nPower Football League Thread 2011/12

[IAceI]

Can we just knock the fucker down when the Olympics are done? At least that way we won't have to put up with this pathetic bickering over a stadium that I'm pretty sure none of the fans of any interested clubs want.

Sorry if I'm wrong, Matt, but it seems you're under the impression that clubs actually care what fans who go to the games want or think?

[MDK]

I want an American football team to get the stadium, its a win/win for everyone involved.

[Matt]

Can we just knock the fucker down when the Olympics are done? At least that way we won't have to put up with this pathetic bickering over a stadium that I'm pretty sure none of the fans of any interested clubs want.

Sorry if I'm wrong, Matt, but it seems you're under the impression that clubs actually care what fans who go to the games want or think?

I'm not under the impression that they care, but in an ideal world, they should.

[Lineker]

Gary Johnson has left Northampton Town by mutual consent.

[Adam]

Perhaps he should just pack in now, he has been absolute bobbins as a manager since about halfway through his Bristol City tenure.

In other news...we unsuccessfully tried to sign Robert Pires!

[Twist]

Perhaps he should just pack in now, he has been absolute bobbins as a manager since about halfway through his Bristol City tenure.

In other news...we unsuccessfully tried to sign Robert Pires!

Who have you not tried to sign?!

[Adam]

Anybody not either French, African or otherwise tied in some way to France.

[Twist]

Anybody not either French, African or otherwise tied in some way to France.

What about Tevez?

[Fry_4000]

Gary Johnson has left Northampton Town by mutual consent.

Thsnk fuck for that, it's been long overdue

[Adam]

Anybody not either French, African or otherwise tied in some way to France.

What about Tevez?

He's tied to France...somehow.

[Twist]

Anybody not either French, African or otherwise tied in some way to France.

What about Tevez?

He's tied to France...somehow.

He always gives up?

[Adam]

I like it!

[IAceI]

The Cumberland News has had exclusive access to Carlisle United's plans to move from their Brunton Park home into a brand new 12,000-capacity all-seater stadium north of the city.

The development comes as the club takes stock of the guidelines in which they will have to work should they achieve promotion to the Championship.

The United board is acting so that it will be able to meet Football League regulations governing minimum ground standards at a higher level in the football pyramid.

There are serious problems with the structure and fabric of 102-year-old Brunton Park.

Details of Project Blue Yonder were being revealed at Carlisle United's AGM tonight.

Club officials have looked at as many as 17 potential sites. These were whittled down to a shortlist of four.

The backing of fans for the move is a priority and next Thursday United will be holding an exhibition at Brunton Park, with season ticket holders getting first viewing followed by an open session to interested members of the public.

United managing director John Nixon said: "It will give Carlisle United Football Club the platform and infrastructure to make progress through the domestic leagues and make the people of Carlisle feel proud of one of their most famous sporting assets.

“We will be keeping the supporters fully informed of progress as it happens.”

..All-Seater? N-N-.. No. North of the city?

It's going to be some soulless stadium that will probably cost £25 to get in, cost about £5 to get to and probably have no charm, character or anything. Colour me unimpressed. I go to Brunton Park because I escape modern football and all the nuances that come with it. This, it's just creeping into all levels of the game now..

I'm genuinely a bit gutted now. Maybe it's just an initial shock reaction

[Adam]

Unfortunately all-seater stadia are a neccesity these days if you want to be a successful football club. I loved Belle Vue for the atmosphere and everything, but on the whole the Keepmoat is better for the club.

Sadly the 'soul' of the stadium is nil and it has nothing on Belle Vue for the feeling and romance surrounding it but that is the price of success in the game these days.

[Lineker]

Artificial pitches could make a shock comeback if some Football League clubs get their way.

They were banned in 1988 because of complaints they caused injuries and that the quality of football played on them was poor.

Wycombe and Accrington are two clubs keen to reintroduce them in a bid to cut costs and increase revenue.

"Within 10 years, we will see quite a number of pitches," said Wycombe vice-chairman Brian Kane.

Accrington chief executive Rob Heys added: "There's been a change of opinion recently. There is an appetite for them."

Luton Town, Oldham Athletic, Preston North End and Queens Park Rangers all possessed artificial pitches until they were outlawed by the Football Association in the late 1980s, although Preston continued to use theirs until the end of the 1993-94 season.

Since then, technology has advanced significantly and a number of top-flight clubs in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Russia now play on artificial pitches.

Several lower-division sides in Scotland use them as well, while the FA permits their use in such competitions as the FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women's Premier League.

These hi-tech pitches are approved by world governing body Fifa, while Uefa, which runs football in Europe, allows Champions League ties to be played on artificial surfaces.

England were beaten 2-1 by Russia in a Euro 2008 qualifying game at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, while Tottenham Hotspur met Swiss side Young Boys in a Champions League play-off game in 2010.

Wycombe chief Kane accepts that the reintroduction of artificial pitches might not be universally welcomed.

"When I first started talking to people about this, they thought about the old pitches," said Kane, who first considered the possibility of a synthetic surface at Adams Park three years ago.

"At one point, I thought a move towards a return to artificial surfaces would never happen but I sense that has changed now."

The interest comes from clubs at the lower end of the Football League, where the potential revenue boost combined with benefits to community schemes would have a significant impact.

"Accrington is a very traditional club, we sell real football," said Heys. "But more and more - and I think a lot of people in the Football League feel like this - the commercial benefits are starting to shout up."

Heys estimates that the cost of installing an artificial pitch would be around £500,000, which would be recouped through increased revenue streams.

"There is an income to be gained from hiring the pitch out and money to be saved in maintenance costs and the fact that you can train on it," he explained.

"The community benefit is that you can get people down to the ground seven days a week rather than just 23 times a season for home fixtures."

It may be several years before a Football League match is played on synthetic turf but discussions have already taken place among League officials and clubs.

After a request from several clubs, deputy operations director Michael Tattersall outlined the Football League's latest position in late November.

All 72 clubs present then headed into three divisional meetings to debate the issue.

The Football League does not want to comment officially but BBC Sport understands the issue will be raised again when the clubs meet again on 16 February.

While Wycombe and Accrington are keen to explore the possibility of installing artificial pitches, the BBC understands there is limited support at Championship level.

Clubs hopeful of reaching the top flight are unwilling to install a surface that they would have to rip out in the event of promotion.

Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher, a former professional with vast experience in stadium development, is firmly against the idea.

"I hope they do not appear anytime soon," he said. "I do not think the spectators would like it because it would be like seeing a game of five-a-side not a real game of football.

"I can understand clubs wanting an all-weather pitch that they can use 10 times a week but it would be false. Just like if you put a plastic surface down on the tennis courts at Wimbledon, it would not quite be the same."

Fletcher also says the impact artificial surfaces have on the body should not be underestimated either.

"The players of my era have had major problems with hips and joints as they have got older," said the 60-year-old. "Modern pitches have shock pads and they are getting better and better but, in my view, they will never replace the beautiful surface of grass."

The Clarets are one of numerous Championship clubs who use a combined synthetic and grass surface, which Fletcher claims provides the best available playing surface.

But Heys countered: "It is very expensive to maintain and would not get the same level of use."

For artificial surfaces to return to the Football League at some point in the future, there would need to be a proposal and vote in favour at an annual general meeting.

For the vote to be passed, there would need to be a 50% plus one majority of the member 72 clubs, plus 50% plus one club majority in the Championship.

In theory a proposal could be raised in time for a vote at the next AGM in June, although that is thought unlikely. Any hope of a return to artificial surfaces could also be damaged if the FA and Premier League were to raise a significant objection to FA Cup and Carling Cup ties taking place on them.

It is thought unlikely that any consideration will be given to having different rules on artificial surfaces in Leagues One and Two than those operating in the Championship, given that any League Two club could be in the Championship in two seasons.

And in lighter news....

Bristol Rovers are investigating claims that midfielder Jordan Goddard urinated in front of visiting Corby Town fans during their FA Cup clash.

Substitute Goddard is said to have relieved himself near the corner flag as he warmed up during the game at the Memorial Stadium on 12 November.

The 18-year-old went on to make his first-team debut in the 3-1 win.

Avon and Somerset police confirmed they were aware of the claims and are now speaking to Bristol Rovers.

Corby Town supporter James Crawford told BBC Radio Bristol that he had witnessed the incident: "There was three or four of them warming up and then one lad just pulled himself out and urinated on the floor, right in front of us.

"There was a lot of people shouting at him but he just looked over and started laughing."

[Adam]

Lighter news? That's appalling and beyond disgusting if true.

Also, please no to the artificial pitches. Like people need more reason to not want to go and play Accrington!

[Lineker]

It was sarcasm

And Accrignton Stanley? Who are they?

[King Ellis]

Is this one of the only days of the year that 9 to 5 is a Leeds fan?

[Lineker]

Leeds manager Simon Grayson says Andy O'Brien refused to play in the win over Burnley and will never appear for the club again.

Grayson said the defender, who has been heckled by supporters, told him on Friday he did not want to play against the Clarets.

"It came as a shock, especially after I have backed him publicly and privately over the last few weeks," Grayson said.

"He won't play for this football club again as long as I am here."

O'Brien, 32, has made three Championship appearances for Leeds this season, returning to the side in the win over Leicester on 6 November.

Speaking after Leeds' 2-1 victory over the Clarets, Grayson said: "Andy came to me on Friday and said that he no longer wanted to play for this football club.

"I said I needed him to and I thought he played well.

"As manager, I have the right in the early parts of the season to take players out of the team and bring others in.

"I have said that Andy had trained well and did enough to get back into the team against Leicester.

"I don't want to say too much about the circumstances just now but we will decide internally what happens now and make a statement next week."

[Matt]

Leeds manager Simon Grayson says Andy O'Brien refused to play in the win over Burnley and will never appear for the club again.

Grayson said the defender, who has been heckled by supporters, told him on Friday he did not want to play against the Clarets.

"It came as a shock, especially after I have backed him publicly and privately over the last few weeks," Grayson said.

"He won't play for this football club again as long as I am here."

O'Brien, 32, has made three Championship appearances for Leeds this season, returning to the side in the win over Leicester on 6 November.

Speaking after Leeds' 2-1 victory over the Clarets, Grayson said: "Andy came to me on Friday and said that he no longer wanted to play for this football club.

"I said I needed him to and I thought he played well.

"As manager, I have the right in the early parts of the season to take players out of the team and bring others in.

"I have said that Andy had trained well and did enough to get back into the team against Leicester.

"I don't want to say too much about the circumstances just now but we will decide internally what happens now and make a statement next week."

Wow, I had literally no idea about this until now. That's random as fuck, he's not even been getting that much abuse really, not beyond being lumped in with the rest of our shite defence.