Sven on Tour

Will Sven go anywhere? I think the answer must be yes.

At his peak when he got the England job, I think it would be hard to imagine quite the past 2 years of this formerly highly sought after manager.

Svens previous track record spoke for itself, highly successful in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, he is almost a pastiche of himself now. Leicester City, for all their good points are not a big club. Yes they have won minor trophies in the last 20 years and they were a semi permanent fixture in the top flight. But that was the 90's. Leicester spent time in league One not long ago, and they have Steve Howard for a striker. This is not the stuff of big clubs. So now they have Sven.

This is a man who was at Notts County last season. In one of the weirdest deals of all time. In fact had it not been for his spell at County this move to Leicester, the third biggest team in the East Midlands, may have raised eyebrows. Now its more just humourous comments in blogs and tweets. He is yesterdays man desperate to prove he can do well.

Now an extra facet to consider in this move is Milan Mandaric. hardly a man known for sticking by his managers, as Paolo Sousa can now testify. Mandaric is always quick to get rid of someone he deems not good enough. Now bare in mind Sven in his last few jobs generally hasn't lasted long. Mexico wasn't his finest hour, and Ivory Coast disappointed in South Africa this summer. A Leicester team that is struggling is hardly going to change this track record. He can't get anyone in till January on a permanent basis, if there is money there from the new Thai owners. And there is the final connection, Thailand consortium owns the club, they get in Eriksson, as did Thasksin Shinawatra in his spell at Manchester City. This is a link I have now heard a few sources speculate on. And maybe now Svens arrival confirms this.

It is almost certain that come the end of the year if Sven made it then that I think they will part company sooner rather than later. Sven doesn't have longevity in a job now, Leicester sack managers like its some kind of weird fashion. This is not a marraige made in heaven

What if Yugoslavia Never Broke Up?

To those of you who follow the forum you may have seen a debate whereby we have been looking at whether Yugoslavia might have been a greater force in world football had the nation not fragmented in the early part of the 90’s.
1998 saw Croatia reach the last 4. Arguably a wonderful achievement for a nation of 4 and half million people. Croatia now it ha s matured somewhat on the football stage and are known for the ability more than their at the time funny appearance in chequered shirts.
If you add in Serbia, or more to the point Yugoslavia at that time, which was largely, Yugoslavia and Montenegro, to that equation who had a decent enough team to qualify for the World Cup and make it to the second round before being finished off by the Dutch

If you look at the Croat squad for that world cup
1 GK Dražen Ladić
2 FW Petar Krpan
3 MF Anthony Šerić
4 DF Igor Štimac(
5 DF Goran Jurić
6 DF Slaven Bilić
7 MF Aljoša Asanović
8 MF Robert Prosinečki
9 FW Davor Šuker
10 MF Zvonimir Boban
11 MF Silvio Marić
12 GK Marijan Mrmić
13 MF Mario Stanić
14 DF Zvonimir Soldo
15 DF Igor Tudor
16 FW Ardian Kozniku
17 MF Robert Jarni
18 DF Zoran Mamić
19 FW Goran Vlaović
20 DF Dario Šimić
21 MF Krunoslav Jurčić
22 GK Vladimir Vasilj

In that are some of the top names of the late 90’s. Robert Prosinecki was a prestigious talent. Suker and Boban were in their peak in Serie A.
The squad in its core was excellent, Some of the squad players however were not exactly at top clubs. If you added the Serbian squad to this, or at least replace some of the Croat squad with some of the Yugoslavians..
1 GK Ivica Kralj
2 DF Zoran Mirković
3 DF Goran Đorović
4 DF Slaviša Jokanović
5 DF Miroslav Đukić
6 DF Branko Brnović
7 MF Vladimir Jugović
8 MF Dejan Savićević
9 FW Predrag Mijatović
10 MF Dragan Stojković
11 DF Siniša Mihajlović
12 GK Dragoje Leković
13 DF Slobodan Komljenović
14 DF Niša Saveljić
15 MF Ljubinko Drulović
16 MF Željko Petrović
17 FW Savo Milošević
18 MF Dejan Govedarica
19 MF Miroslav Stević
20 FW Dejan Stanković
21 FW Perica Ognjenović
22 FW Darko Kovačević

There is enough talent in there to be melded together with the Croatians to form a very formidable side. Dragan Stojkovic was a wonderful player, but he and Prosinecki probably couldn’t be in the same side. Savicevic, Mijatovic and Mihajlovic would all be able to grace most of the other world cup squads for certain, then there are younger players who went on to become wonderful players too

All this looks fairly solid as a squad before you even remember Slovenia and Bosnia also had teams that didn’t make the World Cup but still had wonderful players. Zlatko Zahovic would light up the European Championships 2 years ater, and he is also a player who could well have featured here. Another in the mould of Stojkovic, he may not have fitted in well with a number of prestige players as it as it, but it underlines the strength in depth the Yugoslavians could have enjoyed. Add in the Bosnians Hasan Salihamidzic and Elvir Bolic and there could have been even more class in that squad.

And then there is what they could have now.
Croatia may have not made the World Cup and Serbia may have been mediocre there too, but amongst Slovenia and Bosnia they have some of the World's top players.
The Croatians Modric, Kranjcar, Rakitic, Pranjic, Olic and Eduardo. The striking talents of Dzeko from Bosnia, with defensive strength from the Serbians in the guise of the likes of Vidic.

Indeed on the forum debate it was suggested that this team might be up there with the very best

-------Handanovic
Srna Ivanovic Vidic Kolarov

--Kuzmanovic Stankovic
---Krasic Modric Jovetic
---------Dzeko

This is all however complete conjecture. We will never know, but that’s the beauty of footballing debates.

Join the debate on the following link (link may have to be copied and pasted)

http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182443

Playoffs: Agony/Ecstasy

They say the best way to go up is via the playoffs. The feeling of euphoria of navigating these most tricky of matches and the success of an on the day success makes it a day like no other.

As a Nottingham Forest fan I think it is something I am starting to doubt we will ever experience.

Three times now we have qualified to the playoffs and three times we have failed in the semi finals. A strange aura of acceptance seemed to emanate from City Ground last night.

Like we all sort of expected to be defeated, despite having a wonderful home record, finishing above Blackpool in the league and arguably having the better team on paper.

This, the wonderful unpredictable nature of Football though. A team who have a wonderful home defensive record (indeed 12 hours without conceding a goal) and we go and concede 4, and I won’t take anything away from Blackpool, they deserve to be going to Wembley.

It’s been a day now; it still doesn’t make the bitter pill easier to swallow. I saw the goals earlier, and it remained difficult to watch. When we lost to Yeovil in the playoffs in much more dramatic and self destructive style, it took me fully 2 years to be able to watch those goals again on Youtube. And even then it was painful.

This time it is easier to take in. Maybe because we didn’t have the two goal lead from an away leg. Maybe because this season we have been far better than any of us expected, whereas in the League One playoffs we had much higher expectations.

Some have said the playoffs are merely unfair. A way from the football league to stretch the season out and mil more money, but consider the three Forest games and each one has been utter excitement, in which the game takes many twists and turns. Seldom is it a mundane one goal in over two legs match.

For instance, right now I am watching Cardiff v Leicester. The first leg may have been just a single goal, but this second leg has been exciting with goals flying in and shots rattling the woodwork or with great saves, making it hang in the balance so finely.

My brother last year managed to attend the playoff final when Sheffield United reached it and lost to Burnley, my brother I should add is a Sheffield United fan. He said that losing in the final is worse than whatever I can feel now. It’s the worst game to lose in football was his contention.

Maybe it is, I’d almost say I would like to know. The one main way we had of comforting ourselves was the fact it’ll save £100+ each for not having to buy a ticket, get the coach/train/car etc down to London and then the other associated costs of beer and all that jazz. It’s scant consolation.

We all knew we’d prefer to have “wasted” that money and lose at Wembley than the semi finals which have become our graveyard.

And this is the beauty of the playoffs.

It can be torture, it can be ecstasy.

The Interview: Manic Loop

Tell us a bit about yourself …
Well I am who I am, what you get on 24-7 is what you get reality, I don’t hide behind any persona. Most people by now will have a decent gauge of me, but if not here we go. Born on the 17th May 1981. Youngest of 3 brothers and have lived in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire my entire life (baring 3 years in Liverpool at uni, and 8 months in Australia travelling, but they were never “home”) Went to a school that’s now a housing estate and went to Uni of Liverpool getting a 2:I in Ba Geography. Went travelling, got job, did job for few years, didn’t like job, have gone back to Uni, to Sheffield Hallam to do a Msc in Urban Regeneration. Have followed Forest my entire life (baring a brief dalliance aged 5 with Liverpool) Currently live with my brother, but hes away most of the year. I love music, (rock mainly) I like films (not as much as I did, and TV. I live for going to the pub with mates. Many a good time in there, though as many friends settle down its not what it was, as they don’t come as much. I adore travelling, and try to get as many places as I can.

Where is Geoff?
HA. Well yeah you create a character you use for so long and it sticks. He has been retired to the dark recesses of my brain. Was fun whilst it lasted. Thhat thread where Arsene Wenger (Madcap) interviewed him was stunningly great fun. Hell he even co-presented one of the radio shows with me. I miss his agony uncle thread as well.

Ok Manic with our immanent promotion coming, have you got any further requests for our end of season party?
Firstly, imminent. My only request is Eiko Koike. Go google image. I’m sure shes a Forest fan. Or a Gamba Osaka fan (go go Gamba, with much gusto)

What's your natural hair colour?
Hello Meg. As you know it is clearly the greatest of the hair colours.

What outside of a house/car is your most extravagant purchase?
Not purchased a house…. Now this depends. Probably a plane ticket to Australia. But then the Forest season tickets aren’t as cheap as they may be.

If you were taking part in Come Dine With Me, which 4 members would you compete it out with?
Interesting twist, namely because they;d need to be able to cook. This instantly just about gets me to disqualify most people under 25. I go on the basis I couldn’t cook before that age. I’d say mejulian, I’d hope he can cook Mexican, then I’d choose Berean Todd, I reckon he’d be able to cook well. Actually scrap my previous comment about age. I’d invite Smeg Devil, as she owes me a few meals from the times I’ve cooked for her. I’ll throw in bamber for good measure.

Cats.....discuss
Ha. My brothers girlfriend who is essentially my housemate desperately wants a cat and I keep informing her I’ll encourage it to play in the main road. I don’t dislike them, I just see them as boring. Dogs are fun, cats just fvck off.

Favourite non staff member?
Umm, bambergascoigne or Berean Todd.

Is there a lucky lady in your life? How did you/would you charm a lady you were going to date?
No, and because of this maybe my advice here isn’t the most suited. I’m a fvck up when it comes to girls. Essentially I miss opportunities that do exist but persue ones that don’t. And then get all Bossa and obsessive over them.

You come across as being a bit boring, discuss.
Depends on what you like to do. Its all entirely objective. I think I know who asked this and your merely just someone with some unexplainable grudge. Anyway, you win some you lose some in life. You may find me boring, others may not. That’s just how it is. If that’s how you find me, then fine. I don’t think I am, but then who thinks of themselves as boring? I like what I do and I do what I Like. Therefore I am not bored. Discuss that.

Forest...when do you think they will get into the Premier League?
Yes. I do. I think we are better than any of the teams that we would face in the playoffs (where I think we will end up) Staying up is another matter all together.

Do you miss the old nags you used to sit near in your old job? Not even a little bit?
Yes and no. I used to talk a lot of stuff about Lost and Dexter with one of them. One of the others I got on well with. The thing is after my moaning threads one of them left which made life more tenable in the office. I also got to know well this other guy who sat nearby who I had used to have a decent chat about music with (he used to be a drummer in some thrash band in the 80s)
Now I’m not there I guess I realise it wasn’t really all that bad

What makes you so dedicated to the forum?
Dunno really. Well in part now because I’ve been here so long. So much time invested here that to walk away would a) feel like I wasted 8 years. And b) take something I enjoy out of my life. Ultimately I care about this site probably because I have been here since day 1. When you build something you take pride in it. If I was merely a member I’d have walked away within a year and probably in the ticcan days,But because I’ve been an integral figure here, then I have always wanted to carry on through those tough days knowing it will come good. That’s increasingly harder these days. Posts are down, the networks gone, but that also forces me to make this place stronger again. That fall and decrease in traffic galvanises a desire to bring back the good days. Roll on the world cup

Do you like cheesy Wotsits?
Not bad. I don’t like the way they stain your fingers. Plus theres better crisps, but I will occasionally dabble

What’s your worst habit
Farmville.

Is that little flick natural?
Flick? The flick in the hair? Yes entirely natural, As is the flick in my right foot when I go running (tried training it out, didn’t feel natural) so yeah those 2 flicks are natural. Unless you mean Flick from Neighbours.

Will 24-7 ever get back to what it was like in the good old days?
See above. I think we can. The problem is the feeling of complacency. People all say yeah lets get this place going , or that ideas great, but in reality are only willing to minimal effort. Theres a few people who really do try hard here, and full of great inentetions, but the effort isn’t always rewarded with results. Take the blog site. Great idea, everyone says, yeah lets get involved. And the promptly can’t be arsed. But then that’s the same in all walks of life.

Also when people mention the good old days when do they mean? This place evolves. People would think when it was busy, but have you read some of those threads? They are horrible. Just pages of drivel of people arguing the same point repeatedly with Ticcan. Then further back when people say it was fun, I actually think a lot of those threads are retarded now. But they existed in a time and place that was fun, but that time was then. Things change. You have to make a new age and not hark back to some mythical golden age. You also have to remember the way days go. The arly days always considered the best is when we were new, we were brash, we annoyed people. You can’t act like as a big site.

So your voice is actually appealing... you've obviously seduced women before with it and it 'kinda' worked on me. Would you consider it your best asset? and if not, what is?
I don’t consider a voice to be an asset. For one I could put on other ones. I don’t regard it on a girl would be like breast, legs etc. That being said I have met girls whose voice just melts you away, (mainly French) Considering my slight frame I consider that I actually have quite chunky calves from the running I’d do. I am expecting you all to say my hair. I admit its somewhat of a hindrance at times.

If you could kill someone in 24-7 land and get away with it who would it be?
I wouldn’t kill anyone. That’s a bit of harsh reaction to what is essentially just someone else putting over their view. As much as I dilike what a number of people have to say I would never actually say I hate any member (well maybe Firestarter in the past, but half of what he said and did was an act so that he’d get attention he seem to so crave, whether that be good or bad)

How quick will you be to run onto the pitch when promotion is confirmed?
Considering I sit att the back of the upper tier and it takes me 15 misn to get of ground at best of times…….not very quick at all, as I won’t be bothering.

Favourite chocolate bar?
Ummm, twix please

Zequi, why?
ask him

Favourite alcoholic drink
Well, hey, I drink Lager, but considering the maret for it where I live I mianly drink Fosters. Given a choice and an endless vat of money I’d drink most Czech beers though. If they served Gambrinus, Staropramen or Pilsner Urquell on draught where I live, then them. I also lived on Victoria Bitter in Australia. I am very partial also to a few Japanese beers.

Worst job?
The worst day of work I ever had was when I worked for an eco lodge in Queensland. I basically did odd jobs there. One day my task was basically to turn the compost heap. This is a compost heap in the freaking tropical jungle. It stank worst than anything ever. A smell I couldn’t get out of my nose for days. The thing was crawling and I mean crawling with maggots. It was just vile. The consistency of it was horrendous to. It squelched. Just vile
For an actual proper job and not just one task in my role, then picking fruit was just sh1t. **** pay, too hot etc.

What does your office deal with?
I’m a student.

Favourite soft drink?
Coca Cola

What do you think to how this forum has gone? Did you ever imagine it would grow/last this long? What are we doing for the 10 year mark?
If you told me we’d be here 8 years down the line then I’d have never believed it. But considering at times we had 3X maybe 4X posts the day we do now, I’d be a little upset. Considering I’m only in this game because I made a forum on EZboards in 2000 one night when drunk and got my mates to join then one thing led to another then even more so. If you’d told me then, when we’d had 6 regs that I’d be where we are now, then I’d be amazed. People will say it was better. But then I remember the days before that. As for the 10 yyear mark. Well we got 2 years to go. I don’t honestly see what we can do to celebrate it. Baring in mind we could get hacked tomorrow like we once did, I don’t know if we’d come back from that again.

Favourite staff member
For the sheer effort you can’t look beyond Celticrugby. However longevity theres Boovy. And then theres the fact Killah saved our ass a few times.

What is it about them foreign women that you like so much? Our Brit girls are one of a kind
Well. If you may have noticed I havent really blathered on about foreign women as much anymore. I never have had an issue with British girls. Just back in the day I was with a Japanese girl. That kinda cultivated my obsession there. But hey I am mainly over that now. Apart from Eiko

People from Derby speak very strangely, don't they
Not at all, rather how they talk than Brummies or Mancs

Do you like Sombreros?
As a fair skinned person, they can be a life saver in certain conditions. However would I wear one out of choice. No

Do you think every Tuesday should be like Sombrero Tuesday?
You can wear a big fvck off Sombrero every Tuesday, talk like Antonio Bandera’s for as long as you want, drink a bucket load of Tequila and then watch a compulsory Spaghetti Western....sound ok to you meester?
No

Joel Lynch. Forest Legend? I think so anyway.
He’s played what 12 games? And for most of them he was much maligned. Have I answered the question

Snog, Shag, Marry … The bitches on the forum.
Well basically of the girls on the forum I only ever have had any kind of conversations or contact with 2, being Yiddo and Smeg. Therefore I couldn’t really assess the others
That being said
Snog – any of the others. Your exempt from the next two.
Shag - Yiddo – I assume she knows what shes doing. I also presume it would be a good ride. And I would
Marry – Smeg – Simply cos I now her and I get along very well and have similar tastes in a lot of things. I also know shes very happy with her man though, so there you go

What 5 members would you love to see back on the forum?
Ibes – top guy. Only just gone, but I’d love for him to come back
Booser – Always funny. I stand by the fact the funniest thread ever was his one of the 24-7 members and their pets. The G comment was the greatest piece of comedy ever on this forum
Red4eva – thought Tim was top user. Intelligent and all that jazz and contributed in many areas
Shanks – All round top user. In all areas of the site. You can’t ask for more than that
Zizou – a legend and hall of famer if we had such a thing. He was a top guy. Probably before most of your times here though

I’ll give Caddy a mention too. Legend

Nottingham Forest, do you think they will get automatic promotion or face the play offs?
As said above. Playoffs

You've been here from day 1 and seen every classic 24-7 thread come to light. What's been your favourite ever thread?
There is so many. I honestly wouldn’t include the Firetstarter classic, or the G goes to Moscow. Jakey G has a kid was epic. We used to have loads like that in the past. Like I said above, there were 2 or 3 epic picture threads from Booser that simply were hysterical

You've also seen lots of retards/crap members over the years as well. Who was the worst/biggest tard?
Could almost do a time line of tards
The first we ever had was a Barnsley fan called Tykey Tyke frum Tarn.. He simply posted “lolololllolololololololol” I every post

The next was Mr Jimmy. He knew Mark and basically took this as an excuse to spout sh1t.
Highbury Lad was always fun to mock.

Probably the worst ever though was Swissknife. I mean wtf was he ever doing?

I will give honourable mentions to Crazysah and his desire for girls in football shirts pls thx. JAkey G was pretty much retarded. Sniper was epically dumb. ReAl MaDriD was ultimately stupid. The guy achieved mod status then used this to edit or delete any posts who disagreed with him. You can’t look much past BArdez meltdown either. That was both tragic and hysterical.

I heard a rumour you like to deconstruct antique telephones you buy from charity shops then re-assemble them, is that true?
wtf are you even on about. You get nominated for tard award above.

Snog Marry Avoid, Harewood, Darcheville, Van Hoijdonk
Shut the fvck up

What’s your biggest regret?
well, theres 28 years of regrets. I regret not working harder at school, I got complacent. I could and maybe should have done a different undergrad degree. I regret turning a couple of girls down or not going places I shoulda done thinking they’ll stay there forever for me to get. There was a girl I adored and would have done anything. She once text me I love you, I was at a gig and instead of going meet her after it, I thought I need to be up for work in morning, that was pretty dumb to be honest. However I am happy in life. To change 1 small thing at any other juncture is to potentially alter that. That girl ultimately got a job in London. So it wouldn’t have worked out. I dwell too much as it is without really thinking of regret so to speak. Do I regret not taking ajob at some point that might have led to me a different career? Maybe. Do I regret not doing more prep for this dream job interview one time? Probably. But would I have been happy there… who knows.

So you're at uni once again. How you finding the student life compared to the first time around? What do you want to do when you get your masters?
It is very different. For one back in my day the internet wasn’t so integral. Things like intranets, also so much information being available online. E journals and Google Scholar have completely changed the game in the nearly 10 years since I was there. I think I’m wiser too.Not more intelligent. Just more clued up

How does it feel knowing the only way you got an interview was through rigging the vote system?
Would be an interesting story if it had any truth to it. For one there were 6 voters. I got 3, hardly loads to shoutabout is it? So who is this bitter soul? I can prove it too.

Sith or JedI?
Fvck george Lucas for ruining my childhood

Where is the best place you have travelled to in the world?
Erm. Well. Australia was awesome. I loved New York. Tromso was the most beautiful place, as the amazing fjords around town were breathtaking. Tasmania was incredibly beautiful too.

So John Terry done the dirty on an old pal by sleeping with his ex missus and now she’s supposedly up the duff. How would you react if you were Bridge?
I’d fvck his sh1t up.

What 5 members do you have the most respect for?
Respect?
Well. Berean Todd. He actually manages to talk religion whilst not coming over as an ignorant pompous tvvat. Bamber, funny guy who retains himself despite having a million kids.

Celticrugby for being the nicest guy in the world. Mejulian, top guy. Boovy, putting up with being fellow admins for 8 and a half years.

Interview done and compiled by Lil Yiddo

The Ongoing Saga of Notts County

I will say this first about Notts County, nothing is never dull there. It has been just over 2 months since my first piece about the Magpies, and there has been a whole host of developments.

Munto Finance, the shady Middle Eastern investment company turned out to be nothing more than a front for a crooked structure based in Britain. There were no wealthy Arab oil sheikhs, just a guy with a shady past trying to cover his tracks. Especially when connections to Kim Jung-Il the secretive and elusive leader of North Korea (part of the axis of evil) was uncovered, with an unspecified “gift” being given to him.

Munto have been replaced now, Peter Trembling has taken the club over. Quite was his finances are unsure. There are a host of people speculating that Sven, who has earned millions in his career, may put money into the club. But hang on, that’s not what he signed up for. He signed up for £2.5 mill a season (of which he was earning considerably less, with much promised in shares in more shady companies in the umbrella of companies investing (i.e. money laundering) in Notts County.

For Forest fans, the mocking County gave us at the start of the season about how soon they would be back to the top of the pile in Nottingham, it is almost amusing. We have always had a certain kind regard for County. Wanting them to do better than to fail. This infuriates County, who hate us, and the feeling has not till this seen been reciprocated. Now with their new brash manner, you begin to dislike them in the same way man City have rubbed a number of people up the wrong way in the Premier League

Peter Trembling, who was merely the mouthpiece before is in charge. Now you could argue that maybe he has liked what he has seen enough to invest, so things must be ok? It would appear no, manager of 7 weeks Hans Backe just this morning walked out the club after complaining about “broken promises.” One can assume he was promised vast sums, and has been told there will no longer be money in January to spend.

There was also the news when Trembling took over he will be looking for investors in the club. That’s never good news. Just look at Portsmouth over the last 6 months. Each successive new owner there has talked about securing new investment. The fact is in the world right now, with the economy in tatters, there are not people on every corner wanting to fling millions into clubs finances that seem to have been modelled on a house of cards built on quicksand. Indeed, just look at their fellow nicknamed Magpies, Newcastle United. Mike Ashley has been looking to offload a club with arguably one of the best foundations in terms of large ground, huge support and a Premier League infrastructure, and no-one wanted to touch them with a barge pole.

Sven says he is staying, but Sven is still trying to sort out the money he is owed in a Swiss owned mineral firm. My guess he is merely holding out on resigning till he gets this cash. Once it appears if it ever does, then Sven will get the hell out of there as soon as possible. The whole scheme seems to be poisoned.

It would appear one of the most unlikely dreams in the football league in completely unravelling. I would hate to see it become a nightmare and see County slump in the second half of the season, and god forbid enter administration. There has been talk the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Lee Hughes, the much heralded summer signings may already have to go. Large wages and potential fees would entice County to get rid to cut costs that presumably they cannot sustain any more.

Let this be a lesson football clubs. Those people promising the world may be actually delivering nothing at all. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride thus far, and we’re still unsure where it’s all going to end.

Member vs. Member XII

The Biggest Competition on 24-7 Returns!

Ok here we go.

Member vs Member, the annual competition for who is the best member in the ultimate popularity contest on Soccer 24-7.

Hugely successful and entertaining in the past lets hope this time round is too.

Basically, you all enter and get drawn into groups. People vote for favorite members and the top few progress through until we get down to the champion.

For those knocked out early there is also the UEFA Cup, so even if you can't get in with the big dogs you can knick some silverware in the other part of the competition.

The propaganda posts (As seen above) are the stuff of legend round here to those who do not know.

So sign up here motherfuckers, add your name to the list. We shall begin hopefully on November 23rd.

A Manic Loop Production.

Away Days: The Globalization of the EPL

By: Manic Loop

Having seen the “spectacle” that was American Football coming to England again it got me thinking a lot about the scheme the Premier League tried to implement a couple of years ago about staging matches abroad.

Now I for one really am against the notion of these teams playing games on foreign soil. It doesn’t actually add anything to the experience, just manages to fill someone’s pockets. I like their talk though when they try to make out it’s about giving something to the fans. It simply smacks to me of teams forgetting who made them. The fans

Now it kind of works easier for American sports. Most of them are simply franchises that never did start were they are playing anyway, so to lose a connection with the roots isn’t a big deal (at this juncture I will admit that yes, a number of American teams have never moved city) But really Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool hosting a game that has meaning in Hong Kong or Shanghai just seems inherently wrong.

Apart from MK Dons every single British team has grown up in its city, the likes of Arsenal may have moved across the city they are in, but they have always been a London club. To have a club of their ilk wanting to play games abroad, well that’s fine as long as it’s a friendly. One of these increasingly common foreign pre season tournaments. But a game that has meaning? I don’t like that one bit.

The only game like that I would take abroad would be the Community Shield. It is a game that counts per se, but no-one actually cares about it. So play that on a rotation. My case in point is would the NFL allow the Super Bowl to be played outside of the America. No.

The whole idea seemed laughable. Let’s play a 39^th game, when the clubs already complain about fixture congestion. Let’s be flying halfway round the world just because some rich chairman wants to make a few extra pounds.

I also imagine there would have to be a kind of seeding for this. If it was a random fixture can you really imagine the people of Dubai or New York being excited about Wigan v Hull? So of course there would have to be a system whereby each city gets a “good” team.

The other main factor to me is what message does this send to the host cities domestic league. It’s a huge insult to them. The A League in Australia would be hugely undermined if they hosted a game in Sydney or Melbourne.

Now I know the idea was shelved, but it wasn’t permanently forgotten. Make no bones the Premier League will have watched with interest today’s events at Wembley. And when the NBA comes to the O2 Arena too, that will be noted.

So anyway, yes. The NFL razzmatazz came to Wembley. I just hope we don’t reciprocate.

Notts Clownty


By: Manic Loop

For a while on the red side of the Trent we have jokingly referred to Notts County as Clownty.

I’ll be fair, I’ always had a soft spot, and regarded them as not a rival but mere neighbours.

Rather than neighbourly conflict, I have always seen it as a friendly rivalry.

The recent takeover has somewhat changed matters though.

One of the stated aims quoted by Peter Trembling, the chief executive, is to be bigger than Nottingham Forest. Now if you want to have any integrity I’d argue the first thing not to do is to start throwing your weight around.

If you moved into a new home, as the owners have, you don’t immediately try and upset your neighbours. This seemed to be the first thing County did.

I was amazed that one of the very first moves was t unveil a new club logo. One that suddenly includes purple. It’s a bad sign when you have to explain what some of the things you have put on to signal your new era mean (Is that a H, is that an arrow?)

And then came Sven. This more than raised eyebrows. The massively successful and decorated Swede was coming to League Two? And to a club that has for the last few seasons struggled to maintain their league status? Something didn’t add up.

Following Sven, they started signing fairly prestigious players for their level. For that I give them credit. As much as Lee Hughes is much maligned for his past, there is no doubt that his signing is only going to be a good thing considering his track record.

Kasper Schmeichel is a highly regarded young goalkeeper that a number of Championship clubs (including Forest) had been linked with. He then moved to Notts County for a club record fee (I’m still not sure what the exact fee was).

The Sol Campbell incident seems to be the first sign that things were not going to go all County’s way. The whole deal seemed somewhat unbelievable from start to finish. Sol Campbell, former Premiership champion, and till as recently as May a Premiership starting defender, was signing for Notts County?

But hang on, isn’t the law in League Two that clubs cannot spend more than 80% of their turnover? Campbell’s purported £60,000 a week wages minimum were never going to be in with that. I know for a fact that this angered a number of fans of other clubs, because County got round it by various borderline legal methods.

So it was kind of funny when Sol walked out because (reportedly) the club had promised him that they were signing Roberto Carlos. The official reason doing the rounds being he didn’t any longer see the greater scope of the plans.

And then came the questions of ownership. The shady murky waters surrounding just who are Munto Finance started out more as a flippant question. Just who would spend all that money on a League Two club? The full details are still yet too out, but my and my friend the other day went with a full flight of fancy and decided its probably Osama bin Laden funding County in a new attempts to take over the world.

As I said me and my Forest supporting friends were already laughing at them for the fact that they were being like an embarrassing uncle. Saying all the wrong things and generally being someone you don’t invite round if you can. For a start the sudden proliferation of County fans must be annoying for those who have sat through the days were they toiled at pretty much the basement of the League structure. Here comes a little it of possible success and they all go crazy.

Now, add all this up and things are turning into a soap opera. A vaguely surreal soap opera. Then yesterday they sacked Ian “Charlie” McParland. I have a lot of time for Charlie. Yeah his interviews are often drawled in some kind of nonsensical mess, and he always sounds grumpy.

However, he had spent best part of 2 seasons managing a team with no resources, struggling to stay up. I think he should have been rewarded with more than a dozen games and being within frankly touching distance of the top of the table. Rome was not built in a day.

Charlie’s days were pretty much numbered when the take over was made and Sven bought in. It always seemed likely to me Sven would want his own yes man, and County fans I feel for you if David Platt gets in, I really do. The guy makes John Barnes looks odds on favourite for the Man Utd job when Fergie retires. I also feel sorry for Charlie. He must have known this would always end in tears. They just wanted the opportunity to make this decision without looking harsh. Try and make a tie in with the old era so as to try and show respect for the past.

Now it just seems County have become nothing more than at best, a farce.

Why You Choose Your Club


By: Manic Loop

Recently trailing out of the City Ground after a home defeat to Blackpool, I found my self questioning myself and why at age 6 I decided to pluck Nottingham Forest as my team.

Admittedly back in 1987 we were somewhat more of an attractive proposition to support than say over the last few years.

We finished in the top 5 frequently in the top flight and had a number of internationals in the squad.

If I was 6 now would I decide to choose a side that have just spent 3 seasons in the 3^rd tier of the League and only just survived staying in the Championship last season? I’d guess I might still do.

Looking back at those old days, you’d never see a kid supporting Chelsea or Arsenal. It was Forest, Liverpool and Manchester United all the way at my school. There was occasionally a rogue Everton fan slipping through the net too.

Of course what made things easier for me was having an eldest brother who was completely obsessed by Forest. Back then I doubt my dad, who hails from Essex, would ever have claimed to be the Forest fan he says he is now, that has taken 20 years of being a season ticket holder to get to that point, in fact back then I’d hazard he’d still claim to be a Tottenham fan that he was as a boy.

I had toyed with joining those ranks of Liverpool fan as a boy; I owned a shirt from the Crown Paints sponsored era. In fact I think even at my very first football match (Forest 5 Oxford 3) that I was still a Liverpool fan. That changed having seen Forest. I got bitten by the bug.

Standing on a milk crate in the Colwick Road Stand was great days. It also makes me feel really old mentioning that, sounds like something out of a flat cap era.

Now If I dragged along as 6 year old, I really can’t see a change occurring. It always seemed, and still does judging by the numerous members of Soccer24-7, that people who support a big club that’s not in their locale that they also follow and have a certain “thing” for a local club at a lower level.

This was hit home to me at a game a couple of years ago when I noticed a kid wearing a Man Utd shirt in the Junior Reds. I thought have we really come to this, that perhaps there is a Man Utd fan that sees us as his little local club that he follows on the side when United aren’t on Sky?

After all there are a number of League 1 clubs who will get that kind of support. Makes me think of the days Tranmere used to play on Fridays so that they could get Liverpool and Everton fans to come along too.

So, what makes us make that vital life changing decision at that young age? After all anyone who changes their club affiliation later in life are always somewhat mocked. You can’t do it, it’s simply one of life's rules.

You cannot change your allegiance later in life. I chose because I had Forest essentially forced upon me. I am a fiercely proud person of where I am from, so chances are that change would have occurred had I not been taken to Forest. Most of my friends at the same time also were finding Forest and going to games for the first time. Of my immediate peer group to this day there are 8-9 of us Forest fans who go to games regularly.

So I think that decision would always have been made. I don’t understand a few of my friends who at that age went for Liverpool or Man Utd and have never been or maybe have been once or twice in 10-15 years.

But this is a different choice for me, than someone who doesn’t have any level of professional football to watch. Would I be a Liverpool fan had I grew up in somewhere like Cornwall? Or a little further in Ireland? Most Norwegians appear to be Liverpool fans…is this because the level there isn’t good enough to claim that as your first love?

This only going to change the fabric of our clubs support, as they target fans from countries who have no decent level of local League in Asia, Africa and North America.

I’d argue that if these places ever wanted their leagues to succeed is that you need to stop people primarily supporting a big European team, and not a team in their National league.

Rather than support some team of useless nobodies, they attach themselves to support and enjoy a team of superstars who play glittering football.

I can’t say I blame them.

After following the many ups and downs of a team in the lower half of the League structure there isn’t much there to inspire someone not already attached to a club.

When the possibility is to watch football like the brand Arsenal play, or to watch some clogger hoofing the ball the length of a ramshackle arena on a cold windy day, I think I can see why so many “glory hunt”.