Category: Sport

That’s unusual enough to deserve the headline all on its own, but this is – surprise – in relation to the current idea being kicked about by the Premier League to play some matches abroad. Blatter, head of FIFA, has pretty much told them to stop being so ******* stupid.

“Even if the FA did sanction it, all the national associations receiving these clubs would have to sanction it also. This will be very difficult.

“In addition to that, the Fifa executive committee will apply article two of the Fifa statutes: ‘to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardise the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of association football’.

“This is abuse. The rich Premier League is trying to get richer and wants to expand the importance of that league.”

“This does not take into consideration the fans of the clubs and it gives the impression that they just want to go on tour to make some money,” Blatter said.

“This will never happen, at least as long as I am the president of Fifa.”

So hats off to the man who effectively kicked Cameroon out of the last World Cup because their shirts were too tight. And who, weeks later, announced that women’s football would be so much better if their shirts were tighter. For once he’s shown some common sense.

As I ranted the other day, the Premier League are planning a ridiculous 39th game a season played abroad. There is an online petition against this, which might be worth signing. Who knows if the clubs will care one way or the other seeing as they’re only looking at their wallets, but it doesn’t hurt to fill it in.

An email is sent to each Premiership club for every person who signs up. I notice that Liverpool and Spurs even have email addresses dedicated to mails received about this ludicrous idea. Taking it seriously, or just sorting their spam out?

What a crock of ****. The Premier League announced today that all the teams have agreed to discuss extending the season to 39 games (one extra) – that extra game to be played somewhere abroad. All the details, wheretofors and so on are included in this BBC news article, but basically… what a ******* waste of time.

The article focuses quite intently one one thing as it goes further down… the cash. This is purely and simply what it’s all about. **** the fans. Cities in various countries are offering a boatload of wonga and the greed-merchants want it all.

Let’s face it, Premiership football – on the whole – has been stagnant for years now. I’m not just talking about Newcastle (who have improved slightly under Keegan but have a hell of a long way to go), but all teams. Aside from the financial reasons, explain the half-empty stadia for each game. Can anyone honestly say that their team thrills and entertains them every single week without fail?

Simply put – the English Premier League is not the so-called "best league in the world", and it hasn’t been for ******* ages. It’s certainly not worth the prices we’re being asked to pay to watch it, live or on television, and it’s most definitely not worth travelling to Saudi for.

Other holes in the plan, though:

• All games will take place on the same weekend. Some teams will travel further than others, so will be more exhausted there and upon return. Weather will affect them. Injuries and performance problems could then result, giving unfair advantage to those who’ve lucked out with a comparitively short trip to a moderate climate.
• The top five teams will avoid being played against each other. What about the teams in relegation danger being placed against a close-running 6th place squad? While those just above them end up playing teams immediately around them? One odd game could really skew the results come season’s end.
• Weren’t they discussing recently about reducing the number of teams in the Premiership to reduce the number of games? This adds one.
• Look at the dates they’re planning on playing them – just after the hectic Christmas / New Year period. Thus cramming another game into what’s usually the busiest part of the season. Being January, players will still be missing for the Africa Cup of Nations (unless UEFA shifts it as they’re threatening), Carling and FA Cup rounds will still be taking place… and this when managers and chairmen have been crying out for a break around the festive period like the rest of Europe. Strange that they change their mind as soon as someone mentions it could make them a ton of cash.
• Niall Quinn has been asked to make a comment. What’s the point? The ******* mackems won’t be in the Premiership past the end of the season anyway, the stupid wanktard.

Football doesn’t need the publicity in the way that American football does outside of its home country. "Proper" football is the world’s most popular sport, quite simply. American football is barely covered or followed outside of its own country so an exhibition match abroad is a complete novelty and bound to attract attention.

I guess it’s obvious I’m against it. FRankly, it’s a ******* stupid idea. But then, I’m not the one liable to make a few million quid out of it. It must be nice being greedy with a completely cash-centric view of live. Decisions are so much simpler.

Oh, joy. Not only have we got Joey Barton back but we’ve hired one of the few players who could actually compete in the Professional Fouling Stakes with Roy Keane. Well, let it be said that (aside from the actual football recently) things are never boring at Newcastle.

Barton’s a liability, pure and simple. Keegan’s quote that "I think we will see a new Joey Barton at the end of this" is perhaps true in the sense that he’ll know what a prison uniform is like to wear and how it feels to be someone’s bitch for 18 months.

As for Wise… well, there’s no denying he’s done a good job at Leeds but I simply just don’t like him in the same way I didn’t like Lee Bowyer. Come on, the guy looks like the Prince of Darkness with those scary eyes. It also seems that Keegan himself doesn’t know why we’re offered Wise a job, or as what. All should be made clear later today, but it doesn’t mean I like it.

Finally, the BBC just ran a quick survey to see how many Premiership grounds match up to the disabled requirements (not legal, but requested) put forward in 2003. Two of them. Out of twenty. Surprise, neither is a top-flyer either. Well done Bolton and Blackburn. A tip of the hat to Chelsea for their free ticket scheme for the few disabled supporters who can gain entry as well; also to Arsenal for being so close to the target with 96%.

The main focus seemed to be the availability of spaces for wheelchairs, though. This only counts for some of the disabled fans, though. Feel free to refer back to a couple of older posts on here for details of a discussion I had with NUFC in October regarding "walking disabled".

OK, so after all the hype Keegan’s first game in charge ended in a 0-0 stalemate with Premiership giants, erm… Bolton. Sure, I was hoping for a four-goal towelling of the Wanderers, and a lot of the match predictions I saw were following suit. But there are a few points worth bearing in mind:

1) Our squad is about half-size at the moment due to suspensions, injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations. We only had one first-choice central midfielder to choose from.

2) The guy’s only just taken charge and the players have to get used to new tactics and methods of play. Which leads me on to…

3) Who watched the match and saw us play any long balls forward? Midfield play was almost completely ball-to-feet short- and mid-range passing. Much better to watch and verging on exciting on the few occasions when we didn’t gift possession to a white shirt (incidentally, don’t Bolton’s tops look like relabelled spares from the old England back-catalogue?). The issue is that our squad isn’t used to playing this style so they need training and matches to get into it.

So, yes, the match was disappointing but it definitely showed positive signs of things to come. With £20-30 million to squander before the end of the month, hopefully Keegan will get in some more talented (and likely attack-minded) players!