Just because they're right once in a while doesn't mean they're not paranoid 😋
Feeling rather unwell after listening to Ken masticate loudly
Just because you're not paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you 😀
The nay-sayers being proven so wrong about the new format will never get old
The format that took 8 rounds of games to end up with every single one of the teams we all knew would qualify getting through? Gosh it was exciting.
Too many games to get excited about but I will say it was great for smaller clubs like Celtic that they had a hope of qualifying.
Well, City have to play one of Bayern or Madrid in a playoff and Lille have gone straight through.
One of the three pre tournament favourites are guaranteed to be eliminated before the Round of 16. Hardly predictable.
Well I mean City are highly unlikely to win the Premier League this year either.
That's not because of the format.
Still a terrible format. This last round of games were the only possible really interesting ones for a neutral and then with them all being on the same time (which i know they had to be) a big waste
It occurred to me earlier if they put all the last games in the old group stage on at the same time, that would probably be far more exciting from the couch than this.
Edit: Anyway, looking forward to hearing the post mortem tomorrow.
The previous format was a bit **** anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Found myself not watching many group games in recent years (including this one). It's grand to dip in and out of if there's a game that catches my eye, but certainly not essential viewing. It's been the case that it only really kicks off in the knockout rounds for years now.
It's not like the upcoming changes to the World Cup format where they're altering the perfect format for a new, terrible version.
Well I can't disagree with any of this!
New format is rubbish. Loads of games, but a feeling of zero stakes to pretty much all of them: I never felt less engaged by a group stage of the CL.
Okay, the city game last night was must win - but that's one game and in the end they went through, as they were likely to do.
I'm sure the knockouts will be better, but let's not pretend that the group stage has been improved.
Last night was fun, but when you look at the aftermath, how all the big teams are through and only 12 eliminated, it does feel like the massive opening group stage was a bit of a cod
More games, less jeopardy - it's just a cash grab.
Much prefer it, fairer way of deciding things with the 1st seeds no longer avoiding playing other 1st seeds and same for 4th seeds so much more equitable.
Needing 16 points to be in the top 8 means lots of big teams miss out and you can't really afford many slip ups.
They also format it so their is always a big game on each night similar to Nations League which was also a big upgrade on previous.
Now if they could just introduce a Europa league type tournament for the World Cup I would be very happy. Next 32 teams enter into a 'Global Cup' played at same time but in the completely opposite time zone. It's the last change that I would like to see.
I've never been closer to canceling my subscription than when listening to Ken eating humble pie.
Agree with you there. Started being kinda funny but went on far too long and became very disingenuous.
Definitely veered into smug and unlikable territory.
That needs to be nipped in the bud.
I thought it was funny to begin with but agreed it went on too long.
Ive dipped in and out of membership over the years. The thing is, I probably wouldn't bother listening to them if it wasn't for Ken. But there's only so much Ken I can listen to!
And Rugby chat...
The rugby chat is good apart from the collective cheerleading for Jack Crowley.
Good luck to anyone batshít enough to think Second Captains isn’t at the very top of the food chain of sports podcasts anywhere, though.
I finished the Stakeknife series today. Overall I thought it was well put together and interesting, although there was no ‘theme’ or underlying argument or revelations - it was really just a collection of stories about Scappaticci.
Like most podcast series it was too long and ran out of steam towards the end. The story in the 9th episode was harrowing but had nothing to do with Stakeknife. And the driving around Guildford in the last episode was pointless - it seemed like they were trying to redo the climax from Where is George Gibney, but it came across as a gimmick.
Also, there was some misinformation in the last episode that wasn’t particularly significant but annoyed me. Mark referred to the Aldershot bombing in 1972 as having been carried out by the IRA. I’d say 90% of the listeners, and probably 100% of those in the UK, naturally assumed that he was referring to the same IRA that Stakeknife was a member of, i.e. the provos. But the Aldershot bombing was carried out by the OIRA, the Stickies, who were the sworn enemy of the provos. While nothing turned on it, I thought it was irritatingly misleading.
Even with those provisos, I thought it was a worthwhile series and a reminder of how grim and dark things were in the north until 30 years ago
Didn't think much of the new arsenal 'red cardgate' audio bed. A bit meandering, forgettable music and overly long. Bring back Mark.
Was it not just a p*sstake on the Tiger Woods one for those same reasons?
Mark was supposed to be making new ones but that one from yesterday was pretty poor
..drinking the moment when Tony Adams scored? 😳
THeo Walcott reminds me of Sean Dyche. Have a very similar turn of phrase.
I Don't find him a particularly interesting pundit
Which of ye is the eejit who sent in the Villa Euro hatred email?
Didn’t expect Dour Dion to filibuster addressing his terrible Liverpool takes by verging into eugenics and why the size of Evan Ferguson’s shoulders mean he’ll get injured a lot. When you expect him to duck he weaves.
