Football 2015/16

[jeremyp]

On the PM programme, it was reported that 25 people put money on Leicester at 5,000 to 1. One woman put 5p on it, but a man from Manchester put £50!

If you think about it, that's pretty good odds. The bookies are saying that for every time a club that nearly got relegated wins the EPL, there are 5,000 times when they won't. I'd be quite confident that this will happen again some time in the next 5,000 years.

[wigginhall]

Well done, Leicester, what a fine season.   I will always remember the sight of Mahrez jinking his way through defences, and I hope they can hang onto him.

That Chelsea/Spurs game was something else.   I don't know if Spurs lost their heads or not, but it was like cage fighting.

[Harrowby Hall]

Let's see if Leicester City can now win the European Cup twice in consecutive years. What are the odds on doing that?

[Rhiannon]

Terrific stuff from the King Power today. Credit to Everton too for conducting themselves well again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36236680

[jakswan]

Hey and Swansea won 4-1 away to West Ham!

[Rhiannon]

I know. Absolute shower from the Irons. 

[Nearly Sane]

Would like West Ham to win tonight, simply to say farewell to the Boleyn fittingly

[Rhiannon]

Would like West Ham to win tonight, simply to say farewell to the Boleyn fittingly

Too right, NS. And thank you for using what is to me the right name. My family are from that part of London and would speak of 'going up the Boleyn' to mean the area near to the ground as well as the stadium itself.

[Nearly Sane]

I am not a million miles from the ground tonight. I would have been tempted to go had I thought about it, but not being a proper fan, would seem wrong. Been a couple of times with friends but that was near 30 years ago. As only an occasional Londoner, I don't have any natural loyalty to any team, but always had a soft spot for them.

[Rhiannon]

My grandad used to be foreman at the ironworks, NS. They're in my blood.

[Nearly Sane]

Disappointed in what's happened though.

[Rhiannon]

Not as much as I am. 

[Rhiannon]

West Ham have always had an unpleasant element among their fans. It's upsetting.

[Nearly Sane]

One of my friends currently posting about growing up on Penge Rd and what it was like on Saturdays. I had hoped we were gradually getting beyond this, even allowing for the ridiculous exaggeration that happened

[Rhiannon]

It was appalling when I was growing up. Not just with regard to the Irons but Chelsea, Arsenal/Spurs and of course Milwall, to name but a few. These days I regard going to the footie as a suitable family event; not then.

[Nearly Sane]

Interesting report from BBC reporter.

"I am about 100 yards from the main entrance to the ground, what makes this evening unusual is the sheer number of supporters outside the ground.. The key thing is many want to be here to be part of the atmosphere.

"Right outside the ground was the Manchester United coach and it was stuck, it wasn't going anywhere. There were about 10 police vans in front of it and it was surrounded by a sea of fans. I didn't see any bottles being thrown then, I watched for a couple of minutes, but I have seen videos on social media of a couple of bottles being thrown.

"Most fans standing around were gesturing and singing, to say the bus was being attacked I think is something of an exaggeration."

[Rhiannon]

Yes, I'd sort of gathered that; it didn't look overly physical. Maybe David Sullivan had a point about United getting there earlier.

It's still a nasty reminder of times past though and it's unnecessary. But maybe there will be more footage providing clarity later.

[Rhiannon]

From the Beeb feed:

A West Ham season ticket holder on 5 live says he is upset by the scenes outside Upton Park, and that the events 'have tarnished our night.'

That's how I feel. It might not be 'that bad' but it's embarrassing.

[Nearly Sane]

David Sullivan's comments are idiotic. I fear a deeply stupid legal case where the Irons results stops Man U from 4th, who then try and get the result awarded to them and Man C sue both Irons and Devils

[Rhiannon]

Entirely possible.

[jeremyp]

Interesting report from BBC reporter.

"I am about 100 yards from the main entrance to the ground, what makes this evening unusual is the sheer number of supporters outside the ground.. The key thing is many want to be here to be part of the atmosphere.

"Right outside the ground was the Manchester United coach and it was stuck, it wasn't going anywhere. There were about 10 police vans in front of it and it was surrounded by a sea of fans. I didn't see any bottles being thrown then, I watched for a couple of minutes, but I have seen videos on social media of a couple of bottles being thrown.

"Most fans standing around were gesturing and singing, to say the bus was being attacked I think is something of an exaggeration."

Well he's blind then

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36261252

Check out the bottom photograph.

[jeremyp]

Congratulations to West Ham. Their win means Arsenal definitely qualifies for the Champions League.

[Rhiannon]

Terrific match. Heartbreaking that it was spoiled by the attack on the bus. That can't be got around and I wonder what the punishment will be for WHU.

[wigginhall]

Already loads of jokes going around about the game at Old Trafford being called off, of the flavour, the football's been so boring this year at OT, that nobody could face another game, and so on. 

[Nearly Sane]

Quite extraordinary St Totteringham's Day