gingerjon

English clubs have been entering the UEFA competitions since 1956. The argument against not entering had a lot to do with the Football League (not always the FA) organising its own tournaments - combined with the usual British superiority which had seen the international sides boycott FIFA.

Thing is, club football is pretty close to saturation, even if it’s not already got there. I did enjoy the European competitions this season but even I can see they’re now beyond bloated. This tournament just doesn’t feel necessary. It’s not organic development of something existing that people see any value in - there have been multiple failed attempts to generate a club world championship to the level that the correct response is to accept it really can’t be done and to leave it to glorified money spinning friendlies. This is just so absolutely crazy that you almost have to admire the insanity of it.

Oh god, yes.

Going well …

In the absence of any communication at all, either official or from a curious and thorough media, people will gravitate to their own conclusions.

They can’t produce updates, write minutes or, it seems, understand basic corporate structures. We know they didn’t read the detail of a *12 year* deal before signing. But they have a bit of money so they must be wise and true and clever and strategic .

Back to our League of Ireland interests

Usurped on their own thread by soccer. There’s a metaphor for them right there in some ways.

Spain looking comfortable favourites for the women's Euros.

Saw this on the Community board, thought it could do with a wider audience. Some good news. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid037j1ocgKfR7eGqJgSEseDmWj6taJXmc8YnqRCcU4ybMcnD8N6edFnkbhxQhP7wkXwl&id=61568398817776 Hemel have a six figure grant (with them contributing 25% of costs) to upgrade the pitch at Pennine Way to ensure year round usage.

Disappointing. You’re not meant to move into outright trolling so quickly.

Mate, you remain the only person I know either in real life or online who says that they’ve never managed to convince a single person to enjoy RL if they aren’t from an RL community. It’s always puzzled me that, in contrast to everyone else, you couldn’t land even one solitary soul. Then I read a post like this and it becomes really obvious why.

I will only say one extra thing - entertaining play may not be required every game but the possibility of it is. Not every game will be a classic but there have to be enough that are.

Presumably ProD2 already has coverage from France so this deal is basically taking that and overlaying an English commentary and wrap around?

GAA?

Remarkably tolerant of Hull FC fans from you there.

Don’t worry, Harry, I think quite a few of us join you in preferring the years when we were in the EU.

The football sensibles wrote that it would be close and they will soon be along to explain that they always knew it wouldn't be. PSG are proving that, yes, you do need world class players but, as ever, world class players don't win things in isolation. It's a team sport and that team element is key. Plus, annoyingly for a sportswashing state-sponsored team, this iteration of PSG is fun.

Seen this shared on social media and replying here to move it back up the board a bit

I've checked it was a three year deal signed last year so this is year two.

Is this not still the same deal?

Channel 4 got the game for free whereas it was said the BBC are now paying.

It's disappointing not to be higher on the BBC Sport page but, annoyingly, given what's ahead of us, you can see why we're so low down. The BBC does, sometimes, give priority to what it is showing live whilst it's on but that seems hit and miss, and it's not just RL that doesn't get the benefit.

We used to mock the RU cone of silence whereby client journalists and favoured officers would just not draw attention to, or speak about, uncomfortable matters. And here we now are in RL.

Soccer's World Cup final dwarfs it in both TV viewers and revenue.