Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:24 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

It's because when the initial scouting is done at 5-8, they look for players that stand out matches, rather than watching them train. So that's the fast players, the physically strong players. If a kid is one of those that looks a year older than he actually is physically, they're an almost automatic pick. My cousin is the apple in everyone's eyes in the family at the moment, having been scouted and asked to train with Everton, Liverpool, United and City recently. He's a freak of a kid physically, more like a 10 year old than the 7 he is. Talent? He's got two left feet and does nothing but tackle/push the other kids off the ball then dribble it forward until he hits an opposition player's legs, then hacks away until he's free, the repeats. There are three or four kids on his team far better with a football than him, who barely get a kick during games, let alone attract any interest.

At junior levels they've tried to copy the Spanish system with reduced player numbers, but it won't work. It just means kids like my cousin find it easier as there are a few less legs to hack it past and all the easier to dominate games. Until they start picking kids on technical ability (To develop them physically) rather than picking the fast/strong kids (To develop them technically) they won't improve anything.

That tragic

Why doesn't this country adopt the Brazilian indoor football method for the juniors? (I have forgotten its exact name).

Small pitches, heavy smaller ball etc

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:59 pm  

There are so many reasons we don't produce great young players, you could go on for days about the varying reasons. Ultimately, the kids we product can't want it enough. Suarez isn't a gifted athlete, he isn't tall, he isn't prolifically quick, he hasn't been raised with Uefa grade A coaches, he hasn't played on professional pitches and you can be sure as hell he wasn't a product of 'the system'. He's fiercely determined, he's forced his game to greater levels when many others would have been satisfied. CR7 is the same, but he also has the gift of the Gods regarding his physique and speed, which is what puts him up there with the GOATs.

I'm a big fan of the NBA and recently watched the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA finals with a talented team, but a team ultimately lacking traditional superstar qualities. One thing their coach consistently talks about is players 'getting over themselves', usually meaning they're ready to learn, ready to sacrifice their individual targets for the sake of the team. Do we honestly believe we produce players that are like that? Did Steven Gerrard ever 'get over himself', or did he spend years pouting and telling people his best position was centre mid? What about Rooney, allegedly wanting move because 'he's a number 9'? Compare that to somebody like Suarez, who's played left, right, 10 or 9, he's played everywhere and never once come out saying he wants to play in his best position. Sturridge looked like he'd never have a career because he wouldn't get over himself. He finally got the nod at 9 and he hasn't disappointed, but I'm sure it would change if he was shifted to the right for a while.

The point I'm trying to get at is I believe that talent will only take you so far: mentality, tactics and how 'coachable' a team are are the biggest weaknesses I see in the English side. The stars have never gotten over themselves, the team often look tactically lost on the field, and players playing in 'foreign' roles often look bemused and unhappy. For me, these are issues that filter right through to grass roots. The day that changes will be the day we see us at least compete in these tournaments.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:07 am  

duke street 10 wrote:

That tragic

Why doesn't this country adopt the Brazilian indoor football method for the juniors? (I have forgotten its exact name).

Small pitches, heavy smaller ball etc

Futbol de Salao ?

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Jun 23, 2014 11:41 am  

Its not the overall number of foreign players that's the problem. The problem is that PL clubs rely on foreign players for flair and creativity, English for strength and power. The English players are further disadvantaged as tournaments are played at the end of the season, often in heat, when they're all knackered.

It does seem that many of the foreign PL based players are also struggling. Van Persie might be an exception but he managed his season to be in good shape for the WC.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:08 pm  

I note that a penalty has become as rare has rocking horse shoite following early soft ones.
You have to now machine gun your opponent in the area to be running any risk at all.
So carry on fouling.

Being the cynic that I am, could the next rarity penalty be one awarded to Brazil again?
I wonder.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Mon Jun 23, 2014 4:39 pm  

Roddy B wrote:

There are so many reasons we don't produce great young players, you could go on for days about the varying reasons. Ultimately, the kids we product can't want it enough. Suarez isn't a gifted athlete, he isn't tall, he isn't prolifically quick, he hasn't been raised with Uefa grade A coaches, he hasn't played on professional pitches and you can be sure as hell he wasn't a product of 'the system'. He's fiercely determined, he's forced his game to greater levels when many others would have been satisfied. CR7 is the same, but he also has the gift of the Gods regarding his physique and speed, which is what puts him up there with the GOATs.

I'm a big fan of the NBA and recently watched the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA finals with a talented team, but a team ultimately lacking traditional superstar qualities. One thing their coach consistently talks about is players 'getting over themselves', usually meaning they're ready to learn, ready to sacrifice their individual targets for the sake of the team. Do we honestly believe we produce players that are like that? Did Steven Gerrard ever 'get over himself', or did he spend years pouting and telling people his best position was centre mid? What about Rooney, allegedly wanting move because 'he's a number 9'? Compare that to somebody like Suarez, who's played left, right, 10 or 9, he's played everywhere and never once come out saying he wants to play in his best position. Sturridge looked like he'd never have a career because he wouldn't get over himself. He finally got the nod at 9 and he hasn't disappointed, but I'm sure it would change if he was shifted to the right for a while.

The point I'm trying to get at is I believe that talent will only take you so far: mentality, tactics and how 'coachable' a team are are the biggest weaknesses I see in the English side. The stars have never gotten over themselves, the team often look tactically lost on the field, and players playing in 'foreign' roles often look bemused and unhappy. For me, these are issues that filter right through to grass roots. The day that changes will be the day we see us at least compete in these tournaments.

Exactly.

You hear about players not wanting to play for england in friendlies and it makes you think. The england team has spoken honestly about how they have given their all at this world cup. I believe their words. But I look at what happens on the field, I see countless other teams busting a gut to surround the player on the ball and disposess, you can feel the desire and the passion from your TV screen, you watch england and you don't see the same kind of effort to get to opposition players. So I don't know what to think. It could be tactics (in which case they are sh*t), it could be that they are just too tired.

Whatever the case, whatever the solution, I only see more big doses of dissapointment for england over the next couple of decades.

It's a big deal. There's no ''always next year'' because it's every 4 years, to wait so long and have it over with after a barely a week is massively deflating, such is life as an england fan.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:44 pm  

The lady covering the World Cup for ESPN en Espanol. You're welcome http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/inez-sa ... -photos/#0

The lady covering the World Cup for ESPN en Espanol. You're welcome http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/inez-sa ... -photos/#0

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:56 pm  

So luis suarez has been biting again.

The sooner someone puts a leg breaker on that horrible slimeball the better.

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:10 pm  

Hope the Italian gets a rabies shot

If Suarez was a staffy he'd be put down by now

Re: Football Chat Thread PART II : Tue Jun 24, 2014 6:27 pm  

Suarez, WOW.

Doing it again? You could see at the end that he was gutted. He knows what's coming and that the next six months is going to be very hard for him.

Cant wait to see what Liverpool say and do about it. I would like to think they will sack him and the authorities give him a life ban. But there is that nagging doubt and I wouldn't be surprised if they give him an international ban and Liverpool do some PR but then let him play for them next season.

The man needs therapy more than anything, clearly cant contain himself.