In happier news today (from my perspective as a former resident of the east half of Berlin at least), Union Berlin continue their incredible journey from the regional leagues up to the Bundesliga and into the Europe League quarter finals. Swatting aside Ajax Amsterdam 3-1 after a 0-0 at the Johann Cruyff Arena last week. A Bundesliga, Europa League and DFB-Pokal treble are still on, if somewhat unlikely. Though this Union Berlin team have made a habit of exceeding expectations and then some, so you never know.
It was amusing to see Ajax fans on Twitter deriding Union Berlin as an 'anti-voetball' side - rather like a team close to our hearts, they are a team with no stars, just players with unbreakable team spirit content to soak up pressure and hit teams on the break with clinical precision. I'm sure Ajax manager Johnny Heitinger will mention in his post match interview "you know what you're going to get from Union"...
My first Union game was in 2007 against St Pauli albeit in a Regionalliga-Nord game, back when both clubs were either unknown to English fans or, in the case of Union, massively unfashionable.
It's fantastic Union's unique history and culture is getting a wider audience in the footballing world after a history of battling against the odds, and even better than that, despite all their success they're remaining true to their working-class roots and ethos.
Well done to the club if they made money out of it but I don't really get why people would pay to listen to him speak, I'm more inclined to boycott an entire radio station to avoid it.
Oxford keeper Simon ‘someone shouted leave it’ Eastwood has admitted that his side aren’t as good as they think they are. Before going on to say they should be beating teams like Cambridge.
Not quite what he said, Even with that win over Oxford Cambridge are still only 23rd so if you think you're any good at all you probably should be going into that game thinking you should win it.
But when they put it like this below they have to realise they aren't great despite whatever garbage their manager says after every game.
"The U’s have picked up one point from the last possible 21 in a run of form that has seen them fall down to 17th in the table."
“If you are going to Cambridge in a game you should be winning but didn’t, it is the reality of it”
Form suggests otherwise. Cambridge had, prior to the Oxford game, picked up a point against both Ipswich and Lincoln. Nobody would have looked at the form guide and believed that Oxford would pick up 3 points against Cambridge.
It's a small distinction, he didn't say they should be beating teams like Cambridge because of size or reputation, he's saying that if they think they are a decent side just stuck in a bit of a rut they should be winning games against sides 23rd in the league and he is making that point that they aren't as good as they (his idiot manager primarily) think they are. Just thought it was far more realistic than anything I'd heard from them for a while. Whiny Karl tends to say they outplayed the opposition and luck and bad referee's are the only reason they aren't winning every game and presumably in the premier league already...
Let's hope he keeps on as he has and they "unluckily get cheated" all the way back to the conference.
And are there any other clubs down there that they could take with them I wonder.
In fairness to Oxford, I don’t think many people saw this season coming for them. It’s delightful to watch, and I make it part of my Sunday morning routine to remind some of the Oxford fans on Twitter that they may have lost the game but at least they won the midfield battle.
The games played column will be worrying for them too, they will have played 3 more games than the teams directly below them and 2 more than most. How sad.
Comments
John Motson has died aged 77
This might be interesting: Football regulator: UK government confirms new independent body - BBC Sport
Sorry it it's been posted elsewhere. Might require it's own thread!
Adams Park - The making of an iconic moment in time - December 1990 (chairboys.co.uk)
RIP Motty.
He commentated on the first game I'm old enough to vividly remember: Argentina v England at the 2002 World Cup. The voice I most associate with MOTD.
Sorry to hear with Motty. An absolute legend in his field.
He was a young pup when he did the Ronnie Radford commentary all them years ago...
Ok, I accept "The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club" was a bit scripted, but nevertheless... What a legend.
This is my favourite though... his accidental comment on two German strikers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VCJVZ2I9zY
The best ever commentator in my opinion and a true gentleman. RIP.
In happier news today (from my perspective as a former resident of the east half of Berlin at least), Union Berlin continue their incredible journey from the regional leagues up to the Bundesliga and into the Europe League quarter finals. Swatting aside Ajax Amsterdam 3-1 after a 0-0 at the Johann Cruyff Arena last week. A Bundesliga, Europa League and DFB-Pokal treble are still on, if somewhat unlikely. Though this Union Berlin team have made a habit of exceeding expectations and then some, so you never know.
It was amusing to see Ajax fans on Twitter deriding Union Berlin as an 'anti-voetball' side - rather like a team close to our hearts, they are a team with no stars, just players with unbreakable team spirit content to soak up pressure and hit teams on the break with clinical precision. I'm sure Ajax manager Johnny Heitinger will mention in his post match interview "you know what you're going to get from Union"...
A new hipster German team to follow! (Hurls St. Pauli stuff in bin)
About 1 year BC (Before Covid) I went to watch St Pauli vs Union Berlin. Ultimate hipster tie.
No, this is the ultimate hipster tie
Dulwich Hamlet's new away kit
Apparently if you press a button the moustache spins round 😉
Did lol
My first Union game was in 2007 against St Pauli albeit in a Regionalliga-Nord game, back when both clubs were either unknown to English fans or, in the case of Union, massively unfashionable.
It's fantastic Union's unique history and culture is getting a wider audience in the footballing world after a history of battling against the odds, and even better than that, despite all their success they're remaining true to their working-class roots and ethos.
Did anyone go to the Dean Saunders event?
Well done to the club if they made money out of it but I don't really get why people would pay to listen to him speak, I'm more inclined to boycott an entire radio station to avoid it.
The Union fans we amazing at the game I went to.
Extraordinary eyebrows.
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/23345538.simon-eastwood-admits-oxford-united-in-relegation-battle/
Oxford keeper Simon ‘someone shouted leave it’ Eastwood has admitted that his side aren’t as good as they think they are. Before going on to say they should be beating teams like Cambridge.
Not quite what he said, Even with that win over Oxford Cambridge are still only 23rd so if you think you're any good at all you probably should be going into that game thinking you should win it.
But when they put it like this below they have to realise they aren't great despite whatever garbage their manager says after every game.
"The U’s have picked up one point from the last possible 21 in a run of form that has seen them fall down to 17th in the table."
Good reading that sentence, long may it continue.
“If you are going to Cambridge in a game you should be winning but didn’t, it is the reality of it”
Form suggests otherwise. Cambridge had, prior to the Oxford game, picked up a point against both Ipswich and Lincoln. Nobody would have looked at the form guide and believed that Oxford would pick up 3 points against Cambridge.
It's a small distinction, he didn't say they should be beating teams like Cambridge because of size or reputation, he's saying that if they think they are a decent side just stuck in a bit of a rut they should be winning games against sides 23rd in the league and he is making that point that they aren't as good as they (his idiot manager primarily) think they are. Just thought it was far more realistic than anything I'd heard from them for a while. Whiny Karl tends to say they outplayed the opposition and luck and bad referee's are the only reason they aren't winning every game and presumably in the premier league already...
Let's hope he keeps on as he has and they "unluckily get cheated" all the way back to the conference.
And are there any other clubs down there that they could take with them I wonder.
In fairness to Oxford, I don’t think many people saw this season coming for them. It’s delightful to watch, and I make it part of my Sunday morning routine to remind some of the Oxford fans on Twitter that they may have lost the game but at least they won the midfield battle.
I see Graham Potter has had death threats made against him and his children. The mind boggles.
Any idea why PNL vs horse punchers is a 12:30 kick-off?
On police advice wasn't it? High risk of trouble
Oxford going well again....
The games played column will be worrying for them too, they will have played 3 more games than the teams directly below them and 2 more than most. How sad.
The stats show that they’ve had more corners so far though. That’s a positive right?
Disclaimer: I do not write the script for KR’s post match, I promise.
Imagine the scenes if Oxford AND MK go down !!
What a summer !