Premier League 2024/25

[jammie82uk]

7 minutes ago, Skidmark said:

Suspect isn't it. 
 

I can imagine Coote got a call from Howard Webb at the PGMOL along these lines...

 

'Cootey, I know you're out in the cold and you've been sacked, but you couldn't do us a favour and come out gay could you? Our prized goose Michael Oliver's getting some flack that's uncovering the shambles and corrupt body that we are. You'll take a bit of heat off us.' 

Not really, the press often sit on these things until a prime time to unleash the story to get the most clicks, we don’t know when the interview was recorded, it could have been 2 weeks ago or it could have been yesterday 

Edited 28 January by jammie82uk

[Innovindil]

43 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

I don’t condone the drug taking in any way but again it’s the elephant in the room,

 

how is there still not an openly gay player in Men’s professional football in England? Is it the fans fault? Is it because the abuse will be endless just look at the chant that Vardy gets every single game about his wife 

 

why is there an apparent stigma to being gay in the sport on the men’s side? does it make the player any better or worse? 
 

The latest UK census shows on average 1 in 33 people consider themselves to be gay but in 92 professional Mens’s clubs in England we haven’t got an openly gay player 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First one out is gonna get the majority of the abuse from the fans. Always a chance that some players wouldn't be happy either. And on top of those risks you've got to have the fortitude to be hunted down by every media company between here and Mars for an interview. And become the premier leagues rainbow poster boy with all that entails. 

 

Can't blame anyone for not wanting to come out while still playing. Unless a handful do it at the same time, I can't see it happening for a while. Too much for one man imo. 

 

[urban.spaceman]

On the BBC Sport text thing...

 

 

10:22 GMT

Tottenham 1-2 Leicester

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic, on The Monday Night Club

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

I think that Spurs are in quite a tricky position as a club and as a fan base because, to an extent, you could interpret the last 24 years as kind of a success for Tottenham because a lot of clubs in that class in English football, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, have been caught out by the transformational effect of the league's money and Spurs haven't. Spurs are part of the elite.

They have been run really judiciously, they've sold well, they've sometimes bought well, you can probably quibble about how well they have appointed managers and they have certainly been too impatient at times.

They've moved in to an amazing new stadium, they've got this incredible commercial revenue, they're a modern superclub. They've been to a Champions League final, they were regulars for a while in the Champions League.

This season Spurs are 15th in the Premier League which is still very difficult to believe but this season is clearly unravelling at speed.

 

A reminder that Spurs have one one trophy in the last 25 years, whereas we've won every single domestic trophy AND the top 3 leagues.

[AKCJ]

24 minutes ago, KFS said:

I don’t care about Coote’s sexuality, but I care that he’s quite clearly using it as a spin to get himself out of trouble. Very little is made of things like this because people lap it right up. Wrong is wrong, why throw a whole community into the mix because you ****ed up? 

 

Shame we're not at a point where an active person involved with the Premier League feels comfortable coming out as gay but posts like this are probably why.

 

Men coming out of the closet should be celebrated. He's lived with it all his life and has had to hide it. I would imagine relieving himself of that pressure and anxiety (now that he's not in a job where evidently he has to hide his sexuality) is the number one reason for coming out. 

 

23 minutes ago, Skidmark said:

Suspect isn't it. 
 

I can imagine Coote got a call from Howard Webb at the PGMOL along these lines...

 

'Cootey, I know you're out in the cold and you've been sacked, but you couldn't do us a favour and come out gay could you? Our prized goose Michael Oliver's getting some flack that's uncovering the shambles and corrupt body that we are. You'll take a bit of heat off us.' 

Don't be ridiculous. 

[kenny]

4 minutes ago, Innovindil said:

First one out is gonna get the majority of the abuse from the fans. Always a chance that some players wouldn't be happy either. And on top of those risks you've got to have the fortitude to be hunted down by every media company between here and Mars for an interview. And become the premier leagues rainbow poster boy with all that entails. 

 

Can't blame anyone for not wanting to come out while still playing. Unless a handful do it at the same time, I can't see it happening for a while. Too much for one man imo. 

 

Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers has come out as gay at 17 years old, now looking like he will get a move up the pyramid.

[Finnegan]

6 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

On the BBC Sport text thing...

 

 

 

10:22 GMT

Tottenham 1-2 Leicester

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic, on The Monday Night Club

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

I think that Spurs are in quite a tricky position as a club and as a fan base because, to an extent, you could interpret the last 24 years as kind of a success for Tottenham because a lot of clubs in that class in English football, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, have been caught out by the transformational effect of the league's money and Spurs haven't. Spurs are part of the elite.

They have been run really judiciously, they've sold well, they've sometimes bought well, you can probably quibble about how well they have appointed managers and they have certainly been too impatient at times.

They've moved in to an amazing new stadium, they've got this incredible commercial revenue, they're a modern superclub. They've been to a Champions League final, they were regulars for a while in the Champions League.

This season Spurs are 15th in the Premier League which is still very difficult to believe but this season is clearly unravelling at speed.

 

A reminder that Spurs have one one trophy in the last 25 years, whereas we've won every single domestic trophy AND the top 3 leagues.

 

At the risk of defending Spurs fans, there is a bit of a caveat isn't there?

 

They pay something like the second most in Europe for a season ticket. The product being sold to them is unbelievably expensive, through no fault of their own (or, only as much fault as any fanbase) they're being charged the money you'd expect the absolute elite of clubs to be charging. 

 

And what they get for that is mid table mediocrity. 

 

[KFS]

9 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

 

Shame we're not at a point where an active person involved with the Premier League feels comfortable coming out as gay but posts like this are probably why.

 

Men coming out of the closet should be celebrated. He's lived with it all his life and has had to hide it. I would imagine relieving himself of that pressure and anxiety (now that he's not in a job where evidently he has to hide his sexuality) is the number one reason for coming out. 

 

Don't be ridiculous. 

“Posts like this”

 

Sorry, have I been misconstrued here? Because my gay brother and I discuss this at length and he agrees with me. Why should a drugged up loser who can’t handle professionalism have the right to throw a community under the bus because he now feels like it?

 

I’d love to hear your answer and apology. Thanks in advance.

[CUJimmy]

1 hour ago, AjcW said:

Incredible scenes this morning as Chris Sutton manages to somehow shoehorn us in to a piece about Bournemouth.....

 

 

Bournemouth are great in transition, they create an abundance of chances and they don't have a recognised centre forward and players are playing in makeshift positions.

You look at Lewis Cook, the right-back who is a central midfielder, Dango Ouattara up front.

They are a joy to watch and with the last two results we have all sat up and really noticed them and that's probably doing Bournemouth an injustice because I have looked at their record and they are unbeaten in 12, they've beaten Arsenal and Manchester City already this season.

With respect, what's the expectation at Bournemouth?

The fans may have high expectations but you look at all the teams in the Premier League, the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham, even Leicester, sides where the fanbase expect far more from the teams, I do think that because of the confidence they have, Bournemouth just rock up every week and they back themselves.

Now they are absolutely full of confidence, they are flying.

That’s because we live rent free in his head and have done since 15-16 when everybody stopped talking about when Blackburn won the league.  That and him being from Nottingham.

[CUJimmy]

15 hours ago, 420Hashish said:

Vardy is the goat. You can't criticize goats.

Vardy did an impression of a magnificent bird of prey, Ndiaye was a poxy chip-stealing sea bird.  Apples and oranges I am afraid.

[AKCJ]

5 minutes ago, KFS said:

“Posts like this”

 

Sorry, have I been misconstrued here? Because my gay brother and I discuss this at length and he agrees with me. Why should a drugged up loser who can’t handle professionalism have the right to throw a community under the bus because he now feels like it?

 

I’d love to hear your answer and apology. Thanks in advance.

Anyone questioning the 'motive' for another person coming out as gay deserves to be put under the spotlight. 
 

Absolutely crazy that you'd suggest that he's "thrown the gay community under the bus". I'm not even sure what you mean by that.

Should he have to hide his sexuality forever because he was filmed snorting cocaine? 

[RowlattsFox]

9 minutes ago, KFS said:

“Posts like this”

 

Sorry, have I been misconstrued here? Because my gay brother and I discuss this at length and he agrees with me. Why should a drugged up loser who can’t handle professionalism have the right to throw a community under the bus because he now feels like it?

 

I’d love to hear your answer and apology. Thanks in advance.

Out of interest, would you refer to everyone as a 'drugged up loser' or is it just because he's a referee? 

 

Is he throwing a community under the bus? Maybe you're right, and he's using 'being gay' as an attempt to detract, but I think it's sad that this is peoples first assumption. I don't think he's blaming being gay for his mistakes but maybe I'm reading it wrong. 

[KFS]

2 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Anyone questioning the 'motive' for another person coming out as gay deserves to be put under the spotlight. 
 

Absolutely crazy that you'd suggest that he's "thrown the gay community under the bus". I'm not even sure what you mean by that.

Should he have to hide his sexuality forever because he was filmed snorting cocaine? 

He’s insinuating that his poor behaviour is linked to him being gay. How is that fair? What does that do for the millions of gay people out there who don’t do blow and shit on their employer and colleagues?

 

Proper weird line of argument from you.

[KFS]

Just now, RowlattsFox said:

Out of interest, would you refer yo everyone as a 'drugged up loser' or is it just because he's a referee? 

 

Is he throwing a community under the bus? Maybe you're right, and he's using 'being gay' as an attempt to detract, but I think it's sad that this is peoples first assumption. I don't think he's blaming being gay for his mistakes but maybe I'm reading it wrong. 

Yes. But I see the line of questioning and would argue that being in a position of privilege should encourage better behaviour. 
 

Bringing up his sexuality in the context is wrong in my view. 

[Innovindil]

27 minutes ago, kenny said:

Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers has come out as gay at 17 years old, now looking like he will get a move up the pyramid.

...literally the only thing I can see about it is he gave an interview some time ago saying he was gay. Then came to England and has a girlfriend, and a daughter? 

 

Not quite sure what the point your trying to make is but I'm not entirely sure he counts as openly gay in the context of this dicussion. 

[Tuna]

1 hour ago, jammie82uk said:

I don’t condone the drug taking in any way but again it’s the elephant in the room,

 

how is there still not an openly gay player in Men’s professional football in England? Is it the fans fault? Is it because the abuse will be endless just look at the chant that Vardy gets every single game about his wife 

 

why is there an apparent stigma to being gay in the sport on the men’s side? does it make the player any better or worse? 
 

The latest UK census shows on average 1 in 33 people consider themselves to be gay but in 92 professional Mens’s clubs in England we haven’t got an openly gay player 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is, Jake Daniels, Blackpool.

[RowlattsFox]

1 minute ago, Tuna said:

There is, Jake Daniels, Blackpool.

Fair play to the lad, but he played 10 minutes of professional football  

[Tuna]

Just now, RowlattsFox said:

Fair play to the lad, but he played 10 minutes of professional football  

He's on loan at Warrington Rylands in the Northern Premier at the moment. Yeah, I mean he's not a household name but it was a big deal when he came out.

[Bert]

27 minutes ago, KFS said:

“Posts like this”

 

Sorry, have I been misconstrued here? Because my gay brother and I discuss this at length and he agrees with me. Why should a drugged up loser who can’t handle professionalism have the right to throw a community under the bus because he now feels like it?

 

I’d love to hear your answer and apology. Thanks in advance.

I personally think he’s tried to play a sympathy card here…. It’s hard enough for a lot of gay people to “come out” and he’s tried to use his sexuality knowing what the reaction would be, to try and deflect from what he’s actually done.

Truth is, anyone with half a brain wouldn’t care less whether whatever his sexuality is apart from the knuckleheads thinking it’s funny when he would’ve been reffing and a decision goes against their club. 

[Finnegan]

5 minutes ago, Tuna said:

He's on loan at Warrington Rylands in the Northern Premier at the moment. Yeah, I mean he's not a household name but it was a big deal when he came out.

 

Tbf, the fact the only example we have is a kid that's almost exclusively only played in the Northern Premier League that most people haven't heard of sort of enforces the point. 

 

If you're looking at statistical averages you'd probably expect at least a hundred or so gay or bi men in a sample size as large as the number of footballers in England's top three or four leagues and that's just looking at the first team squads. 

 

The chances of there being literally zero in the Premier League and Championship is pretty small and if there really aren't then it opens up a bunch of other questions about why. 

 

Football's diversity and it's acceptance has improved a LOT in our lifetimes but it's still got a long way to go. 

 

Certainly doesn't help that we're putting on rainbow laces one moment and then selling the sport to oil states where homosexuality is punishable the very next second. 

 

[AKCJ]

23 minutes ago, KFS said:

He’s insinuating that his poor behaviour is linked to him being gay. How is that fair? What does that do for the millions of gay people out there who don’t do blow and shit on their employer and colleagues?

 

Proper weird line of argument from you.

 

I would say that it's weird that your first assumption is that he's come out as some sort of tactic. Even more so for someone who claims to have gay relatives.

 

It's obviously not a cut and dry case of 'David Coote was filmed snorting cocaine so now he must live a life of shame and be cut off from society'. He's still a human being with rights, feelings and emotions. 

 

I would imagine there are millions of closeted gay men and women who have done bad things. Being gay does not excuse anything and I don't think anyone would say that it does. But being depressed, anxious and feeling cut off from the world will lead people on a path to doing things a person of sound mental health would avoid.

 

Being gay isn't reserved for the bubbly, goody two shoes extroverts of the world.

[Finnegan]

27 minutes ago, KFS said:

He’s insinuating that his poor behaviour is linked to him being gay.

 

I'm sorry but having a gay brother doesn't mean you can't think and say misguided things. 

 

What you've said on the subject here is a little thoughtless at best and extremely insensitive at worst. 

 

Unless I've missed a quote somewhere, and I retract all of this and apologise if I have, he hasn't come out and said "oh yeah what scamps us gays are, all out there doing drugs and partying!" and pushing old 1980s stereotypes. 

 

He's implied that he turned to substance abuse to cope with the extreme stress and the pressures of being both a referee and closeted, both extremely difficult things to deal with in modern football. 

 

Whilst I think he absolutely will have engaged the services of a PR firm who no doubt are coaching him through some damage limitation, unless you're suggesting he's only pretending to be gay to get his job back (which would be mental) then there's probably a lot of truth in what he's said. 

 

A lot of the "other gay people that don't do blow" almost certainly aren't living and working in a community that's that intolerant and that scrutinised. It's generally open season on referees, gay or not, and they probably receive more open abuse than anyone else in the sport. Christ, it's even normalised for twenty odd elite athletes to all gather round them at once and scream collectively in their face on international broadcast. 

 

You have absolutely no idea the stresses impacting his mental health just because you have a family member or friend who is gay (brother, it's 2025, nearly all of us do.)

 

You're coming across as rude, dismissive and judgemental and absolutely nobody in here owes you the apology you think you deserve for calling you out. 

 

[Fox92]

1 hour ago, urban.spaceman said:

On the BBC Sport text thing...

 

 

 

10:22 GMT

Tottenham 1-2 Leicester

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic, on The Monday Night Club

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

I think that Spurs are in quite a tricky position as a club and as a fan base because, to an extent, you could interpret the last 24 years as kind of a success for Tottenham because a lot of clubs in that class in English football, Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, have been caught out by the transformational effect of the league's money and Spurs haven't. Spurs are part of the elite.

They have been run really judiciously, they've sold well, they've sometimes bought well, you can probably quibble about how well they have appointed managers and they have certainly been too impatient at times.

They've moved in to an amazing new stadium, they've got this incredible commercial revenue, they're a modern superclub. They've been to a Champions League final, they were regulars for a while in the Champions League.

This season Spurs are 15th in the Premier League which is still very difficult to believe but this season is clearly unravelling at speed.

 

A reminder that Spurs have one one trophy in the last 25 years, whereas we've won every single domestic trophy AND the top 3 leagues.

They've spent enough money again though. £60m on Solanke, £40m on Gray...

 

Although I wouldn't use us winning the second and third tier against them  

[The Doctor]

2 hours ago, jammie82uk said:

I don’t condone the drug taking in any way but again it’s the elephant in the room,

 

how is there still not an openly gay player in Men’s professional football in England? Is it the fans fault? Is it because the abuse will be endless just look at the chant that Vardy gets every single game about his wife 

 

why is there an apparent stigma to being gay in the sport on the men’s side? does it make the player any better or worse? 
 

The latest UK census shows on average 1 in 33 people consider themselves to be gay but in 92 professional Mens’s clubs in England we haven’t got an openly gay player 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fans and the general attitudes towards the lgbt community throughout mens football tbh. And I specify mens football because ok the demographics are different but the amount of openly lesbian and bi women in women's football is notable, and anyone who's been to a mens game vs women's game, or been involved in both coaching/playing can tell you straight away why (it's the attitudes of the supporters and those involved).

 

The closet literally exists because people can think it easier to keep it a secret than to face the sort of abuse they'd get for coming out (hence why the proportions of lgbt people in the general population have been rising over the last 50 odd years, as legal and social discrimination decrease, people are less likely to choose the closet), and the abuse you'd face being openly gay in mens football means that it can be a lot easier to just be in the closet - see the amount of shit people would chant for ages whenever Brighton are in town - and it's why those that are now openly gay (Thomas Hitzelberger) only come out after retiring.

 

1 hour ago, KFS said:

“Posts like this”

 

Sorry, have I been misconstrued here? Because my gay brother and I discuss this at length and he agrees with me. Why should a drugged up loser who can’t handle professionalism have the right to throw a community under the bus because he now feels like it?

 

I’d love to hear your answer and apology. Thanks in advance.

throwing a community under the bus? are you actually taking the piss?

 

this is genuinely the sort of soft bigotry that far too many people hold, even those who purport to be allies; expecting everyone to be the perfect ambassador, whiter than white, in order to be treated as somewhat equal, and it's the same mindset as leads to racists going on about crime statistics for black people, or homophobes pointing at a tiny handful of gay men to evidence their whole paedo smears. Coote isn't an ambassador for gay men, he's not throwing the community under the bus, he's just a gay man who turned to drugs to cope with a lot of pressure, and people making it about his sexuality where they wouldn't if he was straight are showing their whole arse tbh 

[Super_horns]

Arsenal appealing the MLS red card.

 

Either way someone won't be happy I guess.

Other teams who haven't had red cards rescinded will call it top 4 bias and of course if they don't Arsenal will go mad again.

When you get pundits even with Spurs connections calling it the worse decision ever you do wonder how much pressure the appeal panel will feel to "get it right"

[Mickyblueeyes]

2 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

Arsenal appealing the MLS red card.

 

Either way someone won't be happy I guess.

Other teams who haven't had red cards rescinded will call it top 4 bias and of course if they don't Arsenal will go mad again.

When you get pundits even with Spurs connections calling it the worse decision ever you do wonder how much pressure the appeal panel will feel to "get it right"

Good decision. I have no idea why the yanks think they can send off English teams. The arrogance.