Football Focus

[Parkdrive]

So Derby County sack their manger despite being fifth in the table, seriously? There's something rotten in the state of football, and obviously not just in the prem.

[red devil]

I heard somewhere that the owner was trying to influence team selection, if true I can't imagine Clement putting up with it...

[????]

"We're the famous West Ham and we're going to Wemberlee"

[Jah Lush]

An old friend of mine has just reminded me that Terry Naylor; a regular in the Spurs back four in the early 70s, used to live opposite him in Crystal Palace Road from about 70/71 onwards. Can you imagine a Premier League footballer living in a little terraced house nowadays? This also being at a time when East Dulwich wasn't as smart as it is now.

How times have changed.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> An old friend of mine has just reminded me that

> Terry Naylor; a regular in the Spurs back four in

> the early 70s, used to live opposite him in

> Crystal Palace Road from about 70/71 onwards. Can

> you imagine a Premier League footballer living in

> a little terraced house nowadays? This also being

> at a time when East Dulwich wasn't as smart as it

> is now.

>

> How times have changed.

And not for the better, the gulf between players and supporters has become a chasm. For this reason, among others, for the first time in almost 30 years I haven't been to a home game. Times have indeed changed

[Jah Lush]

I've not been to Spurs this season either. Just can't afford it anymore. In fact I didn't make a home game last season either which was the first time in over 30 years.

I'm a regular at Dulwich Hamlet now and have been since we won promotion a few seasons back. More local and more affordable.

[Jah Lush]

Ticket prices.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35545999

[Jah Lush]

From today's Popbitch.

Adam Johnson wants to play

in the Chinese League, where

Wai-Too Yeung is just a name.

But instead, following his

admission of guilt, he's been

sentenced... to a three-year

contract extension with Sunderland.

(Sorry, all these Adam Johnson

jokes are getting a bit old.

Which is probably why he

doesn't like them...)

[malumbu]

Wot no postings about that fab FA Cup reply on Wednesday.

On the subject of players in humble surroundings my old programmes are great in players Q/A

Q Car

A Don't drive

or don't own one

or Vauxhall Viva

Ah, the old days where the players would booze in a local after the match (and there would be no intrusion)

[Jah Lush]

Some of 'em boozed in locals before the match. Those were the days.

[????]

Frank Lampard had the lease on the Victiria in Plastow and the players used to drink in there a lot and it was just a shitty back street boozer ( ICF pub too)

[Parkdrive]

It isn't just the widening gap between players and fans that's sad, it's the clubs ( many of them not all) inability to appreciate the fans bond with the club as part of their community and treating fans like customers and not fans/supporters. The disconnect in many cases is getting to, if not already reached, the point of no return. Very sad considering that many, like myself, have followed a club passionately for decades. I can see trips to Bromley and Beckenham Town becoming more frequent.

[Jah Lush]

Spot on PD. Premiership football clubs treat their customers like shit. Prices in Germany and Spain are far more realistic and far more affordable. It's the fans that pay their wages, they should remember that.

[????]

..the problem is that it isn't really the fans that pay their wages now - more money comes from other stuff (TV mainly)

[Parkdrive]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ..the problem is that it isn't really the fans

> that pay their wages now - more money comes from

> other stuff (TV mainly)

Agreed quids, and that makes me wonder where's the incentive for the fans to actually go and watch a match live? Of course I understand you can't replicate the atmosphere sitting in your front room or even in your local boozer. But if you add up the cost and the all the other factors, getting to and from the ground, parking, cost of food and drink at the match, or in the pub at the ground, it soon becomes prohibitive. Unless you're a die hard, the pros seem few compared to the cons. After the move from Highbury, I recognize fewer and fewer faces that used to go regularly or were season ticket holders. I'm afraid corporate football is here to stay unless fans en masse take a leaf out of the Liverpool fans book and take action, which might, just might, make the faceless corporations that have ruined football sit up and take notice.

[Jah Lush]

You'd think with all that TV money coming into the clubs they could afford to drop their prices. The more the fans complain with direct action the better.

[titch juicy]

Jah Lush Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Spot on PD. Premiership football clubs treat their

> customers like shit. Prices in Germany and Spain

> are far more realistic and far more affordable.

> It's the fans that pay their wages, they should

> remember that.

This isn't true unfortunately. A common held myth.

At least in Germany it's not.

True, there are a handful of cheap tickets in standing areas (?17 at Dortmund, ?15 at Bayern...and good luck EVER getting one of those tickets), but the rest of match day ticket prices go, ?35, ?45, ?60 and at Dortmund ?75, Bayern ?70).

Merchandising prices are also expensive over there. A replica shirt will set you back ?85

Dortmund fans are also currently protesting ticket prices, specifically away ticket prices.

[red devil]

They can afford to Jah. Although the clubs don't rely on the match going fans for their income like they used to, it still reflects badly on them if the TV cameras are showing fans leaving en masse like what happened at Liverpool last week. We're already seeing agents starting to cream off next season's TV money, e.g. Payet's new deal. They'll be many more in the coming months unless the fans start sticking up for themselves and ask for prices to be dropped...

[titch juicy]

Parkdrive Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ???? Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > ..the problem is that it isn't really the fans

> > that pay their wages now - more money comes

> from

> > other stuff (TV mainly)

>

> Agreed quids, and that makes me wonder where's the

> incentive for the fans to actually go and watch a

> match live? Of course I understand you can't

> replicate the atmosphere sitting in your front

> room or even in your local boozer. But if you add

> up the cost and the all the other factors, getting

> to and from the ground, parking, cost of food and

> drink at the match, or in the pub at the ground,

> it soon becomes prohibitive. Unless you're a die

> hard, the pros seem few compared to the cons.

> After the move from Highbury, I recognize fewer

> and fewer faces that used to go regularly or were

> season ticket holders. I'm afraid corporate

> football is here to stay unless fans en masse take

> a leaf out of the Liverpool fans book and take

> action, which might, just might, make the faceless

> corporations that have ruined football sit up and

> take notice.

You can easily replicate the Emirate's live atmosphere in your living room. Just turn the sound off on the telly and pick up a book.

[Parkdrive]

titch juicy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Parkdrive Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > ???? Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > ..the problem is that it isn't really the

> fans

> > > that pay their wages now - more money comes

> > from

> > > other stuff (TV mainly)

> >

> > Agreed quids, and that makes me wonder where's

> the

> > incentive for the fans to actually go and watch

> a

> > match live? Of course I understand you can't

> > replicate the atmosphere sitting in your front

> > room or even in your local boozer. But if you

> add

> > up the cost and the all the other factors,

> getting

> > to and from the ground, parking, cost of food

> and

> > drink at the match, or in the pub at the

> ground,

> > it soon becomes prohibitive. Unless you're a

> die

> > hard, the pros seem few compared to the cons.

> > After the move from Highbury, I recognize fewer

> > and fewer faces that used to go regularly or

> were

> > season ticket holders. I'm afraid corporate

> > football is here to stay unless fans en masse

> take

> > a leaf out of the Liverpool fans book and take

> > action, which might, just might, make the

> faceless

> > corporations that have ruined football sit up

> and

> > take notice.

>

> You can easily replicate the Emirate's live

> atmosphere in your living room. Just turn the

> sound off on the telly and pick up a book.

I congratulate you for your thoughtful and incisive input, spoken like a true twat.

[titch juicy]

Parkdrive Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> titch juicy Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Parkdrive Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > ???? Wrote:

> > >

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> >

> > > -----

> > > > ..the problem is that it isn't really the

> > fans

> > > > that pay their wages now - more money comes

> > > from

> > > > other stuff (TV mainly)

> > >

> > > Agreed quids, and that makes me wonder

> where's

> > the

> > > incentive for the fans to actually go and

> watch

> > a

> > > match live? Of course I understand you can't

> > > replicate the atmosphere sitting in your

> front

> > > room or even in your local boozer. But if you

> > add

> > > up the cost and the all the other factors,

> > getting

> > > to and from the ground, parking, cost of food

> > and

> > > drink at the match, or in the pub at the

> > ground,

> > > it soon becomes prohibitive. Unless you're a

> > die

> > > hard, the pros seem few compared to the cons.

> > > After the move from Highbury, I recognize

> fewer

> > > and fewer faces that used to go regularly or

> > were

> > > season ticket holders. I'm afraid corporate

> > > football is here to stay unless fans en masse

> > take

> > > a leaf out of the Liverpool fans book and

> take

> > > action, which might, just might, make the

> > faceless

> > > corporations that have ruined football sit up

> > and

> > > take notice.

> >

> > You can easily replicate the Emirate's live

> > atmosphere in your living room. Just turn the

> > sound off on the telly and pick up a book.

>

> I congratulate you for your thoughtful and

> incisive input, spoken like a true twat.

Oooh, a raw nerve seems to have been touched. Do Arsenal fans not do playful banter?

[red devil]

Because of Leicester stealing the limelight, those perrennial underachievers Spurs, have slipped under the radar. They have been really consistent and solid looking this season, I can see them pipping the title...

[Jah Lush]

I thought it was funny, but then I would. Come on PD lighten up. It was a good joke.

[Parkdrive]

titch juicy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Parkdrive Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > titch juicy Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Parkdrive Wrote:

> > >

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> >

> > > -----

> > > > ???? Wrote:

> > > >

> > >

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> >

> > >

> > > > -----

> > > > > ..the problem is that it isn't really the

> > > fans

> > > > > that pay their wages now - more money

> comes

> > > > from

> > > > > other stuff (TV mainly)

> > > >

> > > > Agreed quids, and that makes me wonder

> > where's

> > > the

> > > > incentive for the fans to actually go and

> > watch

> > > a

> > > > match live? Of course I understand you

> can't

> > > > replicate the atmosphere sitting in your

> > front

> > > > room or even in your local boozer. But if

> you

> > > add

> > > > up the cost and the all the other factors,

> > > getting

> > > > to and from the ground, parking, cost of

> food

> > > and

> > > > drink at the match, or in the pub at the

> > > ground,

> > > > it soon becomes prohibitive. Unless you're

> a

> > > die

> > > > hard, the pros seem few compared to the

> cons.

> > > > After the move from Highbury, I recognize

> > fewer

> > > > and fewer faces that used to go regularly

> or

> > > were

> > > > season ticket holders. I'm afraid corporate

> > > > football is here to stay unless fans en

> masse

> > > take

> > > > a leaf out of the Liverpool fans book and

> > take

> > > > action, which might, just might, make the

> > > faceless

> > > > corporations that have ruined football sit

> up

> > > and

> > > > take notice.

> > >

> > > You can easily replicate the Emirate's live

> > > atmosphere in your living room. Just turn the

> > > sound off on the telly and pick up a book.

> >

> > I congratulate you for your thoughtful and

> > incisive input, spoken like a true twat.

>

> Oooh, a raw nerve seems to have been touched. Do

> Arsenal fans not do playful banter?

Of course we do, we've been laughing at Spurs for decades

[Jah Lush]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Because of Leicester stealing the limelight, those

> perrennial underachievers Spurs, have slipped

> under the radar. They have been really consistent

> and solid looking this season, I can see them

> pipping the title...

If you're a Spurs fan like I am you don't dare talk about titles. I admit we're looking good but we've been here before and you get used to disappointment. It's the hope that kills you. Spurs probably have the toughest run in of all the reams in contention. We still have play Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd, plus three London derbies in Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham to play, let alone the teams that will be fighting for their lives to stay up. We're also still in the FA Cup and after this weekend we're back to playing Thursday - Sunday football once our Europa League games resume against Fiorentina next week. Of course I'd love it to happen. I've waited long enough and I have my fingers and toes crossed.

As you may have noticed I've tipped Arsenal for the title and hopefully that'll be the kiss of death for them. But at the moment the way I see it, it is Leicester's to lose but I reckon Le Arse will just pip Spurs to it because since Arsene Wenger has been their manager the bastards always finish above us. Grrr!

We live in hope though.