Zabaleta went down before he was even touched, great decision from the ref.

LoL. Would you have said the same if that was Costa? Dont get much clearer then that

City can't complain. Aguero and Demechelis could/should have been sent off.

I don't understand why people are so desperate to copy what other successful sides do while completely missing the reasons why it worked for them in the process. In recent times it's been Barcelona and their passing game, now it's Spain and Germany's "blueprint". But anyway, I digress.

So your idea is to destroy years of history for these other clubs just so the big clubs can benefit and that England may, perhaps, one day win the world cup?

Why do you think youth development is best done at the top clubs? I understand they have the best facilities and often have the best players for the youth to learn from but if that were the case we would be churning out mini Messi's on a regular basis. Perhaps I've misunderstood your meaning of "top clubs" and teams like Southampton, West Ham, Crewe, Leeds, etc all fall into that.

Wouldn't it be better, and easier, to prevent these clubs from hoarding all these 16 year olds instead of completely destroying the integrity of the league system by vastly increasing the compensation award to teams that spend years developing a player? They actually introduced something similar to this a few years ago (Elite Player Performance Plan) but instead of increasing compensation they somehow found a way to decrease it through some unnecessarily complicated ranking system (which by the way, the clubs in the highest category have to pay £2m a year for which for small clubs is not really affordable so they remain in the lowest categories and when their players are pinched they end up with compensation as little as £10k-£50k). That's just one idea, I'm sure more capable men with more experience in the matter can come up with something else that doesn't involve such a drastic change.

Say the B teams idea does go ahead, who is going to go and watch B teams play? Barcelona and Real Madrid barely get any attendances as it is for their B teams, who would go watch Spurs B team play? How will Nottingham Forest sell tickets to games against Spurs B? That's a very important source of revenue for the smaller teams. It would be such a soulless experience being a Nottingham Forest supporter and having to face of against Spurs B with barely any fans. Can you imagine them in League 1 or in the championship? It would completely destroy the little TV money the clubs there receive.

For me, the negatives far outweigh any positives and it doesn't fill me with hope the people behind this idea (FA Commission) are the likes of;

Danny Mills - No experience of coaching, certainly no experience at grassroots.

Rio Ferdinand - Again, no experience of coaching or grassroots. Why he's even involved is a mystery.

Howard Wilkinson - Better than Danny and Rio I suppose but old and has little relevant to add to the future of English football.

Greg Dyke - Had to be involved really but again he has no experience in coach or grassroots. He has more experience in journalism than he does anything coaching related.

Greg Clarke - No coaching or grassroots experience, only there because he's chairman of the football league.

Glen Hoddle - Probably in it because of his academy but it's been a failure, I can't see what he's done to warrant being involved in something so important.

Roy Hodgson - Had to be on it but his methods and ideas are old and outdated, just like Howard.

Roger Burden - Similar to Greg Dyke but at least he has a bit of football experience. Not relevant enough to be included in this though.

The only good choices they made on that commission was Dario Gradi and Ritchie Humphreys. The rest are not fit to be discussing the grassroots football and the development of youth.

I get the impression The FA don't seem to know what they are doing when it comes to youth development, either that or they are simply listening to the wrong people. They are just constantly changing and introducing new things every few years to make it seem like they are making things happen without realising that they are either making it worse or simply prolonging it's effect.

Dyke has been on TV numerous times saying he understands that things can't just change overnight and it would take a long time before we see any chances. I certinaly hope he means that and someone isn't just feeding him lines cause if they do go ahead with B teams and then afterwards introduce something else it won't just be a couple of people with their hands on their waist going "Oh you, what are you like", it'll be millions of fans with pitchforks at their headquarters.

Excellent post!

     

Burnley!!

Get.In.There.

I've always liked Burnley.

CHELSEA WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

this is going to be 30 minutes of backs against the wall, nail-biting tension isn't it

 

Yes.

GET THE f**kING IN

GET INNN!!!

We are going to win the league.

   

Awesome stuff Burnley!

Those people who think that wasn't a pen. If it was a Chelsea player ask yourself if you would think the same thing and there is your answer.

Anyway , I think today is the day we won the title.

Woooo!!!!

 

Still hate Barnes, but Burnely are forgiven. They have taken 5 points off City this season.

I'd be happier about this result if we had played & won today. Don't get me wrong I'm well chuffed but we've got a tough game and those Goonies are f*cking sneaking in...

You better wake the f**k up and do the business tomorrow Chelsea, no excuses.

League wrapped up.

love it 5pts clear and now 2 games in hand...we can't f**k this up can we?? 

Pellegrino sticks his oar in and says his players would never surround a ref. Well don't you look like a f**king mug now.

hehe

A win tomorrow will put 1 hand on title.

Bloody hell. City are really effing their 'chase' up...

Those people who think that wasn't a pen. If it was a Chelsea player ask yourself if you would think the same thing and there is your answer.

Anyway , I think today is the day we won the title.

 

I'm the only one on here that doesn't think that was a pen. I think Zabaleta started going down before he was even touched. Also, they can't really complain, they could easily have had 2 players sent off.

Lads, come on. All this "we've won the league" is just begging for us to bottle it. It's not over yet.