It's not grass roots or managers that have to change. It's the FA heirachy. Whatever conference or meeting they go to, they all seem to be concerned with the evening meal or the quality of the brandy etc. They are a load of boring old farts. I seem to recollect that when the draw for the World Cup in South Africa was being made, not only did virtually all the
(continued due to system failure) board of the FA attend, but also their wives and girlfriend. What a nice little jolly. Surely, their is a case for someone like Hoddle, Beckham, Shearer, et al to be in some sort of charge.
It's not grass roots or managers that have to change. It's the FA heirachy. Whatever conference or meeting they go to, they all seem to be concerned with the evening meal or the quality of the brandy etc. They are a load of boring old farts. I seem to recollect that when the draw for the World Cup in South Africa was being made, not only did virtually all the
It seems most of our footballers are ruined before they get to the U21's so someone needs to be in charge much earlier in their development. I know Pearce was tactically inept but It seems the problem is already there before he gets them. we need a centre of excellence where the best young players go regularly and spend time together training with the people they will play with, not just 3 days before a match. A Lilleshall type place, and if clubs don't release their players they are banned from playing for 4 months. I know it sounds harsh but thats what it needs to turn it around. Also the right men in charge doing the coaching, young men, i'm sorry but not the likes of Hoddle. Although I do think people like hoddle should run the fa instead of the out of touch never played football old fogies they have their now.
We are to blame as parents too - and I include myself in that. I get a lot of pleasure watching my son win trophies (Just finsihed thi sseason playing U-12s football)- I know I shouldn't but rationalise that it doesn't matter so much as he is a keeper. But it isn't about me - really it should be about him! I see a lot of teams play big (even fat) keepers - to gain an advantage - when it surely has to be about teaching a kid who has th etechnique, to become better!
This issue, however, is hardly limited to football. We don't let our children enjoy anything these days. It's all about winning. Even the Government (well Cameron and Boris) are banging on about making children at primary school be competitive at Sports Day. This probably also discourages children that develop later from getting into sports that they are rubbish at at 5 yet might be really good at by the age of 21.
This attitude has made my disinclined to push my son to take part in any sport at all. There is plenty of time for his spirit to be broken as he gets older, there is no need to make him feel like a loser before he's even got going!
I think you have to encourage your son (not push), because that is the system. Yes, it breaks spirits too young but until we change it, it is what we have.
As for penalties - I'm sure coaches think about penalties- i.e. practice them, but do they investigate whether there is a system? I doubt it - they accept too much - they don't question whether there is a different way!
For me there are 2 types of penalty takers - ones with one penalty in their locker and others who can put the penalty where they want. I'd test that by telling players where I want them to put a penalty over a series of kicks, and see how they get on. I'd know the players with one penalty, and if they had just taken one - like Cole had done for Chelsea, before he took one for England against Italy - I'd stand him down.
Of course, some players get freaked by the situation - you have to know the players more likely to do this, and tell them where to put the penalty in a game - of course where you tell them has to be in their comfort/ability zone.
Lastly, at tournaments, you have a specialist penalty saving keeper on the bench, with a view to bringing them on just before a shoot out to gain a tactical psychological advantage.
Have England's coaches tried anything like that, given our record - I doubt it - most would say you can't do anything about penalties bar practise them!
Football for youngsters is now non competetive from im sure its under 9 s to under7s which im all for but some managers are still intent on winning at all costs i coach and also manage and all i want my boys to do is pass and move and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet we played the other week and lost to a team of much bigger lads and whose manager was an absolute headcase shouting and screaming at his team crazy , after the game i was approached by a chelsea scout who was impressed by the way we played that invited my team to play against 2 of his academy sides and another team from kent in a round robin tournament ,wot im saying is if boys dont feel under pressure to win the can go out on the pitch and express themselves the competetive edge is in them anyway we, dont need to drive that into them all i say to them is its not the long or short pass that matters its the right pass ,the fa also need to sort out the age issue which is still done on school years which is madness some kids are year behind other kids in age and believe me this makes a lot of difference as probably many of you out there have experienced it needs to sorted.
Lastly, at tournaments, you have a specialist penalty saving keeper on the bench, with a view to bringing them on just before a shoot out to gain a tactical psychological advantage.
Given the number of times that England have exited from tournaments having lost penalty shoot-outs you would think that it would be a hint that penalty taking practice is something that should be compulsory - and for the whole team. Rather than take a penalty saving expert keeper I would do as the Germans do - and simply study form. They compile a record on every opponent/potential penalty taker so they know for example which side of the goal he prefers to shoot at and whether he aims for the top or bottom corner etc. It ain't rocket science.
Football for youngsters is now non competetive from im sure its under 9 s to under7s which im all for but some managers are still intent on winning at all costs i coach and also manage and all i want my boys to do is pass and move and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet we played the other week and lost to a team of much bigger lads and whose manager was an absolute headcase shouting and screaming at his team crazy , after the game i was approached by a chelsea scout who was impressed by the way we played that invited my team to play against 2 of his academy sides and another team from kent in a round robin tournament ,wot im saying is if boys dont feel under pressure to win the can go out on the pitch and express themselves the competetive edge is in them anyway we, dont need to drive that into them all i say to them is its not the long or short pass that matters its the right pass ,the fa also need to sort out the age issue which is still done on school years which is madness some kids are year behind other kids in age and believe me this makes a lot of difference as probably many of you out there have experienced it needs to sorted.
The game needs more coaches like you. I didn't let my 12 year old son join a club until the season before last and if he wasn't a keeper, he would probably be joining the season after next. Having said that, If they were coached as you seem too, I wouldn't have any issues staring younger - I think leagues need to be set up that clearly embrace the future and new thinking so parents can make informed decisions.
The problem is, in two seasons playing for his team, my son has won a shelf full of trophies and medals - he picked up manager's player of the year for last season last week - I love that, and when he plays I like the competition of a match and feel proud when he and his team are successful. His team plays and is coached to win. They do too much fitness work in training - when they could have more time with the ball - but they do what they need to do to win matches at their age group - not fully develop players. Although the manager wouldn’t agree with that assessment. But too many managers are stuck in the 80s. I understand why parents and coaches do this, it is the dark side of the force...and I myself succomb to it sometimes, despite knowing it is wrong.
I see some very good players in my son’s team that have flaws in their game. They don't affect them - even help them at the level they are playing at, but you see how they will affect them when they come up against more savvy opponents. But they don’t get addressed beacuse they are not an issue in the here and now. You get kids dribbling past loads of kids, but not looking for the pass. As the defenders get better, they get bogged down more and from being the star of the team, they become just another player!
I know in my heart, that what we need to do, is concentrate on technique above all else up to the ages of 13/14. Winning is secondary, even lower than that in importance! When you have 7 year olds and 8 year olds in teams and coaches that want to win things with them, I shed a tear!
Football for youngsters is now non competetive from im sure its under 9 s to under7s which im all for but some managers are still intent on winning at all costs i coach and also manage and all i want my boys to do is pass and move and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet we played the other week and lost to a team of much bigger lads and whose manager was an absolute headcase shouting and screaming at his team crazy , after the game i was approached by a chelsea scout who was impressed by the way we played that invited my team to play against 2 of his academy sides and another team from kent in a round robin tournament ,wot im saying is if boys dont feel under pressure to win the can go out on the pitch and express themselves the competetive edge is in them anyway we, dont need to drive that into them all i say to them is its not the long or short pass that matters its the right pass ,the fa also need to sort out the age issue which is still done on school years which is madness some kids are year behind other kids in age and believe me this makes a lot of difference as probably many of you out there have experienced it needs to sorted.
Totally agree with you, have the same with my sons team, (he's 8 today!), we try to get them passing and playing the right way, then some team comes up with coaches and parents screaming and celebrating like they've just won the FA Cup. I do wonder how parents/coaches behave with kid matches in places like Spain or Italy. I expect our best kids sides would beat Italy or Spains, but I think we have a shortsighted view. Also a lot of talk about penalties on this thread and I guess it's true if we'd won some of those shoot-outs our history would look better, but I think that's masking the problems english football has, off the top of my head I can only think of Italia 90 and Euro 96 where we probably should have won those games.
Football for youngsters is now non competetive from im sure its under 9 s to under7s which im all for but some managers are still intent on winning at all costs i coach and also manage and all i want my boys to do is pass and move and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet we played the other week and lost to a team of much bigger lads and whose manager was an absolute headcase shouting and screaming at his team crazy , after the game i was approached by a chelsea scout who was impressed by the way we played that invited my team to play against 2 of his academy sides and another team from kent in a round robin tournament ,wot im saying is if boys dont feel under pressure to win the can go out on the pitch and express themselves the competetive edge is in them anyway we, dont need to drive that into them all i say to them is its not the long or short pass that matters its the right pass ,the fa also need to sort out the age issue which is still done on school years which is madness some kids are year behind other kids in age and believe me this makes a lot of difference as probably many of you out there have experienced it needs to sorted.
Totally agree with you, have the same with my sons team, (he's 8 today!), we try to get them passing and playing the right way, then some team comes up with coaches and parents screaming and celebrating like they've just won the FA Cup. I do wonder how parents/coaches behave with kid matches in places like Spain or Italy. I expect our best kids sides would beat Italy or Spains, but I think we have a shortsighted view. Also a lot of talk about penalties on this thread and I guess it's true if we'd won some of those shoot-outs our history would look better, but I think that's masking the problems english football has, off the top of my head I can only think of Italia 90 and Euro 96 where we probably should have won those games.
Not in my son's league, but about 10 years back, watching my nephew play, I saw one parent screaming at his 10 year old son to put his opponent in hospital. The coach did have a word, but the parents were toxic. That has improved - at least I haven't seen it with my son although a team in our league were under scrutiny through parents behaviour. They behaved against us, but the league made sure they had an experienced ref do their games. Parents nee dto be banned if they can't behave in the right way!
I done the same mate ended up with an arsenal scout saying the same and we played two of their kids sides when joes team was 7 yrs old
The dirty gooner knuts then tried to nick my center half and goalie
D my boy is at arsenal now doing really well dont expect to much he is still a baby the boys he is playing with are over a year older than him he holds his own though technically he is better than them but they are bigger and stronger but the way i see it he has improved 20% mate which makes me proud chelsea wanted him had to say no due to the arsenal thing but mate the scouts, like vultures always hanging about seeing who they can nick .
These U7/U8/U9 at clubs like Arsenal, who do they play against? do they train or is it just one game per week? Are there more than one team for each age group?
These U7/U8/U9 at clubs like Arsenal, who do they play against? do they train or is it just one game per week? Are there more than one team for each age group?
Basically wot they do is developement academys they have the boys for 4 months improve them.technically same as most clubs then if they like wot they see take the boys for 2 years then after that see wether they can take them to a higher level if they dont take them on they find them another club ie us , millwall , gills ,colchester etc long process very difficult for a young lad i havent told my boy how it works i just let him go and learn and enjoy if something comes of it so be it.
These U7/U8/U9 at clubs like Arsenal, who do they play against? do they train or is it just one game per week? Are there more than one team for each age group?
Basically wot they do is debelopement academys they have the boys for 4 months improve them.technically same as most clubs then if they like wot they see takw the boys for 2 years then after that see wether they can take them to a higher level if they dont take them on they find them another club ie us , millwall , gills ,colchester etc long process very difficult for a young lad i havent told my boy how it works i just let him go and learn and enjoy if something comes of it so be it.
These U7/U8/U9 at clubs like Arsenal, who do they play against? do they train or is it just one game per week? Are there more than one team for each age group?
Basically wot they do is debelopement academys they have the boys for 4 months improve them.technically same as most clubs then if they like wot they see takw the boys for 2 years then after that see wether they can take them to a higher level if they dont take them on they find them another club ie us , millwall , gills ,colchester etc long process very difficult for a young lad i havent told my boy how it works i just let him go and learn and enjoy if something comes of it so be it.
ah ok, cheers.
They play mini football matches against other arsenal developement sides as u go up in age start to play against other clubs.
'The Football Association's Dan Ashworth says he will welcome suggestions from former England manager Glenn Hoddle about how to help the national team succeed.'
Football for youngsters is now non competetive from im sure its under 9 s to under7s which im all for but some managers are still intent on winning at all costs i coach and also manage and all i want my boys to do is pass and move and feel comfortable with the ball at their feet we played the other week and lost to a team of much bigger lads and whose manager was an absolute headcase shouting and screaming at his team crazy , after the game i was approached by a chelsea scout who was impressed by the way we played that invited my team to play against 2 of his academy sides and another team from kent in a round robin tournament ,wot im saying is if boys dont feel under pressure to win the can go out on the pitch and express themselves the competetive edge is in them anyway we, dont need to drive that into them all i say to them is its not the long or short pass that matters its the right pass ,the fa also need to sort out the age issue which is still done on school years which is madness some kids are year behind other kids in age and believe me this makes a lot of difference as probably many of you out there have experienced it needs to sorted.
Totally agree with you, have the same with my sons team, (he's 8 today!), we try to get them passing and playing the right way, then some team comes up with coaches and parents screaming and celebrating like they've just won the FA Cup. I do wonder how parents/coaches behave with kid matches in places like Spain or Italy. I expect our best kids sides would beat Italy or Spains, but I think we have a shortsighted view. Also a lot of talk about penalties on this thread and I guess it's true if we'd won some of those shoot-outs our history would look better, but I think that's masking the problems english football has, off the top of my head I can only think of Italia 90 and Euro 96 where we probably should have won those games.
Euro 2004 v Portugal, we actually scored a perfectly good winning goal in normal time in that one. And possibly v Argentina in 98 when our ten men put up a hell of a fight.
'The Football Association's Dan Ashworth says he will welcome suggestions from former England manager Glenn Hoddle about how to help the national team succeed.'
Dan Ashworth is the guy in the article from the Telegraph last Sat. He used to work for West Brom. He is very well respected in the game by all accounts.
Comments
My choice would be Chris Hughton if we are going for an obvious name with managerial/coaching experience.
As for penalties - I'm sure coaches think about penalties- i.e. practice them, but do they investigate whether there is a system? I doubt it - they accept too much - they don't question whether there is a different way!
For me there are 2 types of penalty takers - ones with one penalty in their locker and others who can put the penalty where they want. I'd test that by telling players where I want them to put a penalty over a series of kicks, and see how they get on. I'd know the players with one penalty, and if they had just taken one - like Cole had done for Chelsea, before he took one for England against Italy - I'd stand him down.
Of course, some players get freaked by the situation - you have to know the players more likely to do this, and tell them where to put the penalty in a game - of course where you tell them has to be in their comfort/ability zone.
Lastly, at tournaments, you have a specialist penalty saving keeper on the bench, with a view to bringing them on just before a shoot out to gain a tactical psychological advantage.
Have England's coaches tried anything like that, given our record - I doubt it - most would say you can't do anything about penalties bar practise them!
Given the number of times that England have exited from tournaments having lost penalty shoot-outs you would think that it would be a hint that penalty taking practice is something that should be compulsory - and for the whole team. Rather than take a penalty saving expert keeper I would do as the Germans do - and simply study form. They compile a record on every opponent/potential penalty taker so they know for example which side of the goal he prefers to shoot at and whether he aims for the top or bottom corner etc. It ain't rocket science.
The problem is, in two seasons playing for his team, my son has won a shelf full of trophies and medals - he picked up manager's player of the year for last season last week - I love that, and when he plays I like the competition of a match and feel proud when he and his team are successful. His team plays and is coached to win. They do too much fitness work in training - when they could have more time with the ball - but they do what they need to do to win matches at their age group - not fully develop players. Although the manager wouldn’t agree with that assessment. But too many managers are stuck in the 80s. I understand why parents and coaches do this, it is the dark side of the force...and I myself succomb to it sometimes, despite knowing it is wrong.
I see some very good players in my son’s team that have flaws in their game. They don't affect them - even help them at the level they are playing at, but you see how they will affect them when they come up against more savvy opponents. But they don’t get addressed beacuse they are not an issue in the here and now. You get kids dribbling past loads of kids, but not looking for the pass. As the defenders get better, they get bogged down more and from being the star of the team, they become just another player!
I know in my heart, that what we need to do, is concentrate on technique above all else up to the ages of 13/14. Winning is secondary, even lower than that in importance! When you have 7 year olds and 8 year olds in teams and coaches that want to win things with them, I shed a tear!
I done the same mate ended up with an arsenal scout saying the same and we played two of their kids sides when joes team was 7 yrs old
The dirty gooner knuts then tried to nick my center half and goalie
FA to discuss Hoddle ideas
'The Football Association's Dan Ashworth says he will welcome suggestions from former England manager Glenn Hoddle about how to help the national team succeed.'