TheBrownBottle

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.

That was my understanding- that every decision needs sign-off in Riyadh and takes some time to do so. It’s magnificently inefficient way of running a football club - you’d think that a permanent delegate at the club would make more sense. But it’s clear that Staveley and Reuben aren’t running the show.

1) it’s about £10m - the CL was worth £30m. It’s hardly light years away 2) CL payments are based upon coefficients - so if the only time you qualify for Europe is for the CL, then you’re going to get less money 3) it’s Europe 4) It’s a chance of a trophy 5) modern football has turned football fans into accountants, it’s true - but the ‘don’t want to be in Europe because it doesn’t pay enough’ just makes me want to give up. It’s a shite attitude

Barnes has the same number of goals as ASM this season despite missing most of it and not playing in a pub league

Also, for all the talk of ruthlessness, it’s not the board who need to be ruthless with Howe, it’s Howe and his team who need to be ruthless with the playing staff. I felt last summer we’d missed a big chance to cash in on average players who Howe had coached beyond their mean ability. We have to be ruthless this summer and try and get some of the Ashley-era players out if we can.

No shame on losing 3-2 at OT - even against this Man Utd team Away form has been really poor this season, though, and would have been considered poor at any time in my lifetime. There are mitigating circumstances, but hopefully Howe has the solution next season

Europe is still in our hands (barring a monumental calamity in the cup final). There were bright spots in our team but it’s obvious how much work there still is to do - have to start being ruthless this summer and getting some of the Ashley-era players out

We’ve been that way a couple of times this season in a similar position. Had five mins to play after the goal and just lost our heads

That’s some fucking hit Bonny lad

Yes! Ho’way time yet