TheBrownBottle

Yeah, it wasn’t a well-thought out simile tbh mate. I agree - was trying to think of another sport which people are aware of players and teams but aren’t turning it on to actually watch it

I am still of the opinion that at the start of the season 7th would have been a solid achievement and a good season, and still of that view. We had a terrible time from late Nov - late Jan, but generally this has been a good season. And Howe should take the credit for that (though I do think there are justifiable criticisms of some of his actions, and questions about whether his style of play and training methods are a cause of the ongoing injury crises). He is ending the season with credit in the bank, even if not quite as much as last season. I’m looking forward to next season, especially to seeing how he has learned from this season (defensive issues; away form; etc). I hope that’s with European football in the bag so he can implement there what he’s learned too - we’d start the season as favourites to win the Conference League, and that hasn’t been the case many times in our past. This time next year we might be talking about getting the man a statue if he can be the one to finally get that fucking trophy albatross off our backs

Optus don’t publish viewing figures - but they’ve got just under a million subscribers to Optus Sports. But Optus also gives away Optus Sports for free many of its mobile phone deals, and it’s the equivalent of about £3.50 per month otherwise. Even if every subscriber watched a game (which they won’t) it would be dwarfed by the AFL and NRL viewing figures. The PL isn’t popular in any meaningful sense - people are aware but that doesn’t mean that they’re sat watching it. People often speak to people who share their own interests. There’s no chance it could be considered popular generally - the high number of immigrants in Sydney helps the interest levels, but most Aussies I’ve met either in work or outside of it are aware of the PL, know who Man Utd and Liverpool are, but couldn’t hold more than a brief conversation about any details on the sport.

I’m not sure most of our livers fully functioned by the age of 16 tbh

Drinking 20/20 in Twenty20 tops is the way forward (though I don’t think 20/20 exists anymore … I’m about three decades away from my last sup of it but can still taste the vomit from it …)

That’s ladge, as we used to say when I was young. Absolutely grasping stuff. But I agree - people are being suckered out of their hard-earned. Bollocks to that. They should use that money and buy tickets to see their local A-League side. If I have to suffer it, they should too …

Apologies folks, didn’t realised that FaceTime was unbanned in KSA. Just the death penalty for being homosexual or renouncing the Islamic faith it is, then. But I guess you have to start somewhere.

4-2 win here to wrap up 7th

I saw Longstaff jr’s against Man Utd too. Didn’t mean owt in the long run. Never rated Dubravka particularly highly myself - the style of play suited his limited capabilities.

No chance more people play association football on an organised basis - again, the game being the only one played by both genders comes into it - but if you walk into a pub it’s Aussie rule or rugby league on every screen; most sports tops worn by the average punter relate to those sports; a conversation re sport with the average Australian will usually touch one of them. Football is in a healthy state in Australia, but it’s not close to being the national sport.

I take your point, but it’s a daft friendly. I never went to NUFC friendlies in the UK and expected a performance tbh - which is why I stopped going to them; they’re glorified training events. It’s also why I wouldn’t drop any notes on travelling to Melbourne for this one - would rather fly back to the UK and watch a proper match.

It’s the most participated in part because both genders play it (which is a positive, not trying to be dismissive) and it is played in every state. Most of the native Aussies I meet seem to be aware of the PL, but only in the same way that the average British sports fan are aware of the NBA etc.

A mate of mine once said that you should allow one day for every one hour you go over time zones. It’s a pretty solid rule in my experience.

1) Aussie rules (though not in NSW and Queensland) 2) rugby league (NSW and Queensland mainly) 3) cricket 4) football (proper football!) 5) possibly rugby union … at a push … if Australia are doing well. Otherwise, there’s a few sports who could make a claim on this spot There seems to be a considerable drop-off between 3) and 4), though in my experience football is a lot more popular than when I first came out here on a backpacker Visa in the late 00s. It’s definitely growing, but there’s no chance it supplants Aussie rules or rugby league.

you’d still have ‘nipple’ moments though - just with lines instead of defenders

Personally, I think the trip is a terrible idea. It’s not even like it is worth it to tap into a ‘new market’ - Australia’s population is small, and has generally little interest in football - and those who do already have a team. The timing is awful, and does no-one any favours. Even a full MCG isn’t making us huge money once it’s divvied up.

They’re paying to see an end of season friendly with a bunch of players playing with severe jet lag - anyone thinking they’re paying to see quality is already a dafty. Wouldn’t worry about it.

It still wouldn’t resolve the problem - you’d still get marginal calls.

Take a look at who was supplying Cole, then who was supplying Shearer. Not even remotely close goal scoring ability-wise.

Except the Tories don’t have public floggings on the statute books for doing those things - no matter how much some of them might want to. You can use it with a VPN

You’d still get exactly the same issues - was his toe on or over the line etc - as well as making the penalty area a confusing mass of lines. The game managed to get through 180-odd years without it - I don’t think changing the pitch markings would be necessary at this point.

I don’t doubt it There’s plenty of stories about members of the House of Saud playing by different rules from the people that they rule over - including the strict libation laws …

Losing the immediacy of a goal takes the joy out of it - and it interferes with the pyramid structure of football. One of the great things about the game used to be that it was played under the same rules at all levels.

Saudi Arabia prohibits encrypted phone calls - which is why FaceTime etc is banned. It’s a completely normal place …

Man City and PSG always had permanent representation on hand. Just has an amateurish feel to it - though again, that would be reflective of the ultimate owners too; the KSA govt is nothing if it isn’t inefficient and wasteful.