Football World Cup 2014

[DaGaffer]

I think the high school and college football is what will make America great. The more popular it gets The more Scholarships ect thay will hand out which will encourage kids with crap lives to keep playing. There is nothing similar over here and I wonder if the higher standard of living for poor kids than say in Brazil is why the Neymars of England just end up hanging out and drinking rather than playing football. I often thought that if there was similar over here our youth set ups would be to a better level.

Why does football have to be about "kids with crap lives"? Its a constant narrative that runs through English football, that you have to be poor to be good. Now I know that ties to the roots of football as a working class game, but its not actually true, and it distorts the way we think about football education. It also gives weight to the anti-intellectualism that pervades English football from top to bottom; thick players, leads to useless coaches, leads to plodding suits in the FA and the whole cycle starts again. In other European countries you're not looked on as a poof if you can actually use your brain...

 

[Job]

I watched reruns of the England games...just so I can have a reference point of utter shite.

 

[soze]

Why does football have to be about "kids with crap lives"? Its a constant narrative that runs through English football, that you have to be poor to be good. Now I know that ties to the roots of football as a working class game, but its not actually true, and it distorts the way we think about football education. It also gives weight to the anti-intellectualism that pervades English football from top to bottom; thick players, leads to useless coaches, leads to plodding suits in the FA and the whole cycle starts again. In other European countries you're not looked on as a poof if you can actually use your brain...

Because most footballers are not all natural they just play and play and play. Yes rich kids who love football might spend the time playing but more likely is kids with comfortable lives will be playing XBox and Playstations rather than playing football. Hence why your poor kids who have nothing but a football and see a football as the only way of making a good living will put a hell of a lot more effort in. When you live a comfortable life you are not as driven. Obviously certain personality types are different.

 

[Gwadien]

Why does football have to be about "kids with crap lives"? Its a constant narrative that runs through English football, that you have to be poor to be good. Now I know that ties to the roots of football as a working class game, but its not actually true, and it distorts the way we think about football education. It also gives weight to the anti-intellectualism that pervades English football from top to bottom; thick players, leads to useless coaches, leads to plodding suits in the FA and the whole cycle starts again. In other European countries you're not looked on as a poof if you can actually use your brain...

I sort of agree with Soze here.

I think it's because in the UK we have more of a tradition for the middle classes and upper classes, where they play other sports, such as polo, rowing, cycling, etc etc, which could explain why we do pretty well at the Olympics compared to other European nations that have 'newer' middle classes where they don't have those traditions to play other sports, but they club together and play football, rugby etc.

I think the whole meaning of football is wrong in this country though, it's seen as a business, rather than as a sport, which is why I think we're not as good at an international level, why have pride, when you have money, and I think that plays a large role in our performances.

 

[Embattle]

A means of escape.

Least the footy is back tonight.

 

[megadave]

Why does football have to be about "kids with crap lives"? Its a constant narrative that runs through English football, that you have to be poor to be good. Now I know that ties to the roots of football as a working class game, but its not actually true, and it distorts the way we think about football education. It also gives weight to the anti-intellectualism that pervades English football from top to bottom; thick players, leads to useless coaches, leads to plodding suits in the FA and the whole cycle starts again. In other European countries you're not looked on as a poof if you can actually use your brain...

Yep, look at the number of coaches in England compared to the rest of Europe and you see the root of most of the problems.
Quote is a few years old but still quite shocking

Uefa data shows that there are only 2,769 English coaches holding Uefa's B, A and Pro badges, its top qualifications. Spain has produced 23,995, Italy 29,420, Germany 34,970 and France 17,588.

That's a staggering difference. Why does England have such a shit coaching culture? It costs loads of to do your badges in England, they've only recently realised you have to train players with the ball, and not train physically undeveloped players on full size pitches. Not to mention the limit on the number of hours of training we have in this country compared to abroad. All of that needs to change before we can expect to see any improvements.

 

[Raven]

It wont change though, the FA are happy with the train to keep on rumbling.

 

[megadave]

Really looking forward to today's games, hopefully each manager sorts their shit out.

Want to see Gotze dropped for Schurrle, Lahm in defence where he belongs, and Greizmann in for Giroud.

 

[Marc]

The difference in grass roots between Spain and England is absolutely laughable and makes England look medieval. Im sure the difference is just as huge between England and the likes of Italy too.

 

[Raven]

True, but Spain and particularly the way they play has been found out and they have no other way of playing at the moment. Though they do have the talent there to try something else. Unlike England who have neither the talent or the tactical know how to play anything but hoofball.

 

[Shagrat]

You know, I actually think the French might take this. German defence looked well creaky against Algeria

 

[Olgaline]

ze germans have been sick also I've heard

 

[Billargh]

Fucking Germans.

 

[CorNokZ]

Glad we got an early goal

 

[Billargh]

Why so many disagrees? Hah.

 

[soze]

I could go off football if this trend of falling over at the slightest contact continues. It is not good football and that must be the third time a German has been shoot in the box

 

[Billargh]

Hah and we mock the Spanish for diving... this is embarrassing.

 

[Shagrat]

Muller is a moaning git isn't he

 

[megadave]

Ferdinand's grasp of grammar and the English language is embarrassing.

 

[soze]

Striker shoving the defender out of the way to score is good play. Defender pulling a strikers shirt a tiny bit is a penalty? I don't like it.

 

[Corran]

Welcome to the world of the attacker. Where everything they do is fine, but anything a defender does means a penalty!

 

[soze]

A yellow does not seem enough for a foul that cynical and obvious. That is just pure cheating.

 

[old.user4556]

Sub Boateng.

 

[old.user4556]

Özil is a bit of a ghost this world cup.

 

[Billargh]

But more frightening to look at.

 

[CorNokZ]

They talk about the heat taking its toll in Brazil. What were they thinking about fucking Qatar!?

 

[Raven]

Mon the fatherland.

 

[Billargh]

I miss the group stages.

 

[caLLous]

Come on Columbia!

 

[Raven]

I hope a bit of stadium falls on top of Andy Townsend.