2010-2011 Football Thread

[Jaffa Cake]

Slightly off topic, but I know that there are several of you who play Football Manager...

I'm quite the dominant force in Sweden at the moment.

Of course, my budgets are nowhere near as grand as those you enjoy at Eastlands – but if you find yourself with a bit of spare cash in your bloated transfer kitty perhaps you could invest in a season ticket at Loftus Road to watch QPR take on the Premier League? You'd need a sheik's cash to do so...

QPR fans are up in arms after it was revealed they will be charged up to £72 a game for their first season back in the Premier League.

The cheapest price for a league match at Loftus Road will be £47, with season tickets up by almost 40%.

But with five fewer home games in the top flight, the increase is around 67% in real terms.

The article continues;

The cheapest adult season-ticket price for the new campaign will be £549, with £999 the most expensive - up from £699 in last year's Championship winning season - while under-16s will be charged £199 and under-eights up to £99.

By comparison, the cheapest season ticket at Manchester United is £513. At Arsenal it is £893 and at Blackburn £224, the most and least expensive in the top flight, respectively.

Part of this article.

The dirty, time-wasting... pah, you know the rest.

Meanwhile, my season pass at the KC has gone up a tenner, the first rise in a couple of years – and last season we only had to put up with Colin Wanker the once. Bonus.

Barcelona are using Arsenal's training ground for their pre-CL final preparations. I'm pleased we can put any acrimony aside and offer our facilities... a touch of class

I suspect that Wenger won't be extending the hospitality as far as putting Fabregas on bibs and cone duty.

Birmingham down I am thrilled with. Their supporters I have encountered are always vile people, chanting about breaking Eduardo's leg, and generally looking for aggro before and after the game. Good riddance!

When we went to St Andrews the season before last there were a couple of rather unpleasant gentlemen directing some quite vile, racist remarks at the away support...

 

[XIII]

QPR fans are up in arms after it was revealed they will be charged up to £72 a game for their first season back in the Premier League.

The cheapest price for a league match at Loftus Road will be £47, with season tickets up by almost 40%.

But with five fewer home games in the top flight, the increase is around 67% in real terms.

The article continues;

The cheapest adult season-ticket price for the new campaign will be £549, with £999 the most expensive - up from £699 in last year's Championship winning season - while under-16s will be charged £199 and under-eights up to £99.

By comparison, the cheapest season ticket at Manchester United is £513. At Arsenal it is £893 and at Blackburn £224, the most and least expensive in the top flight, respectively.

Part of this article.

The dirty, time-wasting... pah, you know the rest.

Meanwhile, my season pass at the KC has gone up a tenner, the first rise in a couple of years – and last season we only had to put up with Colin Wanker the once. Bonus.

QPR's ticket rise is insane.. £57 for us visiting them next season... I think that potentially crosses them off my list of games! Much more than they'll be paying when they come to play at the Emirates...

While the Arsenal season ticket price is extortionate, and has raised a lot of issues between the fans and the management, it's worth bearing in mind it does also include the first 7 home cup ties (excluding Carling Cup - so FA Cup or Champions League). Brings that £893 down to a £35 average a game.. (strikes me as a little low, thought we were higher - not sure about that £893 cheapest figure)

I suspect that Wenger won't be extending the hospitality as far as putting Fabregas on bibs and cone duty.

When we went to St Andrews the season before last there were a couple of rather unpleasant gentlemen directing some quite vile, racist remarks at the away support...

Fabregas is showing the Barcelona team around!

You can enjoy another pleasant trip to St Andrews next season then Jaffa

 

[Jaffa Cake]

You can enjoy another pleasant trip to St Andrews next season then Jaffa

Nah – been there, done that one!

I've a few pencilled in for next season, although obviously if it's a match at the other end of the country and it's a week night that'll scupper things. But I'm looking at definitely Forest and hopefully Brighton's new ground, and Mrs Cake says she wouldn't mind the short trip to Doncaster and/or Huddersfield, should the latter be promoted.

Away trips are ace.

Brings that £893 down to a £35 average a game

My pass comes in at just over £15 per game, which isn't too bad.

 

[Kebabselector]

Birmingham down I am thrilled with. Their supporters I have encountered are always vile people, chanting about breaking Eduardo's leg, and generally looking for aggro before and after the game. Good riddance!

Think you'll find its down to Arsenal fans going on constantly about Eduardo's leg that probably lead to chanting. After we won the cup Arsenal fans still banging on about how it was unfair - should have won it for Eduardo etc.

As for Aggro, you're probably right - the club attracts some idiots (like all clubs to be honest) it was one of the reasons I gave up my season ticket.

Jaffa, not heard too much racial chanting at St.Andrews in the recent past (other than Anti Spurs songs and abuse for any player with long hair). Though I remember in the 80's away a Grimsby Town, at player came to take a corner and got probably the worst abuse for his colour I've ever heard at a footy ground - worse bit about it was the coppers laughing about it.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Jaffa, not heard too much racial chanting at St.Andrews...

It was outside the ground after the game, incidentally, as the two sets of support mingled in the street – not chants during the game itself.

In the interests of balance, I should mention that we went to St Andrews not only to see the Mighty Tigers but also our nephew Short Cake who was a mascot. The Birmingham staff looked after him very well and he had a lovely day, although I'm not sure what he did with the Birmingham City water bottle they gave him.

 

[takao]

My pass comes in at just over £15 per game, which isn't too bad.

that doesn't sound bad indeed for the level of play


my favourite deal was at my local club: the 99€ season ticket, 5,8€ per game i found passable at best considering the quality of play (lower austrian leagues), until i read the benefits:
- 1 beer/non-alcoholic beverage and 1 hotdog/bratwurst per game included
which made it awesome

the family friendly-ness of lower leagues: women and kids below 14 still have free entry

 

[XIII]

I've a few pencilled in for next season, although obviously if it's a match at the other end of the country and it's a week night that'll scupper things. But I'm looking at definitely Forest and hopefully Brighton's new ground, and Mrs Cake says she wouldn't mind the short trip to Doncaster and/or Huddersfield, should the latter be promoted.

Away trips are ace.

My pass comes in at just over £15 per game, which isn't too bad.

I'm planning back to Newcastle, really liked the ground and the fans, and for some reason I've never been to Everton so will go to Goodison. Other than that.. will see what happens!

Think you'll find its down to Arsenal fans going on constantly about Eduardo's leg that probably lead to chanting. After we won the cup Arsenal fans still banging on about how it was unfair - should have won it for Eduardo etc.

As for Aggro, you're probably right - the club attracts some idiots (like all clubs to be honest) it was one of the reasons I gave up my season ticket.

I don't know about anyone banging on about Eduardo at the Carling Cup Final.. I certainly didn't hear anyone talking about it at the game.

Although all clubs attract idiots, I've been to a fair number of grounds, and (bar WHL) consistently St. Andrews has been the worst, for fans getting in your face and trying to create problems.

Hope someone remembered to slap Barry Ferguson after Birmingham were relegated!

that doesn't sound bad indeed for the level of play


my favourite deal was at my local club: the 99€ season ticket, 5,8€ per game i found passable at best considering the quality of play (lower austrian leagues), until i read the benefits:
- 1 beer/non-alcoholic beverage and 1 hotdog/bratwurst per game included
which made it awesome

the family friendly-ness of lower leagues: women and kids below 14 still have free entry

Women free and men paying, surely there would be some sort of discrimination outrage if anything like that happened here?!

 

[takao]

Women free and men paying, surely there would be some sort of discrimination outrage if anything like that happened here?!

FIFA doesn't allow it afaik
that's why in the two top,FIFA sanctioned, austrian leagues it's not allowed, but below that it's still common practice

also who would be outraged ? if they stop that practice it will just mean less people at the game

 

[Jaffa Cake]

that doesn't sound bad indeed for the level of play

Even in the Premier League, we were still paying just under £18 a match – the price of the season passes didn't go up, but we got fewer home games. Still a decent price, especially when you consider what some clubs charge.

In recent times the German leagues have got some positive press over here for the way fans are treated, reasonably priced tickets being a key point.

I'm planning back to Newcastle, really liked the ground and the fans, and for some reason I've never been to Everton so will go to Goodison. Other than that.. will see what happens!

I didn't get to go to Goodison, but those who went reported that the away end wasn't too great. A lot of pillars apparently, and if you're anywhere near the back it's reckoned that it's like trying to watch the match through a letterbox.

 

[daneoni]

Kolo Toure has been banned for 6 months.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I've never been a season ticket holder, but for the record Columbus Crew season tickets are currently between US $234-$494 (€165-€349) for 12 league matches plus a friendly against Newastle. Occasionally they have specials on concessions, usually $1 draft beers or bratwurst (Buck A Brat night!).

I would be a season ticket holder if I lived in Ohio, the club needs more bums in seats these days.

Kolo Toure has been banned for 6 months.

A pretty light punishment considering what he could have gotten. Still, it means he won't be around for the first couple months of the season. That means Man City will probably buy a replacement, against whom Toure will have to fight if he wants to be a starter again.

 

[daneoni]

Agreed he could've gotten a much worse punishment. Lescott and Kompany seem to have settled into the team. They became pretty decent in the latter stages of the season. Didn't seem like Toure was missed all that much. But given the rumors that Mancini plans to splurge big this summer you're probably right.

 

[XIII]

FIFA doesn't allow it afaik
that's why in the two top,FIFA sanctioned, austrian leagues it's not allowed, but below that it's still common practice

also who would be outraged ? if they stop that practice it will just mean less people at the game

I agree, more people there is certainly a good thing. And women's wig salesmen have never seen better days! I'm just sure someone, somewhere in Britain would get very wound up about something like that

Even in the Premier League, we were still paying just under £18 a match – the price of the season passes didn't go up, but we got fewer home games. Still a decent price, especially when you consider what some clubs charge.

In recent times the German leagues have got some positive press over here for the way fans are treated, reasonably priced tickets being a key point.

I didn't get to go to Goodison, but those who went reported that the away end wasn't too great. A lot of pillars apparently, and if you're anywhere near the back it's reckoned that it's like trying to watch the match through a letterbox.

Didn't realise that. Very good, especially when you look at what QPR have done. Worth mentioning City have sub £300 season tickets, and £90 child season tickets.. admirable. Still.. suppose money's not as issue

I have heard similar reports of Goodison.. but need to tick it off!

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Didn't realise that. Very good, especially when you look at what QPR have done.

I think that there was a price increase on new season passes during our spell in the Premier League, but existing pass holders had the prices held – the idea being that long-standing supporters who had backed the club during the lean times saw their loyalty rewarded, while those who jumped on the bandwagon once we were playing Manchester United, Arsenal et al had to pay for the privilege.

Things have been streamlined now though and the price brackets brought in line. As mentioned, my pass has gone up £10 (the first rise in years) but some folk have actually had a price cut this time around...

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I agree, more people there is certainly a good thing. And women's wig salesmen have never seen better days! I'm just sure someone, somewhere in Britain would get very wound up about something like that

That gave me a great image of the Pythons in drag.

Things have been streamlined now though and the price brackets brought in line. As mentioned, my pass has gone up £10 (the first rise in years) but some folk have actually had a price cut this time around...

Considering the number of games and the quality of the football, those sound like pretty decent prices to me. Some of the Premier League clubs' season ticket prices are shocking, though season tickets for some baseball and American football teams here can be just as bad at the top end. Of course, baseball full season tickets are good for up to 80 games, so you get more visits to the stadium for your money.

 

[Fizzoid]

Kolo Toure has been banned for 6 months.

A pretty light punishment considering what he could have gotten. Still, it means he won't be around for the first couple months of the season. That means Man City will probably buy a replacement, against whom Toure will have to fight if he wants to be a starter again.

Actually, when you compare it to Roman Bednar's ban of 3 months for buying cannabis and cocaine, it's pretty harsh

 

[swiftaw]

Heard a good trivia question this morning. Name the 9 players who have played for at least 2 of the "Big 4" (Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal) and have also played for a Spanish club.

 

[Fizzoid]

Ooh, well, Jermaine Pennant will be one

Mark Hughes another

 

[swiftaw]

Ooh, well, Jermaine Pennant will be one

Mark Hughes another

That's two.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Michael Owen

 

[Fizzoid]

Zenden for three

Argh, how could I have forgotten Owen

 

[swiftaw]

Hughes, Pennant, Zenden, and Owen. That's 4.

 

[OllyW]

Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres & Nicolas Anelka. 5, 6 & 7.

 

[swiftaw]

Yossi Benayoun, Fernando Torres & Nicolas Anelka. 5, 6 & 7.

Yes, and yes. Still one very obvious one out there (and 2 not so obvious).

Edit: Ah, you snook Anelka in there. 2 left.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Mark Hughes (Manchester United, Barcelona, Chelsea), Michael Owen (Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United), Emmanual Petit (Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal), Bolo Zenden (Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool), Lassana Diarra (Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid), Jermaine Pennant (Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Zaragoza).

Nicolas Anelka gets a bonus point for three of the 'big four' rather than two – Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea – as well as Real Madrid.

I'm a bit stuck after that.

Speaking of England and Spain's finer teams, I read this dinnertime that tickets for this weekend's Champions League final are swapping hands for £2,000 a pop. Blimey – still cheaper than Loftus Road though.

EDIT: Others chimed in as I was writing my post – but do Petit and Diarra complete the set?