Barca to open English academy

[Monty]

Shame its in Surrey.

Mids or East End or Liverpool / Manchester would all have been more understandable locations

yes if they were the locations where most junior/ youth football takes place, it isnt though, the next generation of footballers are more likely to be from middle class back grounds and areas

Weirdly we probably don't have enough middle-class players. Not that there's anything different or better about them, but it's just sheer maths. The middle class is probably nearing the majority of the country, and yet an overwhelming proportion of players still come from poorer backgrounds. Now, you could say that's because poorer kids are hungrier to succeed, but that doesn't square with the fact that we have by far the lowest proportion of middle-class-born players in the 'big 5' leagues (France being the second lowest). Talent pays no attention to class, so if the largest grouping happens to be middle and yet there aren't many players from that grouping, then football is clearly missing out on some talent.

Monty, have you read the excellent book called Soccernomics by Kuper and Symanksi?

It's called "Why England Lose" over here (apt, really), and yes, it's one of the books which make up the football Bible, along with "Inverting the Pyramid" and "A Season with Verona". Between them those three cover, respectively, off the pitch, on the pitch and the experience of the fan. A holy trinity indeed.

[Toronto Villa]

Shame its in Surrey.

Mids or East End or Liverpool / Manchester would all have been more understandable locations

yes if they were the locations where most junior/ youth football takes place, it isnt though, the next generation of footballers are more likely to be from middle class back grounds and areas

Weirdly we probably don't have enough middle-class players. Not that there's anything different or better about them, but it's just sheer maths. The middle class is probably nearing the majority of the country, and yet an overwhelming proportion of players still come from poorer backgrounds. Now, you could say that's because poorer kids are hungrier to succeed, but that doesn't square with the fact that we have by far the lowest proportion of middle-class-born players in the 'big 5' leagues (France being the second lowest). Talent pays no attention to class, so if the largest grouping happens to be middle and yet there aren't many players from that grouping, then football is clearly missing out on some talent.

Monty, have you read the excellent book called Soccernomics by Kuper and Symanksi?

It's called "Why England Lose" over here (apt, really), and yes, it's one of the books which make up the football Bible, along with "Inverting the Pyramid" and "A Season with Verona". Between them those three cover, respectively, off the pitch, on the pitch and the experience of the fan. A holy trinity indeed.

really? I didn't know it had a different title in the UK. Yes, it's title is most appropriate. I made a point on the Wilshere thread that this was one of the fundamental reasons we fail as a nation. We overhype our players, our expectations, and then everything from that point onwards is a massive let down.

[Monty]

And we find immediate scapegoats, usually the best players we have, as if it's their fault that we hyped them up more than was fair on them.