Will Anything Change?

[digavich 0]

I thought that this was an interesting article, without the hype or hysteria of the English press.

 

I have my own thoughts as to what should happen, (cut their f#@#ing wages for a start!), but I'm just an Aussie looking on.

 

Any thoughts? Especially from you English boardies.

 

http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world...00629-zj9k.html

[nidnoyham 30]

Well I can't tell you what is wrong with the EPL.

 

I haven't attended a game in that division, or watched the England team play for over 40 years.

 

As far as the England fans are concerned, most don't go through EPL turnstiles on a Saturday either. Those flags in the picture have Initials of lower division teams Derby County, Not' Forrest... That is where the biggest England following comes from right down to non league. They were in S. Africa to support their country, not EPL Primadonas. They would have cheered a team of Championship players, just the same. For me, the most relevant part of that report was the fan saying

" They didn't even come to clap us... " In any game I have attended, even if from one side of London to the other, the visiting team always applaud their traveling fans before and after the game. The Premiership, I assume do the same. It is a sign of respect from the players to those who pay their wages and are part of the club.

 

This brings us to how much 'Fan Power' there is in the EPL- it ain't no Hovercraft !

 

As far as protesting against the England team, the chance will come at Wembley next month in a freindly. If no one buys a ticket, the FA may pay attention to the fans. that is our only weapon. I hope it happens. Those who traveled to S.A should get free entrance to the game as a 'sorry for how you were let down'- but that would never happen. The suits and Blazers are too up their own arses to give it a thought. i think the likes of Trevor Brooking and Bobby Charlton are just window dressing for the FA. NOTE - it's not the English FA, it's THE FA !

 

Football is the one true working class sport in England. Supporters and players are mainly from modest backgrounds- few prawn sandwiches as they say. The EPL has become like some huge sporting black hole sucking in all from around the world. Martians would be playing, but we had enough trouble from one Green man as it is.

 

Managers, owners, players- the obscene fees and wages- bumped up by agents on commission no doubt, have all come to have a bit of the action. To own a EPL team is the equivalent to owning the Mona Lisa- unique. The Chelsea owner has a huge luxury liner, so do others. He has property and paintins worth millions, so do others, he has a beautiful wife- again...

He owns the EPL champion football team... no one else does. These new owners are people who are used to getting their way. They don't like coming in second. that's why a Premiership Managers life expectancy is on par with a WWII tail gunner.

 

They flex their cheque book to show they can and another overpaid/ priced foreigner is playing in the EPL.

 

This has affected our National teams performance. French manager - French players. Spanish manager- Spanish players...

Terry Neil, an Irishman, when manager of Arsenal many moons ago, had about eight of the Irish national side in his team. Great for Ireland to have then play along side each other every Saturday. to acheive the same thing with an English manager and players, is unlikely today. Aston Villa, Fulham, Spurs have had a go.

 

Disapointed as I am, i feel we have lost our way nationally. when the EPL changes, so will our performance as as England- I hope. For me it's an England manager and staff to get the best from our players, who need treating with kid gloves.

[TheFiend 1,187]

Football is the one true working class sport in England. Supporters and players are mainly from modest backgrounds- few prawn sandwiches as they say.

 

I disagree with you there...... Rugby League's origins stem from working class northerners at the end of the 19th century. It is still a working class game played by and watched by the working class. Outside of Superleague most players still work a normal job as well train and play. The huge majority of supporters come from the working class.

[nidnoyham 30]

I disagree with you there...... Rugby League's origins stem from working class northerners at the end of the 19th century. It is still a working class game played by and watched by the working class. Outside of Superleague most players still work a normal job as well train and play. The huge majority of supporters come from the working class.

 

No argument there, but it is not the huge money spinning monster, we are discussing here is it ? It does attract players from all over the world, but does their presence, affect the national squad ?

 

I suppose you could throw in Whippet racing and pigeon fancying too ? Some riders at the I.O.M T.T., are amatuers too. They all have more control of their sports by people who started them, than we have over the EPL.

 

My club is owned by the fans, but I don't get Andy Scott phoning me to ask who should play in goal.

 

I really must e-mail him about that striker Leon Knight. He has an attitude problem, but can knock them in !

 

O.K for this thread, Football is not the only working class game, but it is the only one on topic.

Edited July 2, 2010 by nidnoyham

[TheFiend 1,187]

No argument there, but it is not the huge money spinning monster, we are discussing here is it ? It does attract players from all over the world, but does their presence, affect the national squad ?

 

I suppose you could throw in Whippet racing and pigeon fancying too ? Some riders at the I.O.M T.T., are amatuers too. They all have more control of their sports by people who started them, than we have over the EPL.

 

My club is owned by the fans, but I don't get Andy Scott phoning me to ask who should play in goal.

 

I really must e-mail him about that striker Leon Knight. He has an attitude problem, but can knock them in !

 

O.K for this thread, Football is not the only working class game, but it is the only one on topic.

 

But you called it "the one true working class sport" when but reality is that it is not.......

 

The EPL is run by the "big" money.... and it has been ruined by the likes of Sky pumping in huge amounts of money - most of which is being used to pay over-hyped and over-paid players.... Do you really think a player is worth over £100K a week for playing 90 minutes???

 

These ridiculous wages won't stop unless everybody quits paying Sky Sports for the privilege of watching 22 men kick a football around a pitch...

 

I work with many fans of Man U, Liverpool and others...... but have they ever been to watch them play..... NO!!!! They watch em on Sky Sports!!!

[nidnoyham 30]

But you called it "the one true working class sport" when but reality is that it is not.......

 

The EPL is run by the "big" money.... and it has been ruined by the likes of Sky pumping in huge amounts of money - most of which is being used to pay over-hyped and over-paid players.... Do you really think a player is worth over £100K a week for playing 90 minutes???

 

These ridiculous wages won't stop unless everybody quits paying Sky Sports for the privilege of watching 22 men kick a football around a pitch...

 

I work with many fans of Man U, Liverpool and others...... but have they ever been to watch them play..... NO!!!! They watch em on Sky Sports!!!

 

You have summed up the reason that Fan power will not work at the turnstiles- I wish it could ! Of course i don't believe they are worth the money they get. i have said that on several occasions before. £1,000 p.w top whack !

 

I will not subscribe to Sky Sports for that very reason. I listen to CD's, but prefer a live concert !

 

EPL is the victim of it's own success, a success that does not include the supporters. I wish all those 'fans' would just pop along on a Saturday afternoon to their local game. You never know, they might just like it. They can learn to lose on a regular basis too.

[wacmedia 277]

Hi,

 

There is still a hardcore of genuine fans in the Premiership. However, it has been gentfitied, like those fancy houses on your street, and has lost its working class soul.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

But you called it "the one true working class sport" when but reality is that it is not.......

 

The EPL is run by the "big" money.... and it has been ruined by the likes of Sky pumping in huge amounts of money - most of which is being used to pay over-hyped and over-paid players.... Do you really think a player is worth over £100K a week for playing 90 minutes???

 

These ridiculous wages won't stop unless everybody quits paying Sky Sports for the privilege of watching 22 men kick a football around a pitch...

 

I work with many fans of Man U, Liverpool and others...... but have they ever been to watch them play..... NO!!!! They watch em on Sky Sports!!!

How does the club system fit into your point? When a youngster is signed by a club how does that work? What are the backgrounds of these kids.

 

I am American and wish to understand it. I enjoy the EPL.

 

As to fans, are most fans working class or does it vary by team?

 

Here in California, we have the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49er American football teams right across the SF Bay from each other. The Raiders have always had working class fans while the 49er fans are more the wine and cheese type.

 

Just curious.

[nidnoyham 30]

How does the club system fit into your point? When a youngster is signed by a club how does that work? What are the backgrounds of these kids.

 

I am American and wish to understand it. I enjoy the EPL.

 

As to fans, are most fans working class or does it vary by team?

 

Here in California, we have the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49er American football teams right across the SF Bay from each other. The Raiders have always had working class fans while the 49er fans are more the wine and cheese type.

 

Just curious.

 

 

Most, if not all EPL clubs have academies. West Ham 40 years ago, was known as " The Academy of Football " Many of the England team today have their roots there- Lampard, Joe Cole, Ferdinand, James, Green.... 40 years ago, the entire squad were all Londoners. If the M25 ring road existed then, most would have come from inside it. Johnny Scissons came from Hayes, just next to Heathrow, he had the furthest to travel to work ! There was much concern, when they had their first 'foreign' player- a Scottish Goalkeeper. That was the thin edge.

 

Scouts go all over the country looking for talent. It is unlikely to come from the upper class areas, where Rugby and Cricket are the school sports. Football is more for your working class lads. How many of them didn't think school was important because they were going to be a Pro' Footballer ? A Headmaster I knew, told me you get at least one in ever year.

 

Once again it is down to money at the top level. It may cost just as much to have an apprentice on your books for years, who may turn out to be very average, to spending the money on a proven player, who you know will perform.

 

Most football fans are working class, but it would be foolish to say all are. However most Celeb's who support football, are from modest backgrounds. Ray Winston the actor is a football man, from East London. Mick Jagger is more a cricket man. He is very Middle clas,s from Richmond, West London.

 

At my club a few years back, we had a player D.J Campbell. One year he was working in a warehouse for DHL and playing part time for Yeading, a small club now combined with another to survive. He came to Brentford for two seasons and was sold to a Premiership club. Recently he has been on loan to Blackpool who just got promoted to the EPL.

 

A bit of a fairy tale ending for a working man. Not a common one though.

[wacmedia 277]

At my club a few years back, we had a player D.J Campbell. One year he was working in a warehouse for DHL and playing part time for Yeading, a small club now combined with another to survive. He came to Brentford for two seasons and was sold to a Premiership club. Recently he has been on loan to Blackpool who just got promoted to the EPL.

 

A bit of a fairy tale ending for a working man. Not a common one though.

 

Hi,

 

Ian Wright came to pro football late in life. Great finisher for us but can't stand the guy in the media.

[nidnoyham 30]

Hi,

 

Ian Wright came to pro football late in life. Great finisher for us but can't stand the guy in the media.

 

 

And don't he look scary in that Ladbrook's ? add, with eye liner on ?