Saturday Soccer - There's Nothing Quite Like It

You have to love Saturday mornings. Having a lie in, cooking a fry up, sticking on the telly and getting amongst all the hype and build up of the next round of games in the Premiership and Football League - then off on the train, to the pub for a few with your mates and then scuttling to the ground to watch your beloved local team get a good stuffing by some super rich oil baron owned team that puts your first 11 to shame. For me and thousands of others across the world, this is football - and there's nothing quite like it.

     In my opinion, the build up and banter with your mates you enjoy every weekend is as much a part of the big day as the match itself - winding them up, having a joke and voicing your know-it-all opinions on who's going to come home with the points up and down the country. If you enjoy football banter as much as I do you'll probably also enjoy a little flutter now and again - and with sites like Luxbet soccer betting has never been so easy - whether you team play in The EPL, The Bundesliga, Seria A or the Australian A-League. 

     There's no better feeling than proving your mates wrong and winning yourself a few beer tokens to spend on Saturday night after the game - and lets face it EVERYONE wants the bragging rights to be their own. Football is a social game and enjoying the banter that goes with it is what makes it so special.

     

Hammers Confirm Olympic Move Still In Their Plans

Championship giants West Ham United have confirmed they are still very much interested in a move to the London Olympic Stadium following the completion of next year's Olympic Games. The Hammers had originally won the bid to take over the ground as part of the legacy of the games, but with legal challenges from London rivals Spurs and Leyton Orient looming it was instead decided that the stadium would remain in public ownership as a valued asset and be leased out instead - with some circles of the British press reportedly claiming the rental of the ground would cost a fee in the region of £2 million per year.

But West Ham vice chairmen Karren Brady insists her club will still look to move from their current home at Upton Park to the new London Olympic Stadium - which will have a reduced capacity of around 60,000 following its post Olympic modifications but would still represent a significant potential for the club to increase revenue from gate receipts, should they return to the Premier League. Meanwhile Barry Hearn who is Chairman of Football League rivals Orient has also confirmed they remain interested in challenging West Ham for the lease deal and would accordingly participate in the new bidding process for the lease of the ground.

Footballers Using Cycling Sessions to Boost Fitness

As the English football season heads towards another exciting and intriguing finale, the top clubs from the Premiership and particularly in the Football League are finding their squads becoming increasingly stretched as key playing staff are lost through injury and suspension as their clubs press for trophies and promotion on a multitude of fronts. For lower league squads in particular who are often constrained by limited budgets and smaller playing squads, the loss of key players through injury can have a devastating impact on the overall success of their season.

     For these key reasons it is perhaps not surprising that clubs across England place paramount importance on the fitness regimes of their players - ensuring that all year round they are fit and ready to give 110% in fighting for their team and its cause - be it trophies, promotion or the battle against relegation. This focus on fitness is undeniably one of the key reasons that has made the English Premier League in particular, arguably the highest level of club football in the world today and as such is able to attract top professional players from around the globe. Professional players will go through set regimes on the training ground with their squads each week, taking part in various drills and exercises - but away from the training pitch top players will put in numerous hours in the gym and taking part in other training activities to maintain there fitness during the critical final period of the football season.  

     One such activity the can be very effective for footballers seeking to boost their aerobic fitness both during the season and in the period between seasons is cycling. Whether you are a keen amateur or one of the worlds top professional players, including regular bike rides in your training plans can be great for boosting your fitness. In order to make the most of your cycling sessions, ensure you use the best equipment you can afford. Top level equipment such as mavic wheels are always a great way that can help pros and amateurs alike reach their personal peak performance levels when on a road bike session.

Owls Tax Deadline Extended by 28 Days

League One side Sheffield Wednesday have been given a boost in their bid to avoid administration and a mandatory 10 point deduction having been granted an extra 28 days to come up with the cash they need for an unpaid tax bill to HMRC. The South Yorkshire club were staring down the barrel of another winding up order from the taxman who is chasing £1.4 in unpaid bills, but the High Court has granted a 4 week extension in what it has called exceptional circumstances. The Owls are desperately seeking a buyer to help clear their total debts that are thought to be in the region of around £27 million, and to inject new cash into the club to buy players that can help launch them back to the upper levels of English football.

Although there have been several interested parties, only Leicester city chairman Milan Mandaric has so far shown proof of funds that were required by the clubs main creditor the Cooperative Bank – but he has now seemingly shied away from the deal having failed to make an arrangement with former Wednesday chairman Dave Allen over a reported £2.4 million pound debt. In spite of such public off the field financial problems Wednesday have made a reasonable start in League One following their relegation from The Championship last season and currently lie in 9th position - just 2 points outside the playoff places.

Grimsby Town Relegated From Football League

Grimsby Town have been relegated from the Football League for the first time in 99 years. A dismal run of form earlier in the season had left the East Coast club a mountain to climb after they had at one stage found themselves adrift in the League 2 relegation zone an entire 7 points from safety. The Mariners had showed some positive signs of producing an incredible escape over the last month or so, securing 4 wins and a draw within their last 6 league matches. However a crushing 3 - 0 away defeat at the hands of Burton Albion this afternoon has ultimately condemned the North Lincolnshire side to relegation from League 2 in somewhat dismal fashion. Grimsby’s disappointing result was in the end made irrelevant by Barnet’s late winner at home to Rochdale - the mariners needing Barnet to slip up and then win there match in order to avoid the drop. The Mariners must now face up to the prospect of life outside the English Football League for the first time in almost a century.

Sousa Lands QPR Coaching Role

The latest football banter circling the internet at the moment seem to be that surrounding the appointment of the new first team coach at Queens Park Rangers. Former Portugal international Paulo Sousa becomes the next big foreign name to arrive into England, joining manager Flavio Briatore, who replaced the hapless Iain Dowie at the wealthy London based Championship side in October. Sousa shone as a player, appearing 51 times for his country in a glittering career. His CV also proudly boasts successful spells at some of the worlds top clubs including Juventus and Inter in Italy, as well as German giants Borussia Dortmund. While there is little doubt of Sousa's ability as a player, the question mark surely remains over whether the Portuguese's' favoured continental footballing style can be effectively transfered into the competitive bustling style of the football league Championship. However, one thing can surely now be certain, in there is seem to be little doubt of the burning Premier League ambitions of Briatore and QPR, and the addition of Paulo Sousa will no doubt bring valuable experience to aid the club's push for the top flight.

Welcome To Football Banter!

Welcome one and all to my brand new blog: English Football Banter. Over the coming months (and hopefully years) I'll be blogging about all the latest chat, banter, rumours and news from the beautiful game here in England. I'm keen to here the views of football fans of all Englsih clubs whether its one of the English Premiership's so called "big four" or a semi pro level club. I am as you would expect a football nutter and love to share my (often badly formed) views on the odd ball world of football here in the UK. Over the coming months as the blog develops I will massively welcome and look forward in great anticipation to all your comments, football banter and general debate - particularly if your posts are relevant and informed (no spamming please!) Please also keep your comments reasonably friendly - this is not a place for all out war between rival clubs (that means you Liverpool and United lads :-P) and also definitely not the place for sectarianism or racism so please use your intellegence and common sense when posting. I hope you enjoy reading my blog!