Football in general..

[Andy @ Allerton]

Not sure what it is exactly, but I've found myself getting more and more cheesed off with football. Perhaps it's the Americanisation and dumbing down of all the 'experts' analysis of the game? Perhaps it's the diving and cheating and lack of any physical aspect to the game any longer? Perhaps it's players getting paid more in a day than most people earn in a year? Perhaps it's clubs ripping down their past and moving to souless bowls where they can flaunt and jiggle their corporate money spinning crap with people who just want to be there as if it's some kind of theatrical event? Perhaps it's the utter saturation of the game across all media formats? Perhaps it's the fact that lower level games are now better to watch as footballing spectacles than the so-called 'Premier' League? Perhaps it's the b*****disation of the UEFA Cup and the European Cup? Perhaps it's the binning of the Cup Winners Cup? Perhaps it's the c**k-eyed 'reporting' which usually bears no relation to reality? Or perhaps it's the clear making up of stories on a daily basis (Just to be seen to be reporting SOMETHING) - and that's now even coming from previously respectable sources..?

 

I wonder where football is going - and if it's really become a better game. More and more I feel it's a bunch of namby-pamby spoilt, overprivaledged, overpaid gits who don't give two hoots about those that are then supposed to support them through thick and thin..

[The Hitman]

Easy grandad...

[sutty]

I don't get too annoyed with the salaries and the perceived decline in the physical aspects of the game is questionable in terms of how significant it is

 

I do think media wise it is saturated. Look at what they've shown on the box this week

 

Villa Man U, Spurs Blackburn, Sunderland West Ham, Wigan Everton.

 

The Villa game has some appeal I suppose, but who is watching the rest of them?

[AntM]

Not sure what it is exactly, but I've found myself getting more and more cheesed off with football. Perhaps it's the Americanisation and dumbing down of all the 'experts' analysis of the game? Perhaps it's the diving and cheating and lack of any physical aspect to the game any longer? Perhaps it's players getting paid more in a day than most people earn in a year? Perhaps it's clubs ripping down their past and moving to souless bowls where they can flaunt and jiggle their corporate money spinning crap with people who just want to be there as if it's some kind of theatrical event? Perhaps it's the utter saturation of the game across all media formats? Perhaps it's the fact that lower level games are now better to watch as footballing spectacles than the so-called 'Premier' League? Perhaps it's the b*****disation of the UEFA Cup and the European Cup? Perhaps it's the binning of the Cup Winners Cup? Perhaps it's the c**k-eyed 'reporting' which usually bears no relation to reality? Or perhaps it's the clear making up of stories on a daily basis (Just to be seen to be reporting SOMETHING) - and that's now even coming from previously respectable sources..?

 

I wonder where football is going - and if it's really become a better game. More and more I feel it's a bunch of namby-pamby spoilt, overprivaledged, overpaid gits who don't give two hoots about those that are then supposed to support them through thick and thin..

Bloody hell Andy... fings ain't what they used to be, eh?

 

I used to think that players' salaries and the flaunting of money together with a lack of respect for the general public was my major problem - the whole "players are distancing themselves from the fans" thing. But I still feel some sort of "connection" to Carragher and Gerrard, and even towards model foreign players like Torres, Reina and Alonso, who seem to have an affinity for the club, city and people.

 

My big beef now is with club ownership. It's a relatively minor thing if I no longer connect with a minority of spoilt brats but the moment I no longer connect with my club... different matter entirely. And really worrying.

Edited November 25, 2008 by AntM

[Rex Ham]

Three things, for me, that are affecting the way I perceive, and involve myself, in football nowadays: -

 

1. The "Consumer Entertainment Experience" that going to the game is becoming.

2. The cost of a ticket

3. The micro-analysis of everything from players lifestyle choices to refereeing decisions.

 

The hunger I once had to get to as many games as I could get to just isnt there anymore. Personal circumstances of supporting a family have inevitably played a part in that, but, I strongly suspect that if I was single and with no dependencies, I'd still not feel the same as I used to.

[drdooom]

I kindof feeling the same. This whole thing with the money and the media having their way with the game. Thinking things aren't what they used to be makes me feel like grandpa simpson so I try not to but it's there.

[Bailo]

I don't get too annoyed with the salaries and the perceived decline in the physical aspects of the game is questionable in terms of how significant it is

 

I do think media wise it is saturated. Look at what they've shown on the box this week

 

Villa Man U, Spurs Blackburn, Sunderland West Ham, Wigan Everton.

 

The Villa game has some appeal I suppose, but who is watching the rest of them?

TBF, that's a result of the Sky contract guaranteeing a minimum and maximum number of live games per club isn't it? Without it, it'd just be the top 4 on TV every week.

[The Hitman]

I'm not too bothered by the oversaturation of footie on telly,personally I think it's great because I get to watch s*itloads of footie,which I love.I'll watch anything,even the Isthmian league or whatever it is.

It means that you get to have a better knowledge of the game.The more games you see the more you know about particular teams,particular leagues and managers.

 

Not too fussed by the whole wages issue either.People should get paid in proportion to the amount of revenue they are generating for their company.As long as people keep buying "Gerrard" shirts and telly companies keep shelling out for the rights to show the games-they've got every right to the money they earn.

Of course ticket prices contribute to that,and that's really the only other area I get bothered by.

 

The "experts" can f*ck off.If they bother you,don't watch it.I don't.

Just turn off Sky Sports News,don't go on their website and certainly don't watch "The Final Word" with Andy Gray.I can't believe people watch that sh*t,it's boring and,on the whole,inaccurate.

[MarkD]

Like others have posted above, there does seem to a number of reasons that make the game less attractive/appealing at the moment.

 

I go when I can afford it - having moved to London - a home game is a good distance but manage to get to 12-15 a season plus aways- but the build up, excitement, expectation are all diminishing.

Cost, time, effort , family- all play a part I know but what kills it for me are the d****eads who attend frequently. Brainwashed by the media, no understanding of either our or the game's heritage, Americanised by their desires for cola/hotdogs/food every 10 minutes, the need to text/phone somebody every couple of minutes, their need to be entertained by an event but lack of understanding that their part of the bargain is to help create that event. So often now I hear people tell me that the atmosphere at Anfield is crap and yet I ask what did they do help change that, "well, I was waiting for the songs to start".

 

I know that I'll carry on going but my interest is definitely waning....

[Benitez]

I only got as far as: 'Perhaps it's the Americanisation and dumbing down of all the 'experts' analysis of the game? '

 

What's with the 'Americanisation' comment? Cos one of the things I MUCH prefer about US sports coverage, is that they have such better commentators and analysts*. It's just a world of difference, at least in ice hockey anyway. Where the ex players they employ are actually intelligent and articulate. It's fecin ace, but makes watching footy on tv over here even worse an experience

 

Anyway, carry on.

 

 

*Not talking bout ESPN coverage of 'soccer' by the way!

[sutty]

TBF, that's a result of the Sky contract guaranteeing a minimum and maximum number of live games per club isn't it? Without it, it'd just be the top 4 on TV every week.

 

Erm, yeah

 

Which is all part of coverage for the sake of it

[Bailo]

Erm, yeah

 

Which is all part of coverage for the sake of it

Not really, it's coverage for the sake of a reasonable amount of equality. I'm sure West Ham/Wigan/Everton etc etc fans were watching their games. Unless you're advocating less games on TV across the board? Just seemed like you picked those games as they only involved one of the top 4.

[sutty]

Not really, it's coverage for the sake of a reasonable amount of equality. I'm sure West Ham/Wigan/Everton etc etc fans were watching their games. Unless you're advocating less games on TV across the board? Just seemed like you picked those games as they only involved one of the top 4.

 

 

That's the point, it's not reasonable, is it? If it was reasonable then you wouldn't get 3 pointless games on the TV. I'm not saying it has to be top 4 necessarily, but it's pretty frequently I swerve what's on TV.

[Bailo]

That's the point, it's not reasonable, is it? If it was reasonable then you wouldn't get 3 pointless games on the TV. I'm not saying it has to be top 4 necessarily, but it's pretty frequently I swerve what's on TV.

What's the current agreed minimum of games a club gets live from Sky + Setanta nowadays? Is it 3 or 4?

 

I agree that most neutrals aren't going to sit down to Wigan v Everton.

Edited November 25, 2008 by DarkBailo

[smithdown]

There was a woman commentating on one of the matches on MOTD at the weekend as well.

 

It's clear to me now. We're all going to die.

[cymrococh]

The Villa game has some appeal I suppose, but who is watching the rest of them?

Carra and my mate Simon, who watches literally every bit of football that is on telly no matter what league/country.

[cymrococh]

The commentary is something which was slowly driving me mad in the UK. I used to get so wound up by the absolute nonsense that was spoken.

 

Here in Australia, most matches have the UK commentary and quite often it's only one commentator, but the analysis in the studio is a little bit better despite it being Spencer Prior and some aussie bloke who played for Blackburn in the early nineties.

The coverage on the channel that does the champions league is fantastic - they dedicate about 3 hours on sunday to footy coverage and the analysis is really interesting and intelligent.

[DanielS]

If they "americanised" football in this country properly then it would be a far better spectacle. Just look at the NFL - salary caps, draft picks and a short season make it far more competitive than the premiership has ever been. You might not like the sport, but the organisation is far superior to the FA, UEFA and FIFA.

[Hassony]

If they "americanised" football in this country properly then it would be a far better spectacle. Just look at the NFL - salary caps, draft picks and a short season make it far more competitive than the premiership has ever been. You might not like the sport, but the organisation is far superior to the FA, UEFA and FIFA.

 

Salary caps is a good idea, but the draft picks will never work in football

[DanielS]

Salary caps is a good idea, but the draft picks will never work in football

 

I know it won't, but its a damn good way of distributing new talent more fairly than the "who has the biggest cheque book" method used over here.

[drdooom]

The NFL is an exception with its short season. 16 games means every game counts that much more. I like that but fewer games means less money. The NBA/NFL way of cramming more evenings of light entertainment that don't really count for much into the calendar probably looks more attractive to the euro football bigwigs.

[melia]

but the analysis in the studio is a little bit better despite it being Spencer Prior and some aussie bloke who played for Blackburn in the early nineties.

 

I like Robbie slater. he talks a lot of sense. I like the way the studio team are very obvious in their support for particular teams (Slater is a red) but they aren't out-and-out blinkered.

[matty]

All sports have become commodities. Once people like Kerry Packer, Murdoch, etc realised how much money could be screwed out of the fans, the big sports have turned into over-marketed bulls***. Sport fills an important role in society (the circuses element of panem et circenses?) and whereas up to the 80s they were run by fairly amateurish but committed people, now every last pound is wrung out by the money men. It's happened to cricket, football, rugby, etc. I don't see the genie going back in the bottle.

[Andy @ Allerton]

All sports have become commodities. Once people like Kerry Packer, Murdoch, etc realised how much money could be screwed out of the fans, the big sports have turned into over-marketed bulls***. Sport fills an important role in society (the circuses element of panem et circenses?) and whereas up to the 80s they were run by fairly amateurish but committed people, now every last pound is wrung out by the money men. It's happened to cricket, football, rugby, etc. I don't see the genie going back in the bottle.

 

 

The only hope for the future of football is for it to globally collapse and return to what it once was.

[Hassony]

The only hope for the future of football is for it to globally collapse and return to what it once was.