Rant about the Premier League

[RobYeltz]

I think much of my animosity about modern footba££ comes from the fact I'm that bit older, and therefore have seen the before and after, if you've only ever grown up watching sky infested football you'll never know any different. Since sky invented football in 1992 there have been many changes to the game. Some good admittedly, some not so good. They are clearly marketing a brand, in the early days they told everyone that the Premier League was the dogs curlies, it wasn't, but their strategy was simple - Throw enough shit at a wall and eventually some will stick, over time people have forgot to think for themselves and believe everything sky tell them.

I hate the sight of Harry Redknapp hanging out of his car window on transfer deadline day just for the latest news of him signing another foreigner nobody has heard of, I hate the stupid squad number system, it's only purpose is to fleece the fans out of even more money. I hate very average footballers earning more in a week than I do in a year. I hate the cheating, diving, win at all costs, imaginary card waving, arm chewing, arrogant turds like Ronaldo and Suarez. When you have that much ability and still chose to cheat you get no respect from me. I hate the ludicrous kick off times, where the fan who does go to the games is not considered. I hate the fact that games can be changed at short notice to another day or time, bollocks to the fan who has bought train tickets in advance and has now lost out. I hate the fact our once famous FA Cup has been diluted, because finish fourth is deemed more beneficial to clubs than winning the FA Cup. I hate seeing thousands of empty seats at game because Dad can't afford to fork the obscene amount of money for him and his two kids to go to the game. I hate Match of the Day with the same teams given more airtime than others. I hate the fact I'm treated like a customer and not a supporter. I hate the fact that managers or owners see midtable mediocrity on a regular basis as success. I hate being told to sit down when I want to stand up. I hate identikit plastic football stadiums like Derby and Middlesborough where some catchy little tune is played after a goal to help generate plastic atmosphere. I hate that shouty twat on transfer deadline day who wants to tell me the 'Sensational breaking news' that Fulham have just got some Algerian from the French third division on loan. I hate seeing those inbreds from Stoke trying to get on the TV by appearing behind the news reporter who's stood there all day watching expensive sports cars drive into the training ground. I hate the fact that the passion has gone from football, and that stadiums are now sterile and dull. Most of all though, I hate the fact that before a ball has been kicked only 2 or 3 teams might win the league, and 3 from 5 will probably go down. It's dull, it's predictable, it's bloody expensive and it is no longer for me.

Money from Sky will never be regulated, just as the FIFA fair pay thingy won't work either. Man Ci£y will only charge their sponsor X amount to rename the ground and it will all go along nicely about their business.

Rant over...

[RaidenYeltz]

Fantastic post AV, agree fully with every point.

But like I say, I don't blame Sky for the way money has gone into the game. They simply invest and pay for the rights, it's up to clubs how that money is spent. Unless the contracts between Sky and the Premier League stipulate it has to go on transfer fees and wages?

Some of what you say is to do with Sky, for example the KO times, the exaggerated Americanised news reporting. But I suppose a lot of it is how football has gone and a sign of the times we live in.

Can you blame stadium atmosphere's on Sky? Health and safety has to answer for that. I'm only a young(ish) so only ever known the Premier League era and know little of the era you or others grew up in, but wasn't all seater stadiums made compulsory mainly due to the Hillsborough disaster?

Having stadiums all seated has no doubt led to the dumb down in atmosphere, also the way you can't drink while you watch also dumbs it down, again health and safety issue?

Then you consider ticket prices, cost of merchandise and so on. This is governed by the chairmen / back room staff of the clubs. Like I say I don't understand how players wages keep rising and rising along with transfer fees yet clubs keep increasing wages, despite a vast amount of tv revenue. No-ones answered this point yet. You're right we are customers.

Such a fuss has been made of late with energy companies raising prices despite increased profits, how is this different to what current clubs are doing?

I've said why I love going down the Yeltz many a time on here and won't bore people again, but the simplest and best way I can tell you why I love it is simply this;

Going down the Grove, a 2 min walk from my house, £8 to get in, standing, freedom to move, have a pint, and most importantly my money feels like it's going to the club and not some parasite chairman.

In essence it's how football must have been like for my grandad when he was my age.

It's how it should be.

[CRH Yeltz]

AVFC. The above post could have been written by me as my feelings are exactly the same. I'm also old enough to remember pre-Sky. Best post about the PL in ages.

I've been to the Albion twice in the last month after 7 years of voluntary exile and on both visits my thoughts have been "what the hell am I doing here", not going to be rushing back. Sterile, predictable, corporate, need I say more.

Give me 300 of us at the Grove any time.

[RaidenYeltz]

AVFC. The above post could have been written by me as my feelings are exactly the same. I'm also old enough to remember pre-Sky. Best post about the PL in ages.

I've been to the Albion twice in the last month after 7 years of voluntary exile and on both visits my thoughts have been "what the hell am I doing here", not going to be rushing back. Sterile, predictable, corporate, need I say more.

Give me 300 of us at the Grove any time.

Broke 400 Saturday pal! We're getting the crowds back

[Magnus]

Picking up on the transfer window day fiasco can anyone tell me why it all has to be done in the last half-hour of a 31 day month.
On the last day this years:-
BBC red button: 11.00 p.m. 'so the deadline has passed';
11.15 'but deals don't have to be completed until 11.30;
about 11.20 David Pleat " but they can't play unless the deal was finalised by 12 noon (12 hours earlier!)
And then on Saturday 5 p.m. 'You must remember Fulham has 5 players they couldn't play because they hadn't completed the deals on time' Why didn't they start negotiations at the beginning of January? - or is it just 'tactics' (or cash-flow) What a farce

[CRH Yeltz]

Raiden, fully aware mate. The more we get in the better. Point is that I know where I'd rather be.

[Westyeltz]

[quote="AVFCYELTZ. all of the stuff that man said - deleted conciseness

Rant over...[/quote]

You speak for many a follower of The Mighty Yeltz and, indeed non-league football.

Make that three ...........


PS. You don't have a monopoly on ancient history, y'know!

[RaidenYeltz]

Raiden, fully aware mate. The more we get in the better. Point is that I know where I'd rather be.

Fully agreed with you on that point, by the way!

[beastyyeltz]

I myself, have grown up and almost been raised around the sky era of football and yes I admit I have not known any different. But even so, I feel that the professional game is riddled with flaws that have slightly ruined the beautiful game. Up until a few years ago me and my dad were regulars at west brom and I still go to a couple of games every season. But I know where I want to be every Saturday afternoon and that's on the hallowed terrace of the Shed. In this community-based club I get to watch passionate players who play for the shirt, not for the money. And I don't have to pay the obscene prices just so I can line the pockets of some rich fat cat or some overpaid, cocky, over-hyped footballer who would stick his middle fingers up to his own fans if it meant he could get some extra attention in the news.

I agree with a lot of what AVFC said (even if he is a villa fan ). I hate the times that the clubs expect us to turn up on the gates, no matter how we feel. I hate the corrupt owners, the greedy boards, the arrogant players and the pundits who think the sun shines out of Mourinho's back side (apologies about the spelling). I can't stand the national press swarm over the big clubs no matter whether its about transfers, controversy or some pompous manager who enjoys insulting and disrespecting his colleagues (no names mentioned).

Everything about the modern game is wrong. The obscene owners who treat the fans as just another spec on the tv, filling up their seats and making their pay cheque even bigger. Also I can enjoy a game without a steward restricting what I do ad what I say. I hate the way press swarm over the latest transfers like flies round a cows arse. I hate the empty seats and the lack of passion there is in the FA Cup. I hate the cheating, the diving, the dead atmosphere of grounds, the extortionate prices and almost everything about the beautiful but now tarnished game.

Yes I love football, and I've watched games at many levels but I'm getting sick of the owners, the players, the pundits, the press and even some of the fans. I have found my salvation in non league and even if it changes (which I doubt) I still know where my heart lies. I've caught the non league bug, and thankfully I can't find a cure.

Rant over