After England’s European Championship exit there has been even more debate on foreign quotas and player development. The Times has run a series of articles over the last week on how some other countries in the world go about the job of developing players and encouraging participation.
Holland – a place for everyone. Out of all the models that are out there this seems to be one of few that acknowledges that it is not just about elite development and neither is it just about encouraging people to play.
At the heart of the Dutch model is the belief that for the sport to be healthy there has to be a place for players of all abilities. It seems to me that the North American debate (definitely the Canadian debate) is polarized with recreation on one end of the spectrum and elite development on the other with no one willing to give an inch. The truth of the matter is neither of the polarities have it right.
Here’s something from www.footballeconomy.com ‘The average annual salary of a footballer in England's top flight has broken through the £1m ceiling for the first time. Players in the Premiership are now earning 15 times more than the 'golden generation' who lifted the World Cup in 1966, even when inflation is factored in.
In 1966 First Division players were paid an average of £100 a week by their clubs. When performance-related bonuses are taken into account, today's figure stands at £21,000 a week according to accountants Deloitte. The rate of increase means that footballers earn almost as much in a week as the average person is paid in a year.
Moore's World Cup-winning team earned about six times the national average week in 1966. Deloitte predicts that the first £200,000 a week player, equivalent to an annual salary of £10m, will emerge by 2010”.
And on to the action that is in store this weekend. It is hard to look beyond Serie A with the top five clubs plus European champions Milan facing off. Current league leaders Inter remain unbeaten after twelve games and are only two points off the record breaking pace that they set last season.
Inter travels to play Fiorentina on what will prove to be an emotional occasion. Fiorentina Coach Cesare Prandelli lost his wife on Monday after a three year fight with cancer. Many of you will remember that Prandelli had just taken over the reins at Roma in 2004 when she was diagnosed with the disease and he opted to stand down.
The coach was not on the bench last weekend as his team drew away to Reggina but he is expected back for Sunday’s match.
Fiorentina started the season unbeaten in their first eleven matches before succumbing to Udinese a couple of weeks ago. Even so Fiorentina, four points behind Inter with a game more played, have already played Roma, Juventus and Milan this season and drawn all three games. Schemer Riccardo Montolivo is suspended and will be missing from the home side’s line-up.
Inter qualified for the last sixteen of the Champions League in midweek and when combined with the league lead things are looking good for Coach Roberto Mancini. What’s more Inter have only lost once (Feb 2006 2-1) to Fiorentina in their last nine Serie A meetings and are undefeated away from home in the league since April 2006.
Julio Cruz (6 goals) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (7 goals) pack a wallop up front and summer signing David Suazo looked sharp last week as he scored a goal and set up another.
Milan and Juventus will be reacquainted after Juve’s one year leave from the top flight. Like Inter, Milan have already sealed a spot in the last sixteen of the Champions League although the winners or runners up spot have still to be decided.
Milan have the Club World Cup in Japan (on FSC) in a couple of weeks which means missing a week of Serie A action and then they have the local derby on the weekend before Christmas. When you add it all up it means that Milan can ill-afford to see the current gap with Inter and the chasing pack widen any further.
Currently the European Champions are eleven points behind the leaders while fourth placed Udinese are eight points ahead albeit with a game more played. Milan’s home form has been poor and they are still winless in the league after four draws and two losses.
Juventus have slipped effortlessly back into the top league with twenty-five points from thirteen games – good for second spot. But while their home form has been very impressive (16 points from 7 games) there is lots of room for improvement when on the road.
Only nine points have come from six away games with ten goals given up and only one shut out so far. Trezeguet and Iaquinta have combined for 17 league goals with eleven of them coming at home.
Udinese are one of the good news stories so far in Europe. A team that has historically enjoyed modest success are sitting fourth with five wins and three draws coming in the last eight games.
Wins against Fiorentina and Juventus have fans of Serie A sitting up and taking notice. They don’t score a lot of goals but when they do they seem to make them count. Away from home they have shut out the opposition four times in seven matches and although they only average a goal a game that has translated into a very respectable twelve points.
Only Milan (13 points) and Roma (17 points) can better that mark and it is to Rome that Udinese travels this weekend. Given their record so far Roma might be wishing it was the other way around.
Nearly 70% of Roma’s points this season have been picked up away from home while five home games have only generated an unexceptional eight points – only Milan out of the top ten teams have secured fewer (4).
Quick free kicks – The Barcelona derby promises to be a cracker. Espanyol unbeaten in their last nine games and are a heady fourth only two points below Barcelona and four behind Real Madrid.
Barca failed to beat their neighbours in the two games last season (a loss and a draw) and take their dreadful away form to the Olympic stadium. But the stadium has not seen very many goals this season with only nine coming in six games.
Whereas Espanyol have lost once at home Barcelona have only won once away from the Nou Camp. But perhaps the most interesting statistic is that Espanyol’s seven wins have all been by one goal so far.
I look forward to the Club World Cup- South American clubs have won it more times than their European counterparts. I think it's because they take it seriously-- many see it as a way of proving that they are just as good as the pampered players of Europe!
Last edited by atleti on November 30th at 8:06 PM.
since the teacher's strikes in the 80's where school organized sports stopped the sport has been in the hands of parents and the fa -
parent's have focused on the win rather than the game and the fa has stuck it;s collective heade up it's collective bum or grasped at the theories of snake oil salesman (what is a nation like england paying attention to theories on Alpine skiing for - idiots)
So directionless from above and going in all directions from below the clubs do it for themselves - some bright sparks to stand out for youth development - Crewe, Everton, Arsenal and Boro' (I don't credit the mancs, they juts went out and copied someone)
We have collectively ignored the commons sense and proven methods of enabling kids to become better footballers and have won FA in 41 years (two semi-finals were won on the back of marvellous coaching)
So english youth development in football is broken, we all know that. That's part of the responsibility fo the FA, a responsibilty it's so far utterly failed to discharge.
The person we are giving the power to do something about it is Brian Barwick, a suit, an adminstrator, a rs fan and basically a TV person, spending a large chunk of his career working for Auntie and running over to ITV for the cash.
In his stupid mustacheod wisdom he picked a numpty for the national team manager and failed to qualify (but he's still in a job isn't he!)
His other gross stupidity is getting trevor Brooking as his right hand man. Then to cap it all he goes cap in hand to all and sundry for advice on who should be England man
SN. I. G. G. E. R!!!!!!!!!!!! you hear that - that's the other nations around the world laughing at us!
Ringo - I just want to check - are you in fact a Chelsea fan?
One of the RS supporters has been getting us confused.
When I woke up this morning and checked I was indeed, as I always have been, an Everton fan. You can imagine my relief.
:)
petit has a point - terry wasn't fit for england but was fit for chelsea - and this from the man who often proclaims his love of england and desire to play for them if at all possible.
Last edited by craigy_f on November 30th at 5:25 AM.
I spot potential talent! My one year old daughter has been walking now for about 4 weeks and one thing she likes to do is kick a small plush ball around the house. She even has begun kicking the ball with the outside of her foot. I did not teach her any of this and neither did my wife. I did start playing back and forth kick ball with her, put I do not try to teach her new tricks. She is too young. However, if she shows interest as she gets older I will pass on my knowledge of the game. Do any of you have any experience or advice in this area?
italy in the 3rd pot, france in the 4th pot. the fact that france lost to scotland does not prove anything, because scotland was never able to make it to the competition. this is laughable.
I just went through this twice not so long ago with my son (seven) and daughter (four). First of all, the top priority with children is ensure they have fun. Make sure the ball isn't too big or heavy. And don't try to teach technique, she'll figure it out!
As she gets older, try to coach her. I've coached my son's team for the past three years and we need all the football-loving coaches -- as opposed to earnest but clueless parents -- we can get. It's well worth the time to get certified by taking a clinic. I did it through the Alberta Soccer Association, who sent their technical director John Walker up to run the course. I wonder whether you know him, Bobby, John is another Scottish expat.
Thanks for the in put. Down the road I already have intentions of getting back into coaching. I coached a boys team for three years. I started right after I had tore my ACL figuring (one way or the other) I wanted to be a part of the game. I actually credit that experience for improving my own game. I am not yet a certified coach.
The ball my daughter is currently kicking around is a very light plush sphere. It's not an actual ball.
ZUCO, I don't know if there's a precise answer to your question. In the early part of the season, Barcelona played well when 'dinho was out injured. He became a sort of scapegoat for Barcelona's problems once he returned into action (it also happened last season as well). Some say he's lazy and has shown very little effort. Without him, they still look a bit lethargic, though. (eg against Recreativo last week).
Last edited by atleti on November 30th at 8:06 PM.
There has been a major debate at Athletic Bilbao recently: Should the club actively recruit South Americans of Basque ancestry? They made a minor exception in 2005 with Amorebieta, Venezuelan-born defender with Basque Country-born parents. (He hasn't played much top flight football since his arrival to the club).
In any case, the question, remains, given the limited population, should Athletic redefine their cantera policy to recruit South Americans? There are, after all, roughly 7 million people with Basque roots on the continent.
Opinions vary. There are those who are radically against such recruitment; as they see it, many of these players probably only have one Basque descendant and do not truly know what it means to be from Basque Country. On the the other hand, a few folks think that this recruitment abroad doesn't actually break the cantera policy.
I don't think Dinho is having a bad spell, he's just been injured a bit. There are two overriding issues with Barca; #1- they have a remarkable amount of deft ballhandlers arguably more than any other club side. In a way they remind of Argentina's WC '06 side. Just a fabulous team of skilled technicians that can control any opponent. A beautiful thing to witness. Of course it can work against you. Everyone wants a touch including defenders. Even their fullbacks have been making too many runs. Their defense contributes to the problem when they get caught out.
New defenders, mids and Henry has made for on paper a brilliant side, they just have not got in gear aside for the one off performance.
#2-Deco has been hurt. He is the straw that stirs that team.
They are a few points off the top. Tomorrow's derby is a true test. Henry's out again. EG will probably start and this season he just can't get into form. Messi and Bojan will be on the wings.
There's plenty of time for Barca to work into their form.
Barca has played okay with and w/o him. They have not set the league or CL on fire as they should with their roster.
Even though they are in 3rd place in Liga two points off the top, one could say that there's parity in La Liga this season. Arguably it could be the most exciting in years. The first 7 sides are separated by 6 points. Atletico is threatening again.
So Dinho may be off this season. Will he be sold? I don't know. He's not the reason Barca plays good or bad. Deco is the difference. At least you can't blame the gaffer which is
what the English would do.
Like I said there's plenty of time.
This posted on the BBC football webpage re Champions League changes affective 2010:
******
"The Champions League final will move from its midweek slot to Saturday from 2010, Uefa has announced.
The first Saturday evening final will be at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.
Qualification will also change, with 22 teams qualifying based on their league standing, and a two-part tournament for the remaining 10 places.
Five of them will be disputed by 15 teams from leading nations, and teams from Uefa's 40 other member nations will compete for the last five places.
Format changes also mean that three Premier League teams will qualify automatically for the group stage, as will the champions of Scotland.
But the fourth-placed Premier League side will face a stiffer test in the qualifying round, as they are more likely to face stronger opponents than under the current format. "
***
This will make the top 3 premiership places more hotly competed for.
Last edited by redfan2000 on November 30th at 10:20 AM.
Ringo, I have to confess a bit of history for you: I used to have a mate who was a rabid Chelsea fan and I went to the Bridge with him a few times in 1973/74. We stood in the shed drinking lager out of plastic cups.
I am thankfully over the experience and none the worse for wear, but I have never yet and will never (confess at least) any such activity in another corner of Stanley Park, cept as part of the visiting Kop.
redfan - Congratulations on being the only Liverpool supporter (are you a scouse?)to ever venture into the Shed.
But I take it you where not there on Dec.29 of that season.
I too have a confession ,I never went in the Kop ,the smell was always overpowering.
But the first time I went to Anfield and heard the old Kop singing the celtic song ,it did send a shiver down my spine ,of course I didn't admit it at the time.
And if anyone repeats that ,I will deny ever saying it. Oh
Great articles on the youth football development in England. I like how they have to set up walls for the parents - but we see this in America as well, little league dads clubbing coaches with bats, etc.
There was a great line in one of the articles that read something like "It's not the parents who were good athletes we have to worry about, it's the ones who were bad at sport who are the worst." No kidding.
Also just picked up this gem off BBC.com -
"The Champions League final will move to Saturday from 2010, with Wembley in the running to host it that year, says Uefa."
Whodathunkit? A final on a WEEKEND?? Wait, what's wrong with how they do it now, on a freakin' WEDNESDAY night?
WOW- only gotta wait two years for this to happen. Ah, the genius of bureaucracy.
I find the entire issue of youth development fascinating and very difficult--in the sense that there has been little real research regarding football development as opposed to development in sports heretofore better supported in USA and Canada who have been in the forefront of sports science. Football requires a very different skill set (and physical capabilities) than American rugby (to give the NFL its proper name), baseball, basketball and especially hockey. The level of aerobic fitness required is similar to hockey, the level of technical skill to baseball, and the level of specialization in the sport (except for goalkeepers) is relatively low (except at the highest levels). Also the game is nearly as fluid as hockey, although not played at 30 mph while wearing a suit of armor. Also, the organization of team play is far more complex than the other sports because positioning on the pitch is a form of organized chaos, and can become very chaotic even at the elite level. How one develops all these various skills while making the whole business enough fun that nobody wants to drop out is a very difficult question, and I do not believe anybody has the answer. I hated soccer when I was a kid because such coaching I got was terrible, I had limited physical skills (and therefore nobody wanted me on their team) and I was not encouraged to develop what little skill I might have had. It was only accidental that I fell in with a bunch of foreign residents who had played in Europe and who recognized my potential as a goalkeeper and encouraged me to build my skill. They taugh
Last edited by stujonesmd on November 30th at 1:32 PM.
My experience of sport in Canada right now is that no matter what science has developed, in reality things are not good at grass roots level. Where I can comment, from 20 yrs professional experience, is that Sports and Leisure facilities in Canada are about 20 years behind what you now find in the UK. This both in number and quality.
I have a 10 yr old son who ran the 2nd fastest 400m time in his age group last Spring in all Manitoba. Is there anyhwere here in Manitoba to develop that? No sadly, and what is more my guy is a very quick football player who is wanting to play competitive soccer, but schools here don't play.
You can't even buy soccer trainers in the store here. Skateboard trainers yes, soccer trainers no.
Every sports store here caters for Hockey and within that sport there is an understanding of the need for fitness, which works right through the system. Winter here kills any chance of soccer at school boy level and in simple terms the lack of facilities coupled with the retail system which is not stocking anything like what is needed, means if you want to play, or for your chidlren to play soccer, you had best move to a place where they can play regularly and where you can buy the kit you need, with out having to import it and pay customs duties.
The only way this will change for the better in Canada, is when those who appoint the top managers appoint people with with the right experience, backed with Government legislated development policies and finance.
Last edited by redfan2000 on November 30th at 2:48 PM.
Don't know of many Catalans (except Espanyol fans) that would want Dinho sold. Money isn't an issue with Barca.
Having said that no player is irreplaceable inlcuding Deco.
Many people trumpet Deco on this site and others.
Sounds like a PL fan may want Dinho on his side. It would be unfortunate to see that.
Last edited by gongatore on November 30th at 2:56 PM.
Well according to Sport a fan poll has 56% saying Ronaldinho is the oveja ####, or the cause of disunity in the side.
Football is a business, so money is always an issue, and why not sell a player like Ronnie who needs a change of scenery and reap the benefits, they really don't NEED him. They could buy a top class CB and FB.
I wouldn't want Ronaldinho for Arsenal no way. Nor would I really care to see him at CHelsea which is the only team who would buy him.
A player like Deco is hardest to replace. There just aren't that many with that sort of vision combined with toughness.
I'm sorry to hear that. I've had a far more positive experience in Alberta, even though I currently live in hockey-mad Fort McMurray, which is a fairly isolated northern city. We just opened a new indoor soccer stadium within a state-of-the-art fitness facility. The local association does a pretty good job of bringing in technical experts to train coaches properly. Our competitive teams are well funded and regularly travel to Edmonton and Calgary to play against the best teams in those cities. The funding is largely generated from private industry here -- oil companies put up a lot of the cash to build the fitness facility.
I agree with you on sports stores -- we shop in Edmonton, where they have a couple of good football-exclusive stores with the right gear.
Any club who selects its side or sets transfer policy by polling supporters is utterly insane. I understand club presidencies in Spain are decided by a vote of club members, but supporters are fickle. If Ronnie scores a brace over the weekend, watch the Nou Camp chant his name again.
I don't know how well Ronnie would adapt to the Premiership. He's not used to the cold weather, pace of the game and constant kicking he'd receive from the Bartons, Thatchers and other talentless hacks. I'm not suggesting he'd do a Sheva because he'd eventually adapt and triumph over it. Would he want to, though?
Ronnie does not fit the profile of a typical Wenger signing. Looking at the squad's needs, Wenger is far more likely to target a centre half, keeper or striker in January. And even with his warchest, he'll probably buy a young technically gifted, athletic player below the media radar a la Diaby, Sagna, van Persie, Adebayor.
Is it smart to sell a player like Ronaldinho when his form is off and his price is low? When Ronnie comes around -- and he will, feel free to mark those words -- the number of suitors will increase. Barca can afford to wait to offload him in the summer. I'll wager Milan, especially if they continue to struggle after January, would renew their interest in him.
Mas- I forgot you were a Gunners fan. To me Arsenal and Barca are two of the few sides in the world that play the beautiful game.
I think any top side in Europe would want a player of Dinho's caliber. They would find a way to make him fit. Barca has so much money and it would be a shocker to sell him but perhaps you are right, this is a business.
Who's available as CB or FB in January? Not too many.
I saw polls last year that were saying it was Eto'o that was the "Barry Bonds" of the Nou Camp. So much for polls. Sometimes a publicist drives that agenda.
I disagree they don't need Dinho. Henry is hurt, who knows when Eto'o is coming back. EG just does not fit at Barca.
Messi seems to play quite well with Dinho and he's more disciplined and less of a ball hog when Dinho's in the attack. Dos Santos and Bojan are in the wings however they are still green. I don't rate Ezquerro that highly and know little of Riera.
As far as Deco, I have always liked him since his days at Porto. He's one of the most impactful and underrated footballers to come into the European game in the last 7 years.
Hey Bobby, you are the man. Best soccer(football) analyst in the history of mankind.
On that note, i wanted to know what you think of Andrea Pirlo. In my opinion he's at least top three in the world. The guy is amazing. He is, in my opinion, at this point in time, the best playmaker in the world. He is not flashy, but is so efficient, and is great at deadballs.
PS
I am an Italy fan, but wanted scotland to pull through in the Euros, I love'em.
The US is making some of the same mistakes that are being made in english youth coaching.
Admittedly my experience is solely in the midwest and socal, but from what i've seen some things stand out;
the WIN is more important than the GAME
parents getting involved with good intentions but no clue
coaches don't have any qualifications but desire and time
sidelines are a lot healtheir than in england (ie foul language and barracking is less tolerated over here, I once got frosty stares for yelling about a referees eyesight)
Bigger, faster, stronger is more likely to be picked than skilful
the season is hectic with a oftimes brutal schedules
training is semi structured at best and very little to do with ball skills
You've already seen the fruit of this kind of grass roots - onyewu - big stong decent pace but lacks technique, he may be able to pick it up but he may just have been a victim of the poor us grass roots coaching (in general, I'm sure there must be places who do it right.)
Can't say the PL thrills me this weekend - one game aside.
Serie A is where I'll be focusing,
Milan v Juve, Inter v Fiore, Catania v Palermo (Bobby how could you not mention the Derby of Sicily) & Roma v udinese
Game summaries from Fratton Park, Anfield, Satdio Guiseppe Meazza , Satdio Franchi, the Olimpico in Rome. If I can.
redfan and verbal and lgb - let me know whether the game summary from anfield is just some bluenose taking the rsie or not ;P
But of the games not on tv check out Atalanta v Napoli, bound to be a
AgoPugliese - I think that Pirlo's performances at the 2006 WC showed the world what Serie A watchers had known for a few seasons - that Pirlo is a top class talent. Over the years Inter have made a few bad moves in the transfer market but allowing Pirlo to go to Milan must rank amongst the worst.
Bobby,
I noticed your post about the ticket prices for the 2010 WC & it led me to thinking about prices here in The States for MLS. I was a Clash/Quakes Season Tix. holder from day one. Now that they're back I've gotten tickets once again. Only problem is the incredible price increase from 2 years ago when they last played. For basically the same seat I had before, prices have gone up over $300 each, basically meaning $1200 for 2 tickets to MLS matches. Not exactly the most affordable thing in the world! Have you heard of any other teams in the league raising prices so dramatically? If that's "The Beckham Efftect", I'm not pleased!
Craigy_f, the Liverpool fans amongst us would all love to know how you, with your pragmatic view of the game in general, would suggest Liverpool might tackle and break down the packed defence Bolton will surely play?
As such, a match preview would be rather enlightening and likely help you make a much more refined match analysis.
Alberta, I was in England two weeks back and checked out the sports stores for an up to date comparison. Adidas Samba and other trainers are readily available, not just the Astro-turf cleats. Prices are in fact very similar, so it tells me that the suppliers have got their act together for a global pricing strategy (or cartel for the cynics), they just need to make supply a global reality.
If kids are to seriously learn how to kick and control a ball at their feet, trainers become more important than the boots they will wear on match days. If they do not learn to control the ball they will never develop into players of any note.
Too many players these days are kick and run with little ability.
Cracking first half of football between Arsenal and Aston Villa. I've got a lot of respect for Martin O'Neill deciding to take a positive approach rather than trying to shut up shop. It'll be interesting to see how he decides to approach the second half, especially after Petrov hobbled off.
Chelsea's win this morning suggests, at least to me, that they will be in the hunt. It looked like the Mourinho-era Blues again and Drogba played fantastic. Personally, I think he should have been in the final three for FIFA World POY.
Anybody else catch Pompey-Everton. That's a pretty valuable point for the Toffees -- Fratton Park isn't an easy place to play and win.
Finally, on youth development, the Canadian Soccer Association has emphasized fun and skill deveopment, at least at the U-10 (community) level. The "win over development" problem stems from the fact that most coaches are clueless parents who don't understand the game. They read the manual and try hard. A second group is far, far worse, though. They are hockey coaches who want to win at all costs and encourage a "physical" brand of soccer. Part of the problem is our association doesn't demand all coaches take a certification course or, at the very least, "prove" their soccer knowledge.
We are lucky, though, because we have large expatriate communities from South America and Africa here so there is a lot of parents who do understand and love the game. Getting them to coach is tougher, though, because there is a language issues.
Last edited by albertagooner on December 1st at 10:23 AM.
The way that the refs protect rampant tackling and fouls in EPL and the public and media advocate and adore the "getting in your face" style of playing, English football will never go very far.
Alberta- Your Gooners sure look good. It's such a pleasure to watch them play.
Ringo- Chelsea look very impressive in particular that win in Trondheim the other day. I've been there, you don't want to suit up for football in July!
Foxcube- I agree with you to a degree.
Last edited by gongatore on December 1st at 11:45 AM.
I am not against the physical style. What can you do if your opponents are better technically? But if people honestly believe some of the tackles on the pitch are just "nothing", they need to update their understanding of modern football.
A tough watch for an Arsenal supporter. The squad played well and I was impressed overall with their defending in the second half, even if it was not pretty and they did have some luck.
Almunia - a nice couple of punches out of the box from deadballs, but early on he was out of position and got away with it. He still scares me.
Gallas - when is he going to learn to shut up? That captain's armband has gone to his head.
Diarra - too sloppy with possession. Is he rusty or can he not handle the football?
Flamini - fantastic. Talk about a player who will play any role and be happy playing it as long as he is on the pitch. Wonderful strike to equalize.
Adebayor - I do not understand the Arsenal supporters that get down on Adebayor. The man's workrate is fantastic, he scores, he is unselfish (for his club), and he likes playing for the squad.
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