This is what's wrong with football in this country

[merlin]

About 20 years ago, the French decided to concentrate on developing the skills of young players and set up an Academy to do so - this was supposedly tried in England when Lilleshall was running, but it has now been closed down. The French, however, have won the WC and produced some really good players since...

 

There are several reasons why English youngsters don't come through now, and first among them is the fact that many School playing fields have been sold off. Also, attitudes are poor in schools, ranging from over Politically-Correct views frowning on 'Winners' to lack of interest by so-called PE teachers.

Many kids nowadays are unfit, preferring to sit in front of computers instead of playing games outside, and in some cases, their parents think its unsafe to allow them to....

 

When some child happens to show promise, they often get into the hands of 'Coaches' who want then to concentrate of the physical aspects of the game instead of developing their ball-skills, and so their talent is often coached out of them - Gazza was hauled in front of Jack Charlton once back in 84, because Colin Suggett(coach of juniors) complained that he wasn't obeying instructions and was overweight - Big Jack asked Gazza what he was doing, and Gazza burst into tears and told JC that Suggett was bollocking him for not passing the ball when he was, of course, beating defenders easily with his skill . Charlton told him he had to get his weight down in 2 weeks, BUT - he COULD keep beating defenders with skill as long as he passed the ball when he was under too much pressure.

 

Suggett was told to lay off him a bit, and the rest is history.....

 

I reckon there are many similar things in English football, but we never hear about them as the youngsters give up or fade into obscurity.

 

Its no accident that most talented players come from areas of relative poverty - Brazil & Argentina spring to mind, and most decent French players are former immigrants(Rugby is the preferred game in France anyway).In Britain, there is no REAL hardship anymore, and areas like the North East & Scotland, once hot beds of talented kids, no longer produce them in any quantity.

[NSG]

Sorry Mr Beckham, little David isn't quick enough with the ball.......

 

Exactly.

 

Sadly many academies now think like this, including our own.

 

Don't think that's 100% accurate with our academy. Aye, we have a few speed demons like Godsmark Troisi etc. But the likes of Doninger, Frank the Danq etc are clearly in the team for their skills and not their pace.

[NG32]

Seems to me the FA excuse boook has been opened already for when Steve McClaren blows it.

 

 

 

 

 

[Scottish Mag]

The EPL is starting to get a bit closer to the  Scottish league, everything about physicalty

 

To be fair over the last few years quite a few of the teams have been playing some decent football, particularly Hibs and Falkirk.

[Newcastle Fan]

The EPL is starting to get a bit closer to the  Scottish league, everything about physicalty

 

To be fair over the last few years quite a few of the teams have been playing some decent football, particularly Hibs and Falkirk.

 

Falkirk?, i've been watching them every possible time (for Krul) and they are like a team of 11 Titus Brambles and Shola Ameobis

 

tbh watching the Scottish league i realised that its the only league that can make Thomas Gravesen look like Zidane..