Football 2010-2011

[pink_triangle]

It would be interesting to see, while Barcelona are obviously excellent, I don't think they'd look half as good in the English league as they do in Spain. I reckon Utd are a reasonable match, I would never say they were better but over 5 games I'd only put it at 3-2 I think.

[eFestivals]

It would be interesting to see, while Barcelona are obviously excellent, I don't think they'd look half as good in the English league as they do in Spain. I reckon Utd are a reasonable match, I would never say they were better but over 5 games I'd only put it at 3-2 I think.

That's possibly the case, tho I suspect there'd be an effect similar - tho of course far greater - to what goes on around Arsenal currently, where the style of football played gives them a kudos that's above what just their results might deserve them.

The type of pure-skills football that Barca play is generally appreciated as better than the organised and hard-working style of Utd's play. It's certainly the case that the need-one-touch-to-control-before-doing-anything-with-the-ball style of every team in the Prem is bettered by the skill of the one-touch-only football that is Barca's common style.

[eFestivals]

If they win the league and CL they'll sell as many as expected. Most of their fans have been blinded by the success and not really done anything meaningful against the Glazers. All there with their Green and Gold scarves and brand new official shirt

Shame for the ones trying hard to get rid of them.

it's been very noticeable just how few people there's been this season wearing those Norwich scarves.

I guess it's because of the high churn rate that every club has for those attending games - something I read a while back said that every Prem club has less than 50% of the fans attending games in one year return to attend games the next year.

[worm]

I read a while back said that every Prem club has less than 50% of the fans attending games in one year return to attend games the next year.

[eFestivals]

So well done to Shitty. But if they'd have been less impatient and not sacked Hughes they could have had Chumps League footie from this season rather than next - in my opinion, Hughes recognised that it needed to be a building process rather than something that could be bought immediately by big player spends. Mancini did worse last season than Hughes did.

And if that's right, not only has the impatience with Hughes cost them Chumps League footie this season, it's probably cost them £200M or so in player buys that they didn't really need to buy. Not that many of those buys are looking great anyhow.

So now the only thing to be decided at the top is who gets 5th. Given the bad record of Spurs at Anfield, then that's surely going to be Liverpool's.

(I've said it now - so bet against what I've said and make some money ).

[The Nal]

Is it just me or is Edin Džeko a complete donkey?

[strummer77]

So now the only thing to be decided at the top is who gets 5th. Given the bad record of Spurs at Anfield, then that's surely going to be Liverpool's.

(I've said it now - so bet against what I've said and make some money ).

[eFestivals]

So 50% hardcore and 50% not. Interesting stat.

It's probably a lot different to that, even.

If 50% don't attend the following season, it's unlikely I reckon that the other 50% are attending every year - some of them at least will be the going-for-a-few-seasons-then-not types. Then there's the fact that sooner or later even the every-season hardcore stop attending, cos they die. Which means that the 'hardcore' will be quite a lot less than 50%.

I can't see that being the case at Burnley given that the population is only 200,000.

I doubt that any club is very far from that average, Burnley included (avg attendance 15,000). It's not like that all of the 50% who might go one season but not the next are never ever going to go again, is it?

I wonder if it has something to do with the decline spending. They may have had to give more quality to the fulcrum support to keep them loyal, who they had formerly not had to bother with. This would explain the somewhat erratic purchase behaviour at clubs too, as the casual fans are not being pandered to as much.

The stat I've quoted isn't a last couple of seasons one that might be recession effected - it's a few years old at least. If I can remember the exact source of it I'll try and dig it out so I can give some more precise details around it.

But from what I remember of what I read I think it's the case that it's a pretty constant stat, going back perhaps decades. It's probably got far more to do with all of the things which go on within people's lives than anything that clubs are doing to turn fans off attending (tho they'll be occasional exceptions I guess).

For example, I think I'm right in saying that Steve P was a regular at Arsenal and Langdale at Wolves, but that kids/marriage/buying a house/jobs/etc has come to affect that for both of them.

Edited May 11, 2011 by eFestivals

[eFestivals]

Is it just me or is Edin Džeko a complete donkey?

I've not seen enough of him to form much of an opinion.

But I saw the wally with the brolly on TV recently saying that he wasn't much cop in his first year in Germany, but blossomed in his 2nd (and 3rd I think) - and saying he expected something similar of him in the Prem.

Not every player gels straight away, so perhaps that'll be the case with him.

[the_hedge]

Man City have to be the most boring side to watch in the Prem bearing in mind the talent they have at their disposal.

[worm]

It's probably a lot different to that, even.

If 50% don't attend the following season, it's unlikely I reckon that the other 50% are attending every year - some of them at least will be the going-for-a-few-seasons-then-not types. Then there's the fact that sooner or later even the every-season hardcore stop attending, cos they die. Which means that the 'hardcore' will be quite a lot less than 50%.

[The Nal]

Man City have to be the most boring side to watch in the Prem bearing in mind the talent they have at their disposal.

[eFestivals]

Where are all of these people coming from then?

no idea.

Burnley is the smallest town across all four divisions. That's why I used them as an example.

You're 100% definitely wrong about that if the population size of 200,000 that you quoted is right.

Aldershot is a far smaller town than 200,000 (it was about 50,000 last time I knew what the numbers were). And I could reel off plenty of other towns that are smaller too - Hereford and Yeovil are two that come immediately to mind.

I have a feeling that Burnley might have the highest proportion support against their population size. Perhaps that's what you're meaning?

Edited May 11, 2011 by eFestivals

[the_hedge]

They’re f**king awful yeah apart from the odd one touch pass from Silva.

Edited May 11, 2011 by the_hedge

[eFestivals]

They’re f**king awful yeah apart from the odd one touch pass from Silva.

I've watched the matches last night and on Monday night. Of the two, last night's was my preferred match to watch, because it was the bigger game of the two, and I expect just about any game involving Fulham to be dull as dishwater.

I was undecided about watching Monday's, cos I try not to do too much evening footie, but ultimately decided to go because the season is drawing to a close so there's not many games left to watch.

After watching last night's bore I'm damned glad I did. That seven-goaler was streets ahead as a spectacle.

Mind you, I reckon it's unfair to lay the blame for all of the boredom on City - Spurs have their own guilt. It's not like 'Arry has a clue to for how to change a game to his advantage, as last night showed yet again.

Anyway ... who thinks that just for that moment that Crouch thought he was scoring in the right net and not the wrong one last night? I do.

[the_hedge]

So Harry reckons that City have already signed a couple of players that will 'blow your brains out'. Who do you think they have signed?

[eFestivals]

So Harry reckons that City have already signed a couple of players that will 'blow your brains out'. Who do you think they have signed?

I think 'Arry's talking tosh, tosh that's designed to get Joe Lewis to open his wallet and not slam it shut.

But if Joe is as attached to making profits as Tugger has said previously, then it's already slammed shut and 'Arry's blown it.

[The Nal]

So Harry reckons that City have already signed a couple of players that will 'blow your brains out'. Who do you think they have signed?

[lharris92]

i reckon tottenham could lose a few players who will want CL football next year after city managed to get it.

time to begin the rebuilding again for them

[the_hedge]

Could literally be anyone with the cash they have.

Kakas mum tweeted: “Next season we will be in London, spreading the word of God. We will be there from August. I tell you”.

She could have mistaken “London” for “England”, like a lot of Americans do (They think it’s the same place ) and could mean a City move. Zlatan could be on his way too. Swap for Tevez.

[the_hedge]

I think 'Arry's talking tosh, tosh that's designed to get Joe Lewis to open his wallet and not slam it shut.

But if Joe is as attached to making profits as Tugger has said previously, then it's already slammed shut and 'Arry's blown it.

[strummer77]

So Harry reckons that City have already signed a couple of players that will 'blow your brains out'. Who do you think they have signed?

[eFestivals]

just to try and wind folk up.

nah, if I wanted to wind up Man Utd fans I'd just ask them who Matt Busby played for.

[ralph250]

nah, if I wanted to wind up Man Utd fans I'd just ask them who Matt Busby played for.

[eFestivals]

That's Sir Matt Busby to you!

I bow down before no one.

It's Matt Busby the Liverpool and Shitty player. It couldn't be two worse clubs, could it?