Not having a go Matt....but it's all very well continually opposing things, but can you come up with some suggestions as to how our dire situation could be improved?
Repetition is what coaches try to avoid as it becomes robotic and takes away the natural talent of a player! It what has happened in this country under the fa and the Charles Hughes coaching book for years! Repetition is what is exactly wrong with coaching as every scenario can't be accounted for in football! I've battled the FA for years on that point precisely and slowly they are starting to learn from other countries and coach and encourage flair and creativity whilst seeing plenty of the ball.
It's a fair point although the "Convince me?" thread both set out what I'd see as criteria (both in my eyes and what TF should consider) for a new manager and also, in the main, failed to elicit any viable alternatives. Queens and I eventually came up with Lambert who would need less coaxing to part Villa than previously and Solskjaer was a decent suggestion if a bit untested. Still happy to stick with Hughes until 5pm Saturday at least.
Hi Bob, I read you post with interest mate, what's your football background? from what role and how have you battled the FA?
I can't fault that (although Luiz style flair in CB isn't my preference). I suppose it's installing subtle changes that counts rather than a sledgehammer approach. I can see that perhaps Hughes lacks this (hence the 10 game headstart he gives other teams). Still can't see Redknapp as anywhere near the right man though....
Ahhh... MUSIC to my ears (or eyes in this case!). Football as an art form as played on street corners, parks and playgrounds in our younger days. Remember everyone raving about Gascoigne back in the day - and me watching his game and thinking he's just a chip off the old block: the one who got away from talent killing 'professional' coaches. So refreshing to watch.
Is that because Terry Fenwick was put in charge of Gascoinge? Still sends a shiver down my spine watching him score that goal against the scots, had to be the best goal celebration in living history too! Alas from a different era, I often wonder what Joe Cole would have achieved if he was encouraged to use his flair rather than it being drummed into about his defensive duties?
There have been so many flair players over the years who've always been viewed as 'luxuries'. The likes of Frank Worthington, Tony Currie, Alan Hudson and even our Stan never got the caps to go with the recognition of their talent. Some never even got a cap, Robin Friday, a Reading legend was one who springs to mind. Anyone who was a 'maverick' was kept at arm's length by so many bosses...
As a coach i set up Bradford city's first ever development centre and set a blueprint for others who didn't have the financial capacity or premises to do so. It was to get the ever churning cattle market of kids being released with little belief that they could make a standard in football. How many times do you read of a player being let go only for him to be wanted a few years down the line!! I also recommended that the Charles Hughes coaching book handed to anyone wanting to become a coach be scrapped as it was so outdated with modern football. I also called for small sided games for kids over 5 years ago and implemented them myself in coaching sessions. One of my old lads i coached at 6 years of age has just signed for man city. Thomas Holland is his name and i didn't coach him in the sense of the word but encouraged him to try things with no fear of failure!
Luiz style flair is exactly what in my opinion is lacking in English football, although i would play him in midfield. I know he's chelsea scum but he is a really great passer.
Bob is completely correct here. My lad was spotted by Reading and invited into their top academy squad. However, his birthday is in August and so he's nearly a year younger than his peers and a little small for his age anyway. They let him go after one season and a couple of good performances, one in particular against Fulham, because he was too small and too easily out-muscled!! Some of the lads they retained were big, strong and fast, but didn't have a tenth of his footballing ability!! Messi wouldn't have got through most of our academies imo. The Reading coaches were a joke. Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to applaud Bob's approach to coaching.
Believe me col, the industry needs more young fresh coaches who have grown up watching the likes of Barcelona and messi. Nowadays some of the best technical footballers are the eastern Europeans as they are now encouraging more time on the ball from a young age.
It was so frustrating watching the Reading training sessions. The coaches were completely in awe of the bigger, faster lads. Quite unbelievable. Very cliquey too with the parents and coaches of these lads that played for local youth teams in the Reading area. Coaches from those teams seemed to have a lot of sway with the Reading coaches. Wasn't impressed with the set up at all!
