Football 20/21

[Bensham33]

Went to Selhurst last night to watch our U23's play their Play-Off Final against Sunderland. A brilliant crowd saw the boys win 5-3 on pens after a 0-0 extra time game.

Our 23's are now in the Premier League 2 Division 1.

[barney]

Went to Selhurst last night to watch our U23's play their Play-Off Final against Sunderland. A brilliant crowd saw the boys win 5-3 on pens after a 0-0 extra time game.

Our 23's are now in the Premier League 2 Division 1.

Take a look at the Sunderland forum.
They are in meltdown about yet another season in league one.
In their first year, their away fans travelled in t shirts saying ‘tinpot tour’
Four years on they are still in the tinpot league despite having the largest budget in the division.
It looks like they are replacing the manager yet again.

[Bensham33]

Sunderland are a massive club, bigger than Palace. Why are they in the 3rd Division? There's something massively wrong at that club. Mind, they ain't the only ones are they.

[barney]

Sunderland are a massive club, bigger than Palace. Why are they in the 3rd Division? There's something massively wrong at that club. Mind, they ain't the only ones are they.

Sunderland, Pompey, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton , Wigan, Donny, possibly Blackpool.
Huge budgets and now there is not going to be any form of salary cap, it’s virtually impossible for a smaller team to get out.
We’ll be happy with mid table yet again although I will still have my £10 promotion bet
It took Sheffield United seven seasons to get out.
All championship clubs are just one bad season away from playing Gillingham

[Manoverboard]

... All championship clubs are just one bad season away from playing Gillingham

And maybe some middle of the road Prem Clubs are one season away from playing Real Madrid

[barney]

... All championship clubs are just one bad season away from playing Gillingham

And maybe some middle of the road Prem Clubs are one season away from playing Real Madrid

Dream on Moby
Watford are going to be the latest boing boing club.
Next season West Brom up, Hornets down, rinse and repeat
If you still have your boots, Andy Hessenthaler is advertising for players to come to Dover for a trial as he has no players for next season.
It will only be a part time role but may suit you

[Manoverboard]

Dream on Moby

I was actually thinking of the likes of Everton and West Ham, deffo not the Hornets

ps ... my boots fell to bits years ago

[barney]

Dream on Moby

I was actually thinking of the likes of Everton and West Ham, deffo not the Hornets

ps ... my boots fell to bits years ago

I’d like to think so Moby but unfortunately it’s unlikely.
Money talks, especially in football.
When we have a league where some of the teams have literally millions more than competitors, it’s hardly a fair fight for them.
We get what we’ve got.
The richest winning the division, with the make weights vying for the Champs League.
Everyone else is aiming for mid table obscurity at best.

[oldbluefox]

And maybe some middle of the road Prem Clubs are one season away from playing Real Madrid

You called m'Lord?

[Manoverboard]

And maybe some middle of the road Prem Clubs are one season away from playing Real Madrid

You called m'Lord?

I dare say that the Foxes will go for it and may Lady Luck go with them

Watford however have announced that they cannot keep up with the buying of big time Charlies on silly wages so are going to revert to their DNA of developing academy players, why, only today they have signed a little fish from Grimsby named Pollock for £250,000. If it means that we yo-yo then that is fine given that the alternative is to potentially go into Administration.

[barney]

Playoffs HT
Brentford 2-Swansea 0
Ivan Toney has been brilliant in the first half.

[barney]

Well deserved

[screwy]

Well done Brentford.

Afraid to say I think they will be back down next season, hope not.

[Bensham33]

Welcome to the Premier League, Brentford.

I've been to Hayes Lane. Today was the last day of the National League and watched Bromley v Notts County. Bromley won the game 1-0 and finished 7th. Thereby qualifying for the end of season Play-Offs. A fantastic achievement for a club like Bromley. A really entertaining game as well.

[Whynd1]

Swansea were awful.
Bad week in this house for footie finals with Man Utd and the Swans.

[screwy]

I share your grief Whynd 1

[Manoverboard]

Well done Brentford, they looked like they wanted to win

I deffo wasn't expecting Chelsea to win

[screwy]

Neither were City. Oh how I laughed.

[Manoverboard]

Neither were City. Oh how I laughed.

Me too ... I still feel the pain of the 8:0 drubbing we got

[barney]

Well done Brentford, they looked like they wanted to win

I deffo wasn't expecting Chelsea to win

It was only just over 20 years ago that we were buying Brentford’s best players like Paul Smith and Robert Taylor.
Amazing what a multi millionaire owner can do
Brighton used to be our tenants back in the day.
Another millionaire owner
We used to consider Bournemouth a smaller club than us.
Millionaire owner? Yep!
Anyone see a pattern emerging
Jealous?
Moi?
Maybe!

[oldbluefox]

Unfortunately that's the direction football has gone. It is very difficult for the smaller clubs to compete against the big boys who can not only afford exorbitant transfer fees for players (who invariably end up sitting on the bench) but also pay them ridiculous wages which nobody else can afford. Add into the mix the way in which they sweep up all the best young talent from an early age then you can see why the clubs lower down the league struggle to find the talent to progress.

Good luck to Brentford and congratulations!!

[oldbluefox]

I was rather pleased that Chelsea won last night. I am no fan of Chelsea but it makes a change for other clubs to win trophies other than the usual few who seem to mop up everything going AND expect to win everything. They are not happy bunnies at all if they lose to one of the lesser clubs and feel compelled to come out with all manner of lame excuses. It's good for the game when the apple cart is upset, even if there are times when we are on the wrong end of it.

[barney]

Oil Sheikh or Oil Oligarch
What a choice?
It’s such a shame what English football has become.

[Bensham33]

English football is alive and kicking and flourishing. Look beyond the Premier League and even the EFL and you will find plenty of clubs run by people who simply love the game and their club. We have something very special in this country it's called the Pyramid. There is a non League / smaller club near all of us. Every football fan can support someone.

[barney]

I’m talking about the highest level Bensham.
Lower level is desperately in trouble. It
Dover being a perfect example.
They were run with zero debt.
Covid hit and the National league clubs were offered loans to continue.
Dover chairman Parmenter declined the loan as their policy was to run debt free.
So, no football, relegation and points deducted next season, because they wouldn’t take on a level of debt that a Premier club would not even notice.
The distribution of money is football is totally wrong.
That’s why I didn’t care about some clubs breaking away to form the ESL.
It’s only what the Premier League has done.
Broke away from the football league and formed a new company.
The FA were gutless and allowed it.
All water under the bridge now. The damage is done.