World Cup over & the real football begins

[Andy S]

Thank goodness our interest in the World Cup has come to an end. So now we can begin the build up to the coming season. Let's hope this hasn't started poor teams trying not to get beaten by playing defensive rubbish known as parker ball. Come on Fulham

[Andrew]

Thank goodness our interest in the World Cup has come to an end. So now we can begin the build up to the coming season. Let's hope this hasn't started poor teams trying not to get beaten by playing defensive rubbish known as parker ball. Come on Fulham

The thing is, Fulham always come first!
Unfortunately I allowed myself to get excited last night when we took the lead and then watched it all go wrong.

I hope our new manager shows much greater tactical awareness and I cannot wait to be back at the Cottage my second home!

[WindyCity]

Agree with the above!  Fulham football always comes first.  Looking forward to new season and what the new coach brings to the club.  I assume there will be a handful of incomings to bolster/upgrade/improve the squad.  COYW!

[hovewhite]

A Centre forward and a strong CM Needed to be here for opening game v Chelscum at Least.

[Plodder]

I completely disagree. The World Cup is something special, once every four years, with most players motivated by the prospect of fame and glory, rather than money for once. The Premier League has become a soulless business. We are not in it to win it, we are in it in order to be in it again the following season. And for all those involved in it professionally to make obscene amounts of money.

After the genuine excitement of a World Cup, there should be a decent gap to enable everyone to take a break and rediscover some zest for watching their club. I want us to do well next season, but I feel no sense of excitement about it right now. I would prefer to spend the rest of July and August watching some County Championship cricket, but that too has been denied to me (which is anther story).

[WindyCity]

I completely disagree. The World Cup is something special, once every four years, with most players motivated by the prospect of fame and glory, rather than money for once. The Premier League has become a soulless business. We are not in it to win it, we are in it in order to be in it again the following season. And for all those involved in it professionally to make obscene amounts of money.

While I agree that it is a special event every four years, there's not much else I can agree with here.  Sure, players are playing for pride (their country) and fame and glory, BUT, there are monies involved.  Having a good WC run produces all kinds of money making opportunities for players, commercials, ads, etc.  And the teams do earn millions as they progress thru the tournament, which is divided among team personnel and players and bankrolls future team participation.

And the Premier League a soulless endeavor?  If that's how one feels, you can say the same thing about any and all professional sport.  Football, basketball, hockey, baseball, whatever.  Yeah, it is a business.  And the obsession over professional athletes making obscene amounts of money gets a bit tedious.  Yes, that's what these athletes are in it for, to make money.  And I'd rather see athletes enrich themselves rather than team owners, but there's plenty for everybody, owners included.  The thing is, these athletes possess a unique talent, and something that only a rare few can do, and they deserve every penny they earn.  Sure, sometimes one scratches his head wondering how and why so much money, but, that's the reality of being a professional athlete and having such unique talent that brings pleasure to the viewing audience as we follow our chosen team.

[bog]

For me for decades Fulham has always come first. Roll on next season. COYW!       

[LittleErn]

Agree with the above!  Fulham football always comes first.  Looking forward to new season and what the new coach brings to the club.  I assume there will be a handful of incomings to bolster/upgrade/improve the squad.  COYW!

Hope springs eternal Windy, but it's also the hope that kills!

[Plodder]

In reply to WindyCity (I don't want to quote the whole post), I do think the question of money deserves more than to be described as "tedious".  To me, it has become central to damaging a lot of the love I used to have for football, cricket and rugby union. I agree football is not the only sport which has gone this way, but to me, the remuneration now is way out of proportion to the pleasure sportsmen give. There was always an unspoken understanding in the 1950s-1980s that footballers were paid three to four times as much as other professions, because of the limited years in which they could earn, but this has become grossly distorted, with Premier League, even some lower league, footballers being paid in a day or week what many workers get paid in a year. This is something which disturbs and disillusions me. I don't want a society like this, and I am discontent that it is so.

Maybe not a discussion for here, but just expanding on my original comment.

[WindyCity]

In reply to WindyCity (I don't want to quote the whole post), I do think the question of money deserves more than to be described as "tedious".  To me, it has become central to damaging a lot of the love I used to have for football, cricket and rugby union. I agree football is not the only sport which has gone this way, but to me, the remuneration now is way out of proportion to the pleasure sportsmen give. There was always an unspoken understanding in the 1950s-1980s that footballers were paid three to four times as much as other professions, because of the limited years in which they could earn, but this has become grossly distorted, with Premier League, even some lower league, footballers being paid in a day or week what many workers get paid in a year. This is something which disturbs and disillusions me. I don't want a society like this, and I am discontent that it is so.  Maybe not a discussion for here, but just expanding on my original comment.

Meaning by tedious it is discussed so much by fans in this forum, so much chinwagging about how much these professional athletes make.  I really don't see how an 'unspoken understanding' or 'gentlemen's agreement' can possibly apply to how athletes were paid in the mid 1900s.  And who established those guidelines?  The general public, media?  You can't possibly expect such guidelines to prevail forever, even with some adjustments?

Now, don't get me wrong, I hear you and understand what you're saying.  There are many sports fans out there that feel the same as you.  Fans that follow any number of various sports teams and leagues have become disenchanted with the state of professional sport and the monies involved for players, coaches, owners, etc., and have given up on following those sports or not renewing their tv subscriptions which broadcast their games of interest.  All that said, I think if you look at viewership stats you'll probably find that fandom and viewership for most major sports are still at high levels, if not all time highs.  Bottom line....people love their sports!  And if these athletes are making 'obscene' amounts of money, so be it.  It's what the market will bear, what team owners are willing to pay their stars.

[Jules]

Fulham always comes first. Was hoping England could have gone all the way but Meh - oh well never mind. Looking forward to the new domestic season now. Let's get behind the new manager and squad. COYW

[WindyCity]

Fulham always comes first. Was hoping England could have gone all the way but Meh - oh well never mind. Looking forward to the new domestic season now. Let's get behind the new manager and squad. COYW

Yep, FFC always comes first in my book too.  Agree, support new coach and any incomings!  COYW!!