Football 23/24

[Mervyn and Trish]

Seems a little irrelevant. I haven't been inside a football stadium for 30 years but I see the news and know football hooligans, although a small minority, are still a problem and are spoiling it for the rest.

But we all know that the media always highlight the worst events, if they were to give the best events the same airtime then the worst events would only be aired once or twice a year, and everyone would be bored to death and stop watching the news or reading papers.

They highlight the unusual, rather than the worst. That's why one nurse slaughtering babies gets massive coverage and thousands giving loving care doesn't. But equally a cure for cancer being discovered, not the worst event, would get wall to wall coverage.

However, the fact there are any reports at all does rather go against the theory that football hooliganism doesn't happen. It may be rare but it's head in the sand to pretend it's gone away.

[towny44]

Seems a little irrelevant. I haven't been inside a football stadium for 30 years but I see the news and know football hooligans, although a small minority, are still a problem and are spoiling it for the rest.

But we all know that the media always highlight the worst events, if they were to give the best events the same airtime then the worst events would only be aired once or twice a year, and everyone would be bored to death and stop watching the news or reading papers.

They highlight the unusual, rather than the worst. That's why one nurse slaughtering babies gets massive coverage and thousands giving loving care doesn't. But equally a cure for cancer being discovered, not the worst event, would get wall to wall coverage.

However, the fact there are any reports at all does rather go against the theory that football hooliganism doesn't happen. It may be rare but it's head in the sand to pretend it's gone away.

Hooligans will create mayhem wherever they can, football, unfortunately, does engender the sort of emotions that can lead to conflict. However there do seem to be far fewer incidents than the bad old days, and as PTG says these are in the main well away from the stadiums, but this does seem to annoy the media who try their best to blow up even the tamest of incidents into a full blown revival of the bad Old days. And it does seem to be having some success with the more susceptable members of our forum.

[paultheagle]

Bloody Arsenal.

[oldbluefox]

You don't need the media. Just do a scan of YouTube and you can see it for yourself and then try telling me it doesn't exist.
Although it's a minority creating the trouble it was refreshing to see supporters of both teams mixing in the stands with no segregation and no trouble. That's the contrast.

[paultheagle]

It did exist, now it's hardly ever and just tonight I saw Palace and Arsenal fans in our Fan Zone drinking and eating. No trouble just having fun

[oldbluefox]

It did exist more than it does today but there is still a minority who spoil it for the rest. CCTV and strategic policing has played a major role in reducing bad behaviour in the stands but you still see people being ejected by stewards and opposing fans trying to get over the barriers to home supporters and I doubt it's to shake hands.
Recently Carlisle, not known for hooliganism, closed down a section of the ground due to crowd trouble against Fleetwood.

And for the record I was able to get tickets to watch City until 2015 and am now reduced to watching online with an occasional visit to Brunton Park. Thoroughly enjoyed Palace v Leicester when Stevie Claridge shinned the winner in the last minute. This was the decade when City played at Wembley more often than all your top teams and I was there for all of them except Blackburn. Assuming I hadn't been to a match since the 80s was way off the mark. When we were at Old Trafford, sat with a load of Japanese Manu fans the steward obviously spotted our blue shirts and told us to cover them up and not jump up and down if we scored!!! We didn't score!

Pleased you had a good evening PTE even if the score wasn't to your liking!

[paultheagle]

You could still get tickets for Leicester via their members scheme, I think, albeit it's a long journey for you. Glad you enjoyed the '96 Play Off Final when our former player scored the flukiest goal ever scored at Wembley. Not that we are bitter or anything. It took me a while summer to get over that one .How did you manage to get tickets in the home stand at Old Trafford? That was rather unfortunate. Typical of Man United fans though, from Japan I mean not Manchester.

Crowd trouble at football is rare these days, it does happen though and I guess it always will but I don't think it well ever get out of hand again like it was in 70's and 80's.

[oldbluefox]

I could join the members scheme but it would have worked out very expensive just for the three or four matches I could make and no guarantee of a ticket anyway . Getting an away ticket was even worse.

I had a mate who was a travel agent and he used his contacts to get tickets. Usually they were in the home stands so we had plenty of practice sitting on our hands. For the league Cup final against Tranmere we bought tickets from an ex City player who lived just down the road from me in Blackpool.
I think there's a waiting list for season tickets at City so tickets are not easy to come by. It should be a lot easier when we lose a few games. Anybody could go when we were crap!!
I think we have agreement on your last paragraph.

[paultheagle]

He's a very good England player and still young 22 I think but who will sign Mason Greenwood? Most clubs, quite unfairly, won't go anywhere by ear him (cowards). He has been very badly dealt with especially by MU. His crime does not fit his punishment.

I think he might have to go abroad which will be a complete waste.

[oldbluefox]

If I was him I'd go to Saudi Arabia and make a shedload of money as all the top clubs in UK would fear a backlash of protests if they took him on.
It should have gone to trial so he would have been found either guilty or not guilty. As it stands it's neither one thing or the other.

[barney]

Confirmed today - a season long loan of Connor Mahoney from The Terriers.

He is the type of player that we don't have at the moment and we are playing very narrow.

Yet another with Millwall connections and willing to drop down a couple of divisions for the right project.

Hopefully, it will rekindle his career.

[towny44]

Confirmed today - a season long loan of Connor Mahoney from The Terriers.

He is the type of player that we don't have at the moment and we are playing very narrow.

Yet another with Millwall connections and willing to drop down a couple of divisions for the right project.

Hopefully, it will rekindle his career.

He did make a few substitute appearances and the occasional start, but never established himself as regular on the bench.

[barney]

Confirmed today - a season long loan of Connor Mahoney from The Terriers.

He is the type of player that we don't have at the moment and we are playing very narrow.

Yet another with Millwall connections and willing to drop down a couple of divisions for the right project.

Hopefully, it will rekindle his career.

He did make a few substitute appearances and the occasional start, but never established himself as regular on the bench.

Yeah, we're aware of that.
If he was a regular in the Championship, he wouldn't be dropping to league two.
Harris knows him well and he's friends with Scot Malone and Sean Williams so should settle in well.
It's a make or break season for him.
Hopefully !

[towny44]

Confirmed today - a season long loan of Connor Mahoney from The Terriers.

He is the type of player that we don't have at the moment and we are playing very narrow.

Yet another with Millwall connections and willing to drop down a couple of divisions for the right project.

Hopefully, it will rekindle his career.

He did make a few substitute appearances and the occasional start, but never established himself as regular on the bench.

Yeah, we're aware of that.
If he was a regular in the Championship, he wouldn't be dropping to league two.
Harris knows him well and he's friends with Scot Malone and Sean Williams so should settle in well.
It's a make or break season for him.
Hopefully !

Scott Malone had a season with us on our return to the championship, he looked good sometimes but was not consistent enough.

[Manoverboard]

T' Hornets have finally signed a No 9 who, reportedly, can actually score goals. Do hope so

[paultheagle]

Has he got a name?

[oldbluefox]

Mileta Rajovic apparently. She's a Danish porn star who's sure to score

[barney]

He did make a few substitute appearances and the occasional start, but never established himself as regular on the bench.

Yeah, we're aware of that.
If he was a regular in the Championship, he wouldn't be dropping to league two.
Harris knows him well and he's friends with Scot Malone and Sean Williams so should settle in well.
It's a make or break season for him.
Hopefully !

Scott Malone had a season with us on our return to the championship, he looked good sometimes but was not consistent enough.

Malone has been consistently good so far this season.
He wasn't supposed to sign, just train and get fit.
Harris did him a favour of allowing it and it loved it here.
The exact same with Macauley Bonne.
They just loved the vibe and decided it's where they want to be.
To be honest neither those two or Sean Williams or now, Mahoney should be in league two.

[Manoverboard]

Has he got a name?

Yep ... it's that sort Malet(t)a that Foxy mentioned

ps .. I thought Palace had moved Will Hughes on but not so it seems

[paultheagle]

No he got injured pre season, back in training now.

[screwy]

Palace have become Utd’s saviour, taking a semi decent keeper of us for tops of £20m + a decent sell on. Glad to get him out of the door,toxic in the dressing room,self belief he is better than he really is. COVID and injury while at Forest set him back but it’s good riddance from us. Wish him well though, good luck Palace.

[paultheagle]

I think your talking about Dean Henderson. As far as I know not a done deal but we will welcome him if true .

[paultheagle]

Off to football today Bromley v Southend.

[barney]

Gills will be at Luton tonight in round two of the League Cup tonight.
First visitors since the upgrade.
We are using a lot of fringe players for a run out.
I hope Luton are doing the same or it could be a rout.

[paultheagle]

We will definitely play a mix if fringe players and academy at Plymouth. My memories of Plymouth, they are a very loud, passionate crowd. I think we will be knocked out of the EFL cup at the first hurdle especially if they play their strongest team.