The Premier League

[jimmy]

I have grown to hate the Premier League over the last 5 years and it's not because we are know longer there or stand any chance of getting back in the near future.

The premier was designed for and become an arm chair supporters league and prawn sandwich brigade.Other than Man Ure, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle most of the clubs attendances are dropping at an alarming rate.Take Blackburn, their crowds were 29/30,000 for the first few years now they struggle to get near 20,000.Then there's Chelsea who can't even sell out their ground week in week out, not surprising with their ridiculous pricing policy.

The atmosphere in the grounds has become non existent over the last 5/10 years take Man Ure, their main stand is unbelievable, i was there to witness Man Ure scoring a goal and the whole of the main stand remained seated and applauded the goal: :eek:

Even the atmosphere at Newcastle has gone, St James park used to be renound for its volatile atmosphere and the whole of the ground broke into song. It was deafening at times and was a site to behold when the Gallogate end were singing and swaying in unison.

Its got to the point now where i hardly watch any of the Premier League games and have know interest in it. I now prefer to watch the Blue Square games on Setanta its genuine blood and guts football and not over paid premadonnas falling over every time someone comes within an inch of them.

On Sunday i was listening to Robbie Savage on goals on Sunday who is now on loan at Brighton and he said he is loving it in League 1. Robbie said its totally different from the premier league and the banter on the pitch is great, he said i get some stick about my legs been gone and called an old man.

Robbie went on to say its grass roots football and its the best, we even have to take our kits home and wash them, although he said he gives his apprentice a couple of hundred quid to wash his:eek: He went onto say players in the top flight don't know they are born.

Some people might say they don't like going to shitholes like Accrington or Macclesfield, but i love going to these places where you meet genuine fans, who follow their clubs with more pride and passion than you're average Premier League supporter.The lower leagues and its supporters are genuine and not engineered like the Premier League in my opinion.
































They can stick the Premier League up their arsetup:

[Jantje]

Good post jimmy, i've been disillusioned by the inbalance in football caused by the cash-grabbing premier league for a while.

I still watch highlights but don't think i'm missing anything special.

[sweetcakes]

Listen lads given half a chance Robbie savage would be straight back to the Premier league despite everything he says about lower league football.
Honestly regardless of atmosphere i would rather watch Premier league football above anything else tup:tup:

[tony d]

I agree with the drop in crowds but that has more to do with teams getting shitter rather than anything else..

Chelsea are a victim of RA's wallet..

As for the standard of football i reckon this season is probably the best for along time.. With more money coming into the Prem it will only thrive more..

Next season if not this will see a few teams banging on the door of the top four if not bypassing them altogether..

I see no problem with the rich getting richer that is how things have always gone and what happens in a capitalist world..

Would you be writing the above rant if Bradford were one of the top four???

Would you **** Jimmy.. You would be ripping into those having a pop at us..

So sort of makes your point pretty pointless mate...

As for Robbie of course the league he is in now is the best.. Cos he knows he has found his level..

IMHO of course ;):rolleyes::D

[jimmy]

As a child at school i dreaded Monday mornings after my team Bradford City had lost once again in the old 4th division.I new i was going to be subjected to ridicule from the L33ds,Liverpool,Man ure and Arsenal fans who enjoyed stating how massive and far superior they were over my beloved club.

As i grew up, i grew to understand why people start to follow these clubs whilst at school as a child and it goes like this.My friends and foe's were cowards and affraid to be seen following a lesser team,as this could leave them open to riddicule and bullying,they had to be seen to be following a successful club as it was the in thing to do,as it is today.

These people have no Identity's of their own and are fearful of being different and have NO right to call themselves football supporters in any shape or form.Although a few of my friends and foe's went onto actually go to games many still walk round in the said clubs shirts to this day having never watched a live game.

I have asked this question to many L33ds,Liverpool,Man Ure and Arsenal so called supporters.
Q"Who do you follow at International level?"

A"England"

Q "Why do you follow England?"

A "Because i was born in England and proud to be English"

Q "Why dont you follow Brazil,Germany or Agentina (successful international teams)?"

A "Because i was born in England,im English and couldn't bring myself to follow a country i wasnt born in"

Now comes the sting in the tail for these Hypocrites

Q "whos your team at club level?" (It could be any of the teams above but i will use a l33ds fan)

A "L33ds"

Q "And where exactly were you born" (He knows by now that im just going to show him in his true light as a fool now

A"Doncaster"

Q "hang on a minute how can you follow l33ds when you live in Donny?"

There are many answers to this question and heres a few "My dad supported them" usually a lie,"They were the best team around when i was younger",
"So were Brazil,but you didnt follow them!"
"Well my dad was born in l33ds" usually a lie,to get them out of the hole they've dug for themselves.

I once had the displeasure of going to a l33ds United match when i was 18,with my boss and i absolutely pissed my self laughing at these fckiung idiots who had flags with Boston Whites,Rochdale Whites,Bolton Whites and Wigan Whites.You may ask why i found it so funny? Well these Lancastrian and Lincolnshire idiots were singing "YORKSHIRE,YORKSHIRE,YORKSHIRE" PMSL.Now if that doesn't tell you that these fools dont have an identity i dont know what does.

Imagine a born and bred Yorkshire man going to support Lancashire at cricket............Or even funnier a born and bred Scotsman coming down to support England and singing "ENGERLAND,ENGERLAND,ENGLERLAND" during a game against Scotland.

People like these would have been shot for treason a few hundred years ago and they have know right to be called a fan of Arsenal if they are from Bradford.How can they identify with Woolich or even being part of the community down there? The only reason they have chosen these clubs is simple,its for the GLORY.

Lets look at l33ds and assess how they have lost 20000 fans in two years.Some apportion can be put down to them being in a lower league and born and bred glory hunters deserting the club.The vast majority however will be glory hunters from towns and citys up and down the land,who now l33ds are not in the Premier League,will distance themselves and not pay out the money to watch lower league football.

These no identity fans will come flooding back if l33ds get promoted back to the Premier League, as if they had never been away and be the loudest,brashest hypocritical twats around.

The last time l33ds stayed down a few years their crowds averaged 15000 and on several occasions they were below 12000 and the lowest was 9000.
A true football supporter of a club is one who follows the town or citys club,he or she was born in.

I dont have a problem with Fans of these clubs who were born and bred there,but i do have a problem with fans born in Bradford,Donny,Halifax,Scunthorpe,Hull,Grimsby,Yor k,Lincoln,Sheffield,
Chesterfield or any other Town or City who have a football team following L33ds,Man Ure,Arsenal and Liverpool.

How can any fan of these clubs not born in that Town or City feel the civic pride and joy of winning promotion and what it means?

Fcuking rant over.

[Kop Kred]

I have grown to hate the Premier League over the last 5 years and it's not because we are know longer there or stand any chance of getting back in the near future.

The premier was designed for and become an arm chair supporters league and prawn sandwich brigade.Other than Man Ure, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle most of the clubs attendances are dropping at an alarming rate.Take Blackburn, their crowds were 29/30,000 for the first few years now they struggle to get near 20,000.Then there's Chelsea who can't even sell out their ground week in week out, not surprising with their ridiculous pricing policy.

The atmosphere in the grounds has become non existent over the last 5/10 years take Man Ure, their main stand is unbelievable, i was there to witness Man Ure scoring a goal and the whole of the main stand remained seated and applauded the goal: :eek:

Even the atmosphere at Newcastle has gone, St James park used to be renound for its volatile atmosphere and the whole of the ground broke into song. It was deafening at times and was a site to behold when the Gallogate end were singing and swaying in unison.

Its got to the point now where i hardly watch any of the Premier League games and have know interest in it. I now prefer to watch the Blue Square games on Setanta its genuine blood and guts football and not over paid premadonnas falling over every time someone comes within an inch of them.

On Sunday i was listening to Robbie Savage on goals on Sunday who is now on loan at Brighton and he said he is loving it in League 1. Robbie said its totally different from the premier league and the banter on the pitch is great, he said i get some stick about my legs been gone and called an old man.

Robbie went on to say its grass roots football and its the best, we even have to take our kits home and wash them, although he said he gives his apprentice a couple of hundred quid to wash his:eek: He went onto say players in the top flight don't know they are born.

Some people might say they don't like going to shitholes like Accrington or Macclesfield, but i love going to these places where you meet genuine fans, who follow their clubs with more pride and passion than you're average Premier League supporter.The lower leagues and its supporters are genuine and not engineered like the Premier League in my opinion.
































They can stick the Premier League up their arsetup:

While I share the majority of the sentimenttup:.. even at our shitiest in the prem we were never as **** as we are **** now and I loved it...

I hope I see us up there again before I shuffle off... but I doubt it:(

[sweetcakes]

So what happens if a mega Arab with billions to burn came into this club would you still be happy at staying in this league ?

Would you bollocks

[sweetcakes]

As a child at school i dreaded Monday mornings after my team Bradford City had lost once again in the old 4th division.I new i was going to be subjected to ridicule from the L33ds,Liverpool,Man ure and Arsenal fans who enjoyed stating how massive and far superior they were over my beloved club.

As i grew up, i grew to understand why people start to follow these clubs whilst at school as a child and it goes like this.My friends and foe's were cowards and affraid to be seen following a lesser team,as this could leave them open to riddicule and bullying,they had to be seen to be following a successful club as it was the in thing to do,as it is today.

These people have no Identity's of their own and are fearful of being different and have NO right to call themselves football supporters in any shape or form.Although a few of my friends and foe's went onto actually go to games many still walk round in the said clubs shirts to this day having never watched a live game.

I have asked this question to many L33ds,Liverpool,Man Ure and Arsenal so called supporters.
Q"Who do you follow at International level?"

A"England"

Q "Why do you follow England?"

A "Because i was born in England and proud to be English"

Q "Why dont you follow Brazil,Germany or Agentina (successful international teams)?"

A "Because i was born in England,im English and couldn't bring myself to follow a country i wasnt born in"

Now comes the sting in the tail for these Hypocrites

Q "whos your team at club level?" (It could be any of the teams above but i will use a l33ds fan)

A "L33ds"

Q "And where exactly were you born" (He knows by now that im just going to show him in his true light as a fool now

A"Doncaster"

Q "hang on a minute how can you follow l33ds when you live in Donny?"

There are many answers to this question and heres a few "My dad supported them" usually a lie,"They were the best team around when i was younger",
"So were Brazil,but you didnt follow them!"
"Well my dad was born in l33ds" usually a lie,to get them out of the hole they've dug for themselves.

I once had the displeasure of going to a l33ds United match when i was 18,with my boss and i absolutely pissed my self laughing at these fckiung idiots who had flags with Boston Whites,Rochdale Whites,Bolton Whites and Wigan Whites.You may ask why i found it so funny? Well these Lancastrian and Lincolnshire idiots were singing "YORKSHIRE,YORKSHIRE,YORKSHIRE" PMSL.Now if that doesn't tell you that these fools dont have an identity i dont know what does.

Imagine a born and bred Yorkshire man going to support Lancashire at cricket............Or even funnier a born and bred Scotsman coming down to support England and singing "ENGERLAND,ENGERLAND,ENGLERLAND" during a game against Scotland.

People like these would have been shot for treason a few hundred years ago and they have know right to be called a fan of Arsenal if they are from Bradford.How can they identify with Woolich or even being part of the community down there? The only reason they have chosen these clubs is simple,its for the GLORY.

Lets look at l33ds and assess how they have lost 20000 fans in two years.Some apportion can be put down to them being in a lower league and born and bred glory hunters deserting the club.The vast majority however will be glory hunters from towns and citys up and down the land,who now l33ds are not in the Premier League,will distance themselves and not pay out the money to watch lower league football.

These no identity fans will come flooding back if l33ds get promoted back to the Premier League, as if they had never been away and be the loudest,brashest hypocritical twats around.

The last time l33ds stayed down a few years their crowds averaged 15000 and on several occasions they were below 12000 and the lowest was 9000.
A true football supporter of a club is one who follows the town or citys club,he or she was born in.

I dont have a problem with Fans of these clubs who were born and bred there,but i do have a problem with fans born in Bradford,Donny,Halifax,Scunthorpe,Hull,Grimsby,Yor k,Lincoln,Sheffield,
Chesterfield or any other Town or City who have a football team following L33ds,Man Ure,Arsenal and Liverpool.

How can any fan of these clubs not born in that Town or City feel the civic pride and joy of winning promotion and what it means?

Fcuking rant over.

You do know a few City fans will fall into that catergory

[tony d]

Jimmy haven't you posted that at least 3 or 4 times behind.. Doesn't fit in with your point to be fair... Maybe if we started a please post things you have posted before thread it would be ok..

You are moaning only as i said before cos we all support a club that isnt in the Prem..

Pretty hypocritical if not very naive Jimbo..

[jimmy]

I agree with the drop in crowds but that has more to do with teams getting shitter rather than anything else..

Chelsea are a victim of RA's wallet..

As for the standard of football i reckon this season is probably the best for along time.. With more money coming into the Prem it will only thrive more..

Next season if not this will see a few teams banging on the door of the top four if not bypassing them altogether..

I see no problem with the rich getting richer that is how things have always gone and what happens in a capitalist world..

Would you be writing the above rant if Bradford were one of the top four???

Would you **** Jimmy.. You would be ripping into those having a pop at us..

So sort of makes your point pretty pointless mate...

As for Robbie of course the league he is in now is the best.. Cos he knows he has found his level..

IMHO of course ;):rolleyes::D

I was proud to see my team in the Premier League and never thought i would see the day, but having seen it and enjoyed it i am of the opinion its not for the genuine fans.

If City were top four i wouldnt be gloating, well only to L33ds and the TBstup:

Robbie was not saying it was the best league, he was saying he was enjoying playing in that league and it was real football, not money made.

As for the rich getting richer, that might be the case, but at what cost to the smaller clubs in the Premier League? There are rumours abound that some clubs are on the verge of going bust in the top flight.


I knew you would have a totally opposite view from me, should have waited until you were not online to post it:D

[Parrot]

I have grown to hate the Premier League over the last 5 years and it's not because we are know longer there or stand any chance of getting back in the near future.

The premier was designed for and become an arm chair supporters league and prawn sandwich brigade.Other than Man Ure, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle most of the clubs attendances are dropping at an alarming rate.Take Blackburn, their crowds were 29/30,000 for the first few years now they struggle to get near 20,000.Then there's Chelsea who can't even sell out their ground week in week out, not surprising with their ridiculous pricing policy.

The atmosphere in the grounds has become non existent over the last 5/10 years take Man Ure, their main stand is unbelievable, i was there to witness Man Ure scoring a goal and the whole of the main stand remained seated and applauded the goal: :eek:

Even the atmosphere at Newcastle has gone, St James park used to be renound for its volatile atmosphere and the whole of the ground broke into song. It was deafening at times and was a site to behold when the Gallogate end were singing and swaying in unison.

Its got to the point now where i hardly watch any of the Premier League games and have know interest in it. I now prefer to watch the Blue Square games on Setanta its genuine blood and guts football and not over paid premadonnas falling over every time someone comes within an inch of them.

On Sunday i was listening to Robbie Savage on goals on Sunday who is now on loan at Brighton and he said he is loving it in League 1. Robbie said its totally different from the premier league and the banter on the pitch is great, he said i get some stick about my legs been gone and called an old man.

Robbie went on to say its grass roots football and its the best, we even have to take our kits home and wash them, although he said he gives his apprentice a couple of hundred quid to wash his:eek: He went onto say players in the top flight don't know they are born.

Some people might say they don't like going to shitholes like Accrington or Macclesfield, but i love going to these places where you meet genuine fans, who follow their clubs with more pride and passion than you're average Premier League supporter.The lower leagues and its supporters are genuine and not engineered like the Premier League in my opinion.
































They can stick the Premier League up their arsetup:

Good post mate and exactly how I feel about the Premier league, not surprising seeing as your my alto ego! roflmao:

I suppose this will seperate the "traditionalists" and the "new age romantics" on the site :D but i can honestly say i wouldn't change my place as a Bradford fan in the last 7 or so years with say a fan of a stagnating Prem club like Fulham?

Despite the Turd years i've enjoyed visiting many away grounds and supporters who are the real soul of football IMO and not those who jumped on the Euro96/Premiership bandwagon ;)

I'd still like to see City reach the Prem again in my lifetime of course but unless we had a huge cash injection we wouldn't last there long and the club would end up probably pricing most of the supporters out of the ground to pay over paid foreign mercenaries **** loads of cash!

Im happy slumming it in the lower leagues TBH tup:

[jimmy]

Jimmy haven't you posted that at least 3 or 4 times behind.. Doesn't fit in with your point to be fair... Maybe if we started a please post things you have posted before thread it would be ok..

You are moaning only as i said before cos we all support a club that isnt in the Prem..

Pretty hypocritical if not very naive Jimbo..

I brought the glory hunters post back from the archive as it was relevant to the argument in my opiniontup:

Moaning.............. I am not moaning i am pointing out why i have taken a dislike to the Premier League and i would rather watch my team each season knowing we had a chance of winning promotion.

Look at any team outside the top six and what have their fans got to look forward to?

Nothing at all, they know full well its going to be another **** season trying to keep their heads above water and the drop zone with know chance of any success, even before a ball has been kicked.

So you see, you're posts and arguments are pointless, as they have know meaning to my argumenttup:

[jimmy]

So what happens if a mega Arab with billions to burn came into this club would you still be happy at staying in this league ?

Would you bollocks

I never said i would be happy with us staying in this league, i said i prefer it to the premier league, but if a sugar daddy came in and bought us success i could go along with that.

You seem to be missing the point though, I hate the PL and all it has become, its killing football and its fans.

[Blue Monday]

Thats a fair old rant Jimmy and if you had posted this last year about premiership atmosphere i would have agreed

I went to watch boro vs Liverpool and Blackburn vs Pompey and the atmoshhere was shocking, apart from the portsmouth fan who made a right din for 90 minutes

Last week I went to the Eastlands to watch man city vs liverpool and it was a fantastic experience and day out

The stadium, fans and atmosphere was electric....Though this was fuelled by a brilliant game of football

I can understand your point and maybe the man city buzz may be due to the investment and expectation of the fans

But i do envy the few on here how go on the lash to away games, takes me back to my youth and would love to get the chance to do it all again and follow the bantams away (beer:)

[Lofty]

How can any fan of these clubs not born in that Town or City feel the civic pride and joy of winning promotion and what it means?

I'm Huddersfield born and bred. My Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa etc are all Bradford born and bred. My Dad moved to Huddersfield when he married my Mum, Huddersfield lass.

My Dad and Grandpa were both at the game in May 1985, my Dad ran on to the pitch, my Grandpa ran to the back of the stand thinking the gates would be open - they weren't. He was hospitalised and died of a stroke a few months after that game.

My Dad "brung me up proper" taking me to City as soon as I had an interest in football. I like to think that my Grandpa thanks him for that.

Needless to say I feel much much more a part of Bradford City than I ever could've done with Huddersfield Town had I ever followed them...

[tony d]

The prem set up now is not killing football is it?

It is managers and chairmen spending more than they can afford.. This happens in every single league Jimmy and is why clubs go bust in the lower leagues..

How many Prem teams HAVE gone bust? Gone into admin???

How many sides in our League have gone to the wire over the last couple of years for over spending??? Yet you say this is the better league to be in???

Doesnt make sense Jimmy..

I am not just taking the opposite view i just do not agree with your POV..

The Prem League is the best league it is proving this by the plyers it attracts and also the money men flooding in to snap up clubs and turn them into the next big thing..

The standard of football this season is better than ever and new clubs are pushing into the top half..

The future of football can only be ruined if the "credit crunch" hits these money men.. Or the banks start asking for their cash back..

I will watch City in any League and like most have watched em at the top and bottom of all of em..(Less top of Prem lol)

Where your im a City fan cos im form City or Leeds have lost fans since they dropped comes into what makes the Prem a **** League i do not know Jimbo...
#

[jimmy]

I'm Huddersfield born and bred. My Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa etc are all Bradford born and bred. My Dad moved to Huddersfield when he married my Mum, Huddersfield lass.

My Dad and Grandpa were both at the game in May 1985, my Dad ran on to the pitch, my Grandpa ran to the back of the stand thinking the gates would be open - they weren't. He was hospitalised and died of a stroke a few months after that game.

My Dad "brung me up proper" taking me to City as soon as I had an interest in football. I like to think that my Grandpa thanks him for that.

Needless to say I feel much much more a part of Bradford City than I ever could've done with Huddersfield Town had I ever followed them...

There is nothing wrong with that mate, you are following in you're fathers footsteps and you might have been conceived in Bratfud:D

Its fans who have know connection at all with the teams they follow that i can't do with.

[Lofty]

There is nothing wrong with that mate, you are following in you're fathers footsteps and you might have been conceived in Bratfud:D

Its fans who have know connection at all with the teams they follow that i can't do with.

Now that's something I don't wanna know....:eek: :D

[tony d]

Right off out for dinner make it interesting Jimmy.. :rolleyes:

[jimmy]

The prem set up now is not killing football is it?

It is managers and chairmen spending more than they can afford.. This happens in every single league Jimmy and is why clubs go bust in the lower leagues..

How many Prem teams HAVE gone bust? Gone into admin???

How many sides in our League have gone to the wire over the last couple of years for over spending??? Yet you say this is the better league to be in???

Doesnt make sense Jimmy..

I am not just taking the opposite view i just do not agree with your POV..

The Prem League is the best league it is proving this by the plyers it attracts and also the money men flooding in to snap up clubs and turn them into the next big thing..

The standard of football this season is better than ever and new clubs are pushing into the top half..

The future of football can only be ruined if the "credit crunch" hits these money men.. Or the banks start asking for their cash back..

I will watch City in any League and like most have watched em at the top and bottom of all of em..(Less top of Prem lol)

Where your im a City fan cos im form City or Leeds have lost fans since they dropped comes into what makes the Prem a **** League i do not know Jimbo...
#

Does you're mind work in mysterious ways, because you are reading things into my posts that are not there and making points i have no argument with.

You're last point.................. Its about glory supporters and the prawn sandwich brigade which is what the PL is all about now. The genuine working class man cannot afford to go see his team play on a saturday afternoon anymore, yet some toff who lives 100 miles away has taken his place.

Football has always been a working class spectator sport, yet the PL dont want them, yet we made this game what it is today and they are sucking the life blood out of the game and shunning the genuine supporters.

[Jantje]

I wish City were top of the tree and winning every week in the prem but i hate all the overhyping and moneygrabbing that goes with it and the arrogance it breeds in people.

I walk up midland road to VP and usually end up talking to away fans and swapping banter. When we were in the prem very few fans acted the same and had an arrogant attitude that we shouldn't be there.This was borne out of knobheads like Marsh & his Sky cronies belittling our chances before a ball was kicked.

It doesn't need to be like this and when you get ignorant twats like Ashley Cole turning his back on a referee and demanding the ref goes to him, i don't want that sort of football.

Basically, the product is good so there is no need for the massive over-hyping in media and press.

Pick up a paper and you wouldn't know football existed in any depth outside the prem. This is despite a far larger number of fans following the league and indeed non-league.

This is all before i get onto the pricing out of normal fans. This greed and chase for cash will reap what it sows as they are losing a whole generation of people who can't afford to go to a game and therefore won't miss it in the future.

[sweetcakes]

Does you're mind work in mysterious ways, because you are reading things into my posts that are not there and making points i have no argument with.

You're last point.................. Its about glory supporters and the prawn sandwich brigade which is what the PL is all about now. The genuine working class man cannot afford to go see his team play on a saturday afternoon anymore, yet some toff who lives 100 miles away has taken his place.

Football has always been a working class spectator sport, yet the PL dont want them, yet we made this game what it is today and they are sucking the life blood out of the game and shunning the genuine supporters.

Agree with most of that but you will find it's the clubs who have taken it away from the fans not the PL

[beerbantam]

Robbie went on to say its grass roots football and its the best, we even have to take our kits home and wash them, although he said he gives his apprentice a couple of hundred quid to wash his:eek: He went onto say players in the top flight don't know they are born.
Some people might say they don't like going to shitholes like Accrington or Macclesfield, but i love going to these places where you meet genuine fans, who follow their clubs with more pride and passion than you're average Premier League supporter.




Im sure Accrington & Macclesfield were happy with Robbie calling them 'shitholes' on goals on sunday.

[S10 Bantam]

I was born in Leeds, my mum was a Park Avenue supporter and my Dad is from Wakefield and I now live in Sheffield. Does that mean I shouldnt support City?

Or am I a glory, no, crapness hunter!? :D

[Northern]

Some interesting points here!

Thinking back to our Premiership days I remember the atmosphere being superb, and it does seem that the atmosphere at Premiership games is nowhere near that good nowadays! I've only scanned through the previous posts so apologies if this has already been said but I feel that Premiership clubs are pricing out the average punter! For example it cost almost £1,000 for a season ticket at Arsenal this year, a price which your average Joe simply cannot afford! Attendences have fallen and so has the atmosphere! That leaves you with the 'prawn sandwich brigade' who aren't the sort that will chant, sing and create the atmosphere that we're used to!

The influx of foreigners and lack of Englishmen in the ENGLISH Premierleague is another reason, you ask any genuine Premiership fan who their favourite player is and they'll most likely say an Englishman!

I have to admit, I enjoy wathcing the Premiership on tele but I don't think I'd enjoy watching it in the stadiums as much! Money has ruined the Premiership imo and I don't wish we were back there! I'd settle for Championship football week in week out! tup:

[sweetcakes]

Some interesting points here!

Thinking back to our Premiership days I remember the atmosphere being superb, and it does seem that the atmosphere at Premiership games is nowhere near that good nowadays! I've only scanned through the previous posts so apologies if this has already been said but I feel that Premiership clubs are pricing out the average punter! For example it cost almost £1,000 for a season ticket at Arsenal this year, a price which your average Joe simply cannot afford! Attendences have fallen and so has the atmosphere! That leaves you with the 'prawn sandwich brigade' who aren't the sort that will chant, sing and create the atmosphere that we're used to!

The influx of foreigners and lack of Englishmen in the ENGLISH Premierleague is another reason, you ask any genuine Premiership fan who their favourite player is and they'll most likely say an Englishman!

I have to admit, I enjoy wathcing the Premiership on tele but I don't think I'd enjoy watching it in the stadiums as much! Money has ruined the Premiership imo and I don't wish we were back there! I'd settle for Championship football week in week out! tup:

Where have the attendances fallen ?

and i bet it's by very little

[beerbantam]

Some interesting points here!

Thinking back to our Premiership days I remember the atmosphere being superb, and it does seem that the atmosphere at Premiership games is nowhere near that good nowadays! I've only scanned through the previous posts so apologies if this has already been said but I feel that Premiership clubs are pricing out the average punter! For example it cost almost £1,000 for a season ticket at Arsenal this year, a price which your average Joe simply cannot afford! Attendences have fallen and so has the atmosphere! That leaves you with the 'prawn sandwich brigade' who aren't the sort that will chant, sing and create the atmosphere that we're used to!

The influx of foreigners and lack of Englishmen in the ENGLISH Premierleague is another reason, you ask any genuine Premiership fan who their favourite player is and they'll most likely say an Englishman!

I have to admit, I enjoy wathcing the Premiership on tele but I don't think I'd enjoy watching it in the stadiums as much! Money has ruined the Premiership imo and I don't wish we were back there! I'd settle for Championship football week in week out! tup:

I dont agree, there's always going to be higher prices where there's high demand for anything - the top 4 have a top quality product and their fans are happy to pay for it.

Other Premiership games arnt high priced in comparison to the FL....

This weekend see's..(from) Adult ticket prices for tickets on the right....

Arsenal v Everton - sold out
Aston Villa v Portsmouth - £10 a ticket
Bolton v Blackburn - £15 a ticket
Fulham v Sunderland - £35 a ticket
Liverpool v Wigan Athletic - Sold out
Man Utd v West Brom - I think sold out - they were from £26
Middlesbrough v Chelsea - £25 a ticket
Hull City v West Ham - Sold out
Stoke City v Tottenham - £25 a ticket


Considering that any away fan visiting VP this year in L2 pays £20 a ticket, how anyone can argue that the Premiership is overpriced is an idiot.

The number of games that sell out is proof alone that they have a great product. Games like Villa-pompey & Bolton-Blackburn at less than £15 is great value.

[Northern]

I agree about the top 4, their games do often sell out, but my point is that the average fan can't afford £1000 for a season ticket, they have to pick and choose the games they go to and therefor the type of fan going to these sorts of games has changed! Teams like Blackburn, Boton and Wigan don't get anywhere near full capacity, so how come if these teams are offereing such good value they aren't selling out week in week out?

[Skeptic]

I have grown to hate the Premier League over the last 5 years and it's not because we are know longer there or stand any chance of getting back in the near future.

The premier was designed for and become an arm chair supporters league and prawn sandwich brigade.Other than Man Ure, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle most of the clubs attendances are dropping at an alarming rate.Take Blackburn, their crowds were 29/30,000 for the first few years now they struggle to get near 20,000.Then there's Chelsea who can't even sell out their ground week in week out, not surprising with their ridiculous pricing policy.

The atmosphere in the grounds has become non existent over the last 5/10 years take Man Ure, their main stand is unbelievable, i was there to witness Man Ure scoring a goal and the whole of the main stand remained seated and applauded the goal: :eek:

Even the atmosphere at Newcastle has gone, St James park used to be renound for its volatile atmosphere and the whole of the ground broke into song. It was deafening at times and was a site to behold when the Gallogate end were singing and swaying in unison.

Its got to the point now where i hardly watch any of the Premier League games and have know interest in it. I now prefer to watch the Blue Square games on Setanta its genuine blood and guts football and not over paid premadonnas falling over every time someone comes within an inch of them.

On Sunday i was listening to Robbie Savage on goals on Sunday who is now on loan at Brighton and he said he is loving it in League 1. Robbie said its totally different from the premier league and the banter on the pitch is great, he said i get some stick about my legs been gone and called an old man.

Robbie went on to say its grass roots football and its the best, we even have to take our kits home and wash them, although he said he gives his apprentice a couple of hundred quid to wash his:eek: He went onto say players in the top flight don't know they are born.

Some people might say they don't like going to shitholes like Accrington or Macclesfield, but i love going to these places where you meet genuine fans, who follow their clubs with more pride and passion than you're average Premier League supporter.The lower leagues and its supporters are genuine and not engineered like the Premier League in my opinion.


They can stick the Premier League up their arsetup:


I could rant about glory supporters all day and night, its perhaps my biggest pet hate. I go to university in Manchester, its amazing how many people from all over the country quickly declare their undying love for Manure, people from Ireland, London, Wales etc all professing to be lifelong Manure fans and cheering them on in the pub. We even had one lad claiming to be a L666s AND Manure fan, when i pointed out that both clubs are rivals he denied it and claimed that Sheffield are L666s main rivals. Needless to say i never spoke to him again :D

I swear i'd celebrate like i'd won the lottery if Manure got into major financial trouble and fell down the table.

The F.A don't want working class/lower middle class people to watch top flight football, they want corporate goofballs and upper middle class families to sit passively in their seats and watch the game like its a performance at the theatre

[beerbantam]

The F.A don't want working class/lower middle class people to watch top flight football, they want corporate goofballs and upper middle class families to sit passively in their seats and watch the game like its a performance at the theatre

Of course they do, why's that then??:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[tony d]

Agggghhh BB there you go throwing in things such as facts..

How dare you.. When you can idily sit at your comp just writing whatever comes into your head..

So early iin the season and the crowds are near identical with quite a few up already.. Crowds are on the increase.. The fact the working man cannot afford to go is irrelevant..Im sure the punters through the gates are the working man mate.. Just not the loafing dole dodgers who you throw the term working man at..

I have a mortgage, own my own car, have two kids, one of which is in full time nursary paid out of my own pocket along with another kid attached to a CSA bill, both my boys and i get footy kits yearly both City and England, i have a golf membership at a very nice course down south, take at least one holiday a year and have a wife who earns via a part time job..Now i can have a season ticket to any of the clubs in England if i wish.. I choose not to as i follow City and cannot get to enough games.. Im still a working man Jimbo..

It's all about money management.... They are not being priced out Jimmy they have other priorities..Plus they have a bonus of seeing their side on Sky each weekend unlike the rest of us..


Premier League Attendances
-----------------2008-2009-------2007-2008
----------------Oct 05th 08----May 11th 08
Arsenal------------60,058----------60,070

Aston Villa---------40,102----------40,029

Blackburn Rovers---23,299----------23,943

Bolton Wanderers--21,932 ---------20,901

Chelsea-----------41,652----------41,397

Everton-----------36,618----------36,954

Fulham------------24,292--------- 23,774

Hull City-----------24,550

Liverpool----------43,763---------43,532

Manchester City---42,871---------42,126

Manchester United-75,498---------75,691

Middlesbrough-----28,832---------26,707

Newcastle United--47,629---------51,320

Portsmouth--------19,891---------19,914

Stoke City---------27,471

Sunderland--------40,367---------43,344

Tottenham Hotspur-36,002--------35,966

West Bromwich Albion-26,030---

West Ham United----33,530-------34,601

Wigan Athletic-------17,793------- 19,046


12 Derby 32,432
14 Birmingham 26,180
17 Reading 448,115 23,585

English Premier League - Unofficial Average Attendance: 36,076

[tony d]

Teams like Blackburn, Boton and Wigan don't get anywhere near full capacity, so how come if these teams are offereing such good value they aren't selling out week in week out?

Wigan are a Rugby town

Blackburn have slipped from champions to chumps back to top half now with a new manager.. Their attendances will start to rise if Incey gets em going..

Bolton are just **** and always have been.. With Sam gone and Megson at the helm they will never be anything above bottom 6...

[Macca Ha Ha Ha]

I'd be very happy to see City on a par with Bolton Wanderers and achieve what they have - I reckon our crowds would be about the same.

I was born in sarf london and raised in Didcot til i was 8 and we came North - 15 years old before i saw City play - I class them as my club as bar one year have lived in a BD postcode, we saw plenty of other games at L666s and TB's, even Halifax - my old man loves the footie but is content to support his team Palace from afar.
It is possible to adopt a team and for that to be your team for life - it happened to me back in 1978 - swept along by the atmosphere of a 4th div game at a ramshackle VP with maybe 3,000 in the ground. inc me and 2 staunch city supporting mates who i will always thank for dragging me along - they were the ones who suffred mercilessly at school from the hordes of manure and l666s, and i became happy to join them.
I could just as easily have followed L666s but there was nothing there for me apart from watching the game.

[jimmy]

Im sure Accrington & Macclesfield were happy with Robbie calling them 'shitholes' on goals on sunday.

:rolleyes: