The Football Thread

[snowy25]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

any other time is not a problem, apparently.

That is the bit I don't get. If they are so worried about people not going to matches then why doesn't it matter on a Sat lunch time or all day on a Sunday.

Bad evening for West Ham and maybe a step closer to the door for Bilic. Its this time of year you usually see managers go because of the transfer window coming up. He and the team really need to turn things around quickly before it starts to get even tougher.

[tsunamiSD]

Originally Posted by Devius

West Ham 1-5 Arsenal
Alexis Sanchez scores hat-trick

If the Gunners had shown the same finishing touch in the first half, the score would have been 8-1...

[gordian_knot]

Originally Posted by snowy25

That is the bit I don't get. If they are so worried about people not going to matches then why doesn't it matter on a Sat lunch time or all day on a Sunday.

It's the fear of people preferring to watch a match on tv rather than go to Preston or Fleetwood or wherever. But that rule was brought in when the only football on tv was on one of the terrestrial stations when the audience might have been significant. There can't be much of a home audience these days but I suppose there could be lots of people watching in pubs. Bottom line for me is that people should have the choice.

[Ace1965]

Originally Posted by tsunamiSD

If the Gunners had shown the same finishing touch in the first half, the score would have been 8-1...

I watched that game this morning here in the US and even as a very novice football watcher I was saying they same thing, "how is this only 1-0 at halftime?" It looked like the NFL equivalent of a team dominating it's opponent with more yards, more first downs, and only kicking three field goals to be up 9-0 at halftime.

This was the first game I've seen West Ham in their new stadium and to me the place looks huge. Not from an overall stadium, total number of seats thing, but from how far the fans look to be from the field kind of thing. It looks more like an American Football stadium with the bigger sidelines.

It doesn't have the close confines of other English football stadiums that I've seen on tv. The commentators we have here in the US mentioned that West Ham have said that it's been hard to adapt to the new surroundings as their home. I can see why.

[snowy25]

Originally Posted by gordian_knot

It's the fear of people preferring to watch a match on tv rather than go to Preston or Fleetwood or wherever.

True I think that was the initial reasoning behind the blackout. Times have moved on now though and I think the rules could be updated. However its unlikely to happen because there are not enough big games that kick off during the blackout period. At least not enough for Sky or BT to spend big money to push for change.

Most games in Italy and Germany for example involving the big clubs kick off after the blackout. In Spain they changed kick off times to 5:15 from 5pm to allow sky to show their games. So today's kick off time was a little unusual for a big game.

I suspect also those that are truly interested would simply buy a foreign dish and watch it via that.

[mitchspur]

Shoot me down in flames if you like!!!

But I go week in week out to watch Spurs all over the place and now at silly o'clock to keep the 'armchair fans' happy.

I watch Mansfield, Barking and Dagenham when Spurs aren't playing.

Football should be at 3 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. AND there should be NO live games.

Who is it that has decided the Premiership is the greatest league in the world????

Our national side CERTAINLY does not reflect that!!!!

Roll on the day that SKY TV goes bust. And F**k Rupert Murdoch.

Oh yes and did I mention I picketed at Wapping????

[mitchspur]

By the way Victor, did I hear right Dame Baroness Queen Brady boasting West Ham had arrested more fans than anybody else?????? Is that something to be 'proud' of???

And by the way, I was pleased that when I returned home on the District Line from Spurs this evening the lights were out by 8.45!!!! at 'The LONDON Stadium'. This pleased me as a tax payer!!!! I didn't have even extra money to throw at the Hammers!!!

FIVE was the magic number today!!! He he!!

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by mitchspur

Who is it that has decided the Premiership is the greatest league in the world????

Roll on the day that SKY TV goes bust. And F**k Rupert Murdoch.

Men in suits and PL Chairman.

When Sky go bump in the night, BT will step in. I read somewhere they want more live games, including an 8pm Sat night KO.

Gone are the days of the 3pm KO, even the Cup Final has been moved to tea time.

Just the winter break to go.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by mitchspur

By the way Victor, did I hear right Dame Baroness Queen Brady boasting West Ham had arrested more fans than anybody else?????? Is that something to be 'proud' of???

And by the way, I was pleased that when I returned home on the District Line from Spurs this evening the lights were out by 8.45!!!! at 'The LONDON Stadium'. This pleased me as a tax payer!!!! I didn't have even extra money to throw at the Hammers!!!

FIVE was the magic number today!!! He he!!

I tend to avoid anything the three wise monkeys spout. They have F***** up my football team, torn down our true home and stuck us in a blot on the cheap. Promised the world in the summer transfer window, never landed who Bilic wanted and just bought crap. Relegation now seems a forgone conclusion. New Manager search will probably start on Monday, unless Alec McLeish is lined up already.

[mitchspur]

Victor!!! I'm starting to feel sorry for the 'Happy Hammers'.
Those three are crucifying you!!! But surely they have a cunning plan to sell to some 'dodgy' syndicate who can money launder.

I really think on MotD, (the ONLY way to watch football onTV) Bilic looked like he 'may' turn it in by Monday!!!

He's too laid back for all the 'Ag he's got around him.

It's Liverpool next ain't it (oh dear)