to Sol Campbell's claims about the England captaincy. It's a really complex, nuanced subject and coming out on the defensive like Graham Taylor and Mark Palios have is, although understandable on a personal level, a pretty good demonstration of the FA's and any authority's inability to reflect on itself.
I've no doubt that Campbell quite honestly wasn't deemed captain material compared to other senior England players of his time and that his remarks have a cynical element to them, but the healthy thing would be to at least explore why so few black players have positions of public authority regardless of how legitimate Campbell's specific claims are, rather than to get arsey.
Campbell's claims have an element of farce to them (When I read his "The FA wished I was white" my first thought was "citation needed") but we have a high profile black player talking about his experiences of the ingrained racism in the game, and it merits proper discussion. Like you say not just in the choice of captains, but number of black coaches etc.
I think there has been a trend recently in English football to think racism is somehow over - like we've got Kick It Out and things aren't as bad like Jonny Foreigner in Russia/Spain/etc. But just because people aren't throwing bananas doesn't mean that everything is amazing. For instance, something I notice a lot - when at a game was the last time you heard a member of the crowd call a white player "lazy"?
they just seemed like headline baiting from someone who has a book to sell (and his comment about black players not being respected was very wide of the mark to me), but if it starts discussion about ingrained racism within the footballing set-up then it can only be positive i guess.
His point that `he didn't look like an England captain`, or words to that effect, transcends FA decision making and into the realm of racial glass-ceilings etc. which is a wider national problem.
Don't get me wrong- my instinct is that Campbell very self important, and that there are a myriad of reasons to do with his own personal suitability for captaincy (being captain of Spurs and leaving them for Arsenal- a good indicator that you're a dubious captain) and the players ahead of him in the pecking order that are more likely factors in him being overlooked for the role. BUT it's still not right for me to completely dismiss what he says about his experiences, and it's even more damaging for someone with actual authority to do so.
Was there some round table conspiracy to keep Campebell away from the armband because of the colour of his skin? That's a real stretch- I doubt anyone 'wished he was white'. But is it likely that the colour of his skin played some barely perceptible, subconscious role in how he was perceived by coaches, managers, team mates and authority figures? Almost definitely.
you can't take away Evra's right to feel affronted by it, if it's something he's clearly experienced and felt, even though Suarez and his many defenders were like "but he didn't meant it like that"
on racism and football, but I don't think there's much comparison. In fact, Campbell's claims and the Suarez/Terry incidents are more interesting to me in how different they are. We (as a fanbase, as a country, as a culture etc) are very quick to jump on incidents of racial abuse - not that there is anything wrong with that - where we can pin a crime on someone 'other' to ourselves. That's comfortable. But we're very bad at reflecting on ourselves, and how our ostensibly normal, not-at-all abusive behaviours and practices might be very damaging.
A lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack, but based on what we know the safest position is that overt racist abuse (although hugely problematic in any quantity) is not a rife, endemic problem among footballers and fans. By the same token, the invisibility of black people in positions of authority within football makes the safest position on that issue one where racism clearly is a big, everyday problem.
a pasting from ANGRY MEN on here whenever she tries to pop the mirror up on people's `invisible prejudices` regarding gender to be honest. All born out of a lack of self-reflection. Which I'm guilty of myself, of course.
We're all screaming ourself hoarse at Terry shouting racist; few weeks later a QPR blogger posted a load of screengrabs of QPR fans on twitter bragging about doing the gas noise thing at spurs *smh*
Suarez consciously abused Evra on account of his race.
This relates to a more subtle episode where people's decision making, it could be argued, could be influenced subconciously by forms of racism which have an infiltrative cultural permeance.
I think I agree with what the chairman of KIO said, that by doing this in a book makes it easy for those who don't want to engage with such issues to dismiss it as cynical; and the secondly by making it about him personally (and into some crypto anti-Campbell conspiracy) it a) creates a knee jerk reaction from those who coached him who feel like they specifically are being accused of being racist and b) relegates the issue of more ingrained, subtle racism to the back of the debate in a flood of sensationalist bullshit headlines
It's just not as overtly said anymore.
There are stereotypes which are still widely held - including inside the clubs, I've spoken to a few coaches who work at clubs and they still are fairly old fashioned when it comes to their views. You wouldn't say they're racist - just it definitely informs their attitudes more than it should.
Problem is, I don't think what Campbell has said will help, as it will be brushed off as the slightly mad ravings of someone who has always been considered somewhat strange within the football community.
Bearing in mind Finland drew 0-0 with Oman last time they played I'm expecting a comprehensive victory for Team Magyar. Zoltan Gera coming out of retirement to score 4.
Some belter tried to start a dead prostitutes chant. No one around him joined in. After about 2 very long minutes, some bloke strolled up to him, didn't say a word and chinned him, then quietly walked off again to a golf clap from all around
it's just not gunna happen for him is it? shame. there was that brief time when him, mark davies and johan elmander under the stewardship of owen coyle looked like the future of football https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVDiLCohTPU (no idea why it's in black and white)
seems the most obvious candidate. head screwed on, very good disciplinary record, out of the papers, will be an automatic first choice in a couple of years time
you don't really want to give a 19 year old the responsibility of being a centre midfielder or centre back. don't have to be as regimented, have a bit more expressive freedom & have a safety net inside them to an extent on the wings. i imagine as they get older smalling and oxlade will move in, possibly others aswell
could kind of see it though. making wilshere captain would be the same as making rooney captain. take someone who already gets hotheaded and out-of-position by trying to put the team on their shoulders, then give them more pressure and responsibility. madness
Mainly mention him as he is a defender and has as such, probably got a longer career ahead as well as the fact that they prefer defenders as captains, and despite it all he is having a decent season at Villa.
he "struggled to cope with the Australian diet".
Do we want to make a joke about that? Probably not, right? It can be hard to adjust to a different country. Sorry I brought it up.
AND throw in something about when Spurs lost the 4th Place Trophy to Arsenal because of food poisoning then...I don't know. Something will definitely happen though.
nah
#MOYES4LIFE
yay, international friendlies.
who are Russia playing
oooooooh
but unfortunate who Ukraine were going to play.
Missed opportunity there
The US could have taken their lead from Escape to Victory and snuck Sylvester Stallone and a load of marines into their team to take out Putin.
100 days till the World Cup stars
A.B.E.
*starts
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26225796
Imagining this clip with the amazing Dutch commentary.
just noticed how that goal could never happen today.
de boer would never have that much time on the ball in todays world.
also, were both teams down to 10 men? looks like there's no one on the pitch.
They were
Remember this? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/04/ortega_argentina/
ah yes.
revenge for simone/beckham it seems. i hated ortega and was so happy about this.
just remembered.
i noticed at the weekend that jay rodriguez is one of the most selfish footballers i've ever seen.
Jay Rodriguez refuses to share his Capri-Sun
He's absolutely nothing on Deulofeu.
A little disappointed by the public reaction of (former) senior figures in English football
to Sol Campbell's claims about the England captaincy. It's a really complex, nuanced subject and coming out on the defensive like Graham Taylor and Mark Palios have is, although understandable on a personal level, a pretty good demonstration of the FA's and any authority's inability to reflect on itself.
I've no doubt that Campbell quite honestly wasn't deemed captain material compared to other senior England players of his time and that his remarks have a cynical element to them, but the healthy thing would be to at least explore why so few black players have positions of public authority regardless of how legitimate Campbell's specific claims are, rather than to get arsey.
While I completely agree with all of this
The sensationalist manner in which all involved have spoken about the subject hasn't really helped things.
Fully expect Robbie Savage to soon weigh in with some inconsidered gibberish to complete the cycle.
By 'helped things' I mean helped generate a reasonable conversation about the subject
It's Stan Collymore's turn before Savage
In what way?
In a virulently racist way
You're a twat.
You're overly touchy lately
"fuck off mate"
Gary Suit, FA Representative
Agreed
Campbell's claims have an element of farce to them (When I read his "The FA wished I was white" my first thought was "citation needed") but we have a high profile black player talking about his experiences of the ingrained racism in the game, and it merits proper discussion. Like you say not just in the choice of captains, but number of black coaches etc.
I think there has been a trend recently in English football to think racism is somehow over - like we've got Kick It Out and things aren't as bad like Jonny Foreigner in Russia/Spain/etc. But just because people aren't throwing bananas doesn't mean that everything is amazing. For instance, something I notice a lot - when at a game was the last time you heard a member of the crowd call a white player "lazy"?
last Man Utd game, RVP.
the rest of your second paragraph makes a good point though..
on Campbell's comments
they just seemed like headline baiting from someone who has a book to sell (and his comment about black players not being respected was very wide of the mark to me), but if it starts discussion about ingrained racism within the footballing set-up then it can only be positive i guess.
Indeed.
His point that `he didn't look like an England captain`, or words to that effect, transcends FA decision making and into the realm of racial glass-ceilings etc. which is a wider national problem.
The lazy thing- jfc yeah.
Don't get me wrong- my instinct is that Campbell very self important, and that there are a myriad of reasons to do with his own personal suitability for captaincy (being captain of Spurs and leaving them for Arsenal- a good indicator that you're a dubious captain) and the players ahead of him in the pecking order that are more likely factors in him being overlooked for the role. BUT it's still not right for me to completely dismiss what he says about his experiences, and it's even more damaging for someone with actual authority to do so.
Was there some round table conspiracy to keep Campebell away from the armband because of the colour of his skin? That's a real stretch- I doubt anyone 'wished he was white'. But is it likely that the colour of his skin played some barely perceptible, subconscious role in how he was perceived by coaches, managers, team mates and authority figures? Almost definitely.
the problem is his wording
has a whiff of sub-collymore 'I would've been captain for 10 years - FACT.'
and he's a bellend
think it's similar to the Evra/Suarez thing
you can't take away Evra's right to feel affronted by it, if it's something he's clearly experienced and felt, even though Suarez and his many defenders were like "but he didn't meant it like that"
I'm sure the DiS football thread regulars have desperately missed my musings
on racism and football, but I don't think there's much comparison. In fact, Campbell's claims and the Suarez/Terry incidents are more interesting to me in how different they are. We (as a fanbase, as a country, as a culture etc) are very quick to jump on incidents of racial abuse - not that there is anything wrong with that - where we can pin a crime on someone 'other' to ourselves. That's comfortable. But we're very bad at reflecting on ourselves, and how our ostensibly normal, not-at-all abusive behaviours and practices might be very damaging.
A lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack, but based on what we know the safest position is that overt racist abuse (although hugely problematic in any quantity) is not a rife, endemic problem among footballers and fans. By the same token, the invisibility of black people in positions of authority within football makes the safest position on that issue one where racism clearly is a big, everyday problem.
Which of the two gets the public more upset?
Pretty similar to how DD gets
a pasting from ANGRY MEN on here whenever she tries to pop the mirror up on people's `invisible prejudices` regarding gender to be honest. All born out of a lack of self-reflection. Which I'm guilty of myself, of course.
I also wonder if those incidents had happened
In games that aren't between local rivals, warping the discussion around it.
also of course you're right
We're all screaming ourself hoarse at Terry shouting racist; few weeks later a QPR blogger posted a load of screengrabs of QPR fans on twitter bragging about doing the gas noise thing at spurs *smh*
Don't think it's at all similar myself.
Suarez consciously abused Evra on account of his race.
This relates to a more subtle episode where people's decision making, it could be argued, could be influenced subconciously by forms of racism which have an infiltrative cultural permeance.
So, yeah, think they're separate myself.
I know it's not you saying that
But the Evra/Suarez things still winds me up as people seem to act like Suarez just said one word to him with no other context
From the FA report
"Why did you kick me?"
"Because you are black"
"Say it to me again, I'm going to punch you"
"I don't speak to blacks"
"OK, you kicked me, I'm going to kick you"
"OK, blackie, blackie, blackie"
Pretty fucking irrelevant what word he used to mean black
yikes
hadn't seen this before
Every time I say this to people
they seem to have never heard the full transcript, which seems insane.
Same with Campbell's thoughts on captaincy
The issue gets boiled down to headline friendly soundbites and the real issue gets ignored.
When people start going "oh but in Uruguay negrito is a term of endearment" makes me want to tear my fucking hair out
pretty sure that's what Evra says Suarez had said to him,
whereas Suarez' take was that he'd said "it was just a normal foul" after the "why did you kick me?" bit.
Given Evra's version was consistent throughout
And Suarez's version of events was dismissed by the FA as he changed his story 3 times, I'll err on the side of caution and believe Evra
I think the barely perceptible, subconscious thing I key
I think I agree with what the chairman of KIO said, that by doing this in a book makes it easy for those who don't want to engage with such issues to dismiss it as cynical; and the secondly by making it about him personally (and into some crypto anti-Campbell conspiracy) it a) creates a knee jerk reaction from those who coached him who feel like they specifically are being accused of being racist and b) relegates the issue of more ingrained, subtle racism to the back of the debate in a flood of sensationalist bullshit headlines
Don't QPR and Chelsea season ticket holders should be agreeing with each other on racism, mate
Gonna have to pick a fight with you soon
Oh there's definitely racism which informs opinions
It's just not as overtly said anymore.
There are stereotypes which are still widely held - including inside the clubs, I've spoken to a few coaches who work at clubs and they still are fairly old fashioned when it comes to their views. You wouldn't say they're racist - just it definitely informs their attitudes more than it should.
Problem is, I don't think what Campbell has said will help, as it will be brushed off as the slightly mad ravings of someone who has always been considered somewhat strange within the football community.
Dzeko gets absolutely crucified at City for being lazy
Bit of arseyness in yesterday's thread too tbh.
So Hungary have Finland tomorrow
Bearing in mind Finland drew 0-0 with Oman last time they played I'm expecting a comprehensive victory for Team Magyar. Zoltan Gera coming out of retirement to score 4.
the weird etymologically friendless languages derby
Love the old El Finno-Ugric Klasszikus/Klassinen!
alirght Brusma
the Hungarian national team is weird
why the fuck has the manager dropped Adam Szalai? scoring goals for Schalke not good enough for Hungary?
:D
cheers
did anyone see the C4 docu about terrace scumbags last night ?
still genuinely shocks me some of the stuff that 'fans' chant.
In the away end at Ipswich QPR
Some belter tried to start a dead prostitutes chant. No one around him joined in. After about 2 very long minutes, some bloke strolled up to him, didn't say a word and chinned him, then quietly walked off again to a golf clap from all around
you could make a half-decent gritty British film about your day in Ipswich
(Maybe have Ray Winstone in it as a fan obsessed with 'cards and corners')
Hmm, the first half of the film would be ppl
drinking some lovely local ale and discussing the game with old locals so that might need some editing to be less middle class
True Facts: Ray Winstone was first choice to play McNulty in the Wire
David Simon was desperate to cast him, but apparently his american accent was too shit. Which given how bad Dom West's is, really makes you wonder
evidence
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/6music/adamandjoe/adamandjoe_20101207-0100a.mp3
31 minutes in, ray winstone attempts a southern american accent...
he would have single-handedly made The Wire fucking shit
BET IN PLAY NAAAOOOW
love the expression
"some belter"
picked it up from my welsh mates
Love it
yeah it's used in Glasgow sometimes too
language can be fun
Graziano Pelle got really needlessly defensive after de Klassieker at the weekend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnkFfPUxf5o
heh
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/3/3/1393850730109/Oscar-gallery-005.jpg
jt is not wearing his kit
preferred this one
http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/terry.jpg
Fat Ronaldo So Excited By Brazil 2014 He's Going To Have Another Brain Hemorrhage
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/04/ronaldo-world-cup-2014-brazil-final
Reads exactly like an article from The Onion with the punchline removed.
zinger options:
a) So, like any Onion article post-2011?
or
b) So, like a Daily Mash article?
Stuart Holden
made his return from injury last night against Blackburn reserves.
He had to go off injured after 23 minutes.
:(
poor lad
it's just not gunna happen for him is it? shame. there was that brief time when him, mark davies and johan elmander under the stewardship of owen coyle looked like the future of football https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVDiLCohTPU (no idea why it's in black and white)
dang that sucks
he was good on loan at wednesday last year
:(
Sub-thread re: some of the above
England's next black captain? As in proper captain, not Brave Bravey Brave Brave Make-A-Wish-Foundation Captain For A Day stuff.
THEO
if he counts
uh oh
getting a bit Norfolk in here
:D
rainerwo?
Has to use his fingers, but he just about manages it
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/2/28/1393610007498/Arsenals-Theo-Walcott-sig-011.jpg
Strong
Raheem Sterling?
kyle walker obvs
oxLAD
seems the most obvious candidate. head screwed on, very good disciplinary record, out of the papers, will be an automatic first choice in a couple of years time
I guess, if he ever makes the much-heralded transition to central midfield
only 20 still
he will do
sub thought
a lot of the black players coming through are strikers, wingers, full backs. Again perhaps evidence of unconscious racial profiling?
to an extent that might just be a young player thing
you don't really want to give a 19 year old the responsibility of being a centre midfielder or centre back. don't have to be as regimented, have a bit more expressive freedom & have a safety net inside them to an extent on the wings. i imagine as they get older smalling and oxlade will move in, possibly others aswell
Sort of
But strikers, wingers and full backs make up over 50% of the average football team so I don't know where I'm going with this sorry.
strikers, wingers and full-backs come through at a younger age
so it might be more noticable.
Congratulations to LLB
for scoring a needlessly_defensive hat-trick!
takes home the racism match ball
don't wanna agree with sol campbell ever
but 'they' would definitely pick wilshere over oxlade chamberlain
that would be mental
could kind of see it though. making wilshere captain would be the same as making rooney captain. take someone who already gets hotheaded and out-of-position by trying to put the team on their shoulders, then give them more pressure and responsibility. madness
this sub-sub-thread is a bit weird
Ox has barely held down a starting role in the Arsenal team as of yet
What's interesting is that I don't see him as captaincy material
but that I can't quite put my finger on why...just a gut feeling (of racism).
Stephen Caulker
Welbeck?
Can picture him being a regular for longer than anyone else name so far.
Ryan Bertrand?
weird. i was thinking of making a thread about 'im
weird 'ol career trajectory he's had innit
Yeah
still don't know which way he could end up going.
Mainly mention him as he is a defender and has as such, probably got a longer career ahead as well as the fact that they prefer defenders as captains, and despite it all he is having a decent season at Villa.
Pretty obviously Carlton Cole.
how old is carlton cole?
i have no idea, and would believe any answer anyone gave between 22 and 34
Alright, Mourinho
danny cadamarteri
Admiral Muskwe.
Admiral Muskwe, Capt.
you still don't get many black keepers do you?
http://www.chelseafc.com/first-team/player/58681/title/jamal-blackman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxjRhvUghA4
I presume this was meant to be a reply to
"Pretty obviously Carlton Cole"?
you dont watch a lof of french football do you?
how have liverpool lost 50m?
is that what a couple of years out of the CL does?
probably goes a long way yeah
Those Suarez t-shirts weren't cheap
They've lost £50m?!
Headline I saw was basically 'LIVERPOOL REVENUE GROWS BY 400% AS DEBT CLEARS'.
SCOUSE CONSPIRACY!
Come on you In The Reds!
parently ramsey's gonna be on 100k
not sure i like where this is going. Give it a couple of months and even gnabry's gonna be on 100k.
see to the unitiated, that looks like it means 100k a year
which is a lot anyway, but I know you mean a week, which is just unfathomable.
Like what could you even do with that much money really
according to Francis Jeffers' Wikipedia page
he "struggled to cope with the Australian diet".
Do we want to make a joke about that? Probably not, right? It can be hard to adjust to a different country. Sorry I brought it up.
If you can tie it in to his well-documented and unsuccessful spell at Arsenal
AND throw in something about when Spurs lost the 4th Place Trophy to Arsenal because of food poisoning then...I don't know. Something will definitely happen though.
Also definitely going to need a "fox in the box" mention
and, ideally, a "call that a knife..." one too.
Good luck ohgood, we're all thinking of you.
gonna pull an all-nighter
Carles Puyol's leaving
to go to the shops
if you get him now he might be able to get you some milk