ponsaelius

Really can't wait for this. Got my tickets for Everton and Man City aswell. Haven't been to either grounds so proper chuffed, love the season being back

Aye. Looks like they're pinning their hopes on him, started as lone striker last two games.

Your manager is nothing to do with it it, it's since I called Norway worse than s**** the other week. You were guarenteed to do well from that point on.

Adam Johnson iss comfortably my favourite England player, despite being a mackem.

You obviously didn't see the game. I did. I watched Scotland flounder against a nation the size of Ashington, and need a goal 2 minutes past the allotted time. They're basically an embarrasement. I know what we are, and I don't need someone with the spelling mistakes of a seven year old to tell me this! The point I was making is that if you had watched the second half then you would be of the opinion that there were at least 7 f***ing minutes of injury time. Ever heard of a typographical error?

True. Still very embarrassing though, and a kick in the teeth for a team of semi-pros.

You obviously didn't see the game. I did. I watched Scotland flounder against a nation the size of Ashington, and need a goal 2 minutes past the allotted time. They're basically an embarrasement.

7th minute of added time. Christ Liechtenstein were robbed there.

Where's Barnetta? injured?

I'm gonna go emmental if we don't roll the Swiss over. Looking forward to swatching this though.

Was just gonna say, the French league is probably the closest to England in terms of pace and physicality. The adaption process when crossing the channel is not always as difficult as it is when coming from other leagues.

Iceland are the best team in the world in terms of population tbh.

Unlucky Ridman.

Shame Henderson is a mackem twat because he looks a very good player.

They've qualified for the play-offs.

The way Wilshere glides across the surface is brilliant, proper footballer. He'll be England's Iniesta in a few years I'm sure of it.

3-0, FT. Welbeck with the finish but lovely combination between Wilshere and the mackem to set it up. Welbeck will probably get MotM for his 2 goals but he's missed a heap of sitters aswell. Wilshere and Albrighton the most impressive for me even though they both came off the bench.

Aye, because they don't have anything behind it. Aye because Nesta and Thiago Silva aren't probably one of the best center-pairing in Europe? I was referring more to the midfield, full backs and keepers. The CBs are obviously excellent, especially Thiago Silva.

Ferguson, McLaughlin, Vuckic, Edmundsson and Kadar all ruled out through international call ups.

I've got nowt against Cole when it comes to playing for England tbh. He's a wanker of course but he's probably the most consistent performer in an England shirt, aslong as he's doing it on the pitch I can't dislike him in a footballing sense. It's when they're wankers and shite for England which is unbearable.

Why doesn't Paddy McCourt get in the Northern Ireland team? I know he's probably not very good but he always seems to be scoring wondergoals in the SPL Surely he's worthy of a place in the squad?

:lol: Who was it who said he'd become a parody of himself?

Wow didn't know about kids and smaller pitches. I distinctly remember playing on massive fullsize fields when I was about 9/10, at the time it was just normal but looking back it was really ridiculous. Dominating at Youth level really shouldn't matter, at all. Even U21 international football and the like. Ultimately the main purpose is producing players who will hopefully go on to play at a high level for clubs and then represent their country. It's all about development and promotion to the level that actually matters, the results in Youth football don't count for nothing at the end of the day.

Well yeah, I totally agree with you. The attitude of the guy ringing in just riled me up totally, his logic was totally faulted for the reasons you just gave. Surely the FA and footballing academies across the country have to realise what's best, and changes have to be made? I personally don't think kids should step onto a full size pitch until they're about 13/14.

Don't suppose you ever listen to 5 Live's World Football Phone In, Chris? Anyway, a caller was questioning the lack of technique and skill amongst English players at the moment. The Spanish football expert they had on gave a very interesting insight into the way players are coached at a young age over there, to be taught how to play with your head up and know when to give the ball at the right time. The technical side of the game is ingrained into players from around the ages of 7 or 8, hence by the time players develop into adults the physical side of the game can then be added to their natural, honed ball playing ability. Hence producing more allround footballers in the long term who have vision, ability and technique. The pundit (his name escapes me) then mentioned how he talked to a number of coaches at Valencia, and when they came over to do football schools in England and Wales they were absolutely stunned by the lack of ability in the players. That it was almost a waste of a generation because the players played with braun rather than their brain. Anyway, the thing that amazed me most was later in the show a caller rang the show in defence of the English methoding. He mentioned how he was a coach for an 8 year old team aswell as a team of 16 year olds. He explained how he seen it as important to make sure the players were physically capable above anything else, and that he coaches the players to be commited and strong above actual footballing ability. He said that the way he saw it was skill and ability can be taught to the players once they make it, and that readying the youngsters for a physical barrage was top of his agenda. I genuinely couldn't believe what he was saying, he was basically saying the Spanish way of doing things was wrong and that he was right. The pundit then retorted at why England hadn't won anything in 40 years, the caller then just blamed tiredness from too many matches in the club season and subsequently went off on a tangent about how foreign imports and too much money was strangling the game. He really wound me up to be honest, I despair if this is the national standard for football coaching in this country? People like this bloke shouldn't be given the responsibility because their sporting ideology is so, so wide of the mark. Anyway, I know you're doing coaching badges and taking a keen interest in this kind of thing so is this attitude commonplace throughout the UK? Is it actively encouraged to train kids in this way? The show is worth a listen to if you want to hear what he said.