Football (Soccer)

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I try to not judge the Americans, but when they go mad about how good he is for shit like that, and how much he's bringing "soccer" to America, it shows their ignorance.

-AC

I don´t think its ignorant to get excited about football. I watch a lot of youth football, because of involvment & even though its lacking in skill and no major cups are involved, its exciting.

Lets just hope football doesn´t become too popular in the USA, the pool of talented athletes and money they pump into sports they could dominating it eventually. 💃

It doesn't really matter to me, the more good teams, the better.

-AC

As long as the quality of football remains a high standard, and it´s fun to watch. Just hope FIFA don´t start fiddling and bringing in new daft rules to make it more attractive, from what Ive heard US folk like games with lots of scoring a´ la basketball, don´t want the rules being changed so more goals are scored, ie bigger goals, kick ins instead of throw ins etc.

Would never happen.

remember the Golden & Silver goal?

yeh but thats not changing the in game rules though

The 6+5 Rule...Fifa passed it, but are you for or against it?

Obviously, the Arsholes will be against it, but I think it's a good idea; f*ck the free movement of workers for footballers. Most of them are idiots!

Is that 6 Home players and 5 foriegn or what?

Yep looks like they are trying to push that one through, the last time English teams dominated europe the banned them, no they are trying to break the domination this way🙂

I personally think it´d be good for English football, theres too many football "mercenaries" around who play for themselves not the club

its stupid. if you are good enough, you will break through and play.

the fact is that there isnt many great english players. Having 5 english players in your team isnt gonna find you the next bobby charlton.

If people are still holding on to this mythical idea that foreigners are demeaning the ability of English football (As a long winded means of suggesting that's why England are a shit team), then they're idiots.

The lower leagues are chock full of English players, there's a reason they are the lower leagues. Blatter allegedly referenced what Keegan said about the best possible place being 5th, and for teams like that. How is that Arsenal/Man Utd/Chelsea's fault?

People are hypocrites. There was a party in every B.B.C. office when Chelsea and Man Utd got to the finals, it's never stopped them from saying "All English final.", and that doesn't make it better. Playing good football makes things better. That is precisely why the F.A. Cup was an underwhelming piece of shit, because who cares about Portsmouth besides Portsmouth supporters? Nobody. Only people who aren't benefitting from having top players wanting to join their club all the time are the only ones that are gonna want this.

What's it going to achieve? It won't logically make the England team better, since they have England's best players playing for them now and they're still shit. Good for "English" football, but what does that even mean? Does anyone saying it actually know what it means? Good for who?

If these shitty teams are willing to accept victory in the face of teams being held back, then they better not start getting happy if they win anything, because they obviously couldn't any other way.

-AC

I think the deal here is about opportunity and experience. If more homegrown players get the chance to play for their clubs, then they're likely to develop exponentially. An 'English' club like Arsenal really is a bit ridiculous when they field a team without a single English player. I can't think of any other domestic team sport that would allow such a situation to exist.

Develop at the expense of who? Clubs trying to win trophies.

People want to moan at a certain Wenger for doing that, except he actually knows they'll become worthwhile or he gets rid of them. Why on Earth would you sacrifice possible glory for players you don't even know will repay themselves?

I don't think it's ridiculous, and why is it bad? Chelsea have all the money and foreigners in the world, no trophies. Arsenal fielding teams without an English player bar Walcott or Hoyte, what? No trophies. It's not actually as bad a situation as people think.

Teams good enough to win, usually win, regardless. Putting an unnecessary handicap on the league is pathetic. I'd say the same for any team, not just Arsenal. If Tottenham bought lots of foreigners or lots of English players, I wouldn't give a shit either way if they played wicked football.

Let's concentrate on getting people who are good, not just English. Ashley Young, Gabe Agbonlahor, Curtis Davies, Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing. All of these have come through to play, at times, very good football, and some even make it to England. If you're good enough to break through DESPITE foreigners, surely that's the ultimate English glory.

-AC

I'm not just talking about English teams; the rules would apply to the continent as a whole.

I'm all for watching good football, but I think a domestic league should have teams made up with a majority of players from that nation. It makes it more representative.

Why? Players who are good enough should play. That should be the end of the story.

In Spain, Barcelona have three or 4 Spanish people in there team at best. Madrid have around three.

Italy is even worse, Inter Milan have about one, maybe 2 Italians in the team. This kinda thing happens in all countrys. The best teams will require the best players no matter what nationality.

At the end of the day , if you are a great player, English or not, then you will play and be noticed. foriegners can't be blamed for Englands poor youth system.

And if this rule did come into place then it will make the game of Football a whole lot worse. I can't see how it will make it better, thats for sure.

The very fact that a lot of top class players want to come and play in this country, as opposed to countries with possible better aesthetics and living conditions says a lot for our league, which is the best in the world.

-AC

But the problem with the England national team isn't lack of quality, there are quality players in the team... it's lack of depth. Behind those quality players there is absolutely nothing, barring certain positions like centreback.

I would be amazed if the 6+5 rule didn't help reduce this problem. Hell, England might even get an actual rightback.

In other news, Spurs are going to be playing some sexy football next season...Modric, Giovani, Diego Capel, Bostock...Oooo. All we need to add to that is a Richard Dunne character and a defensive midfielder...Ooo.

Originally posted by Df02
But the problem with the England national team isn't lack of quality, there are quality players in the team... it's lack of depth. Behind those quality players there is absolutely nothing, barring certain positions like centreback.

I would be amazed if the 6+5 rule didn't help reduce this problem. Hell, England might even get an actual rightback.

Who is this of benefit to, though? Besides, possibly, the team?

I want to watch exciting football in the Premier League, not sacrifice it so that England can be a BIT better MAYBE.

Clubs should always come before countries.

-AC

Originally posted by Df02
But the problem with the England national team isn't lack of quality, there are quality players in the team... it's lack of depth. Behind those quality players there is absolutely nothing, barring certain positions like centreback.

I would be amazed if the 6+5 rule didn't help reduce this problem. Hell, England might even get an actual rightback.

They don't lose because the bench isn't good enough, it's because the team is ****ing shit. What's the point of having 1000 players to choose from when even in a 23 man squad, it's the same 13-14 failures over and over again. Ashley Young can't even get a game, but bringing in an extra 300 mediocre players will improve what how?

Deano is 100% correct. I don't say that lightly, or without shuddering.

This rule will never come in, and if it does, it will be overruled within a short period. The irony is, it's actually being brought in as a way to **** English football up, yet the xenophobes and tabloid readers (and Spurs fans) get swept along in some silly idea that it'll make England good again, like they used to be when they won all their World Cups before all the foreigners came.

It wouldn't hurt Arsenal one tiny bit- it would just lead to the Big Three + Liverpool collecting up all the young English players, and Chelsea leaving them on the bench to rot as they do now.

If anything is likely to be introduced, it's the Homegrown Rule regarding playing in the team's academy between 15-21.

YKF- stop pretending you've heard of Bostock.

Originally posted by Ya Krunk'd Floo
In other news, Spurs are going to be playing some sexy football next season...Modric, Giovani, Diego Capel, Bostock...Oooo. All we need to add to that is a Richard Dunne character and a defensive midfielder...Ooo.

Diego to spurs, I doubt it!

He´d be a great improvment to any team though, brilliant player.