12-08-2015, 06:59 PM -
(12-08-2015, 08:04 AM)shaun.lawson Wrote: But that would involve the national side being prioritised at all levels, all age groups; and the clubs taking a back seat. What Icelandic clubs have you even heard of? Heck, given Wales' success in these qualifiers, what Welsh sides have you heard of?
The biggest problem by far across English and Scottish football is the enduring power of the clubs. Everything but everything revolves around them. In England, this has led to a thriving club game but no regard for the national side whatsoever. In Scotland, this had led to an obsession with two clubs, and constant, ever more desperate attempts to polish a turd in order to keep those two clubs happy and keep everyone else locked into some weird footballing version of Stockholm Syndrome.
Root and branch change - revolution actually - is required. But it'll never happen. The culture of the sport won't allow it - and everyone's responsible for that.
Is that what happens there? I don't know enough about it Iceland TBH. I just know if a country with a population less than Edinburgh's can produce players good enough to top a group with Holland, Turkey and the Czech Republic in it they must be doing something correct.
I don't see how trying to replicate it would be a bad thing though. The players would have to play their football somewhere, not sure why it would have a negative effect on Scottish clubs if it was copied here. Our clubs are a more attractive option to players than Icelandic ones and even if it meant losing more Scottish players abroad you'd hope the additional income would be re-invested well by clubs, continuing the cycle improvement.
It's not as if Icelandic clubs are worse off than they were before the Icelandic FA got their arses in gear. Scottish clubs are, at least in terms of performing in Europe.
TBH though, I just used the Iceland example of something constructive Scotland could do to improve of game. It's revolutionised Icelandic football, to use a word you used.
There's nothing revolutionary about these league cup changes. Or at least there's nothing revolutionary going to come from them IMO. It's basically a format that a lot of fans have been suggesting for a while with a gimmicky add on.
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This post was last modified: 12-08-2015, 07:02 PM by Herman Boyce.