General Chat

No, it isn't the parrot sketch from Monty P -

So. It is a given that I dislike football and find it duller than a very dull thing. However, I am not unreasonable and can see that the England against someone else match yesterday was of great interest to a lot of people. Mercifully I was able to avoid it. Although I was surprised to see so many people driving around with England flags waving when the match was actually on. However, the BBC has given over several hours today to matches featuring Serbia and Montenegro v Netherlands and Mexico v Iran. And to make matters worse ITV are showing Angola v Portugal. Why? Surely even those who enjoy football find this a bit too much – or are we catering for people here on holiday from these places? Why do they not put these matches on one of the digibox or satellite channels and leave the mainstream channels for proper programmes? And it’s going to be happening for weeks *bashes head on desk* Gwynne

Agree 100% with you Gwynne - *sighs* Julie x

Here, Here. am with you 100% Raven

I do like my footie Guinevere, but it is a lovely day outside, and really, nobody should be in glued to the telly on such a day. Hope you enjoy your day. By the way - you'll know all the football fans by their pasty looks.....

Hi Gwynne I know what you mean but not everyone has digiboxes and satellite. Personally I think they should devote a channel to soaps and leave the others free. Don't get me wrong, I will watch the odd soap every now and again (more than football) but they are always on........ Sorry to get on my soap box lol

Lesley soap box! ha ha

Hi Lesley, I only watch Emmerdale so I'm not much fussed about soaps but the difference is that, in the main, they are our soaps. Not Dutch, Iranian or Mexican. They get higher viewing figures than almost anything else so are popular with a large proportion of the population, so have earned their place on the main five channels. The other channels are for minority interests and I would say that the matches I mentioned are minority interests. A digibox only costs about £30 so hardened football fans won't break the bank buying one. I'll be very interested to see the viewing figures. I wonder if they will get as high figures as the programmes they are replacing. Gwynne

Gwynne. I am a football fan from way back but can agree with your sentiments. Wish I knew the answer. :-) Keith

apparently Sky didn't win the fight to get the football so none of it is on sky, all on terrestrial. And this is what we pay the licence for. Ann Glos

Good Point Gwynne. I do see you point of view. I think there were 4/5 channels yesterday with sport on at the same time. I just switched off. I don't watch that much TV so I suppose I am not really bothered. (can understand how others feel) However, if they cancel Doctor Who for a match.........I shall be leading a protest to BBC HQ lol x lesley

................ and another thing also today - Grand Prix, Motorcycle racing, tennis and athletics. *wails at the gods*

not sure GR abuse can do much about the footie Gwynne but worth a try lol Bev

............ and while I'm here. It wouldn't be so bad if they just showed the various sporting events but they also have hours and hours of people droning on about what might happen, what did happen in 1972, and how many times and by whom. Is all the blethering necessary? *sacrifices goat* Gwynne

Gwynne I could't care less about footie but while its on it has these benefits: my husband and two sons now have something to unite them, instead of arguing. I can be on the computer a lot more! I can go and shop whilst the streets are empty! nell

Oh, and I expect you know these lines from the Wendy Cope poem 'My Lover' (substitute nations instead of club names) 'For I will consider my lover, who shall remain nameless... For he supports Tottenham Hotspur with joyfula nd unswerving devotion. For he abhors Arsenal, whose supporters are uncivilised and rough, For he explains that Spurs are magic, whereas Arsenal are boring and defensive, For I knew nothing of this six months ago, nor did I want to. For now it all enchants me.' nell

Hi Nell, I am a fortunate woman in that neither husband nor son has any interest in anything other than games involving England. And son isn't much fussed about them. Mostly OH doesn't bother with football at all but makes an exception for internationals, for some reason. Gwynne

*stoppit with the 'pmsl' pms* I'm making a serious point here, not attempting to amuse. well, only slightly.

**pulls goat away from Gwynne before it's injured** Gwynne, another good point about the match commentary. Was annoyed a few weeks back when missed the start of LOST as forced to watch repeats of goals in the match.

If the complaint had been about cooking programmes, I would agree. The football is a bit wall to wall, but there are plenty of alternative programmes and MOST people have at least two sets In fairness to Gwynne, I feel a bit similar when Wimbledon comes around and I know my good lady things as per this complaint.. Wonder what our ancestors, possibly huddled round a crackly radio ( or with a third hand view of a newspaper,) would have thought. Let,s count our blessing. Any replies before the first match starts please. Happy days