Quotehe's right, funny to here it came from danny mills of all people
Danny Mills has slammed the English U-21 team for playing like robots (see ESPN article excerpt below). He's right and it seems that the powers that be in English football are finally beginning to wake up and see that they'll never win anything as long as they play hoofball. As much as Irish fans might like to think that our lads play differently in the national team - we don't. We are slaves to the rythm of English football and have been headed down the wrong road for decades. Hopefully the authorities in both England and Ireland will wake up to the fact very soon that we need to be producing a technically skilled footballer for the future.
Mills' comments:
Former England right-back Mills believes the problem is symptomatic of the way players are mollycoddled through the formative stages of their careers, meaning they no longer have the ability to think for themselves on the pitch.
Mills, who was out in Denmark at the tournament covering the games for the media, said: "When these youngsters are playing for England, they are fearful. They seem to be too aware they are under scrutiny. None of those players had the confidence or wherewithal to play and get England through.
"I appreciate they're young and still learning the game. But let's not forget either, they're not playing against senior professionals, they're playing against their peers. Nobody had the ability on the pitch to stand up and say, 'Right, this isn't going well, I'm going to change this and make a difference'.
"That's because academies are now almost creating robotic players, who have had everything done for them from the age of nine. Ever since that age, they've been told what to do and they can't think for themselves.
"It's hard for the players because they've been brought up this way. But we have to change it for the younger generation moving through the system. We have to realise the old English style of football isn't quite good enough to compete at the very highest level.
"That's why we haven't won anything since 1966. We've got to the odd quarter-final but that isn't good enough for a nation like England. The players have got to be able to express themselves out there and the shackles have to be released. If not, it will be a long, long time before we win anything else.
he's right, funny to here it came from danny mills of all people
He's spot on.
I played schoolboy football for one of the most successful clubs in Ireland and the ethos at that club was win at all cost and don't worry about the opposition having the ball, just ensure they can't do anything with it.
I noticed a marked difference whenever we went abroad to play international tournaments with other schoolboy teams from around Europe. Their players we so technically gifted and the scorelines between the other teams in the groups were 4-3 and 4-4 etc, whereas our three games ended 0-0. I gather in some countries in Europe, schoolboy teams don't play league matches till about 10 or 11. They spend the first 4 years coaching the technical skills and scorelines etc are unimportant.
The way Irish kids are coached is so wrong. I have seen plenty of kids with so much potential, have their confidence completely shattered by over zealous managers and parents on the sideline berating them for the tiniest mistake made.
Also I specifically remember playing a semi final in a national competition, where we were 2-1 up with about two minutes to go. The opposition had a man clean through on the goals and the cry from the manager to the last defender was "Floor him." He duly did and was sent off. Fouled him just outside the box, conceding a free kick which they failed to convert. The heroes reception that player got at the final whistle will always stick in my mind. Imagine a club that has produced Irish internationals and EPL players endorsing that kind of cynicism and dishonesty in the game? Even as a 14 year old lad, I knew there was something inherently wrong with the way kids are coached here.
Last edited by French Toasht; 21/06/2011 at 3:13 PM.
he's right, funny to here it came from danny mills of all people
True. But right nonetheless.
He's (Danny Mills) spot on, and so are you with this assessment French Toast.Originally Posted by French Toasht
Coaches in Ireland (and England) do coach the wrong way. I played for Shelbourne and Home Farm when I lived in Ireland and the ethos (as you correctly point out) is totally devoid of technical skill. Having coached in America, we would play 4 v 4 until the age of 12 and then increase numbers. America, mark my words, is an upcoming power and Ireland will be left behind.
He's on Newstalk most monday evenings during the season... Not the worst.
Danny Mills talks a lot of sense a lot if the time. Unfortunately no one is grabbing the bull by the horns here. The national academy thread has discussed this.
During the must win game for England v Czech, in the first half the England back 4 were stroking the ball around, comfortable enough despite 2 Czech players closing them down, patient sensible play waiting for the right move. Then there comes a loud shout from Pearce - 'GET IT TO FCK OUT OF THERE'.
I honestly think the weather particularly in Ireland plays a big part to how we play at underage, or at least when I was underage.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
With me it was the landscape, made a difference if we were playing uphill or downhill.
Paul, I thought you were still underage?
I dont know, I agree with most of your points, but is there an Italian (for example) last man who would not do the same? Of course, this would involve them letting go of your jersey for long enough to get away on goal in the first place.
Last edited by CraftyToePoke; 21/06/2011 at 5:19 PM.
There are similarities between this thread and the National Academy one. If this debate continues I promise to keep out of it as I get the feeling i have bored the pants of many with my views!
and the pitches. most public pitches in Ireland are a disgrace with little interest from the councils to upkeep them
I wouldn't say that. if anyone has an interest in this they will more than take your views on board.
mods should combine.
Danny Mills slamming English football for playing like robots? Thats like Danny Dyer slamming producers for all the violence and swearing on TV.
He is right though!
Can't help but get the feeling that England just weren't good enough also - they seemed to pass it around ok against lesser teams in qualifying and the pre-tournament friendlies but were found totally wanting at the finals tournament against superior opposition.
read an article ages ago about a manager (possibly Wenger) complaining that the weather in England doesn't lend itself to teaching kids about trapping the ball, dribbling techniques, etc, because the amount of wind on the pitches makes the movement of the ball too unpredictable
When we're playing at home, if the ball is stroked around at the back for anything more than 30 seconds the crowd gets ancy. It's not something we should be smug about.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
No man has the right to fix the boundary of smugness.
It's hard to be humble when it is the coach who is doing the shouting, when it's the great English team with financial back up and player resources infinitely greater than anything Ireland has, when they resemble an incoherent rabble in regards to tactical and technical ability.
I watched the Dutch U17s struggle against North Korea last night (FIFA U17 WC) , and play a lot of hoofball. We'd have been proud of the Dutch equaliser - a clearance from a CB that was 40 yards in the air, eluded the NK CBs and the Dutch forward latched onto it. Straight out of the GAA manual. The finish was pretty classy though, very similar to Mick Byrne's third goal at Milltown against Dundalk in a 5-0 win, around 1989 I think. (Strange game, Dundalk were the better team.) I'm sure many here remember it
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