Football, get stuck in...

[David_itl]

We had the game on whilst we were having our works do last night but with no sound on. Definitely one of the better games of this World Cup. I wasn't confident about Kane taking a 2nd penalty (I actually said he would miss to the table I was sat at) purely on the basis that we got away with the 1st one seeing the Kane and Lloris are teammates so would have practiced against each other many times.

I do not know what match the referee was looking at but he appeared not to be at the one that was taking place around him. You can always accept that sometimes that despite playing better, you will occasionally lost but what you cannot legislate for is ineffective officiating.

Quite why the 2nd penalty had to go to VAR was beyond a joke, and the referee then taking a load of replays to confirm one of the most obvious fouls just turned it into a farce. As for the other incidents/persistent fouling it baffles me how so much was allowed to go unpunished.

I also find it incredulous that there are some people who are saying on social media that "they couldn't remember England having a shot" despite having twice as many as France with half of them on target. It's also remarkable saying that the 1st time they meet a "quality" team they lose. Get out of the only group where all countries were in the Top 20 then meet the African champions. Yep, England was definitely playing San Marino, Andorra, American Samoa, etc.

Still the bulk of that England side is under 25 so they can store this experience in their locker knowing that they are not yet at their prime.

 

[mullion]

Just out of interest Saudi have put in a bid for Manchester Utd, could this change things?

 

[KJAY 786]

It would be nice if a midlands - Birmingham Team get SAUDI Sponsorship as-well - it is exciting news if SAUDIA really start BIRMINGHAM FLIGHTS- FULL LOAD Demand is High - amongst all hope you having a Peaceful Day Take Care GOD BLESS ! ! !

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Just out of interest Saudi have put in a bid for Manchester Utd, could this change things?

No, I still couldn't be interested in Man U!
#Football #ManchesterUnited

 

[mullion]

Don`t worry neither can I as I am a CFC Blue and SCFC Blue

 

[Scania1800]

No, I still couldn't be interested in Man U!

Thought apple wanted to buy them

 

[mullion]

No there are 3 offers in at moment I believe The British guy, Saudi and a Qatari Prince, I would prefer the British deal on the football side. Don`t understand why the Birmingham teams always seem to underperform.

 

[JENNYJET]

the Saudi's purchased control of Newcatle so Man. utd may be blocked, I only wish for the Glazer family to go away. To return to topic, Saudia may well start slowly as Qatar did and sponsorships may not follow if Islamic law comes into the picture. i.e. sponsor what?

 

[mullion]

Don`t think Islamic law will have much influence but UK government may

 

[David_itl]

The interesting part of the Jim Radcliffe/INEOS bid is that they are not going for 100% ownership.... they are after the "B" class shares with the "A" class shares remaining with thr US institutional investors, so aiining for around 75% ownership. Given the hue and cry over the Saudi takeover of Newcastle and the backlash of the World Cup being held in Qatar, I can imagine that pressure would be placed to find both of those bids failing on the "fit and proper" test (something that could have arguably been done with the Glazer's acquisition of United)

 

[JENNYJET]

Hindsight ( as my legal training has impressed upon me ) is not evidence and any fitness test at the FA should not even consider it. The Qatari's and Saudi's individually may be excellent people but it will always the regimes in power that the media will focus upon. One could argue that Radcliffe would fall foul of the climate lobby given what INEOS do.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Football clubs (along with other sports teams), are something of a conundrum. Whilst they are a business and have to make money to survive, they also have fans who have declared their lifelong commitment to the club. Compare this with supermarkets. They are also businesses that have to make money to survive, but the same loyalty does not apply. Even though, many people probably shop at the same supermarket regularly, you never see shoppers wearing 'Tesco' scarves or 'Sainsbury's' T-shirts (the closest, would be branded shopping bags, but you see all sorts at the checkout). There is much less brand loyalty (probably why supermarkets have introduced loyalty cards).
For the reasons I've listed above, I believe that the shares of sports clubs should be in the hands of the fans and not those of multi millionaires. Hopefully, this would help 'level the playing field' (pardon the pun), between the super rich clubs and those struggling to survive. I would also hope that this would make the leagues (especially the Premiership), much more dynamic, rather than dominated by the same 4 or 5 clubs. The last time that the Premiership was exciting, was when Leicester won the title.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Were they listening to me?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64536218

 

[jfy1999]

With Big Sam apparently heading to Leeds now that makes 13 management changes at Premier League clubs this season. I think The previous record for a season was 11. Should there be manager transfer windows to limit the number of sackings?

 

[rollo]

It's puzzled me for year's that It's the manager who gets the boot but players are the ones who kick the ball, It's not as if the manager ever says in his team talk "now lads forget what we have trained and practiced for all week just pop out there and play rubbish".

Yours sincerely

Your long suffering blue nose correspondent, other teams are available.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

It's all looking very tight at the bottom of the Premier league. Whoever gets relegated, the players will be looking to stay in the Premiership, even though it is them that have played so poorly that their team is going down. Then, it always makes me laugh to watch scenes of a team that avoids relegation by the skin of their teeth. They celebrate as if they'd won the World Cup.

 

[Aviador]

Leeds United are in meltdown

 

[rollo]

It's all looking very tight at the bottom of the Premier league. Whoever gets relegated, the players will be looking to stay in the Premiership, even though it is them that have played so poorly that their team is going down. Then, it always makes me laugh to watch scenes of a team that avoids relegation by the skin of their teeth. They celebrate as if they'd won the World Cup.

The key word on that one Kevin is

 

[rollo]

Blues sold to American financier Tom Wagner which includes St Andrews returning to being owned by the club all subject to final approval of the Football League.

Can surely only be an improvement on the Chinese ownership and hopefully we will begin to move forward as is the City of Birminghams motto

 

[Ray Finkle]

Blues sold to American financier Tom Wagner which includes St Andrews returning to being owned by the club all subject to final approval of the Football League.

Can surely only be an improvement on the Chinese ownership and hopefully we will begin to move forward as is the City of Birminghams motto

Massive news and well overdue but as a long suffering Blues fan I'm just waiting for something to go wrong

Hopefully they'll be able to get the takeover done then it remains to be seen if they are the real deal we've been burned too many times.

We've got a couple of very talented young players so hopefully keeping hold of them will be a priority along with getting St Andrews fit for purpose.

Fingers very much crossed


In other news massive congratulations to Cov for reaching the play-off final, I really hope they can get the win against Luton