Shoren posted:

I don't care if that's how you pronounce "z" in Spanish, I'm still not calling him Santi Cathorla.

Shoren posted:

I don't care if that's how you pronounce "z" in Spanish, I'm still not calling him Santi Cathorla.

NeoNaoNeo posted:

Out of interest how do you pronounce Thierry Henry?

NeoNaoNeo posted:

Out of interest how do you pronounce Thierry Henry?

NeoNaoNeo posted:

Out of interest how do you pronounce Thierry Henry?

quote:

Football supporters.

I find them uneducated, ignorant, bigoted, and of questionable hygiene. All these movements to keep fan involvement and supporter "culture" (a sad joke) within clubs make me laugh. The only football supporters I like are Reading's and those rich Asians who fly half way around the world to visit Old Trafford.

The sooner the traditional elements are driven from the stadia the better. Thatcher started the work but no one has carried the flame with any real brio since. I dream of a future where I can tap the gently conversing man in front of me on the shoulder and say "Sorry, mate. Would you mind keeping it down? I'm trying to watch the game." I think football spectating should become more like going to the cinema or the theatre. Arsenal have made huge strides towards this end but there is still so much more to be done.

I have a few ideas in this regard. I think pre- and half-time shows should be introduced. There needs to be something to interrupt or drown out whatever vocal vestiges can still afford to attend. I think analysis should either be directly beamed into the stadium on big screens or, even better yet, that a little pavilion is erected and they host it right here in the centre circle. Imagine Gary Neville coming out and giving his tactical insights with a big screen behind him. It would be a similar format to a TED talk, but about man marking at corners.

When this, and other changes, are introduced and we firmly break the local associations of clubs and community, there will really then be no obstacle to playing matches in foreign countries. Man Utd could play in Dublin, London, and Singapore - where most of their fanbase resides. Clubs aggressively marketing overseas and on the PR offensive like Chelsea and Man City could play in New York and Los Angeles. Why should they have to travel to Hull or Wigan? Where is the commercial sense in that? The revenue streams don't flow through there.

Also, let's be honest, football matches can sometimes be boring. And I think the game has a lot to learn from rugby. A bonus points system should be introduced.

1 point for a no score draw.
2 points for a score draw.
3 points for a win.
1 additional point for every three goals scored (the extra point for a score draw notwithstanding).

It would make the games more exciting and the league more predictable. And much less defensive. No one likes defensive football. It makes for poor highlights/gifs. Also, now that all the wealth and talent is concentrated in a smaller and smaller number of clubs, the thumpings that are routinely dished out by the big clubs will even further secure their hegemony. As it stands, beating cash-strapped fodder six or seven nil is worth the same as beating Chelsea one nil. That needs to change.

Finally, who honestly wants to see a team like Southampton or Newcastle in the Champions League? Qualification for the competition should be based on an aggregate over several seasons, similar to the relegation system in South America. This will help ensure that the best clubs are always there, even if they have a bad season. In addition, it better secures them financially. The smaller clubs have never really had that sort of money and wouldn't know what to do with it anyway. The G-14 clubs would of course have a relegation veto. The Europa league would offer a valid for one year only pass into the competition as its prize. In fact, why don't we just make it a league, and stop bothering with all these small regional domestic teams altogether?

"What about PSG and Man City and their like? How would they get in?" I hear you ask. It's a good question. There could be an option to simply buy in, of course. Or alternatively one could improve one's coefficient not simply by getting results (for that would take years) but by net spend. Expenditure could be pegged against results; for example, £300 million spent in one fiscal year could be worth two consecutive semi-final placings. A significant outlay would improve their ranking and they could take the place of some irrelevant European club like Ajax or Dynamo Kiev or Benfica.

This is my dream for the future of football. A complete break with the past.

sircozzie posted:

A response to being asked what about modern football is bad:

Haggis Heed posted:

Haggis Heed posted:

Haggis Heed posted:

http://neillennon.com/product/the-official-neil-lennon-calendar/

Im speechless.

quote:

The Official 2014 Neil Lennon calendar. The Football Manager is having a very successful career, a truly motivational character that embodies the spirit of leadership, determination and this calendar shows some off his style off pitch. Only available from Neillennon.com the official website and merchandise.
Exclusive limited editions.

Polidoro posted:

Why did they choose the derogatory term used to call Brazilians in the rest of South America as the name of their ball? loving brazucas.

El Hefe posted:

This is the first time I've ever heard this brazucas word or that it's used as a derogatory term tbh.

cisneros posted:

Uruguayans are highly-skilled racists.

Shrapnac posted:

BRAZUCA!

sassassin posted:

Oh good another plastic ball for everyone to bitch about

Shrapnac posted:

BRAZUCA!

Adulterous Hitler posted:

Boy do I like balls, I like them so much I'm gonna post all of my best balls:

Azteca - Mexico 1986

Adulterous Hitler posted:

Group hug!