Morbyd
Moderator
Some teams might actually welcome it for the UEFA Cup, given that they whine about having to play their Thursday group games as it is now.
The Footy....(2012-2013 season)
- Thread starter djjaycool
- Start date
I think it is all about the money. They can't see the EL games to networks and fans for big bucks. They think if the put lipstick on a pig people will pay to take her out. This is all about greed for the clubs.
In all honesty, I really couldn't give 2 s h i t s about which club (if any) gets it. What I object too is that the taxpayer is still stumping up the vast majority of the investment needed to convert it into a football friendly stadium.
I agree that it would be a great shame, and arguably a bigger waste of money, to have it sit there and rot, or demolished.
But surely there is an argument for having West Ham or whoever the new owners are, pay back the money once the stadium becomes profitable.
Jack87
Member
Aren't West Ham in a mountain of debt? I really don't see the point in them using it. And, IMO, Upton Park is a perfectly decent football stadium, 34k is about right for a club that size, and the atmosphere will be absolutely dross in the Olympic stadium for a football game. Big 'bowl' type modern stadiums are tough to build a good atmosphere in - see the new Wembley, Millenium stadium, the Emirates etc etc.
Gold & Sullivan wrote off a lot of debt when they completed their takeover 3 or so years ago - to the tune of almost £70m I think.
If they have debt now, then it's manageable.
They intend to use retractable seating and put a roof in to help with the atmosphere. Again though, as it stands, that's to the cost of the taxpayer, not the club.
Morbyd
Moderator
You've obviously never sat in the first row of the away stand, staring at players' ankles.
I nearly got decapitated by an errant shot on goal!
Jack87
Member
You've obviously never sat in the first row of the away stand, staring at players' ankles.
I nearly got decapitated by an errant shot on goal!
I was 4 rows back when Saints played there in October. Rubbish view but the same can be said for most stadiums if you're unlucky enough to be in the front few rows. Was only 3 rows back at Carrow Road at the weekend, exactly the same thing there.
Morbyd
Moderator
I've also been in the directors' box at Upton Park and that was pretty good. Plus i got to meet some Icelanders.
It's not a bad stadium, but it's not a great one either. I haven't seen the Olympic yet though so couldn't tell you if it's an improvement or not. But if they're really going to go all out to fill the stadium with young supporters (seems like I read about some such scheme?) then more power to them.
mashednlovingit
Well-Known Member
Absolutely no way should West Ham be 'given' the stadium. If they want to pay the full 100s of millions of pounds it cost to build it then yes they can take a gamble. Also I dislike the way they want to trample all over Leyton Orients catchment area.
mashednlovingit
Well-Known Member
Totally agree with the above.
Go back to the UEFA Cup or Cup Winners Cup or whatever but don't touch the CL
Yes but back in the old days the Uefa Cup was great because it had the 2nd to 4th teams from the leagues so it was actually tougher to win than the EC.
Colonel Kurtz, the old format of the EC competition drew up finalist such as Malmo and St Ettienne. I'd rather have this format and have a big name final than some lucky team get through because of a lucky draw in my view.
fatphilb
Well-Known Member
Because Wembley would be the preferred stadium for the final?
Not at all. I think it should be one or two countries hosting. I loved Euro 96.
Agreed. Part of the magic of these international tournaments is the character and culture from the host nations. It's just the kind of money-spinning BS I've come to expect from that fool Platini. A once great player, but a truly absurd ambassador and admin of the game today.
Seemingly nobody has taken into consideration the impact of carting a squad of 23 players up-down, left-right all over the continent with, what, 3 day breaks between each group game?
There is already argument that these tournaments burn the players involved out as it is, coming immediately after a busy club season. As well as effecting their pre-season preparation for the following year.
Also, where will the squad locate as a base? At home? Or will some poor soul calculate the perfect epicentre that is equal distance travel between all the stadia involved?!
On that note - accomodation. The way it works at present is that each nation (or at least those expecting to remain in the competition further than the group stages) will book out a hotel for the duration of the tournament, in the optimism they will reach the final. So are teams now going to have to second-guess if they will finish 1st/2nd in their group to pre-book the right city. Or will they simply make 2 bookings for the same night?
It's money, money, money. And absolutely nothing else.
Terrible for the fans. Terrible for the players. Good for the men in suits lining their pockets.
... And, btw, Wembley being chosen for the final? Pfft. Just another case of our FA & media building our hopes up, thinking we are god's gift of a football nation, when in fact the influence we wield is pitiful. Wait until Platini gives it to a Russian or Turkish city where shady business men have thrown money his way and watch our national outrage at the "scandalous" decision, and how much we've been wronged.
mashednlovingit
Well-Known Member
Wow, what a cynical chap you are. So insignificant and unwielding are we that Wembley has been chosen to host the CL final twice in a matter of years. So insignificant are we that their are countless soundbites from players purporting an appearance at Wembley with thier international team as a highlight of their career. Fans, players and coaches never turn up to play in England half arsed it's always full on.
Newsflash: 'New' Wembley - it aint all that. OUR support is terrible at home. Away we do ourselves proud.
I am a cynic because I have watched us fall flat on our face time and time again. It isn't getting any better. It's getting worse. We are the thorn in the side of Blatter & Platini. We have few allies outside our FA, that much is clear.
mashednlovingit
Well-Known Member
I know, I've been Wembley 3 times with my own team. Atmosphere is terrible as it is with pretty much all the new grounds. The point is its still seen as one of the best in Europe by the powers that be and will most likely be used for the 2020 Euro final.
Again, so much of a thorn that we still get 4 places in the CL each season. Chances are Blatter and Platini will have moved on in our lifetime anyway.