The Mail Bag
Sky and the Wolves fixture
Comments (24)
According to my Wolves mate who travels to all their games from here on the Isle of Man it appears the change of kick-off time to 12:45 on the Saturday is not as clearcut as suggested.
The Wolves ticket office have told him that if Arsenal beat Barcelona and their next round fixture is the Tuesday following the Wolves weekend then Blackpool v Arsenal will be changed to the Saturday live game and our game at Molineux will swap to the Sunday.
This is yet another example of Sky being allowed to do whatever they want. The likes of us who were hoping to get to the game now have to wait until mid-March before knowing when the game will be played by which time air fares etc will have rocketed.
I have asked the Premier League before whether they will be happy for games to be played in deserted stadia just so long as they can grab the Sky millions???
In other words, to hell with the real fans.
Blues forever
Juan Kermode, Posted 25/02/2011 at
Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Liam Reilly
2 Posted 25/02/2011 at 17:36:28
2 Posted 25/02/2011 at 17:36:28
Part and parcel of modern day football unfortunately. I have recently moved from Surrey to Dublin and agree, it's very difficult to book in advance with any certainty.
Fact is, the only games I'll be seen this year are 3'Oclock saturday games that have no chance of being shown on Sky or ESPN
Fact is, the only games I'll be seen this year are 3'Oclock saturday games that have no chance of being shown on Sky or ESPN
David Hallwood
3 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:15:40
3 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:15:40
sadly when the FA (and never has an organisation been so aptly named) sold their soul to the devil, they did so knowing that the devil would be calling the shots, right up to waiting for the end of the adverts and getting the signal off the TV producer to kick off.
Just don't tell me the Sky's been good for football.
Just don't tell me the Sky's been good for football.
Brian Waring
4 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:41:15
4 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:41:15
Whilst its a pain in the arse, I'd hate to think where we would be without the Sky money.
Karl Masters
5 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:44:42
5 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:44:42
in answer to your question Brian; Maybe much better off relatively speaking.
Without Sky and their dirty money we would never have had the wage explosion.
We would not have therefore had every mercenary Tomas, Ricardo and Arie from around the world wanting to come here.
We would not have had the world TV exposure that has got people like Abramovich, dodgy foreign Tyrants, Arab sheikhs and US businessmen wanting our Clubs.
We therefore would all be on a more even playing field and although some of the football may not have been so easy on the eye, we would not have had as much diving, shirt pulling etc either.
We wouldn't have sold all our assets trying to keep up and be running an unsustainable business model. Just a thought.
Without Sky and their dirty money we would never have had the wage explosion.
We would not have therefore had every mercenary Tomas, Ricardo and Arie from around the world wanting to come here.
We would not have had the world TV exposure that has got people like Abramovich, dodgy foreign Tyrants, Arab sheikhs and US businessmen wanting our Clubs.
We therefore would all be on a more even playing field and although some of the football may not have been so easy on the eye, we would not have had as much diving, shirt pulling etc either.
We wouldn't have sold all our assets trying to keep up and be running an unsustainable business model. Just a thought.
Brian Denton
6 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:47:29
6 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:47:29
Brian Waring #4 - obviously nobody wishes for the situation where we don't have the Sky money and everyone else does, but the whole Sky Deal since 1992 has hit this club worse than any other. Only Villa possibly share our position to some extent. Clubs with good support and a proud history of multiple trophies, but not in good shape in 1992 and struggling to keep up ever since. Do you honestly think that without the Sky structure of 'to them that hath shall be given' Man U would have won 11 titles in the past 19 years? Because I don't.
Karl Masters
7 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:52:03
7 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:52:03
And although Clubs have never been that worried about their fans, if truth be told, people like Juan wouldn't be messed around as much either.
Brian Denton
8 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:53:45
8 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:53:45
Karl - another masterly summary. No pun intended.
Karl Masters
9 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:55:55
9 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:55:55
Brian - Brian has not dented my views. No pun intended :)
Robert Johnson
10 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:51:48
10 Posted 25/02/2011 at 18:51:48
Fuck Sky .
Football has been going 110 years before them twats came along and im sure when they fuck off to go and ruin some other fucking sport then football will carry on another 110 fucking years.
Bastards.
Football has been going 110 years before them twats came along and im sure when they fuck off to go and ruin some other fucking sport then football will carry on another 110 fucking years.
Bastards.
Brian Waring
11 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:11:12
11 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:11:12
Karl (#5) ? Totally agree with you. I was thinking along the lines of where we would be if Sky suddenly decided to pull the plug.
James Flynn
12 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:27:24
12 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:27:24
As long as the big money is from TV contracts, we just have to live with it. It's right to say, "What about the fans who have to arrange travel to go and support the team"? Surely correct. Least ways, I agree with it.
But since the overwhelming (by the millions) majority of us watch the games on TV, the networks are going to schedule games when they feel the most fans will be available to watch. We have the same thing over here in sports.
But since the overwhelming (by the millions) majority of us watch the games on TV, the networks are going to schedule games when they feel the most fans will be available to watch. We have the same thing over here in sports.
Gavin Ramejkis
13 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:30:47
13 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:30:47
We couldn't survive without it now but god wasn't football more of a challenge before Sky reinvented it?
I worry that younger fans have been suckered into thinking the Sky version is the only version available. I remember Doddy admitting he has only watched us since Sky came along.
I worry that younger fans have been suckered into thinking the Sky version is the only version available. I remember Doddy admitting he has only watched us since Sky came along.
I often watch the lower leagues on TV to see games being played where often you really don't know who is going to win and think back to how that used to be in the old First Division.
Charles King
14 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:09:03
14 Posted 25/02/2011 at 19:09:03
I hope the mythical European league gains ground.
The old Sky 4 and usual Euro suspects giving it the "big I am" would be just the impetus for the great heart and soul clubs like ourselves to join together and do something about football ? including the dead hand of Sky.
A reformation of national leagues minus oligarch control would be a start and if Euro Elite blowhards sulked, well they can always piss off and play each other 6 times a year.
The old Sky 4 and usual Euro suspects giving it the "big I am" would be just the impetus for the great heart and soul clubs like ourselves to join together and do something about football ? including the dead hand of Sky.
A reformation of national leagues minus oligarch control would be a start and if Euro Elite blowhards sulked, well they can always piss off and play each other 6 times a year.
Jeff Armstrong
15 Posted 25/02/2011 at 20:14:05
15 Posted 25/02/2011 at 20:14:05
Think the 1970s and 80s BS: We lifted the title 3 times in those decades, we were 2nd, 4th etc on numerous occasions.
Derby County, Forest, Villa all became Champions in those times. it was anybody's league, clubs who could build good teams, under decent managers.
Chelsea were up and down like a yo-yo (was gonna say something else but it was so 70s, it's just not PC). Man Utd where all over the place, including Division 2, City where the same as they are now, shit with no history!
Point being, Sky has created a three-tier league with the top 4 being the "only place to be" ? a place where we used to regularly be with regularity on a level playing field.
Derby County, Forest, Villa all became Champions in those times. it was anybody's league, clubs who could build good teams, under decent managers.
Chelsea were up and down like a yo-yo (was gonna say something else but it was so 70s, it's just not PC). Man Utd where all over the place, including Division 2, City where the same as they are now, shit with no history!
Point being, Sky has created a three-tier league with the top 4 being the "only place to be" ? a place where we used to regularly be with regularity on a level playing field.
Mike Galley
16 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:02:13
16 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:02:13
I remember watching football focus (it might have been Saint and Greavesie) in the early 80s, and they did a feature about a Wolves fan who flew over from the Isle of Man for every Wolves game. I 'm wondering Juan, if this was your friend or maybe a relative of his who remembers being on telly back then? I've always remembered thinking 'he must be a proper fan'. If it is, pass on my respect, regards and admiration!!!
Eric Myles
17 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:43:39
17 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:43:39
Brian #11, that day could come soon if the full ramifications of the Portsmouth landlady's case are allowed to happen.
With no monopoly Sky won't be paying as much for the rights.
With no monopoly Sky won't be paying as much for the rights.
Matt Traynor
18 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:56:48
18 Posted 26/02/2011 at 02:56:48
All well and good lamenting how we didn't take advantage of the Sky evolution, but people shouldn't lose sight of the fact that Everton were one of the clubs behind the breakaway to form the Prem ? precisely to increase earnings. That we failed to capitalise on the opportunity was as much down to our boards' successive failures, as the relative downturn on the pitch.
Paul Johnson
19 Posted 26/02/2011 at 09:01:54
19 Posted 26/02/2011 at 09:01:54
While I fully agree that Sky has played a part in destroying the game that I fell in love with, I still believe that the formation of the Champions League has done more than anything to create the imbalance that now exists within the top flight of the game. The revenue gained from the tournament if you get through the play offs was equal to the Sky money up until this last season.
It has also killed the prestige of being Champions as now the main prize is to finish in the top four and increase revenue. Sometimes I wish we could go back to using jumpers for goalposts and footballers living at the bottom of our road. Dream on.
Brian Denton
20 Posted 26/02/2011 at 12:10:11
20 Posted 26/02/2011 at 12:10:11
Paul, I think the two (Champions League and Sky) have a symbiotic relationship, so I think their blames are equal. I don't think there's any chance of putting the genie back in the bottle as long as people vote with their feet (and wallets) to support the 'product'. As I said in a previous post some years ago, I don't think the opportunity to see Fabregas, Torres etc strut their stuff on English grounds is so worthwhile that as a result I must forego the chance to ever see Everton win the League again. Others obviously disagree.
Brian Denton
21 Posted 26/02/2011 at 12:17:05
21 Posted 26/02/2011 at 12:17:05
Of course, another big factor, sometimes forgotten, was the Bosman Ruling.
Derek Thomas
22 Posted 26/02/2011 at 23:30:48
22 Posted 26/02/2011 at 23:30:48
Somewhere there will be a manual, one of these standards things, that all Companies seem to have now a days, along with some poxie mission statement bollocks. This will lay down the hows and whats of the procedures for running their businesses.
Right at the back there will be a tiny paragraph, Fans Entitlement (singular!) which will read...
Stick: shitty end; one each.
Right at the back there will be a tiny paragraph, Fans Entitlement (singular!) which will read...
Stick: shitty end; one each.
Andrew Mackenzie
23 Posted 27/02/2011 at 00:17:02
23 Posted 27/02/2011 at 00:17:02
In same boat, sadly not the old lady of man, Juan... Big issue for us islanders is not Sky, but the timeless argument that Fly (may)be don't accept that the majority of IoM travellers use the Liverpool route as a bus and need a more flexible arrangement... Remember the Stoke at home/Police/BNP fiasco!!?
Norman Merrill
24 Posted 27/02/2011 at 08:38:43
24 Posted 27/02/2011 at 08:38:43
You take the Devils shilling, and so you have to dance to his tune.
We are just supporters.
We are just supporters.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
© ToffeeWeb
1 Posted 25/02/2011 at 17:33:45