Everyone agrees with Keegan - The Premier League is boring
by Terry on May 9th, 2008
| 331 words |
Kevin Keegan came out after Newcastle’s 0-2 loss to Chelsea and said that he could not turn the Toon into a Big Four team again within the three years his contract lasts for. Such talk has landed him in hot water with owner Mike Ashley, who has called him down to London for “crisis talks” today.
Since his emotional outburst though, it turns out that Portsmouth Manager Harry Redknapp and Reading manager Steve Coppell both actually agree with him, with Harry quoted as saying:
“You would need £150million to spend to have any chance of breaking into that top four, Look at Liverpool last summer, they spent £28million on Fernando Torres and he is a fantastic player but who else can compete with that?
I agree with Kevin Keegan, I do not see any way that anyone else can break into the top four. Tottenham came closest for a few seasons but if you look at them now they have fallen back into mid-table. Nothing is guaranteed by spending money and it is getting harder and harder to get there.”
And Coppell today saying:
“I have been saying that for a long time. At the start of the season you know within four teams definitely, probably within three and most betting people would say within two teams who is going to win the league, I contradict myself by saying it is brilliant to watch these teams do well in Europe but they have too much of an advantage on a week-to-week basis for it to be a really competitive league.
There are sub-divisions within the league that are competitive but in terms of winning the division you know who is going to do that at the start of each year.”
Are they right? Is the Premier League boring or just predictable? Should the Top Four be booted into an Elite Euro League? Should the Champion’s League rules be changed? Surely something needs to change or the fans will vote with their feet.
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Tagged Under: Champions League, Fernando, Fernando Torres, Harry Redknapp, Liverpool FC, Newcastle FC, Portsmouth FC, Premier League, Reading FC, redknapp, steve coppell, torres
Drew Vader - May 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
does coppell have his eyes closed and not see that the only time his ground is full is when the big four roll through? and that can be said for the majority of the sides in the league. look at your average match between say boro and fulham at the riverside, it would be 60% full at best. but if united are in town, its close to full capacity. so, a suggestion to boot them out to form the super league or whatever would accomplish nothing except boring matches with players who all only have one goal, to get picked up by one of the teams in that super league, played in front of half empty stadiums. good thinking….
Blagger - May 9th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
The league is not dull but it is predictable.
Anonymous - May 11th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
same in every league in every sport ever
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 9:13 am
It’s not boring but predictable - AND FIXED!!!! This season was riddled with shit refereeing, spoiling matches, deciding outcomes and basically handing it on a plate to Crapchester Ushited. What the hell was Steve Bennett looking at when Rio ‘Plug’ Ferdinonce handled the ball?…. where the hell was he looking when Paul Schrotum was elbowing a Wigan player in the head? Was their a very attractive alien man in the crowd distracting him? BENNETT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE - as are Riley, Dowd, Styles and Martin Atkinson. FA - pull your fingers out, this joke competition has gone on long enough
RayParlourforPresident - May 12th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I agree Bill - to give Man U a penalty for something that contained marginal contact and not allow Wigan one for a blatant handball in the box is criminal. I also totally disagree with him not giving Scholes a second yellow purely because it was “the last game of the season” this is wrong on all levels, surely it is more important to send if off in the last game, not leave him on.
this said I hate Chelsea more than Man U as the latter play better football and win games with flair rather than boring the opponent into submission so for the first time ever I found myself wanting Man U to win
thecat - May 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Its only boring because of the negative defensive dross that managers like Benitez decide to churn out week after week. For a team full of high quality players, Liverpool are a disgrace to the league and to their own fine history.
RayParlourforPresident - May 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
that said - Liverpool have had their fair share of favourable decisions too,
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 10:19 am
I couldn’t want either side to win - the season left me with a bad taste in my mouth - I just want a level playing field, a fair fight, and more than anything - some way of making sure decisions are correct - whether it’s 2 refs one in either half or, retrospective bans for players seen to be diving or feigning injury, or, preferably, an extra official in the stands watching replays on a TV monitor to get the decision right AT THE TIME. Richard Dunne shouldn’t have got a red card yesterday - but even if it is rescinded, it won’t make a difference while his absence obviously made an enormous difference. Petty stuff like Mascherano’s red card at Old Toilet (also Steve Bennett) for asking why he was booking Torres when the latter was the one being fouled, also had an influence on the match. With the huge amounts of money in the game and the technology available which now allows extremely quick, close-up replays of incidents from several angles, it is criminal that we are still relying on one inept official who has no way of knowing whether a player has dived or been genuinely fouled.
The game of two eras, coparing the FA Cup Finals of 1957 and 2007 shown on BBC2 last night after MOTD showed some hideous tackles going unpunished back 50 years ago, but the real difference was players’ honesty. Players didn’t fall over, trying to get free-kicks, even when they were being battered by the ‘hard men’. These days they are falling over before the tackler has touched them - there is no honesty left, no sportsmanship - the game has become a farce because the useless twats in charge of the game have not moved with teh times and technology to eradicate the blatant cheating which has infected the game. The only reason I can think that this has not been addressed is that it makes it easier to keep the favoured teams (ie Man U, Milan, Real Madrid - Brazil, at international level) at the top. For a couple of seasons rich Chelsea were flavour of the month - and are still getting the benefit of some dubious decisions (Malouda’s penalty at Anfield, Hyppia’s lack of penalty 10 days ago at Shitford Bridge) but they will never be smiled upon as long as Man U are in with a shout. Their only hope is in Europe where the powers that be may not be pro-United. Sh*t season, sh*t refereeing, sh*t winners, sh*t game. At least I did well in the fantasy league but even that’s only because I went with the favourite players of the favoured teams - I’m with Kevin Keegan: it’s SO predictable… YAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWNNN.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am
shut it thecat, it’s none of your business how Benitez decides to ruin our chances. We are a disgrace only to ourselves - and only because our daft manager can’t see a good or bad players when it smacks him in the face. But that can only benefit other teams in the league so your complaint is ludicrous.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
RayParlouretc, you are probably referring to Babel penalty ( I think it was a correct decision) or maybe the Hleb non-penalty (in which case I would agree with you - he was hard done by) Other favourable decisions for us this season? Everton away? Maybe - Finnan probably should have had a penalty against for fouling but apart from those I think we had a lot of really bad decisions go against us.
1 Malouda cheat pen at Anfield
2 Reading pen for Carra outside box foull
3 Masch’s ridiculous sending-off at Old Toilet
4 Hyypia CL semi definite pen not given
5 Samba’s assault on Gerrard just outside box at Anfield (no foul even)
6 Ferdinand and Brown’s persistent fouling of Torres at Old Toilet (no fouls, no yellows)
that’s just a few off the top of my head
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
7 Jaidi - at Bham, offside and obscuring Reina’s view of free-kick
8 Drogba’s constant diving at Anfield (CL semi 1st leg) - no action taken
more as I remember them….
RayParlourforPresident - May 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I was referring to the Hleb non penalty to be honest but in essence I am in agreement with you - the mascherano sending off was ridiculous, particularly bearing in mind the impact he is able to have on a game and the fact that there aren’t many players in the top four who haven’t behaved worse than that and got away with, Cashley springs to mind but this could be because I am likely to be biased against him anyway.
I also agree that this inconsistency is ruining the game and favouring teams who don’t necessarily deserve it
out of interest, how many of Ronaldo’s goals have been free kick’s and penatlies?
manure argue that he is the most fouled player in the premiership, I wonder how many of these “fouls” would have been awarded to other players who haven’t had Ferguson ranting on about referees needing to protect them.
in terms of the honesty side of things yet another example of the state of the league and the players in it, I remember us kicking the ball out for an injured Chelsea player and when they threw it in instead of passing it to Almuinia (as would be sporting) they kicked it out for a throw in 10 metres from our goal line which they then tried to attack!!!
the problem is that players are now so good at taking free kicks they realise how much impact on the game they can have therefore a run towards the box and a dramtic fall over is more likely to bring a goal than taking a shot on in open play… that to me is what is wrong with the league, Chelsea are the worst cuplrits for preventing creativity in this way
Raymond - May 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Martin O neil is a kind if coach that would bring a difference to premier league> Big teams were used to buying players from smaller teams for cheap. the big teams selling their unwanted players to the smaller ones for inflated prices. If benitez could say crouch is worth 15 mil, why on earth would he think barry is worth 10 mil considering the fact that barry and crouch are almost of thesame age and barry has a 2 yr contract left while crouch is got one year left and leave next summer for nothing.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Yes RayParlour, Chelsea are the extreme of unsporting behaviour. They became like that under Jose Mourinho. Under Ranieri they were much more fair. I’m afraid the influx of foreigners (players and managers) is responsible to a large extent for the new ’style’ of play. I remember last season when Liverpool played at Barcelona, they were putting on pressure early on and Ronaldinho ran at full pelt into the box pushed the ball past Riise, barged into him and rolled over, coming up arms outstretched appealing for a penalty - all in one movement! - it was a great physical feat but a blatant attempt to cheat - and with Deco joining in, this carried on until a few minutes before half-time when Gerrard received the ball on the right, started to move forward and a Barca player came racing over to him and as he reached him, Gerrard went over a bit too easily and got the free-kick. Then Sissoko copied and won us a free-kick within range of goal. Barca stopped the play-acting after that and we beat them. I also remember a terrible Reading v Chelsea match last season full of this kind of simulation, where Lampard ran into a player on teh edge of the box and went over. Chelsea scored from the resulting free-kick. Remember that turd Robben getting Reina sent off with his antics. It’s rife in teh modern English game -and it has ironically, considering the millions going round, it has cheapened our game. I’m not saying I’d rather go back to the 50s style of football but I think some control is required if the game is to be worth following in future - personally I only enjoyed watching a few Liverpool games and some of the Arsenal play. Cronaldo scored some great goals (yeah a lot of free-kicks, and Villa were a breath of fresh air - even some of Lescott and Elano’s play was good, but mostly I thought it was a poor season, saved slightly by an exciting final day. Derby were good entertainment too.
YSB - May 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Bill, Liverpool have had their fair share of decisions. Two from the same game that spring to mind - Gerrard persuading clattenburg to send Hibbert off and the penalty/assault by Carragher on Lescott. That game certainly left a bad taste in my mouth (Gerrard’s too by all accounts).
Talk about a level playing field or do Everton not count?
thecat - May 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Bill Vector wrote “I just want a level playing field”
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Is that the same level playing field that got Alliadiere sent off for a “slap” at Mascherano yet Mascherano got bugger all for the same offense.
Is that the same level playing field that denied Everton 2 clear penalties in the Merseyside derby yet Liverpool were awarded 2 soft penalties themselves.
You seem quite intent on highlighting all those decisions that go against you but overlook those that go for you. Like most bitter Scousers, you seem to forget it was Liverpool that got all those favourable decisions during the 80’s. We just didn’t have the media coverage and sites like this to rant and rage.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
a) did you see Masch drop to the floor - or make anything of it - in fact he smiled and looked at trhe ref, as if to say, what was that for? The ref made that decision - and the FA added an extra game ban for the appeal (!!!) Take it up with the ref and the FA not Masch - he didn’t make a meal of it thecat.
b) I already said that Everton should have had a pen for Finnan’s holding - Carra’s was not clear cut as Lescott backed into him and went over looking for a foul. The soft pens we were awarded were a blatant trip by too-slow Hibbert as Gerrard charged into the are and an undeniable handball on the line by Phil Neville stopping a shot by Lucas which was going in. So stop trying to reinvent stuff you lying little toerag.
I take your point about no sites like this - not sure about the dubious decisions in the 80s - I think if you watch some of those 80s games you’ll see our team was pretty good, and the competition wasn’t there - we didn’t need dodgy refs. thecock
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
a) did you see Masch drop to the floor - or make anything of it - in fact he smiled and looked at trhe ref, as if to say, what was that for? The ref made that decision - and the FA added an extra game ban for the appeal (!!!) Take it up with the ref and the FA not Masch - he didn’t make a meal of it thecat.
b) I already said that Everton should have had a pen for Finnan’s holding - Carra’s was not clear cut as Lescott backed into him and went over looking for a foul. The soft pens we were awarded were a blatant trip by too-slow Hibbert as Gerrard charged into the are and an undeniable handball on the line by Phil Neville stopping a shot by Lucas which was going in. So stop trying to reinvent stuff you lying little toerag.
I take your point about no sites like this - not sure about the dubious decisions in the 80s - I think if you watch some of those 80s games you’ll see our team was pretty good, and the competition wasn’t there - we didn’t need dodgy refs.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
a) did you see Masch drop to the floor - or make anything of it - in fact he smiled and looked at trhe ref, as if to say, what was that for? The ref made that decision - and the FA added an extra game ban for the appeal (!!!) Take it up with the ref and the FA not Masch - he didn’t make a meal of it thecat.
b) I already said that Everton should have had a pen for Finnan’s holding - Carra’s was not clear cut as Lescott backed into him and went over looking for a foul. The soft pens we were awarded were a blatant trip by too-slow Hibbert as Gerrard charged into the area and an undeniable handball on the line by Phil Neville stopping a shot by Lucas which was going in. So stop trying to reinvent stuff you lying little stirrer.
I take your point about no sites like this - not sure about the dubious decisions in the 80s - I think if you watch some of those 80s games you’ll see our team was pretty good, and the competition wasn’t much cop - we didn’t need dodgy refs.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
a) did you see Masch drop to the floor - or make anything of it? - in fact he smiled and looked at trhe ref, as if to say, what was that for? The ref made that decision - and the FA added an extra game ban for the appeal (!!!) Take it up with the ref and the FA not Masch - he didn’t make a meal of it thecat.
b) I already said that Everton should have had a pen for Finnan’s holding - Carra’s was not clear cut as Lescott backed into him and went over looking for a foul. The soft pens we were awarded were a blatant trip by too-slow Hibbert as Gerrard charged into the area and an undeniable handball on the line by Phil Neville stopping a shot by Lucas which was going in. So stop trying to reinvent stuff.
Bill Vector - May 12th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
YSB, no Everton don’t count, but I disagree to this day with Carragher on Lescott - it was as much Lescott backing in as anything. Your useless memory has obviously missed the holding by Finnan which, undoubtedly should have been a pen. As for Gerrard persuading Clattenburg to send Hibbert off - that’s an invention by bluenoses - in the end, it’s the ref’s decision - but as Hibbert was the last man, and denied Gerrard a goalscoring opportunity he should rightly be sent off - whether Gerrard said that to the ref or not is irrelevant - it’s the law of the game (whether good or bad)
thecat - May 12th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I think if you watch some of those 80s games you’ll see our team was pretty good, and the competition wasn’t there
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I’m not disputing you had a decent team but come on Bill, you’re beginning to sound like the Nazi regime of the 1930’s with some of your one-sided opinions. You should change your name to Lord Haw-Haw.
Lord Haw-Haw - May 13th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Thanks for the idea. I’m not sure how my football rants and LFC-biased conspiracy theories ressemble the Nazi regime - I mean I’m not suggesting for a second that all Man U and Chelsea fans, players and staff should be wiped out in specially adapted shower rooms (gas instead of water), am I?
I just want better refereeing that’s all - if they introduce video replays during the match - and get each decision correct - and we still finish 4th then I would have no complaints at all. But I think Liverpool would benefit from it. Oh, and from Benitez playing some of his useful players instead of leaving them on the bench all the time (Crouch). Fat fool that he is.
thecat - May 13th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Well ok, a little harsh perhaps. The point I was trying to make is that for every decision you think went against say Liverpool, there’s probably a counter argument for an equally dubious decision that went for you. Likewise United, Arsenal, Reading etc. Personally, I just think each match is biased in favour of the home team and we’ll never get away from that partly due to the heckles from the crowd ala Carrick handball vs The Chavs.
Bill Vector - May 13th, 2008 at 11:07 am
If that were true then I think in the CL semi 1st leg we should have seen Carvalho sent off, Drogba with at least a yellow for his ridiculous pretend ijuries and Terry should have had yellow or red for puuting his knee into Torres ribs while he was on the ground. I think there are a lot of weak refs who side with the home team - but there are also a lot of inept refs who leave me pulling my hair out (Bennett, Styles, Riley, Dowd, Rennie).
I thought it ludicrous that when Zidane headbutted Materazzi the rules didn’t allow the ref to find out what had happened. And the rules were blatantly bypassed in that instance. Any off the ball incident like that is going to be missed by the ref who can only look in one direction at a time.
Would you be in favour of video replays being called by the ref whenever he is not sure enough that he’s seen what’s happened?
thecat - May 13th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Of course, who wouldn’t but its down to the FA to introduce the technology and I can’t see that happening with that knobhead Barwick at the helm.
That said, if this was in place then Liverpool might not have even reached the semi-final based on the Hleb (not) penalty that went against Arsenal in the quarters so the Carvalho/Drogba/Terry incidents would have been irrelevant. Strange, eh?
Bill Vector - May 13th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Erm, maybe…. although had Hleb been awarded a penalty Arsenal might have missed it, Liverpool might have played better had they scored it etc etc
Barwick is indeed a knobhead - and, I believe, a Liverpool fan
Even stranger
Jodie Marsh - no relation (thank GOd) to Rodney - May 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I think it’s a bit rich to blame dashed Johnny Foreigner for the ‘plague’ of diving/simulation/cheating that seems to be a feature in the EPL. I don’t suppose you’d care to recall Owen’s dive in the World Cup 02 against Argentina? What about wonderful Stevie G’s attempts at simulation? FFS, Liverpool, according to St Rafa, even manage to get referees to phone up to apologise for their poor decision making when choosing not to award penalties in favour of the most hallow’d of Liverpool FC.