HawkMan

Skysports Ref Watch Did Rice deserve to go ? An ex ref's view.

Everton big club, proud history, new stadium, where are IMG when you need them? Perhaps they can change sports, play RL , pushed into SL, they obviously can't play top tier football.

Arteta admitted Rice's sending off was lawful, he kicked the ball away, a yellow card offence when stopping a quick free kick. Problem is that a Brighton player got away with it earlier in the match. As for Veltman he shouldn't get sent off, he was very clever or sneaky or guilty of not playing to the spirit of the game, whatever you choose but not illegal. He knew if he looked like he was taking a quick free kick, Rice would react and then he could claim he was trying to kick the ball not Rice. I don't believe that at all, but Rice fell for it and should have done nothing. Its the sort of dark arts that RL fans detest, and want nothing like it in RL, but the dark arts is an ingredient of football's popularity.

There's a reason soccer is so popular, what and why is for another debate, but it obviously gives many people a lot of pleasure. I've just posted a YouTube EPL video on AOB, noticed in just 3hrs it's been on YouTube, the vid has 1200 comments. That kind of popularity is hard to fight.

Everton....the gift that keeps giving.

Are we not real life? Is this a Matrix construct?! Help!!

Actually no, it is as you say $h!t, but you and others pay peanuts for it, 90% of the subscription goes on you know what!

Yeah, a ward is a political unit for local governance. Coincidentally, truthfully, I was there yesterday, no one I'm sure says they live in Woolwich Arsenal, but they do vote in the Woolwich Arsenal ward. Tbf Arsenal in Islington is similar, so we either count wards in both cases or neither. As a Londoner I agreee with you about the London name for Broncos, Londoners don't go for teams in any sport with the encompassing London name, we're far too tribal. Football is so dominant that areas are colloquially known by the clubs nearby. Enfield is a Spurs area, Hackney- West Ham, Putney- Chelsea or Fulham, Debden, just outside the official boundary a West Ham area as Eastenders have migrated eastward. London as a sports name for a team just doesn't really grab attention. An NFL team called London something or other would work because of the number of NFL fans nationally can and do fill large stadiums. RL does not have that appeal for Londoners.

Arsenal is an area of North London in Islington, population 2021, 13,125. The Arsenal in Woolwich refers to the army buildings in Woolwich, Woolwich Arsenal isn't really a geographical area. North Woolwich BTW is opposite Woolwich on the North side of the Thames, but has no connection to Woolwich, nor ever has. https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/london/wards/islington/E05013697__arsenal/

You couldn't make it up; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2l4yjzrz1o

I had similar reservations, but realised its a very poor reason not to upgrade. I had stuff recorded but with a new Q box I was getting Iplayer, ITV X , channel 4 library, YouTube for free, Discovery plus, and other apps depending on your subscription package.

Yeah I understand, I don't particularly like it either, but Sky clearly don't care what we think. Before SS+ you could record EFL red button games, not now.

Sadly what fans think is irrelevant the clubs are financially secure. Are you saying that soccer is heading for financial ruin as tv deals collapse and RL and other sports will benefit? I'm 64 and I don't think I'll live to see that.

Young players, no fear of relegation, encouraged to chance the youngsters. I'm dead against a closed shop or licensing, p+r for me every time, but it seems very problematic for the game.

My idea for this Broncos conundrum is as follows; No relegation this year, two up from championship, league of 14 , no loop fixtures and no relegation for remaining two years of current TV deal. Two years closed league of 14, then reassess the situation when negotiating next tv deal and see how situation is. Wakefield Toulouse, probable promoted teams and London, give them chance to grow and develop and if all's well in 2 years either keep closed league or reintroduce p+r, keeping door ajar for championship teams. Promoted teams for next year understanding they'll not get equal share of TV money, but 50%, but with no relegation , that'll be something they should accept. Problem is with vested interests abound, it won't happen and the current situation will result in at best the status quo or at worst stagnation.

I don't know about lower leagues in other countries, but the EFL got 900 million last time , a massive increase, all connected to skysports plus. My reply to Big Picture was that a closed MLS may introduce p+r , way down the line, to encompass all the new teams expected. You could say a closed league hasn't scuppered their progress, but that is ingrained in American sports DNA.

For those with Sky+ boxes, you should seriously consider upgrading to Sky Q ASAP. Channels will disappear from sky + boxes from October, see link below. I upgraded in January, its quite painless. Someone will come round with a new box, connect it up, and upgrade the LNB receiver box on dish. No new dish or cables. https://www.gbnews.com/tech/sky-will-cancel-tv-subscriptions-for-some-viewers-within-weeks-but-you-could-be-owed-a-free-upgrade

Presumably this is a few years down the line, the TV deals in soccer are bucking the trend and going up, and definitely growing in America. Perhaps they'll have one TV deal of equal payouts for all 40 clubs in whatever division, so it'll just be a sporting divide not a financial one. BTW- ROFLAMAO ? IDFKWTFM

Absolutely, the MLS one of the few soccer leagues without P+R is reconsidering that position. The carrot of opening up their pyramid to p+r and therefore really challenge the established US sports has been dangled in front of them. The relevance being, p+r engages the fandom, pushes clubs to better themselves, and in the US create stories that other sports don't have. SL bottom end would clearly be more interesting and give Sky reason to push it if the games actually mattered. From Daily Mail online; The league might consider having two divisions if there are 40 teams in MLS A 30th team - FC San Diego - is set to join the top-flight league in 2025 Major League Soccer could be considering a promotion/relegation structure once the organization expands up to 40 teams. Currently, the United States is one of the few countries in the world that does not have a pro/rel structure to its soccer leagues - despite having a fully fleshed out soccer pyramid.

.

BBC kicked off their Champions League coverage with a highlights show of the Play Off round, despite no British representation. Very Impressive show, highlights of all games, the excellent Julien Laurens as pundit, well put together all round with plenty of info about tournament including bottom screen strap showing all qualified already teams. Look forward to more throughout season, better than TNTs highlight show, it'll be a nice extra to TNTs live matches.

Bedfordshire Bronco Posted 25 minutes ago Those Deuteronomy fans are getting smashed at my next one Mixed Bible and Koran studies for me, the recipe for peace and goodwill.

It gets a safety certificate to hold 70,000 plus, so obviously okay, and no-one attending the GF will be taking a risk with their lives.

IMG might secretly be quite pleased with Magic this year, it has sort of strengthened their case to get rid of it. Poor attendance and only one game close, one of two that had nowt riding on it. I suggest using the last 16 of Challenge Cup for magic, 8 games with two on Friday night, kick offs 5.30 and 8pm.

22,293 is 58% of capacity, possibly a tad imaginative. I've never been to Elland Rd, so genuine question, if it's a dump why is it packed out when LUFC play there ?