O/T: Sky Sports News changes

[Telepres]

YOU are one of the reasons soccer is dying...enjoy.

It's not Sky's fault directly. They put money into Rugby League. That hasn't imploded. It's the FA/FL/PL not putting in basic things such as salary caps.

[revieboy]

How? Football seem's to be getting more and more entertaining!

I disagree that football is getting more entertaining, it is Sky that is telling us that it is a spectacle because they rely on us for the huge funds they invest on the Premier League rights. I find it strange that in a recession people are prepared to pay Sky considerable monthly subscriptions, they have been lucky to escape as it would be the first thing I would cancel.

As for football, we are led to believe that teams like Barcelona are playing the best we have seen for years but I don't agree. Look to the example of the World Cup and there was a distinct lack of star quality, and for me I don't remember any real magic. Football has been saturated with advertisement and hype, many of the top players show no real hunger now their wallets are bulging.

For me there is one thing missing that I saw in the past that has really changed the face of football. I just don't see many top players with that real hunger and passion in their eyes, this hasn't been helped by FIFA outlawing any form of tackling which has led to the death of all action midfield players. Who could you list out of the real top modern day players who show a real hunger when it matters the most? Recently I would say that Puyol is a good example of a player with true passion for the game. You may say 'well its also about skill' but a player who has real passion and love for the game is surely going to perform better than the majority who think they've already made it as the best player of all time.

I had the pleasure to watch Cruyffs Barcelona side that included players such as Stoichkov, now he was a fantastic player but he also had a will to win. But he wasn't the only one in that side to have that attribute, there was the enigma Romario, The Beast Miguel Angel Nadal (Rafaels Uncle), Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola and captain Bakero. You take into account that this was a great side and they are now being compared to the likes of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi. However in the early to mid nineties Barca weren't the only team with style, AC Milan led by a certain Fabio Capello were the complete side, a team with grit but also flair. As many will know, in the 1994 European Cup Final Milan destroyed that magical Barcelona side 4 - 0. At the time AC had a team consisting of players with real passion, led from the back by Paolo Maldini and the legendary Franco Baresi they had the determination and class of Desailly in midfield, Van Basten and Papin up front and the mercurial skills of Savicevic and Boban in midfield. Despite injuries, suspensions and foreign player rules that led to Baresi, Van Basten, Laudrup, Costacurta and Papin missing the final, Barcelona were still outclassed after a man of the match performance from striker Daniele Massaro.

Look to the late 90's and early 00's and players such as Robi Baggio, Gianluca Vialli, George Weah, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos etc are of a different age and showed a different hunger despite their wages. As football has become richer I just feel that a majority of the players have lost that hunger of the past.

I

[YorkshireSquare]

How often did soccer saturday mention Leeds?

They are always mentioning Leeds.

As for the word soccer, yes its an English word but its a posh public school word, dont catch you saying rugger Twiggs so why do you say soccer?

[Twiggster]

They are always mentioning Leeds.

As for the word soccer, yes its an English word but its a posh public school word, dont catch you saying rugger Twiggs so why do you say soccer?

I try NOT to mention eggball in any form - as it is a "posh public school" sport! ...let alone call it rugger. I don't give it the time of day...rugger? Oh dear!

I support the Leeds United ASSOCIATION football club...ergot - a soccer club! :mrgreen:

[joluafc4eva]

They are always mentioning Leeds.

As for the word soccer, yes its an English word but its a posh public school word, dont catch you saying rugger Twiggs so why do you say soccer?

Whenever I watch Sky Sports News, I never hear Leeds mentioned unless we've played a game. Its more like a second MUTV.

[Telepres]

Whenever I watch Sky Sports News, I never hear Leeds mentioned unless we've played a game. Its more like a second MUTV.

It is going to be biased towards the Premier League though, for the reason that it's, supposedly, Premier (three 6-0 wins before the end of the weeks games suggests that it isn't so Premier).
That's just where we are, the second division, but we'll be back soon enough. My dream is that teams like Wigan get nowhere near, and teams such as Leeds, Forest etc are back up there (to be honest, I'd rather see Millwall than Wigan. More bloody lively).

[Mikey]

It bugs the life out of me, people who get their kicks from badmouthing big companies. The sort who sit and make puns on Microsoft products etc.

I've got Sky. I like Sky, and I like Sky Sports, and it enabled me to sit and watch the Leeds game in comfort last Sunday after getting in from work.

Why would it "bug the life" out of you is the real question? Sky are one of the main reasons that football has had this change in attitude from players. Take international football for example. In my opinion, it used to be the pinnacle, the very Everest of a players career, now though its a million miles away from being important compared to Premier League or European competitions. You look at players like Alan Shearer and Stuart Pearce to name a couple, players that would die not only for their club, but the three lions as well. Now, did we see any of that from England in South Africa? The vast money that is now in the game due to Sky and the Premier League, have filled this country's top division full of foreign mercenaries that couldn't give two sh*its about the badge and the shirt, all they want is their pay packet at the end of the week.

Lets not forget, they have help to widen the gap every single year between the Premier League and Div 1/Championship, made the 'TOP FOUR' belittling every other club in the country as irrelevant. They are a massive reason why the next generation and the one after that will be SCUM/CESS/ARSENAL/CHELSKI.

[Telepres]

Why would it "bug the life" out of you is the real question? Sky are one of the main reasons that football has had this change in attitude from players. Take international football for example. In my opinion, it used to be the pinnacle, the very Everest of a players career, now though its a million miles away from being important compared to Premier League or European competitions. You look at players like Alan Shearer and Stuart Pearce to name a couple, players that would die not only for their club, but the three lions as well. Now, did we see any of that from England in South Africa? The vast money that is now in the game due to Sky and the Premier League, have filled this country's top division full of foreign mercenaries that couldn't give two sh*its about the badge and the shirt, all they want is their pay packet at the end of the week.

Lets not forget, they have help to widen the gap every single year between the Premier League and Div 1/Championship, made the 'TOP FOUR' belittling every other club in the country as irrelevant. They are a massive reason why the next generation and the one after that will be SCUM/CESS/ARSENAL/CHELSKI.

As I say, that isn't Sky's fault. It's the fault of the governing bodies, failing to put in basic regulations such as a salary cap.

I fully agree with your point about the international players. The only one I believe who actually wants to play for England is Gerrard (barring Beckham, who is on the scrapheap, or is he, or isn't he).

[kev_g]

I agree with twiggs on this one. The whole prem and FL is going to all come crashing down on its self. All the billionaires will all be jumping ship when the sh*t hits the fan and theres no money to be made any more cos' the players are on £1million a week.

[Jason123]

Anyone seen Sky Sports news today looks well better than before..

[joluafc4eva]

Yeah, its very good.

[MikeLUFC7]

I like the colours they use, it looks more swish than it did before. But tonight on soccer special, the writing at the bottom is small. I can read it without any problems, but it looks rather squashed and like they are trying to show too much information in too little a space. Think they need to make the writing bigger at the bottom and it will be good... Or is this because I am not watching in HD?

[revie-era]

It was fine before the changes

Can't read a thing now

[Gurj]

The graphics are way too small now on the score ticker at the bottom ! Hardly make out the teams !

[joelufc20]

STILL GOT MINE ON VIRGIN WITH THE LARGE PACKAGE

[Johnny Utah]

I think it is pathetic that they have taken it off freeview. Do they think all of us who dont have sky are suddenly going to decide to get ripped off every month so we can watch it?

I do love watching soccer saturday when we are away from home (obviously I am at every home game) but now they are taking it off Im sure I will find an alternative source to keep me updated on all the goings on of the day!

Money Grabbing B******s.

Just watch it online on one of the many pirate streams...f#@k murdoch....