As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Chippy wrote:I assume from the tone of this thread that noone is supporting the home nations tournament (taking over from the Celtic Cup). Even Gordon Brown is supporting it
I think I would if there was a rule saying the average age of the players on the pitch is not over 25
It would give us some excuses for boozy weekends/bbqs next summer.
On the one hand Chippy, England feels that it is above playing those other nations - but on the other hand, England need income to continue repaying Wembley Stadium.
So perhaps we will see an end of season tour to somewhere money making - Asia or America??
tonysaunders wrote:Well this is the problem with English players in the eyes of Le Boss. It isn't necessarily that they don't have the talent as I'm pretty sure players like Bentley and Pennant could have made something of themselves at the Arse if they really wanted it, but that is the point; they weren't willing to work for it. As long as at the end of the week, they got their big pay cheque and could go out and shag some tart from the local Weatherspoon's at the weekend, they were happy. Arsene has built his team around a whole culture which applies on the pitch, but just as importantly, off the pitch. While people like Pennant are going out getting arrested and players like Bentley are giving it large about which car they've just bought (I met him when he still played for us; he was/is a right arrogant sod) players like Cesc are more willing to get their heads down, work hard and subscribe to the ethos of the team.
For this reason, I'm not surprised to see that our youth set up has loads of English talent in there as Wenger chooses to target young talent who are yet to be corrupted (as over the top as it sounds) by the WAG lifestyle, so that the can instill in them a firm moral base from which they can build on and grow as players. For that reason, we're much better off without wankers like Pennant and Bentley as we'd just be compromising not only the raw talent in the side, but also the team work ethic which is so important, especially in this generation of players that we have.
Bentley and Pennant were exactly the players I was considering when I thought about the problems that AW has encountered with some British players since he arrived at Arsenal. Well put Tony.
In addition, when AW arrived we had Paul Merson (recovering alcoholic) and John Hartson (had drink-related incidents).
These players are very young and one cannot expect complete maturity in teenagers. But they should understand from a young age that they are endowed with skills that may allow them to become professional people - with which comes great reward and great responsibility. This is something that some of these young guys don't understand - the sacrifice that they have to make if they want the reward and recognition.
Agree, agree, agree - I couldn't have put it better than TS.
The problems are mostly with English players' attitudes, but also the relatively low level of respect for technical ability over football's physical side and fundamental features of British (and Irish?) culture.
Touched on the tip of the ice berg there TS and 26may1989!!
One of the biggest problems in the football set up in the UK and Eire is that kids are taught to win first, no matter what, and develop real technique only as a secondary concern. They also get caught up in the whole sideshow that surrounds the game; things like groupies and stupid big cars and bling etc etc. So they are way behind the rest of the world in not just technique and vision on the pitch but also in their mental preperation and approach to the game.
Kids in most other footballing countries do not play in competitive leagues until their mid to late teens, long after they have developed superb technical ability and a real tactical awareness of the game.
Youth coaching has to change, the emphasis has to be more on the technical side and a little less on the win-at-all-costs-overly-competitive-training used at the moment and historically in the UK and Eire.
Just compare Lump-o-lard to Cesc for technique, finesse, vision and skill. No competition. That's not to say that Lumpy couldn't have developed like Cesc; he wasn't given the chance, like most other English players.
Rooney was protected from the media to a good extent by rednose but Rooney is too f*cking stupid to take advantage of that.
Agree on Bentley - the arrogant arsehole thought he was the new DB10 long before he'd bothered his bollix to actually develop the skill and vision of The Great One.
As long as at the end of the week, they got their big pay cheque and could go out and shag some tart from the local Weatherspoon's at the weekend, they were happy.
One of the biggest problems in the football set up in the UK and Eire is that kids are taught to win first, no matter what, and develop real technique only as a secondary concern
You could say this right down to the very lowest level.
Most youth sides are run by someone's dad who's living his dream to be Alex Ferguson for the day.
When i was a child,no matter what position i was playing i just chased after the ball. I could not care less if i was a forward or defender. Four four two,four three three,what were they.The kids today are giving positions by people who have no idea of their potential and are so afrid of doing something wrong that they are literally scared of the ball.
I live across the the road from our local team,i can hear the adults shouting different instruction at the kids totally confusing them.
Win,win,that's what it's all about,which is ok for adults but not for chilrden.
As long as at the end of the week, they got their big pay cheque and could go out and shag some tart from the local Weatherspoon's at the weekend, they were happy.
I'd be happy with that too actually.
The money, fine. Weatherspoon's and a tart? Well, to each his own, I suppose...
corkbarry wrote:When i was a child,no matter what position i was playing i just chased after the ball. I could not care less if i was a forward or defender. Four four two,four three three,what were they.The kids today are giving positions by people who have no idea of their potential and are so afrid of doing something wrong that they are literally scared of the ball.
I live across the the road from our local team,i can hear the adults shouting different instruction at the kids totally confusing them.
Win,win,that's what it's all about,which is ok for adults but not for chilrden.
I agree totally.
You have to wonder whose benefit most of these kids teams are actually for - the parents or the kids.
In my days of youth football the parents were an absolute disgrace - I used to have verbal running battles with parents from other sides while playing - parents would volunteer to be the linesman and spend the whole match conning the ref into giving offside at every opportunity.
I totally agree about the positions too. If I were running a kids side I'd rotate the positions - if some kids and their parents had an issue with that I'd just point out - if you think your kids good enough a pro side may well stick him at right back even if he plays here as a forward.
I assume from the tone of this thread that noone is supporting the home nations tournament (taking over from the Celtic Cup). Even Gordon Brown is supporting
Martin Samuel gave an intresting article recently about one of the problems, sorry the many many problems, facing our youths. Full sized pitches, full size goals being played on by kids. What is this going to encourage? Dribbling and passing or strong players who can hoof it far? and what about the poor keepers?
Small pitches, small goals, suitable for the youngsters, encourage control, dribbling and passing. If they make a mistake, let it be, they will learn from it later. Incidentally N.Korea U17's forwards have far superior technique then any England players at any level do now so don't allow anyone to kid you about the success of the U17's and 21's, the words counter attack and luck spring to mind. No offence to Peacock and Pearce who are doing the best they can with the mess they are left with
I wouldn't mind seeing it. The idea of the average age being 25 is a good one too but i doubt they'd do that. With none of the Celtic Nations or England in Eurp 2008 they'd hope for as much money as possible from this and that will only come with big name players on the pitch.
One of the big problems is the English media.No one will tell the truth that English players are not good enough.Sky sports are forever telling us what world class players Rooney,Gerrard,Owen,Beckham and the vastly overated Lampard are.To be world class you have to prove yourself at the highest level against quality.Owen was found out at Real Madrid and how many teams were queuing up to sign him when they sold him.
A couple of years ago Wenger was asked who his favourite England player was and he said Paul Scholes a player how does his job on the pitch and someone you never see in the gossip columns,a typical Wenger player.
When i read that the likes of Terry and Ferdinand are on £130,000 a week it makes me so angry.They treat the true football fans with contempt.
Every England player should have LOSER tatooed on their foreheads.When you think of the groups Scotland and Northern Ireland were in the England players should hold their heads in shame.But they wont because they will be counting their money buying another Ferrari and going out clubbing with their wags.
The present day English footballer is summed up by greedy Cashley Cole.
