| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league 19:17 - Dec 22 with 3636 views | homer_123 |
where extraordinary things are panning out.
One thing is for sure....it's not dull!!! |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 19:27 - Dec 22 with 3563 views | _clive_baker_ |
Other than City being sh1t this season isn’t particularly extraordinary. Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea are the top 3, the promoted 3 are all in the bottom 4 and the run rate for survival is about 30 points. Quite predictable isn’t it? |  | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 with 3338 views | ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:11 - Dec 22 with 3151 views | Illinoisblue |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 19:27 - Dec 22 by _clive_baker_ |
Other than City being sh1t this season isn’t particularly extraordinary. Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea are the top 3, the promoted 3 are all in the bottom 4 and the run rate for survival is about 30 points. Quite predictable isn’t it? |
The continued rise of the mid-tier teams is interesting; Bournemouth, Forest, Brighton, Fulham. Man City’s demise is a thing of beauty. It’s not all boring but yes, the bottom 3 will likely be the promoted teams which will be dull and painful. |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:12 - Dec 22 with 3135 views | FrimleyBlue |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
IF the club purposely targeted up and coming players over this season players then that's one thing.
But if we tried to get some experienced heads who maybe had become a fringe player etc but they chose to sit on the sidelines than join another club. That's when I lose interest in the prem.
It used to be the the dream of all players young and old to play in. But if experienced players are turning down even short term moves to continue playing that level then it's a completely ruined game. |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:21 - Dec 22 with 3067 views | FrimleyBlue |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:11 - Dec 22 by Illinoisblue |
The continued rise of the mid-tier teams is interesting; Bournemouth, Forest, Brighton, Fulham. Man City’s demise is a thing of beauty. It’s not all boring but yes, the bottom 3 will likely be the promoted teams which will be dull and painful. |
This is why I'm so passionate about wanting us to stay up.. there's no promises either side. But we've seen how hard it can be to get back up. But we've seen also how clubs have stayed up and started to enjoy golden years at the highest level. | |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:28 - Dec 22 with 3038 views | Sharkey |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
I find the instinct to cheat is just as bad in L2. The only way it will ever change is if fans call out their own players, and that ain't going to happen soon. |  | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 22:29 - Dec 22 with 2843 views | _clive_baker_ |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:21 - Dec 22 by FrimleyBlue |
This is why I'm so passionate about wanting us to stay up.. there's no promises either side. But we've seen how hard it can be to get back up. But we've seen also how clubs have stayed up and started to enjoy golden years at the highest level. |
Everyone wants to stay up. Prevention is quite obviously better than cure, there’s nobody suggesting relegation is favourable. | | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 22:41 - Dec 22 with 2803 views | tonybied |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 21:28 - Dec 22 by Sharkey |
I find the instinct to cheat is just as bad in L2. The only way it will ever change is if fans call out their own players, and that ain't going to happen soon. |
It's not the fans that need to call it out, the authorities need to clamp down on it and give serious punishment for cheating. The media don't help with calling such cheating "clever fouls" or "definite contact" and sh*the like "continuation of a foul in to the area", They're just normalizing it, it's all just accepted as part of the game now. I think it's probably the thing that I hate most about modern football to be honest. [Post edited 22 Dec 2024 22:57]
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 23:40 - Dec 22 with 2658 views | sotd78 |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
I suspect i am of your age too. The game is full of flim flam. Nothing of any real import made to seem life or death. Money, or the desire for it, drives everything. It's a band wagon desperate to protect itself while still just paying lip service to promotion and relegation. We're seemingly a couple of years from a breakaway superleague. Perhaps two divisions in order to let in the top ten Premier clubs. After which it'll be a closed shop. Why else all the American money pouring into the game.
It's not a great product. And sadly as someone who's probably seen 1400 live games in person I really couldn't care less. |  |
| Blue shirts/white shorts - sotd78 |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 23:47 - Dec 22 with 2628 views | bournemouthblue |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 19:27 - Dec 22 by _clive_baker_ |
Other than City being sh1t this season isn’t particularly extraordinary. Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea are the top 3, the promoted 3 are all in the bottom 4 and the run rate for survival is about 30 points. Quite predictable isn’t it? |
Forest in 4th & Bournemouth in 5th is fairly extraordinary I would say, along with Man and Spurs in the bottom half
Obviously with all three promoted sides relegated last year, all 17 established clubs have had two extra transfer windows to strengthen that gap with the Championship
It could easily end with us, Leicester and Southampton all straight back down again too which makes it even worse for the promoted sides next season |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 00:04 - Dec 23 with 2599 views | Churchman |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
My first game was 1968 Arnie, so I’m of the same ‘vintage’ as you. I don’t always agree with your views and no doubt visa versa, but on this, I am 100% in agreement.
When we were promoted, I sort of knew or more accurately guessed what it’d be like and so it’s proved only more so. The game will soon be no more than a Harlem Globetrotters rig-fest. Great.
I feel lucky to have lived through the period where the professional game was geared more towards competition. Now it’s geared towards non competition, VAR, vested interests, super league on the horizon, a moral sewer, rules in the bin for the big boys, smart &rse boneheads like Shearer stealing a living and justifying simulation (cheating) all to make sure the £££ flows to those at the top of the heap forever.
It’s all about money. Nothing else and that saddens me. Do I want ITFC in the PL given the above? Yes. Because it’s the top of the game so why not try to emulate Brighton and Forest and kick the door in? I don’t like what I see but I hate L1 swamp dwelling more, I guess. |  | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 07:46 - Dec 23 with 2335 views | ArnieM |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 00:04 - Dec 23 by Churchman |
My first game was 1968 Arnie, so I’m of the same ‘vintage’ as you. I don’t always agree with your views and no doubt visa versa, but on this, I am 100% in agreement.
When we were promoted, I sort of knew or more accurately guessed what it’d be like and so it’s proved only more so. The game will soon be no more than a Harlem Globetrotters rig-fest. Great.
I feel lucky to have lived through the period where the professional game was geared more towards competition. Now it’s geared towards non competition, VAR, vested interests, super league on the horizon, a moral sewer, rules in the bin for the big boys, smart &rse boneheads like Shearer stealing a living and justifying simulation (cheating) all to make sure the £££ flows to those at the top of the heap forever.
It’s all about money. Nothing else and that saddens me. Do I want ITFC in the PL given the above? Yes. Because it’s the top of the game so why not try to emulate Brighton and Forest and kick the door in? I don’t like what I see but I hate L1 swamp dwelling more, I guess. |
Agree 100% with you on this Churchman ( guess that’s where you used to watch Town from hey!). I’ve always been a North Stander myself. My first game was v Derby . A night game. We lost 1-0 to Derby. I think a Kevin Hector goal at the NS end. Izel loo rolls flew over my head at that point. I was 11yrs old at the standing down at the front of the stand against the wall . We lost, but I loved the atmosphere. I was hooked, and I believe it was 1969. | |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 08:45 - Dec 23 with 2217 views | Chrisd |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
Well said Arnie, I agree with most of the points you raise, I think you hit the nail on the head in most cases. There’s no denying that it’s nice that we are rubbing shoulders with the elite again, but sad that clubs have to financially cripple themselves merely to compete in the bottom six of the EPL. |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 10:48 - Dec 23 with 1990 views | Bellevue_Blue |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
Lot's of great points made here. I disagree that there is no enjoyment in our games though. I wasn't old enough to really enjoy it last time we were up but I'm loving competing with the very best on a week to week basis. Give me a tough game against Newcastle vs a toss up against Bristol City every day of the week.
I do agree though that it is an increasingly closed shop and the nonsense play acting is hard to watch. That Kyle Walker flop last weekend particularly irked me .. but there are no repercussions. Walker should have been fined and suspended. [Post edited 23 Dec 2024 12:16]
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 10:55 - Dec 23 with 1959 views | textbackup |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
I keep seeing about ‘real fans’ every home game we’ve seen 3000 away fans that are exactly the same as all of us, and we are real, aren’t we? |  |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 10:56 - Dec 23 with 1958 views | _clive_baker_ |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 23:47 - Dec 22 by bournemouthblue |
Forest in 4th & Bournemouth in 5th is fairly extraordinary I would say, along with Man and Spurs in the bottom half
Obviously with all three promoted sides relegated last year, all 17 established clubs have had two extra transfer windows to strengthen that gap with the Championship
It could easily end with us, Leicester and Southampton all straight back down again too which makes it even worse for the promoted sides next season |
I don't think it's particularly extraordinary. Unexpected towards the top admittedly, and will be more extraordinary if they stand the test of time and stay there, but I dare say 1 or both will fall. This time last season West Ham were 6th. Man City is the only story that's truly extraordinary this season IMO. For a club to win the title for the past 4 seasons and then find themselves 7th is nuts, despite the injuries.
As for United I think they're just a mid table side right now. Big club, but can't dine out on past glories. Finished middling last season and will do again this.
Relegation wise the smart money is probably on the 3 promoted sides to all drop, almost certainly 2 of them will, but perhaps all 3. As you say doesn't help the promoted clubs next season, the likes of Palace, Everton and West Ham while underperforming vs. their own expectations can still maintain that differential by way of quality and budget which would probably leave the 3 promoted clubs + perhaps 1 of the more established ones having a stinker as has been the case this season. Leeds are perhaps one that could come up, spend some dough and get close to being more competitive. I can't see anyone else doing it. | | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 11:11 - Dec 23 with 1911 views | ArnieM |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 10:55 - Dec 23 by textbackup |
I keep seeing about ‘real fans’ every home game we’ve seen 3000 away fans that are exactly the same as all of us, and we are real, aren’t we? |
Yes we are all real fans, but I doubt these big clubs really consider the fans are “real”. To them we are just punters to squeeze every last £out of. Or when agreeing fixtures with the tv companies, don’t consider for one minute the distance and time of day these fans have to travel to watch their team. They’re only interested in screening as many games as they can into prime time viewing to capture as much pay per view revenue. They’re not interested in us fans. | |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 14:24 - Dec 23 with 1716 views | textbackup |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 11:11 - Dec 23 by ArnieM |
Yes we are all real fans, but I doubt these big clubs really consider the fans are “real”. To them we are just punters to squeeze every last £out of. Or when agreeing fixtures with the tv companies, don’t consider for one minute the distance and time of day these fans have to travel to watch their team. They’re only interested in screening as many games as they can into prime time viewing to capture as much pay per view revenue. They’re not interested in us fans. |
Just don’t worry about it?
It’ll bog you down. And it really doesn’t matter. | |
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 17:23 - Dec 23 with 1446 views | RadioOrwell |
And praise the Lord for that.
It's the boredom that kills a club. |  | | |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 17:24 - Dec 23 with 1441 views | RadioOrwell |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 19:27 - Dec 22 by _clive_baker_ |
Other than City being sh1t this season isn’t particularly extraordinary. Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea are the top 3, the promoted 3 are all in the bottom 4 and the run rate for survival is about 30 points. Quite predictable isn’t it? |
I think he's talking about us ... extraordinary times ... new life ... higher levels ... It's been incredible for us if you hadn't noticed.
[Post edited 23 Dec 2024 17:29]
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| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 22:44 - Dec 23 with 1248 views | Mark |
| For the 3rd season running...we find ourselves in a league on 20:24 - Dec 22 by ArnieM |
Can't say I'm actually " enjoying" our games. The PL to me is plastic, money only driven, where real fans count for nothing as Sky runs the whole thing. The PL players from the established teams whilst boasting supreme athleticism, skill, pace and endurance, are lso simultatiniously, powder - puff diving cheats who go down head clutching, into multiple rolls at the merest touch. They're not real men. I doubt they'd last 2 mins on a rugby pitch ( and no, I'm not a rugby follower).
For all it's self proclaimed hype, it actually massively disappoints, and is largely predictable every season. It's a closed shop. The big 6 don't want clubs promoted from the championship. Their system is geared towards protecting their interests and stuff the rest of us.
I'm a Town fan 1st and foremost and will follow them which ever level they are at and have done so since 1969. But i look at the money our club has had to spend, and we are still nowhere near being able to compete on even terms or being " accepted" . MOTD / Sky pundits can barely be bothered to even mention our name when drooling over our opponents. I just find it all so sad how the game has become. I dont personally feel it's for the better. But I expect many will disagree. But that's what forums are for, opinions. .
COYBS |
I agree, sadly it is all about money now and all in favour of the big clubs. Fans are charged more than ever to attend games and watch on TV, advertising is more intrusive than ever, and VAR so often ruins the joy of the moment. Teams market away shirts rather than wear traditional colours (like Newcastle in white and green). There is saturation football as more and more competitions are invented and expanded, except the FA Cup which has taken replays away from smaller clubs who needed that money. |  | | |
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