Football Room 101

Football Room 101

Football is a brilliant game. It evokes so many emotions and is enjoyed by millions the world over.

But is 'the beautiful game' still beautiful? How long can the ever increasing financial maelstrom gloss over the growing unrest generated by unhappy fans both internationally and domestically in England?

With some fans priced out of matches and an emphasis on football as a business, will the bubble eventually burst, and who will pay the price?

The fans. 

The players can leave, (and most probably will) while dreaded 'asset stripping' management companies will destroy the club from within by selling anything of worth.

Then again, it might not happen.

Room 101 (of 1984 fame) is a show in which you discuss your pet peeves and send them to their doom.

So, without further ado, lets kick off:

Football Room 101

Diving

Diving is endemic in football. Unfortunately every dive isn't as comical as Bales' attempt but in reality he was attempting to get a player sent off, which simply shouldn't be allowed. Never mind sportsmanship, it's breaking the rules, and setting a bad example to young footballers who want to emulate one of the best in the world.

This culture of 'winning is all' is a strangely business like mantra for a supposed community-based team game. But how do you compare financial gain to instilling good, strong values in future generations? 

Football isn't professional wrestling. It has no need for 'faces or heels.' Every player should toe the line, or face punishment by the club at least.

An empty win is still a win, but would you rather win because you were the better team, or because you got their keeper sent off?

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices are always going to be a sore point for some, but to some extent dissent is justifiable.

With the Football Supporters Federation chief, Malcolm Clarke saying 'we estimate clubs could cut £32 off the cost of every single ticket purely from the increase in the TV pot' you have to wonder why many clubs are willing to fleece their supporters so badly.

Ticket prices won't decrease as long as profit-margin hunting 'suits' continue to test what supporters are willing to pay. 

Half of the time, the money isn't even reinvested into the team properly, rather shared out like a communal slush-fund for rich oligarchs, who flit off into the distance leaving clubs ailing in the distance under mountains  of debt.

The system can't continue like this forever, but there seems to be no end in sight for now.

Coin/Flare Throwing 

I know it's not the biggest of issues. It's not racism, or goal-line technology but throwing items onto the pitch in an attempt to maim a player is vaguely ridiculous. Toilet paper, balloons, inflatable Liverpool beach balls, fair enough.

The only thing hurt was Reina's pride.

If Rio lost an eye when he was hit by that coin it wouldn't have been funny. It would be tragic. The cowardly move of coin throwing should be stopped before more people go to jail for mindless acts.

National Apathy

Okay, so the golden generation won nothing. 

But that was with; Capello's 'unique' man-management skills, fake sheikh's, racism scandals, Heskey injuring Rio, Sven, unfit players, Owen's dodgy legs, Lampard's world cup despair, Wally and Brolly, divots in turf (allegedly), Lampard and Gerrard refusing to complement each other but always attempting to outshine one another, no real number one since Seaman until (allegedly) Joe Hart, Captaincy issues, too much expectation, media pressure and worst of all Rio Ferdinand's World Cup Windups as well as many others.

My point is that despite all the pressure the team did well. We aren't a true powerhouse in international football any more and our expectations should reflect this. 

Why should we lambaste players who give everything for their country, only to be abused on Twitter five minutes after the game?

We need to be as patient as the German's have been and nurture our top talent, rather then flogging them for over a decade for not winning a tournament.

Support the team and not their results. You never know, the remnants of the golden generation might yet win something. (Chances are estimated at around 0.002%).

So those were my choices.

If you agree/disagree or just want to get involved in the discussion feel free to comment ect.

Thanks for reading.