Has Football Become Absolutely Shit?

Originally Posted by Grimson

This is all true, but goalscoring averages haven't really changed much across most leagues in the last decade since these things became popular. Partly it's because more teams try to play out of the back more often, which means that a) they £#%&! up sometimes, and b) they're playing converted midfielders back there, who aren't so great at actual defending. There are more dead ball specialists around now, and pretty much every rule change of the last two decades has been designed to make it easier to score goals.

Really think mostly this is an age/memory thing. Lots of mid-30s people have super fond memories of Italia 90 for a lot of reasons, most of them having little to do with the football. That was a mostly dreadful World Cup, but it's easy to forget that when you just remember being young and carefree etc.

Actually it's more to do with the fact that England did well in Italia 90 and there was sort of national feelgood factor that followed it. Also there was a good song.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Actually it's more to do with the fact that England did well in Italia 90 and there was sort of national feelgood factor that followed it. Also there was a good song.

True, but I know non-English people of that age who think it was a great World Cup too. It's really just that they hate their lives now.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

Actually it's more to do with the fact that England did well in Italia 90 and there was sort of national feelgood factor that followed it. Also there was a good song.

1990 started it. The whole effect snowballed in 1996.

After that .... well, the game was lost.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

1990 started it. The whole effect snowballed in 1996.

After that .... well, the game was lost.

Started what tho, Al?

Originally Posted by Grimson

Started what tho, Al?

The gentrification of football in this country.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

The gentrification of football in this country.

^^^^^^

This

1990. Eng v Belgium.

We were all in my local. Everyone sat in the usual corner. Except me. I was at the bar, watching the game with the landlord (who was only there cos he was behind the bar working).
All night long folks were saying to me "Come sit with us, why are you watching that shit?"
Euro 96 and every intl tournie afterwards - the same people are the ones in town, facepainted up, singing 3 Lions & banging on about the usual stereotypes, fresh out out of the mouths of Skinner & Baddiel.

@#%&!s.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

^^^^^^

This

1990. Eng v Belgium.

We were all in my local. Everyone sat in the usual corner. Except me. I was at the bar, watching the game with the landlord (who was only there cos he was behind the bar working).
All night long folks were saying to me "Come sit with us, why are you watching that shit?"
Euro 96 and every intl tournie afterwards - the same people are the ones in town, facepainted up, singing 3 Lions & banging on about the usual stereotypes, fresh out out of the mouths of Skinner & Baddiel.

c***s.

Yep. All of a sudden people who had no previous interest in football were driving to Asda with St. George flags on their car wing mirrors

It was bizarre.

Originally Posted by Sparky***

The gentrification of football in this country.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

^^^^^^

This.

Fair enough. How old were you guys in 1986, when a pretty good England team went out to the Hand of God (and another) goal - or when the pretty good 1982 team couldn't get the one goal they needed against Spain, and went home without losing a game? I wonder if people who were around 40-50 then felt the same way at the time as you do now (they would have remembered '66 and '70, after all).

Originally Posted by Grimson

Fair enough. How old were you guys in 1986, when a pretty good England team went out to the Hand of God (and another) goal - or when the pretty good 1982 team couldn't get the one goal they needed against Spain, and went home without losing a game? I wonder if people who were around 40-50 then felt the same way at the time as you do now (they would have remembered '66 and '70, after all).

In 1986 I was about 5 years old during the world cup, so obviously I remember virtually nothing aside from the mascot with the mexican hat.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Fair enough. How old were you guys in 1986, when a pretty good England team went out to the Hand of God (and another) goal - or when the pretty good 1982 team couldn't get the one goal they needed against Spain, and went home without losing a game? I wonder if people who were around 40-50 then felt the same way at the time as you do now (they would have remembered '66 and '70, after all).

In 1986 I was in Canada with the Army. For the Hand of God game, we were actually out part-way thru the CO's exercise. Rumour Control said we were gonna come in to watch the game but i never happened.
CO was a rugby fan.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Fair enough. How old were you guys in 1986, when a pretty good England team went out to the Hand of God (and another) goal - or when the pretty good 1982 team couldn't get the one goal they needed against Spain, and went home without losing a game? I wonder if people who were around 40-50 then felt the same way at the time as you do now (they would have remembered '66 and '70, after all).

I was 20 in '86 and was gutted for weeks after the 'Hand of God'. Italia 90 was also a sickener but after that my interest in England slowly started to wane. Nothing about being a TopRed, I genuinely began to hate the whole 'England' thing. I honestly couldn't care less about International football nowadays and don't really watch any of it on TV. I'll catch parts of the odd games at a World cup but it doesn't interest me in the slightest.

Originally Posted by VodkaAndCoke

I was 20 in '86 and was gutted for weeks after the 'Hand of God'. Italia 90 was also a sickener but after that my interest in England slowly started to wane. Nothing about being a TopRed, I genuinely began to hate the whole 'England' thing. I honestly couldn't care less about International football nowadays and don't really watch any of it on TV. I'll catch parts of the odd games at a World cup but it doesn't interest me in the slightest.

You know what first messed with my head?

The Home Internationals.

All of a sudden I was meant to hate Uniteds Scottish, Welsh & Irish players.
And cheer @#%&!s like Keegan, etc,
My bedroom was covered in posters of guys like Jordan, McQueen, Macari, Mcilroy, etc.
How was I supposed to not want them to win?

The champions league has been boring for around 10-15 years. A shit structure that has a knock on effect for domestic leagues and cups. All due to a few big clubs chasing guaranteed income. Sporting risk is the enemy when clubs are run as profit chasing machines. And it's going to get worse unless something is done to change it.

Originally Posted by Grimson

Fair enough. How old were you guys in 1986, when a pretty good England team went out to the Hand of God (and another) goal - or when the pretty good 1982 team couldn't get the one goal they needed against Spain, and went home without losing a game? I wonder if people who were around 40-50 then felt the same way at the time as you do now (they would have remembered '66 and '70, after all).

I was 10 in 82. My dad and grandad still cared about the football. I haven't seen my dad's interest decline until recent years.

I put my dwindling interest down to the glazer takeover and the way the game's been going with the greed for profit, making the game more boring and less competitive. That's what's turned me off rather than anything on the pitch. I couldn't be arsed watchingg the title decider at old Trafford against Chelsea in one of fergie's last few seasons. The last day when city won the title, I didn't bother following it. Boring. It's hard to care as much when I feel like I'm just supporting a business out to maximise profit.

There's been a split since the glazers took over. United are divided. It's no longer tribal. I don't feel like we're in it together, team, fans and club, with the players representing the fans on the pitch. Instead, the players are actors performing on a stage, we're the audience and customers to be exploited, and most of the crowd act like it.

I also used to love the local radio phone ins but they've been taken over by national phone ins, which are shit in comparison and I never listen.

Originally Posted by VodkaAndCoke

I was 20 in '86 and was gutted for weeks after the 'Hand of God'. Italia 90 was also a sickener but after that my interest in England slowly started to wane. Nothing about being a TopRed, I genuinely began to hate the whole 'England' thing. I honestly couldn't care less about International football nowadays and don't really watch any of it on TV. I'll catch parts of the odd games at a World cup but it doesn't interest me in the slightest.

Same here. It's ridiculous how much I used to care about internationals. Used to wag school just to watch a friendly. Thought the 82 World Cup was magical. Was distraught in 86, 90 and 96. 1998 was the last international tournament I cared about. Couldn't care less about England or internationals now. Don't watch England and usually force myself to watch the tournaments because I feel like I should, but know it will be shit regardless of how great the pundits say it is.

I imagine partly because there's so much footbal on tv nowadays compared to back in the 80s and 90s; we can see the worlds best players whenever we want at any time; and we can also see club teams made up of the best players rather than being limited by foreigner rules.

Always preferred to play rather than watch football or any other sport for that matter.

Cant really watch any unless I've got skin in the game or its in slow motion and you see the artistry in the skill and movements....seeing exceptional skill like Evertons first goal yesterday for example..

For me, if there is no personal competitive edge, then its pointless ..... Exception to the rule being cycling and skiing, which provide fitness and nice scenery.....

Originally Posted by denis lawless

Always preferred to play rather than watch football or any other sport for that matter.

Cant really watch any unless I've got skin in the game or its in slow motion and you see the artistry in the skill and movements....seeing exceptional skill like Evertons first goal yesterday for example..

For me, if there is no personal competitive edge, then its pointless ..... Exception to the rule being cycling and skiing, which provide fitness and nice scenery.....

Play to 'quite a high level' did we?

Might just be me but I cringed pretty hard reading that post.

Originally Posted by Crumps

Play to 'quite a high level' did we?

Might just be me but I cringed pretty hard reading that post.

That's probably the only sport and exercise you do

Originally Posted by denis lawless

That's probably the only sport and exercise you do

Awesome stuff.

A £#%&!ing thread about how shit modern football is and you went full Ashton.

No one cares pal.

I was born in 87' so I have no memories of international football before Euro 96'. In fact, that Gazza goal is my first memory of an England game, and a decent one at that. I've never really cared much for England, other than how the Utd players were doing. As good as the result was, the 5-1 against Germany was tainted slightly by the fact that it was all scousers that scored. Bit silly really, but I can't like a team where I hate all the players, and tbh, I really do dislike most things to do with the England team.

Originally Posted by Crumps

Awesome stuff.

A £#%&!ing thread about how shit modern football is and you went full Ashton.

No one cares pal.

oh, I wouldn't say no one.....its obviously rattled your cage.

All I said was I preferred to play rather than spectate.

You've just jumped in to take the piss and made a dick of yourself .....sleep if off pal....you'll feel better by midday.

Originally Posted by denis lawless

oh, I wouldn't say no one.....its obviously rattled your cage.

All I said was I preferred to play rather than spectate.

You've just jumped in to take the piss and made a dick of yourself .....sleep if off pal....you'll feel better by midday.

Rattled? Behave and should your bitch mouth.