. That was in the days of the great Jimmy Mac. Remember him?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 05:29 AM

At least the battle for the top spot remains alive. As for the bottom, I think Norwich are well and truly sunk and Watford too. I wonder if Liverpool's neighbours will make up the 3rd spot?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 05:20 AM

....And Liverpool march on...

A resurgent Newcastle at the weekend could be a defining moment. Liverpool simply have to win every game now, and Manky Citeh have to slip up (even a draw instead of a win will do).

Go, Redmen! Jurgen for PM!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 04:24 AM

Ah Dave, I well remember watching a match at Ibrox between Celtic and Rangers with a football-mad boyfriend in the seventies. We'd been in a pub first (I didn't drink alcohol, but 'boyfriend' was rather tanked up!) I must have been the only woman there, and I was rather amused to see many of the spectators using their empty McEwans beer cans to wee in, then chucking them at the opposing fans! After the match was over (I can't remember who won) there was one hell of a fight outside the stadium between the two sets of supporters.
I adored Glasgow though, and merely found it all great fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 04:15 AM

Very occasionally, I would go to the Cross Keys in Penrhynside (nr Llandudno, N Wales) when a football match was on. Never any fighting but a lot of piss taking and banter. It was only a small village pub but it had a great atmosphere.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 04:03 AM

And...


1500!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Apr 22 - 04:02 AM

I was once in a pub in Scotland (The Ellangowan, Creetown) when a Celtic/Rangers match was on TV. At every moment it seemed a fight would break out in the bar but at the end of the game everyone was best of mates again!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Apr 22 - 07:41 PM

We know not. Chelsea will almost certainly finish third this season and they are in the FA Cup Final with Liverpool on May 14. I've invited a good ol' mate of mine round to watch it on my telly. He suffers from the severe misfortune of being a Chelsea supporter. Mucho pizza and cheap booze will be consumed but we'll avoid a punch-up. Good times, good living!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Apr 22 - 05:38 PM

Who will own Chelsea FC when the negotiating is done??

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 06:40 PM

The Anfield scousers showed real class after seven minutes of the game (Cristiano Ronaldo wears the no 7 shirt). Tens of thousands of Liverpool fans applauding and singing You'll Never Walk Alone in honour of Ronaldo in sympathy for his loss. Brilliant.

The other real class was on show in the form of Liverpool's Thiago Alcantara. I can't remember a better, more perfect performance by a footballer. Oh, and we won 4-0...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 09:23 AM

I know. I'd like to have seen both teams at full strength tonight. Losing a child must be just about the most awful thing...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: G-Force
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 08:38 AM

Very sad that Ronaldo has had to drop out.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 05:30 AM

I meant to add, do you think that Google Translate might help? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 05:28 AM

This is Jurgen Klopp speaking about tonight's upcoming game against Manchester United:

“If we let United do what they want, they will cause us massive problems,” the Liverpool manager said. “We have to be in the right mood to fight for the three points and not want to show we are in a better moment than United. Who is interested about that? There are times when you have better moments than other teams but then you get a knock and that’s it with the better moment. Who cares?

“They want the three points we need. We have to be angry in a good way, greedy, like you are if you have won nothing and would be with nil points and it’s the most important three points in your life. That’s the attitude we need for this game, otherwise the quality is too high. United are too good for not being in that mood.”

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 07:57 PM

Another superbly entertaining game in the FA Cup semi-final, with Liverpool nailing it by half-time yet nearly chucking it by the end and taking ten years off my life. What a season.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Rain Dog
Date: 16 Apr 22 - 08:56 AM

Available on the BBC iplayer

Bend It Like Beckham: 20 Years On

"Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham is the highest-grossing sports film to focus on football, telling the story of a British-Indian teenager who falls in love with the game, while exploring themes of immigration, race, religion and sexuality. Twenty years on from its release, BBC Sport's Miriam Walker-Khan looks at the impact the film had on audiences, its legacy in the world of sport and how its humour and characters still make it relatable today."

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Apr 22 - 04:04 AM

Ha! Norwich City beat Burnley 2-1 on Sunday. Lees-Melou and Pukki scored for us at Carrow Road. The chap on the corner of my road has hoisted his large Canaries flag.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 10:07 AM

It was indeed a phenomenal football match, keberoxu, one of the best I've ever seen (I watched every minute of it). The two sides meet again on Saturday at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final. It would be a bit much to expect similar intensity again, though you never know... Last night's Real Madrid-Chelsea game was similarly thrilling. There's far too much wrong with football, but once those players get out there on the pitch and play like that they are doing it for the fans. Good times!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Rain Dog
Date: 13 Apr 22 - 02:25 AM

The times they are a-changin'

Are paper football programmes on their way out?

Jumpers for goalposts anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Apr 22 - 08:27 PM

Today I was reminded of how much the United States teams owe to
first-generation immigrants -- for their PUBLIC/audience.

I heard one of the employees, where I am staying, enthusing about the Manchester City - Liverpool game.
He speaks Spanish and I don't know which country his forebears are from.
But he was speaking his usual good, slightly accented English,
and telling his co-workers that
watching the broadcast was so exciting that he could not go to the bathroom until it was finished.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Apr 22 - 08:18 PM

Fantastic fightback from valiant Chelsea tonight. They won the game but lost on aggregate. But what a terrific game of football. It was a bit special was that and I'm not even a Chelsea fan.

Liverpool should dispatch Benfica tomorrow, then it's Villareal in the semis. Life is good.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: DaveRo
Date: 11 Apr 22 - 02:47 AM

I'm not sure if this New York Times piece is paywalled but I found it interesting.

Soccer Should Worry About the Product, Not the Packaging

A simple rule change paved the way for the modern soccer we watch today. An obsession with Super Bowl-style changes won’t move it forward.

It goes on to talk about FIFA's proposals to improve the 'experience':

It was striking, for example, that Al-Khelaifi should cite the Super Bowl as an example of the sort of things soccer should be doing. Why, he asked, was the final of the Champions League not more of an event? Why was it not more of a show? Why was there not a litany of the world’s biggest musical acts lining up to play at the world’s biggest annual sporting fixture?

(The answer to that last one, for what it’s worth, is that the world’s biggest musical acts know full well that they would be jeered if they played the Champions League final, because all of the people in the stadium are there to see a soccer match, not a concert.)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Apr 22 - 07:14 PM

A magnificent match between the two Premier League title contenders ending Man City 2 Liverpool 2. We've achieved an incredibly high standard in football and these are the two top teams on Planet Earth right now (in m'humble of course!). Tough luck if you couldn't see the whole game. And they play again next Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final. A cornucopia of delights! Go, Reds!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 07:35 AM

Last Thursday, Norwich City played Chelsea here at Carrow Road. A friend of my neighbour is an ardent Chelsea supporter, and his wife has a season ticket for Norwich City. He borrowed her ticket to get a place among the Norwich supporters, and masqueraded as one of them. (He had to leave his Chelsea scarf etc at home).
When Chelsea scored he had to pretend he was gutted, when actually he was thrilled. They beat us 3 -1, and he danced home delighted, to the disgust of his long-suffering wife.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 06:53 AM

Nice one, Palace. I watched it on Now TV (I have an offer...) and they put up a mighty defence for the whole game, riding their luck at times but also threatening Citeh on the counter a good few times. A nil-nil thriller, and we have a title race on our hands! Now for Arsenal on Wednesday...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 02 Mar 22 - 05:48 PM

Sorry about that, Eliza. You fought what was basically Liverpool's B team very well. It was a bit squeaky bum for the last 20 minutes. Annoying that ITV didn't give us a shot of Delia...

As for Abramovich, he is said to have written off Chelsea's £1.5 billion debt to him. So Chelsea have had £1.5 billion of money that is very likely to have come from corruption and dodgy dealings that have, at best, impoverished the donor's country big time. Will questions be asked?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Mar 22 - 01:50 PM

Dunno whether there is an underlying motive but, even if there is, I think Abramovitch is doing the right thing

"The sale of the club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club. Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery."

Good on him

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 01 Mar 22 - 05:34 PM

I've always liked Delia. Her cookery was simple, plain and straightforward. None of these poncy, fancy recipes. And none of that sexy stuff you get from Nigella!
Actually, I've met Delia several times years ago, in St John's Norwich Catholic Cathedral. Very pleasant lady.
Even if Liverpool beat us tomorrow, it's all good experience and very exciting for the Canary fans. The chap on the corner has hoisted his flag again.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 01 Mar 22 - 03:25 PM

Well, Eliza, I'm afraid that we're inviting you to Anfield again tomorrow night. FA Cup fifth round. I hope Delia will be there. I've just used (as I've done every year for the last forty) her pancake batter recipe. I always make extra. Delicioso!

Ps. The match is on ITV! No fancy subscriptions needed!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 01 Mar 22 - 01:18 PM

I agree Steve. I watched the match at my neighbours' house over the road, and it was very exciting.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 27 Feb 22 - 05:59 PM

The League Cup final (which you could only watch on Sky/Now TV, unfortunately) was an absolute credit to both Chelsea and Liverpool. A pulsating match, plenty of ebb and flow, lots of drama with a sprinkling of controversy... What footie should be all about! Shame someone had to lose. A penalty shoot-out which took 21 penalties before it was resolved by the Chelsea goalie skying his attempt. Brilliant. Gerry Marsden will be grinning up there in heaven tonight...

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Feb 22 - 08:25 AM

Thank God for the East Lancs Road! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Feb 22 - 08:22 AM

Oh thats true, but by the same token you often refer to United's present situation while conveniently ignoring the previous 25 years of almost constant success, over 40 major trophies.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Feb 22 - 08:05 AM

Ah, but you do like to dredge up Man U's ancient history to put alongside Liverpool's achievements in an attempt to put the latter in the shade! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Feb 22 - 07:56 AM

I think you will be hard pushed to find any comment where I have ever criticised Liverpool football club.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Feb 22 - 06:33 PM

Well now, when I happen to mention in a casual and accidental aside that Liverpool beat Leeds 6-0 this evening, Raggytash will, I predict, living in Man U's inglorious past as he is wont to do, once again show up as naysayer numero uno. ;-)

But what a turnaround. From 12 points behind Citeh, and with doom-laden predictions that Mané and Salah would be sorely missed as they went off for a month to play for their African nations, we've won every match and are snapping at the heels of Pep's oilmen, with a better goal difference to boot. What's not to like? Of course, the next couple of months are highly unpredictable and the whole lot could collapse around our ears like a house of cards. But the journey so far is glorious (and entertaining).

Just to add: the top three Premier League scorers this season to date are:

Mo Salah (Liverpool)
Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Sadio Mané (Liverpool)

I rest my case....

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Feb 22 - 07:26 AM

Is Radcliffe really Manc though? I see myself as more of a floating voter in this regard...

I have cousins who I never see who are Manure supporters (as was our grandad) and another who has a Citeh season ticket. My dad was a Burnley supporter when Burnley were in their "total football" glory days (I should only have to mention Jimmy McIlroy). I had another cousin, younger than me, who died young, who was an Accrington Stanley loyalist, even through the fallow years. In the days when a lad could get into the terraces for a tanner I went to t'Gigg often. There was a lunatic at the back of the terrace who spent the whole match banging a huge great big bass drum. We went to watch t'Rovers a few times too (anyone remember Bryan Douglas, the greatest ever passer of the ball, and Ronnie Clayton, midfield maestro?) Happy days!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 07:48 AM

"The club is run on a proper business footing, money is not wasted buying players just to get star names in the squad - and scousers the world over love it all."

The last part of this sentence really worries me, not that scousers should love their team being successful but that it was written by a Manc!!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 06:12 AM

Bit sad we lost, but it was good experience for Norwich. And we held them off for the first half, quite an achievement against such a star team.
I was much amused at the Toon Army (Newcastle United) bringing inflatable cats to the match v West Ham. Kurt Zouma, having kicked his cat and thumped it on video deserves this teasing. I liked their little song too.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Feb 22 - 06:07 AM

Certainly. That'll be in eleven years' time, so hang in there...

And I'd remind you that those golden Fergie years were besmirched by Fergie's unfailing ability to piss off the world's greats, including Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo... Then there was the serial abuse and intimidation of referees, Fergie time (proven), a stupid and petulant falling-out with the BBC, hundreds of unattractive, scrappy narrow victories...

Give me Jurgen any day! I've watched the majority of Liverpool matches this season and I've seen positive, attacking football every time, even when they've not been on top form. Klopp is brilliant at developing players, he promotes harmony in his squad and he realises that football is primarily about giving the fans a great experience. The club is run on a proper business footing, money is not wasted buying players just to get star names in the squad - and scousers the world over love it all. Watch MOTD on catchup and admire those three beautiful goals against Norwich.

By the way, sorry about that, Jon and Eliza...It had to be done I'm afraid... and Man Citeh got beaten!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Raggytash
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 12:37 PM

Not a problem Steve, I seem to recall that Liverpool have won the Premiership lust ONCE, Manchester City have won it FIVE times, Chelsea have also won it FIVE times, Arsenal have won it TWICE. Blackburn Rover and Leicester City like Liverpool have won it just ONCE.

Manchester United, just for the record, have won it THIRTEEN times, including three hat tricks.

Comeback to me when you get to Twelve !!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 11:47 AM

Just to be a tad provocative here... When was the last time Raggytash asked me about the last time Liverpool won a trophy...? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 07:44 AM

Ah Jon, that's a very positive view! The games can be enjoyable even if we don't always win. And it's all good, valuable experience for our team isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 05:38 AM

4-0 was a good result. Dad and I had both predicted a 5-0 loss. We've both accepted Norwich will probably be slaughtered by the top sides. How many points the club picks up from other matches is of more concern.

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 05:13 AM

Hee hee Steve! I reckon the chap on the corner should get a large black flag!

Subject: RE: BS: Football (not the U.S. kind)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 22 - 05:10 AM

Oh dear...and you're coming to the cauldron which is Anfield on Saturday...I'm afraid we can't afford to be nice to you...