Football Focus

[kpc]

Bring back terracing!

[????]

wot kpc said

[kpc]

Great interview just on R5 with on of our heroes from when we last lifted the League Cup (1963). Bertie Auld, remininscing about his football south and north of the border. Worth catching on iPlayer later.

[????]

Having swallowed my bitterness from the SF I am now officially supporting Birmingham for the final, although I sincerely hope Arsenal go on to win a couple of other trophies this season but not this one eh

[Jah Lush]

You didn't really say that about the Arsenal did you Quids? Jeez! Down with that sort of thing. This weekend I am mostly supporting Birmingham City.

[kpc]

Why thank you ????. All support welcome.

[kpc]

Shocked to hear of the death of Dean Richards at the tragically young age of 36.

Dean Richards

[????]

That's terrible. So young too. RIP

[Ladygooner]

Last Carling Cup Final I went to I spent the first half stuck on the train to Cardiff and missed Walcotts goal - then we lost to Chelsea. I am hoping tomorrow at Wembley will be a better day out! Thanks for all your good wishes!

[????]

The last "League Cup" Final I went to I saw Tonka Stewart ram a last minute equalising penalty past Ray Clemence

[kpc]

Tomorrow's dilemma for V*!!a fans: Songs of Praise or Midsommer Murders.

[????]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> You didn't really say that about the Arsenal did

> you Quids? Jeez! Down with that sort of thing.

> This weekend I am mostly supporting Birmingham

> City.

I certainly want Arsenal to win the premiership. The thought of Chelsea or you lot winning the CL is too hideous to contemplate and the FA Cup is, of course, the Hammers. But tomorrow it's Brum for me.

[Mick Mac]

I'm all in favour of the current champions league format, but it would still be very odd if a team like Spurs were to win it having never been champions of their own league in the last 40 years. It would be good for Spurs but bad for a competition that seeks to find the best team in europe.

[????]

..it wouldn't be good, because they're Spurs. Would you want Rangers to win it?... and at least they have been champions since 1961

[kpc]

Not sure how you can be in favour of a CL format that allows for the majority of qualifying teams to be non-champions and then say it would be bad for one of them to win it. Maybe there should be a UEFA vetting panel at the semi-final stage. "So, when exactly were you last champions?" "Oh."

[Mick Mac]

kpc Wrote:

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> Not sure how you can be in favour of a CL format

> that allows for the majority of qualifying teams

> to be non-champions and then say it would be bad

> for one of them to win it. Maybe there should be a

> UEFA vetting panel at the semi-final stage. "So,

> when exactly were you last champions?" "Oh."

Exactly - you can play but you can't get to the final, you don't mind if we put another English team in the final in your place, how about your friends from North London, the red and white team. ;-)

No. my point is that the format is good in that its not just the previous years cahmpions that get into the competition, however to win the CL and never to have won your own league, is not a good result for the competion.

[????]

No. my point is that the format is good in that its not just the previous years cahmpions that get into the competition, however to win the CL and never to have won your own league, is not a good result for the competion.

I *think* that this wouldn't have been the case for any English team that's ever qualified

[kpc]

So would you put a limitation of say 10 years, or 20 at a stretch, on the validity of winning the PL for qualification to CL? This is getting quite Platini-esque.

[Mick Mac]

Don't understand, Quids.

It's bad enough that Liverpool won the CL but have not ever won the English premierhip, but of course they have such great pedigree in the competition so noone thinks its odd. If Spurs won it, it would be odd.

[Mick Mac]

kpc Wrote:

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> So would you put a limitation of say 10 years, or

> 20 at a stretch, on the validity of winning the PL

> for qualification to CL? This is getting quite

> Platini-esque.

Not validity - just whether its good for the competition, given its name/history etc.

[????]

er, the Premiership....behave Mick. That's a Sky invention, the English Football league is over 120 years old...you've not even got age as an excuse

[Mick Mac]

Its not a Sky invention. Nothing to do with Sky.

If you qualify to be in it then you can win it, of course. I just don't think Spurs will win it and I also don't think it would be "good" for the competition if Spurs won it.

[????]

I'd rather they did lucky pick and took four out of the hat to be honest ;-)

[????]

Leeds, Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool, Blackburn, Arsenal, Everton, Aston Villa have all been top flight champions

[Mick Mac]

Ehhh....good night.