Think the problem is quite simple, as pointed out by several other posters. The way football is taught in this country is completely wrong. Too much emphasis is placed on winning. Football in Britain needs a complete overhaul. Emphasis for coaching at a young age needs to change from being about strong, quick and winning, to technique and enjoying the game. There are several ways to encourage this, such as mini pitches and training and matched being played on rubber crumb pitches. In none other of the major nations such as Spain, Italy, Argentina or Brazil would players such as Scott Parker, Emile Heskey or Phillip Neville rack up over 50 Caps each. Change the way English football is coached and played at a young age and we may, in the future, become succesful, but until then we will remain a 2nd tier nation because we are simply so far behind the major footballing nations.
The FA know this...they are in the process of changing the way the game is taught, though it will be a while before we see the fruits of this.
Food is one reason why I'm back on a plane after the Wigan game and not coming back until Liverpool roll up at SMS. My local "transport cafe" serves 3 course lunch with wine and coffee for about £10 a head. The place is heaving with lorry drivers, the local shopkeepers, office workers the gendarmerie and (glory be) no tourists. English people see the cafe stuck behind petrol pumps and drive on to the pricey restaurants down the road. The food is to die for, the menu changes daily and the patron is a dead ringer for that bloke who cannot now be named in France on account of the fact that he's buggered off to Russia. Enjoy Beaune. Burgundy ... oh that wine!
I love finding those kind of places in France. I've been thinking of writing a book along those lines.
Great post bendit,English football is like the English language(and cuisine!),it adapts,it changes,it is dynamic,it will take on what is necessary to improve while at the same time retaining it's core objective of providing the best there is.I believe Southampton are very much work in progress in achieving the next step forward for English(British/UK) football.COYR'S
The best lamb I ever tasted was in Chinon. Having said that, I have had many indifferent meals in France (and some shockingly bad ones). On the whole, I prefer Italy.
The worst place for food is the USA (sweeping statement I know for usch a large country). I'm sure you can buy good meals (had a great Italian meal in New York), but generally you will get a better meal in any pub in Britain than you will get at a diner in the USA. May look good and sound good, but usually tasteless.
The only meals I enjoyed in New York were my breakfasts in the local diner. Lovely food and lovely people. I did have a really good meal in an Italian but good restaurants in New York are very expensive. My granddaughter insisted we went to TGI fridays. God that must be the worst place in the world to eat. I had indegestion for days. As for lamb you need to go to Spain to eat it at its best. Just to keep on topic I think footballers should eat good food as well.
Give it six weeks and you'll be gagging for pie and chips with baked beans, washed down with a proper cup of splosh.
One thing for sure, I'll be looking forward to my return pint of London Pride or Black Sheep in my local. Link coming to on topic now .... I love London Pride and can someone tell me when our next London game isso I can look forward to one please. I often have a pint in the Old Farmhouse, Mount Pleasant before home games; they serve Doombar. Maybe Sharpshooter we have now come to the real issue of "wheer is Englis hfootball heading..." .... down the pub!
Not a Gales Ales man then, Letiss? Then you'd better book ticket's for Spurs at WHL on May 4th, and try and find a Fullers house. Not sure what beers it serves nowadays, but The Elbow Room on Tottenham High Road, near Bruce Grove station, is known for decent pint, and the natives are friendly. It'll make a change from discussing "le foot" over a glass of rouge.
This is true. I once spent three weeks touring through France and Italy eating superb food and splendid wine. When we got on the ferry to come home I said to the very lovely Mrs Godders I'm off down the cafeterria as I am gasping for beans and chips and a decent cup of tea.
Up to what age? I only ask because I sometimes watch the school boys playing at the park out the back of my flat. They can't be older than 14, and the pitch and goals look full size too me. It's total kick and run, with corners dropping short and parents swearing. Reminds me of when I played for my school. Terrible.
I wish I could remember the town or name of the pub, but SOMEWHERE in France there is a pub with a signed Matt Le God shirt on the wall. My Spurs supporting friend took me to France just to show me this. Needless to say I had a few bieres and the whole thing is a bit of a blur. I do remember getting thrown out of a casino for being the drunkest person in France.
Meanwhile, back on subject ... I think the biggest problem with the kick and rush and all that is that we fans tend to demand it. My old man came down from Scotland in the 30's and was a handy footballer. In his first game down South, he hoofed the ball from a throw in towards the opponents penalty area. "Well done, son" came the cry from the sidelines "give us more of that". At SMS we have been known to get on the team's back if they are thought to be passing it about. Sod possession, hoof it to the big man is often the English style. Keep the football!
It certainly hasn't been uncommon in recent seasons for the St Mary's crowd to get restless when we were passing the ball about patiently in our own half. The temptation to knock it up to Rickie was always there, especially as he won just about everything in the air. Hasn't really been an issue this season, as we haven't been able to hold the ball for that long.
