Forum Topic

Football

Have just seen the adverts for the World Cup.Why is so much importance put on a game? It's not earth shattering - its just a few guys kicking a ball around a field. Where is the importance in that? I think that some perspective needs to be shown, after all will this make the world a better place or cure famine? No.Perhaps the thousands of pounds spent on these adverts could be put to better use.

J Smith ● 5986d21 Comments

They could use it to give the players a raise, :) after all they have to travel all the way to South Africa

Tony Maxey ● 5986d

They can afford it on the ridiculous salaries they earn. Another thing that is wrong about football - the thousands they are paid to kick a ball around a field.

J Smith ● 5985d

Excellence in anything is rewarded according to the market. Football has many, many fans. Good footballers are in great demand if they contribute to a team winning matches, leagues and competitions because they make money for the teams. Football makes a lot of money for the networks, equipment manufacturers, merchandisers, public houses that screen the games, etc., etc.You may as well complain about the money spent on advertising Marmite or Wonderbras.It is quite simple really.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

Well at least marmite and wonderbras are useful - football I am afraid isn't.

J Smith ● 5985d

Yes it is useful, it is responsible for large contributions the tax man.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

Just to be clear, I find football marginally less interesting than I would the study of wood-effect wallpaper patterns from the 1970s.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

Personally found the 1970's wood-effect wallpaper very interesting. However I find that the fascination with a mere game just unbelieveable. What started out as basically an amateur fun game (jumpers for goalposts etc) has become the b all and end all for a lot of people. For some it is jsut an excuse to get rowdy, drink too much and cause aggro for other people.

J Smith ● 5985d

Yep, but Roman chariot racing was just the same, albeit with fewer injuries.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

At least the injuries sustained in chariot racing were real, unlike a the majority of football injuries.

J Smith ● 5985d

:) Such was my allusion.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

I'd love to see them have a game of rugby the WAGs would have to be there to give them a cuddle after every tackle.

Tony Maxey ● 5985d

You're not implying the our footballers are a bunch of jessies are you?!

J Smith ● 5985d

Not at all I suppose if were earning 60 or 70K per week I would probably feign an injury or two.

Tony Maxey ● 5985d

Which brings me to my original point - they are paid far too much. It's just a game!

J Smith ● 5985d

But their maximum earning potential only lasts a short while. Then they have to deal with the depression of not being able to play anymore when they reach their their late thirties. Not many of them are able to occupy their time once football is over for them. And not being famous anymore, they can't shag eachothers' wives and be photographed barfing outside Tiger Tiger. Well they might get photographed barfing outside Tiger, but that's just a low rent Ikea copy in Ealing Broadway centre.

Ash Parks ● 5985d

The popularity of this street game astounds me there are plenty of other team sports that are by far superior, In Australia its 1st Aussie Rules (a bye product of cricket) 2nd Cricket 3rd Rugby League 4th Rugby Union. Soccer about 15th on the sports list just behind pommie bashing depending in what state you hail from.

Tony Maxey ● 5985d

My brothers ex-wife always used to say that Aussie rules a yobs game.Mind you, she hailed from a family of horse rustlers.

G Lord ● 5985d

It is a yobs game they have about 200 players per side, never understood it, a friend of mine had two season tickets and took me along sometimes I spent most of the time in the bar watching the horse raceing.

Tony Maxey ● 5985d

Tony wrote: >Aussie Rules (a bye product of cricket)

D Fox ● 5985d

No .. Not many Aussies know how Aussie Rules started; the concept was first thought of by off season cricket players to improve their catching and fielding. And the first official game was played between two colleges in Melbourne (no dates sorry}. It has nothing to do with Gaelic Football which many people believe. Made a bit of cash from this in Aus even from people that have played the game.

Tony Maxey ● 5985d

I am looking forward to the World Cup.  In another league, my team was promoted on Saturday.

Graham Weeks ● 5984d