17 Mar 2026 08:24:22
MNF with Thiery Henry and Jamie Carragher analysing the goal we conceded against Newcastle is well worth a watch for anyone interested in coaching (or in this instance the lack of it) and how modern day players are now robotic to what the coach tells them to do and are simply not allowed to think for themselves. I have seen modern day football described as a game of chess played out by coaches with players, in this case, Reece James in particular, being totally out of position due to the opposition coach, Eddie Howe, doing something a little unexpected. Sadly, it paints a very sad picture and Mr Henry is very critical of Mr Rosenoir on the side, who was not even looking at the time and was shown in a very poor light. I post this as it tells a thousand words in one picture if you freeze the frame as the ball is passed from within Newcastle's half to Anthony Gordon. I'm rather saddened by the modern game where the passion and excitement seems to have been replaced by robotic, almost AI like coaching where players are so overloaded with information and have to stay in their little areas of the pitch and play exactly the same balls they are told to play, often just side to side, back to the keeper, side to side, repeat, repeat, repeat.
They have no personality, no mental strength, it is just all coached out of them. Then you have the cheating at set pieces, the wrestling to the floor, the zonal marking, the looking at the opposition player and not the ball, it is a bad watch and the star of the show is another robotic coach, this time the set piece coach. Then you have VAR which just makes the game even more terrible to watch and then on top of that I just got an email from Sky telling me my package was going up from 1st April to watch Sky Sports £2, TNT £3, HD £1 and something else connected £3. The whole package with broadband is now well over £100 a month. It is all getting too much and I might have a break from football now.
17 Mar 2026 09:12:43
RPD, you make some very good points. Can't really argue against any of them.
17 Mar 2026 09:19:35
RPD, For me James just went to sleep.
I have posted a few times over the last week saying how boring the Premiership football is. I'm not sure what can be done, but in my humble opinion, something has to change if it wants to keep its current audience.
17 Mar 2026 09:46:23
More and more people I know are choosing a Saturday afternoon at the local non-league team. Good atmosphere, good natured banter, and a couple of pints with your mates whilst watching the game.
17 Mar 2026 10:03:21
I agree about how boring PL football has become. Surely, that's down to the coaches and SDs who appoint them.
17 Mar 2026 10:27:17
I guess the SDs appoint coaches to win games or stay in the Premiership, but I personally blame the coaches more. It's understandable, as so many are judged on staying in the Premiership. They almost have to be scared to lose, if that makes sense.
17 Mar 2026 11:46:53
SDs must know how prospective coaches set up their teams and the style of play. So I think they are equally culpable. Not all teams park the bus. Brentford, Bournemouth, and Sunderland are generally quite adventurous.
17 Mar 2026 14:15:14
It's wild to me how much you guys are made to pay to watch football on TV. I believe I paid $50 or so at the start of the season and get all PL, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A games live, as well as full replays available for a week or so. FA Cup games are also thrown in, and then the CL was an extra $30-50USD.
It's crazy how much is charged for an identical service that is locally produced. I understand that those paying for the "rights" have to make their money, but surely the league makes enough internationally to offer a full suite to those that live in England at a very affordable price.
17 Mar 2026 15:40:49
There still seems to be a sacred ban on any TV screening of EPL games at 3pm on a Sunday.