***Official*** English Football Season 2018-19

[vcs]

I didn't know that Europa League finals also happened on a Thursday night. What's wrong with holding it the previous weekend to the CL final?

Sucks because I was really looking forward to watching the game but it will be way too late at night now.

 

[Furball]

If you held it the previous weekend then it would potentially clash with domestic cup finals.

The Europa League final is on a Wednesday unless that's changed. Was definitely a Wednesday when I went to Manchester to watch Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final.

 

[Furball]

I’m not especially sympathetic to the general idea that finals should only ever be held at venues that are convenient for rich Western European fans. But the fact that Armenian players and fans can’t travel because racism is a ****ing disgrace and they should be stripping Baku of the final even now.

Moscow and Kiev are inconvenient because of the distance and need for a Visa but they're still accessible.

Getting to Baku is near impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

 

[sledger]

I didn't know that Europa League finals also happened on a Thursday night. What's wrong with holding it the previous weekend to the CL final?

Sucks because I was really looking forward to watching the game but it will be way too late at night now.

The CL final always used to be held midweek as well until about 8-9 years ago.

 

[Uppercut]

Moscow and Kiev are inconvenient because of the distance and need for a Visa but they're still accessible.

Getting to Baku is near impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

Imagine living in Baku, which is as much a part of UEFA as Paris or Madrid- if you did this would be the ~first European final ever that isn't impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

 

[Furball]

Imagine living in Baku, which is as much a part of UEFA as Paris or Madrid- if you did this would be the ~first European final ever that isn't impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

Not relevant until Azerbaijani sides start reaching UEFA finals.

 

[sledger]

Not relevant until Azerbaijani sides start reaching UEFA finals.

Well it is, in the sense that people in that part of the world might be interested in going to watch even in the absence of a local team reaching the final.

 

[Uppercut]

Yeah the idea that finals should only ever be held in countries that might have a team there is just bollocks and not worth bothering to argue with.

Anyway, the anti-Armenian racism should disqualify Baku regardless.

 

[Furball]

Yeah the idea that finals should only ever be held in countries that might have a team there is just bollocks and not worth bothering to argue with.

Anyway, the anti-Armenian racism should disqualify Baku regardless.

That's not my argument.

The issues you've raised and the fact that this is yet another example of the Azerbaijani government using sport to whitewash its image are reason enough for me.

On top of that, Baku is particularly inconvenient for fans of the clubs that might make the final.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Come on Pompey.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I take it all back about Brighton sacking Chris Houghton. I didn’t realise they were going to be headhunting ....... drum roll ...... Graham Potter to replace him.

 

[andruid]

...

 

[cpr]

Imagine living in Baku, which is as much a part of UEFA as Paris or Madrid- if you did this would be the ~first European final ever that isn't impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

At least Paris and Madrid aren't saying less than 20% of the stadium is for fans of the teams in the final because their international airport can't cope with the number of passengers needed to host a major final (remind me why that's not part of the UEFA stadium rating decision?) - an argument that ignores the fact they managed to ship the entire F1 circus in a few weeks ago.

 

[Uppercut]

At least Paris and Madrid aren't saying less than 20% of the stadium is for fans of the teams in the final because their international airport can't cope with the number of passengers needed to host a major final (remind me why that's not part of the UEFA stadium rating decision?) - an argument that ignores the fact they managed to ship the entire F1 circus in a few weeks ago.

Ideally Baku wouldn't be the hill I'd be making this argument from.

I agree with you that a Paris or Madrid final is more practical for all kinds of reasons, but that will be the case next year, and the year after that. And so logically leads to the situation where the final is only ever held in the richest, Westernmost countries in Europe, and I don't think that's acceptable. If holding one final per century in Azerbaijan means the atmosphere isn't the best that year and it's expensive for some Londoners to go, then I'm OK with that.

 

[cpr]

Agree with that, and I never felt holding the CL final in Moscow in 08 was 'wrong', despite the logistics.

Admittedly what I've done here is hijacked the argument by accident. I'm more against what Baku has become rather than the location (which for F1 I love) - namely a ****show corporate final that is either truthfully of falsely claiming its down to logistics/transport volume, when that should be a huge factor in setting a final. Really I think Uefa and Azerbaijan are throwing feeble lies at fans to justify absolutely lining their own pockets by keeping all the tickets.

Still though, I think the transport excuse should be a huge embarrassment to UEFA, but part of me thinks they care very little about it

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Come on Pompey.

Ooh no. Good riddance to the fake dockyarders.

As far as European Final venues are concerned, one day the Champions League Final will be held in America and broadcast at 2am European time.

 

[Cabinet96]

Allegri's left Juve. Think UC would argue United, Chelsea and Arsenal should all be sounding him out right now, and I'd agree.

 

[Spikey]

he must really dislike the new kit

 

[Uppercut]

Allegri's left Juve. Think UC would argue United, Chelsea and Arsenal should all be sounding him out right now, and I'd agree.

I don't know if it's the time for him at United- he doesn't have a great record of improving players. Dybala's regression under him is particularly concerning since our medium-term future depends on Rashford and Martial stepping up a level.

Arsenal should take him for sure though. The money situation there seems to be too tight for a major rebuild this summer, and Allegri would be great for squeezing the best out of the ageing (but still very good) attackers while tightening up the defence.

 

[Howe_zat]

Imagine living in Baku, which is as much a part of UEFA as Paris or Madrid- if you did this would be the ~first European final ever that isn't impossible logistically without multiple flights and spending stupid sums of money.

If you lived in Baku you probably wouldn't be keen on the 11:00pm start time. I don't think they had Azeri football fans in mind when they booked it