On 12/10/2018 at 18:21, Munkworth said:

On the other side is there anyone you’d like to see do well/decent/not get relegated?

Bournemouth & Wolves for me solely because they’re trying to actually play football and are quite entertaining to watch. 

Naturally Leicester City, the saviours of football.

Couldn't think of anywhere else to post this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45893325

Fulham owner Shahid Khan has withdrawn his offer to buy Wembley Stadium from the Football Association after the plan became "divisive".

Khan had offered £600m for the national stadium, with the FA retaining the Club Wembley hospitality rights, which it valued at £250m to £300m.

The move was "more divisive then expected", said FA chief Martin Glenn.

Khan has not ruled out making another bid in future if there is more support from FA Council members.

The FA had said it would invest the proceeds of the sale into improving grassroots football facilities.

FA executives made a presentation to the FA Council last week about why they were backing the sale to Khan, and the 127 council members were scheduled to vote on the proposed sale on 24 October.

But a senior FA source told BBC Sport that the board believed the odds were slightly against the purchase being backed, given the strong objections of some councillors to the home of English football being sold off.

FA chief executive Glenn said Khan had believed his offer "would be well received by all football stakeholders".

However, Glenn added: "At a recent meeting with Mr Khan he expressed to us that, without stronger support from within the game, his offer is being seen as more divisive than it was anticipated to be and he has decided to withdraw his proposal.

"Wembley Stadium is an iconic venue that is revered around the world and it will continue to thrive under the ownership and direction of the FA."

Khan, who planned to move his NFL American football team - the Jacksonville Jaguars - to Wembley, said he wanted "to do right by everyone in a manner that strengthens the English game and brings people together, not divides them".

He added: "Unfortunately, given where we are today, I've concluded that the outcome of a vote next week would be far from sufficient in expressing the broad support favoured by the FA chairman to sell Wembley Stadium.

"Until a time when it is evident there is an unmistakable directive from the FA to explore and close a sale, I am respectfully withdrawing my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium."

The FA had pledged to keep showpiece events, such as most England internationals and the FA Cup final, at the stadium under a pre-agreed hire fee.

Pros and cons - what they said

FOR

The FA said only one in three grassroots pitches are of adequate quality and it would invest in facilities.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn: "This is an opportunity to unleash an unprecedented amount of investment into community football. Receiving an offer to sell Wembley Stadium is not a 'betrayal'. It is not selling the 'soul of the game'."

AGAINST

Opponents had suggested selling an iconic national venue was a short-term plan which the FA would live to regret.

Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville: "The FA feels to fund the grassroots programme, they have to sell a national asset - it's quite simply ridiculous. Don't sell Wembley when you can place a levy on agents' fees."

14 hours ago, Boyne said:

Couldn't think of anywhere else to post this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45893325

Fulham owner Shahid Khan has withdrawn his offer to buy Wembley Stadium from the Football Association after the plan became "divisive".

Pros and cons - what they said

FOR

The FA said only one in three grassroots pitches are of adequate quality and it would invest in facilities.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn: "This is an opportunity to unleash an unprecedented amount of investment into community football. Receiving an offer to sell Wembley Stadium is not a 'betrayal'. It is not selling the 'soul of the game'."

AGAINST

Opponents had suggested selling an iconic national venue was a short-term plan which the FA would live to regret.

Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville: "The FA feels to fund the grassroots programme, they have to sell a national asset - it's quite simply ridiculous. Don't sell Wembley when you can place a levy on agents' fees."

The English obsession with Wembley stadium is a hindrance. They pumped a ridiculous amount of money into building the stadium which is a massive inconvenience for the majority of fans to get to unless you live near the capital. When they made the decision to knock down the old Wembley they should have either built a new national stadium somewhere more central in England so that it was more accessible to fans or continued to tour the national team home matches around grounds thoughout the country. 

As for cup finals, just rotate the venue each year like they do European cups, it's not like there's a shortage of decent sized stadiums in England. 

Regarding grassroots football, I saw a comment this week that suggested the best thing they could do to help was for no professional football teams to not have to adhere to the same playing calendar. Play during the summer months so that the pitches are likely to be in a better condition. 

If they want to pump more money into grassroots then take money made from England international fixtures (gate receipts, sponsorship, kit deals, tv deals) and pump it straight into the grassroots level. There's a lot of money being thrown at the top end of the game and if they want to improve grassroots then put their money where their mouths are. 

7 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

The English obsession with Wembley stadium is a hindrance. They pumped a ridiculous amount of money into building the stadium which is a massive inconvenience for the majority of fans to get to unless you live near the capital. When they made the decision to knock down the old Wembley they should have either built a new national stadium somewhere more central in England so that it was more accessible to fans or continued to tour the national team home matches around grounds thoughout the country. 

As for cup finals, just rotate the venue each year like they do European cups, it's not like there's a shortage of decent sized stadiums in England. 

Regarding grassroots football, I saw a comment this week that suggested the best thing they could do to help was for no professional football teams to not have to adhere to the same playing calendar. Play during the summer months so that the pitches are likely to be in a better condition. 

If they want to pump more money into grassroots then take money made from England international fixtures (gate receipts, sponsorship, kit deals, tv deals) and pump it straight into the grassroots level. There's a lot of money being thrown at the top end of the game and if they want to improve grassroots then put their money where their mouths are. 

Agree with you about Wembley. When Wembley was being refurbished it was great for the national side to play at stadiums around the country as it gave fans a chance to see England without having to travel long distances to London and take time off work, school etc. If there is to a be a national stadium it should be in Birmingham which is approximately in the middle of the country and has good transport links. As for cup finals, I preferred Cardiff to Wembley. A much better stadium and everything e.g. railway station, pubs, restaurants etc was in walking distance of the ground.

Cardiff was a bitch to drive into and out of, though.  It is even on a normal day, let alone when there was a match on.

On ?18?/?10?/?2018 at 15:03, Boyne said:

Agree with you about Wembley. When Wembley was being refurbished it was great for the national side to play at stadiums around the country as it gave fans a chance to see England without having to travel long distances to London and take time off work, school etc. If there is to a be a national stadium it should be in Birmingham which is approximately in the middle of the country and has good transport links. As for cup finals, I preferred Cardiff to Wembley. A much better stadium and everything e.g. railway station, pubs, restaurants etc was in walking distance of the ground.

Never been to Cardiff though heard the design of the stadium enhanced the acoustics and atmosphere.

Cardiff was lovely. Wembley is just another soulless bowl. 

Real two down at Home [emoji44][emoji44]

Tottenham managing to grind out PL points despite not necessarily playing all that well is annoying.

Still, West Ham have the next half to accomplish something. 

Man City leading shouldn't be regarded as a shock. 

3 minutes ago, DaRick said:

Tottenham managing to grind out PL points despite not necessarily playing all that well is annoying.

Still, West Ham have the next half to accomplish something. 

Man City leading shouldn't be regarded as a shock. 

People underestimated Tottenham the past two seasons because they had a few silly losses at the start of the season and were underperforming but still managed to grind out results. 

We should not write them off again, last season they didn't win a game at Wembley (their home stadium) until around 10 games there, and they still managed to finish above us while we were winning games comfortably then. I expect Spurs to be up there at the end of the season, they usually get into gear around January. 

6 minutes ago, Slojo said:

People underestimated Tottenham the past two seasons because they had a few silly losses at the start of the season and were underperforming but still managed to grind out results. 

We should not write them off again, last season they didn't win a game at Wembley (their home stadium) until around 10 games there, and they still managed to finish above us while we were winning games comfortably then. I expect Spurs to be up there at the end of the season, they usually get into gear around January. 

I agree; that's what worries me. 

One of the few saving graces is that they haven't added to their squad this off-season and so, because all of their players have played in the PL previously, they are more likely to be figured out by the opposition since Pochettino will have no unknown players to surprise the opposition with (bar punting on youth products), or use to create new formations ala Conte using Alonso to create a 3-4-3 in 2016/17. Additionally they weren't actually as impressive in 2017/18 as the season before, plus several Tottenham fans have complained about a lack of squad depth. 

They may purchase more players in January but it looks like their new stadium will put a damper on any spending over the short-term at least.

I predicted that they would finish 4th at the start of the season but it could be higher. 

5 minutes ago, DaRick said:

I agree; that's what worries me. 

One of the few saving graces is that they haven't added to their squad this off-season and so, because all of their players have played in the PL previously, they are more likely to be figured out by the opposition since Pochettino will have no unknown players to surprise the opposition with (bar punting on youth products), or use to create new formations ala Conte using Alonso to create a 3-4-3 in 2016/17. Additionally they weren't actually as impressive in 2017/18 as the season before, plus several Tottenham fans have complained about a lack of squad depth. 

They may purchase more players in January but it looks like their new stadium will put a damper on any spending over the short-term at least.

I predicted that they would finish 4th at the start of the season but it could be higher. 

Our job should be to finish in the top 4, I'll be happy with that quite honestly, then we go for the title after. Right now we don't have any strikers, I can't expect us to challenge for the title with our sh*t strike force we have going on. 

So far so bloody good though, I'm really happy with the results and how we are playing. 

So spurs now Level on points with us 

Watford winning at Wolves is actually a turn-up for the books given how Watford imploded against Bournemouth. 

 

City are so good, but does any team even try against them? Only Wolves actually attempted to win the game and went all out and should've actually won it. 

And as usual Liverpool pet ref is looking after them. 

Look liked a handball by Milner 

Come'on guys......none of this cant surprise us. Theres a reason spurs get so much help, just as pool already received alot of help as well.......they are part of a Club that constantly get sh*t go their way......we aint in that Club and never will be. Name 1 decent ref? Are they getting better? Season after season its getting worse and more obvious the sh*t aint level playing field.

6 hours ago, Brutos said:

Real two down at Home

not good news at all for Chelsea - I can see RM going after The Mighty Eden with even more resolve

I wonder if firmiro sugested his brazilian dentist to klop

not good news at all for Chelsea - I can see RM going after The Mighty Eden with even more resolve

It's the opposite as Conte most likely will be in charge next at Madrid

3 minutes ago, Brutos said:

40 minutes ago, robdog said:

not good news at all for Chelsea - I can see RM going after The Mighty Eden with even more resolve

It's the opposite as Conte most likely will be in charge next at Madrid

Excellent and let them know they can have Conte's preferred MF at a knock down price... ahem..... Timmy Bakayoko 

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

Excellent and let them know they can have Conte's preferred MF at a knock down price... ahem..... Timmy Bakayoko 

I would throw in Victor Moses along with BakaYOKO-OhNo for Kovacic. 

1 hour ago, brownindian said:

I would throw in Victor Moses along with BakaYOKO-OhNo for Kovacic. 

That would be interesting and perhaps we could then buy a younger attacking player on the right to give Willian some more competition.

Hasn’t Warnock been sacked yet? I have to mute the telly and look away after Cardiff games to avoid the twat, the sight and sound of him makes me feel ill.