*Official* English Football Season 2007-08

[grecian]

Poole Town FC are in the Wessex Premier League (Level Nine). They are one of the best-supported clubs in the league, though - average attendance of 164...

Highest they've managed is 16th in the Southern Premier League in 1967, which then was the top level of non-league football.

Dudley Town, on the other hand, equally peaked in the SPL - and are now in the West Midlands League (Level Ten)...

In the FA Cup, Poole have reached Round 3 and Dudley Round 1.

**** me, we're playing 3-4-3...

Yeah, but Dudley are just a suburb of Brum, they've already got too many teams, and they're always horrible to visit.

****, BURTON.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's obviously my ignorance & chauvinism towards the west midlands, but with places like Dudley & Sutton Coldfield I just think: nah, you're Birmingham.

I don't with Walsall tho, probably because they have a league team.

 

[GIMH]

BTW, Championship most interesting decision? Yes, IMO:

With three to play, five teams can mathematically take the title, four realistically

Down to 12th could still make the play-offs, with Cardiff in 11th very much still in with a realistic shout (admittedly with a game in hand)

Mathematically QPR in 14th could still go down (maybe not actually, depending on fixtures) but realistically it could be anyone from Norwich City who are 16th.

Shove that Premiership, where the title and all European places will be long decided by the final day. We might get one relegation spot to get excited about though

 

[GIMH]

Population of the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is 311,200 - that would be ninth on the list, between Leicester and Coventry. The town of Birkenhead itself is only 83,729, though.

Wow, don't know whether city status was ever seriously considered for us but it was talked about and would have had us take Hull's trivia spot LOL

Didn't think B'head would be too high up, and tbh about 82,000 of those should be hanged anyway.

edit - hmm should probably take it back as I remember as a kid my address read:

Street
Rock Ferry
Birkenhead

LOL

 

[grecian]

Hmm, TVs just gone, well it's not like it's an important stage of the season or owt.

 

[GIMH]

Leeds getting beat

Where there is a will there is a way

Believe, believe, believe. Whites can still go up. Come on you whites.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Fair play to the Tigers, 3-1 over Dicky Bird's boys. I know a bandwagon when I see one...

Nice to see Windarse score too; love fat footballers.

 

[GIMH]

Hate Windass, got threatened with ejection at Bradford once for gesticulating in his direction

 

[grecian]

Well out of the play-offs, but replaced by a team that can get 1,600 at home. So they'll do well in the league. The team in our proximity managed a princely 2,200 when still in running for the title. So they deserve their league place back right away obviously.

Oh, yes, a tad bit of bitterness in the red corner over here, and I do realise the irony of going on about crowds when I'm sitting on my arse in front of the 'puter. Yet I knew it would be agony today. Burton will no doubt be my next match, gawd 'elp me

 

[Neil Pickup]

Rushden on Saturday. Part of me can't wait: part of me dreads it.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

It's like you're all speaking another language...

 

[Matteh]

It's obviously my ignorance & chauvinism towards the west midlands, but with places like Dudley & Sutton Coldfield I just think: nah, you're Birmingham.

I don't with Walsall tho, probably because they have a league team.

Dudley's technically not Birmingham, tis in the Black Country. Sutton Coldfield, yeah it is.

 

[Matteh]

My Exeter fan friend was gutted for about 15 minutes today. We went to see Bangor vs Rhyl (2v1 to Rhyl, but now i've seen the Welsh Premier's all time top scorer score a goal) so he missed the Aldershot game on the telly. Gets home checks the score 1-1 L, gets to the pub where they're showing the SSN loop and convinces himself that Exeter let in a goal in the last couple of minutes. About 15 minutes it loops round to the Conf scores and he's fine until he sees that they've slipped down to 6th.

 

[GIMH]

Big game tonight, Chelsea can ill afford to get anything less than 3 points yet Goodison is rarely an easy place to go and win (of course, it was on January 27th 2001). Althoguh I think it's pretty much done and dusted now anyway, it's last chance salloon, and Halsey and co should have the corks ready if Chelsea don't win tonight.

 

[bugssy]

it is a big game tonight

 

[Tom Halsey]

Think Chelsea will get the win personally, Everton have had a brilliant season but appear to be running out of gas slightly, I don't think the title is quite done yet, but if Chelsea don't get the win tonight I think it will be.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, it's still on, Blackburn never tends to be an easy game for United, Chelsea's hopes lie there

 

[roseboy64]

Grant in bizzare media shutdown

Chelsea manager Avram Grant produced a bizarre performance at the post-match press conference following the 1-0 victory over Everton tonight.


AlexLivesey/GettyImages
Avram Grant: Words of 'wisdom'

The Israeli, who has been under pressure from the media for many weeks, would only asnwer press questions with short responses.
It also follows the Premier League's decision to allow the match to be brought forward to Thursday for live TV coverage, forcing Chelsea to play twice in the space of 72 hours.
What follows is a full transcription from ESPNsoccernet's Richard Jolly...

A deserved win Avram?
Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?
'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?
After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

• Click here to read Richard Jolly's view from the press box

Is it a relief to win here?
'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?
'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?
'No problem.'

Is there an issue?
'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?
'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?
'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?
'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?
'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?
'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Is it easier to say nothing Avram?
'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?
'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?
'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?
'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?
'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?
'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?
'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?
'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?
'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?
'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?
'Injured.'

What's his problem?
'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.
'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?
(no reply).....

 

[Johnners]

Haha, legend.

 

[Craig]

Grant in bizzare media shutdown

Chelsea manager Avram Grant produced a bizarre performance at the post-match press conference following the 1-0 victory over Everton tonight.


AlexLivesey/GettyImages
Avram Grant: Words of 'wisdom'

The Israeli, who has been under pressure from the media for many weeks, would only asnwer press questions with short responses.
It also follows the Premier League's decision to allow the match to be brought forward to Thursday for live TV coverage, forcing Chelsea to play twice in the space of 72 hours.
What follows is a full transcription from ESPNsoccernet's Richard Jolly...

A deserved win Avram?
Grant said: 'Yes.'

What particularly pleased you about the performance?
'I'm pleased.'

What in particular pleased you?
After an eight second delay: 'I don't know.'

• Click here to read Richard Jolly's view from the press box

Is it a relief to win here?
'Yes.'

You seem lost for words by the performance. Are you more satisfied with the performance or the victory?
'Both.'

You seem distracted. Do you have a problem?
'No problem.'

Is there an issue?
'No. I'm ok. I have nothing to say.'

Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans?
'You represent the Chelsea fans?'

They must believe you are still in the title race, do you have a message for them?
'No message.'

Does this result mean you are back in it now?
'I don't know.'

How many steps have you climbed to undertake this press conference?
'I don't know.'

You seem less voluble than usual. Is it because of Sky TV moving the game to a Thursday?
'Maybe it's because of you. I don't know. I am ok.'

You are saying that you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Is it easier to say nothing Avram?
'I don't what to answer. It is a good question. I don't know what to answer.'

Is this because of Sky?
'No. Sky is ok. I enjoy watching them.'

Is it a protest against newspapers?
'No. Why?'

Why else would you come in and refuse to answer our questions?
'I answer every question.'

You are two points behind Manchester United and you don't know if you are still in the title race?
'No.'

Have you told the players that you don't know if you are back in the title race?
'What I tell the players is something else. You want me to tell you what I say to the players?'

We just want you to answer the question really. Are you in the title race?
'I don't know.'

Would you not like to gain some positive publicity for the result rather than this bizarre silence?
'I'm sorry. You can write whatever you want and I can answer what I want.'

Do you feel under pressure to deliver a trophy. Is that the reason for the monosyllabic answers?
'No.'

Are you upset? Do you feel you have been misrepresented?
'Maybe I have said because it is a bad season.'

Did Michael Essien faint?
'He had some problems, but he is ok.'

Michael Ballack?
'Injured.'

What's his problem?
'Ask the doctor.'

He's not here Avram.
'Well call him then.'

Have you ever played the yes/no game Avram?
(no reply).....