[Archived] Other PL happenings 2010-2011

[CrazyIvan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/mobile/football/9424828.stm

This is interesting... I wonder how much this will change now for Rovers.

[whiteinpeace]

That to me suggests that the only way you are getting into Europe via the fa cup is by winning it and not finishing in Europe places. I'm going to check on the fa site to make sure.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/europa-league/3023605/Back-door-route-into-Europe-is-shut-for-FA-Cup-final-losers-Football.html

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/city/stokecitynews/Stoke-City-Potters-match-away-European-qualification/article-3330102-detail/article.html

Stoke press have clarified it and it is as I thought. Should the winning finalists qualify for the Champions League (top 4) then the losers get a Europa League spot.

If say City win and beat either us or Stoke but City only qualify for Europa league via the the league (ie 5th) then the place goes to the league and not the cup runners up.

This is also confirmed in UEFA's regulations.

[47er]

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/city/stokecitynews/Stoke-City-Potters-match-away-European-qualification/article-3330102-detail/article.html

Stoke press have clarified it and it is as I thought. Should the winning finalists qualify for the Champions League (top 4) then the losers get a Europa League spot.

If say City win and beat either us or Stoke but City only qualify for Europa league via the the league (ie 5th) then the place goes to the league and not the cup runners up.

This is also confirmed in UEFA's regulations.

Good luck anyway--personally I hope you win it. Probably find it hard to hang on to your manager though.

[roversmum]

Best wishes from me, too, whiteinpeace. With Coyle at the helm you stand every chance.

[whiteinpeace]

Good luck anyway--personally I hope you win it. Probably find it hard to hang on to your manager though.

Cheers, I think unless something unexpected happens we'll be fine with Owen for a year or two more. Probably not much more than that though at this rate!

In terms of the FA Cup its nice that you guys mainly seem to be rooting for us, though were it the other way round it'd be the same given the two Manchester clubs in it.

I'm worried about Stoke though, sort of team that we struggle against and Pulis creates that siege mentality. End of they day its just great to have a trip to Wembley after the Megson years!

Good luck as well to you guys, though personally I have absolutely no doubts you'll be nowhere near the bottom 3 come the end of the season!

[joey_big_nose]

Cheers, I think unless something unexpected happens we'll be fine with Owen for a year or two more. Probably not much more than that though at this rate!

In terms of the FA Cup its nice that you guys mainly seem to be rooting for us, though were it the other way round it'd be the same given the two Manchester clubs in it.

I'm worried about Stoke though, sort of team that we struggle against and Pulis creates that siege mentality. End of they day its just great to have a trip to Wembley after the Megson years!

Good luck as well to you guys, though personally I have absolutely no doubts you'll be nowhere near the bottom 3 come the end of the season!

Coyle is clearly the real deal. The issue for Bolton is the next manager vacancy at the "big clubs" who are likely to go for a British boss and have funds. So the ones for the Trotters to worry about are Villa, Spurs (as if Harry leaves/retires I think they would fancy a punt on Coyle), possibly Liverpool if Kenny doesn't stay, Sunderland and Newcastle, plus any other mid table club that comes into serious cash. Coyle would have to do something extraordinary to get Man Utd, Man CIty, Chelsea or Arsenal interested.

If those vacancies stay full then Coyle could be at the Reebok for a long time. If any of them become open then Coyle could go next week*. The real beeeeatchhh of uncertainty which comes with having a good manager as we found out with Hughes.

I personally want Bolton to with the FA cup also.

*IMO if Dalglish hadn't been available Coyle would be at Anfield right now.

[whiteinpeace]

Coyle is clearly the real deal. The issue for Bolton is the next manager vacancy at the "big clubs" who are likely to go for a British boss and have funds. So the ones for the Trotters to worry about are Villa, Spurs (as if Harry leaves/retires I think they would fancy a punt on Coyle), possibly Liverpool if Kenny doesn't stay, Sunderland and Newcastle, plus any other mid table club that comes into serious cash. Coyle would have to do something extraordinary to get Man Utd, Man CIty, Chelsea or Arsenal interested. If those vacancies stay full then Coyle could be at the Reebok for a long time. If any of them become open then Coyle could go next week*. The real beeeeatchhh of uncertainty which comes with having a good manager as we found out with Hughes. I personally want Bolton to with the FA cup also. *IMO if Dalglish hadn't been available Coyle would be at Anfield right now.

Hmmm, I don't think Newcastle or Sunderland are anything for us to worry about. Certainly not Newcastle with Ashley still there.

Liverpool will keep Dalglish IMO. Spurs/Villa are obvious possibilities but depends what Lerner does at Villa in terms of selling/investing. Spurs, may well see themselves as bigger than Coyle unless he actually wins something first. Who knows?

You are right though in that when you have a good manager there is always the threat, same as when you have good players. Its just a part of football now. Don't think Bolton fans are under any illusions, I don't think we expect Coyle to be here in a couple of years, but when he does move on I'm sure it won't be a sideways move.

[joey_big_nose]

Hmmm, I don't think Newcastle or Sunderland are anything for us to worry about. Certainly not Newcastle with Ashley still there.

Sunderland have a lot of cash, although to be fair Bruce's job is safe at the moment. Newcastle have funds again. If they came in for Coyle I am sure he would be tempted and fancy his chances in being able to control Ashley.

[Hughesy]

I want Man Utd to win the FA Cup.

I dont want City to win a trophy for aslong as possible....and I never want success at Bolton.

Amen

[John]

Steve Bruce is hoping Sunderland can wrap up permanent deals for their collection of loan stars.

[whiteinpeace]

Sunderland have a lot of cash, although to be fair Bruce's job is safe at the moment. Newcastle have funds again. If they came in for Coyle I am sure he would be tempted and fancy his chances in being able to control Ashley.

Not sure Sunderland's financial position is as rosy as sometimes people outside of there believe.

There fans seem to believe that some belts are being tightened.

Newcastle only have money from selling players and who knows how much of that a manager will see.

I'd be utterly stunned and amazed if Coyle went to work for Ashley. He's not daft!

[bellamy11]

Stoke to win for personal reasons, but really I'd just like anyone but Citeh. Can't believe I'm saying that when United are in the competition, but there is really nothing to respect about Citeh at all.

[Tom]

Hope bolton thrash Stoke, as I said before watching them I can understand why other teams disliked us in the past.

Fair play to them it works but they are painful to watch and full of dirty tricks, the winner Vs West Ham for example.

On another point I never liked Gray much but Sky Sports commentary now is bloody awful, Ray Wilkins is on tonight and he knows his stuff but doesn't work as a colour commentator.

[blue_and_white]

I'm routing for Stoke to be honest. Bolton seem to consider us their main rivalry these days while you'd struggle to ever get any aggression out of a Rovers fan unless they were confronted with someone in claret and blue wielding a pitchfork. I've seen too many Rovers fans getting started on and beaten up after games outside the Reebok to not let it sour my view of the club. Always found Stoke fans by contrast to be quite friendly (despite their reputation) and they were amazing in terms of online tributes to John Taylor after he died.

[Mattyblue]

I've noticed this invented arch rivalry from the noblot.

Stealing the 'Dingle', '6 fingered' jibes and using them on us! Very odd....

[Hughesy]

I've noticed this invented arch rivalry from the noblot.

Stealing the 'Dingle', '6 fingered' jibes and using them on us! Very odd....

Yeah....some of their 'fans' also claim the 'your mums your dad' chant was made up by them for us.

Personally I hope they get smashed....whether it be semi final or final...I then hope Cahill leaves in summer, Elmander goes for free & their debt increases to a further higher level.

[brian_gallagher85]

On another point I never liked Gray much but Sky Sports commentary now is bloody awful, Ray Wilkins is on tonight and he knows his stuff but doesn't work as a colour commentator.

Fully agree, as a pundit he's second to non, but he just gets lost during the game.

I'm supporting Bolton as they're the lesser of 4 evils...

[whiteinpeace]

I'm routing for Stoke to be honest. Bolton seem to consider us their main rivalry these days while you'd struggle to ever get any aggression out of a Rovers fan unless they were confronted with someone in claret and blue wielding a pitchfork. I've seen too many Rovers fans getting started on and beaten up after games outside the Reebok to not let it sour my view of the club. Always found Stoke fans by contrast to be quite friendly (despite their reputation) and they were amazing in terms of online tributes to John Taylor after he died.

Ha I'm pretty sure most of us don't! We have an idiot element of mainly teenage kids who think its fun to goad whatever opposition we're playing then run away once any trouble is caused. This is not only aimed at Blackburn and these types are not exclusive to us either.

Think the only real "hatred" type rivalry you'll find in most Bolton fans is Man Utd for obvious reasons!

[Gav]

Bolton seem to consider us their main rivalry these days

Boltons main rivals are Bury, but because even they don't take them seriously these days, they try to create rivalries with other local clubs and fail.

Simply nobody cares about bolton.....apart from the Adlington blues that is

[Majiball]

ROFLMAO

[blue_and_white]

ROFLMAO

Good! £30,000 fine as usual is pitiful for what these people are on but the 5 matches will hopefully teach him a lesson (although I won't hold my breath). The guy's a joke when it comes to individually victimising refs and its all tactical. Its so that next time he'll get a more favourable ref or the same one who will be so scared he'll give them most of the decisions. He's been doing this for 20 years and I was starting to worry he had the FA in his pocket. 5 games is finally something substantial although as the worst repeat offender in football history its been a long time coming.

[Mattyblue]

Ha I'm pretty sure most of us don't! We have an idiot element of mainly teenage kids who think its fun to goad whatever opposition we're playing then run away once any trouble is caused. This is not only aimed at Blackburn and these types are not exclusive to us either.

Think the only real "hatred" type rivalry you'll find in most Bolton fans is Man Utd for obvious reasons!

What's all this Dingle stuff about then?

I went on The Wanderer message board pre the match at your place this season and it was frenzied on there!

[tcj_jones]

I find this whole respect campaign really flawed. Referees deserve respect on the pitch, and should not be shouted at, insulted, circled, intimidated etc. However, why should they be shielded from criticism? Especially so when managers and players face it every day. It gives the impression that they're not accountable for their mistakes.

I also hate it when refs refuse to explain their decision or to discuss it. For example, Wenger will most likely face a pretty severe punishment from Fifa for his argument with the ref after the Barca game. But, looking at the footage, where was the respect shown by the ref? He didn't stop and explain his decision, he just waved Wenger away. He also seemed to be giving as good as he got in terms of the shouting that was going on. I'd have been infuriated if I were Wenger.

[Majiball]

Ouch!!!

[bazza]

I want Man Utd to win the FA Cup.

I dont want City to win a trophy for aslong as possible....and I never want success at Bolton.

Amen

Sorry, Hughesy, but you'll have to accept Bolton Wanderers will beat Manchester United in the final of the FA Cup 2011. It's a foregone conclusion.

Mystic Bazza