British sporting success - will 'football' ever learn?

[niknokseagull]

After an incredible summer at the Olympics and Paralympics and Andy Murray's heroic victory in the US Open last night, we are truly witnessing a phenomenal period of success for British sport.

We have athletics clubs and velodromes, sailing clubs and boxing gyms apparently inundated with youngsters eager to join up.

We are told that the kids of today now have Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins and Jess Ennis as role models - perhaps helping us to be, and remain as, one of the strongest and most successful sporting nations for years to come.

It's hard not to agree that we are now reaping the benefit of years of financial support and investment in sport, particularly through the national lottery and a greater investment in the grass roots (I.e. facilities, venues, coaching, etc)

So when, when, when will those that run our national football structure finally admit that their model is a complete mess and has little hope of emulating the success we now see in other sporting disciplines?

Football will eat itself eventually. I love the Albion and I love football but a little piece of me wants to see some catastrophic financial failure occur to some element of the game because it's really the only way I can see anything changing. The only way 'football' might wake up and realise that directing a few of those many, many millions of pounds to the grass roots and schools and kids clubs and proper coaching development structures ....... just might mean we also stand a chance of seeing some international success in my lifetime.

If I see whatsisname Scudamore tell me again that we have the greatest league in the world, the most exciting, the most watched ....... well, those claims are all rather hollow now we've seen what real sporting achievement is all about.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We have athletics clubs and velodromes, sailing clubs and boxing gyms apparently inundated with youngsters eager to join up.

A bit like every gym in the land the week after Xmas you mean?

Totally agree that football will eat itself, and probably sooner rather than later. But it won't be due to the increased popularity of other sports, it'll be down to itself.

 

[Wozza]

So when, when, when will those that run our national football structure finally admit that their model is a complete mess and has little hope of emulating the success we now see in other sporting disciplines?

Nobody owns the structure now. The (mostly foreign) billionaires that control the Premier League don't care about the English national side. The codgers that run the FA are largely powerless.

 

[JetsetJimbo]

Depends on how you define success. Most of us would define it as "winning trophies", but for the people who run football, success = making rich people richer. By their measure, they're hugely successful.

 

[Simster]

Nobody owns the structure now. The (mostly foreign) billionaires that control the Premier League don't care about the English national side. The codgers that run the FA are largely powerless.

Very true. So it is time the government of the day stepped in, and got a grip of the situation - seeing as football is still the national sport.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I started getting v.bored with football towards the end of last season. Albion aside, this season I have watched none on TV, no MoTD, no Goals on Sunday, I couldn't tell you any scores apart from ours, and I don't miss it in the least.

I may go back to it in the depths of winter when there's little else to watch, but this summer has seen so many other super sports and sporting highlights. As sports, I far prefer Golf, Tennis and Cricket to Football now.

 

[drew]

After an incredible summer at the Olympics and Paralympics and Andy Murray's heroic victory in the US Open last night, we are truly witnessing a phenomenal period of success for British sport.

We have athletics clubs and velodromes, sailing clubs and boxing gyms apparently inundated with youngsters eager to join up.

We are told that the kids of today now have Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins and Jess Ennis as role models - perhaps helping us to be, and remain as, one of the strongest and most successful sporting nations for years to come.

It's hard not to agree that we are now reaping the benefit of years of financial support and investment in sport, particularly through the national lottery and a greater investment in the grass roots (I.e. facilities, venues, coaching, etc)

So when, when, when will those that run our national football structure finally admit that their model is a complete mess and has little hope of emulating the success we now see in other sporting disciplines?

Football will eat itself eventually. I love the Albion and I love football but a little piece of me wants to see some catastrophic financial failure occur to some element of the game because it's really the only way I can see anything changing. The only way 'football' might wake up and realise that directing a few of those many, many millions of pounds to the grass roots and schools and kids clubs and proper coaching development structures ....... just might mean we also stand a chance of seeing some international success in my lifetime.

If I see whatsisname Scudamore tell me again that we have the greatest league in the world, the most exciting, the most watched ....... well, those claims are all rather hollow now we've seen what real sporting achievement is all about.

Wow, I read that and in the end realized that you haven't come up with any real suggestions. I take it you are aware that St Georges Park has only just opened. I'm no fan of Scudamore but arguably, he is correct that we have the most exciting football league in the world. As for spouting off about all the other sports being inundated with new participants, let's wait and see how many keep it up. As someone else said, the gyms are all fall after Xmas and tennis courts busy after Wimbledon but it doesn't always last. Maybe there will be a legacy from the Olympics and Paralympics, but banging on about it less than a week after the closing ceremony is premature. Same with Murray, he's won one grand slam. Maybe it will be the first of several, may be it will be his last.

Your post is merely jumping on the 'euphoria' bandwagon without actually saying anything constructive!

 

[Wozza]

but arguably, he is correct that we have the most exciting football league in the world.

But what does that mean, Drew?

 

[pork pie]

Very true. So it is time the government of the day stepped in, and got a grip of the situation - seeing as football is still the national sport.

Agreed. But it is unlikely to win votes, and therefore ever happen.

 

[drew]

But what does that mean, Drew?

Based on the fact the television rights are sold all around the world and people pay to watch the games on telly(me excepted). I'm not saying that everyone loves it but the facts are that financially it is the most successful 'product'.

 

[drew]

Agreed. But it is unlikely to win votes, and therefore ever happen.

If the government interferrred with football, Fifa would ban us as it is against their rules.

 

[drew]

Agreed. But it is unlikely to win votes, and therefore ever happen.

If the government interferrred with football, Fifa would ban us as it is against their rules.

 

[niknokseagull]

Your post is merely jumping on the 'euphoria' bandwagon without actually saying anything constructive!

I very much hope there is a bandwagon to jump on. Y'know, start debate, get enough of a consensus to challenge the status quo, keep up the momentum, influence policy and force change, etc, etc

Nowt wrong with that.

 

[Munkfish]

Based on the fact the television rights are sold all around the world and people pay to watch the games on telly(me excepted). I'm not saying that everyone loves it but the facts are that financially it is the most successful 'product'.

How does success make it exciting? You haven't managed to answer his question.

 

[JBizzle]

Football is full of faults, sure. But so is athletics. When will they get a proper grip on drugs cheats for example? People were kicked out of the Olympics for not being sporting and actively cheating...

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Football has mass appeal because of its simplicity. Every man,woman and child understands what the players are trying to achieve. All kids are encouraged to kick a ball before they see a cricket bat or a tennis racquet. Years ago, local, wealthy, businessmen became chairman of their local club for kudos/prestige and pumped a few bob in to help keep the club afloat. In those days, they had to balance their books.
Boxing used to be the sport that attracted the spivs and dregs of society. The quick buck merchants. Now it is football. Huge sums of money disappear from a sport that should be affluent from top to bottom.
The robbers are at the gates in the guise of players and agents. Multi-millionaire young men, freed from any financial responsibilty in their early 20's and cashing in while the going is good. If all this money keeps leaving the game, eventually, it will implode.
It will always be the people's game but it is a much uglier package now. Other sports, thrust into the spotlight, will have support, for no other reason than the fact that they involve less ' gamesmanship ' and less ' cheating ' The game is riddled with dishonesty from top to bottom and much as I detest it I STILL KEEP GOING!!!

 

[Stat Brother]

Football is full of faults, sure. But so is athletics. When will they get a proper grip on drugs cheats for example? People were kicked out of the Olympics for not being sporting and actively cheating...

You're not implying there's no drugs in football, are you?

 

[Wozza]

Based on the fact the television rights are sold all around the world and people pay to watch the games on telly(me excepted). I'm not saying that everyone loves it but the facts are that financially it is the most successful 'product'.

But what does it mean to you and me? What are the benefits of England having "the most exciting football league in the world".

We already know it doesn't make our national team better.

So does it, for example, make Saturday afternoons better? (Or, ahem, Sundays). Does it make tickets cheaper? Does it bring fans closer to the players? Improve the community aspect of the sport?

Help me out here!

 

[teaboy]

Football is full of faults, sure. But so is athletics. When will they get a proper grip on drugs cheats for example? People were kicked out of the Olympics for not being sporting and actively cheating...

Not many people get kicked out of football for cheating, gamesmanship and not playing to win. This is down to referees not enforcing the rules that already exist in the game. If they did then maybe the attitude of players would improve.

 

[Stat Brother]

Not many people get kicked out of football for cheating, gamesmanship and not playing to win. This is down to referees not enforcing the rules that already exist in the game. If they did then maybe the attitude of players would improve.

Having the ref's on the bottom wrung, does football no favours.
But sorting that out will take a whole cultural change, which as Pardew proved, isn't happening any time soon.