The Football Thread

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by jokerman

...the Scottish FA are meeting to decide Craig Levein's future...They should also look at the quality of some of the teams players. Are they actually good enough to play as internationals?

In which case, is it reasonable to expect a great deal more than they are delivering? If you've got a group of players that aren't that good, no coach is going to turn them into world beaters, unless you adopt the Jack Charlton 'keep it simple, turn their defenders and play to your strengths' approach. I'm struggling to remember a time when all the home nation teams (and Eire) were as poor collectively as they are now.
Is this down to the ability of our players, their aptitude or their application? Or their delusion, which we are apparently supposed to share, that they are good enough to compete at international level? The record books provide a clue, methinks...

I watch England players who, I'm told are worth this £ per week and mega-talented and yet they can't pass a ball between themselves more than three times accurately, control it and move. Despite their protestations, I don't think they are as dedicated to their profession as they claim. I'm increasingly under the impression that they are kidding themselves that bags of natural ability plus showing up for training and games is enough, thereore they deserve success and it should come. And the media, who own and market football in this country want us, the consumer to swallow it and pay for the privilige.

I reckon we over-rate the beggars and I genuinely feel sorry for coaches who know how the game should be played but British players seem to have read too much Roy of the Rovers and believe their own hype, rather than REALLY understand how to play as a team and follow the coaches instructions. I wouldn't mind betting that a lot of coaches sit down every week more in hope than expectation, but they have got so much pressure on them they have to try to make the best of a bad job...

It would be fascinating to hear continental players who've played and coached in this country tell us what they really think about British players and why we serially underachieve...I fear the truth is out there and we're in collective denial.

[Roger Allott]

Originally Posted by tabler

As long as we get our priorities in the game right ....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19981001

I'd like to see these comparisons refer not only to the price of a pie but also to its weight and the proportion of that weight allocated to the filling.

I struggle to understand how a hot pie of reasonable size can be sold for £1 at some Scottish clubs when you'd be hard pushed to buy a mass-produced cold 'pork' pie for that price in a supermarket.

[jokerman]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

In which case, is it reasonable to expect a great deal more than they are delivering? If you've got a group of players that aren't that good, no coach is going to turn them into world beaters, unless you adopt the Jack Charlton 'keep it simple, turn their defenders and play to your strengths' approach. I'm struggling to remember a time when all the home nation teams (and Eire) were as poor collectively as they are now.
Is this down to the ability of our players, their aptitude or their application? Or their delusion, which we are apparently supposed to share, that they are good enough to compete at international level? The record books provide a clue, methinks...

I watch England players who, I'm told are worth this £ per week and mega-talented and yet they can't pass a ball between themselves more than three times accurately, control it and move. Despite their protestations, I don't think they are as dedicated to their profession as they claim. I'm increasingly under the impression that they are kidding themselves that bags of natural ability plus showing up for training and games is enough, thereore they deserve success and it should come. And the media, who own and market football in this country want us, the consumer to swallow it and pay for the privilige.

I reckon we over-rate the beggars and I genuinely feel sorry for coaches who know how the game should be played but British players seem to have read too much Roy of the Rovers and believe their own hype, rather than REALLY understand how to play as a team and follow the coaches instructions. I wouldn't mind betting that a lot of coaches sit down every week more in hope than expectation, but they have got so much pressure on them they have to try to make the best of a bad job...

It would be fascinating to hear continental players who've played and coached in this country tell us what they really think about British players and why we serially underachieve...I fear the truth is out there and we're in collective denial.

As far as England goes our biggest problem is that the England team are a bunch of individuals. Unlike teams such as Germany & Spain, who play as a team. As for the rest of the home nations teams & the Rep. of Ire. I can't comment.

We do actually have some good players. But at international level they just do not perform to their premier league standards.

Whether this is because most of their team mates are from overseas & therefore to many overseas players who are holding us back is open to debate. But the fact is the overseas players do make our players look good. Or if it's because they're not good enough to be internationals is open to question. And I don't know the answer.

[mitchspur]

What do the Scottish FA really expect? The day Alex McLeish left the job to manage 'Birmingham' (all due respect to Brum) was the day they should have woken up and 'smelt the coffee'!!!
Didn't i hear right the other night? The San Marino manager has been in the job about 20 years!!!
The Tartan Army have to accept it. They have NO future, but they will still follow them come what may!!!

[seany65]

Out of curiosity, how many British players who play for their national teams actually play abroad? It doesn't count if someone froom the British Isles is playing in another part of of the British Isles.

I think it's none.

Why do so many British players who are 'charging' (at today's slow, p*ss*ng about instead of getting on with it, speed) at the opposition goal, look up at the goalie 3 or 4 times and still manage to shoot where the goalie is instead of where he isn't?

Why do so many Briotish players pass the ball down the middle to the goalie instead of blamming the ruddy thing into the bottom corners when taking penalties?

Why do so many British players walk towards the ball, almost stop and then carry on walking to the ball only to pass it to the goalie when taking penalties?

Why do so many adult male players think a 'tackle' is kicking the other player to get them off the ball and not what it is: kicking the ball to get it off the other player?

Why do so many tv pundits on the one hand complain about 'diving' to get a penalty and then, on a different occasion say 'well, he was touched so he's entitled to go down.'?

Why do these tv pundits complain about a lack of consistency from match officials, and then on a big football occasion, go on to say stuff like: "Well in this case the ref should've let that go 'cos now he risks spoiling the game by already getting the cards out and pretty soon he'll have to send saomeone off, and that wouldn't be right in a 4th round FA cup tie, one team'll be at a disadvantage..."

Why do so many people complain about 'Fergie time'? Is there any rule that says the opposition can't score in this 'unjustifiable extra' extra time?

Why do so many people whinge about Man United having fans from outside Manchester when every other team also has fans from outside their town, and their teams often have more foreigners from outside the British Isles than players from the British isles?

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by seany65

Why do so many people whinge about Man United having fans from outside Manchester when every other team also has fans from outside their town, and their teams often have more foreigners from outside the British Isles than players from the British isles?

A self-answering question.

Unless you are a Manchester United supporter, it is universally accepted that Man U are the Devil's team. This is a law of nature and has absolutely nothing to with jealously or invidia in respect of the absurdly prolific procession of championships and trophies which this club has achieved. We all know that these achievements were in fact the consequence of burning black candles and sacrificing chickens to Satan. It is nonsense to suggest that having a flexible and coherent approach to onfield tactics, recruiting players knowledgeably, maintaining virtually the only old fashioned youth policy left in the Premiership instead of only buying players in, that having long-term vision had any relevence at all.

But that was before the Glasers hocked the entire club to the eyeballs in order to borrow the money to buy their controlling interest in the club. The club raised the money itself so that it could be sold into slavery.

Baffling.

[IngramJohn]

Well, here we are again!

When the police actually catch-up with the scum Leeds United supporter (and I use the word 'supporter' sparingly) who hit the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper ... What SHOULD happen to him and to the Club?

I'll start off with ...

The guy should be jailed for 5 years and banned from football games for life.

The Club should be fined heavily and deducted 12 points.

What do you think fellas?

[Mal Hombre]

Originally Posted by IngramJohn

Well, here we are again!

When the police actually catch-up with the scum Leeds United supporter (and I use the word 'supporter' sparingly) who hit the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper ... What SHOULD happen to him and to the Club?

I'll start off with ...

The guy should be jailed for 5 years and banned from football games for life.

The Club should be fined heavily and deducted 12 points.

What do you think fellas?

Sounds about right,Some other Leeds "Supporters" need to be dealt with as well,Throwing seats on to pitch...

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by seany65

Why do these tv pundits complain about a lack of consistency from match officials, and then on a big football occasion, go on to say stuff like: "Well in this case the ref should've let that go 'cos now he risks spoiling the game by already getting the cards out and pretty soon he'll have to send saomeone off, and that wouldn't be right in a 4th round FA cup tie, one team'll be at a disadvantage..."


Why do so many people whinge about Man United having fans from outside Manchester when every other team also has fans from outside their town, and their teams often have more foreigners from outside the British Isles than players from the British isles?

Most pundits are doing the job as they would make hapless coaches or managers, then sprout the obvious or utter tripe. I hated Gary Nevill as a player, but as a pundit, he is like a breath of fresh air.

I can only speak from experience as far as Utd fans outside of Manchester. Back in the days when cars were not that many on our roads, most people followed the local team, travelling to West Ham was a ten minute bus ride, but for some reason, some decided to follow Utd. Not really sure why as most were many generations of cockney's.They became known as the cockney Reds and were generaly disliked by many supporters of London Clubs.

These days people have moved to find work, better themselves or just retire, my bus ride is now a three train journey, not exactly cheap and fare rises just around the corner and with rising ticket prices has virtually stopped me going. I either watch in the local or try to find the game on line.

Sad days for many supporters.

[victor meldrew]

Originally Posted by IngramJohn

Well, here we are again!

When the police actually catch-up with the scum Leeds United supporter (and I use the word 'supporter' sparingly) who hit the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper ... What SHOULD happen to him and to the Club?

I'll start off with ...

The guy should be jailed for 5 years and banned from football games for life.

The Club should be fined heavily and deducted 12 points.

What do you think fellas?

Prison just does not do enough damage.

This guy was welcomed back with open arms by many of the Leeds supporters and therefor, the travelling support, should be banned from away games, as well as Leeds, getting no revenue from away games. If that seems harsh, the only other option is a heavy police presence and Leeds foot the bill.

A points deduction possibly, automatic relegation is abetter option as It should prompt Leeds into sorting out the support as well as waking up the those who believe they can do what they like without any consequence.

As for the thug, prison is a no no, as we would have to pay for his keep.

Perhaps a mammoth community order, working on the dust carts for five or six years, for free, might teach him some humility, if it does not, then lord knows what the answer is.