The Real Football Thread

[BigMac]

I read that about them acquiring the Premiership rights also. There was an interesting discussion about this on the radio last year over here and how this was a ground breaking move by Benfica.

Ridiculous prices by the TV broadcasters wasn't really whatt I was getting at, although I take your point as you're more informed on the matter. For instance, in England you have to pay huge prices for both subscribing to Sky Sports and BT Sport but the TV money both domestically and internationally are distributed more evenly. I should know, I subscribe to both. Before 2007 Sky had a monopoly on the Premiership but they were still distributed the same as they do now. Even if they are more affordable to Benfica fans, it's to the lesser good of the league with them out of a more collective TV deal.

United wanted to sell theirs on their own back in 2003 but it got shot down quickly by the other Premiership clubs. Ian Ayre the managing director at Liverpool said while the domestic rights should be divided more evenly, the international rights should be sold independently by clubs themselves. United and Liverpool know they would be massive beneficiaries of this if it came to it. Similarly if they did what Benfica did with their own channels domestically(MUTV and LFC TV), the lesser clubs in the league would suffer with them out of a collective deal. The TV rights just like with Benfica out of it in Portugal, are less attractive and of less value. For all the criticism the Premiership gets with greed accusation, thankfully this will never happen as you need two-thirds majority for anything like this to go through.

Academica has been mentioned on here. Do they even have a TV channel? Who would subscribe to them outside of the clubs's fanatical fans if they had a TV channel of their own and tried something similar? Their subscriptions would be a drop in the ocean in comparison to Benfica's. Like the old TV deal which was scandalously in favour of the big 3 with them acquiring 70% on the TV rights, this arrangement with Benfica is detrimental to lesser clubs in the league.

I can't and won't say you're wrong. But at this point it is inevitable that a couple of others will follow. Also, with olivedesportos monopoly, clubs got a very small share anyway, because there was (is) no competition whatsoever. And most clubs don't have the financial capacity to have their own channel. In fact, 28 of the 32 teams voted against the concentration of television rights by olivedesportos, so I don't think they are against Benfica getting rid of them.

In an interview Mário Figueiredo gave two months ago, he accused olivedesportos of threatening clubs to vote against him and eventually kick him out of the league presidency.

He says clubs are hostage and being coerced to do certain things, and that it is becoming a police case. Fact is, the majority of clubs, except Benfica rolleyes and Sporting iirc, have started a crusade to try and dismiss Figueiredo.

Figueiredo's campaign banner was to cancel the exploration contracts between clubs and olivedesportos, and clubs voted him and supported his views, because they wanted to get rid of them.

I don't think clubs, even the smaller ones, are against Benfica on this. They applaud.

 

[Hugo87]

In an interview Mário Figueiredo gave two months ago, he accused olivedesportos of threatening clubs to vote against him and eventually kick him out of the league presidency.

He says clubs are hostage and being coerced to do certain things, and that it is becoming a police case. Fact is, the majority of clubs, except Benfica rolleyes and Sporting iirc, have started a crusade to try and dismiss Figueiredo.

Figueiredo's campaign banner was to cancel the exploration contracts between clubs and olivedesportos, and clubs voted him and supported his views, because they wanted to get rid of them.

Curious thing, Mario Figueiredo was involved in a car accident in Oporto few days after those conversations about dismissing olivedesportos monopoly, some witnesses say his car was intentionally hit, strange things.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Overlord Blatter: awarding 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake

Oh really? Who would have thought.

More in article on Guardian website: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/16/sepp-blatter-qatar-2022-world-cup-mistake

 

[gooner]

Overlord Blatter: awarding 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake

Oh really? Who would have thought.

More in article on Guardian website: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/16/sepp-blatter-qatar-2022-world-cup-mistake

We go on about cycling with Verbruggen and McQuaid but I would love even more to see that fellow take a bigger fall from power.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

It's most likely that someone on here is knowledgeable about Argentina's previous squad selection. So can someone please explain to me how Di Santo made the squad. I mean, he isn't a bad player, but good enough for Argentina considering who they got? Why? What is he good for? Why would they need them?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

It's most likely that someone on here is knowledgeable in Argentinas previous squad selection. So can someone please explain to me how Di Santo made the squad. I mean, he isn't a bad player, but good enough for Argentina considering who they got? Why? What is he good for? Why would they need them?

Nobody except sabella knows.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

FA Cup Final just started

Arsenal 0 - 1 Hull City

Game on.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

FA Cup Final just started

Arsenal 0 - 1 Hull City

Game on.

Another goal for Hull.

0 - 2

 

[Hugo87]

It's going to be an exciting game.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It's going to be an exciting game.

Wonderful free kick by Carzola.

1 - 2

 

[Hugo87]

Wonderful free kick by Carzola.

1 - 2

Fabulous.

 

[ferryman]

Congrats to St Johnstone and Athletico. Great day of sport

 

[Amsterhammer]

Congrats on a famous victory, Gooner!!

I watched an American Fox stream (first good one I found) with American commentators. Americans should not do footy commentary. Ever. Never mind that the accent is just wrong, saves are 'great', not 'beautiful'; a cross is not 'sending it in'; a half of extra time is a 'half', not a 'session'. I kept cringing.

Congrats also to Atletico on a thoroughly deserved Spanish title. Goodbye, Tata...and Alves, Song and Mascher...welcome Jose Enrique.

 

[gooner]

Congrats on a famous victory, Gooner!!

I watched an American Fox stream (first good one I found) with American commentators. Americans should not do footy commentary. Ever. Never mind that the accent is just wrong, saves are 'great', not 'beautiful'; a cross is not 'sending it in'; a half of extra time is a 'half', not a 'session'. I kept cringing.

Congrats also to Atletico on a thoroughly deserved Spanish title. Goodbye, Tata...and Alves, Song and Mascher...welcome Jose Enrique.

Thanks man.

Made hard work of it but the win is all that matters. Thankfully this lean spell has come to an end. I thought we were going to shoot ourselves in the foot once again when Fabianski came off his line.

I'm just going to enjoy this one.

Well done to Atletico. I hope they do it as well next week.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Attention

For the Germans here:

Right now the greatest soccer game ever played is on TV (full length at SWR with original german commentator Rolf Kramer)

Germany vs France 1982

The night of Sevilla, all the drama...

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Congrats on a famous victory, Gooner!!

I watched an American Fox stream (first good one I found) with American commentators. Americans should not do footy commentary. Ever. Never mind that the accent is just wrong, saves are 'great', not 'beautiful'; a cross is not 'sending it in'; a half of extra time is a 'half', not a 'session'. I kept cringing.

Congrats also to Atletico on a thoroughly deserved Spanish title. Goodbye, Tata...and Alves, Song and Mascher...welcome Jose Enrique.

When I went to High School in the US for a year I'd always correct the commentary out loud.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Cool... watching the whole game. Those were the times. The refs let the players play, the players themselves didn´t whine too much, and in that game our german heroes came fighting back big in overtime, never gave up...

Compare it to today. A bunch of overpaid cry babies. Playing beautiful maybe, but winning nothing since a felt 1.000 years. God did the german team decline. The so-called "golden generation". What a joke.

Breitner, Rummenigge, Fischer, Hrubesch, the Försters, Littbarski, etc.... those were the names.

And now? Özil, Keideira, Podolski... Bench warmers or no shows in foreign leagues.

If there is no fixing in the games (Germany certainly will draw good TV ratings, thus it would be better to advance further than the group phase), Germanys boys will finish 3rd or 4th in the group (they´ll have the whole summer to count their millions, while other teams players play on in the World Cup). They led their heads hang when the going gets tough (see Italy and Spain in the last 3 major tournaments), nobody stood up like Ballack (the last true warrior).

And Germanys coach is more concerned about his scarf and hair looking nice. This arrogant snob can´t jump over his shadow. Once he is in fight with superstars he let them go (see Kießling, Ballack for example).

The only bright spot: Miro Klose. He rises to the occasion. Always. Hope he breaks the record. I love him.

 

[Amsterhammer]

Now official: Van Gaal new Man. Utd. manager on a three year contract.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

This match was awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFQ5sxTqrI

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

This match was awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFQ5sxTqrI

Maybe... but a 1-1 in 120 minutes happens too often to be seriously mentioned as a all time classic. Far far away from the drama of "The Night of Sevilla". Not even once in the top lists of the following articles;

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../writers/rob_smyth/05/16/wcup.greatest.games/

http://wikigameguides.com/Blogs/iWINuFAIL/Top_10_Soccer_Matches_of_All_Time

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2317064/The-greatest-matches-of-all-time.html

http://www.4dfoot.com/2012/07/13/the-top-15-greatest-world-cup-matches-in-history/

 

[The Hitch]

Maybe... but a 1-1 in 120 minutes happens too often to be seriously mentioned as a all time classic. Far far away from the drama of "The Night of Sevilla". Not even once in the top lists of the following articles;

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../writers/rob_smyth/05/16/wcup.greatest.games/

http://wikigameguides.com/Blogs/iWINuFAIL/Top_10_Soccer_Matches_of_All_Time

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2317064/The-greatest-matches-of-all-time.html

http://www.4dfoot.com/2012/07/13/the-top-15-greatest-world-cup-matches-in-history/

Those are heavily biased towards big events.

The greatest game ever was Spain Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 it is known. 4-3 with Spain still needing to score 2 goals 92 minutes in, or they would be out and somehow managing it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdxnNmfzgBs

 

[gooner]

In terms of the international tournaments I've watched, Holland v Czech Rep was a truly classic game from Euro 2004 and my favourite.

Holland 2 up and the Czech's came back to win. That was a game for the purists.

 

[kingjr]

In terms of the international tournaments I've watched, Holland v Czech Rep was a truly classic game from Euro 2004 and my favourite.

Holland 2 up and the Czech's came back to win. That was a game for the purists.

That was absolutely nuts. I had never seen anything like that game back then.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Maybe... but a 1-1 in 120 minutes happens too often to be seriously mentioned as a all time classic. Far far away from the drama of "The Night of Sevilla". Not even once in the top lists of the following articles;

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../writers/rob_smyth/05/16/wcup.greatest.games/

http://wikigameguides.com/Blogs/iWINuFAIL/Top_10_Soccer_Matches_of_All_Time

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2317064/The-greatest-matches-of-all-time.html

http://www.4dfoot.com/2012/07/13/the-top-15-greatest-world-cup-matches-in-history/

To them it maybe but for me it was a great game.

 

[l.Harm]

In terms of the international tournaments I've watched, Holland v Czech Rep was a truly classic game from Euro 2004 and my favourite.

Holland 2 up and the Czech's came back to win. That was a game for the purists.

For us not really Although we still managed to get through the group stages.

We still talk about 'the substitute/change' when Advocaat substituted the best player on the pitch, Arjen Robben.