Kick Off This Evening
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Curious to see if it will be a bore fest like the German Bundesliga without crowd support. I can't watch as I fall asleep.
The Premier League starts back up again later today with Manchester City taking on Arsenal. I think over this break everyone has come to realise sport is actually not that important and other things do matter. I will be watching as I enjoy the Premiership but wont be glued like I used to before. I have kind of got used to not having it and have found other things to do which I enjoy.
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Think they are kidding themselves if this will help.
The match is quite important on a number of levels as if the players take the knee before kick off their could be a back lash with the public. Players have been wearing Black Lives Matter shirts during training and the train of thought with many is that this is racist on it's own. The movement is not as popular as many might think as media has protected their coverage. the premiership relies heavily on subscribers from pay per view and if not handled diplomatically this could dwindle rapidly to next to nothing.
What is interesting about this tie is that Mikel Arteta was Pep Guardiloa's understudy at City so he knows everything about the team. Pep would have to change some things as Mikel could otherwise use his inside knowledge to find the weaknesses.
This is the crunch time for teams placing themselves in a spot for the lucrative Champions League and Arsenal have been missing since Wenger left which seems like ages ago now. 2015-2016 was their last taste of Champions League after being involved every season since 2005. lately they have been competing in the second tier Europe league which is not the same and the prize money is far less.
If anyone can beat Manchester City right now Arsenal are possibly the side that could do it. Having an extended break the players may struggle with match fitness as nothing can prepare you for what happens in a real match. You can train as much as you want, but match fitness is far different from being gym fit.
If the teams concentrate on what they are paid to do and leave political issues aside then I expect City to come out easy winners.The players know the rest of the world will be watching the first game back and football needs to be the winner and nothing else.
This game could be a funny one though as Arteta with his knowledge could turn the tables. This will be a test of his managerial skills as Arsenal on their day can beat anyone of the top 4 and on another day lose to anyone in the bottom 4. There are no excuses for any team currently as they all have 100 percent fit squads with no injuries and Pep at City would like to cement the top 2 spot they currently have. They are 4 points clear of Leicester in 3rd and will extend it to 10 with 9 games left if they can win today however Arsenal need the points more right now. Arsenal would be 2 points off Manchester United in 5th lining up behind a not so normal and consistent Chelsea team.
If the premier league ends up having the same drab feel as the others that have resumed, I doubt I'll ever have interest in soccer like I did before.
I would be watching all Manchester United's matches though
It is amazing how the crowd creates the atmosphere making it more enjoyable to watch. The games without crowds so far I haven't been able to watch as they honestly put me to sleep. I am not even tired which is even more shocking.
BT Sport were showing some of the matches in the Bundesliga with stadium noise played in the background. It did help to some extent because the sound of echoing shouts and balls being kicked in 60k seater venues is just depressing!
Let's be honest, they just need to finish this season off for financial reasons, I'm sure when the new season starts in a couple of months time there will be fans in attendance even if not at full capacity.
I agree as the season needs to be finished off to start fresh for next season. I have tried to watch it and just can't. I think commentators are also to blame as in the past they never had to entertain the audience. Just think of other sports that have nothing going on for large amounts of the day a football commentator would die. Thinking like cricket they would not be able to cope.
I strongly suspect one of the main reasons that broadcasters even bother with commentary on football or at least don’t give the option to have it without is that you’d be able to hear all the swearing. I think of football commentary as one big beeeep to block out the obscenities that would otherwise land the broadcaster in hot water
My nieces had a softball tournament a couple of weeks ago and it was interesting the rules they had put into place. I might have to write a post about it!
feels like ages ago. it would be interesting to see, but we kinda got used to the games with no audience (as serbia and clubs fans get banned on regular bases).
not great, but a lot depends on the game.