Very similar to the doom loop discourse currently surrounding English cricket tbh

Seems reasonable. Cynically, is it not also possible that they responded to incentives (rich central contracts for in group, pay for flashy play in IPL) + absence of downside (no relegation, no transfers in intl. sport so hard to be replaced) & thought sod it, it’s easier + more lucrative this way?

All good. Very much here for the Liverpool bench complaining too much injury time had been played. Self awareness never their strong suit

Agreed. Nothing between art house & Age of Ultron. Die Hard (non - star lead, English villain, mid - budget) doesn’t get made now, worse luck

How come he was so cheap? O other bidders at all? Lyon not able to hold out for more?

I’m old to remember when English fans were so widely admired across Europe that they were banned from all European competitions for several years

Once the rockets go up, who cares where they come down, that’s not my department says ⬆️

I don’t how that can work tbh - there’s no way to hold an event, with all the attendant costs & liabilities, for free (unless something else is meant by public)

Have a wander down to Coal Drops Yard this evening & let me know how many people have been displaced. 30 - 35 years would have seen a tiny fraction of the crowds & I guarantee you wouldn’t have wanted to have a drink with many of them

Indeed. I’m old enough to remember the Mona Lisa era & it wasn’t pretty. Other turning point was Italia 90 - fighting was the simply the norm at football before then but the culture changed materially afterwards - there was just less violence around in London as a result

I mean surely that would be an utter disaster?! Happy to be convinced otherwise (Democrat Reagan?)

Similar to the hopeless puff piece she wrote recently on Gary Stevenson. Odd to be so susceptible to grifters