The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

James Beil wrote:

Bob's Bitch wrote:Abroad, like they have done in the last twenty years or so. As has been shown on the international stage, these players are better than the British ones that are being produced. The Premier League doesn't really need the grassroots IMO.

And how are we ever going to start producing players good enough to play at the very top level without making sure youth players get the very best start to their footballing lives as they can? Compare the Irchester Rec to any of the 3G pitches used by football clubs on the continent - how can we expect young players to learn how to control the ball like Messi or Ozil when the pitches they have to learn on look like battlefields for half the season?

I don't know, but that's not Sky's or the Premier League's problem to worry about, which is why they don't feel the need to give a load of money to schemes like this.

Bob's Bitch wrote: I don't know, but that's not Sky's or the Premier League's problem to worry about, which is why they don't feel the need to give a load of money to schemes like this.

Exactly. With no quota on the amount of overseas signings Premier League can make they don't see it as their concern. Interesting that the top man at the FA now, Greg Dyke, was instrumental in setting up initial talks for the formation of the Premier League nearly 25 years ago before he was bush whacked by Rupert Murdoch who jumped in on behalf of his ailing (at the time) Sky Television company. The rest is history.

I don't agree with most on here. Limiting the amount of foreign signings/players per club is not a system that will ever work if your aim is to improve the national team IMO. It will just deteriorate the standard of the Premier League and another league, (and my guess would be the Italian), would take over as the primary league. This would obviously be fueled by a series of rich owners etc, but the top talent would slowly leave and elevate the status of the leagues they go to.

I think putting more money down the league to improve players from a younger age, to give the ability to clubs lower down, in the grass roots, to train players more. To learn to coach players in more productive ways. To produce better players.

Essentially it becomes, for me, an argument between improving the product you are selling, or just removing competing products (foreign players) from the market.

Invest lower down. Grass roots. Non-league. Lower leagues. Make it easier financially for clubs to produce better players. Produce a national knowledge base funded by this money for coaches to contribute to and learn from without large costs.

Better coaches = better training = better players.

That's where the money should be going. Imagine what could be done with just half a billion, which would be not even half of the increase...

Jemfy wrote: Invest lower down. Grass roots. Non-league. Lower leagues. Make it easier financially for clubs to produce better players. Produce a national knowledge base funded by this money for coaches to contribute to and learn from without large costs.

But isn't that the point. Where's this 'investment' money for grass roots football going to come from? The Premier League are now all powerful and what power do Greg Dyke and his merry band have to insist a larger slice of the television revenue be directed to the grass roots game? Very little I would suggest.

The reality is the Premier League don't give a stuff about anyone other than themselves - if they could they would pull the drawbridge up and cut everyone below them loose! I think what they want is a PL of about 16 teams with a European competition to pull in even more money, no relegation/promotion from/in to it, just a nice little money making club and a lucrative TV contract to keep the trough topped up.

The Football League or grassroots - they don't give a stuff about it !!

The only way to fight it is for people to cancel their Sky Sports subscriptions and tell Sky why - hit them in the wallet, it's the only thing they understand! Then the PL might take an interest because their pay masters will force them to.

No-one will though, because they like the PL, so the merry go round continues !!

Btw, I cancelled my Sky Sports 3 years ago and don't miss it !!

Pigman wrote:The reality is the Premier League don't give a stuff about anyone other than themselves - if they could they would pull the drawbridge up and cut everyone below them loose! I think what they want is a PL of about 16 teams with a European competition to pull in even more money, no relegation/promotion from/in to it, just a nice little money making club and a lucrative TV contract to keep the trough topped up.

The Football League or grassroots - they don't give a stuff about it !!

The only way to fight it is for people to cancel their Sky Sports subscriptions and tell Sky why - hit them in the wallet, it's the only thing they understand! Then the PL might take an interest because their pay masters will force them to.

No-one will though, because they like the PL, so the merry go round continues !!

Btw, I cancelled my Sky Sports 3 years ago and don't miss it !!

I agree with Pigman the Premier league don't gave 2 hoots about the football league and the grassroots, did anyone else seen them pictures at QPR ground, in where football fans paid £50 etc and can't see a thing, because a large box thing in front of them.

Money should be passed down.