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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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At least there has been a marked improvement under OGS.
Indeed.
Sympathies.
And we are huffing and puffing against a soon to be relegated team.
When will owners learn????
Columbus Crew's new ownership has so far hit it out of the park - excellent fan relations, savvy personnel moves, a new stadium, a league title...they've earned a lot of goodwill.
AND THEN - they announce they are doing yet another 'rebrand' of the club name and crest, without consulting fans until the thing is ready for launch. The leaked new logo is dreadful, they are dropping the 'Crew' from the official team name (controversial, but I'm not as bothered by that as it will still be used in a lot of other materials), and the whole bomb is just being dropped on the fans with little warning.
Bad idea. The Nordecke have already released a statement heavily criticizing the move, a protest is planned, and it remains to be seen whether the club suits will press ahead or pause and listen to the fans. They've already presumably spent a bunch of money on the rebrand but that's their own damn fault.
It's a puzzling misstep from an ownership group that so far was doing everything right. It reminds us fans that even the 'best' owners cannot be fully trusted. Also, football teams are institutions, not just "brands" (this is a fundamental issue now with the game having evolved into a global business endeavor).
This is why fans need to retain some actual control of football clubs.
Columbus Crew's new ownership has so far hit it out of the park - excellent fan relations, savvy personnel moves, a new stadium, a league title...they've earned a lot of goodwill.
AND THEN - they announce they are doing yet another 'rebrand' of the club name and crest, without consulting fans until the thing is ready for launch. The leaked new logo is dreadful, they are dropping the 'Crew' from the official team name (controversial, but I'm not as bothered by that as it will still be used in a lot of other materials), and the whole bomb is just being dropped on the fans with little warning.
Bad idea. The Nordecke have already released a statement heavily criticizing the move, a protest is planned, and it remains to be seen whether the club suits will press ahead or pause and listen to the fans. They've already presumably spent a bunch of money on the rebrand but that's their own damn fault.
It's a puzzling misstep from an ownership group that so far was doing everything right. It reminds us fans that even the 'best' owners cannot be fully trusted. Also, football teams are institutions, not just "brands" (this is a fundamental issue now with the game having evolved into a global business endeavor).
This is why fans need to retain some actual control of football clubs.
With three games remaining, Fulham have been relegated tonight - joining West Bromwich Albion & Sheffield Utd.
The only excitement now is who ends up in the top 4 (or 6) of the Premier League.
Regarding the ESL, the Italian FA have threatened Juventus of expulsion from Serie A if they don't withdraw from the ESL. This adds to a 2 year ban of European competition from UEFA if they are still in the ESL in September. ESPN Link
The only excitement now is who ends up in the top 4 (or 6) of the Premier League.
Regarding the ESL, the Italian FA have threatened Juventus of expulsion from Serie A if they don't withdraw from the ESL. This adds to a 2 year ban of European competition from UEFA if they are still in the ESL in September. ESPN Link
With no English clubs its less of a European Super league and more of a European average league. I don't know why the remaining teams haven't withdrawn.
Shame to see Fulham go as I like Scott Parker. But I think they are always going to be an also-ran team in London if you know what I mean.
I think the top four is pretty much done as well. Unless Leicester continue to wobble.
Well...it's Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield Utd. 2 of the three that were promoted last year.
Big Sam was unable to perform miracles, for the first time in his managerial career and Scott Parker couldn't stop the inevitable from happening.
Big Sam was unable to perform miracles, for the first time in his managerial career and Scott Parker couldn't stop the inevitable from happening.
The havoc that they wreaked with their intention to leave UEFA and their blatant disregard for the fans' wishes would lead me to be in favour of a 2 year ban from European competition.
I have been a Juve fan for a long time, but their recent issues with corruption and poor management (from a club, not team perspective) has me feeling less than enamoured with them as a club.
Given that there are 2 English teams in this year's Champions League final, I'll agree with you on the first point.
I also wanted Fulham to stay up and improve a bit, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be.
Actually, I would have favoured a two year ban from European competition for the "greedy six", and most certainly think something of the sort should be contemplated if Juventus and Co are thinking along such lines come September.
I am also sorry to see Fulham relegated.
Man Utd has lost to Leicester 1-2 tonight; and Man City are now crowned champions of the EPL, with 3 games to spare.
Big result for Leicester regardless of Man Utd's focus on beating Liverpool.
As for Man City...as long as the sheikh keeps the cash tap open they'll continue to dominate. Tons of talent and depth at that club and of course Pep calling the shots. Still pretty funny how much money it's ultimately going to cost them to win the CL...well over a billion and counting now.
As for Man City...as long as the sheikh keeps the cash tap open they'll continue to dominate. Tons of talent and depth at that club and of course Pep calling the shots. Still pretty funny how much money it's ultimately going to cost them to win the CL...well over a billion and counting now.
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Money can't buy you happiness, but it certainly can buy you talent, championships and fans.
Saints 3, Palace 1.
Southampton win their first game since 1876 and it's a good one. 12,769 games without a win and we finally got there.
Always nice to see Danny Ings on the score sheet - he really is the difference for the Saints. I doubt he'll still be there next season as he's dithering over his contract extension right now.
The rest of the team played well, despite a few playing out of position, but Saints have given away too many points this season after leading the league in January. Barely scraped by to survive this year and the league placings may flatter us somewhat come the end of the season. We haven't looked as good as a mid-table club for several months.
Southampton win their first game since 1876 and it's a good one. 12,769 games without a win and we finally got there.
Always nice to see Danny Ings on the score sheet - he really is the difference for the Saints. I doubt he'll still be there next season as he's dithering over his contract extension right now.
The rest of the team played well, despite a few playing out of position, but Saints have given away too many points this season after leading the league in January. Barely scraped by to survive this year and the league placings may flatter us somewhat come the end of the season. We haven't looked as good as a mid-table club for several months.
Arsenal defeat Chelsea by a goal to nil.
Very unexpected, very welcome, and almost comically bizarre.
However, before the match, I'd have happily taken a point apiece, so, a cheerful Gunner this evening.
Nevertheless, I suspect that departure from Europe may have served to reduce tensions and expectations for Arsenal.
Time for a cup - or mug - of tea and a chocolate biscuit (or two).
Very unexpected, very welcome, and almost comically bizarre.
However, before the match, I'd have happily taken a point apiece, so, a cheerful Gunner this evening.
Nevertheless, I suspect that departure from Europe may have served to reduce tensions and expectations for Arsenal.
Time for a cup - or mug - of tea and a chocolate biscuit (or two).
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I can well imagine why.
My tea and chocolate biscuits have been going down well.
However, I do think that elimination from Europe may have served to dampen expectations and reduce tensions in Arsenal.
And, as for Chelsea, it was one of those bizarre and bonkers nights where no matter what you did, - they hit the post on a few occasions - you wouldn't - and couldn't - score if you remained on the pitch until Doomsday.
Still, an excellent (if entirely unexpected) result.
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MOTD is on at 10:45 tonight. I’ll be watching.
And Arsenal - for once - actually defended quite well.
Columbus' owners have released a statement after the fan backlash over the recent rebrand. They take a dryly conciliatory tone, promise nothing specific, but the general gist is that there will be dialogue with fan groups and I hope to see them walk back on some of the changes.
Since the announcement it has been revealed that several members of the Nordecke were privy to the incoming changes and were consulted. They were under a gag order but wrote an internal report for the club labeling the rebrand as 'catastrophic.' Somehow their report was not passed all the way up the chain, or possibly (more likely) downplayed or even ignored. So the club had clear evidence, from representatives of the club's largest and best-organized fan group, that there could be major blowback - and yet they failed to act on that. The 'Save the Crew' movement has led to the club's fans being much better organized and supporters' groups include a lot of people who are savvy professionals in their day jobs, so this is not some drunken rabble we are talking about here.
It was a massively tone-deaf move, but there is still plenty of opportunity to mend fences. We shall see. Fans have great power when they organize and use their own professional skills to counteract misbehaving owners or corrupt/useless governing bodies. It's not easy but it can and does work.
Since the announcement it has been revealed that several members of the Nordecke were privy to the incoming changes and were consulted. They were under a gag order but wrote an internal report for the club labeling the rebrand as 'catastrophic.' Somehow their report was not passed all the way up the chain, or possibly (more likely) downplayed or even ignored. So the club had clear evidence, from representatives of the club's largest and best-organized fan group, that there could be major blowback - and yet they failed to act on that. The 'Save the Crew' movement has led to the club's fans being much better organized and supporters' groups include a lot of people who are savvy professionals in their day jobs, so this is not some drunken rabble we are talking about here.
It was a massively tone-deaf move, but there is still plenty of opportunity to mend fences. We shall see. Fans have great power when they organize and use their own professional skills to counteract misbehaving owners or corrupt/useless governing bodies. It's not easy but it can and does work.
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As expected, Man Utd fans have mounted big protests today ahead of the club's win against Liverpool. Both teams have been sneaked into the stadium, but unless it's an epic 5-4 with goals from the halfway, red cards, penalties, who will remember the match? It's about bigger issues.
This kind of thing hurts revenue, and that is the ONLY way to make the Glazers and other owners pay attention. Keep it up (peacefully)! Protest. Don't buy tickets or go to matches. Don't buy merchandise. Call out the ownership every day, relentlessly, until they either bail out or change tack.
This kind of thing hurts revenue, and that is the ONLY way to make the Glazers and other owners pay attention. Keep it up (peacefully)! Protest. Don't buy tickets or go to matches. Don't buy merchandise. Call out the ownership every day, relentlessly, until they either bail out or change tack.
Exactly. I’d love to see empty stadiums for all of the games involving the greedy six. But I doubt that would happen. From a purely selfish point of view, hoping for a massive Man Utd win. Keeping Liverpool behind us.
You'll get your wish. Liverpool are exhausted and demoralized.
