After England’s bitterly disappointing (but not that unexpected) performance at this summer’s World Cup it comes as somewhat of a relief to most football fans that the Premier League kicks off tomorrow.
The Championship and Leagues One and Two got underway last weekend but this is our first chance to see the World Cup failures back playing for their clubs. Last weekend’s Community Shield and the midweek England/Hungary friendly gave an indication about how the fans feel – several of the England World Cup squad were booed at Wembley.
For those of us not getting along to games this weekend Virgin has introduced an online app that incorporates match statistics, social networking and real-time voting, all running alongside live Premier League football matches on TV.
Virgin Media says that Sofa Stadium enables fans to "enjoy the atmosphere of match day without obstructed views, overpriced car parking, cold weather and dodgy grub," although many will of course say that’s exactly why we love going to football matches.
Fans can see what people are saying about the game on Twitter through Tweet Watch and have comments posted straight to social networks such as Facebook. Users can also vent their spleen by ranting and raving with (and no doubt at) other fans and vote for the game’s best and worst player.
"Sofa Stadium is the perfect place for armchair supporters, commentators and managers alike, to get actively involved in football, and a brilliant way to bring together the multi-screen entertainment experience," said Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media.
"A perfect companion for fans looking to get the most of their football experience, Sofa Stadium provides an incredible way to enjoy the beautiful game."
