The 'C' Consortium?

[VindePays2009]

Oh dear.

People who swore they'd never post again are back, harping on the same themes, and the atmosphere is turning sour again. Let's look for a way forward.

It was suggested on this board that we might get David Fox, and the key fact is that he currently belongs to Colchester United. A club that pays no better than us, if even quite as much. That's why he might not say no. The Us almost 'did a Deano', with disastrous consequences, when they had to cash in on Freddie Sears as the January deadline loomed. But pluckily they escaped, and few would have shed a tear for the likes of Notts County and Crawley going down as long as a humble and decent club like Colchester survived.

Grant is going to find out what it means to work for a Victorian mill boss rather than a community-based club. And I wonder if Byron thinks this already.

And this really is what the Alex and Colchester are about, never mind the category 2s or 3s of Academy status. Their fans are not 'arrogant', as claimed else

[ShropshireAlex]

I'm sure Charlton pay a lot more than Colchester and us, but good point well made. And yes the bad pennies and their hobby horses turn up once again ... Oh dear!

[AstonAlex]

Whilst I totally agree with VdP's and Shropshire's sentiments about the club and Academy I must disagree about bad pennies! I think that MikeSB, for one, makes his arguments about the Academy cogently and with passion, although I fundamentally disagree with almost all of them, and we should welcome intelligent debate. If Shropshire was referring to some of the less readable scribblings of itwasin, then I second that motion!

Having said that, no argument is ever won by repetition and verbosity . . so I'll shut up now

[bigroof]

Good thoughts from VindePays, though as he says it'll never take off. One reason for that though, is that Charlton themselves are already within such an arrangement; their owner, whose escapes for now, also owns Standard Liege in Belgium, and - I think - three other clubs in three other countries. All the clubs are of differing standards, and players are being switched between them, perhaps for the very reasons that VindePays outlines. It contravenes no regulations, all the while no two of the clubs find themselves in the same European competition.

[MikeSB]

Thanks for the support Aston Alex and Somerset Crewe. I guess some fans don't understand what democracy and debate is about. On most issues facing this country. people are split almost down the middle and yet nobody tells either side they should shut up and go away etc. Why should football fans and forums be any different? The thing is people get nasty and personal and in my humble opinion, they are generally on the losing side or are just frustrated as we all sometimes. Fair enough, just keeping talking and make me see sense once in a while!

I don't make comments about the academy funding just to be contentious or argumentative. I honestly think its too expensive for a club our size and also believe we don't have or need to comply with the over zealous rules of the FA and PL and Dario proved that when he did it on a shoe string decades ago. Unless someone can answer the other question I have asked. How can working parents take their kids and teenagers other than their local c

[itwasin]

Whilst I totally agree with VdP's and Shropshire's sentiments about the club and Academy I must disagree about bad pennies! I think that MikeSB, for one, makes his arguments about the Academy cogently and with passion, although I fundamentally disagree with almost all of them, and we should welcome intelligent debate. If Shropshire was referring to some of the less readable scribblings of itwasin, then I second that motion!

Having said that, no argument is ever won by repetition and verbosity . . so I'll shut up now

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[somersetcrewe]

It would be great if the club would come clean and tell the people of Crewe, what it is they do at RH and how many people/profiles of those that are employed there and most important, how much it all costs?

Or more specifically, tell us why we have to be cat 2?
If it is because we can't take 7/8 yr olds without it (as has been suggested), then I think I understand since that is and always has been our youth policy.
Getting that answered would kill (or severely "injure"!) that debate!

[MikeSB]

Not sure it would kill the debate mate!

There is absolutely no way we should be spending money on coaching 7 or 8 year olds. That is the where schools come in. Its actually a foolish way to try and assess someone's potential or physical attributes. Its why players like Walters are discarded and many more. That to me is money wasted, sorry. I would say 12 or 13 is the better option.

Secondly I would tell the FA to get lost IF a club wanted to have young kids coming in for some football practice as part of a community project as I read some non league clubs do.

[Timmy58]

Schools have no time for coaching football specifically and certainly not to the level they get from the Academy. Have you ever seen the under 9s providing half time entertainment for the crowd on match day. If you had I am sure you would appreciate the level of skill they demonstrate.

[somersetcrewe]

Schools have no time for coaching football ...

And ain't that just the thing - and not just football but all sports!! (cricket? - don't get me started!)
Crewe spotted that one a long time ago.
Innovation rules!