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Yeah I think they still plan that although I haven't heard anything about it since covid.

I'm not sure what the rule is regarding that actually (promotion to Championship). I wouldn't be surprised if they were encouraged to put seats in.
Probably under some other name ,like we have here ,elite arenas (to avoid shitty track and field stadiums in lower leagues here) .
Problem is it costs a lot to convert ,and the federation isn't that keen to subsidize it ,making clubs take a big financial risk by doing it.
 
Honestly, without exaggeration, every Premier League club's fanbase thinks this (with the exception of Leicester maybe, who became everyone's "second team" during their title-winning season).


People seem to hate Liverpool because (amongst other things, like the financial injection) "they get all the VAR decisions", which is laughable to me, but I know a lot of people who staunchly believe it. Because if you repeat something often enough, it becomes fact...
First part...Not on my part of the island. I love them like i love United. :))

Second part...That myth was exploded on Saturday, when Salah's big toe was offside.
 
Probably under some other name ,like we have here ,elite arenas (to avoid shitty track and field stadiums in lower leagues here) .
Problem is it costs a lot to convert ,and the federation isn't that keen to subsidize it ,making clubs take a big financial risk by doing it.

Wolves and Spurs have installed rail seating. Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool in the process. Although it's a matter of future-proofing as you're still not allowed to stand.

Standing in seated areas is dangerous. I've had the cuts and bruises to prove it! But I'll continue to do so as generally speaking it's much more comfortable, and warmer.

Open terracing is madness. I remember a few years ago we played Forfar in the cup in winter. The stand behind the goal was effectively a giant, icy concrete staircase. Thankfully it was packed so there wasn't much scope to fall but yeah - they deserve to be banned.

Rail seating is the best of everything. Flexibility and all the benefits of sitting and standing as appropriate. And safe. Bloody expensive to install though!
 
Thanks Rockstrongo. I have to admit that i understand you, most Spurs fans think their club is bigger than they really are. The last time Spurs won silverware was in 2008 (the league cup, o,ly the league cup) and they won the title last when i was born (1962). When i point this out, i get aggro and i'm people think i'm not a 'real' fan. What is a 'real' fan? And when in that discussion i point out that i have nothing against Arsenal or Chelsea, well then they think i'm pathetic.

On facebook, there is a Flemish Spurs group. They all talk about The Scum (that is Arsenal in Spurs fan terminology) and then i like to react that i kind of like Arsenal (which is exagerated, i liked their football under Wenger) and then i'm the enemy. I think it's stupid for foreign fans to take over the hatred of the English fans.

KRC Genk are my favourite Belgian team and Standard are their rivals, and once again, i rather like Standard...

When people ask me why i don't hate Standard or Arsenal, i always respond that i'm not a sheep...

But nevertheless: COYS! :PIRATE:
 
Oh and Flipper, at the moment i'm reading a superb book about the the Old Firm rivalry: More Than a Game by Archie Mc Pherson. Great book!
 
Thanks Rockstrongo. I have to admit that i understand you, most Spurs fans think their club is bigger than they really are. The last time Spurs won silverware was in 2008 (the league cup, o,ly the league cup) and they won the title last when i was born (1962). When i point this out, i get aggro and i'm people think i'm not a 'real' fan. What is a 'real' fan? And when in that discussion i point out that i have nothing against Arsenal or Chelsea, well then they think i'm pathetic.

On facebook, there is a Flemish Spurs group. They all talk about The Scum (that is Arsenal in Spurs fan terminology) and then i like to react that i kind of like Arsenal (which is exagerated, i liked their football under Wenger) and then i'm the enemy. I think it's stupid for foreign fans to take over the hatred of the English fans.

KRC Genk are my favourite Belgian team and Standard are their rivals, and once again, i rather like Standard...

When people ask me why i don't hate Standard or Arsenal, i always respond that i'm not a sheep...

But nevertheless: COYS! :PIRATE:

I'm utterly bamboozled at how fans can care so much about a foreign team, especially going as far as appropriating the hatred that comes with it! Sure, take the positive aspects, but there's enough negativity in life without importing it from England.

Oh and Flipper, at the moment i'm reading a superb book about the the Old Firm rivalry: More Than a Game by Archie Mc Pherson. Great book!

Ah, Archie - a Scottish football institution. Safe to safe the rivalry was more than a game but I've seen it change in my lifetime. Whereas the football rivalry was forged and carried by religion and politics, now it's the other way around, and Old Firm fans will have pseudo religious leanings and have their politics defined by which team they support. Testament to the power of football I guess, and how it endures and supercedes religion and politics.

The religious issue is something completely lost on me. I have family and friends whose families originate from the west of Scotland and some of the stories are mind-blowing. Kids at school and families in neighbourhoods being ostracised for having Irish surnames. Parents of a friend, with a very Irish family name, talk about how coming to the North East in the 80s was a different world because us irreligious heathens couldn't give a shit.

It'll all come out this weekend when they play each other. All the songs. The IRA, the UVF, Fenian blood, the sanctimony, the whataboutery. It's horrible. Mainly because it's so false. Manufactured hatred.
 
Thanks Rockstrongo. I have to admit that i understand you, most Spurs fans think their club is bigger than they really are. The last time Spurs won silverware was in 2008 (the league cup, o,ly the league cup) and they won the title last when i was born (1962). When i point this out, i get aggro and i'm people think i'm not a 'real' fan. What is a 'real' fan? And when in that discussion i point out that i have nothing against Arsenal or Chelsea, well then they think i'm pathetic.

On facebook, there is a Flemish Spurs group. They all talk about The Scum (that is Arsenal in Spurs fan terminology) and then i like to react that i kind of like Arsenal (which is exagerated, i liked their football under Wenger) and then i'm the enemy. I think it's stupid for foreign fans to take over the hatred of the English fans.

KRC Genk are my favourite Belgian team and Standard are their rivals, and once again, i rather like Standard...

When people ask me why i don't hate Standard or Arsenal, i always respond that i'm not a sheep...

But nevertheless: COYS! :PIRATE:
Aha ,you had our former player Joseph Aidoo , lovely player.
 
Thanks Rockstrongo. I have to admit that i understand you, most Spurs fans think their club is bigger than they really are. The last time Spurs won silverware was in 2008 (the league cup, o,ly the league cup) and they won the title last when i was born (1962). When i point this out, i get aggro and i'm people think i'm not a 'real' fan. What is a 'real' fan? And when in that discussion i point out that i have nothing against Arsenal or Chelsea, well then they think i'm pathetic.

On facebook, there is a Flemish Spurs group. They all talk about The Scum (that is Arsenal in Spurs fan terminology) and then i like to react that i kind of like Arsenal (which is exagerated, i liked their football under Wenger) and then i'm the enemy. I think it's stupid for foreign fans to take over the hatred of the English fans.

KRC Genk are my favourite Belgian team and Standard are their rivals, and once again, i rather like Standard...

When people ask me why i don't hate Standard or Arsenal, i always respond that i'm not a sheep...

But nevertheless: COYS! :PIRATE:
That is a very good balanced statement, from what i see it's coming from a true football fan.

Many years ago when i used to go to games, sometimes the crowd would applaud good play even if it came from the opponents. People were not so blinkered by rivalries back then. "the beautiful game" was appreciated by everyone. People forget we all love the same thing but in a different guise.

Nice one Stan.
 
Thanks Rockstrongo. I have to admit that i understand you, most Spurs fans think their club is bigger than they really are. The last time Spurs won silverware was in 2008 (the league cup, o,ly the league cup) and they won the title last when i was born (1962). When i point this out, i get aggro and i'm people think i'm not a 'real' fan. What is a 'real' fan? And when in that discussion i point out that i have nothing against Arsenal or Chelsea, well then they think i'm pathetic.

On facebook, there is a Flemish Spurs group. They all talk about The Scum (that is Arsenal in Spurs fan terminology) and then i like to react that i kind of like Arsenal (which is exagerated, i liked their football under Wenger) and then i'm the enemy. I think it's stupid for foreign fans to take over the hatred of the English fans.

KRC Genk are my favourite Belgian team and Standard are their rivals, and once again, i rather like Standard...

When people ask me why i don't hate Standard or Arsenal, i always respond that i'm not a sheep...

But nevertheless: COYS! :PIRATE:
That is a very good balanced statement, from what i see it's coming from a true football fan.

Many years ago when i used to go to games, sometimes the crowd would applaud good play even if it came from the opponents. People were not so blinkered by rivalries back then. "the beautiful game" was appreciated by everyone. People forget we all love the same thing but in a different guise.

Nice one Stan.
Agree. Great post @Stan.

I feel the same way, even as a native. I remember as a teenager saying to my friends that I'd love Liverpool to win the league and Everton to win the cup, because I wanted to see all Merseyside football teams do well.

The Liverpool fans told me to "pick a side" and the Everton fans told me to shove the "sympathy", which I wasn't offering... But I realise now that it could have sounded consdescending. It seems you just can't want both to do well.

In the Champions League, I like seeing the English teams progress, simply because I know more about their heritage, their fans etc... I see Man United and think of Alex Ferguson (now managed by his "protégé" of sorts). I know what it would mean to them, to win in Europe again. It's something else, something you can't really put into words. But apparently, this feeling means I'm not a "real football fan".

I even want them to win so that @jaygrim might start watching football again.
 
I see Man United and think of Alex Ferguson (now managed by his "protégé" of sorts). I know what it would mean to them, to win in Europe again. It's something else, something you can't really put into words. But apparently, this feeling means I'm not a "real football fan".
And there's the irony. It actually makes you a football fan. Nothing wrong with supporting your club and having the intellect to see whats fair/good with other teams.
 
Agree. Great post @Stan.

I feel the same way, even as a native. I remember as a teenager saying to my friends that I'd love Liverpool to win the league and Everton to win the cup, because I wanted to see all Merseyside football teams do well.

The Liverpool fans told me to "pick a side" and the Everton fans told me to shove the "sympathy", which I wasn't offering... But I realise now that it could have sounded consdescending. It seems you just can't want both to do well.

In the Champions League, I like seeing the English teams progress, simply because I know more about their heritage, their fans etc... I see Man United and think of Alex Ferguson (now managed by his "protégé" of sorts). I know what it would mean to them, to win in Europe again. It's something else, something you can't really put into words. But apparently, this feeling means I'm not a "real football fan".

I even want them to win so that @jaygrim might start watching football again.
I watched both MOTD's, I don't think I watched it once last season. Saying that now Utd have drawn I might stop again.
 
Am I the the only one thinking local rivalry and "dislikes" for your neighbors being a good thing?

We have a team here (Malmö FF) making their third CL group stage in since 2014.
Do I wish them luck because they're Swedish?
Yeah that's never going to happen.
Why?
1 rivals.
2 their financial advantage.

They will probably end up with a cool 70-100 million euro all together with their 3 CL group stages ,depending on other Scandinavian teams qualified or not.
Rivalry and a bit of hatred for your (not so) fellow rival clubs isn't a bad thing IMO.
Isn't that what it's all about (with moderation)?
Last but not least ,go fuck yourselves Malmö!
 
Rockstrongo, if Malmö does well in the CL, that will also benefit your team, because Sweden's coëfficiënt will rise and maybe next time when Hammarby are champions they can automatically go to the CL.

This said, last year KRC Genk (my team) were second in Belgium and could progress to the CL after 2 preleminary rounds. Without knowing who they had to play, i wanted them to play Europa League (they would play Europa League if they were eliminated). Why? Because every year Genk looses it's best players (and i already repetedly point out that Genk could field a fantastic team with all their former players, so i will not name them this time) and each time they play CL they are in the middle of a rebuilding operation and are thrashed...they never won in the CL. For well managed clubs like that, playing CL against cheating big clubs is more of a sanction than a reward. It turned out that Genk had to play SHakthar Donetsk in the fist preliminary. They lost both matches 2-1 (which was a good result for them).

The way money is divided now, a Belgian club wil never be able to win a European club. Even for a mega big club like Ajax (that is imo the most influential club in the history of football) will never be able again to win the CL. That is such a shame. A plastic, artificial club like PSG can win it (and i really hope they never will win it) and the mighty Ajax never have a chance...that is not just....
 
Am I the the only one thinking local rivalry and "dislikes" for your neighbors being a good thing?

We have a team here (Malmö FF) making their third CL group stage in since 2014.
Do I wish them luck because they're Swedish?
Yeah that's never going to happen.
Why?
1 rivals.
2 their financial advantage.

They will probably end up with a cool 70-100 million euro all together with their 3 CL group stages ,depending on other Scandinavian teams qualified or not.
Rivalry and a bit of hatred for your (not so) fellow rival clubs isn't a bad thing IMO.
Isn't that what it's all about (with moderation)?
Last but not least ,go fuck yourselves Malmö!

I'm near enough the same. The wonder of European football has been beaten out of me somewhat after years of Uefa suppressing the likes of Scotland. Regardless of coefficient points, the governing bodies will ensure it's a mountain to climb.

Rangers and Celtic don't see themselves as representing Scotland, so I don't either. If anything, I see them as giving Scotland a bad name. Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen are all on a pretty even playing ground in terms of finances, so I don't want the Edinburgh clubs to do well either, and gaining an advantage. The rest I wish well, like St Johnstone tonight.

In the stadium - as long as the line is drawn at bigotry and physical violence - I'm all for the hatred. Makes for a better atmosphere, and success all the sweeter!
 
Am I the the only one thinking local rivalry and "dislikes" for your neighbors being a good thing?

We have a team here (Malmö FF) making their third CL group stage in since 2014.
Do I wish them luck because they're Swedish?
Yeah that's never going to happen.
Why?
1 rivals.
2 their financial advantage.

They will probably end up with a cool 70-100 million euro all together with their 3 CL group stages ,depending on other Scandinavian teams qualified or not.
Rivalry and a bit of hatred for your (not so) fellow rival clubs isn't a bad thing IMO.
Isn't that what it's all about (with moderation)?
Last but not least ,go fuck yourselves Malmö

In the stadium - as long as the line is drawn at bigotry and physical violence - I'm all for the hatred. Makes for a better atmosphere, and success all the sweeter!

That's where I'm at with it. It's particularly amusing for us Portsmouth fans that despite Southampton generally having been in a higher division than us for most of history they have won no major trophy bar an FA Cup in 1976 and have become known as the trophy dodgers. Where as we have two League titles and two FA Cup wins plus by virtue of having gone up and down the divisions over the years are also one of the few clubs to have won all four divisions. Add to the fact we really don't play them very often and it's to say the least a heated affair.

I think most would be surprised at the hatred between the two clubs, wearing club colours in the other city outside of football would even be a huge mistake. For me the rivalry is entirely a football thing. For some though it is pure hatred and therefore there is always a big police presence. Last time we played there the coaches were bricked and last time they played here a couple of seasons ago in the League Cup there was a huge police presence and their fans were escorted from the train station to the ground and there were no coaches allowed.

It's a great game to be at in the ground, the atmosphere is electric but I could do without all the crap outside.

Oh yes and the EFL even 'doctored' the EFL trophy draw when Southampton entered their u23 team so that we couldn't be drawn together!
 
I don't like the hatred. I like teams, but i love football.
I can appreciate a great goals against my favourite teams. I remeber the 3-3 equalizer from Lanzini when Spurs played West Ham. My first reaction was 'what a great goal' and then came the disappointment.

I have an 18 year old son. He and his friends are seldom fans of a team, they are fans of players. My son loves KDB, so at the moment his favourite team is more or less Manchester City, but if KDB would leave City for another team, he would be more or less fan of that team. More and more young people are like him.

My daughter is 21 years old, she is a Chelsea fan, Chelsea and only Chelsea. Eden Hazard was her favourite player and she still likes him, but she doesn't support Real Madrid.

When Chelsea and City played each other in the CL final, the moment KDB was injured and left the pitch, my son lost all interest while my daughter wad very fanatically and nervously following the match one metre from the television, standing or rather nervously walking up and down...she was drained after the match.
 
When Chelsea and City played each other in the CL final, the moment KDB was injured and left the pitch, my son lost all interest while my daughter wad very fanatically and nervously following the match one metre from the television, standing or rather nervously walking up and down...she was drained after the match.

That's mind blowing to me. Good on your daughter I say! :))


I can appreciate a great goals against my favourite teams. I remeber the 3-3 equalizer from Lanzini when Spurs played West Ham. My first reaction was 'what a great goal' and then came the disappointment.

There's been a few goals over the years where the entire stadium has clapped an opponents goal because it's been so good. A great goal is a great goal regardless and sometimes you just have to acknowledge it even when it's against your team.

When we played the 'invincible' Arsenal team in the FA Cup that season, they murdered us 5-1 at home and to this day, despite the score, it is still one of the most enjoyable games I've ever watched live. They were just so good you couldn't do anything but appreciate the football. On another level entirely. When Thierry Henry was subbed late on he got a standing ovation from the entire stadium. He even put on the Pompey shirt he'd swapped after the game and came over to clap the fans. Sadly that was the only time he wore it! :LOL:
 
Mattmid, for some reason i really, really enjoyed your post...thanks... this post sounds silly...
 
Oh yes and the EFL even 'doctored' the EFL trophy draw when Southampton entered their u23 team so that we couldn't be drawn together
We had the draw for some round of the Swedish cup (which we later on won) done straight after a home game ,in front of a fairly large crowd who stayed for it.
Guess who we got...
 
I don't like the hatred. I like teams, but i love football.
I can appreciate a great goals against my favourite teams. I remeber the 3-3 equalizer from Lanzini when Spurs played West Ham. My first reaction was 'what a great goal' and then came the disappointment.

I have an 18 year old son. He and his friends are seldom fans of a team, they are fans of players. My son loves KDB, so at the moment his favourite team is more or less Manchester City, but if KDB would leave City for another team, he would be more or less fan of that team. More and more young people are like him.

My daughter is 21 years old, she is a Chelsea fan, Chelsea and only Chelsea. Eden Hazard was her favourite player and she still likes him, but she doesn't support Real Madrid.

When Chelsea and City played each other in the CL final, the moment KDB was injured and left the pitch, my son lost all interest while my daughter wad very fanatically and nervously following the match one metre from the television, standing or rather nervously walking up and down...she was drained after the match.

I guess I'm the other way around. I like football but love my team, because to me it's about more than football.

The notion of supporting a player will always be mind-blowing to me! :LOL:
 
@Stan I was just thinking about your son and supporting a player not a team. Does he have other players he follows as well because I was wondering what happens when the player he follows retires? Does he just pick a new one or what? I'm really curious about that!
 
We played a Serbian team in the QF for Europa conference league ,lost 3-1 away ,won 5-1 at home.

Next (final ) round Basel.
Lost 3-1 away ,won 2-0 at home ,extra time ,the. Lost in the penalty shootout.
One of our players took his penalty twice ,missed both times.
I'm done with football this year.
 
Tarek Dhiab, football consultant in Bein sports Arabic ( who confirmed months ago that Messi will be in PSG and he will not wear n°10), thinks that if Mbappé leave PSG, he will be replaced by Lewa
 
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