Whats wrong with football?

[Batch]

ifollow RIP

Domestic iFollow RIP

[Steak supper]

Domestic iFollow RIP

I assume that someone will look into some measures to defeat VPN users.

[Mr Stevens]

And thousands will be looking at a way of getting round it.

My money's on them.

[RobertT]

Unfortunately, I can still get it.

[Batch]

I assume that someone will look into some measures to defeat VPN users.

if they could have they would have.

Also not going to work for streams from abroad (IPTV).

[Mexicano Rojo]

someone explain or link

[tans]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12873679/sky-sports-agrees-new-five-year-efl-deal-over-1000-matches-per-season?dm_i=7KND,2T46,9QH56,C3I1,1

This bit:

From the 2024/25 season onward, this agreement makes more matches available to stream and will effectively replace the current Sky Sports EFL red button coverage and the EFL's domestic streaming option provided via iFollow and club streaming services. Domestic streaming audio services will remain alongside existing audio-visual arrangements for international audiences via iFollow and club streaming services.


It reads to me that all games you could buy to view in the week will be on sky, all games available to international subscribers

[tans]

if they could have they would have.

Also not going to work for streams from abroad (IPTV).

They’ll find a way around it, they always do

[Batch]

It reads to me that all games you could buy to view in the week will be on sky, all games available to international subscribers

Ditto.

[tans]

The FA bouncing up and down on the Premier Leagues cory once again.

https://www.thefa.com/news/2024/apr/18/emirates-fa-cup-format-calendar-update-increased-premier-league-grassroots-funding-20241804

[Nemo]

"From the first round proper, the competition will be played without replays."

Classic PR burying the bad news in the fourth paragraph there. Overall I don't think that's *too* bad though, I know replays are historic and good money spinners, but in a way I'd rather see more Prem sides taken to extra time and penalties by Grimsby. Dedicated weekends is good, more money is good I guess.

[Bob's Orange]

"From the first round proper, the competition will be played without replays."

Classic PR burying the bad news in the fourth paragraph there. Overall I don't think that's *too* bad though, I know replays are historic and good money spinners, but in a way I'd rather see more Prem sides taken to extra time and penalties by Grimsby. Dedicated weekends is good, more money is good I guess.

I disagree with this. Whilst I get the sentiment, for lower league sides historically the chance of getting a replay against one of the bigger sides is a lucrative, and much needed way of putting money in the coffers. The other side of the argument of course is that winning that penalty shoot out secures prize fund money and the chance of drawing a big fish in the next round (unintentional Grimsby based 'pun' there)

Without wanting to go all 'it was better in the good old days' I'm kind of bored with all these changes they keep making. 

[Nemo]

I do get that perspective, but I just always find it a bit weird that teams are almost incentivised to go for a draw over a win against good opposition.

[Bob's Orange]

I do get that perspective, but I just always find it a bit weird that teams are almost incentivised to go for a draw over a win against good opposition.

I guess if you are Morecambe for example, the opportunity to play at Anfield/Old Trafford etc is almost never going to happen in the league pyramid and so that chance of being able to pit yourselves against the biggest of fish (sorry I picked Morecambe at random but they are also seaside as it happens) doesn't happen very often at all and now it's even less so now.

[Nemo]

I guess if you are Morecambe for example, the opportunity to play at Anfield/Old Trafford etc is almost never going to happen in the league pyramid and so that chance of being able to pit yourselves against the biggest of fish (sorry I picked Morecambe at random but they are also seaside as it happens) doesn't happen very often at all and now it's even less so now.

Would you be in favour of the ties just always being played at the higher placed team's stadium rather than home/away draws then? Would solve that problem.

Apologies for my lack of fish based metaphors. We'll call the higher place team "the bigger catch".