The 2013-2014 Football Thread

[pachyderm]

Yep, there's nothing wrong with using nicknames in marketing a club, but they're just that - nicknames - and bolting them onto the proper name of the club is daft. You're Reading, you're the Royals - but you're not the Reading Royals.

As for foreign owners - funnily enough, Allam Snr has lived in the Hull area since the 1960s, Allam Jnr was born and educated here. So you'd like to think that they'd have a clue - apparently not.

yeah, i like the way clubs are named across the pond.


i also like the way our clubs here in the states are named in our big sports. The Oakland Raiders, The San Francisco Giants etc etc

i don't like the way most of MLS teams are named though.

 

[cambookpro]

Yep, there's nothing wrong with using nicknames in marketing a club, but they're just that - nicknames - and bolting them onto the proper name of the club is daft. You're Reading, you're the Royals - but you're not the Reading Royals.

As for foreign owners - funnily enough, Allam Snr has lived in the Hull area since the 1960s, Allam Jnr was born and educated here. So you'd like to think that they'd have a clue - apparently not.

Didn't realise that Allam Snr has lived in Hull - the BBC article I read just said he was 'Egyptian-born' and left it at that 😱
With that being the case, I'd have thought he'd have a little more respect for the club. Obviously not!

 

[Lord Blackadder]

As for foreign owners - funnily enough, Allam Snr has lived in the Hull area since the 1960s, Allam Jnr was born and educated here. So you'd like to think that they'd have a clue - apparently not.

Yeah, this is obviously not a case of foreign ownership.

 

[twietee]

BAM! Berlin's back in business.



😎

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Our little holiday in the Netherlands is over, and the Cake family are on our way home to Hull.

I've been on the ferry five minutes, and already the crew are taking the piss out of me over 'Hull Tigers'. Pah.

 

[oscillatewildly]

I'm willing to concede the RVP point as arguable. As for Suarez, he's had no trouble finding a club, nor will he ever. The same goes for other "head case" players like Diouf, Anelka, Barton, Ballotelli, Cantona and others. If they have talent they will find buyers.

...

Don't disagree re Suarez finding a club, I just think there are those with the money who will pass.

---

Jaffa Cake mentioned Manchester United and winning loads; if the defence continue their preseason form and/or Carrick gets injured, the next trophy looks a long way off. The highlight has been Januzaj - sort his contract Woodward, Lingard, and Zaha.

TV (UK) - didn't see the BT stream of Ferdinand's testimonial, but the consensus seems to be the quality was worse than a bedroom broadcaster. Then there is Ian Darke.

Cheers,
OW

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Don't disagree re Suarez finding a club, I just think there are those with the money who will pass.

I agree, if he had a less combative reputation I reckon he'd already have been sold for 50 million. The club took a risk by buying him and he's been troublesome - yet I'm sure he can still be sold at a healthy profit.

Jaffa Cake mentioned Manchester United and winning loads; if the defence continue their preseason form and/or Carrick gets injured, the next trophy looks a long way off. The highlight has been Januzaj - sort his contract Woodward, Lingard, and Zaha.

They've enjoyed simply unprecedented success under Fergie. It's never going to be like that again (how could it be?). I think a title challenge is still possible, and CL qualification still probable. But the club as a whole looks visibly weaker already at the dawn of the Post-Ferguson era. Moyes is a good manager but Man Utd fans are going to be carrying very high expectations.

I've been on the ferry five minutes, and already the crew are taking the piss out of me over 'Hull Tigers'. Pah.

Well, you'll just have to show them the Barclay's Premier League Website that still lists them as Hull City...wouldn't that be funny if Allam had to wait a whole season for the league to accept the name change. Maybe by that time supporters would have been able to twist his arm into changing his mind.

 

[Confuzzzed]

The best European league over the last 3 years has been the Bundesliga, yet bar Ribery and Robben there are no real marquee names. Why is that? Pure and simple. Money. In Spain, players get paid portions of their renumeration as image right royalties which can reside in far and exotic (low tax) jurisdictions depending where image rights holding company is registered. So essentially, significantly lower tax than UK. In Monaco it's all tax free and PSG is simply paying silly money.

MONEY. That's why top players are going. Not for the quality of the football. Only 2 leagues in Europe where the bottom team can beat the top team legitimately, and that is EPL and Bundesliga. But the net pay sucks. Hence less rock star type players. So what. The spectacle remains strong as evidenced by viewing figures across the entire league. Clearly Madrid v Barcelona will attract big global audiences. But will Celta Vigo vs. Ossasuna? No. In England, every match counts.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Jaffa Cake mentioned Manchester United and winning loads; if the defence continue their preseason form and/or Carrick gets injured, the next trophy looks a long way off.

I'd watch it, if you go a season without a trophy all your south east Asian fans will start supporting us instead. Apparently.

 

[takao]

looks like both Hertha and Eintracht Braunschweig(unlucky loss) are the best promoted teams since _ages_ in the Bundesliga ...

After watching the review/highlights from the games it looks like this is going to be a hard season for all clubs since nearly all teams seem to have improved their squads rather well

a few weeks ago everybody was talking about "how can anybody stop Bayern" and after the first games it looks like Dortmund and more impressingly Leverkusen(Kießling,Sam,Son) could be very well up to the challenge

 

[twietee]

Braunschweig one of the best promoted teams since ages? I dunno...they played (and lost) against Bremen, which I see at the bottom of the table this year as well.

But Hertha...you're totally right. Highest win of a promoted team at day one ever. Pure class and completely deserved win - they hit aluminium three time too, hope they can conserve it and play CL next year...Final is taking place in Berlin 2015...😀 😉

 

[takao]

Braunschweig one of the best promoted teams since ages? I dunno...they played (and lost) against Bremen, which I see at the bottom of the table this year as well.

we will see a rather unorganized Bremen early in the Season, i agree, but they still have enough potential

But Hertha...you're totally right. Highest win of a promoted team at day one ever. Pure class and completely deserved win - they hit aluminium three time too, hope they can conserve it and play CL next year...Final is taking place in Berlin 2015...😀 😉

as long as "Mr. Clueless" Preetz is at the helm i wouldn't get my hopes up for CL yet 😉

 

[oscillatewildly]

I'd watch it, if you go a season without a trophy all your south east Asian fans will start supporting us instead. Apparently.

Go Tigers! 😱

(Community Shield doesn't count)

Cheers,
OW

 

[Happybunny]

I just got back from my vacation.

The main news about football at the moment is the fact that Wesley Sneijder was left out of the national team. We will have to wait until to nights result against Portugal to see how this one plays out.

Reading the newspaper on the plane home the football season has already started in the Netherlands. I see that Twente beat Feyenoord, and AZ beat Ajax, so there seems to be a making of a very close season.
Another thing that I noticed, I know that I'm getting on in years but, I was very surprised when I read that PSV's team last weekend had the average age of 20 yrs and 3 mnths.

On a side note I would like to mention that I was very surprise by the amount of supporters of the MLS, both in Portland and Seattle. I went to a Sports bar called the Fuel 164 Washington St In the Pioneer Sq district Seattle. It's base of the Emerald City Supporters MLS, and although their season does not start until October, there was at least some idea of the atmosphere. I met a UK expat from Mansfield who supported Notts County. He told me that over the last few years that Soccer, (that's football to rest of the world) has gained some ground. It's not unlike the story of American Brewing, in the past it was joke, but today there are some fantastic beers being brewed. But soccer/brewing need time to ferment, to get a strong base. Importing players from Europe like back in the 1970's is most definitely not the way to go.

I saw boys playing football (with the correct shaped ball) in many of the parks, so begins the new generation. I do see a time in the future when the sport will lose it's novelty factor and move into the heartlands of the US.

Unlike Canada were any sport that does not include 12 grown men punching and pushing, on ice with sticks is not taken seriously.

 

[twietee]

Welcome back HappyBunny,

just in case you've missed it, Bundesliga started last weekend here in Germany. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. Bayern haven't found their real rhythm yet / struggling a bit with the new coach Pep - as expected, Hertha could have scored some more, but that's basically it.

Hertha's juvenile diamond Anthony Brooks, CB, decided to play for the US instead of Germany (he was with the U19 until now) in the future. Hope he does well - one of my favs in our squad right now.


That's how the table looks like. ;D

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Sky Sports News are reporting that Tom Huddlestone has indicated his intention to retire from playing for England by signing for Hull City.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Luis Suarez has apparently told a Uruguayan newspaper that he will be staying at Liverpool this season. If it's true and he really intends to buckle down and play, it behooves the fans to stay off his back over the affair. It's been blown up by the media to a certain extent we have nothing to gain by riding him over it.

In other good news, we sold Stuart Downing for 5 million. 🙂

On a side note I would like to mention that I was very surprise by the amount of supporters of the MLS, both in Portland and Seattle. I went to a Sports bar called the Fuel 164 Washington St In the Pioneer Sq district Seattle. It's base of the Emerald City Supporters MLS, and although their season does not start until October, there was at least some idea of the atmosphere. I met a UK expat from Mansfield who supported Notts County. He told me that over the last few years that Soccer, (that's football to rest of the world) has gained some ground. It's not unlike the story of American Brewing, in the past it was joke, but today there are some fantastic beers being brewed. But soccer/brewing need time to ferment, to get a strong base. Importing players from Europe like back in the 1970's is most definitely not the way to go.

I saw boys playing football (with the correct shaped ball) in many of the parks, so begins the new generation. I do see a time in the future when the sport will lose it's novelty factor and move into the heartlands of the US.

Unlike Canada were any sport that does not include 12 grown men punching and pushing, on ice with sticks is not taken seriously.

Seattle and Portland fans are the most sanctimonious, condescending football hipsters out there. At least the LA fans have the good sense to be simply irritating overdogs. I have to admit Seattlites and Portlandians (😉) come out in impressive numbers though, and to be fair most of them are actually from the Seattle are. They still annoy me though. Big market team pops up out of nothing, steals away Columbus' championship-winning manager, acts like they deserve all the success...😡

They still haven't won the league though.

Sky Sports News are reporting that Tom Huddlestone has indicated his intention to retire from playing for England by signing for Hull City.

Now you've gone and made Paolo Di Canio angry by stealing one of his prime transfer targets out from under his nose. You'll be sorry. 😀

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Clive Tyldesley likes to call us Hull City.

 

[Cox Orange]

Right now! Halftime.

Men: Germany 2:3 Paraguay!

You can watch it online here http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beit...ive/1959952/SPORTextra-Deutschland---Paraguay (live)

Neuer is really pi**ed now. Making gestures like "forget it" shaking his head about the defense. Hummels and Schmelzer walking off the pitch talking and making gestures like "what should we have done? As, if it is our fault. No need for him to argue with us" - shaking head - "forget about him, stupid *****".

In this case it was actually Lahm's fault, he had oriented himself in the middle and left the whole left wide open.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Rickie Lambert Celebrate!

 

[Happybunny]

Seattle and Portland fans are the most sanctimonious, condescending football hipsters out there. At least the LA fans have the good sense to be simply irritating overdogs. I have to admit Seattlites and Portlandians (😉) come out in impressive numbers though, and to be fair most of them are actually from the Seattle are. They still annoy me though. Big market team pops up out of nothing, steals away Columbus' championship-winning manager, acts like they deserve all the success...😡

They still haven't won the league though.

I did get the idea that on the West Coast everybody and their dog disliked LA, whether in Sports or just Generally for being hipster douce bags.😀

Last nights practice matches, with the World Cup next year it's good to face first class teams.

Portugal 1 Netherlands 1

For the Netherlands a bogey man team we have only beaten them once in 12 attempts. Last night it looked good for the first 45 minutes, but by the end of the match the Netherlands was simply outclassed.

I myself was also completly outclassed, as just before the match was due to start, 9pm CET, jetlag kicked in and I only managed to see 12 minutes of the game. then off to bed.😱

 

[pachyderm]

Clive Tyldesley likes to call us Hull City.

but does he mean the Hull City Tigers? 😛

jozy had a hat trick yesterday as the USA'ers defeated B&H 4-3.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

but does he mean the Hull City Tigers? 😛

Quite the opposite in fact, Tyldesley was the commentator on the England-Scotland match - he was discussing Allan McGregor who was between the posts for the Scots and very pointedly mentioned the stopper's club team as being 'Hull City, as I like to call them'. 😎

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I did get the idea that on the West Coast everybody and their dog disliked LA, whether in Sports or just Generally for being hipster douce bags.😀

LA has a bad reputation for a lot of things (overcrowded, sharply divided between rich and poor, have apocalyptically bad traffic, smog, crime etc etc). But for hipster-ness the Pacific Northwest wins hands down. As far as I'm concerned, every young man in the states of Washington and Oregon has a beard, drinks crappy obscure microbrew beer, listens to bad indie music, and thinks their soccer teams are better and have more 'history' 'and 'tradition' than everyone else. 😉

Of course, I'm a midwesterner, so everyone thinks we are bland, corn-growing flatlanders living among the rusting corpse of America's heavy industry. And I'm fine with that. 🙂

but does he mean the Hull City Tigers? 😛

jozy had a hat trick yesterday as the USA'ers defeated B&H 4-3.

I'm still basking in the glow. Yes, B & H are not one of the best teams in the world but are still quite good and play in FIFA's toughest confederation, so they are hardly to be sniffed at. Altidore continues to have a breakout year for USA. Could he become the player we all hoped he would be? He is now just the third USA player to have two hat tricks to his credit.

The real test will be against Mexico in Ohio next month. El Tri will be under pressure to get a result in that match, it should be a real test. 12 wins in a row for the USA now, it's quite a run!

Quite the opposite in fact, Tyldesley was the commentator on the England-Scotland match - he was discussing Allan McGregor who was between the posts for the Scots and very pointedly mentioned the stopper's club team as being 'Hull City, as I like to call them'. 😎

Kudos to Mr. Tyldesley. I'm one of the "international" followers of Hull City, but I can say definitively that the rebrand does nothing for me (though I'm not from Asia, maybe they need to rebrand as the Hull Cowboys or the Hull Patriots in order to get me interested 🙄). Allam purchased a good deal of good will when he rescued the club from financial troubles, but he has gone far to wipe that away with the Cash Converters deal and now the "rebranding". He can only go so far before he faces an open revolt from fans.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

Kudos to Mr. Tyldesley. I'm one of the "international" followers of Hull City, but I can say definitively that the rebrand does nothing for me (though I'm not from Asia, maybe they need to rebrand as the Hull Cowboys or the Hull Patriots in order to get me interested 🙄). Allam purchased a good deal of good will when he rescued the club from financial troubles, but he has gone far to wipe that away with the Cash Converters deal and now the "rebranding". He can only go so far before he faces an open revolt from fans.

Funnily enough, all my American and Canadian friends who have mentioned the name change all think it's a bloody stupid idea.

Meanwhile, Cardiff's owner Vincent Tan has piped up...

Since Hull City changed their name to Hull City Tigers last week, fears have again surfaced that the Bluebirds will be the subject of a name change.

Philosophical Tan said: “I read a bit about Hull City's name change. They are back in the Premier League and I admire their owner Assem Allam for what he has done.

“One thing that I read that I liked is he says there are so many teams with the name city.

“There is Hull City, Leicester City, Cardiff City, Bristol City – everyone is called City.

“Who doesn't know Cardiff is a city? Who doesn't know Hull is a city?

Christ on a bike. 🙄