Football thread 2016/2017

[towny44]

Whilst I know why you are so irate Cubie, I think that most supporters will be philosophical enough to recognise that Claudio no longer seems to be able to motivate the players, and if he stayed relegation is quite probable.
Any change might just spark a revival and so avoid the drop, which despite their cherished memories of Ranieri is the preferable option.

[qbman1]

The vast sackfulls of money they throw at them should be motivation enough! I have to say I really hope they go down now (sorry, Foxy).

[Manoverboard]

I don't actually care any more if they do get relegated .... however, money DOES NOT motivate the majority of professional players.

Being the best at what they do is the motivating force but a Claudio, or similar, has to show them tactically how to achieve it. They do not presumably think he was up to the challenges that faced them so they blamed him for their own short comings .... imo.

[oldbluefox]

It's a sad day to see him go. He was an absolute gentleman and will always be a hero in Leicester after what he has achieved. However it is no secret that something was wrong with a team which was so exciting to watch last season and was so lacklustre this. Sad though it is it is his responsibility to plan and motivate. Even as a layman some of his team selections and substitutions were questionable as were some of his tactics.
However considering how much Premier League managers earn and the extent of the compensation he will receive I will not be feeling too sorry for him. Football nowadays is a business and big money is involved so it is only natural that the owners will want to protect their investment.
It's never straight forward being a Fox!!!

[gfwgfw]

Current football is so fickle as this recent nonsense proves

Claudio given the sack plus a sackful of cash

[oldbluefox]

A lovely man and a real gentleman but I would quite happily have accepted the sack for a couple of million in the bank......................... No need to work ever again.

[qbman1]

I don't actually care any more if they do get relegated .... however, money DOES NOT motivate the majority of professional players.

Being the best at what they do is the motivating force but a Claudio, or similar, has to show them tactically how to achieve it. They do not presumably think he was up to the challenges that faced them so they blamed him for their own short comings .... imo.

So then, why are they paid such ridiculous amounts - more in less than a year than most of us can expect to earn in a lifetime ?!

[barney]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!

first win since December 17th for The Gills

7 consecutive draws before Saturday.

I was starting to lose the will to live.

[qbman1]

On this day in 2000, Leicester City beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 in the League Cup Final at the old Wembley Stadium

Ah, those were the days. Where are they now ?!

[Manoverboard]

I don't actually care any more if they do get relegated .... however, money DOES NOT motivate the majority of professional players.

Being the best at what they do is the motivating force but a Claudio, or similar, has to show them tactically how to achieve it. They do not presumably think he was up to the challenges that faced them so they blamed him for their own short comings .... imo.

So then, why are they paid such ridiculous amounts - more in less than a year than most of us can expect to earn in a lifetime ?!

' Some ' of them earn ridiculous amounts albeit only for a very short period of time.

Arrange for SKY to transmit Worldwide showings of you pruning your whatevers and then you will also rake in the dosh .... simples

[qbman1]

OK, I could work 1 week every 10 years and still live extremely comfortably !

[towny44]

The vast sackfulls of money they throw at them should be motivation enough! I have to say I really hope they go down now (sorry, Foxy).

Cubie I hate to say I told you so, but I did point out that Claudio no longer seemed able motivate the players, and maybe a new manager would improve things.
I only watched little bits of the match but I think a 3-1 victory over Liverpool is proof that something helped to improve their performance.

[qbman1]

Of course, I didn't watch the game but if that is correct then it is all the players that should be sacked and not the manager

[towny44]

Now I know I am a bit biased towards Footy but does anyone else not think that the customs & revenue action against the supposed £5m VAT fraud by football clubs is a bit OTT.
The BBC, and they never exaggerate do they, say this investigation has been ongoing for several months and involves 180 revenue staff, now how soon are they going to rack up more than £5m, if not already, especially with trips to France involved.
Surely the law enforcement agencies should have learnt lessons from the fiasco of the televised raid on Cliff Richards house, and found more subtle ways of getting the PFL to pay their fair share of taxes.
I will now don my safety helmet and await the retribution from the less sporting members of the forum.

[qbman1]

Don't want to disappoint you so it's about time someone started tackling the fat, greedy oiks who are creaming off vast sums to line their own pockets. Nothing to do with football !

[Manoverboard]

It must be extremely difficult to work out which taxes are due and to whom and especially so when, for example, a French player is on loan to a UK Club where part of his income, kit and National Insurance etc is paid fully or in part by the Club he is contracted to.

A dawn raid on a Footy Club is indeed totally OTT, in my opinion.

[qbman1]

Nah, raid them all and close all the big spenders down then we can get back to proper footy where money is not everything

[towny44]

It must be extremely difficult to work out which taxes are due and to whom and especially so when, for example, a French player is on loan to a UK Club where part of his income, kit and National Insurance etc is paid fully or in part by the Club he is contracted to.

A dawn raid on a Footy Club is indeed totally OTT, in my opinion.

Thank you Moby, I think we can safely say that Cubie is in a small minority, so far, on this topic, although he will certainly top the poll as far as postings go.

[qbman1]

Just expressing my opinions, dear

[towny44]

Just expressing my opinions, dear

We already know your opinion of football and the Premier league especially, but my question was whether the tactics were not OTT considering the small size of the alleged fraud, and the likelihood that Customs will spend a hell of a lot more on the investigation.
Would the customs have done the same, even for a higher fraud amount, if they were investigating VAT fraud in flower arranging?

[qbman1]

I am sure they would. Mrs C is retired with a limited income but the tax office have still spent over 2 years harassing her about the meagre amounts earned from flower demos ! We haven't been raided yet, though.

[qbman1]

....and, yes, there is far too much money sloshing around and ruining the Premier League as a sport of the people !

[towny44]

....and, yes, there is far too much money sloshing around and ruining the Premier League as a sport of the people !

But isn't wanting Customs to take a bigger share a wee bit too socialist?

[qbman1]

Even I sound a bit socialist with my views on the obscene amounts of money but the more the tax man clobbers them the happier I am !

[towny44]

Even I sound a bit socialist with my views on the obscene amounts of money but the more the tax man clobbers them the happier I am !

I think you need to read Churchill more regularly.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. (Winston Churchill 1874-1965)