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'Gay Footballers? No, the Fans Wouldn't Have It'
at 12:33:07

Interesting - and am glad to have read this on my own club's forum.

Did anyone see the Gareth Thomas programme on BBC about engaging with Palace fans on a forum? Was terrible to see. But it was interesting listening to footballers who have come out (Robbie Rogers said at Leeds the players were so ignorant and homophobic he never considered it) and why they dont - namely that they will become the lightning rod and attract a circus following them everywhere.

I for one think that you are only likely to see professional footballers coming out if it is a superstar like Messi/Ronaldo etc - someone who is untouchable and cannot be ostracized by supporters or sponsors OR if it is a lower league player who realizes that they can make a name for themselves and see better media/sponsorship opportunities.

A well respected agent once told me that big name players get advised not to do it because sponsors, often big multinationals, dont want to have deal with the fallout in countries in Asia, Africa or the Midle East where attitudes to homosexuality are more hostile. Very depressing I must say! One would like to think it would be compensated by the 'pink pound'.

In any case if an ITFC player came out, I for one would be a very proud fan, and would support them in so doing.
News
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Milton Misses Derby to Be Guest of Honour at EFL Cup Final
at 09:30:40

Well done Milts - good to see charities and other people outside the game being recognized at the highest footballing level.

Shame he has to miss the Derby but I am sure there will be wifi in the royal box to watch it on his phone!!
News
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Fans Meeting Up Around the Globe to Watch East Anglian Derby
at 12:54:33

I'll be at Twickenham, hoping to find a hotspot so I can stream it (legally) through Sky Go! Unless anyone knows of any pubs in SW London?
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Ipswich Town 1-1 Leeds United - Match Report
at 09:26:54

First game I have seen in a long time that I have actually enjoyed. The last game I saw was Derby and I couldnt believe the step change in the performance.

For me there was one player that seems to have made the difference: Huws. He is able to both break up play and move forward with the ball at feet, making Skuse look less effectual. Knudsen actually seems more at home in a CB role and not tracking a winger and as and when we have a fit Webster we could really push the 3 CBs very well with a ball player in the middle.

I was also surprised by Spence, who I thought would be a Digy type filler/ squad player but actually looked composed on the ball and got the RWB role. The only down side was not seeing Moore for more than 2 mins as we did/do lack a striker that can hold up players and brings others into play.

Anyway - we are drawing/winning games that 2 months ago we would have lost comfortably and looking hard to score against again, so for that alone I am optimistic.
Blog
Comment
The Identity Crisis of Modern Football
at 12:18:50

I agree with this - and am glad I am not the only expressing this to others. After a while you feel like a lone, crazed voice shouting at traffic.

I can see that for some premier league fans, it is worth overcoming the inconvenient truth that your club is the plaything of a Billionaire who could easily carry on with the fans there. Clubs like Chelsea make far more from selling individual one off 'experience' tickets to one off fans or people from abroad than they ever do from fans, and it is really concerning.

This is why we should look more to German type model of football - capped ticket prices, community involvement etc. But as everyone above says, it takes a lot of co-ordination and active movement from fans to take back the people's game.

I also agree that the bubble is surely going to pop - but it is hard to say when and where. The chinese league I think will go first - it reminds me of ITV Digital bit on a gargantuan scale.

As a neutral i tell people that my prem league team is Spurs - they (Pochettino) is doing more for English football than any other club ATM imho. The likes of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal etc are doing v little for our national tea.
News
Comment
Webster Ignoring Transfer Talk
at 09:32:47

I would seem odd for him to move on after only having played half a season of Championship football; it cant do his career progression any good for escalating his career level so quickly.

When you look at some of our most successful players to progress up the lagues they have enjoyed a good stint with us, and have gotten used to the league and their own style of play - Aaron Cresswell and Jon Walters are good examples of that.

At 22 years old he is either going to warm a premier league team's bench and then go back out on loan over and over again or he will be put in a team too soon and his confidence shot to pieces.

If we do have to sell him then you would expect a decent fee - he must a a fair bit of time left under his contract. Perhaps we should be trying to sell him to the Chinese Premier League!!
News
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Varney Joins Burton Albion
at 10:28:19

Reg was never going to set the world alight but he clearly was beneficial to the squad and helping with younger players. The way the club helped him after that Achilles injury should also be commended.

He cost us next to nothing, delivered a few goals (the QPR one will live in the memory) and was prepared to be a supporting role in the squad, and for those reasons he should be remembered fondly by town fans
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