Has top level football finally disapeared up its own arsehole?

[RobertT]

The same Ireland who used the "my <insert relative> died" excuse to get out of playing, yeah, lovely chap.

[sonicyouth]

The same Ireland who used the "my <insert relative> died" excuse to get out of playing, yeah, lovely chap.

because he didn't want his girlfriend's miscarriage to become public knowledge.

[Hammer]

Talking of 'high jinks' an incident occurred a few years ago which led to my respect for footballers being slightly diminished. Even more shocking was the fact that it was quite close to home. Whilst working as a taxi driver, I picked up 2 girls (known prostitutes) from the Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was about 5 o'clock on a Saturday morning. During supposed light-hearted conversation, the girls revealed they had 'been with Swindon Town'. Names were mentioned, both players and management. We were at Crewe Alex that day and I believe we lost 1-0. I rang BBC Radio Wiltshire to publicise the matter but they weren't interested, which I suppose was fair enough since I couldn't provide any concrete evidence. Despite being shocked by the moral and sporting implications I still find it irksome that Town scored several times and still lost the match.

[JPC82]

because he didn't want his girlfriend's miscarriage to become public knowledge.

but he didnt mind saying his nan died, then when he was confronted and told someone had just spoke to her and shes fine, he said it was his other nan! gypo cunt

[Bogus Dave]

What you doing picking up prostitutes you dirty dog

[Hammer]

What you doing picking up prostitutes you dirty dog

 
  Boys will be boys. Dogs will be dogs. Prostitutes will be.......anything you want if the money's right. Besides, they're a good source of gossip and information.

[Spencer_White]

Stephen Ireland thinks the importance of International football will get less and less? Dont think so.

Good article about Belgium. But as the first poster says, the country as a whole has problems in terms of unity, so its no suprise that its reflected in the national football team.

[jonny72]

I don't know that Stephen Ireland acted that much a bigger twat than Trapattoni, who rung Ireland at one point to arrange a meeting to discuss his return to the team. Except Trapattoni wanted the meeting in 4 months and asked Ireland if it was ok for him to tell the press he'd spoken to him about it - his only interest was covering his arse with the press. Well at least that is what Ireland reckons.

[Hammer]

Talking of 'high jinks' an incident occurred a few years ago which led to my respect for footballers being slightly diminished. Even more shocking was the fact that it was quite close to home. Whilst working as a taxi driver, I picked up 2 girls (known prostitutes) from the Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was about 5 o'clock on a Saturday morning. During supposed light-hearted conversation, the girls revealed they had 'been with Swindon Town'. Names were mentioned, both players and management. We were at Crewe Alex that day and I believe we lost 1-0. I rang BBC Radio Wiltshire to publicise the matter but they weren't interested, which I suppose was fair enough since I couldn't provide any concrete evidence. Despite being shocked by the moral and sporting implications I still find it irksome that Town scored several times and still lost the match.

[/quote   ]      
        
  I'm quite surprised that no-one has commented on this. At the time I found it quite disturbing.

[iffy]

I don't know that Stephen Ireland acted that much a bigger twat than Trapattoni, who rung Ireland at one point to arrange a meeting to discuss his return to the team. Except Trapattoni wanted the meeting in 4 months and asked Ireland if it was ok for him to tell the press he'd spoken to him about it - his only interest was covering his arse with the press. Well at least that is what Ireland reckons.

For one, this is Ireland's point of view. He has, on more than one occasion, been found out for being full of crap.

Second, even if what he said is entirely right, he should still suck it up and shut up.

[Doore]

Ireland is 23. He's won nothing and done nothing in the game. Without his natural talents for football he'd be labouring, doing what he was told by his boss and being grateful for it.

Trappatoni is 70, played in the World Cup and won league titles in four different countries.

In any other walk of life, Trapattoni would tell Ireland what to do and he'd shut up and do it. In almost any other sport, top sportsman would take any indignity for the honour of representing their country.

If there's a lack of respect anywhere, it's from Ireland. Not only to Trapattoni, but to his countrymen, who look to talented men to give their best.

Terrific post and I agree word for word.

[juddie]

top flight football went up its own arse a long time ago. Inflated wages, inflated ticket prices and players far removed from normal life, now it's streaming games online, clubs wanting to leave their league to join bigger leagues.

what a crock of shit.

I'll take Brentford away, players you've never heard of until they sign and knowing the people around you in the stand. That's proper football.

[nevillew]

top flight football went up its own arse a long time ago. Inflated wages, inflated ticket prices and players far removed from normal life, now it's streaming games online, clubs wanting to leave their league to join bigger leagues.

what a crock of shit.

I'll take Brentford away, players you've never heard of until they sign and knowing the people around you in the stand. That's proper football.

Hear,Hear Juddie.

[Ardiles]

Funnily enough, if the biggest clubs do eventually break away and spend the next few decades playing in a European cashfest, I can see the smaller, bread & butter clubs like ours doing all the better for it.  You will get a generation of fans who may 'follow' Chelsea or Liverpool, but will 'support' or actually pay to see Swindon, Coventry or Woking.

I think we're already a fair way down that route already.  The more the big clubs divorce themselves from the reality of people's lives, the less relevant they become.  I am sure they will remain very successful as money making machines, but I can't see that you're ever going to get fans worked in to a frenzy at the prospect of another league game vs Lyon.

[derbystfc]

Talking of 'high jinks' an incident occurred a few years ago which led to my respect for footballers being slightly diminished. Even more shocking was the fact that it was quite close to home. Whilst working as a taxi driver, I picked up 2 girls (known prostitutes) from the Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was about 5 o'clock on a Saturday morning. During supposed light-hearted conversation, the girls revealed they had 'been with Swindon Town'. Names were mentioned, both players and management. We were at Crewe Alex that day and I believe we lost 1-0. I rang BBC Radio Wiltshire to publicise the matter but they weren't interested, which I suppose was fair enough since I couldn't provide any concrete evidence. Despite being shocked by the moral and sporting implications I still find it irksome that Town scored several times and still lost the match.

Does this really surprise you?? Once footballers have 'made it' in any professional form, most of them turn into complete arrogant twats!