Mar 06
For Your Reading Pleasure…
It’s Friday, and I am looking to spread link love (link blog for the uninitiated) so here are some United related links worthy of, well, linking.
The Taylor-Ronaldo tussle was about the most remarkable incident to have come out of the Newcastle game. While there were reports on what transpired in the tunnel, Taylor came out and denied the stories that were circulating around. So Chris Toy, who runs the rather brilliant daily footy related comic strip, Studs Up, came up with his version of the story.
Kiss and make up, as they say.
Meanwhile Arsene Wenger has theorized why Ronaldo gets fouled often. He’s arrogant, and it’s costing him, he says.
Quite.
Footballers, while lunging full stretch at a tricky winger, have all the time in that split second to visualize said tricky winger’s character certificate and ascertain if he has to pull out of his full blooded challenge or not. Always trust the Frenchman to belch words of wisdom. From his arse.
The next link is more for your listening pleasure. Those of you who don’t listen to podcasts, well, if you love football, I’d recommend Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast. Yesterday’s was another good episode. They are usually quite witty, and irreverent. Click here to listen. You could also subscribe to them on itunes or your RSS reader.
Fernando Torres says he’s not the cause of Liverpool’s slump. This after Benitez said his injury was the chief reason for their stuttering season. A slight difference of opinion?
And finally, here’s a link on how to stop a penalty. Brought to you by Ben Foster.
Will add more links during the day.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Preparing to beat Reading
- Reading 0-2 United: Rooney, Ronaldo Keep United Top
- United win easy, questions on Evans and Rossi
- West Brom vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Great Things Brewing In This Reds Site
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Stephen (454)
Craig Mc (344)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Funny…
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Yeah, the Guardian pod is the one I rate most, some nice chat and somehow not filled up with dippers and ABUs.
Another high-profile pod, the times game podcast sucks big time. Just listen to last week’s show, where one of the pundits is trying to defend the referee’s decision to award a yellow to Ronaldo for diving. Typical ABU shit.
On another note, how about starting a pod urself RR?
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According to SkySports, we’re interested in American stalet Nicolas Bertolo.
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Apparently, we’ve signed a 15 year old called Charni Ekangamene from Antwerp. Link
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@RDJ: Whats so special about him??
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@despicable: I know nothing about him. But it’s good to see that SAF is signing a lot of youngsters to the academy. Hopefully one of them will become a star.
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@RDJ: Pretty weird that no one even mentions what position he plays in, or if he is a defender/midfielder/forward!
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@RDJ: Ya, we already have da silva brothers, gibson, Pertucci, Macheda, welbeck, campbell, Thats a good enough crop of youngsters, Hope they step up…
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@RDJ: Really sorry to forget anderson, nani,
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Charni Ekangamene is strong AMC player….according to papers…chelsea and Arsenal were very, very interested to buy him…and cozz Antwerp is man utd`s feeder club there was not chance SAF let them take the boy in front of his red nose…
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too many AMC’s then, adem, charni guy, pets… i heard that we’re also interested in john fleck, another amc. hmm…
studs up is quite entertaining
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You never stop buying youngsters even if you already have a decent stable. Very few ever really make the final grade and they need to be pushed. Besides, we also have youth teams under our flag, not just the reserves so there is plenty of room for a lot more young talent.
As for podcasts I quite like World Soccer Daily. A Scottish and English bloke doing a show out America but also making it fairly entertaining. Unfortunately they aren’t United supporters as one is die hard Chelsea and the other is Rangers but they do have interesting conversations. The worst thing though is the number of Arse and Scouser fans in America that call in with their delusions of grandeur. It’s actually quite funny, especially since the hosts both hate Liverpool with a passion. So there is something good about them after all.
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You know this whole Steve Taylor business has me sick to my stomach. Reading the article that RR was so kind to link us to was just shocking. The incident seen by millions where Taylor to a clothesline swing at Ronaldo wasn’t even seen by the infantile eyes of one Steve Bennett, for me the poorest referee in all of football now that Clattenberg is sitting the pine due to suspension.
One would have to be a complete idiot or blind as a bat to not only not awrds a red card to that criminal wearing the jail fatigues, but to claim that he never even saw the foul and that he actually awarded the yellow card to Taylor for his subsequent slash form behind of Carick is just unacceptable officiating. It’s a joke and the FA is a bigger joke by not suspending Taylor due to the video evidence.
I am still waiting to see and hear the evidence that forced poor little Patrice Evra to sit four games due to some stupid little altercation with a Neanderthal grounds crew at Stamford Bridge. So easy to punish Evra for nothing but when a criminal act is committed in front of millions and is not even punished, why do we even play the fucking game? If the FA cannot find the bollocks to not only suspend and fine Taylor, but also suspend without pay Bennett, then this game has gone to the birds. One day the FA and other blind ignorant and utterly criminal governing bodies like them will eventually have to answer to the millions of paying supporters who are sick and tired over the poor officiating at every game and above all, the lack of proper protection offered to the game for the sport’s greatest stars. Stars fill the grounds and they need to be protected within reason. Regardless of whether Ronaldo is arrogant and a diver, he needs to be protected against obvious and intentional acts of violence designed to injure or even worse, cripple him.
Steve Bennett didn’t even see the foul. How in God’s name can any official as well as the linesman who was right there not see the man who has the ball not get a forearm across the head that was so telegraphed and so intentional? It didn’t happen away from the play. The players were close to the ball. One would have to be blind to have missed such a violation. It sickens me and even disgusts me more that in hindsight Bennett says after seeing the incident on video that he still feels that he would only have given Taylor a yellow is just the straw that broke the camels back. How on Earth can that attack be anything less than a straight red card and a ten game suspension for violent conduct befitting a footballer? So what if Ronaldo fell to the ground and made more of the contact than actually occurred. The player was in self preservation mode. Nobody is doing their job to protect him so he has become a bit of drama queen out of self preservation. Does he literally have to receive a concussion or broken bone in order to receive some respect and protection against the countless number of Barbaric act perpetrated against him in every game. The modern game is a disgrace because it has deemed it necessary to protect the teams and players that mean nothing to the game and put targets on the teams and players that make the sport great.
This sort of thing reminds of the French Revolution when all the angry and bitter pee ons who had nothing and knew nothing decided it was execution season for aristocrats. Well guess what people? In the eyes of the FA and it’s lynch mob of officials, a revolution to destroy the best players and promote mediocrity and dirty play has begun. Robespierre resides in the FA and the mob is ordering them to send out Madame au Guillotine to take care of the stars of football, so that those who have not talent can have a chance to succeed. It is a joke and a crime and I for one am sick and tired of this game and what is has become.
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Ronaldo, Fabregas, Adebayor, Eduardo, Torres, Drogba, Essien and many other high profile stars have been severely victimized by players making dangerous tackles or challenges that have forced these players to miss significant time this season. These are the stars of the EPL and the game frankly is not as good without them than it is with them. Regardless of our personal feelings for most of these players, the game needs them on the pitch to perform, in order to prevent much of the mediocrity that we have witnessed this season.
Whether I hate him or not, and I do, Rafa Benitez is right about the fact his team has not been as good as they could have been because of all the games Torres has missed. Well Gerrard also has missed some games and has carried injuries that were inflicted by late and ill timed tackles and challenges that were nothing more than dirty. Ronaldo missed two months due to a tackle from behind that ruined his ankle. The list goes on and on. Who protects these players whose skill is what brings people to the games and pays the bills? And when will we all wake up and make a stand against the FA for their mishandling of officials and their lack of concern and welfare of great players and their team as well as their supporters.
When we lose a Ronaldo or a Rooney for long periods due to a bad foul, it’s not just the player that suffers. The team suffers and thus the supporters suffer. And after all in a professional game where money is being exchanged, nothing is more important than how the supporter, the consumer is being treated. And frankly, through the FA, the supporters of this game world wide who spend millions every year supporting their teams are pissing royally pissed on and given the shaft. And still we all sit back and take it.
I’ll tell you people, I am nearing the end of the line. I have other sports to turn to that treat their stars with a Hell of a lot more respect and who also value their fans. I don’t need this shit. It ruins the enjoyment of the great game for me. To quote Howard Beal from the movie “Network”, let me end by saying “I’m as mad as Hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” Now how many of you are willing to follow my lead? I am calling for a boycott of some kind. Something needs to be done to wake the FA up.
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@Grognard: Ronnie is Ok we need to move on, Taylor is a cart horse, but we seem to be all obsessed about Ronaldo, if the same happened on Carrick would we all be that bothered? Really??! it was a stupid Geordie with his idiot friends sitting in the Gallowgate End trying to make a name for himself, it is not as bad as the GBH that Messi has to put up with against Real, this club is turning into Ronaldo FC not Manchester United, which is sad.
I am not being anti Ronnie, but he has to put up with being fouled it is the provoctaive way he plays and I love it, and so does he, same as Best we get fouls and pens sometimes through it, but that is football, glad he is Ok and bring it on!!
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@Grognard: they have a better record when torres was out.
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@john freakin’ o’shea: And Torres is a Ladyboy, and his injuries are not related to bad tackles, a la Ronnie.
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@john freakin’ o’shea: Take last season into account and that’s not the case. Also, when Torres has played he has played injured. Injured due to players hacking him down. A healthy Torres makes them a better team and no statistics could ever justify the opposite.
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@Stephen: It’s really a shame that you nitpick on something like that and not actually get the brunt of my message. Instead you let you personal bias towards Liverpool cloud the reality of what I was trying to get across. I for one have seen Torres get hacked down numerous times. So the fact his last injury wasn’t due to a tackle, is completely irrelevant. Some of you only cry bloody murder if it’s a United player, but i am talking about the jeopardy the whole game and the game’s stars are dealing with due to incompetent officiating, thugs playing the game to injure stars and the FA doing nothing about it.
And who cares if he get injured if Liverpool has a better record without him eh? Jeez, that’s frakken sad. 
Instead you come across sounding a like Republican. Sorry but I just don’t get that kind of thinking. Instead we call Torres a ladyboy and turn the other cheek if he gets hacked down. Well they are doing the very same thing to Ronaldo. It’s not right.
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@Grognard: I have also seen essien put in some very poor challenges as Gerrard, I am being realistic football is a mans game, and Ronaldo knows it.
Football is a very quick game and players get hurt, Eduardo’s injury was not a dirty challenge by Taylor it was an awful just an accident, let not let football get too precious as players are well pampered already.
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@Stephen: HA! HA! HA! Football is a mans’ game. Don’t make frakken laugh. It’s a beautiful; game played by a few hard men and a lot of and I mean lot of ladyboys, and men who rid sidesaddle. So many soft men who cry and act like they have been shot and fake injury by getting all theatrical and you call it a man’s game. Watch hockey or US football and see what real man’s game looks like. Or perhaps even rugby. Modern day footballers would quiver in fear if they had to face the Pittsburgh Steelers or the All Blacks of New Zealand in a battle for turf. Footballers are wussies and although many of them possess great skills and finesse, they are far from being real men. At least not in this present generation. Not even close.
The game is more art than sport and thus, the art needs to be protected.
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has anyone got a working link to manuchos goal the other night?
so take it no1 here is interested in the big chap?
im confident in him, he brings attributes were sorely lacking upfront,
next yr hel get game time im sure of it
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Grognard comment 13, about taylor i gotta say i am shcoked the press have not said anything about him, they havent condemned him, no they just havent said anything and theres only 1 reason for this- because hes english. If evra had attacked say nolan or any other english player, evra would have been slated by the press for months. Its pathetic how the press excuse cheating and thuggery just because the player who has commited these acts are english. Remember terry in the champs final in moscow when he spat in tevez’s hair, no1 mentioned it and whilst its not as serious as others it shows what a slimy scumbag terry is. For him to be named england captain again after that shows how pathetic england football team is. And what about 1 of the worst dives ive ever seen from goldenbiy gerrard against athletico to get a last minute penalty for them. No1 on the tv panel had the balls to say he had dived, pathetic, and dont forget him assualting a dj which no1 mentions. Another case dont know if you heard it, was in the championship in which a thug called morgan at sheffield united literally elbowed a barnsley players head so hard he was close to death. The guy has a massive scar down his head and hasnt played since the attack in about october. What a utter thug this morgan is, just seems to be an english mentality of the press to ignore any thuggery and cheating from their players and of the FA to never take any action against them. Knowing that the england team has idiots like terry and gerrard in them for their cheating is a reason why i stopped supporting england in 2006. God im glad united consider themselves their own country and totally distance themselves away from the england national team cos they dont realise without us, the english league is nothing.
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@Grognard: I agree to a ceratin level, but when you take the contact out of football then what do you have netball?
Ronnie is the best because he is brave and a man, because he is good looking doesn’t make him not brave, ps he isn’t better looking than me
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@realred: Im interested in his progress! I really hope he gets a role in our team for the future. (correct me if Im wrong) he is the only African in the squad.
Try footytube.com
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@Grognard: I did listen to the World soccer daily once and to be honest I wasn’t very impressed. It sounded to me like 2 people shouting on and on. Also, didn’t see much content in it, they were struggling to fill up the slot even though it was the day after Scholari’s sacking.
Maybe its just that day, or my taste is different, but after listening to pods such as the football weekly and the week in football (run by 2 irish blokes on ole ole), I was didn’t like this one as much to give it another listen.
Even the Manchester united fancast on FFC is pretty good.
You guys know of any other United centric pods?
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@Shreyas: Anyone who does a daily 2 hour podcast on football on live radio deserves my respect. They do go hysterical at times but they get plenty of excellent knowledgeable guests on their show — the likes of Tim Vickery, Andy Brassell, Graham Hunter etc are walking encyclopedias. I also like their spontaneity and passion. So apart from football weekly, I would certainly recommend WSD.
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@Red Ranter: Yeah I have been a religious WSD listener for over 3 years now. occasionally the show is dull, but for the last 6 months they have had a lot of guest and the quality has imporved dramatically. I would recommend it to anyone who likes football podcasts.
I also like the Guardian podcast, but my favorite one hands downs is bbc’s World Football Phone In. The only downside is its once a week, but it is pure quality.
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Well I saw this heinous attack by Taylor on Ronaldo and even in slow motion it looked pretty innocuous.
The worst offence was when he follwed through on Carrick.
What happened? Carrick just got up and got on with it. Ronaldo rolled into the hoardings and clutched his face.
It’s all part of Ronaldos make up I’m afraid. Yes he gets targetted but he overreacts and referees know that. It’s all getting a little embarrasing now.
He should take a bit of advice from George Best, who, when twatted, just got straight to his feet (when he could) He said if you showed them that they had hurt you. Then they had won.
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@Red Ranter: Hmm, I will give it another try I guess
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I just listen to talksport, rather than any podcasts. Love him or hate him Ian Wright is entertaining, and Hawksbee and Jacobs in the afternoon is THE funniest sports related radio show you will ever hear.
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I just through up a little with this thread on red cafe…
Can any of you imagine United after, SAF, Nev, Scholes, giggs and EVDS goes? That is a depressing and scary thought, but one we will have to soon live with…
Im sorry but without these lot, man utd will just not be the same, they are man utd through and through, its a twisted thought, them leaving.
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Am i the only one who doesnt like sport podcasts? The gaming ones are the best!
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@Dan: Perhaps thats why Fergie has took a sudden interest in buying in youngsters to give the next manager a chance of having players who will spend their entire professional career at manchester united. not to say it will be the same without any of them. i think we’re going to be in for a tough ride when fergie goes. especially the new man who comes in, i mean look at the pressure chelsea managers since Jose have had from the press. its going to be mental if we loose a game. personally i think Moyes, O’Neil and Jose Mourinho are the only candidates. CQ may come back, but not as manager, i think he has proved himself to be a much better Assistant manager. but keeping Neville and Giggs around as coaches along side Ole might be a brilliant idea, EVDS could easily become a good goalkeeping coach. the only one who i doubt will go into coaching is Scholes.. seems to personal and quiet to stay in the game after he finishes playing, so we might not be totally lost when they retire.
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Will, the great thing is ferguson is bringing through all these young players fully aware he wont be around to see them when they are hitting their peak and that the man in charge at the time they do hit their peak will get all the credit but he plans for the future anyway. In 5 years time the youngsters like ando, evans, rafael, fabio, foster etc will all be well into their careers and hopefully doing well, fergie brought these players in and knew tht they wouldnt be at their prime in his time there, it really wasnt his responsibility to get these players but he brings them through anyway which just shows the man wants this club to continue long after hes gone which is a great attitude. This is why i feel our next manager doesnt have to be a world class replacement. Obviously they need to be good and have similar abilites to fergie but i generally feel the squad is so good say a solskjaer could take over and cos the team is so good they would still perform well even if ole wasnt exactly world class material. Just my thought anyway.
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@Dan: i agree, but EDVS shouldnt be on that list?
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@Matt: Yah the press tend to ignore atrocities that happen to non London based teams and especially Man Utd which they despise. It’s truly appalling. For me it is a form of discrimination bordering on racism. You are right, had Evra committed the same foul on an English player, the shit would be hitting the fan. Hypocrites the whole bunch of them and especially the FA.
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@Stephen: Ah come on man, I’m not saying take the contact out of the game. I’m saying cut out the attempts to intentionally injure a player. How on Earth can anybody with eyes and an IQ possibly hide behind that argument when considering what Taylor did to Ronaldo. Did Cristiano need to get his jaw broken or skull fractured for there more of an uproar?
The game has resorted to thug tactics by less talented and easily dispensable players who are sent out there by clubs to basically neutralize a teams star. In hockey we have always had enforcers who were there to protect our stars. A Roy Keane type who if he saw that incident would have killed Taylor on the spot without a doubt. That is the only way to deal with this crap if the referees turn a blind eye to it.
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@Shreyas: It’s not always great but around big games or big events it’s pretty good. Honestly, one would need to give the show a few weeks before making a real judgment on it’s quality because two hours just doesn’t cut it. It’s like judging United’s quality base on the League Cup first leg against Derby. Based on that, I’d say United were a crappy team. Well we all know better now don’t we. I’d say give the WSD boys a few more chances. They may win you over. And if not, no problem trying.
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It all goes back to the point about the PL being about 4-5 good teams playing good honest football and the rest of the pack fighting and scrapping to stay alive.
An honest assessment, right now, would put almost 60% of the league in a relegation battle, and one they are all determined to win at all costs. If one of those costs is to mug their way to survival, then so be it!!
I absolutely don’t support this tactic, I want to watch good entertaining football not a blood bath, but if that’s all that’s left for them to do, at some level, you have to understand the method!!
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@Redrich: That’s why the whole league apparatus needs to be fixed. It doesn’t work and its way to antiquated to survive in this changing world with changing demands and values and the economic crisis that we are all facing. Tolerating the same status quo from leagues that have a few top heavy teams and a lot of freeloaders is just a joke. Get rid of promotion and relegation and create a smaller elite league based on the combination of previous historic success of teams and the size of the cities and support base they maintain. Common sense for tough times. Enough with the minnows and their delusions of grandeur.
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This season has definitely turned out better than expected for me! I have to admit that during the first half I consoled myself with the “you can’t win it all, every year” mantra and I did expect some serious shortcomings in at least the PL & CL.
I guess I was resigned to the fact that Ronaldo carried us last time out, and without him performing at that astonishing clip, we would be resigned to a more modest level of achievement.
Wow, how I was wrong, and how the rest of the team has stood up to be counted!!
If, after all, it all ends up the way I originally thought I’d definitely be disappointed, but with a huge surge of pride about the way this team has pulled itself together to put itself on the brink of greatness!!
The next three games will tell us a lot about our team, we’re at a crossroads in our season, a treacherous axis, a defining moment, a point of no return. Call it what you will but success here will put us on a course to make history!!
I have my seat placed strategically behind my couch and will watch all three games(as much as I can) and at the end of it all, I do expect to be wrong, completely wrong, again!!
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@Grognard: The 3 up and 3 down every season thing has to change. All you’re really doing is substituting 3 teams with 1 year of PL experience with 3 teams with no PL experience at all.
End result, a league bulked out with Championship caliber opposition!
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relegation is a europeean thing. if you are north american you dont understand, and really shouldnt be complaining about a system thats been around for a lot longer then the sell out american way.
its part of what makes it special. every team has something to play for, and honeslty its great if a small city can manage to put together a decent team! it does wonders for the local community and creates optimisim. its a beautiful thing.
so, franchises, thanks but no thanks. everything is all ready american enough, so let something be left alone. thats why its football not soccer=)
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@weezy: Well I’m not North American, and I do understand, and I can complain about any bloody thing I want to! So Mr. Weezy, go take a breath
Your position that nothing should change is based upon your idea that the status quo is the best way to solve a problem. Open your eyes, man, take in the alternatives and realize that no action will eventually result in a reaction, and one you probably wont like!!
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@Redrich: You don’t see 3 up and 3 down in any North American Leagues. Why? Because they have the common sense to create elite leagues based on city population and financial viability. Soccer has this liberal outlook that they need to give pee ons and the little people the same chance that they give the giants of the game. This is just a joke. Burnley and Reading have no business in the top flight of English Soccer. They don’t have a large enough population from which to draw from consistently, nor do they have the park and ownership with deep pockets that will ensure their success. So why then should there be an open door policy on allowing them in when we know the chances of them staying up for more than a season or two is very slim? Because soccer is socialist at it’s core but it is being ruptured by right wing greed on the fringes. It cannot cope with those two extremes pulling at it. The solution is to create an elite league with greed and money running the show.12 to 14 teams who have the means to compete. As for the rest of the teams in English football, keep the leagues as they are and allow them to have their 3 up and 3 down policies. They are all within competitive distance of each other unlike a Burnley trying to compete with a Chelsea or Man City for players. This is the right and only solution and I know in my heart that I am correct here. The game needs to wake up and smell the coffee.
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@weezy: There is nothing special about it and I am not some ignorant dumb ass who woke up yesterday. I’ve been following European leagues for 30 years so no need to try to tell me how they are structured in a superior fashion. The system worked for a while but market and social conditions have altered the way things are done throughout the globe. It’s time to adopt a model that works best for the economic well being of the game. It’s time to separate the haves from the have nots. If you can’t see that, it’s because you are stuck in tradition and in an old school mentality. Just like all your friends in FIFA, UEFA and the FA. It’s time to stop thinking like dinosaurs and try thinking like progressive people in a rapidly changing world. It’s time to wake up mate and have a good look around. The status quo is broken.
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@Grognard: Grognard…i read this blog everyday and most the time you at least have a point or good reasoning behind your arguments…but i think your argument about relegation being taken away and creating an elite league is complete rubbish. you know how exciting the relegation battle is…why wouldnt you want to allow new teams and competition?? i was dissapointed to read you ranting about this….so wrongly..the mls would be so much better if it were set up so it could have relegation battles…i live in the US right next to the RSL stadium and am a strong supporter…so i know how the mls is..
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completely stupid grognard…sorry the more i read what youre saying the less sense it makes…
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Does anyone know in which channel will the Fulham game be aired in India?
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