nPower Football League Thread 2011/12

[Adam]

Is Jimmy Hill the one who first campaigned to got the maximum wage scrapped?

He does have a rather large chin.

Edited March 2, 2012 by AdamDRFC

[Matt]

An update to what I mentioned the other day about Bates blocking Supporters Trust board members ability to purchase tickets:

In recent weeks Ken Bates has frequently made the Leeds United Supporters' Trust chairman and board the subject of personal comments in the Leeds United matchday programme and in his weekly interview on Yorkshire Radio. These comments have made reference to the individual ticket purchasing histories, places of residence and places of work of our board members, and the comments have been not only inaccurate, but we believe they are in breach of the Data Protection Act, Ofcom broadcast guidelines, and the club's own customer charter. In a past statement we have corrected Mr Bates' comments about the Trust chairman's attendance record, but we see little value in refuting these remarks on a weekly basis and have instead referred them to Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office. As last week's open letter to Neil Warnock made clear, our members would like us to concentrate on supporting our new manager this weekend in his first home game, and on working towards making the aims and ambitions of our Vision Statement a reality, rather than be drawn into petty personal battles.

With this in mind, we were disappointed to find that the Trust chairman and board have had ‘stops’ placed on their individual ticket purchasing accounts by Leeds United, which prevents them from buying tickets and supporting the team. Trust chairman Gary Cooper contacted the club’s Chief Executive Shaun Harvey for an explanation, and was told in an email from Harvey that: “In simple terms we are exercising our right only to sell tickets to those who we wish to do so.”

The clear message is that anybody who questions the way Leeds United is being run is no longer welcome at Elland Road, and that this policy will be enforced by the refusal to sell tickets to individuals that the club identifies as unwelcome. This is of serious concern to every Leeds United supporter who wants to have an input into the running of their football club. We are appalled that individual Leeds fans are being stopped from following their team purely because they voice an opinion. The Trust board are able to withstand this kind of treatment and will be taking the matter up through the proper channels, but Harvey’s comments about only selling tickets “to those who we wish to do so” leave us very concerned about the development of a ‘with us or against us’ ticket policy at Leeds United.

A major aim of the Trust’s Vision Statement is to build good relations between the club, its fans, and local bodies in the city of Leeds. To this end, we have been delighted to gain the public support of Members of Parliament and Leeds City Council, joining the backing we have as a Supporters’ Trust from Supporters Direct, the Football League, the FA and UEFA, as well as our Honorary President Nigel Martyn. In recent weeks we have published our aims and ambitions for a successful Leeds United, supported Leeds fans in a peaceful 1,000 strong march, and reflected our members’ wishes in calling on Leeds fans to support Neil Warnock in his first home game this weekend. At the same time our membership has grown to more than 4,500 Leeds United fans, who support us in our call for Leeds United to listen to the fans and bring about positive changes at Elland Road.

To find that, rather than listen to us and work with us, the club has instead resorted to inaccurate, personal public attacks and now moved to stop Leeds fans from buying match tickets and supporting their team is frustrating and disappointing, but it will not stop the work of Leeds United Supporters’ Trust. We will continue to work hard to fulfil the aims and ambitions of our Vision Statement, and to represent the views of the 4,500 Leeds fans who have joined us so far. And whether we are able to enter Elland Road or not, and whether we are welcome or not, the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust will continue to support Leeds United, just as it always has done, and just as it always will.

Absolute fucking disgrace. I can't believe it's come to this. I want to see how anyone defends him on this.

[MDK]

Bloody hell, poor Leeds fans

[Lineker]

Yeah, terrible times for the common Leeds fan. Sad.

Pompey captain Liam Lawrence has had to join Cardiff on loan to try and aid his side's financial plight.

[Adam]

Smart move, considering he was a player they signed on wages of 20k+ a week despite the fact they were still in administration last year.

[Lineker]

They still have Tal Ben-Haim on their books at £36k p/w...

[Lineker]

Ipswich Town have suspended midfielder Jimmy Bullard for two weeks, BBC Radio Suffolk understand.

Bullard, 33, and striker Michael Chopra are reported to have cut short a team bonding session on Tuesday.

The duo then allegedly travelled to Newcastle without permission and turned up late for training on Thursday.

Bullard will miss Saturday's Championship clash at Portman Road against Bristol City , but Chopra is still in the matchday squad.

Ipswich are reported to have launched an inquiry after the duo were pictured in various nightclubs in Chopra's home town in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The club have not yet confirmed whether 12-goal top scorer Chopra will face any sanctions.

Bullard has supposedly been told to stay away from the club as Ipswich assess their options.

Ipswich have refused to comment, but BBC Suffolk understand that manager Paul Jewell will address the matter after the Bristol City game.

Bullard was signed on a permanent basis last summer after his contract was terminated by Hull City, who initially suspended him over an alleged breach of club discipline on the club's pre-season tour of Slovenia in July.

He featured 16 times for Ipswich while on loan last season.

In his 20 appearances in the league this term, Bullard scored his only goal in the 4-1 defeat by Millwall at The Den on 29 October.

Thus giving more legitimacy to idea that Bullard is a total cunt when the cameras stop rolling.

[IAceI]

He is such a tosser.

So I listened to the Carlisle match on Radio today. What a horrible mistake. 2-0 defeat away to Notts County. At least Lee Hughes (fellow tosser) wasn't on the pitch this time. Carlisle need to sort themselves out though.

[Matt]

Could only half watch the game today as I was working but we seemed to be unlucky to lose, had an obvious penalty turned down early doors and then Kelvin Davis was a machine in goal. Don't reckon much to Webber though, he seems as useless as his record suggests.

[Lineker]

Cardiff make one change from their Carling Cup final defeat as their regular league goalkeeper David Marshall replaces Tom Heaton in goal. West Ham, meanwhile, recall captain Kevin Nolan from a three-match ban and he replaces Mark Noble in midfield. Henri Lansbury also comes in for Julien Faubert in the only other change in Sam Allardyce's Hammers starting line-up. Full teams to come soon - and the coverage of the game begins on MOTD on BBC One in 25 minutes.

[Lineker]

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Whittingham, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Mason, Miller, Gestede.

Subs: Heaton, Kiss, Conway, Vuckic, Blake.

West Ham: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Faye, McCartney, Collison, Nolan, Noble, Lansbury, Vaz Te, Maynard.

Subs: Boffin, Baldock, Cole, O'Neil, Potts.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

[Lineker]

Tranmere have sacked their physio manager Les Parry.

[Matticus]

Was so glad when the rumour of Bullard going to Reading on loan was squashed. He's a tosser and want him well away from my team, we don't need him anyways

[Adam]

The Cardiff - West Ham game was AWFUL. Those two sides are at the top end of this league? Jesus.

We're away at West Ham next week and if we hadn't gotten a 0-0 draw against a Cardiff side who played just as badly the oher week then I'd be a bit more confident.

[Lineker]

Ronnie Moore has returned to Tranmere as manager until the end of the season the club have announced tonight.

[Adam]

Ronnie Moore has returned to Tranmere as manager until the end of the season the club have announced tonight.

So let me get this straight.

Tranmere under Ronnie Moore become a top half side and are beaten to the play-offs on the last day of the season in what was basically a knock-out match with Scunthorpe, who finished in 6th ahead of Tranmere when they beat them and went up in the end. Tranmere then sack Ronnie Moore and appoint John Barnes. John Barnes. After an abysmal first 11 games of the season he is sacked and replaced with Les Parry. In the two and a half years between Moore leaving and now, they've gone backwards to the point of being perennial relegation strugglers. As a result Parry is sacked and replaced with...Ronnie Moore.

Tranmere Rovers

[Adam]

We've won 2-1 away at fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest tonight, Frederic Piquionne with a 30 yard screamer apparently. It is an absolutely HUGE win and cannot be understated. We're off the bottom at the expense of Portsmouth and things may now be looking up.

Off to Upton Park we go on Saturday

[IAceI]

Gutsy win over Rochdale with a late Francois Zoko strike. He took it really well and was the best player on the pitch in the second half. Can't see him being at the club for long to come but while he and Miller are here then Carlisle should really do their best with them. The team with Miller is a completely different beast than without.

[Matt]

8 points from 7 games and we're now 5 points adrift of the playoffs having played at least one more game than every team around us. Meanwhile Grayson's Huddersfield have won both their home game and drawn all their away games. Inspired, truly inspired.

At least Colin has sorted our defence out, even if we've forgotten how to score.

[Adam]

To be fair Grayson masterminded a 3-3 draw despite being 3-0 up in the first half at the weekend. Has Warnock managed that yet?