After only two weeks blogging I have decided to hang up my pen and concerntrate on other projects. Soccer Intelligence never really took off and if i'm honest with myself i'm not 100% enjoying writing the blog posts. When I see that only a handful of people read them I have to question - Is it worth it??
Thankyou and enjoy your football wherever you are and wherever you go.
SoccerIntel
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
THE THURSDAY CLUB - DEVIZES TOWN
BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE PREMIER LEAGUE
The town of Devizes in Wiltshire has been home to the football club Devizes Town since 1887. During the late 50s and 60s the Wiltshire County League Championship was won numerous times as well as the County's Senior Cup which the club won six out of seven seasons between 1956 and 1963.
Roger Hunt joined the club in 1958 and formed a lethal partnership with prolific striker Tony Edge. Hunt, of course, went on to become one of the most celebrated players of his age - playing for Liverpool and the World Cup Winning England side. Edge (known as the goal machine) was apparently in line to represent Great Britain in the 1960 Olympics but was persuaded to join Bristol Rovers in 1959.He returned to the club and in the 1961-62 season scored an amazing 92 (ninety two) goals.
The club joined the Western League (currently known as The Toolstation Western Football League) in 1967.
In 1973 when the Western Football League championship was won by a margin of two points from Taunton Town and Mangotsfield United. Only a few years later in 1976 they were relegated to the newly formed Division One and they have been hoping between the two divisions since unfortunately never rising to the heights of 1973.
This season they sit bottom of Division One but they have improved in 2012. Only two leagues wins prior to the turn of the year has been followed by three wins in their last five against Westbury United, Keynsham Town and Almondsbury UWE (standing for the University of the West of England).
This Saturday (weather permitting) they are due to travel to Elmore who are in 14th place of 19 teams.
Their next home game at Nurstead Road (where they have played since just after the Second World War) is due on Saturday 18th February when Chard Town visit.
LINK TO CLUB WEBSITE
Roger Hunt joined the club in 1958 and formed a lethal partnership with prolific striker Tony Edge. Hunt, of course, went on to become one of the most celebrated players of his age - playing for Liverpool and the World Cup Winning England side. Edge (known as the goal machine) was apparently in line to represent Great Britain in the 1960 Olympics but was persuaded to join Bristol Rovers in 1959.He returned to the club and in the 1961-62 season scored an amazing 92 (ninety two) goals.
The club joined the Western League (currently known as The Toolstation Western Football League) in 1967.
In 1973 when the Western Football League championship was won by a margin of two points from Taunton Town and Mangotsfield United. Only a few years later in 1976 they were relegated to the newly formed Division One and they have been hoping between the two divisions since unfortunately never rising to the heights of 1973.
This season they sit bottom of Division One but they have improved in 2012. Only two leagues wins prior to the turn of the year has been followed by three wins in their last five against Westbury United, Keynsham Town and Almondsbury UWE (standing for the University of the West of England).
This Saturday (weather permitting) they are due to travel to Elmore who are in 14th place of 19 teams.
Their next home game at Nurstead Road (where they have played since just after the Second World War) is due on Saturday 18th February when Chard Town visit.
LINK TO CLUB WEBSITE
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
THE TUESDAY TALENT SPOTTER - JACK BARMBY - MANCHESTER UNITED
Seventeen year old Jack is the son of Hull City Manager Nick Barmby and has been on the books at Old Trafford since 2008. Jack is a a left winger but can also play in attack and has caught the eye for the United under 18 side in their current FA Cup Youth Cup run. In United's 1-5 fifth round victory at Swansea City he scored one and set up another couple of goals.
It looks as though Jack, who has been capped by England schoolboys, is heading in the footsteps of his famous father who won a total of 23 caps and scored four times for his country.
Manchester United face the winners of the Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur game which is scheduled to be played on Thursday 16th February in the next round.
It looks as though Jack, who has been capped by England schoolboys, is heading in the footsteps of his famous father who won a total of 23 caps and scored four times for his country.
Manchester United face the winners of the Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur game which is scheduled to be played on Thursday 16th February in the next round.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL - PART TWO
"PLASTIC" PITCHES
Artificial surfaces have come along way since Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and Oldham Athletic had them installed in the 1980's. The first surfaces were far harder than grass and the ball pinged around too much with player's far more prone to injury with carpet burns a favourite.
In 2012 the development of the alternative to grass has moved on with 3G pitches installed using sand or rubber infills. UEFA and FIFA games have been played on them including the Russia v England on 17th October 2007.
Old school fans of muddy uneven pitches will complain and these will be missed if some clubs are allowed to go ahead with installing artificial surfaces. SI believes that at a time of when Football League and Non-League clubs are losing money hand over fist it makes sense commercially for some clubs to have these surfaces.
How many times a year is a standard League Two pitch used? 23 home league games, a few league and FA Cup games, reserve games, ladies games, maybe a few youth games and local cup finals. I would say that's about 50-60 times every 365 days with percentage wise works out at about 16%. That's only 16% of the year when a ground/pitch is used. With artificial surfaces local schools, local clubs, 5/6/7 a-side tournaments and a whole number of uses could be had from the pitch every day of the year without the fear of over-use would ruin the pitch....granted they do need some upkeep but not half as much as standard turf/grass. The revenue gained from the hire of the pitch and in turn bar and food takings would go up would mean clubs receiving a much needed cash injection.
Ryman League Division One (South) Maidstone United fans have cause for lots of celebration this year as the new club formed (after the financial collapse of the old Maidstone United) as Maidstone Invicta in 1992 move back to the Kent town the original club left in 1988. The Gallagher Stadium will have a 'field turf' surface so as things stand the club will not be able to progress beyond the Ryman Premier and will have to play any home fixtures in the FA Cup somewhere else. The club are currently lobbying the FA and the Conference in an attempt to get them to accept 3/4G surfaces. The argument being if they are good enough for Internationals and are allowed in the majority of leagues in Northern Europe, surely it's only a matter of time before the FA and Conference have a change of heart and accept them. If Maidstone stay in the Ryman South for the 2012/13 season they could theoretically play local rivals Sittingbourne in the league at home one week, then could be drawn against the same side the week after in the FA Cup and have to play the game elsewhere....Does that make sense?
The money The Stones will earn from the pitch far out way the negative aspects plus with most of the non-league/lower league games wiped out this snowy weekend most 3G pitches would be playable!
Are Maidstone United and teams such as Durham City, Woodley Sports and Sutton Coldfield Town of the Evo Stik Northern League ahead of the game on this subject. On a day when, as stated, most games were wiped out in the lower leagues due to the snow Durham City and Sutton Coldfield Town both played games. Woodley's home game versus Curzon Ashton didn't make it but two out of three is a good return with most other games off!
Artificial surfaces have come along way since Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and Oldham Athletic had them installed in the 1980's. The first surfaces were far harder than grass and the ball pinged around too much with player's far more prone to injury with carpet burns a favourite.
In 2012 the development of the alternative to grass has moved on with 3G pitches installed using sand or rubber infills. UEFA and FIFA games have been played on them including the Russia v England on 17th October 2007.
Old school fans of muddy uneven pitches will complain and these will be missed if some clubs are allowed to go ahead with installing artificial surfaces. SI believes that at a time of when Football League and Non-League clubs are losing money hand over fist it makes sense commercially for some clubs to have these surfaces.
How many times a year is a standard League Two pitch used? 23 home league games, a few league and FA Cup games, reserve games, ladies games, maybe a few youth games and local cup finals. I would say that's about 50-60 times every 365 days with percentage wise works out at about 16%. That's only 16% of the year when a ground/pitch is used. With artificial surfaces local schools, local clubs, 5/6/7 a-side tournaments and a whole number of uses could be had from the pitch every day of the year without the fear of over-use would ruin the pitch....granted they do need some upkeep but not half as much as standard turf/grass. The revenue gained from the hire of the pitch and in turn bar and food takings would go up would mean clubs receiving a much needed cash injection.
Ryman League Division One (South) Maidstone United fans have cause for lots of celebration this year as the new club formed (after the financial collapse of the old Maidstone United) as Maidstone Invicta in 1992 move back to the Kent town the original club left in 1988. The Gallagher Stadium will have a 'field turf' surface so as things stand the club will not be able to progress beyond the Ryman Premier and will have to play any home fixtures in the FA Cup somewhere else. The club are currently lobbying the FA and the Conference in an attempt to get them to accept 3/4G surfaces. The argument being if they are good enough for Internationals and are allowed in the majority of leagues in Northern Europe, surely it's only a matter of time before the FA and Conference have a change of heart and accept them. If Maidstone stay in the Ryman South for the 2012/13 season they could theoretically play local rivals Sittingbourne in the league at home one week, then could be drawn against the same side the week after in the FA Cup and have to play the game elsewhere....Does that make sense?
The money The Stones will earn from the pitch far out way the negative aspects plus with most of the non-league/lower league games wiped out this snowy weekend most 3G pitches would be playable!
Are Maidstone United and teams such as Durham City, Woodley Sports and Sutton Coldfield Town of the Evo Stik Northern League ahead of the game on this subject. On a day when, as stated, most games were wiped out in the lower leagues due to the snow Durham City and Sutton Coldfield Town both played games. Woodley's home game versus Curzon Ashton didn't make it but two out of three is a good return with most other games off!
Thursday, 2 February 2012
THE AMAZING BLACKBURN ROVERS/TRANMERE ROVERS/BARNET EXPERIMENT
Most football fans like the occasional punt or to discuss betting on the game. How many times have you had one of your accumulator bets ruined by just one team getting beat when they really should of one?
SI has never had much luck so for this new blog instead of going heavy into reading form and predicting results we present to you 'THE AMAZING BLACKBURN ROVERS/TRANMERE ROVERS/BARNET EXPERIMENT'.
It's simple we've picked three random teams in Blackburn Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Barnet with a £1 bet going a triple bet each week. We'll see if we make any money.
This weeks matches are (odds courtesy of williamhill.com) -
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers - Away win @ 7/1
Wycombe Wanderers v Tranmere Rovers - Away win @ 7/4
Oxford United v Barnet - Away win @ 10/3
£1 bet on the triple pays £95.33
Not many people would bet on Blackburn Rovers to win at Arsenal but stranger things have happened??
SI has never had much luck so for this new blog instead of going heavy into reading form and predicting results we present to you 'THE AMAZING BLACKBURN ROVERS/TRANMERE ROVERS/BARNET EXPERIMENT'.
It's simple we've picked three random teams in Blackburn Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Barnet with a £1 bet going a triple bet each week. We'll see if we make any money.
This weeks matches are (odds courtesy of williamhill.com) -
Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers - Away win @ 7/1
Wycombe Wanderers v Tranmere Rovers - Away win @ 7/4
Oxford United v Barnet - Away win @ 10/3
£1 bet on the triple pays £95.33
Not many people would bet on Blackburn Rovers to win at Arsenal but stranger things have happened??
THE THURSDAY CLUB - DARLINGTON RAILWAY ATHLETIC
BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE PREMIER LEAGUE
Each Thursday SI will profile a random club from the non-league pyramid and hopes to promote that the English game is not all about the Premier League.
Darlington Railway Athletic were formed in 1919 and currently play in the STL Northern League Division One. The club's high point came in 1975 when they lifted the coveted Durham Amateur Cup, a feat they nearly reproduced when runners-up in
The club hit financial trouble (so Darlington FC's well publicised problems is not the first time it has happened to a football club in the Town) in 1992 but thankfully, they were quickly reformed in 1993.
They have been members of the Northern League since season 2005/06 after moving up from the Wearside League. The Railwaymen, as they are known, spent one unsuccessful season in Division One in 2006/07 and were relegated back to Division Two where they have been since.
Their home is Brinkburn Road in the North of the Town and they are currently having a great season in second place looking for promotion back to Division One. The average home crowd for this season stands at 56 people.
This weekend they are away as Easington Colliery before next Saturday 11th February they entertain Hebburn Town at Brinkburn Road which SI thinks should be nick-named El Brinkabeu as it's just as good (or even better) as Real Madrid's stadium.
LINK TO CLUB WEBSITE
Each Thursday SI will profile a random club from the non-league pyramid and hopes to promote that the English game is not all about the Premier League.
Darlington Railway Athletic were formed in 1919 and currently play in the STL Northern League Division One. The club's high point came in 1975 when they lifted the coveted Durham Amateur Cup, a feat they nearly reproduced when runners-up in
The club hit financial trouble (so Darlington FC's well publicised problems is not the first time it has happened to a football club in the Town) in 1992 but thankfully, they were quickly reformed in 1993.
They have been members of the Northern League since season 2005/06 after moving up from the Wearside League. The Railwaymen, as they are known, spent one unsuccessful season in Division One in 2006/07 and were relegated back to Division Two where they have been since.
Their home is Brinkburn Road in the North of the Town and they are currently having a great season in second place looking for promotion back to Division One. The average home crowd for this season stands at 56 people.
This weekend they are away as Easington Colliery before next Saturday 11th February they entertain Hebburn Town at Brinkburn Road which SI thinks should be nick-named El Brinkabeu as it's just as good (or even better) as Real Madrid's stadium.
LINK TO CLUB WEBSITE
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
ARE THE MILLIONS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE HELPING ENGLISH FOOTBALL?
The Barclay's Premier League 2011/12 season is now over half way through it's season and unfortunately for the development of English football you can probably count on one hand the amount of young English players who have really made a breakthrough into regular first team action.
A few days ago SI looked at the England under 21 side and how many play in Premier League first teams...the question SI asks today is - Are the millions in the Premier League helping English football?
As an example we will use Chelsea who are of course have been one of the most successful Premier League clubs over the past decade. But how many young players have gone through the ranks at Stamford Bridge and gone on to be a first team regular in that time?
On Thursday 13th December 2007 Chelsea's youth team travelled a short distance North to face Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup. Four years later you'd like to think at least one of that team had made the break-through into regular first team action in West London. The below shows the team and where are they now??
So, out of the 16 players who featured in the squad, none of them have firmly established themselves as a first team player at Chelsea. SI doesn't want to be accused of Chelsea bashing as we are a neutral football website so the above is an example of just how hard it is to break into first team football in the English Premier League. I'm sure if you looked at other Premier League sides it would be the same story. A total of seven players are still with the club of which six are currently on loan and one unfortunately injured for the season.
SI asks has it got and is it getting increasingly harder for young English/British professionals to make the grade at the top end with the influx of the millions of pounds and foreign imported players into English game??
It always has been a tough call for youth players to make it as a full time professional with the above indicating it's becoming more and more of a challenge as the years go by. Some clubs seem to be happy opting for the finished article to keep them safe in the Premier League rather than persevere and produce the next English international star.
A few days ago SI looked at the England under 21 side and how many play in Premier League first teams...the question SI asks today is - Are the millions in the Premier League helping English football?
As an example we will use Chelsea who are of course have been one of the most successful Premier League clubs over the past decade. But how many young players have gone through the ranks at Stamford Bridge and gone on to be a first team regular in that time?
On Thursday 13th December 2007 Chelsea's youth team travelled a short distance North to face Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup. Four years later you'd like to think at least one of that team had made the break-through into regular first team action in West London. The below shows the team and where are they now??
1st TEAM APS WHERE ARE THEY NOW??
1. Rhys Taylor 0 (0) Still with Chelsea.
Currently loaned to Rotherham United.
2. Jacob Mellis 0 (1) Still with Chelsea. Has been on loan at Southampton and Barnsley
3. Jeffrey Bruma 3 (7) Still with Chelsea.
Currently on loan at German side Hamburger SV
4. Patrick Van Aanholt 3 (5) Still with Chelsea. Has been on loan at several clubs.
Is currently at Vitesse Arnhem
5. Benjamin Gordon* 0 (0) Still with Chelsea. On loan at Kilmarnock.
6. Michael Woods* 0 (0) Left Chelsea in 2011. Currently unattached after trial with Walsall
7. Frank Nouble* 0 (0) Transferred to West Ham United in 2009.
Recently turned down a move to Crawley Town.
8. Lee Sawyer* 0 (0) Loaned out to a number of clubs. Left the club in 2009.
Currenly with League Two Southend United
9. Sergio Tejera 0 (0) Left Chelsea in 2009. Currently with Spanish side RCD Mallorca
10.Gael Kakuta 5 (11) Still with Chelsea. Currently on loan to French club Dijon.
11.Miroslav Stoch 0 (5) Transferred to Fenerbahce after loan with FC Twente
12.Thomas Taiwo* 0 (0) Left Chelsea in 2010.
Currently playing at League One Carlise United
13.Nikki Ahamed 0 (0) Sri Lankan born full back/midfielder.
Left Stamford Bridge in 2010.
Played a few games for Ryman League Wealdstone this season.
14.Niclas Heimann 0 (0) German goalkeeper. Left Chelsea in 2010.
Currently with Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
15.Adam Phillip* 0 (0) Still with Chelsea. Had a loan spell with Yeovil Town.
Out injured for the 2011/12 season
16.Jack Saville* 0 (0) Moved to Southampton in 2009.
Since loaned to Stockport County, Hayes and Yeading and Barnet
* denotes English qualified player
bold denotes still with the club
So, out of the 16 players who featured in the squad, none of them have firmly established themselves as a first team player at Chelsea. SI doesn't want to be accused of Chelsea bashing as we are a neutral football website so the above is an example of just how hard it is to break into first team football in the English Premier League. I'm sure if you looked at other Premier League sides it would be the same story. A total of seven players are still with the club of which six are currently on loan and one unfortunately injured for the season.
SI asks has it got and is it getting increasingly harder for young English/British professionals to make the grade at the top end with the influx of the millions of pounds and foreign imported players into English game??
It always has been a tough call for youth players to make it as a full time professional with the above indicating it's becoming more and more of a challenge as the years go by. Some clubs seem to be happy opting for the finished article to keep them safe in the Premier League rather than persevere and produce the next English international star.
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