Everyone should try and watch a match between Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers. Celtic are supported by the Catholics and Rangers by the Protestants. This makes for some highly spirited contests. After they score the Celtic players have been known to make the sign of the cross and the Ranger players will sometime mimic playing the flute as William of Orange (blockaderunner correct me if I'm wrong) did over the bodies of Catholic dead after a battle, can't remember which one. This would have to be one of the best all time sport rivalries.
That would be The Battle of the Boyne, 1690. Yes, spirited is certainly the word. What makes the rivalry even greater, is that Rangers and Celtic are by far Scotlands biggest clubs. Imagine a league where the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets are matched with college teams and you will have some idea. No other Scottish team has won the league since the 1980's. I have never met anyone from Scotland who does not support one or the other.
There is freedom of employment between EU countries, which means players from any of those countries can not be prevented from signing for English teams. Non EU players must be full internationals who have played in a certain percentage of their countries games over the last twelve months. I think the percentage is seventy five but I'm not certain.
Chelsea have quite a few English internationals. Central defender John Terry (Captain of England and Chelsea), full backs Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge, midfielders Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips. They also have a foreign legion with players from: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Peru, Germany, Czech Republic, Holland and France.
Blockaderunner, Please take at look at the last post on page 6 and shed some light on the number of foreigners aloud each team in the Premiere.
Mike .T
In our pro leagues like football, basketball, and baseball the team relatively the same teams every year playing against each other.
Is the Premiere league the same because years ago I was told the Premiere League teams change frequently but from what I have read so far it does not seems the case. Maybe you guys a clear up my miss information..
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
There are 92 teams playing in the English league system. The top 20 are in the FA Premier League, next 24 play in the Football League Championship, next 24 in Football League One, and the bottom 24 in Football League Two. At the end of the season (August-May) the bottom three in the Premier are relegated to the Championship. The top two in the Championship are promoted to the Premier, plus one from a play-off competition between those finishing 3rd-6th. The relegation system also applies to the other leagues, with three being relegated from the Championship to League One and three being promoted to the Championship. Four are relegated from League One, with four promoted from League Two. The bottom two in League Two are relegated to the non-league Conference, with two Conference teams being promoted to League Two.
In theory, this means that the Premier League will have ever changing teams. What happens is that the promoted teams are usually trying to punch above their weight. They are frequently, but not always, relegated after just one season in the top flight. The gulf in class (and finances) is often too great. Of the teams promoted last season, Derby county are rock bottom of the Premier and are already relegated. Birmingham City are fourth bottom and are battling for survival. Only Sunderland look certain to survive. The promotion system does mean that a team can go from League Two obscurity to the Premier League. In recent times several teams have managed to do this.
Ummmmmmm. OK. I can see clearly now. Are we talking about football?
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
There are 92 teams playing in the English league system. The top 20 are in the FA Premier League, next 24 play in the Football League Championship, next 24 in Football League One, and the bottom 24 in Football League Two. At the end of the season (August-May) the bottom three in the Premier are relegated to the Championship. The top two in the Championship are promoted to the Premier, plus one from a play-off competition between those finishing 3rd-6th. The relegation system also applies to the other leagues, with three being relegated from the Championship to League One and three being promoted to the Championship. Four are relegated from League One, with four promoted from League Two. The bottom two in League Two are relegated to the non-league Conference, with two Conference teams being promoted to League Two.
In theory, this means that the Premier League will have ever changing teams. What happens is that the promoted teams are usually trying to punch above their weight. They are frequently, but not always, relegated after just one season in the top flight. The gulf in class (and finances) is often too great. Of the teams promoted last season, Derby county are rock bottom of the Premier and are already relegated. Birmingham City are fourth bottom and are battling for survival. Only Sunderland look certain to survive. The promotion system does mean that a team can go from League Two obscurity to the Premier League. In recent times several teams have managed to do this.
Thank you for this insight on British FUBU..
I think it is a neat system it punishes the poor teams, owner, and towns for allowing their teams to become just bad...
I think a system like this would be good for pro-baseball with their farm system so it would embarrass teams, owners, and towns for always having bad teams. It would motivate owners to build winning teams.
I think it could work for our pro-basketball and pro-hockey teams as well. It is trying knowing before a season begins which teams are bad because their owners don't care to putting a competitive team on the court or in the ring, instead just want to make a buck.
I think the embarrassment to being kick down to a minor league would be motivational to many owners plus it would be a big hit in the owners wallet as well. I think it would be a hit with the fans because every games counts in this type of system....
Something has to change in our pro sports league because in almost every sport except football, there are many owners who don't care about putting a competitive team on the field, or court, or in the ring.
If the owners don't want to revenue share which makes football such a competitive sport then maybe embarrassment might to the answer....
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
Thanks for explaining the concept, 5fish. If a team doesn't do well, it might be moved to AAA. Waaaaah! The Cubs as a AAA team? Couldn't possibly get that by the Nort' Siders. The Sox as a AAA team? Couldn't possibly get that by the Sout' Siders.
To oversimplify, the only way to fill a stadium (with a few exceptions named above) is to field a team with potential. I simply don't see the fans tolerating such a rule. Sounds good in theory; falls on its face in reality.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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