Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:46 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Surprised to see England favourites for the Five nations (and Italy). Says a lot about union in the northern hemisphere.

There are too many sub standard teams in European union. It's time to cast off the weak and make both competitions strong and entertaining to watch.
Discuss.

are we then discussing/arguing with the operative word being 'EXPANSION' ? (or not ?) - it seems to ring a bell somewhere else ?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:58 pm  

sanjunien wrote:

can't beleive the quality of Agen - watched them against Racing & Biarritz and they looked a different team plus a great atmosphere - talk about chalk and cheese ?

After seeing Stade Francais at Headingley on the telly, do the French sides not really care about this comp?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:19 pm  

sanjunien wrote:

are we then discussing/arguing with the operative word being 'EXPANSION' ? (or not ?) - it seems to ring a bell somewhere else ?

Let's keep this to union, please.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:34 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Let's keep this to union, please.

oops,sorry

the obvious solution to me would be for the 'minnows' to play in their own eliminatory groups to earn the right to play the bigger teams - this would allow more uk/french outfits in at the start

ie the equivalent of San Marino,Andorra,Leichenstein & Faroe Islands etc playing an elimination group in the WC or EC

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:05 am  

sanjunien wrote:

oops,sorry

the obvious solution to me would be for the 'minnows' to play in their own eliminatory groups to earn the right to play the bigger teams - this would allow more uk/french outfits in at the start

ie the equivalent of San Marino,Andorra,Leichenstein & Faroe Islands etc playing an elimination group in the WC or EC

I can see where you're coming from, but would water down the competitions geographically. One of the big selling points for the European union tournaments is that they are played by teams in several countries.
I'd prefer to see the Spanish, Romanians and indeed some Italian and French sides made to wait before they're allowed to compete.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:15 pm  

Shark J wrote:

I'm a little gutted he's moving to them. They're a bit of a joke and a bit of a nothing club in my opinion. All they seem to do is talk. Sure, they made it to The Premiership final last year but what they're trying to achieve off the field doesn't seem to be working. They've played 5 games at Wembley or something now, the most recent getting a 38k crowd which was the lowest of the lot. This was down to tube strikes but it was still a derby game on Boxing Day and you'd expect more.
The big games don't seem to have helped their home attendances in which crowds have reached the 6k mark recently which is only higher than Newcastle and Leeds and some of ours. They've made a loss on promoting these games and in 2 years nothing seems to have been achieved.

Last night seemed to prove your point. Poor performance, home loss and just over 5,000 there to see it.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:02 am  

I was down at Edgeley Park today to watch County, and it's sad to see how the loss of the stadium and the rent is killing that club. Fans walking around with buckets collecting change to keep the club going. "Help the Hatters" scarves for sale (I did buy one). Rants and chants about rugby (all rugby, regardless of code), fuming anger.

Grim times. Sale have a lot of work to do to win hearts and minds around there.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:50 am  

It's not our responsibility to put things right. I once had sympathy for Stockport but these days I kind of smile when they get beat. I'm from Wythenshawe and so although it's Manchester, Stockport are my most local Football league club. I always looked out for their results and behind United who I support, they were one of the few other clubs I always liked to do well. Some things have happened over the years that have been bad, yes. Although he's our owner I appreciate that to a degree Brian Kennedy has left them in the poop. But the degree to which they moan about it is ridiculous. They bought the club and ruined it themselves. They are the ones conceding 4 and 5 every other week at home to some of the smallest teams in the Football league. I've stated elsewhere that I'm a Rugby fan on the pitch and that a lot of what goes on behind closed doors is something I like to stay out of. So if any of you know more, even about a club I support then fair enough. But Stockport fans can take it out on Kennedy all they like, but they need to leave the fans out of it.
Some of the stuff you hear is ridiculous. I've heard stories of people being provoked and attacked by Stockport fans on match days. Do Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie do this to one another? Do Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic? Wycombe and Wasps? Reading and London Irish?
The funny thing is I've spent a lot of my life around Stockport and barely seen any fans. It's only when they have something to whinge about that they like to come out and make it like they're this massive club. I've got nothing against them and their fans but when I hear tales like fans getting attacked for having a Sale hat on it angers me. The daft thing is I've been to watch Bury play Stockport twice and the majority of Stockport fans are about 15 years old. There's a lot of rumours go around by people who have no idea what they're on about because Stockport fans have told them their side. So Sale are seen as some demon club when we're not. If you ever come to a game you'll see we're a family club and nobody has got a chip on their shoulder. We're the complete opposite.
Besides, the majority of season ticket holders at Edgeley Park have got an SK postcode so I don't think we need to do anything to win over the community. I like the ground. It's easy to get to and is good enough for me for the time. It could do with sprucing up a bit but I'd rather stay there than move to somewhere like Salford which would be too hard to get to. But if it means many more years of bad mouthing and protesting outside of match days with little kids giving you daggers then I might support going elsewhere

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:20 am  

Shark J wrote:

I'm from Wythenshawe and so although it's Manchester, Stockport are my most local Football league club. I always looked out for their results and behind United who I support, they were one of the few other clubs I always liked to do well.
I once had sympathy for Stockport but these days I kind of smile when they get beat.

Shark J wrote:

Some things have happened over the years that have been bad, yes. Although he's our owner I appreciate that to a degree Brian Kennedy has left them in the poop.

At least you recognise that he shafted them.

Shark J wrote:

The funny thing is I've spent a lot of my life around Stockport and barely seen any fans. It's only when they have something to whinge about that they like to come out and make it like they're this massive club. I've got nothing against them and their fans but when I hear tales like fans getting attacked for having a Sale hat on it angers me. The daft thing is I've been to watch Bury play Stockport twice and the majority of Stockport fans are about 15 years old. There's a lot of rumours go around by people who have no idea what they're on about because Stockport fans have told them their side. So Sale are seen as some demon club when we're not. If you ever come to a game you'll see we're a family club and nobody has got a chip on their shoulder. We're the complete opposite.

I suppose it's who you talk to. I've only ever met/known three people from in and around Stockport and two were County fans the other being he daughter of a County supporter.
Many sporting clubs would kill for younger fans. That, according to some in Wigan, is the problem we are faced with as a rugby league club.

Shark J wrote:

Besides, the majority of season ticket holders at Edgeley Park have got an SK postcode so I don't think we need to do anything to win over the community.

That's quite a big postcode area. Aren't Sale marketing themselves as the North West's rugby (union) club? Yet most of the season ticket holders are from the Stockport postcode area. Sounds like Mick Hogan has work to do.

Shark J wrote:

It could do with sprucing up a bit but I'd rather stay there than move to somewhere like Salford which would be too hard to get to. But if it means many more years of bad mouthing and protesting outside of match days with little kids giving you daggers then I might support going elsewhere

Sale?
fIf the Sharks continue in exile in Stockport or indeed move somewhere else, do you think they should change or drop the name Sale? Always strikes me as daft when you have teams like London Irish playing in Reading and Sale in Stockport. Bath had plans not too long ago to relocate to Swindon AND keep the name Bath!

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:22 am  

Aironi Rugby 6-43 Ulster
Cetransa El Salvador 5-50 Sale
Connacht 83-7 Cavalieri Prato
Gloucester 60-7 Agen

Does this do anyone any good whatsoever?