Is it just me or do most of these new academy staff have a ‘cookie cutter’ manner and appearance? It’s like Dan has recruited a clone army.
Almost certainly a reflection of me being out of touch with the modern world* so, as long as they are the ‘best in class’ to produce an elite product I guess just ignore the old fart. But I do watch @bluntphil interviewing them and think - go on Phil mate, make one of them smile!
*I was horrified to discover on my annual underwear replenishment visit to an M&S menswear department that even they now stock those strange shoe/trainers in blue with white thick soles that all football people (other than Gaz) appear required to wear.
Well, as a 76-year old guy who has never been interested in 'fashion', the Skechers shoes are perfect for me.
It always makes me laugh when I see Millennials and GenZers wearing jeans with holes ripped in them, supposedly 'fashionable'. I feel like handing them my card, and telling them that I'll help them sue the shop which sold them defective goods. But that would probably make them suffer from anxiety and depression, and we can't have that in today's woke world, can we.
I agree - there is a kind of "modern football person" who talks about "the process", "the right outcomes", and "being aligned", and I think these new lads all ascribe to that kind of school of thought. They all wear Brighton pajamas to bed, I expect. Harmless enough, especially if it ends up coming with success.
Is football becoming too polished and homogenised with the increased appliance of science in the game?
There certainly seems less room for mavericks in the game. The Brian Cloughs, Stan Bowles and Gascoigne types. (And I don't mean the "likes a drink" thing, just those one-off, can't be coached types). The marginalisation of Jack Grealish for England under Southgate for example seems to suggest it is.
Villa Grealish you could call a maverick. Arguably one of the most exciting players in the country, probably top 5 or so back then.
City Grealish is probably as far away from maverick as you can be. He's a get it give it back simple merchant at City. Never tries to beat anyone, never scores, barely assists.
Cole Palmer is an even better example right now. Barely got a sniff at the Euros, but when he did he set up the Semi-Final winner and scored the equalizer in the final. England should build around him, but I just get that feeling they will treat him as a luxury sub or play him out of position half the time instead.
Mehmeti is a good example at our level of a pure maverick. GA encouraged his instincts, and he did great things - including at Champo level. But now he part of "the process" at Bristol City where he has to adapt to "patterns of play", it has been harder for him, and BC fans are still on his back.
At least going into that tournament we did have Bellingham who'd had a fantastic season as a number 10, and also Foden who had come off a 27 goal season and finally become the main central guy at City.
So with that background it's understandable Palmer probably shouldn't have started over either.
But now, he should definitely start over Foden who looks well off last season.
Good points. I still prefer Bellingham as an 8 (beating up on a relatively weak La Liga does not make him a better 10 than Palmer for me - though Palmer is also flexible and can play a variety of positions too), but it does show we are blessed with a wealth of options. I do think Palmer is easily the most creative player we have. He did more in his cameos than most other players did in seven matches!
Palmer has already joined the 'Trivia question' triumvirate of Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Luke Shaw too.
Fair point, but maybe further proof that these days maverick players tend to get that streak coached out of them. Shame really, there are few things better than watching a player who you really don't know what they might do. Think Kone still has a little bit of that left in him.
Comments
eventually this will be an academy message board with a football club thread
a *world leading* academy message board.
Ps flippancy aside, he came across really well. An impressive interview
Yeh. Whatever’s going on, we seem to have some good guys involved in it.
Hehehehe.........
What's Stephen Hendry doing at the club?
A young Brian Blessed.
Surely Matt Dye should be head of hair and beard development?
The Dungeon Master from Knightmare
Is it just me or do most of these new academy staff have a ‘cookie cutter’ manner and appearance? It’s like Dan has recruited a clone army.
Almost certainly a reflection of me being out of touch with the modern world* so, as long as they are the ‘best in class’ to produce an elite product I guess just ignore the old fart. But I do watch @bluntphil interviewing them and think - go on Phil mate, make one of them smile!
*I was horrified to discover on my annual underwear replenishment visit to an M&S menswear department that even they now stock those strange shoe/trainers in blue with white thick soles that all football people (other than Gaz) appear required to wear.
Those are Skechers Slip-Ins, I believe, which have a built-in shoe horn at the back so that you don't have to bend down.
I have a pair of those, best and most comfortable shoes ever.
My god Bargie not those! They really are old guy shoes where fashion goes to die.
These are the ‘cool’ ones I mean
The big problem with these is that they show up the dog shit you step in!
Pundit shoes! Although Jamie Redknapp advertises Skechers...
Well, as a 76-year old guy who has never been interested in 'fashion', the Skechers shoes are perfect for me.
It always makes me laugh when I see Millennials and GenZers wearing jeans with holes ripped in them, supposedly 'fashionable'. I feel like handing them my card, and telling them that I'll help them sue the shop which sold them defective goods. But that would probably make them suffer from anxiety and depression, and we can't have that in today's woke world, can we.
If only the world was just a tad more woke, assuming that I have correctly understood the meaning of the word.
I suspect they'd just say 'ok, boomer', move on and forget all about you.
@bargepole is legal action your default conversation ice-breaker? 🙂
He always wears this badge when out and about!
I agree - there is a kind of "modern football person" who talks about "the process", "the right outcomes", and "being aligned", and I think these new lads all ascribe to that kind of school of thought. They all wear Brighton pajamas to bed, I expect. Harmless enough, especially if it ends up coming with success.
Is football becoming too polished and homogenised with the increased appliance of science in the game?
There certainly seems less room for mavericks in the game. The Brian Cloughs, Stan Bowles and Gascoigne types. (And I don't mean the "likes a drink" thing, just those one-off, can't be coached types). The marginalisation of Jack Grealish for England under Southgate for example seems to suggest it is.
Agreed, we’ll never see another Robin Friday in our time (neither will Reading come to that).
Villa Grealish you could call a maverick. Arguably one of the most exciting players in the country, probably top 5 or so back then.
City Grealish is probably as far away from maverick as you can be. He's a get it give it back simple merchant at City. Never tries to beat anyone, never scores, barely assists.
Cole Palmer is an even better example right now. Barely got a sniff at the Euros, but when he did he set up the Semi-Final winner and scored the equalizer in the final. England should build around him, but I just get that feeling they will treat him as a luxury sub or play him out of position half the time instead.
Mehmeti is a good example at our level of a pure maverick. GA encouraged his instincts, and he did great things - including at Champo level. But now he part of "the process" at Bristol City where he has to adapt to "patterns of play", it has been harder for him, and BC fans are still on his back.
At least going into that tournament we did have Bellingham who'd had a fantastic season as a number 10, and also Foden who had come off a 27 goal season and finally become the main central guy at City.
So with that background it's understandable Palmer probably shouldn't have started over either.
But now, he should definitely start over Foden who looks well off last season.
We've got an elite manager now - I think we'll see the right players picked. He wants to bring White back into the fold - would be good.
Good points. I still prefer Bellingham as an 8 (beating up on a relatively weak La Liga does not make him a better 10 than Palmer for me - though Palmer is also flexible and can play a variety of positions too), but it does show we are blessed with a wealth of options. I do think Palmer is easily the most creative player we have. He did more in his cameos than most other players did in seven matches!
Palmer has already joined the 'Trivia question' triumvirate of Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Luke Shaw too.
White might be a good player but he's an insufferable bellend isn't he?
I'd rather him stay at home at whine on about how he doesn't really like football to be honest
Fair point, but maybe further proof that these days maverick players tend to get that streak coached out of them. Shame really, there are few things better than watching a player who you really don't know what they might do. Think Kone still has a little bit of that left in him.