Football for the Masses?

[Harv]

I only watched it cos the tennis was rained off and I'd taped the game to watch after. It was so dull. Again. Who cares about England?

I think Euro 2008 showed how wonderful international football can be; it certainly restored my faith in it. Top international tournament football is fantastic; it only gets dull when England are involved.

I have never gotten into watching England, but i do remember Euro 96 quite well. That English team was good to watch. Macca at his best

[Shaggy]

I was just saying at the weekend, the greatest England performance in my lifetime was the 4-1 drubbing of Holland at Euro 96. That was a great side.

Gascoigne's goal against Scotland

[Dessy]

But there's no difference. The original post complains about the national game being sold off - this happened years ago. Sky, Setanta...what's the difference? Sky subscribers are getting upset just because it's not on Sky. Let's face it, that's what the complaints are about. All those Ingerlund fans who chanted 'we hate Setanta'....you can bet your bottom dollar that 99% of 'em have got Sky.

If no difference, there's certainly some indifference.

The point of the post, sorry if I missed it 10 years ago when Sky came on the scene, was simply to suggest that we all have a right to view our national team playing the national game 'free', if there is such a thing.

I don't subscribe to Sky or Setanta........thats what mates are for.

[Harv]

I was just saying at the weekend, the greatest England performance in my lifetime was the 4-1 drubbing of Holland at Euro 96. That was a great side.

Gascoigne's goal against Scotland

cracker

That was as good a team as England have had in my years of watching football

[Dessy]

I was just saying at the weekend, the greatest England performance in my lifetime was the 4-1 drubbing of Holland at Euro 96. That was a great side.

Gascoigne's goal against Scotland

cracker

That was as good a team as England have had in my years of watching football

So whats changed, apart from England playing ****, I mean why would you not want to watch them now.....is tennis really much more exciting?

Does the same apply to the FA Cup....whoever plays in the Final? We always watched the FA CUP Final as a matter of course no matter what and hopefully as long as TV allows will continue to do so.

[Shaggy]

So whats changed, apart from England playing ****, I mean why would you not want to watch them now.....is tennis really much more exciting?

.

More exciting than watching England play? You bet it is.

I agree the England games should free-to-air but as I said this is not a new problem. Same ****, different channel.

[Harv]

footballs changed for me. Its nowhere near as attacking and based on talent anymore.

Its all about stamina and fitness nowdays, not being able to actually pass the thing.

A fella like Le Tissier wouldn't get a game nowdays

[zimbo]

Actually, on Saturday night I was thrilled to see a performance packed full of invention and energy, with a fanatical crowd, an unexpected result, incisive commentary and plenty of pleasing movement up front.

But then I was watching the Eurovision Dance Contest on BBC1.


Athannyoo!

[Dessy]

footballs changed for me. Its nowhere near as attacking and based on talent anymore.

Its all about stamina and fitness nowdays, not being able to actually pass the thing.

A fella like Le Tissier wouldn't get a game nowdays

Yes he would.............its just that the game would be darts or something!

I take it your referring to International Football when you talk about its changed cos as much as it pains me to say it there's some fabulous footballing teams and players out there that are well worth watchin like Arse, Manure etc

And its not ALL top teams only that produce Pompey, Spurs even the likes of Sunderland.....they can all produce and play on their day. Its not all doom and gloom.....Is it?

I would agree that International football is a little flat at the moment. Threre's no great South American sides to pass and trick you off the park or score a 30yd rasper every game, even top Euro sides are poo at the moment. However, the one constant is that things change. Look at Holland.....for me the most dynamic and exciting team at the recent Euro's. Spain too, finally realising their potential. There will be a crop of players that hopefully catapult England back into contention, it should be the current crop +/- one or two but thats a different matter.

Football......its still a beautiful game.

[Exiled_red]

I was just saying at the weekend, the greatest England performance in my lifetime was the 4-1 drubbing of Holland at Euro 96. That was a great side.

Gascoigne's goal against Scotland

Euro 96 was amazing, but in the last 10 years or so my interest levels in the England team have reached rock bottom.

[Exiled_red]

But there's no difference. The original post complains about the national game being sold off - this happened years ago. Sky, Setanta...what's the difference? Sky subscribers are getting upset just because it's not on Sky. Let's face it, that's what the complaints are about. All those Ingerlund fans who chanted 'we hate Setanta'....you can bet your bottom dollar that 99% of 'em have got Sky.

That's true, but personally from a premiership point of view (I'm not too bothered about England). The whole seperate package thing was supposedly brought in to break Sky's monopoly which would be good for the fans. But because of this the fans have to pay more to see the games because they have to pay for Sky and Setanta, so the only people who have gained from this are the league and the FA.

[Meols Kopite]

That's true, but personally from a premiership point of view (I'm not too bothered about England). The whole seperate package thing was supposedly brought in to break Sky's monopoly which would be good for the fans. But because of this the fans have to pay more to see the games because they have to pay for Sky and Setanta, so the only people who have gained from this are the league and the FA.

Sky show more Premiership matches on Sky Sports then they did before Setanta where about though. The same number of matches now on Setanta were previously on Premiership+ Pay-per-view.

[Exiled_red]

Sky show more Premiership matches on Sky Sports then they did before Setanta where about though. The same number of matches now on Setanta were previously on Premiership+ Pay-per-view.

When the games were on Sky pay per view you could get a pay per view season ticket at the start of the season for ~£40 to watch the equivalent matches on Setanta would cost £10 per month which is £100 a year.

Also the FA cup games that were on sky are now on setanta.

[Joe King]

I simply couldn't care how England perform. They have always been ran by the London press and always treat Liverpool players like ****.

[wavydavy]

I actually cheered Croatia on during last season's game at Wembley! Honestly, I wasn't indifferent I actually leapt the couch when their third goal went in. **** England. I've developed what can only be described as a "Basque" type mentality now.