The stats

[MikeSB]

If I may please...I tend to think of the old days..LOL and we have to remember that Div1 we play in is actually the third division and I suggest that we should be able to be able to exist in this league season after season and not Div4 and so I cannot see why we cannot have an academy that local youths (Not kids) can come and play games and at the same time have some coming into the first team but perhaps about a third and no more because the ambition of the club was to have the whole first team from the academy and that is not practical although noble...Its no accident that the more players we have had this season from the academy in the team, the worst we have had results because most other teams throughout football actually have wordly wise athletes in them.

[gazan]

I also remember the relegation AND reelection campaigns so please don't give me that 'Old Father Time' line. I also remember that the only 'local lads' we produced were Les Wain and Glyn Osborn, neither of whom set the world alignnht. I also remember that the pay disparity between top-tiered players and those of the 4th tier was probably on a par with that of present day between 'big' and 'small' clubs in League 1 alone. So we can can all reminisc about the old days, if we're that inclined, and talk lovingly of players who smoked and drank and played on ploughed pitches. And of the violence and the brick wall that served as a urinal at the Gresty End, and cultured players such as Summerhill and Riley and Gater and the shale and concrete at both ends and a Gresty end that didn't actually cover that end. All these lovely memories that were interrupted by Dario Gradi and his new-fangled vision of an academy, coaching and better provision. Oh I forgot, he was just here as job-creation!!!

[lukcour]

Hi Luckour, I'm really pleased to see you back here if only to confirm above. I'm actually going in for a heart op this weekend actually...I hope to be back soon causing irritation to the some at least...

Thanks again for the offer mate..

Wish you all the best of luck with the weekend op and a full recovery. Not to put a damper on it but you may have to cut back on the things you enjoy the most. Mainly the booze, cigarettes, and women

[MikeSB]

Wish you all the best of luck with the weekend op and a full recovery. Not to put a damper on it but you may have to cut back on the things you enjoy the most. Mainly the booze, cigarettes, and women

Thanks mate..

Have them all lined up asap...

[gazan]

.....and best wishes with your op. Hope it works out well.
By the way, I hope you realise that the nurses may not appreciate you telling them ad infinitum about Jimmy Greaves and your antipathy to coaching!😉

[MikeSB]

I also remember the relegation AND reelection campaigns so please don't give me that 'Old Father Time' line. I also remember that the only 'local lads' we produced were Les Wain and Glyn Osborn, neither of whom set the world alignnht. I also remember that the pay disparity between top-tiered players and those of the 4th tier was probably on a par with that of present day between 'big' and 'small' clubs in League 1 alone. So we can can all reminisc about the old days, if we're that inclined, and talk lovingly of players who smoked and drank and played on ploughed pitches. And of the violence and the brick wall that served as a urinal at the Gresty End, and cultured players such as Summerhill and Riley and Gater and the shale and concrete at both ends and a Gresty end that didn't actually cover that end. All these lovely memories that were interrupted by Dario Gradi and his new-fangled vision of an academy, coaching and better provision. Oh I forgot, he was just here as job-creation!!!

Haha..

I could not care a less about the facilities and the new stand as we are only there a couple of hours a fortnight etc..and I loved watching us back then as each one were characters and played for the fans. There were some great players here over the years or have you forgotten them? Today they play for themselves and no game of football is as enjoyable as they were and yup that is Grand Father time for you....I also didn't care what they did in their spare time or how much training they did...It was a great time to watch football at all levels, no matter what you say..

Its a bit like tennis? Now its all about staying on the baseline with no net play ala Nastasi and how hard they can hit the ball. That to me anyhow is not how tennis should be played and we go most football matches now with hardly any shots on goal and likewise forgot what the object of the game is...To score goals more than the opposition and to entertain the fans...Are we doing that do you think? You pay the money and put up with what you will...Not for me, I have far too many memories of HOW the game 'should' be played...Youth players are not suited to the modern game or even in the old days. That is what is wrong with the academy and our success under Dario was that we signed a lot of good players along which we don't do now...Why? Money! We cannot afford a million pounds youth training centre...simple as!

Can I offer some advice? Stop 'sneering' at other fans! At least that is how you come across here even though you maybe a very nice chap to talk to....

[MikeSB]

.....and best wishes with your op. Hope it works out well.
By the way, I hope you realise that the nurses may not appreciate you telling them ad infinitum about Jimmy Greaves and your antipathy to coaching!😉

Thanks mate, I appreciate that and am looking forward to explaining to the Nurses our current predicament....

I'm not sure if you ever watched JG in the flesh as I did but he was a genius and OK he played in the top league although never watched him on the Saint and Greavsie TV programmes but he had his own devils to contend with in later life and he should be applauded for getting through them as he did...I guess all geniuses have them as indeed as I do....

[MikeSB]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that and am looking forward to explaining to the Nurses our current predicament....

I'm not sure if you ever watched JG in the flesh as I did but he was a genius and OK he played in the top league although never watched him on the Saint and Greavsie TV programmes but he had his own devils to contend with in later life and he should be applauded for getting through them as he did...I guess all geniuses have them as indeed as I do....

BTW gazan I am having the op in your neck of the woods...in Cheadle..

[gazan]

Asking for reasoned argument is not sneering in my book but hey, whatever! And my last few posts have all been in response to the droning on and on of negativity drenched and repetitious posts. Not nice is it?
Much better if we offered varied and reasoned argument.
As for good players. Yes, I remember Gordon Wallace and Stan Bowles etc. I arrived in Crewe too late to see Lord and King et al. There's no debating that there were good players in the day (I did see Greaves in the flesh as well as many others like Law, Best and Bell etc) and I have never denied that (that's my whole point about reasoning!). I also admit that many of these outstanding players had some 'natural ability', but even then they were being coached: it was called training in those days. However, the main difference between then and now is that it is much more intense now and is introduced much earlier. I also believe that there is a danger of over-coaching at a young age but accept that bad habits have to be caught at a young age. Overall, coaching benefits the mass of players not just the best (I've said this before) and so lifts the generality of play. However, everybody does it now so there is a cancelling out of advantages. Nevertheless, I'd back the promotion team of Perry, Harry, Ryan and Charlie against the promotion team of Mailey, Lowry, Leigh, Scott, Barnes, Gannon etc any day. There would be no contest! (Opinion, as it cannot be proven)

[gazan]

I did actually type 'Stott' but my phone thinks it knows better🤨