Football 2015/16

[TheGayTent]

There's a reason why the Irish are a lot of fun to be around (whether its in an Irish pub or not - for the record I never mentioned us being in a pub, it was in fact an Italian bar), because they aren't grumpy moaners...

Who is moaning?

Part of my enjoyment in going to these games abroad is to enjoy the way in which the locals experience match day.

I like the english experience, I like the Irish experience. In England, and in Ireland.

If I'm going to Cologne, Genoa, Rotterdam, Plaistow or Kerry. I do it as the locals do. In Hanover we spent 12 hrs on the piss with a dozen Hanover supporters that befriended us on hearing our accents - who wanted us to leave with a good impression of Hanover/Germany.

In Genoa, we were invited inside an (unofficial) Sampdoria supporters flat. Where the 'club members' all pay a subscription to cover the cost of the rent and bills (including fully stocked beer fridges at all times).

We wouldn't have experienced that if we'd gone to the first place we'd seen that was an Irish pub, or an Italian bar full of irish supporters. Or England for that matter.

Besides, most Irish I've met are moaning grumpy English men and women who become fun Irish men and women for a couple of months during the 6 nations

[mjsell]

But as an Englishman I was experiencing what an Irish away day was like. Is that not allowed?

 

And also I never once mentioned that the bar we were in was full of Irish fans. It was an Italian bar, filled with mostly Italian people. The only non-Italians were our group of about 12, plus half of the Irish rugby team.

Edited August 26, 2015 by mjsell

[ThomThomDrum]

But as an Englishman I was experiencing what an Irish away day was like. Is that not allowed?

 

And also I never once mentioned that the bar we were in was full of Irish fans. It was an Italian bar, filled with mostly Italian people. The only non-Italians were our group of about 12, plus half of the Irish rugby team.

 

Sounds great to me. 

 

Probably too many tourists however for the likes of TGT. He would want to be the only tourist in the joint, so the experience is more "authentic"...............??

 

Probably gets his kicks sitting in a cafe in Rome drinking espresso, eating gelato, with the only other customers in the place two chain smoking 70 year old Italian men. When in Rome like!

[The Nal]

Probably gets his kicks sitting in a cafe in Rome drinking espresso, eating gelato, with the only other customers in the place two chain smoking 70 year old Italian men. When in Rome like!

 

That sounds fantastic!

[TheGayTent]

But as an Englishman I was experiencing what an Irish away day was like. Is that not allowed?

And also I never once mentioned that the bar we were in was full of Irish fans. It was an Italian bar, filled with mostly Italian people. The only non-Italians were our group of about 12, plus half of the Irish rugby team.

Who am I to suggest it's not allowed. I've not suggested that at all.

Am I not allowed to express my opinion that I'd prefer to do other things if in Italy than drink with half the Irish squad and some irish legends?

[TheGayTent]

Sounds great to me.

Probably too many tourists however for the likes of TGT. He would want to be the only tourist in the joint, so the experience is more "authentic"...............??

Probably gets his kicks sitting in a cafe in Rome drinking espresso, eating gelato, with the only other customers in the place two chain smoking 70 year old Italian men. When in Rome like!

Whilst an amusing piece of fiction it's nothing like the picture painted.

To be fair the aim of each trip is completely different in these scenarios anyway. I'm choosing to visit these places as a neutral with the place itself as important if not more so than the game. Part of the enjoyment of going is not giving a shit who wins.

The days out with the Hanover and Sampdoria fans were by no means quiet, lonely, or boring!

If I chose to go as a supporter of one team or with a group of people supporting one team I'm far more likely to be spending time with others of a like mind.

Edited August 26, 2015 by TheGayTent

[Wooderson]

Lot of dick swinging in this thread.

[ThomThomDrum]

Just the usual hint of efestivals snobbery about. Nothing new

[TheGayTent]

Sounds like a cracking cup tie between Barnsley and Everton !

[lost]

I was thinking at the start we'd offered them a bye in exchange for waiving the 15% stones sell-on.

[TheGayTent]

Nolan has left the building...hurrah!

[The Nal]

Noble captain? Is Barton still a definite no no?

 

Looks like City have got De Bruyne. If Chelsea get Pogba and Stones its a two horse race.

 

Valdes is off too. Utd now with one goalkeeper! And going by Hernandez's performance last night, one striker too.

Edited August 27, 2015 by The Nal

[ThomThomDrum]

..................And going by Hernandez's performance last night, one striker too.

 

 

Dont sweat it!

 

ROONEY IS BACK #eminem #rooney #MUFC #UCL https://t.co/SfaUCeIHva

— ALBERTO (@alberto29castel)

August 27, 2015

Edited August 27, 2015 by ThomThomDrum

[TheGayTent]

Noble captain? Is Barton still a definite no no?

No idea if Barton is still a definite no no. What I do know, is that if things have changed, Nolan's departure will have had nothing to do with it.

New captain will be Noble or Reid at a guess. Or a new signing. The truth is we haven't had a proper captain for years.

[The Nal]

Dont sweat it!

 

Yeah three tap ins you'd see in a 5-a-side. Brugge were fucking awful.

 

The draw later will be interesting with both Madrid clubs, both Mancheater clubs and Arsenal in pot 2.

 

Anyway, the writing is almost literally on the wall for Hernandez. Laughed at this last night.

 

Edited August 27, 2015 by The Nal

[mjsell]

No idea if Barton is still a definite no no. What I do know, is that if things have changed, Nolan's departure will have had nothing to do with it.

New captain will be Noble or Reid at a guess. Or a new signing. The truth is we haven't had a proper captain for years.

 

Surely Noble. He bleeds Claret and blue, and the fans love the local lad. Plus he has been captain in the games this season has he not?

 

I like Noble, there was a time when I thought he deserved to be in the England set up. And to be honest with another good season I cant see why he cant be a possibility, Centre midfield is our weakest position.

[TheGayTent]

I love Noble, but I'd prefer a different type of captain.

[eFestivals]

Anyway, the writing is almost literally on the wall for Hernandez. Laughed at this last night.

 

To be fair, he slipped and fell on his arse. Didn't Beckam or Lumpard do that not so long ago for England?

 

Unfortunate rather than career ending. Tho for him I guess it could be the final nail in the coiffin.

Edited August 27, 2015 by eFestivals

[ThomThomDrum]

To be fair, he slipped and fell on his arse. Didn't Beckam or Lumpard do that not so long ago for England?

 

Unfortunate rather than career ending. Tho for him I guess it could be the final nail in the coiffin.

 

The tap in he missed was worse then the peno slip/miss. Near Ronny Rosenthal level that was! 

 

Edited August 27, 2015 by ThomThomDrum

[The Nal]

To be fair, he slipped and fell on his arse. Didn't Beckam or Lumpard do that not so long ago for England?

 

Unfortunate rather than career ending. Tho for him I guess it could be the final nail in the coiffin.

 

Beckham did yeah and the pitch was shite in fairness. A Brugge player went over on his ankle and they finished the match with 10 men.

 

But Hernandez didn't dive for a cross which he should've done and missed a sitter just after too!

 

From 1 minute until 1 min 15 seconds here

 

https://youtu.be/0Bas5GYBJIA

[mrtourette]

Surely Noble. He bleeds Claret and blue, and the fans love the local lad. 

 

Why would that make him a good captain?

[mjsell]

Why would that make him a good captain?

 

Because he knows and loves the club, his passion would rub off on the players around him. His links with the fans (himself being one) will help him realise when the team are not performing to the standards required, he also strikes me as a bigger character than many in terms of dressing room stature (I don't know the guy so I may be wrong here), and I think if the players around him know that he is a fan favourite they are more likely to respect his position as captain.

 

It also helps that he must be the longest serving player, and a good player at that.

[ThomThomDrum]

Oh Oh...............I sense a "The idea of captains is pointless" or "I dont think captains serve any real function other than picking heads or tails" type comment rearing its head soon....................

[TheGayTent]

Where is pt?!

I may be wrong as I don't go back that far, but I don't think we've had a local boy that was a decent captain since Moore.

The 2 best captains we've had in my time watching West Ham were a south London boy and a lanky kid from Bootle.

[kaosmark2]

Oh Oh...............I sense a "The idea of captains is pointless" or "I dont think captains serve any real function other than picking heads or tails" type comment rearing its head soon....................

I was pondering it.

 

I wouldn't say I think they're "pointless", just not as big a deal as is made over here.

 

IMO what matters most is having someone to organise the defence, and someone to try and calmly and sensibly manage any incidents that happen on the pitch. Players can do these sorts of things without being a captain though....