Great post SS.


I care only a fraction for football as i did when i was younger. Now i only do the odd away trip to watch Newcastle (Although the club still make that hard to happen!) And obviously Europe as it is something different. Haven't been to a home game since we beat the mackems 5-1. I was brought up in a medium sized rough arse, working-class town in the North West and have also watched, followed and even fought for Barrow... As was all part and parcel! However i don't even go there anymore. It is true that Non-League is a heaven for FV as well as those old terrace memories... Literally terraces as well, no seats. But i find Barrow now relying too much on money and business affairs. It tries to brand itself as a 'family club' now and me and many i used to go with are watched like hawks by stewards and FIO... The one thing i started going to Barrow to avoid. I will never be a big football fan like i used to be, i guess it just grows out of you in later life with the introduction of work, family ect. But i can see where you are coming from SS, sometimes it only takes that one away trip, that one goal and that one great celebration that makes you feel amazing and like you used to.

Only a week old and a lot of obstacles but follow a potential new Cardiff side at @FCbluebirds on twitter.

Quote: muskamber wrote in post #13

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Notts Forest

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Give it 2 years and the football will be like this -

I like nothing better than walking out of hillsborough and seeing rows of the players cars that cost more than my house!
It's hard to cheer on mediocre millionaires I find!
Yes it's gone....you don't even see dressers anymore

Quote: wadey wrote in post #31

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Yes it's gone....you don't even see dressers anymore

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[quote=soul_stylist|]

Believe me, having gone through the non league divisions with Newport and having been to well over a hundred grounds to watch them I know exactly what it feels like for the poor sods who go every week because I've been one of them myself.

Last night was different class, I'll take it to my grave.
[/quote]

You poor barstard

I don't know where some fans get the energy. Yeovil away on a Tuesday night, who are those few hundred that go?!

Quote: wadey wrote in post #31

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I like nothing better than walking out of hillsborough and seeing rows of the players cars that cost more than my house!
It's hard to cheer on mediocre millionaires I find!
Yes it's gone....you don't even see dressers anymore

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That was an excellent win for Newport. This season really is exciting, really hope we get top spot though.

Quote: Mersons Bookie wrote in post #34

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Quote: wadey wrote in post #31

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I like nothing better than walking out of hillsborough and seeing rows of the players cars that cost more than my house!
It's hard to cheer on mediocre millionaires I find!
Yes it's gone....you don't even see dressers anymore

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Take your lad Wadey, put the rest to shame

(Not a dig at your lot, terrible at ours too)

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Its a bit of a split really for me :

1- Can't knock the big games sky coverage etc as others have said. That saying wages ridiculous, atmospheres sterile, ticket prices a joke.
2- Being an Ipswich fan 10 yrs shocking football, ridiculous prices, Lord Lucan for an owner, dwindling crowds (poor atmosphere), team full of loanees whom don't give a shit.
3- Tend to go home to watch Lowestoft Town (Ryman Premier) gates circa 700 decent beer on tap able to stand, have some banter and an afternoon out for my lads and I for 30 quid rather than a ton!

Quote: rampo wrote in post #38

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Its a bit of a split really for me :

1- Can't knock the big games sky coverage etc as others have said. That saying wages ridiculous, atmospheres sterile, ticket prices a joke.
2- Being an Ipswich fan 10 yrs shocking football, ridiculous prices, Lord Lucan for an owner, dwindling crowds (poor atmosphere), team full of loanees whom don't give a shit.
3- Tend to go home to watch Lowestoft Town (Ryman Premier) gates circa 700 decent beer on tap able to stand, have some banter and an afternoon out for my lads and I for 30 quid rather than a ton!

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When I see creative efforts like this I still think there's hope for some strange reason. There's still passion out there. Anyway, football is not the only thing money has ruined ... Great read this thread lads.

Wage cap across Europe may help, if that forces the "talent" somewhere else so be it, clubs should be bringing local grass root lads up through the ranks not spending millions on some pre madonna, safe standing zones in grounds, it's about time fans were trusted in Germany they have the option, at rugby and concerts they stand, less stewarding and less over the top policing at matches, no need for the amount of police now days if it kicks off then leave it be I'm sure grown men can look after themselves those that choose to follow the trend know what they are in for, kids tickets at a fiver, do away with matches on the telly unless it's cup game. Bring back flags, banners, horns none of this health and safety bollocks, fire certificates do one! Stop forcing fans to travel by club coach and stop treating fans like they're all criminals. Managers and owners should stop blaming the fans and start looking at the players, if they don't perform stop their wages for the week then we'll see who really cares about the clubs they represent!

Maybe then we might be on the road to recovery until then Modern football is going to implode with clubs with decades of history vanishing due to bankruptcy or sold to the highest bidder who has no ties or connections to the club/area!

Quote: maclufc wrote in post #39

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Nothing can beat the 70s for a true representation of what football should still be like. 15 years old, going away to Arsenal, scarf hidden on way to ground(to avoid a kick-in, and having it nicked for a "trophy"). No, or little segregation. Players who smoked and drank, were payed more than the average working man, but not too much more. Footballing characters, proper football magazines, Shoot! Scarves on wrists, silk scarves, flat caps in team colours, belts, jumpers, jean jackets with patches sewn on them, Dr Martens, donkey jackets. Butchers coats decorated in team colours, REALLY scary older lads(18 year olds). These days, shite, but still a good drink with lads I ve known for nearly 35 years, but the match, fuck that..

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Quote: Turtle wrote in post #27

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Quote: nothavinit wrote in post #23

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Quote: Turtle wrote in post #15

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I think when you have a good look around you'll get one or 2 good matches a season but being a west brom lad the playing to keep the numbers up for the premier league in our fight for mid table mediocrity doesn't appeal to me, when we beat Sunderland last week the first thing they said was "40 points that's Albion safe this year" and I thought is that really what I can hope my club will achieve?
It's not like it was you can't go anywhere and do what you want so away matches in the league on the top 2/3 tiers are just completely pointless, ill always have my spot for Newport County from going with Saul so I know it's different that end but for the majority of us what can we look forward to ?
The clubs are in the hands of business men and foreign owners who want a toy to play with, it's the equivalent of a big adult train set for them, the goings on at Cardiff make me sick, the fact that bigger local clubs never wanted to help bail out smaller local clubs with the likes of Chester going bump again is a sad state of affairs.
Is it the football that makes you happy ? Or do you and your mates make it what it is ? I think we all know the answer, so in terms of us football really dead ? Unless you are top 4 of the premier league the answers yes.
How can the football league stand by and watch what's happening to Blackburn and Cardiff amongst others and not step in for the good of the club ?
Because money talks. And the only people who see the benefits of that are the players who don't give a stuff on 50k a week and the people with money in them who would sell their own mothers for more shares.
It's garbage.

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When were West Brom last challenging for silverware? That isn't a modern football thing.

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Mid 70's to mid 80's before we hit rock bottom under Ron Saunders and went down to the third divison.
Of course its a modern football thing, the money has taken over and money goes to money, big players go where the money is and your lot are only there because you have a Russian billionaire owner who's paid for you to be there and that's not going to change any time soon.
What were Chelsea before that ?
Every single season will be top 6 of Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and then either Liverpool or Everton.
That's modern football and it won't change because of the money especially from this year because when the new money arrangement comes into force from Sky this next season there is no going back.
That leaves us with what ? fighting for a europa league place or to finish as high as we can for more money, it's shit and your deluded if you think otherwise.
Like I said it's lovely for the clubs with billionaire owners but for the rest it's garbage.

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Home games for us are shit, even got told to sit down and shut up other week despite being on the back row, few and far between from pre-2006 at Belle Vue. Away games I wouldn't swap for the world, been quite fun in the division this season grabbing last minute winners at Tranmere, Shrewsbury etc. Gone off a few times this season aswell at Bury, Sheff Utd. Not sure if I wanna go up tbh, if Scunny stop up, Rotherham come up and either/and/or Barnsley & Sheff Wednesday come down, all for stopping in League 1.

Quote: nothavinit wrote in post #45

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Quote: Turtle wrote in post #27

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Quote: nothavinit wrote in post #23

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Quote: Turtle wrote in post #15

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I think when you have a good look around you'll get one or 2 good matches a season but being a west brom lad the playing to keep the numbers up for the premier league in our fight for mid table mediocrity doesn't appeal to me, when we beat Sunderland last week the first thing they said was "40 points that's Albion safe this year" and I thought is that really what I can hope my club will achieve?
It's not like it was you can't go anywhere and do what you want so away matches in the league on the top 2/3 tiers are just completely pointless, ill always have my spot for Newport County from going with Saul so I know it's different that end but for the majority of us what can we look forward to ?
The clubs are in the hands of business men and foreign owners who want a toy to play with, it's the equivalent of a big adult train set for them, the goings on at Cardiff make me sick, the fact that bigger local clubs never wanted to help bail out smaller local clubs with the likes of Chester going bump again is a sad state of affairs.
Is it the football that makes you happy ? Or do you and your mates make it what it is ? I think we all know the answer, so in terms of us football really dead ? Unless you are top 4 of the premier league the answers yes.
How can the football league stand by and watch what's happening to Blackburn and Cardiff amongst others and not step in for the good of the club ?
Because money talks. And the only people who see the benefits of that are the players who don't give a stuff on 50k a week and the people with money in them who would sell their own mothers for more shares.
It's garbage.

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When were West Brom last challenging for silverware? That isn't a modern football thing.

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Mid 70's to mid 80's before we hit rock bottom under Ron Saunders and went down to the third divison.
Of course its a modern football thing, the money has taken over and money goes to money, big players go where the money is and your lot are only there because you have a Russian billionaire owner who's paid for you to be there and that's not going to change any time soon.
What were Chelsea before that ?
Every single season will be top 6 of Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and then either Liverpool or Everton.
That's modern football and it won't change because of the money especially from this year because when the new money arrangement comes into force from Sky this next season there is no going back.
That leaves us with what ? fighting for a europa league place or to finish as high as we can for more money, it's shit and your deluded if you think otherwise.
Like I said it's lovely for the clubs with billionaire owners but for the rest it's garbage.

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We were winning FA Cups, League Cups, Cup Winners Cup, came close to the title in 1999 finishing 4 points behind United.

How many times did Liverpool win the league in the 70's and 80's? The big clubs have always dominated.

Mid 80's you finished 17th, 12th and 22nd. Nothing much has changed then. Small clubs can still win trophies, look at Swansea.

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[quote=Wolves88|p218072 which looks like it might happen at the moment [/quote]

NO CHANCE J.