Today's Football

[weemac]

I'm done with football as a fan. It's so screwed up, it's unreal. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. I've been thinking about this for a while. The big clubs can pretty much buy anything that they want, distort the league and the transfer markets, and they get away with it.

The costs are insane to watch your team, whether it's on TV or at a match. Unless you're in the top few clubs, there seems to be almost no point.

Snap! I've spent the last 3 weeks thinking the exact same; 'cheque-book champions', VAR still a joke, low-scoring, boring matches on the increase, dull, sanitized punditry, media's enforcing of cultural ideologies, timewasting every dead ball, pushing and pulling in the box, endless TV replays of every foul, endless TV crowd shots, and the list goes on and on.

I ditched TNT and Premier a while ago, and won't be renewing Sky next year.

[jamesedwards]

I'm done with football as a fan. It's so screwed up, it's unreal. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. I've been thinking about this for a while. The big clubs can pretty much buy anything that they want, distort the league and the transfer markets, and they get away with it.

The costs are insane to watch your team, whether it's on TV or at a match. Unless you're in the top few clubs, there seems to be almost no point.

Snap! I've spent the last 3 weeks thinking the exact same; 'cheque-book champions', VAR still a joke, low-scoring, boring matches on the increase, dull, sanitized punditry, media's enforcing of cultural ideologies, timewasting every dead ball, pushing and pulling in the box, endless TV replays of every foul, endless TV crowd shots, and the list goes on and on.

I ditched TNT and Premier a while ago, and won't be renewing Sky next year.

It certainly has been the least watchable Premier League for years. VAR ruins it for me, not due to the decisions, but the way it takes away the moment.

[Euler]

Arsenal winning the league this season has been absolutely awful. Most matches have been dreadful. They're trying not to lose and don't really have that much attacking flair or intent, and they're just hoping that they get an opportunity which they can put in the back of the net.

[firlandsfarm]

Arsenal winning the league this season has been absolutely awful. Most matches have been dreadful. They're trying not to lose and don't really have that much attacking flair or intent, and they're just hoping that they get an opportunity which they can put in the back of the net.

Are you too young to remember 1-0 to the Arsenal?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixr2TiF2Ahg

[TJSN1]

I'm done with football as a fan. It's so screwed up, it's unreal. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. I've been thinking about this for a while. The big clubs can pretty much buy anything that they want, distort the league and the transfer markets, and they get away with it.

The costs are insane to watch your team, whether it's on TV or at a match. Unless you're in the top few clubs, there seems to be almost no point.

The big clubs buying anything they want isn't a new thing though. It's 36 years since Swindon Town beat Sunderland in the second tier play off final but were subsequently demoted two divisions (reduced to one on appeal) for making tax-free payments to players.

Then four years later Tottenham were found guilty of the same thing and only received a points deduction and an FA Cup expulsion, but thanks to Alan Sugar's millions were able to fight it in the courts and eventually got it reduced to a mere fine.

As a life long Swindon fan myself I remember it very well and, given where we are today, it still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

[jamesedwards]

Here's a sobering thought - Who is there to challenge Arsenal next year?

Man City will be transitioning to Maresca.
Liverpool look like they're sticking with Slot (despite what this geezer thinks https://youtu.be/iU3LJI_3ytU?t=113 ).
Chelsea will be transitioning to Alonso.
Man Utd have shit the bed by appointing Carrick.
Spurs are awful.
Villa and Newcastle can't get ahead of FFP.

Could we be in for a few years of Arteta dominance? Could the scene be set for another Leicester? Everton? Sunderland? Brighton? Undoubtably Arsenal will be clear favourites. 6/4 ish?

[jamesedwards]

Here's a sobering thought - Who is there to challenge Arsenal next year?

Man City will be transitioning to Maresca.
Liverpool look like they're sticking with Slot (despite what this geezer thinks https://youtu.be/iU3LJI_3ytU?t=113 ).
Chelsea will be transitioning to Alonso.
Man Utd have shit the bed by appointing Carrick.
Spurs are awful.
Villa and Newcastle can't get ahead of FFP.

Could we be in for a few years of Arteta dominance? Could the scene be set for another Leicester? Everton? Sunderland? Brighton? Undoubtably Arsenal will be clear favourites. 6/4 ish?

Just looked up B365 and Arsenal are 6/4! I should be an odds compiler.

[Tuco]

I'm done with football as a fan. It's so screwed up, it's unreal. It's not a knee-jerk reaction. I've been thinking about this for a while. The big clubs can pretty much buy anything that they want, distort the league and the transfer markets, and they get away with it.

The costs are insane to watch your team, whether it's on TV or at a match. Unless you're in the top few clubs, there seems to be almost no point.

I agree - football is a game played by idiots, run by morons and watched (paid for) by...