The Round Ball Game - II

[cloughie]

Crawling 0 Hangers 2

Unbelievable

Start of a winning run, out of the bottom 2 and you’ve suddenly become a supporter of Sutton and the Sparky’s Bantams!

[teamsaint]

I finally watched a bit of the WC this weekend.

England rather unlucky tonight. Ref was really poor, ( biased some might say ?) and on the balance of play we should have at least gone to extra time. But balance of play doesn’t win you trophies. And France scored twice from too little pressure.

[LHC]

I finally watched a bit of the WC this weekend.

England rather unlucky tonight. Ref was really poor, ( biased some might say ?) and on the balance of play we should have at least gone to extra time. But balance of play doesn’t win you trophies. And France scored twice from too little pressure.

I did wonder at one point what the ref had against Saka, so determined was he to ignore every time Saka was fouled.

[cloughie]

I finally watched a bit of the WC this weekend.

England rather unlucky tonight. Ref was really poor, ( biased some might say ?) and on the balance of play we should have at least gone to extra time. But balance of play doesn’t win you trophies. And France scored twice from too little pressure.

I’ll own up too, having kept to my boycott ‘til then I watched most of the 2nd half - amazed that the ref needed VAR for the blatant offence for the second penalty - and why no red card? Shame that Kane fluffed it - at least now I won’t be tempted to watch any more unless it is a Morocco v Croatia final!

Meanwhile back at home the Owls got out of jail in Exeter with a 94th minute equaliser from Patto!

[Pulcinella]

I’ll own up too, having kept to my boycott ‘til then I watched most of the 2nd half - amazed that the ref needed VAR for the blatant offence for the second penalty - and why no red card? Shame that Kane fluffed it - at least now I won’t be tempted to watch any more unless it is a Morocco v Croatia final!

Meanwhile back at home the Owls got out of jail in Exeter with a 94th minute equaliser from Patto!

I've heard of yellow cards and red cards, but I didn't know that the Get out of jail (free?) card was used in football.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Having not watched a minute of the Human Rights World Cup, apart from a snippet of that sneaky Dutch free kick on the news, I'm probably feeling a lot more equanimity this morning than after previous England exits. The referee thing does make me wonder though whether FIFA are on a bonus if one of the Qatar ambassadors lifts the thing at the end. Might referees be under instruction to help this along? Hmm.... I wonder what happened to the one who carelessly let Neymar get knocked out.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I've heard of yellow cards and red cards, but I didn't know that the Get out of jail (free?) card was used in football.

Exeter prison was where back along a certain John Lee survived three attempts at execution by hanging. He didn't have a get out of jail card, though, as his sentence was commuted but only to life. He was eventually released, however. I don't know how the Hangers have got on at the real St James's Park over the years - no better or worse than others, I suspect - but they don't jail Owls there as far as I know.

[cloughie]

Exeter prison was where back along a certain John Lee survived three attempts at execution by hanging. He didn't have a get out of jail card, though, as his sentence was commuted but only to life. He was eventually released, however. I don't know how the Hangers have got on at the real St James's Park over the years - no better or worse than others, I suspect - but they don't jail Owls there as far as I know.

https://youtu.be/7Plm0BuSoYU

[Ein Heldenleben]

Exeter prison was where back along a certain John Lee survived three attempts at execution by hanging. He didn't have a get out of jail card, though, as his sentence was commuted but only to life. He was eventually released, however. I don't know how the Hangers have got on at the real St James's Park over the years - no better or worse than others, I suspect - but they don't jail Owls there as far as I know.

A mega pedant writes :
It’s St James Park Exeter but

St James’ Park Newcastle *

St.James’s Park London *

* According to wiki.

The only reason I know the first is that a slightly excitable sports reporter I used to work with would shout at the Radio when Radio 2 said St James’s Park in relation to The Grecians…

[gurnemanz]

I have watched a few of the matches, some really exciting, but missed England-France. Local choirs are invited to sing carols at the light show at nearby Westonbirt Arboretum and it was our turn last night. I arrived home just in time to see Rashford's free kick fly over the bar in the 99th minute. Sad to see but at least we will be spared the OTT media hysteria about football coming home after 1966.
I can still remember, aged 17, being one of two Englishmen in a German pub watching the famous match on a very small black and white TV, keeping very quiet as Hurst scored the controversial third goal.

[teamsaint]

Exeter prison was where back along a certain John Lee survived three attempts at execution by hanging. He didn't have a get out of jail card, though, as his sentence was commuted but only to life. He was eventually released, however. I don't know how the Hangers have got on at the real St James's Park over the years - no better or worse than others, I suspect - but they don't jail Owls there as far as I know.

In the end, the whole business will have done football ( of the global, elite level, multi millions of £’s kind) no favours.
I sense a turning point. The bubble of the last 25 years may not burst, but may start to deflate a little. Nothing is for ever, and with economic hard times here for many around the world, and cheaper, possibly more ethical alternatives available, change may finally be upon us. I hope so.

There has been so much to criticise, not least IMHO the absolutely feeble response of the FA to the armband incident who were quick enough to point a discriminatory finger during covid, that a lot of people must surely be re-evaluating their relationship with the professional game. i did a while ago, and this may be no bad thing.
Those who have stood up for principle ( among those who get paid to be involved) have either been few and far between , or kept quiet.
I know a number of hardcore, paying fans who have completely boycotted the WC. The fans have shown in many cases a lot more principle that the money takers.
Lessons have been taken.
And as for the ref last night…….there will be suspicion for a long time, i’m afraid to say.

[antongould]

In the end, the whole business will have done football ( of the global, elite level, multi millions of £’s kind) no favours.
I sense a turning point. The bubble of the last 25 years may not burst, but may start to deflate a little. Nothing is for ever, and with economic hard times here for many around the world, and cheaper, possibly more ethical alternatives available, change may finally be upon us. I hope so.

There has been so much to criticise, not least IMHO the absolutely feeble response of the FA to the armband incident who were quick enough to point a discriminatory finger during covid, that a lot of people must surely be re-evaluating their relationship with the professional game. i did a while ago, and this may be no bad thing.
Those who have stood up for principle ( among those who get paid to be involved) have either been few and far between , or kept quiet.
I know a number of hardcore, paying fans who have completely boycotted the WC. The fans have shown in many cases a lot more principle that the money takers.
Lessons have been taken.
And as for the ref last night…….there will be suspicion for a long time, i’m afraid to say.

Well said ts …… IMVVHO

[DracoM]

Reffing........oh YES. Crikey. Love to know what Messrs Taylor and Oliver made of it.

[johncorrigan]

I've seen some of the world cup over the last few weeks it being on Council TV as we sometimes say up here...eg available to all. In general I have been disappointed, but maybe that's just football and it is reinforced when there's a lot of it going on. England fell at their first main hurdle - they were in the easiest group and had a straightforward run to the quarters. The refs have been pretty poor generally, and VAR has been all over the place. The time added on at the end of games has been crazy - I don't see that working in normal footie. I also think the pitches have been poor- they've had to water them so much, so you get players slipping all over the place. The biggest upside has been the quality of goalkeeping - there have been some fantastic keepers on display, and Croatia and Morocco in particular have their goalies to thank for getting them thus far. All protest has been suppressed - will we hear more after the circus has rolled out of town? Probably...but perhaps it was always like that. I would like to say that it's good to see Morocco get so far - they are an interesting unit - but actually, I don't seem to care.

[teamsaint]

I've seen some of the world cup over the last few weeks it being on Council TV as we sometimes say up here...eg available to all. In general I have been disappointed, but maybe that's just football and it is reinforced when there's a lot of it going on. England fell at their first main hurdle - they were in the easiest group and had a straightforward run to the quarters. The refs have been pretty poor generally, and VAR has been all over the place. The time added on at the end of games has been crazy - I don't see that working in normal footie. I also think the pitches have been poor- they've had to water them so much, so you get players slipping all over the place. The biggest upside has been the quality of goalkeeping - there have been some fantastic keepers on display, and Croatia and Morocco in particular have their goalies to thank for getting them thus far. All protest has been suppressed - will we hear more after the circus has rolled out of town? Probably...but perhaps it was always like that. I would like to say that it's good to see Morocco get so far - they are an interesting unit - but actually, I don't seem to care.

The adding on of sensible amounts of fergie time is about the only real positive from this tourament. Quite why this is better than a time clock I have no idea, but it is a step in the right direction. So many games are ruined by time wasting .