Football 2013-2014

[eFestivals]

Someone at southampton needs to get great credit, how many top players have come through the ranks in the last 10 years.

it goes back much longer than just a decade.

The most astounding thing with them is not them finding great youngsters, but just about all of those youngsters actually developing into fantastic mature players rather than often fading away.

Edited March 6, 2014 by eFestivals

[thetime]

it goes back much longer than just a decade.

The most astounding thing with them is not them finding great youngsters, but just about all of those youngsters actually developing into fantastic mature players rather than often fading away.

[eFestivals]

Didn't they have a rule for youngsters that you can only get then from a certain radius?

I think that applies with all clubs, via FA (or Prem) rules.

The major clubs have managed to have the area extended at some point, I wonder why?

[eFestivals]

Someone at southampton needs to get great credit, how many top players have come through the ranks in the last 10 years.

they should get credit for Rickie Lambert too.

I can remember people posting here when they signed him that he'd be a failure even in the Championship.

[DomDom1984]

Agree with efests that the Starting XI is probably how Hodgson envisions it in Brazil. It's actually not a bad XI either. Didn't watch the game myself. I was doing something else...

...so the Mirror and the Daily Record mucked up the Poland/Scotland stream, but I DID get an illegal stream for it. Scotland were not earth shattering last night, but we didn't look in any real danger at any point either, and had probably the better chances outside of the goal, which was a really good strike from Scott Brown.

Another win for us under Strachan and he's doing quite well.

[eFestivals]

... but I DID get an illegal stream for it.

There's normally fantastic quality streams of just about all matches available here:-

http://livefootballvideo.com/

but if there's not, there's usually perfectly acceptable streams available here:-

http://www.streamhunter.eu/football-live-streaming-video.html

Knock yerself out. It's always good to deprive Murdoch of money to use to corrupt politicians.

[thetime]

Man utd tv had the rights for Cyprus v N Ireland last night, which was rather strange.

Especially as there was no man utd players playing.

[DomDom1984]

Liverpool TV did something similar with a friendly in the summer I think. Thought it was bloody weird myself, but was happy to see some fitba at the time.

[eFestivals]

Man utd tv had the rights for Cyprus v N Ireland last night, which was rather strange.

Especially as there was no man utd players playing.

I guess it was the biggest platform they could find to sell the rights to, and so make the most money from the match.

I can't see the more-normal broadcasters queuing up to take on a match which as a result of the countries involved would have a small audience in preference to all of the other internationals that also happened last night.

[LondonTom]

I disagree, club form should get you your foot in the door, but its how you play for England that should determine if you stay in the squad.

Also not sure its always wise listening to the fans, fan power got you keegan and could have got you arry.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Someone at southampton needs to get great credit, how many top players have come through the ranks in the last 10 years.

Edited March 6, 2014 by thesecretingredientiscrime

[TheGayTent]

Queens Park Rangers could be fined almost £50million for breaching Football League Financial Fair Play rules after losing £65.4m last season.

The losses, revealed today, were the biggest in British football last term and the record punishment is set to be applied if the club win promotion back to the Premier League this term.

If Rangers fail to go up they will avoid the fine but be slapped with a lengthy transfer embargo instead.

The losses relate to their second season in the Premier League, which ended in relegation last year despite majority owner Tony Fernandes sanctioning a £41m spending spree on players by Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp.

The club’s wage bill rose from £58.5m to £78m, which is higher than Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and it has also emerged they are £177m in debt. The accounts show turnover of £60.6m although that would have been lower had it not included “management fees receivable from the parent company”.

[eFestivals]

Redknapp is so unlucky. What are the chances of almost every club he manages getting massive financial problems while he is there. You have to feel for him...

Brilliant.

Tho in the interests of fairness to good old honest 'Arry who'd never be on the fiddle, what was 'Arry's spend and what was Sparky's.

[DomDom1984]

You also have to blame the chairman for allowing such ludicrous amounts of money to be spent. It's his job to give a budget. If past chairmen have given Redknapp too much money to spend then f**k 'em. I have no sympathy for them.

[kaosmark2]

both of those are dreadful.

either your or my memory is shot.

[eFestivals]

You also have to blame the chairman for allowing such ludicrous amounts of money to be spent. It's his job to give a budget. If past chairmen have given Redknapp too much money to spend then f**k 'em. I have no sympathy for them.

well, yeah, but it works the other way too.

The likes of Redknapp is supposed to be the football expert. If the owner has a minimum ambition - such as not being relegated - it's reasonable for him to defer to the football expert's knowledge for how much it might cost to achieve that.

So 'Arry gives an answer, and Tony agrees to shell out that much. Then what happens?

'Arry fails to deliver when he's had the resources he's asked for.

While the owner has been a mug, the failure is somewhere else.

[pink_triangle]

You have to worry about England centre backs at the highest level.

Who do England have? Smalling, Cahill, jagielka and who else?

[pink_triangle]

You also have to blame the chairman for allowing such ludicrous amounts of money to be spent. It's his job to give a budget. If past chairmen have given Redknapp too much money to spend then f**k 'em. I have no sympathy for them.

[eFestivals]

How long is it since Lescott played 90 minutes? Certainly he hasn't been playing regularly.

I saw him play at least one game within the last month(ish - might be a week longer), I have a feeling it might have been two.

At a guess one of them was a cup or Chumps match.

[pink_triangle]

No argument here.

How long is it since Lescott played 90 minutes? Certainly he hasn't been playing regularly.

[eFestivals]

or criticizing Cleverly significantly.

I slated him right here after his first England game. You can probably find it using the search.

maybe the likes of Henderson haven't done enough?

no one can do enough unless they first get the chance, and yesterday was the first real chance Hendo has had.

And yet while he was a huge way from covering himself in glory and was probably the worst England player on the night, he still bettered Cleverley's England performances, and only the very stupid would say Cleverley is better at club level nowadays.

I do know the hype about Andros (next big thing) Townsend seems to have died down a bit!

Thanks fuck.

It's all about Sterling now.

But Sterling is quickly developing into one hell of a player (I'm seriously impressed). He's shown more since just xmas than Townsend has done in his whole career.

3 months ago I'd have said that Sterling was all right but didn't have a hope of ever perhaps getting recognition in the future as one of the best players in the world, but now I wouldn't rule that out. He's got a very long way to get to that of course.

Edited March 6, 2014 by eFestivals

[kaosmark2]

I doubt Sterling will get to one of the best players in the world. Mind you, I said that about Bale.

[pink_triangle]

I slated him right here after his first England game. You can probably find it using the search.

no one can do enough unless they first get the chance, and yesterday was the first real chance Hendo has had.

And yet while he was a huge way from covering himself in glory and was probably the worst England player on the night, he still bettered Cleverley's England performances, and only the very stupid would say Cleverley is better at club level nowadays.

[eFestivals]

I doubt Sterling will get to one of the best players in the world. Mind you, I said that about Bale.

yeah, exactly.

I doubt it for Sterling too. Yet 3 months ago I'd have said no chance at all, but he's improving so much and so fast now that I think it would be foolish to rule it out entirely.

He made an important contribution last night - best player on the park I thought - and is becoming ever-more important for Liverpool as the weeks go by.

A few weeks ago there was a lot of drooling for Gerrard's long cutting pass to Sturridge for a goal, and then Sterling did one almost as good (also for a goal). Plus he's scoring his own, is strong on the ball, etc, etc.

When Lucas is back in the team, I reckon it's going to be Courtinho to the bench with Sterling getting his place.

[kaosmark2]

I suspect Sterling will get far closer to Walcott quality than Bale quality. As PT says though, the test will come next time his and Liverpool's form dips, rather than him continuing to do well while things are good.