English Premier League

[golfmos123]

Loved the last rant Alankew!!! Echoes my sentiments precisely.

I am really feeling the EPL pain as I am a Charlton supporter. Another little club who rose up the ranks due to excellent financial management, shrewd player purchases, and of course, selling our finest to the cashed up clubs so we could fund our existence. Another club of very high highs, and very low lows. We sold our home ground and escaped bankruptcy by the skin of our teeth, and then our fans rallied and lobbied local councils etc etc, and we had a triumphant return to the home ground after ground sharing with West Ham and Crystal Palace for a while (don't get me started on the Glaziers....).

We had a sensational time in the EPL and finished 7th on at least one occasion. But it has all gone pear shaped in one bad season and now we are gone. For a while we were the benchmark on what a club should do when it gets promoted to the EPL, now I hope we don't become the benchmark on what you shouldn't do when you get relegated again (like Southampton). We now have only 1 player in the squad who played Premier League football for us from just one full season ago, and have already prepared for life in the Championship for some time it seems.

The EPL may not see Charlton again for a long long time, but we were there for a while and loved it!!

Go the little clubs no matter who you are........

 

[wayneL]

<<<======== OK just joining in the fervour here. Not premier league, but we can hope for promotion and that maybe 2167 will be our year.

Go the Robins!! (Oh #### with a name like that we're doomed )

 

[jersey10]

I was in England last year and still can't believe how excited people can get about their teams when they know the highest they can finish is 5th????

What a weird concept - The salary cap in AFL does have a downside but I very glad it is there.

I love the game of soccer (football) - In fact i saw Australia vs Brazil at the world cup in Munich - But i do find the EPL a little bit farcical!!!



I'm sure everybody here agrees. . . . . . yeah?

Cheers

Banjo

Go Leeds (back to the good old 'aussie' days)

No actually i disagree 100%.
The EPL is the most popular sports competition in the world of any sport not just football. So it seems many people disagree with you.

The fact that every finishing position up the league earns the club more money is a big incentive. In other words club finishing 1st gets more than team finishing 2nd just as team finishing 12th gets more prizemoney than team finishing 13th.
Why don't the AFL do this? Because they have to manipulate the competition artificially so that each team gets their 'turn' (Lions 01, 02, 03; Swans, WCE for the last four years; now Geelong) - what a load of bollocks. They do this using a salary cap and a draft. Does this imply that AFL supporters are that fickle that if the team they support doesn't get a go at the top for a few seasons they won't support their team anymore?? I think so. The fact that the salary cap is illegal is a whole other issue.

 

[alankew]

WayneL doesnt matter who you support as long as you go to the games-supporting doesnt mean buying a shirt but suffering like the rest of us poor buggers.Wolves have been trying to get promoted to the Premier forever and ironically they did so the year we emigrated.Worst of all they did it via the playoffs at Cardiff Millenium stadium so although delighted they went up I was gutted that i missed out on such a big day out.Needless to say they were relegated the next season

 

[jersey10]

All these football avatars made me jealous so i just got the Everton one. The first avatar i've had on this forum - feels good.
Wayne, i was born in Wigan but was brought up near Liverpool. The biggest influence on me becoming an Evertonian was my Dad. I suspect many people would be in the same boat - you grow up supporting the team your Dad supports. Went to my first match with my Dad when i was 12 Everton against QPR at Goodison Park. Everton won 3-0. Went back to England a couple of years ago and saw a game on a Tuesday night again at Goodison Park against Portsmouth. Full house and a 2-1 win in the last minute. The atmosphere was unbelievable and it was the night they introduced James Beattie to the crowd. Great night.

 

[wayneL]

Well at least with the Robins, the only way is up.

 

[bassmanpete]

Was born in Edinburgh but lived in Manchester from age 3 to 11 (late '40s/early '50s). Had an older brother who supported City but I always preferred United for some reason now lost in the mists of a hazy memory

Moved to Crewe in 1955 and switched my allegiance to 'The Alex' and thus suffered badly through the '60s, '70s, and early '80s

After 20 odd years of following a team that mostly languished at the bottom of the old 4th Division, applying regularly for re-election, I emigrated to Australia in May 1983. Just over a month after I left, Dario Gradi took over as manager of the club and everything changed. 'The Alex' went from being the laughing stock of the League, the butt of many jokes, to being one of the most respected teams in the country - developing, and selling, such players as David Platt and Danny Murphy. And I missed it all! I was out here, stuck with bloody Aussie Rules

 

[golfmos123]

WayneL doesnt matter who you support as long as you go to the games-supporting doesnt mean buying a shirt but suffering like the rest of us poor buggers.

Absolutely. I'm an Aussie supporting Charlton but was put onto them during a 2 year stay in Southampton. My office mate was a feral Charlton supporter, born and bred in Greenwich (home of Charlton).
He brought me in a newspaper article basically saying that if you wanted to feel good about yourself on a Saturday afternoon, then go ahead and support ManUre, Liverpool etc. BUT - if you want really high highs, and really low lows, then Charlton are the team. From that day on I was hooked and they have certainly lived up to the tag.

Even went to Cardiff on a conference a couple of years back, and hired a car to drive from Cardiff to Charlton and back on a Monday night to see the boys live because it was the only chance I had. Have seen them live 3 times now for 2 wins and a draw over the past 11 years, and can't wait to get back to the Valley again. Hopefully we're in the Premiership and not the Conference by then!!!

Buy the shirt, wear it proudly and suffer like hell!!!!! Love it.......

 

[doctorj]

After a bunch of summer signings that promised so much, last week's loss to Hull was the lowest of lows.

Saturday at the Cottage made it all worth it though. 1-0 over the Gooners!!

 

[jersey10]

forget about Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (and Everton). Manchester City will be the most successful team for the next ten years. Taken over by some UAE business group worth 800 billion. Man City have just bought Robinho for 32million pound and have apparently bid for Cristiano Ronaldo from Man U for 100 million plus. Interesting times in the EPL.

 

[Pager]

forget about Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (and Everton). Manchester City will be the most successful team for the next ten years. Taken over by some UAE business group worth 800 billion. Man City have just bought Robinho for 32million pound and have apparently bid for Cristiano Ronaldo from Man U for 100 million plus. Interesting times in the EPL.

I think you will find the Ronaldo there after is the Brazilian not the Portuguese.

My team have made an OK start, 2 wins and a loss, put 4 past Blackburn last weekend albeit a bit flattering seeing as they got the last 2 goals in the final few minuets.

Come on you Irons

 

[aacantona]

forget about Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool (and Everton). Manchester City will be the most successful team for the next ten years. Taken over by some UAE business group worth 800 billion. Man City have just bought Robinho for 32million pound and have apparently bid for Cristiano Ronaldo from Man U for 100 million plus. Interesting times in the EPL.

So ManCity finally have an agenda other than 1)beating manu at home 2)beating manu away 3) remaining in the top flight!

Btw - Pager, it is Portuguese Ronaldo they are (supposedly) chasing.

 

[dotocom]

its unfortunate that tv here only focuses on the EPL. I'd like to watch more football in the south american region where they focus on strategy and tactics.

exciting thing about EPL though is the fact they've got many great imports so you can see many players with different styles. only thing putting down the premiership is the long balls, they play badly on the ground.

What do u guys think?

 

[jersey10]

Well done to Man U on another EPL title. I'm convinced it will be Everton's turn next season. Of course we will give Chelsea a lesson in the cup final in a couple of weeks and finish this season off in style!

 

[Real1ty]

Well done to Man U on another EPL title. I'm convinced it will be Everton's turn next season.

Surely you jest?

 

[investorpaul]

Surely you jest?

It would have been a cracker final round had Man U lost to Arsenal

I suspect next year will be Liverpools chance for a strong tilt at the title.

If Man U lose Ronaldo I suspect the best they could hope for is 2nd

 

[Real1ty]

It would have been a cracker final round had Man U lost to Arsenal

I suspect next year will be Liverpools chance for a strong tilt at the title.

If Man U lose Ronaldo I suspect the best they could hope for is 2nd

I agree and Man U certainly were feeling Liverpools pressure a month ago but they did enough to win another title.

Rumours are that Liverpool will be very active in signing players for next season.

 

[Bushman]

It would have been a cracker final round had Man U lost to Arsenal

I suspect next year will be Liverpools chance for a strong tilt at the title.

If Man U lose Ronaldo I suspect the best they could hope for is 2nd

Ronaldo & Tevez might be going! Be fantastic for the competition of Tevez ends up with Mascerano at Liverpool. Believe me it hurts to say that as a West Ham fan. However Liverpool alone has the squad to compete with United. A lot depends on the depth of the Abu Dhabi oil barons pockets at Man City (my smoky).

As for the Hammers, I think we will be able to push into the top-7 next year with our squad of emerging youngsters and Ashton/Cole returning from injury. That is assuming Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool do not take our best players again - Lampard, Joe Cole, Yossie Benayoun, Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Johnson, Jermaine Defoe, Carrick etc; quite a starting eleven. Lol; it is a cruel business the EPL. Capitalism at its finest.

 

[jersey10]

Surely you jest?

Yes, i do. If Moyes can keep progressing the team the way they have for the last 5 years, then maybe in 5 years time we will be a realistic chance. The only team i can see making a meaningful drive into the 'big four' is Man City with their billions. I agree a dark horse for next season pending off-season signings.

If Man U lose Ronaldo I suspect the best they could hope for is 2nd

I suspect Ferguson will sell Ronaldo sooner rather than later, especially considering the transfer fees that are being thrown around.

 

[doctorj]

TBH, unless Ronaldo grows up, him leaving may be a blessing in disguise for the ManUtd dressing room. Sure, he does give them something going forward, but his constant refusal to track back and constant diving/whinging to team mates etc is not something that's particularly helpful for the team. Owen Hargreaves will be back next season and will give ManUtd another free kick option around the box.

A good win for my boys this weekend. We're now just a point away from guaranteeing ourselves a spot in Europe. I've delayed flights to be at the Cottage next week to celebrate (4pm k/o, 8pm flight.... easy! ).

Roy Hodgson for manager of the year and Mark Schwarzer for keeper in the team of the year!