Blatter resigns.

[cloughie]

With 5 English leagues of full time teams, there are probably more opportunities than ever for UK players.Local players also often earn excellent money in the semi pro leagues, which again probably offer better earning opportunities than ever before. What has actually happened is that a kind of super league has been added to the top of the structure.

that said, a reconnection with local communities, by way of having more local players in top level teams would be great.
It is known to those in the game as the Francis Benali factor.

There may be 5 leagues but you have to be an enthusiast to get information on anything outside the overpaid, over pampered, richly rewarded for failure, premier league.

[Sir Velo]

Yes, but how often do you see people, especially on this forum, asking to be protected from doing things that they like? They tend rather to want to stop other people doing things that they like (and the critics don't like). Everyone, it seems, knows how other people should be living their lives.

And smoking is not a valid analogy - smoking kills people, playing or watching sport hardly ever does.

The actual analogy I was trying to draw was that watching sport, like smoking, suckers people in to believing they are enjoying something, or have a need for something which is irrelevant at best, noxious at worst.

At least have the self awareness to realise that it's all a giant confidence trick on the part of corporations to get you to buy their product; a scam designed to make you think you're all part of some great worldwide entertainment where the fans are as important as the players.

[MrGongGong]

The actual analogy I was trying to draw was that watching sport, like smoking, suckers people in to believing they are enjoying something, or have a need for something which is irrelevant at best, noxious at worst.

I feel the same about a certain piece by a certain English composer

At least have the self awareness to realise that it's all a giant confidence trick on the part of corporations to get you to buy their product; a scam designed to make you think you're all part of some great worldwide entertainment where the fans are as important as the players.

If you go to Orchard road in Singapore you will find a Manchester United shop
What on earth is that doing there?

I get the bit about folks supporting their team from where they live, and I do get the bit that the folks I see on a Sunday morning on the common ARE enjoying it and getting exercise etc etc etc but the ridiculous over hyped nonsense about football 'culture' is just that.

My middle aged brothers still get in a snit if their team looses which just seems pathetic

[Beef Oven!]

I feel the same about a certain piece by a certain English composer



If you go to Orchard road in Singapore you will find a Manchester United shop
What on earth is that doing there?

I get the bit about folks supporting their team from where they live, and I do get the bit that the folks I see on a Sunday morning on the common ARE enjoying it and getting exercise etc etc etc but the ridiculous over hyped nonsense about football 'culture' is just that.

My middle aged brothers still get in a snit if their team looses which just seems pathetic

U R beginning 2 get interested

[teamsaint]

I feel the same about a certain piece by a certain English composer



If you go to Orchard road in Singapore you will find a Manchester United shop
What on earth is that doing there?

I get the bit about folks supporting their team from where they live, and I do get the bit that the folks I see on a Sunday morning on the common ARE enjoying it and getting exercise etc etc etc but the ridiculous over hyped nonsense about football 'culture' is just that.

My middle aged brothers still get in a snit if their team looses which just seems pathetic

Dear lord, I nearly agree with gongers on a footy thread, which must be a first. Very odd!!

But perhaps Beefy has identified what is happening...

[MrGongGong]

But perhaps Beefy has identified what is happening...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REG08ZH4XJw

[Beef Oven!]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REG08ZH4XJw

Saddo-loser - all yours

[aeolium]

The actual analogy I was trying to draw was that watching sport, like smoking, suckers people in to believing they are enjoying something, or have a need for something which is irrelevant at best, noxious at worst.

At least have the self awareness to realise that it's all a giant confidence trick on the part of corporations to get you to buy their product; a scam designed to make you think you're all part of some great worldwide entertainment where the fans are as important as the players.

But I totally disagree about that. I think the overwhelming reason people watch sport is because they enjoy it or are intensely interested in it. If you don't, then fine - there are plenty of other things to do, but at least make the effort of imagination to acknowledge there are people who enjoy things you don't and don't fall back on that whole confidence trick nonsense.

I am interested in sport as well as music and literature. I happen to think that watching Pele or Maradona or George Best or Messi and the great teams they played in can be as exciting and absorbing as listening to a fine musician, and that the skill they display(ed) is every bit as impressive as that of the musician, and there is also the unique personality of their performance as there is with the musician. And sport has the element of unpredictability.

[MrGongGong]

Saddo-loser - all yours

Why do you insist on bringing the UKIP into everything?