***Official*** English Football Season 2018-19

[GIMH]

I hate the whole thing of the media being sort of biased in favour of lower teams when a big and small team face each other in the FA Cup. The Solihull vs Blackpool BBC coverage is unbearable in this regard.

It’s a bit patronising but given football coverage in the U.K. is 90% gushing over the top Prem clubs, it’s quite welcome really

 

[sledger]

Everyone likes an underdog. For some reason.

 

[cpr]

Thanks for finally explaining our clubs plan to sell more shirts....

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I hate the whole thing of the media being sort of biased in favour of lower teams when a big and small team face each other in the FA Cup. The Solihull vs Blackpool BBC coverage is unbearable in this regard.

You should have seen the Salford v Shrewsbury replay in the first round then. That was twice as bad as the media are up Salfords backsides at every opportunity because the Man U lads have put money in.

 

[andmark]

It’s a bit patronising but given football coverage in the U.K. is 90% gushing over the top Prem clubs, it’s quite welcome really

Nah, I've still got to commit to the ideal of unbiased coverage but in any case, Solihull had a goal disallowed for off side. It was a corner taken short and the person the corner taker passed to stopped the ball and it (to me at least) seemed to go slightly forward, after which the corner taker (who'd came from an off side position) crosses it and someone scores. Yet despite the ball seemingly having moved forward (the BBC's up and down votes seemed to agree with me) the presenters were acting like it was clearly on side. That's a bad example for the whole underdog coverage thing.

 

[cpr]

Pretty sure Dan Walker was very very clear in the post match interviews that the linesman made an awesome call, and Alex Scott was agreeing (think Dion was still munching sweets). Also I think I'm slightly in love with Alex Scott.

Going back to Flibs post, not sure who I hate more, Salford or FC Utd. Watching these teams just buy there way up the league is very frustrating.

 

[andmark]

The online coverage kept quoting people saying it was a bad call IIRC and I think Dion Dublin was also disagreeing with the linesman.

River Plate are refusing to play the Copa Libertadores in Madrid and say it should be in Argentina. Pretty easy to say that when it wasn't their bus which was attacked..

 

[cpr]

The co-comm on the match was too, but Walker made it absolutely crystal post game when interviewing Tim Flowers (and at HT when interviewing the chairman) that the call was spot on.

 

[andmark]

For those who haven't seen it, you can find it at the 1:00 mark in the video below:

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Going back to Flibs post, not sure who I hate more, Salford or FC Utd. Watching these teams just buy there way up the league is very frustrating.

I hope Salford go up, got £20 on them to win the league.

 

[Tangles]

United really only have urgency when behind. Players just amble about when it’s even. So frustrating to watch.

 

[Niall]

Jose should be gone by now its absurd.

I'l probably regret this prediction, but would not be shocked to see United pull of an absurdly fluky win v Arsenal though just to ensure he stays in the job past Xmas.

 

[Cabinet96]

The whole brand they've gone with for the FA Cup, at least in the early rounds, is about potential upsets. If they didn't spend the majority of the build up pushing a positive narrative about the little club viewers would probably be less invested in the possibility of said upset happening. Plus as GIMH mentioned the lower ranked club gets far less coverage the rest of the year, what's the harm in them having their day.

 

[GIMH]

Indeed, but fingers crossed for no upset at Prenton Park tomorrow and then we are back in the third round. Would love Arsenal or United away, obv

 

[andmark]

The whole brand they've gone with for the FA Cup, at least in the early rounds, is about potential upsets. If they didn't spend the majority of the build up pushing a positive narrative about the little club viewers would probably be less invested in the possibility of said upset happening. Plus as GIMH mentioned the lower ranked club gets far less coverage the rest of the year, what's the harm in them having their day.

I don't know, it just feels forced. I reckon you could let them have their day (which I'd also enjoy), simply by analysing them. What have they been doing good? What are their weaknesses? Treat them seriously (they are good enough to be in the FA Cup and are in a two team match- they can actually win) whilst acknowledging they have a task ahead of them. If they win, then the effect would be even greater and then all the plaudits would be justifiably earned.

 

[GIMH]

I get what you’re saying tbf. I hate the way they’ll shove cameras in the underdog dressing room but wouldn’t dare in the big club etc. But rooting for the underdog to me is what the FA Cup is all about, if we were on TV tomorrow I wouldn’t be upset if the crew were rooting for Southport to win, even though they’re a team of thugs and their fans are knobs

 

[andmark]

I get what you’re saying tbf. I hate the way they’ll shove cameras in the underdog dressing room but wouldn’t dare in the big club etc. But rooting for the underdog to me is what the FA Cup is all about, if we were on TV tomorrow I wouldn’t be upset if the crew were rooting for Southport to win, even though they’re a team of thugs and their fans are knobs

Perhaps yeah. Maybe at this point, it's just a thing of personal preference.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Groups drawn for european championship qualifying and England get just about the easiest group.

A: England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosovo
B: Portugal, Ukraine, Serbia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
C: Holland, Germany, Northern Ireland, Estonia, Belarus
D: Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Georgia, Gibraltar
E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan
F: Spain, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Faroe Islands, Malta
G: Poland, Austria, Israel, Slovenia, Macedonia, Latvia
H: France, Iceland, Turkey,Albania, Moldova, Andorra
I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, San Marino
J: Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Greece, Armenia, Liechtenstein

 

[duffer]

Bought some herb and ready for this. Let's do this thang

 

[duffer]

No Ozil then....