Football

[Futtocks]

A very civilised goal celebration.

[hindle xiii]

I really hope Bradford City got a fair share of airtime on Sky Sports News today.

[marklaspalmas]

FA proposes a League Three - made up initially of B teams of Premier League sides - to sit between League Two and the Conference.

 

Apparently B teams in league systems is the sole reason why Spain are so good.

 

I sense the faintest whiff of irony.

 

The best thing for all Man U and Chelsea's under 20s would be to mix it in a divison with League 2 and conference cloggers. 12 months later they'll be ready to replace Johnny Foreigner in the Premier. It's obvious.

 

Just so long as we keep the same FA coaching principles. None of that namby pamby stuff, passing, possession, etc

[gingerjon]

I sense the faintest whiff of irony.

 

The best thing for all Man U and Chelsea's under 20s would be to mix it in a divison with League 2 and conference cloggers. 12 months later they'll be ready to replace Johnny Foreigner in the Premier. It's obvious.

 

Just so long as we keep the same FA coaching principles. None of that namby pamby stuff, passing, possession, etc

 

You won't be surprised to learn that quite a lot of people are against it.

 

Including Richard Scudamore.

 

In an amazing coincidence some emails discrediting Richard Scudamore have just been released to the press.

[Futtocks]

Chelsea's B team, with all the players who aren't yet rendered dull enough for Mourinho's tactics, would probably be better to watch than their A team.

[nadera78]

The focus of this decision is the 18-21 year olds who move from the Academy team (U18s) to the Elite Development Squad (U21s with 3 overage players allowed) and there is clearly a problem because the EDS games are virtually non-contact and seem to serve little purpose other than keeping players out of trouble one afternoon a week. The big problem for me though is the development bottle-neck caused by a handful of teams signing every single young player they can get their hands on solely so that no-one else can sign them. Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and the Manchester teams are probably the worst offenders for this and it means that each year a group of players come through and find themselves with nowhere to go and no decent standard of football to play. A few years years back Chelsea signed two players from the academy of every club in the south of England - none of them have come through. If those lads were still at Luton or Wycombe then they'd have been playing first team football at 18/19 instead of wasting their time in EDS.

 

One suggestion I've seen elsewhere is that the FA should put a ban on anyone under 21 being transfered from one club to another unless they've played 50 first team games. That would stop this nonsense.

 

But the deeper issue, and I say this as someone involved in coaching youth football, is that the quality of coaching is still poor, and the attitude is still about playing games instead of training. I still see 18 year olds at pro clubs who lack basic skills like opening their body position when receiving the ball, and tbh it drives me nuts. It's a very simple thing to change and it opens up all sorts of benefits to the player in terms of what he can then do with the ball but if you get the first step wrong (ie receiving the ball) then everything you do after that will be a struggle.

[sigesige00]

In the long run, I think that the popularity of Football will be replaced by Futsal, like 11-player Handball disappeared.

[gingerjon]

In the long run, I think that the popularity of Football will be replaced by Futsal, like 11-player Handball disappeared.

 

We've already done this.  But it's always nice to reprise the classics.

 

11 a side handball disappeared for very different reasons at a very different time.

[shrek]

We've already done this.  But it's always nice to reprise the classics.

 

11 a side handball disappeared for very different reasons at a very different time.

Indeed, be nice to see Futsal included in a sensible discussion, its never going to replace football, but was interested to note yesterday 9 of Brazils world cup squad learned there trade on the futsal court.

 

As for the FA's proposals, I was suprised to hear David Meller make some sensible points around this, in that its almost like Greg Dyke has thrown out some extreme views to negotiate back from so everyone feels like there getting a say when in fact what he wants is hidden in the detail.  He made the point you throw in things like B teams as sacraficial lambs your willing to trade away.

 

As an aside, the 2013/14 season ended last night for us Wigan fans but it has been my most enjoyable 12 months watching football for a whole number of reasons.  Roll on next season!

[gingerjon]

Indeed, be nice to see Futsal included in a sensible discussion, its never going to replace football, but was interested to note yesterday 9 of Brazils world cup squad learned there trade on the futsal court.

 

As for the FA's proposals, I was suprised to hear David Meller make some sensible points around this, in that its almost like Greg Dyke has thrown out some extreme views to negotiate back from so everyone feels like there getting a say when in fact what he wants is hidden in the detail.  He made the point you throw in things like B teams as sacraficial lambs your willing to trade away.

 

As an aside, the 2013/14 season ended last night for us Wigan fans but it has been my most enjoyable 12 months watching football for a whole number of reasons.  Roll on next season!

 

I think the problem for futsal in this country will be similar to that faced by soccer.  Just like B teams don't suddenly make us Spain so futsal teams don't suddenly make us skillful.  You can have exactly the same issue about poor coaching, mad parents and only playing to win on a futsal court as on a football field.

 

Also, I know the FA are meant to be in charge but I've noted locally at least one association and several leagues that are fustal but nothing to do with the local FA.

[marklaspalmas]

In the long run, I think that the popularity of Football will be replaced by Futsal, like 11-player Handball disappeared.

 

Amusing the first time. Boring now.

[shrek]

I think the problem for futsal in this country will be similar to that faced by soccer.  Just like B teams don't suddenly make us Spain so futsal teams don't suddenly make us skillful.  You can have exactly the same issue about poor coaching, mad parents and only playing to win on a futsal court as on a football field.

 

Also, I know the FA are meant to be in charge but I've noted locally at least one association and several leagues that are fustal but nothing to do with the local FA.

True, but by getting kids playing the sport your equipping them with skills they may not get out doors playing traditional football, more touches, more skills and probably most important, played indoors in an environment that'll encourage parents and children alike to keep going!

 

The FA National Leagues are pretty well set up, not sure what other leagues are about, we tend only to see the FA Futsal Fives around here at an adult level, which I think is the FA's attempt to commercialise it in the same way 5-a-side was and to be fair seems quite popular.

 

I've heard of one youth league being set up mainly by national league clubs, but not yet affiliated with the FA, I think this is more enthusiasm of individuals not wanting to wait for the FA rather than a breakaway, I expect it to be affiliated sooner rather than later.

 

But as already said, talk of it taking over, or even retaining most of the kids who play it is just silly.  To me its a great tool to help kids pick up skills they can then take into football, for those that stick with it its a cracking sport and there's plenty of lads getting called up for the England squad who are well suited to the game but never made it past the 6 or 7th tier of non-league.

 

Talk of a TV deal being in the pipe line, but I fear in England that would just shine a light on Baku having a rumoured 750k budget for this season and a full time squad playing against lads quite possibly still paying to play!

[Wiltshire Rhino]

Amusing the first time. Boring now.

WRONG! It was boring the first time too!

[Methven Hornet]

Cup Final Day!

 

Come On You Saints!

[ckn]

Absolute proof that the football world has hasn't just toppled off the edge but has more staged histrionics than a children's TV drama.

[Tiny Tim]

Absolute proof that the football world has hasn't just toppled off the edge but has more staged histrionics than a children's TV drama.

 

I was just reading about that on the BBC and I am sat here shaking my head in utter disbelief. They really have absolutely no idea. Bunch of spoilt arrogant kids.

[Futtocks]

With the anniversary of Heysel around now, here's a TV handover that seems strangely surreal: http://forthosewatchinginblackandwhite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/television-and-heysel-stadium-disaster.html

[Futtocks]

This BBC3 thing, with its mixture of lazy cliches and 'comedy' racism, make the Mars world cup advert seem merely loathsome.

[WearyRhino]

Apparently 'football' is a bit corrupt. Who knew?

[gingerjon]

Apparently 'football' is a bit corrupt. Who knew?

 

Yes.

 

This makes it very different from (proven) cycling, athletics, cricket, snooker, tennis ...

[Futtocks]

Annoyingly, The Sun's world cup advert is actually quite good. Damn them!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khV6hg0oFEo

 

[Griff9of13]

This is a statement from my local football team. A sad day for them and the town.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/formby/news/statement-club-disbanded-1230737.html

It's extremely sad in light of the fact that Formby is home to a fair few very wealthy people. Ironically many of whom get their wealth from playing football for Liverpool and Everton. They probably need less than a weeks wages from the likes of local residet Steven Gerrard to see them to a bright, long future.

[shrek]

This is a statement from my local football team. A sad day for them and the town.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/formby/news/statement-club-disbanded-1230737.html

It's extremely sad in light of the fact that Formby is home to a fair few very wealthy people. Ironically many of whom get their wealth from playing football for Liverpool and Everton. They probably need less than a weeks wages from the likes of local residet Steven Gerrard to see them to a bright, long future.

Really sad to see Formby go, they'd had a really good season as well finishing 2nd and earning promotion.

 

Turbulant times in non-league football with teams resigning/asking for demotions from plenty of leagues higher up.  The knock on effects are mentioned here.

[Bob8]

Really sad to see Formby go, they'd had a really good season as well finishing 2nd and earning promotion.

 

Turbulant times in non-league football with teams resigning/asking for demotions from plenty of leagues higher up.  The knock on effects are mentioned here.

A shame certainly.  However, it is a sign of the times.  Formby would have prospered at a time when were would have been people really keen to go to a game of football as far as the outskirts of their town, but no further.  Once, when there were less entertainment and and transport to the glamourous sides like Southport FC was harder, that was viable.

 

The future of Formby is perhaps as a proper community amateur side.  

[shrek]

A shame certainly.  However, it is a sign of the times.  Formby would have prospered at a time when were would have been people really keen to go to a game of football as far as the outskirts of their town, but no further.  Once, when there were less entertainment and and transport to the glamourous sides like Southport FC was harder, that was viable.

 

The future of Formby is perhaps as a proper community amateur side.  

Most clubs in the NWCFL seem to survive on crowds of sub 200 levels, lots on sub 100, so not sure people traveling further afield for the football is the reason.  Non-league football, especially down in leagues like the North West Counties is a real niche.

 

Been to plenty of games at this level were "groundhoppers" substantially outnumber fans of either team!

 

I suspect, like most clubs there demands placed on clubs facilities wise by the FA are far in excess of what the actual hand ful of fans turning up week in week out need or expect. 

 

Should also be noted in the league Formby played in last year, and the league above for that matter most clubs are "semi professional" in name only, most clubs still charge players subs rather than pay them.