Kenny Dalglish Won't Be Delivering the Module: English Premiership 2011-12

a couple of thoughts on that season ticket pricing article:

1) re: getting to Wembley - yes, the experience has been devalued by holding FA Cup semi-finals there, but *most* clubs aren't going there significantly more often than they used to. While United and Chelsea will have been there far more in the last decade than in the 1980s, that's because those teams are far more successful now than they were then. I doubt fans of most clubs (including 'big' but not terribly successful clubs in recent times: Everton, Villa, Newcastle etc.) would be uninterested in a trip to Wembley because of overfamiliarity. In the case of Man Utd (and probably several other clubs) the problem with the 'season ticket = guaranteed ticket for cup final' equation is that the allocations for cup finals are always smaller than the number of season tickets, so plenty of season ticket holders miss out (or pay well over the odds to get tickets that have been given to the corporate sector etc.)

2) Again, it's certainly the case with a lot of Man Utd supporters so I imagine it's true at other clubs, that following the team away is seen as far more of a desirable experience than following the team at home (for many reasons, top of the list being the all-standing all-singing element). The article talks about not needing a season ticket to guarantee a seat in a home match, but doesn't mention that many people might want them for ease of access to away tickets. (Again, with Man Utd there is such excessive demand for these that a season ticket is next to useless in this respect, but for most clubs I'd imagine that's not the case)

Yeah: at QPR having a season ticket means I can pick and choose away games, which is nice. Don't need to go to Wigan etc in order to pick up the loyalty points to get me a seat at the Emirates or Stamford Bridge.

One thing I've been musing on (in a different context) which indirectly ties in is access for young people and whether the game is still trading on the edgy image of the hooligan era, with the edginess taken out. I'm sure that was true in the 90s, and being sold to the ex-hoolies who'd got richer and no longer had the stomach for a ruck - but I'm not sure there's any equivalent constituency from the 90s and beyond to take over as regular attendees. Might explain the slow tailing off of crowds that seems to have started outside the big clubs.

But maybe the game doesn't trade on that so much now, what with being the best league in the world and all.

yay gerrard's gone off injured. fuck you very much stuart/england/fa.

very odd decision to start him, especially in that role

There's a fabulous game over on youtube just now, guys

eh, i just have it on in the background

i assume he's injured anyway, or has at least felt a twinge. can't for a second imagine pearce and the fa are daft enough to plan for him to only play 30 minutes in a meaningless fucking friendly OH HANG ON

sensational crowd reaction to mcclean coming on

what's the game like? couldn't be arsed streaming it

trap out

good good

btw andrews is awful awful awful do i make myself clear he hates the ball and football in general

cox with two nutmegs and a goal.

Andrews assist gah

two in two for West Brom...

cox/mcclean look v good on left since coming on with 15 mins to go trap out btw

lol

indeed

yes, lol

oo do u fink u are kidding mister itler

can i just moan again about this thread not being on i love football. confuses me about once a week.

soldado scored two for spain in one game. rip fernando torres. we'll always have vienna.

That reception for McClean was kind of hilarious. The plain people of Ireland are so starved for anything resembling entertainment at this stage

where is the discussion of England vs Netherlands

lol

― the jeremy lin of YANIV (cozen), Wednesday, 29 February 2012 21:48 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

indeed

― Number None, Wednesday, 29 February 2012 21:48 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yes, lol

― Streep? That's where I'm a-striking! (darraghmac), Wednesday, 29 February 2012 21:50 (1 hour ago) Bookmark

I inadvertently saw all of the game over my friend's shoulder while talking to her about family issues in a pub in Fitzrovia. Increasingly predisposed towards Pearce as manja except that won't upset any Spurs fans so nah.

loved that Robben goal

now Huntelaar's just scored - is he unconscious? he appears to have a chunk of turf in his mouth.

Smalling got the worst of it

I've no sympathy, he was never going to reach that cross and he still threw his skull at it.

probably learned that move from Terry

now I'm hearing KJH got concussed, nose broken, & lost multiple teeth, poor Smalling if he really came off worse!

Damn, Smalling seemed worse at the time but that's nasty. Anyway, today's important news - the European Court of Justice has ruled that fixture lists can no longer be copyrighted

*fires up the presses*

Tough break for the EPL, having to put up with being advertised for free from now on.

d/ling to kindle right now so awesome

Apparently the entire fixture list was £3,931. What a racket

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/29/pepe-reina-race-row-tv-advert

FFS. Liverpool need to fire their entire PR department immediately.

Saw the article yesterday so I assume they'll all be wearing Pepe t-shirts this weekend

Surprised Spain's second choice keeper would get to appear in TV ads

Not sure that what he did is considered racist where he comes from.

I think Suarez tried that one. I'm sure it isn't btw.

tbf blacking up and making monkey chants doesn't appear to be considered racist where he comes from

I'm going there next weekend, when in Rome?

Agger's injured (broken ribs) So Carragher in line to start against Arsenal at the weekend. Great.

Where the hell is Coates?

http://cards.littleoak.com.au/197475_abc_redbacks/101_ralph_coates.jpg

still don't get that reina ad. oh look a bandwagon.

Liverpool player or otherwise, you really don't get why it might be seen as racist? Really?

Red tinted specs

englighten me

enlighten even