Football (Soccer) Thread

[celedhring]

That is gross, I suppose? According to my math, take Messi out and we fall to 7th place 

He's on 100/year. He single-handedly contributes roughly 4 million of that average.

[celedhring]

And I certainly wouldn't have expected to see Fiore on that list.

[Maladict]

The one left out must be feeling quite bad. 

It's Sheffield. They've already been relegated, as they clearly don't belong.

[FunkMonk]

Protestors invaded Old Trafford 

[Tamas]

Protestors invaded Old Trafford 

The Guardian live commenter guy is very happy.

It can remind us of the golden age of football now lost under the weight of commercialism, I get that.

[Sheilbh]

Protestors invaded Old Trafford 

It's crazy - because Sky Sports now don't have a game to show we've just got Souness, Keane, Neville and Carragher laying in to the Glazers

Now obviously fan protests, like poetry, makes nothing happen. Mike Ashley is still the owner of Newcastle. Despite the Green and Gold protests the Glazers still took over United. But there is a lot of anger at the owners now.

Edit: And it's crazy because the host is saying stuff like "we all support peaceful protests but this went too far" and all of the pundits are pushing back against that line

Or rather a little more nuanced - obviously they all condemn violence but Carragher made the very good point that football fans have been demonised in this country before ("slum games watched by slum people in slum stadiums") and in part that led to Hillsborough and Bradford. But most fans were there for peaceful protests and they need to separate the United fans and the protests from the violence of a few idiots.

[FunkMonk]

The NBC commentary and talking heads were all horrified that this happened. 

I must admit this gave me a good laugh this morning.

[Sheilbh]

I mean the Guardian made a good point that it is astonishing how unprepared Manchester United (and posibbly the police) were for something like this given that there's already been a fan invasion of their training ground and fans have been planning this protest on social media for the last couple of weeks.

But it is really fascinating to see the narrative being shaped live. The Sky Sports host is emphasising the bits that "went too far" while Neville and Carragher are very strongly defending the general protests and the right of fans to protest, and emphasising that it's really important not to focus on the minority who "went too far".

I think Souness's cynicism is right - that ultimately this won't have any impact on the Glazers or their ownership.

[Tamas]

I mean the Guardian made a good point that it is astonishing how unprepared Manchester United (and posibbly the police) were for something like this given that there's already been a fan invasion of their training ground and fans have been planning this protest on social media for the last couple of weeks.

But it is really fascinating to see the narrative being shaped live. The Sky Sports host is emphasising the bits that "went too far" while Neville and Carragher are very strongly defending the general protests and the right of fans to protest, and emphasising that it's really important not to focus on the minority who "went too far".

I think Souness's cynicism is right - that ultimately this won't have any impact on the Glazers or their ownership.

Aren't the stadium and its facilities private property? If somebody has been a fan of the local grocery store and doesn't like the planned changes on which candies to sell, can they just break into the store and run amok in protest?

It's nice they feel strongly about the game of foot to ball but let's reserve religious deference to religions, please.

[Sheilbh]

Aren't the stadium and its facilities private property? If somebody has been a fan of the local grocery store and doesn't like the planned changes on which candies to sell, can they just break into the store and run amok in protest?

It's nice they feel strongly about the game of foot to ball but let's reserve religious deference to religions, please.

Do grocery stores have over a hundred years of history in a community? Do parents excitedly look forward to taking their kids on the first trip to the grocery store, just as they were taken by their parents?

I mean my club, for 20 years, allowed people to bury ashes of their family under and around the pitch because that part of their life mattered so much to them - it's been stopped now but they've been moved to a remembrance garden at the church next to the stadium where people can and do bury ashes. But there are plaques at one part of stadium in memory of loved ones - so there's always flowers and wreaths and memorials around the statue of Dixie Dean. That doesn't tend to happen with grocery stores or other purely consumer businesses. Similarly I think lower down the leagues - hearing the football results is probably the only time you ever hear about your town or community in the media ("Walsall 1 - Mansfield Town 2").

I think Johnson's line on this is fair that football clubs are a part of the community and cultural life of this country. And this goes across the game - from the owners trying to set up this Super League to lower down in the league where bad ownership leads to clubs with over a hundred years of heritage going into administration. It's why phoenix clubs keep happening in a way phoenix grocery stores don't.

On a purely consumer level - I can't think of many consumer/brand loyalties that are more sticky than football club. I could be wrong but I think it's probably even stickier than religious faith

[The Larch]

All English CL final this season. Will City finally win it?

[crazy canuck]

Yes, but I would have liked to see Madrid in the final.

[Jacob]

Yes, but I would have liked to see Madrid in the final.

Not me, fuck Madrid and the Super League.

[Sheilbh]

Yes, but I would have liked to see Madrid in the final.

Not me, fuck Madrid and the Super League.

Although Man City v Chelsea

I suspect City will finally win. But I wouldn't write off Chelsea - they've been so impressive since Tuchel came in. And I can't ignore the very real possibility of Pep over-thinking things and fucking it all up again

[crazy canuck]

Yes, but I would have liked to see Madrid in the final.

Not me, fuck Madrid and the Super League.

We are choosing between Madrid and Chelsea here....