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Messages - DownInAlbion

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51
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat
« on: May 07, 2013, 07:53:07 PM »
great tempo looks like were actually going for it!

52
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Pre Season Tour
« on: April 30, 2013, 05:39:38 PM »
This will be a much more expensive trip than Malmo, flights are £150 per person minimum, think it will be beyond my wallet this time.

is food and drink more expensive than it is in sweden? i struggled to afford sweden with all the £7pints etc..

53
General Football & Sports / Re: Big Club?
« on: April 15, 2013, 03:51:06 PM »
They can revel in their big time glory next year in league 1. I think its quite good that 3 west midlands teams feature in the top 20 even if they are in the wrong order ;)

54
General Football & Sports / Big Club?
« on: April 15, 2013, 03:38:17 PM »
Just came across this article which tries to define what exactly makes a 'big club'. Quite an enjoyable read and nice to see us sitting in 14th place higher than Forest, West Ham, Derby.....

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sleeping-giant-or-minnow-how-do-you-measure-a-clubs-size-8570655.html



It is hardly surprising that Wigan Athletic have been unable to sell all their ticket allocation for today's Wembley semi-final – they took only 340 supporters to Loftus Road last weekend for a game that was pivotal to retaining their Premier League status. Accepted it was a Sunday game with live television coverage, and many fans will have saved their money for today's trip, but 340? By way of comparison, League Two Gillingham took 511 fans a similar distance to Rotherham.

To their detractors this is proof that Wigan, despite their Premier League status, are irredeemably "small-time". Yet Wigan are, by some definitions, becoming a "big club". They are among only 10 teams to have been in the top flight since 2005 and are one match from being one of six to play in both domestic cup finals in the last decade. Win today and they are in Europe for the first time. They are also sufficiently alluring for their manager to have resisted entreaties from Liverpool and Aston Villa.

What is a "big club"? It is one of the most provocative issues in fandom, one guaranteed to spark a debate in phone-ins and the comments section of articles on the web. Supporters of clubs such as Leeds United, Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday console themselves that, while they may not currently sup at the top table, they are a "big club", a sleeping giant just in need of prodding awake by the right manager-owner combination. Meanwhile Chelsea, despite picking up pots on an annual basis, continue to be mocked by fans of clubs such as Liverpool for having "no history", in part because for 20 years they had just four major honours to their name and an average gate of 18,787.

"Big club" perception depends in part on timing. The Big Five who conspired to launch the Premier League were Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham. By the time the competition had matured, a Big Four dominated, with Chelsea replacing Everton and Spurs. Those two are now back in the trophy hunt, but have been overtaken by Manchester City.

Further back, a fan growing up in the 1930s would have regarded Huddersfield Town as a big club, while his sons would have no hesitation in thinking of Wolves as one and might well consider Preston and Blackpool similarly. Someone in their forties, growing up when those teams were in the lower divisions, would scoff at such descriptions, but would vividly recall Nottingham Forest conquering Europe and Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town lifting the Uefa Cup.

To my mind there are two measures of "bigness": historical achievement and supporter base. There is no doubt that Manchester United are now England's biggest club, as this week's huge sponsorship deal with Aon underlines. They have the biggest ground, most supporters and have won a major honour in each of the last eight decades. They struggled between the wars but were a powerful force in the early years of the century. After that there is Liverpool, trophy winners in nine of the last 12 decades and with huge global support, then Arsenal, who have the longest unbroken run in the elite, since 1919.

Historically, Everton and Aston Villa would be next. Both were founder members in 1888. Everton have been in the top flight for all but four seasons since, the most of any club, while Villa were early giants and have won the European Cup. But with three European trophies and a higher average gate, a case could be made that Tottenham are at least equal to this pair.

Newcastle and Sunderland each have a large and dedicated support, but only the older members can recall the glory years. By contrast, tomorrow's FA Cup semi-finalists, Chelsea and Manchester City, have gatecrashed the elite in recent years by dint of huge overseas investment. By modern measures (owner's wealth, global support and merchandising, Champions League participation) they are very big clubs, but their standing is not just based on the Premier League era. Before the arrival of Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour they had each won a European trophy, the old Football League title, and remain the only clubs in the country to attract 80,000-plus attendances to a club match on their own ground.

Behind that top 10 are that group of clubs at present brooding in the Championship: Leeds, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Forest and Wednesday, who between them have won four European trophies, 14 league titles and 16 FA Cups.

This view is inevitably subjective. Leeds' status owes much to a golden period under Don Revie which coincided with my formative years, as did Forest's two European Cups, achievements which compensate for their relatively smaller historic average gate (they would be 21st in the accompanying table). Wednesday, admittedly, have not won much since 1935 but retained a "big club" image for many years because Hillsborough staged FA Cup semi-finals. Tragically, that status was not matched by their stadium management.

There are other storied clubs in the Championship: Derby County, Ipswich and Burnley have won the league post-war while Bolton have an illustrious history. It is certainly arguable that if a Super League were constructed based on history and support a third of the clubs would come from the current Championship.

Though shaped by the past, however, football lives in the present. The move to the Olympic Stadium could enable West Ham to become accepted as a big club one day; they already have a large core support and respected heritage. The likes of Southampton or Cardiff City could force their way into the VIP area through further benefactor investment – though the new Financial Fair Play regulations make that more difficult. West Bromwich Albion will have their adherents, but now we are getting into the realm of decent, medium-sized clubs, not "big" ones.

What does seem certain, in the internet age, is that "big clubs" are going to get bigger. In the early days clubs were constrained by the size of their hometown populations: thus the clubs fed by the big conurbations of London, Manchester and Merseyside eclipsed the cotton towns. Now the entire global population can be tapped: witness the multilingual club websites being created to build on the Premier League's worldwide TV coverage.

Crucial to this marketing is success. Victory in the FA Cup would do wonders for Wigan's profile, which has grown hugely at home and abroad in recent years thanks to their weekly TV presence and multinational squad. Wigan have already made giant progress – 20 years ago they averaged 2,598 at the gate. That season, Fulham and Reading were in the lower divisions and had sub-5,000 averages. Both have increased attendances five-fold. No one would describe them as "big clubs", but they are a lot bigger than they were.

Chelsea benefactor Matthew Harding once said one of his ambitions was that when he offered someone a ticket to Stamford Bridge they would not ask "who are you playing?" but would go just to watch Chelsea, as is now the case. That, perhaps, is the best definition of all of a "big club" – a team the neutral goes to watch.

'Big club' top 20

1. Man United

2. Liverpool

3. Arsenal

4. Everton

5. Aston Villa

6. Chelsea

7. Tottenham

8. Newcastle

9. Man City

10. Sunderland

11. Sheff Wed

12. Wolves

13. Leeds

14. West Brom

15 Nott’m Forest

16. Blackburn

17. Sheff Utd

18. Derby

19. West Ham

20. Bolton

55
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Predictions
« on: April 11, 2013, 04:25:49 PM »
wba 3-2 fgs brunt

56
General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL EUROPA LEAGUE THREAD
« on: April 04, 2013, 10:25:49 PM »
have to say im very impressed with the quality on show in this years europa league and glad AVB always plays a strong team!

57
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Why do they still have a job!
« on: March 30, 2013, 10:32:05 PM »
i just feel sorry for people who fall out of love with football but oh well your loss. WBA TILL I DIE!

58
both got their plus points in the premiership we get to see world class players, gain much much more revenue, etc... but then in the championship its more exciting as the league is so much closer anyone can go up where as in the premiership you're lucky if you get a few points of teams in the top 4/5 during the whole season, championship also much cheaper and i actually prefer visiting the smaller grounds rather than the plastic old trafford/emirates championship grounds have an atmosphere and character something which is slowly fading from the premiership.

Id say the championship is more interesting for competition but id rather be in the premiership challenging for europe and watching players such as bale, silva, rooney

59
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Predictions
« on: March 08, 2013, 07:57:05 PM »
wba 4-3 swansea fgs michu

60
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: Do you / Did you miss it
« on: March 08, 2013, 07:56:17 PM »
this season was the first time in 10years i havent got a season ticket due to uni and i miss it like crazy! like other people have said its not just the game its the whole day experience meeting up with friends, having a few pints etc.. haavent been to a game since malmmo and the next one  cant come soon enough!

61
General Football & Sports / Re: Dingle watch - Anything Wolves
« on: March 01, 2013, 02:53:10 PM »
tonigght will be the first time ill be watching wolves sine the 5-1  ;D lets hope its just as entertaining!

62
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Predictions
« on: March 01, 2013, 02:51:15 PM »
might stick a cheeky little quid on that coming in at 58/1

after reading that ive just put £1 on! not bad odds at all. we showed we can do it against liverpool

63
West Bromwich Albion FC / Re: End of season theme
« on: March 01, 2013, 01:23:24 PM »
A show of appreciation for Dan Ashworth anybody

this would be a good idea but how would we do it?

64
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Predictions
« on: February 28, 2013, 07:49:36 PM »
0-1 fgs olsson. I can see us frustrating them the crowd getting on the back then us going up the other end and nicking it from a set piece. If anything id say playing at stamford bridge at the moment gives us more of an advantage than them

65
General Football & Sports / Re: Craig Dawson
« on: February 28, 2013, 07:48:22 PM »
Im sure he can see the reasons why he isnt in the starting 11 and i hope that the club have told him that when G.Mac starts to show his age or even if olsson is sold he is going to be there replacement. He is improving and as a were club improving i'd like to think he thinks his at the right place and waits patiently for his place whilst keep on improving and if anything makes him hungrier to win a place when his given the oppurtinity

66
General Football & Sports / Re: Cardiff could be "rebranded"
« on: February 28, 2013, 04:36:04 PM »
If that happened at the Albion I wouldnt go no more.

The owner is a clown, he literally says if you dont agree with me I will leave and you will be in administration, sounds more like a dictator to me.

agreed. id give up on premiership football completely and go support a non league team.

67
General Football & Sports / Re: Dingle watch - Anything Wolves
« on: February 27, 2013, 08:38:57 PM »
Saunders says Championship football is a must: “Yes, otherwise we won’t be able to afford them.

"And another thing that has pleased me is in Ladbrokes, we’re not one of the three favourites to get relegated and they don’t normally get it wrong.


http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dean-saunders-transfer-targets---1343766  :D

First time I've ever heard a manager quote a bookies.

seems very unproffessional to quote a bookies. i was listening to his interview on talksport earlier (i know i shouldnt listen to that pile of rubbish but i was very bored) thought they raised quite a good point for once though saunders kept on saying 'if we go down.....' didnt sound very positive at all. still cant get over the fact they appointed connor, stale and now this clown. times like these make me cherish peace even more!

68
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat
« on: February 23, 2013, 04:03:20 PM »
so far so good! only another 45

69
General Football & Sports / Re: OFFICIAL PREMIER LEAGUE THREAD
« on: February 23, 2013, 02:33:11 PM »
why is fulham v stoke on tv? surely they couldve picked a more exciting game!

70
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: Reid targeted by racist?
« on: February 12, 2013, 12:33:21 AM »
I saw him tweet,'there is always one' or something like that, surely these people can be tracked down.

by saying there is always one does he mean this happens after every game?! i didnt know that!
something needs to be done.

71
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate
« on: February 12, 2013, 12:23:20 AM »
3 points that is the important thing

72
Albion Matchday Forum / Reid targeted by racist?
« on: February 12, 2013, 12:07:06 AM »
Just seen this on facebook dont know whether its real or not...disgraceful if it is!!
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/382315_10151261351981516_212245160_n.jpg

i havent got twitter so dont know whats going on anybody got any news on this?

73
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: After Match Debate
« on: February 11, 2013, 11:13:39 PM »
After some on here were saying we would be in a relegation battle and Clarke should be sacked, what they saying now. One year ago tomorrow we played the Wolves and won 5-1 and it started a great run lets hope after todays result we have another one. KTF

how i hope youre right!

74
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat
« on: February 11, 2013, 09:50:47 PM »
oh my! oh my........AMAZING!!!

75
Albion Matchday Forum / Re: In Game Chat
« on: February 11, 2013, 09:47:38 PM »
carragher must hate lukaku

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