The Football.....

[accountantpete]

Great.. right angle Ray... sideways pass....sideways pass.. back to keeper... hump it forward.. side ways pass..sideways pass... back to keeper...hump it forward.. etc etc

Got dragged to an Everton V QPR game once - keeper clears the ball to half-way and R Wilkins esq takes the ball on outstretched left peg (waist height) and instantaneously transfers to right peg.

Fantastic bit of skill that still lives on in the memory 25 years on.

 

[mark st1]

Great.. right angle Ray... sideways pass....sideways pass.. back to keeper... hump it forward.. side ways pass..sideways pass... back to keeper...hump it forward.. etc etc

You misunderstand me my friend i said good to see him back in football i think he seems like a nice genuine bloke i may be wrong but that's the way he come across in his punditry. I'm not upset that he isn't at my club though

 

[ianrauk]

You misunderstand me my friend i said good to see him back in football i think he seems like a nice genuine bloke i may be wrong but that's the way he come across in his punditry. I'm not upset that he isn't at my club though

Yes I agree. Nice bloke.. but jeez his tactics........

 

[mark st1]

Anyway have just spent the evening in the bath (and its not even still Christmas Day) And listening to Talksport who were discussing the return of standing areas eventually all throughout English Football Grounds. Good idea or not ? Have found this about it but there is quite a lot on Google about it atm.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/28/standing-championship-football-league

Looks like the sort of thing they want to bring in.

 

[ianrauk]

It's a great idea. I hate sitting at football matches and becuase of all seating the grounds have now just become soulless venues because of it.
I have been to many games in Germany, especially Hamburg (57000 for league games). Their standing section is brilliant, well marshaled and laid out.
If the PL was to follow the Bundesleague's example it could be done.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It's a great idea. I hate sitting at football matches and becuase of all seating the grounds have now just become soulless venues because of it.
I have been to many games in Germany, especially Hamburg (57000 for league games). Their standing section is brilliant, well marshaled and laid out.
If the PL was to follow the Bundesleague's example it could be done.

I'm in two minds over this. ''Not broke, don't fix'' it versus ''why not?'' I'm a bit ''Well marshalled, not a problem'' against a slight feeling that the Germans follow rules by the letter more that the Brits do. A generalisation, of course, I know.

 

[mark st1]

It's a great idea. I hate sitting at football matches and becuase of all seating the grounds have now just become soulless venues because of it.
I have been to many games in Germany, especially Hamburg (57000 for league games). Their standing section is brilliant, well marshaled and laid out.
If the PL was to follow the Bundesleague's example it could be done.

Exactly. The phone in was very pro the idea but the general consensus was it goes on all ready especially travelling fans, And stewards turn a blind eye as it would be a case of throw one out throw them all out. That seems like a pretty poor excuse to me though and is typical of if we turn a blind eye it isnt really happening sort of attitude. I can only see it being a positive and being given a choice to sand or sit (which was one of the topics) will also bring in more revenue for the clubs and get more people going through the gates which can only be a plus in the long run imo.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm in two minds over this. ''Not broke, don't fix'' it versus ''why not?'' I'm a bit ''Well marshalled, not a problem'' against a slight feeling that the Germans follow rules by the letter more that the Brits do. A generalisation, of course, I know.

But it is broke.. hence my soulless venues comment.
Seating causes tension between those who want to sit all game and those that want to stand. I have seen fights that break out over seating/standing fans.
Myself, during heightened excitement during a game, I just can't help but stand up and near everyone does the same. Then you start hearing the 'sit down' shouts. These days some people treat going to football like a trip to the theatre. They sit there and expect to be entertained.

Having terracing also means that once again you could go with your mates to a match and stand together rather then a seat here, couple of seats there, one over there etc. If you are standing next to a pillock then you can move. When seated you can be stuck with a pillock for a couple oh hours which is a right pain.

Don't get me wrong about German football being well marshaled. It has to be because German fans are just like English fans, and in fact like fans the world over. They need to be marshaled because if not they there can be cause for trouble.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Tallest man wins then. Shorter men, women and children....

 

[ianrauk]

Tallest man wins then. Shorter men, women and children....

It naturally works out. As it does if you are at a music concert.
You find your place, and if you don't like it you can shuffle about until you do find a view. Football fans used to be very helpful and accommodating to others in standing sections.

At the end of the day, they are not talking about whole grounds returning to standing. Just a section. So you choose to stand then you makes your choice.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

It naturally works out. As it does if you are at a music concert.
You find your place, and if you don't like it you can shuffle about until you do find a view. Football fans used to be very helpful and accommodating to others in standing sections.

At the end of the day, they are not talking about whole grounds returning to standing. Just a section. So you choose to stand then you makes your choice.

Fair enough, but it still won't help the shorties. Shuffling around is limited at most football grounds.

 

[mark st1]

Fair enough, but it still won't help the shorties. Shuffling around is limited at most football grounds.

Agreed its a pain in the rear ive taken my lad and dread the "Dad i need a wee" and there is 25 seats either side of us and your shuffling past people with tea coffee pies etc etc. The system they want to introduce will give alot more free space to move around which is also another plus i think.

 

[ianrauk]

Fair enough, but it still won't help the shorties. Shuffling around is limited at most football grounds.

But not in terracing.
Hamburg terracing is for 10,000 people behind one of the goals.
I found plenty of room to watch matches comfortable and as I said, I am a shortarse.

Remember, when clubs in the England did have terracing, numbers were unregulated. They stuffed in as many people as they could. Modern standing terracing in Europe is regulated with maximum numbers with plenty of room per person.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

No big problem with it, just a care about the smaller people getting a look in. If it's well managed, not a problem.

(Incidentally, it's been a while since I've noticed a non predictionista on this thread. Unwittingly, we seem to have taken over 2 threads!)

 

[RedRider]

It naturally works out. As it does if you are at a music concert.
You find your place, and if you don't like it you can shuffle about until you do find a view. Football fans used to be very helpful and accommodating to others in standing sections.

"Here's my pocket, have a p**s."

I'd love to see standing back. It has the potential to lower prices and get a better mix into grounds and the atmosphere would improve no doubt. How exactly does it work in Germany? I've been in the Westfalenstadien but only for a European game when the temporary seats were in place. Like DM I have qualms. I can still see sections becoming overcrowded, can we trust in proper crowd control from street to stand? Would people become lax overtime?