Do folk actually like the experience of watching football online? I really don’t find it satisfying at all. These days I prefer going to watch any local team playing if I can’t get to Stoke. For me football is a live match experience, anything else is a very poor substitute without any soul. I feel as much of a supporter checking the result, as compared to watching a stream if I can’t get to the actual game.
This quote from the imbecile at man citeh hits the nail firmly on the head….…"Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola agreed the changes are a "problem" for lower-division clubs, but said it was "much better" for teams playing in European competitions. I understand why clubs in lower divisions complain and it has been a tradition for many years, but with the schedule that we have playing in European competition and with many players going to the national team, it is much better," Guardiola said. There is clearly no understanding by foreign managers like him and Klipperty of the English FA Cup. I don’t think we’ve seen or heard the last of this.
This is an ignorant response. For a start why not use their huge squad? They have more than 2 teams available at any one time. Secondly why vote for no replays in rounds of the Cup that they are not involved in. Also he conveniently does not mention all the friendlies his club take part in which eat up players energy presumably. No respect for the tradition of the competition.
Isn't that quite a strange take on it? The money from the FA Cup is totally different kettle of fish for the likes of Tranmere compared to the likes of Arsenal. It's a much bigger proportion of their incomes and it can be about survival which isn't the case for the big teams. The FA Cup is an established competition which has historically had this capacity for lower teams to earn much needed income.
It's not just that though, it is the lack of consultation which shows total disrespect for clubs whose participation in the competition is as valid as any PL team. For example, why are PL clubs making decisions about replays in the 1st Round of the competition when they are not even involved at that stage?
Yes, all clubs are fundamentally self interested, but that self interest takes on a very different nature in the lower levels of football.
Perhaps it is.
If the FA announce tomorrow that prize money will increase in the early rounds funded by the Premier League teams the lower league clubs will soon pipe down. Nothing to do with replays.
Well I assume they probably would, as that would go some way to resolving the issue!
Makes me laugh, lower clubs using the FA Cup to chase more money and then moaning about the bigger clubs chasing more money.
Clubs, at whatever level, couldn't give a monkey's about the integrity of the competition.
Isn't that quite a strange take on it though? The money from the FA Cup is totally different kettle of fish for the likes of Tranmere compared to the likes of Arsenal. It's a much bigger proportion of their incomes and it can be about survival which isn't the case for the big teams. The FA Cup is an established competition which has historically had this capacity for lower teams to earn much needed income.
It's not just that though, it is the lack of consultation which shows total disrespect for clubs whose participation in the competition is as valid as any PL team. For example, why are PL clubs making decisions about replays in the 1st Round of the competition when they are not even involved at that stage?
Yes, all clubs are fundamentally self interested, but that self interest takes on a very different nature in the lower levels of football.
There has been some really unfair targeting of Ange imo on this board and this is another instance where something has been taken totally out of proportion and context.
If Ange would have been more complementary about the player, some folk would be throwing their arms up in the air about that too. Whatever she said was her honest opinion, was courteous, and expressed in a constructive way. That is clear.
Too much over-reaction to critical debate going on here which is bordering on the personal.
Having an opinion is one thing but there is a fine line here with comments that are too focused on individuals, especially someone whose loyalty to this club should not be questioned. Folk should think a bit more before diving in. For myself, I know I have dived in in the past with one or two posters but I would like to think I have learned something from that and I don't think that was the right approach on reflection .
Its also encouraging to see some of the support Ange is getting here from the majority of fans. We all want us to win tomorrow, I have no doubts about that.
I was asked a question and gave my honest answer. Not one person on this or any other social media platform will be 100% pro any player every game. People may not have liked what I said, (they have omitted the fact that I said that Josh is clearly a popular figure around the club for example.)
I hope that he has the game of his life on Saturday along with all the other Stoke players.
If anyone feels that my comments are wrong so be it.
I'll be 100% behind the team on Saturday and unlike some whatever the result will not stand booing the players off the pitch if the unthinkable happens and we lose.
I don't think the title of this thread is helpful, constructive or representative. Its unnecessarily sensationalist.
Nothing wrong with Ange's opinions and even if they are interpreted by the player as being critical (that is if he's bothered of course) then maybe it should give him the kick up the arse he needs. Stroking their egos is definitely not the answer.
Newport earned £1m from their Spurs replay. Cambridge £1m from their replay with Man Utd
The thing that has driven this is the increase in Champions League games which only applies to 4 clubs (but of course the most influential 4 clubs!)
The clubs that have driven this will flying around the world earning millions playing in stupid friendlies right up until the start of the season.....and then complaining about too many games
Like I said, I didn't really know who was gaining what and to what regularity. If the money is that great for any potential big replays, then something absolutely needs to be done - my suggestion would be the games are played at the bigger ground (however the game is drawn) to get the bigger gate and the small club gets the gate receipts. The likelihood of winning probably lessens for the smaller club, but would the possible gate receipts make up for that?
But why change it? It's not just the money, it's the event itself and its impact on fans and their aspirations. Some of the best and most magical games I have been to were FA Cup replays (Man Utd, WHU in the 70s for example) Two of the best Cup Finals were replays Chelsea v Leeds and Spurs v Man City.
I just think it undermines the integrity of the competition, the aspirations of fans and what should a valued tradition in our game.
and for what? so PL clubs can have more time to spend flying around the globe playing friendlies? and meaningless Champions League games?
What is it with people that run football? We have the best league system in the world, the FA Cup, IMO is the best cup competition in the world, yet, the suits that run football always seem hell bent on destroying it. I hope government intervention sorts things out. it`s about time the voice of the fans was listened to. As folk have already said, the FA cup is a lifeline for small clubs, they can`t wait for the draw hoping for one of the big clubs and take them to a replay. It`s what football is, or was sadly.
Totally agree about the lifeline element, but it also undermining the integrity of the competition. The first game I ever remembered watching was an FA Cup Final, and it got me hooked on football for life. The competition has such a fantastic history and tradition, but since the PL and Champions League this has been consistently eroded.
I absolutely appreciate and agree it sounds like another finger in the eye for the lower placed sides and more power to the PL clubs but, in reality, who gains what from replays and how many are there really that end up as money spinners for the lower ranked sides? Is it something that's probably died a death anyway? It feels like a lot of the time, upsets happen in the first game wherever it's played anyway.
Just 2 examples
Newport earned £1m from their Spurs replay. Cambridge £1m from their replay with Man Utd
The thing that has driven this is the increase in Champions League games which only applies to 4 clubs (but of course the most influential 4 clubs!)
The clubs that have driven this will flying around the world earning millions playing in stupid friendlies right up until the start of the season.....and then complaining about too many games
Hugh Grant settles privacy case against Sun publisher
Actor Hugh Grant has settled a privacy case against the publisher of the Sun newspaper, saying he could have faced a bill of up to £10m even if he had won.
This is crazy. Cant blame him for settling at this stage. The law is an ass.
As Grant wrote on X: “If I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides.”
From the Guardian.....
"This is because, in the eyes of the court, he would have wasted everyone’s time by fighting the case when he could have accepted more money at a much earlier date.
Doesn’t this stop justice being seen to be done?
This system is designed to encourage financial settlements without putting claimants through the stress of court appearances, while also reducing legal costs.
But it does create an incentive for those accused of wrongdoing and desperate to avoid a messy public trial, where senior executives could be called to give evidence, to offer more money than could ever realistically be awarded by a judge. In addition, such settlement offers can be made without any public acceptance of wrongdoing.
Grant said: “Rupert Murdoch’s lawyers are very expensive. So even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching £10m in costs. I’m afraid I am shying at that fence.”
Hundreds of cases have been settled by the Sun’s parent company this way, relating to both the newspapers still being published and the defunct News of the World.
Many of the people who accepted settlements said they did not feel justice had been done as they were unable to air their evidence in open court and have a judge rule on the veracity of their allegations.
The actor Sienna Miller reluctantly accepted a large financial settlement over her claims of phone hacking at the Sun. She said in 2021: “I wanted to go to trial. I wanted to expose the criminality that runs through the heart of this corporation.” Despite being a successful film actor, Miller said she could not afford the “countless millions of pounds to spend on the pursuit of justice” required to take the case to trial.
If there was no illegal behaviour at the Sun, why does News Group not fight the accusations?
The answer remains unclear. A spokesperson for the newspaper offered this explanation: “It is in both parties’ financial interests not to progress to a costly trial.”
Grant described his payout as having the stench of “hush money” and said: “As is common with entirely innocent people, they are offering me an enormous sum of money to keep this matter out of court.”
You cant fault Ancelotti. He is the master when it comes to winning things.
Kinda glad Man Cheaty got beat.
I don't think they deserved to win. Neither did Real, but too much fannying around by City. They were asking for that tbh. I'm kinda glad too, though I cant stand RM either.
Ha ha what an idiot that Man City fan was who wanted to keep hold of the ball. Delayed Bernardo Silva from taking the penalty, put unnecessary pressure on him & he absolutely fluffed it.
What the hell were they thinking??? Cant imagine he/she wont be popular after the game!