Did the Premier League Break English Football?

I found this video very informative. The strength of soccer in England is its depth. The Premier League seems to be damaging that structure. 

Premier League Relegation Battle

Association Football - It looks highly likely that Premier League team, West Ham, will be relegated to the second tier of the English pyramid system, called the Championship.

What does this mean for the club? Well, they'll receive a serious haircut in terms of revenue and they will need to sell off many of their most expensive players.

I like promotion/relegation, and this is what's wrong with the NBA and other leagues like it. At certain points in the season, teams know they cannot win the title and they stop playing hard, knowing they cannot go down. If there was even a chance the bottom team may drop, then watch the fur fly, they'd be scrambling for the wins. For the record, the team with the worst record in the latest season is the Washington Wizards with a regular season 17 wins and 65 losses. Why can't another team be given the chance of buying them out and potentially moving the team to another city? It'd keep the league on their toes.

Super Bowl LX

I watched maybe 45 minutes of Super Bowl LX, and was lucky to see many of the scoring plays. Basically, I'd never go out of my way to watch such stuff, but I was following the winter Olympics at the same time, so did change channels from time to time. 

This was some of the worst football of any football code I've seen. How can anyone watch such rubbish? This was worse than rugby union, which has gone down the same road of incentivising less play while trying to look good doing it. For examples of football sports that actually play foot-ball, try rugby league or soccer. With these, the ball is in play almost continuously.

The big problem with American football for me is players being allowed to throw the ball out. In all other football codes that's not allowed. In soccer, you throw the ball in from out of bounds, but throwing it out is hand ball and a penalty, likewise in rugby it is also a penalty. The game is foot-ball, you kick the ball with your foot, if you want the ball out, you must kick it out. 

For the first time I saw the kick-offs where no-one can move after the ball is kicked, which is counter-intuitive, and looks silly. The ball has been kicked, but everyone waits like a field of pansies. And the scoring team kicking off is also silly, they tried this in rugby league and it failed back in the 90's. There is talk of bringing back some version of this again, but it's a bad idea, the scoring team usually receives the kick off in other football codes. To explain the thinking behind this, it prevents the team scored against ending up perpetually trapped in their own half. It is counter to the spirit of the game and would be very boring to watch, which American football is actually, very boring.

Anyway, back to the Winter Olympics for me, where athletes actually compete and do not stand around comparing their tutus.

Scunthorpe United Rescued

I've been a follower of Scunthorpe United since Ian Botham played for them in the 1970's. Eventually he had to choose between association football or cricket, and of course he chose cricket. But I stayed with Scunthorpe. 

In recent years, they've fallen below the English Football League and are now in the sixth division, or National League North. For a few months it was looking like they may fold, but no, they've received a rescue led by Michelle Harness, a local businesswoman. Phew.

Let's hope they can rebuild and get back up into the EFL.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/breaking-scunthorpe-united-agree-takeover-8799351

Argentina FIFA World Cup 2022 Champions

Have we witnessed the best soccer game of all time? I think we may have. Argentina looked to have the game sewn up, they were in total control and putting on a master class. Then, France found a way back with Mbappe scoring twice to tie the game up at fulltime. Then in extra time, both teams scored with Mbappe getting a hat trick when he scored from the spot in the 118th minute.

Then to penalties. I hate this, I believe it cheapens the game. They really need to sort it out, perhaps going to golden point and just continuing to play until one of the teams scores. 

The entire world is now happy Argentina's captain, Lionel Messi finally received a winners medal. I'm glad Argentina can now party for the next four years and maybe try to go back-to-back. 

Score: Argentina 3 - 3 France (penalties 4-2)

[Side note: we didn't need to see so many picture of that little weasel the President of France, Macron. Broadcasters - stop that.]

England Lose Euro 2021 Final

England overthink things when it comes to penalties. That's all I can say. They should have won the match in regulation time of course, they were up 1-0 at halftime and should have shut the game down in the second half, but failed to. Sterling should have got a penalty in the second half, but missed out. However, throughout the second half Italy looked the better team. England tried to play and came up short.

Then with penalties, England overwork it. The Rashford attempt had choke written all over it. The other two saves by the Italian goalkeeper were well done, but it was obvious from the body language of the penalty kickers which way they were sending the ball. That made things easier for the Italian goalie.

I should add, the competence of the England manager must be called into question. What was he thinking, choosing a young 19 year old player to take the final penalty kick. The player had come on as a replacement and looked overawed by the occasion. He had one or two touches but never really threatened. To then decide to put the same guy under immense pressure in front of a worldwide audience in the region of two billion, well, that's asking far too much. I doubt anyone could handle it at that age. This is coaching 101, when the chips are down and one last play is needed, you go to old heads with plenty of experience. 

England are still trying to end the drought, will this ever end? I'm a Chicago Cubs fan and know curses all too well. That took 71 years to erase and was only accomplished by having the curse transferred to another team due to one of that teams fans making a big mistake. So, England, this could go well beyond 55 years. Depressing I know.

England Euro 2021

C'mon England, do it. Win the thing. 

Being a New Zealander, people seem to think I'd want England to lose. Not so, I just don't ever want them to beat New Zealand. Against anyone else I'm happy for England to win. The reason I think they can do it this time is they've recently had success but ultimately came up short at the 2018 World Cup. Winning an important tournament often comes off going deep but failing at an earlier event. Teams learn a lot from this kind of failure and go on to win big. 

That Super Soccer (Association Football) League

Now for a more balanced view of the proposed Super League, effectively gutting England's Premier League along with the equivalents in Spain and Italy. There are positives and negatives as I see them, first I'll deal with the positives.

Fans going to see their favourite team play are not guaranteed to see the best of that team. Due to the busy schedule the teams regularly play their extended squad. Want to see Lionel Messi? You're not guaranteed to see him turn out. You're watching the team, not the players. That's fair enough but these games and merchandise are expensive and so fans should be guaranteed something. What the super league does is better provide for that market. Fans will more likely see the big names.

However, bad is that these big teams looking to break away have disrespected their opponents. What made these big name teams? They didn't get to the top on their own, they needed fans and players but above all opponents. Clearly, over 100 or so years these big teams have won more than they've lost. But they needed those opponents, without them they'd be nothing. So wanting to walk now is a low blow, they're cherry picking and forgetting their roots.

The new proposal can be compared to the NBA which has 30 teams and no promotion or relegation. The teams persist, with only the city that hosts them, the players, management and ownership changing. They don't promote a team from minor leagues to replace the bottom NBA team as that would destroy brand value. It makes sense, so why is this not credible with the current proposal as it relates to European football?

The answer is simple and I've hinted at it above. The NBA teams were created from nothing, they're inventions in effect (let's not get carried away with how the NBA was formed, I'm generalising here). But hang on, these European teams already exist as big names in their respective competitions. We're not comparing apples with apples.

If the owners of Manchester United and Real Madrid want to set up a new super league, then do so by creating new brands, new teams, and buy the players for the league. Start from scratch as the NBA did. Do the job honestly. There are other examples in sport, in Cricket we had World Series Cricket launched by Kerry Packer which revolutionised the one day game, and right now the Indian Premier League is making big money. They use new teams for these competitions, they're starting from scratch.

I notice divided opinion on this subject. Andre Walker is one conservative voice on YouTube who backed the super league, resulting in a backlash against him. No doubt he's looking at the positives and there are many. But the way I see it, the backers have to start from scratch, do it the right way, and then there is hope.

New Football Super League

What traitors they are, the six English Premier League teams looking to set up a new European league stacked with rich clubs. Throw them out of all existing competitions and ban their players from the transfer market, and ban the players from playing for their country. They're a bunch of Prince Harry's, ditching all that has made them for a short term payday. 

Bury Out, Bolton Survives

It's bad news for Bury FC, unable to find a buyer they're been thrown out of the EFL and now their future looks bleak. Bolton on the other hand look to have secured a buyer and they can continue for now, but their long term future looks uncertain. Bury are gone after 125 or so years in the EFL, they've won two FA Cups. A sad day for English football.

Bury FC and Bolton Wanderers

It's coming down to the wire for two old and storied football teams in the English Football League, Bury and Bolton. Either or both may find themselves out of the league altogether because of financial trouble. Interestingly they're located next to one another in the greater Manchester area. Bury are close to being sold, the buyers have to pass a good character test, while Bolton may go into liquidation and cease to exist because of it. Fingers crossed that both survive.

Update: Bury FC have just been expelled from the EFL, very bad news indeed. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49435288

Bury FC May Disappear

On the list of things you couldn't make up if you tried; Bury FC are close to being expelled from the English Football League (Association Football or Soccer for those who don't know). They play in League One, the third tier of the English football system. The problem they face is that the new owner, who bought the club for 1 pound sterling (US$1.22) late last year, has not been able to satisfy the EFL that he has the finances to run a fully professional club for the coming season. That season kicks off this weekend.

Read about it here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/bury-suspend-efl-league-one-match-mk-dons

Apparently owner Steve Dale has put the club up for sale. I suggest an offer of a fiver, bearing in mind the new owner is acquiring the accumulated debts, which include unpaid player wages, transfer fees and the like. Their home ground is owned by the club, which I understand has a mortgage against it. The real cost then is more likely in the millions of pounds, but given they're in League One after being promoted from League Two last year, the prospect is they may keep on winning. That's right ambitious folk amongst you, they're two steps off English Premier League. Got your attention?

Update: The Chairman of Bury FC has put out the following statement in reply to the EFL: https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/statement-from-chairman/

I think the key to this matter is contained in the third to last paragraph (starting with the words "Then the EFL meeting last night and subsequent statement..."). The way I read this is that the EFL want to see funds in the bank, and this must happen before they release 500k+ to Bury.

Leicester City Owner

The following article appeared in the Daily Mail UK:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6324847/Vichai-Srivaddhanaprabha-man-allowed-Leicester-dream.html

To Leicester City supporters, like me, he is the man who allowed us dream, to stand at the top of the mountain, and give hope to every other fan of every other club that anything is possible.

FIFA World Cup 2018

The top 16 has been decided and England are in the box seat for a straight run to the final. By coming second in their group, they now face much lesser opponents now that Germany has been eliminated. Had Germany topped their pool I am sure England would have fought tooth and nail to win their final group match against Belgium as they'd likely be facing Germany in the quarter-finals had they lost.

Belgium are now faced with the likely prospect of Brazil in the quarter-finals, which is what England would have come across had they won their group.

England then, must beat Colombia round of sixteen; then beat either Sweden or Switzerland (easily achievable), then they'll come up against one of Spain, Russia, Croatia and Denmark. All of these teams have looked unconvincing. So it's down to England against Brazil in the final, Or England against Uruguay. Whoever it is, being on the other side of the draw looks far more formidable.

It looks like England have their thinking caps on.

New Zealand v Peru

Today we find out which team will be the last to qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year. Can minnow New Zealand do the business against world number 10 Peru? You betcha, the Kiwis are much better than their ranking suggests. bear in mind they rarely play at full strength.

The pressure will be on Peru, who must win. A simple draw involving goals means NZ goes through on the away goals rule (the first contest was a nil-all draw).

[Update; Peru 2 - NZ 0. Peru were much the better team]

Soccer Basketball Game

I've been thinking - a good sport would be a soccer/basketball game with the goals combined. See kiddie picture attached to illustrate and a photo of both courts side-by-side somewhere, when they could be combined. I couldn't find a picture of what I'm imagining as, apparently, no-one apart from me has thought of this.

The game is played on a basketball sized court and uses a fussball or similar, scoring either in the basketball or soccer goal. No basketball dribbling but passing with hands allowed. Only one step allowed if ball in hand. Goals scored; 3 points if a soccer goal, 5 points if a basketball goal off the foot only with no hands involved. If a basketball goal is scored shooting from the hand exclusively then 1 point, but if the player puts the ball from hand then onto the foot and then in the basketball goal, 2 points. 

I figure 6 players on a team ( one goalie ). It would be a hard game involving a lot of skill, but easy to get the hang of quickly. Think about how fast it would be, interceptions could be by hand or foot, but for each individual player, they'd have to decide in a flash whether to put the ball to hand or foot when receiving a pass. The ball must be kicked into the soccer goal for 3 points, if off the hands or an own-goal even, the attacking team get the ball back at half way with no points scored.