The Football News Thread 2024/25

[Derby Wolf]

Jeff would have to get shipped back to China in a pine box.

Don't tease me with a good time.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

One of the great prizes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1849813162352312697

 

[Dinowolf]

Ten Hag sacked

 

[Tony Towner]

Rodri winning the Ballon D'Or is both surprising and joyous

 

[Jack Regan]

Real Madrid's reaction to it makes it even better.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Bunch of wankers aren't they?

 

[leedswolf]

Bunch of wankers aren't they?

Have been from around 1943...

 

[Mel Evo]

Have been from around 1943...

This has to be a forum topic we can all agree on, right?!

 

[Donegal Wolf]

This has to be a forum topic we can all agree on, right?!

Nah they were a nothing club upto the mid 50's (except 2 good years 31/32) not even biggest team in Madrid then. Mile behind Bilbao, Valencia, Barcelona & Athletico.
Mid 50s got their shit together & Franco then jumped on the bandwagon.

 

[Mel Evo]

Nah they were a nothing club upto the mid 50's (except 2 good years 31/32) not even biggest team in Madrid then. Mile behind Bilbao, Valencia, Barcelona & Athletico.
Mid 50s got their shit together & Franco then jumped on the bandwagon.

Drat. Thought we had a ticket to harmony there too.

 

[leedswolf]

Nah they were a nothing club upto the mid 50's (except 2 good years 31/32) not even biggest team in Madrid then. Mile behind Bilbao, Valencia, Barcelona & Athletico.
Mid 50s got their shit together & Franco then jumped on the bandwagon.

Franco was well aware of the power of the game to influence the behaviour and attitudes of the population, so he instituted a Ministry of Sport, led by loyal nationalists, to disseminate state propaganda and use football to distract people from poverty.

In 1943, after winning the first leg of a cup semi-final against Real Madrid 3-0, Barcelona’s players were paid a visit by one of Franco’s cronies, who reminded them that they were only allowed to play at all due to “the generosity of the regime”, and suggested in no uncertain terms that they ease off in the second leg.

Real Madrid went on to win that game 11-1, by far the biggest win in Clásico history. Again, it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which the story has been embellished, but it is hard to believe that such a scoreline could have come about entirely naturally.

By its very nature, a centralising regime is built on the power of its capital, and the Franco regime was centred, politically and economically, around Madrid. For this reason, Real Madrid, as the most successful team in the city, and the most prestigious team of entirely Castilian identity, was always likely to be the preferred team of the dictator.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Franco was well aware of the power of the game to influence the behaviour and attitudes of the population, so he instituted a Ministry of Sport, led by loyal nationalists, to disseminate state propaganda and use football to distract people from poverty.

In 1943, after winning the first leg of a cup semi-final against Real Madrid 3-0, Barcelona’s players were paid a visit by one of Franco’s cronies, who reminded them that they were only allowed to play at all due to “the generosity of the regime”, and suggested in no uncertain terms that they ease off in the second leg.

Real Madrid went on to win that game 11-1, by far the biggest win in Clásico history. Again, it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which the story has been embellished, but it is hard to believe that such a scoreline could have come about entirely naturally.

By its very nature, a centralising regime is built on the power of its capital, and the Franco regime was centred, politically and economically, around Madrid. For this reason, Real Madrid, as the most successful team in the city, and the most prestigious team of entirely Castilian identity, was always likely to be the preferred team of the dictator.

Franco put his people into all educational and sporting institutes after the war, whilst Bernabau was installed into Madrid, even at Barcelona another loyalist Pineyo was installed, although he resigned after that semi final.

The 1st leg of the semi final Madrid felt hard done by and their press whipped the crowd up prior to the game to an extremely hostile environment. There is no evidence about Franco's officer visiting and some Barca players in later years said it never happened.
If it did happen then it was an isolated case of government help. In the 1st 14 years of Franco's reign, league winners

Barcelona 5
Athletico 4
Valencia 3
Bilboa 1
Saville 1
Madrid 0

As Madrid leaders were prominent on the nationalist side during the war (Bernabau's predessor as president was executed in the final days), it was felt that Franco had more of an affection for Athletico (originally founded from his air force).

3 things convoluted together in the mid 50's, European football, Real Madrid side & Spain coming out of their exile as an international pariah.

Which he jumped on the back of.

Most of the allegations about his influence on football to Real's advantage seem to come in the 60's when Barcelona were poor & tried to deflect some of their struggles on Rea saying they had an unfair advantage.


(For the record I dislike the cunts as much as everyone else does)

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Franco was well aware of the power of the game to influence the behaviour and attitudes of the population, so he instituted a Ministry of Sport, led by loyal nationalists, to disseminate state propaganda and use football to distract people from poverty.

In 1943, after winning the first leg of a cup semi-final against Real Madrid 3-0, Barcelona’s players were paid a visit by one of Franco’s cronies, who reminded them that they were only allowed to play at all due to “the generosity of the regime”, and suggested in no uncertain terms that they ease off in the second leg.

Real Madrid went on to win that game 11-1, by far the biggest win in Clásico history. Again, it is difficult to ascertain the extent to which the story has been embellished, but it is hard to believe that such a scoreline could have come about entirely naturally.

By its very nature, a centralising regime is built on the power of its capital, and the Franco regime was centred, politically and economically, around Madrid. For this reason, Real Madrid, as the most successful team in the city, and the most prestigious team of entirely Castilian identity, was always likely to be the preferred team of the dictator.

This is why despite taking us for fools - more our fault than theirs - I still like seeing Barca beating Real.

 

[Kenny]

Deadpool and his mate are now joint owners of the Wrexham Lager Brewery

 

[leedswolf]

Crisis club Walsall Wood have announced their resignation from the Northern Premier League.