An interesting read and eye opener from Ian Wright

[eastender]

Should we take a leaf out of the Germans book.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/worldcup2010/3033861/Its-time-for-a-radical-re-think-says-Ian-Wright.html

[PACMAN]

Good article but he's missed a few more equally important points. I played for a German side for four seasons when I was over there in the forces between 1987-1991. It was a decent standard, probably equivalent to Conference level over here.

At that time (some of these figures are probably out of date now) the populations of the UK and Germany were approximately 60 million each. Somehow the Germans had 15 million people who were registered to play \"fussball\" ranging from 5-50+, the UK had 3 million. Every single village out there has a \"sportsplatz\" and it is the centre of the community. It usually has a well maintained football pitch with a terraced area and is always fenced off. There are usually a couple of tennis courts, sauna, changing rooms with bar, shop, meeting/function room and living accommodation for the steward.

All this is achieved by the Government giving half the money and then giving the village a loan for the rest which is repaid by having community fund raising via functions, gate receipts etc.

Football is the hub of every single village. When we played a first team game at home the entire village would be there and if they were not somebody was sent to check if they were OK. So, every single German is fully aware of what it means to everyone back home when they take the field at the world cup, unlike our blinkered, overpaid, over-rated tossers!!

[DonnyNoel]

Pretty interesting article that as I'd always had Wrighty down as a \"rent-a-quote\" type pundit but theres a lot of sense in that.

The foreigners in the PL is a hugely grey debate as its very hard to get a balance right. It's possible to go to far with a limit - think back to the quality of the England team in the early 90's when foreigners were scarce! Also there's no guarentee that a thrifty chairman wouldn't still bring in cheap foreign players to offset the cost of expensive English talent. Or signing even more young foreigners and encouraging them to gain British citizenship.

It's going to take a massive mindshift for all involved with the English game to make some of these changes though. Even at fan level - for 48 weeks a year we are club fans and a lot believe that the Premiership is the best league in the world - what impact would a ban on foreigners have on the quality of the PL or the prospects of an English side succeeding in Europe? Heck, you could even argue that a ban on foreigners would make Rovers a worse side as players like Roberts, Copps, Wilson, Wellens may have had to have been kept on by the bigger clubs they were once at.

Totally agree with his comments on the youth set ups though, its something a great many on here have mentioned already.

[River Don]

He's right bemoaning the lack of effort put into developing youngsters. Mangers and clubs could do more but I believe the blame lies firmly at the door of the FA.

Just listen to super Chris Waddle give his assessment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t2ynq/World_Cup_South_Africa_2010_Out_of_Africa_Where_Next_for_English_Football/

from 02.45

The whole show is a good listen.

[RobTheRover]

PACMAN wrote:

Good article but he's missed a few more equally important points. I played for a German side for four seasons when I was over there in the forces between 1987-1991. It was a decent standard, probably equivalent to Conference level over here.

At that time (some of these figures are probably out of date now) the populations of the UK and Germany were approximately 60 million each. Somehow the Germans had 15 million people who were registered to play \"fussball\" ranging from 5-50+, the UK had 3 million. Every single village out there has a \"sportsplatz\" and it is the centre of the community. It usually has a well maintained football pitch with a terraced area and is always fenced off. There are usually a couple of tennis courts, sauna, changing rooms with bar, shop, meeting/function room and living accommodation for the steward.

All this is achieved by the Government giving half the money and then giving the village a loan for the rest which is repaid by having community fund raising via functions, gate receipts etc.

Football is the hub of every single village. When we played a first team game at home the entire village would be there and if they were not somebody was sent to check if they were OK. So, every single German is fully aware of what it means to everyone back home when they take the field at the world cup, unlike our blinkered, overpaid, over-rated tossers!!

Paul!  Thats the first time I've ever seen you use a naughty word! lol

[PACMAN]

RobTheRover wrote:

PACMAN wrote:

Good article but he's missed a few more equally important points. I played for a German side for four seasons when I was over there in the forces between 1987-1991. It was a decent standard, probably equivalent to Conference level over here.

At that time (some of these figures are probably out of date now) the populations of the UK and Germany were approximately 60 million each. Somehow the Germans had 15 million people who were registered to play \"fussball\" ranging from 5-50+, the UK had 3 million. Every single village out there has a \"sportsplatz\" and it is the centre of the community. It usually has a well maintained football pitch with a terraced area and is always fenced off. There are usually a couple of tennis courts, sauna, changing rooms with bar, shop, meeting/function room and living accommodation for the steward.

All this is achieved by the Government giving half the money and then giving the village a loan for the rest which is repaid by having community fund raising via functions, gate receipts etc.

Football is the hub of every single village. When we played a first team game at home the entire village would be there and if they were not somebody was sent to check if they were OK. So, every single German is fully aware of what it means to everyone back home when they take the field at the world cup, unlike our blinkered, overpaid, over-rated tossers!!

Paul!  Thats the first time I've ever seen you use a naughty word! lol

Sorry Rob, but they really got my goat this time. Most of us would gladly give our left arm just to pull on a Rovers shirt for 90 minutes, let alone an England one and those numpties couldn't care less. Money, money, money!! Football is heading in a seriously sad direction at the top levels of our game and unless us, the fans, start voting with our feet and not attending Premiership games the FA, the clubs and the players will not get the message!!
I'd have loved to have had 10 minutes with them after that game. The air would have been very blue and I'd have made SAF look like an angel!!!! :angry: