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'We are being conned'
Craig Johnston told Sky Sports News he is furious that the FA are holding an inquiry into their own failings.
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Comments (38)
Goonerfor Sixtyyears (Arsenal fan) says...
Pity that interview wasn't printed exactly word for word and with all the emotion that Craig put into it. Best bit of 'talk' TV I've seen in months He's 100% accurate. What chance of finding a British solution though? Consider...not one current English premiership manager has experience of European Cup ...and who is the best performing English manager of the past 10 years? Wait for it...Steve McLaren. I fear that it's not just the FA to blame but government, local councils (who like selling off sports fields), schools and play stations.
Posted 14:52 23rd November 2007
Ian Gilding says...
Johnston is brilliant, this is what ive wanted somebody to say for months... and in the end it takes an Aussie, shame on all you Englishmen in positions of authority and high profile standing who should have been shouting this from the rooftops long long ago. Anybody who feels as strongly about this should organise a petition to bring these idiots at the FA before an independent panel or tribunal to answer for their continual failure. Come on Sky, start a petition and make these fools pay for what they''ve done, they''ve ripped off the paying punter for too long and it has to stop!!!!!!!!
Posted 12:19 23rd November 2007
Fabian Kuehn (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Thoroughly agree with the guy. Give him a job with the FA. British kids should stop being so spoilt: Take away their playstations and their crisps and give them a football.
Posted 12:02 23rd November 2007
Mat Mckinley says...
BRAVO CRAIG. There is only truth in honesty. England are rubbish and have been for a long time. The FA inquiry will not unearth anything we don't already know. Let them munch their custard creams without getting paid for it. Overhaul the whole system, then maybe in 10 years we'll have a team to be proud of and who are themselves proud to pull on the white jersey.
Posted 11:47 23rd November 2007
Paul Love says...
Perhaps we have reached the stage in Britain that our kids are too comfortable .... playstations, IPODs, evrything they want! You only have to look at Rumania, Croatia, Turkey and Greece qualifying to realise that the slightly less developed nations (economically) still manage to produce a hunger and desire to succeed in their players. In France the same could be said where it appears the majority of the national team come from the North African communities.
Posted 11:45 23rd November 2007
Mel Edmunds (Sheffield United fan) says...
Agree totally with every word Criag Johnson said this morning. Can anyone enlighten me on some of his comments that I only just caught regarding McDonalds and Coca Cola's involvement in the coaching o youngsters in England?
Posted 11:44 23rd November 2007
Scotty Stevens (Manchester United fan) says...
Spot on. People say the English are impatient, and want championships and trophies, NOW. But I'll tell you what, and I'll bet that others, here, feel the same about this, I'd happily go 11 years (World Cup 2018) without a trophy, if it meant that the FA was REALLY going to town sorting-out our football future from the bottom-up. Kids need to be encouraged to turn-off the TV, put down the Playstation, and start kicking a football against the wall until there's no red bricks left. So, it's not just the FA, I believe: It's the government, too. When someone gets paid for doing nothing, that generally takes away their fight, their survival instinct, their purpose and drive. Things need to change, NOW, or I'm starting a NEW football association :-) Just my take... Scotty Stevens
Posted 11:43 23rd November 2007
Darren Rudd says...
Absolutely agree!!! Let's not forget....it was Barwick and Co. who appointed McClaren; a manager who had managed ONE club and won ONE trophy. What sort of CV is that??? Its about time the FA was led by people who actually know about football...BARWICK AND CO....GET OUT!!!!!
Posted 11:40 23rd November 2007
Dave Johnson (Sunderland fan) says...
I can only agree thoroughly with Craig Johnstone. Who indeed elects Barwick and Co? And are the England fans simply mindless in their support of the England team ? Would some of them support England if they put shirts on Donkeys ? It's really in the hands of the fans and the media machine to do the talking. Until the FA recognise that the wishes of the fans are respected in the appointment of managers and coaches, then the fans should vote with their feet and withdraw all support for English international football. Meanwhile, Barwick is advocating a "roots and branches" approach to the failings of the English national team............and I would suggest that it starts with Barwick and Co !
Posted 11:40 23rd November 2007
Jay Gooner (Arsenal fan) says...
Well done Craig, you are spot on, I agree with everything you have said, the FA have to take responsibility for this fiasco... Our players are technically inept and not good enough to be called world class (except Rooney).
Posted 11:38 23rd November 2007
Peter Ferris (West Ham United fan) says...
Good on ya Craig. I think in the UK people are too close and too media-conditioned to see it themselves. 100% agree The FA are useless and an old boys network. Look how hopeless the media are - who in their right mind would consider Shearer for the job. Maybe the same that considered McClown. They'll go for a popular media choice next and nothing will change. I really hope Roy Keane achieves monster success - he's the only feet-on-the-ground manager.
Posted 11:35 23rd November 2007
Andrew Percival (Arsenal fan) says...
He sounds to me like the Reverend of sports this country has been cryin out for, preaching to the masses! You can apply what he is saying to SPORT in this country. Why don't we have an equivalent of the Australian or French Sports Institute when this country has proportionally, by far the largest quantity of revenue generated in the world!?! How well is it utilised? Too many suits? Probably. How have some regions up and down the country not given out prizes at sports day? It's all about taking part, apparently. The whole attitude is too 'British' & major, wholesale changes must be put into place. The Government should get KPMG, PWC or another external, independant consultancy to review sport and the money spent on it in this country as a whole. Not in relation to targets set internally. Preach brother, preach!
Posted 11:33 23rd November 2007
Peter Aryee says...
Absolutely spot on! Never seen such passion from a non-englishman. Its probably worth investigating Johnston's comments about Howard Wilkinson and other global conglomerates - McDonald et al whose contribution are having a negative impact on our national game. How can the country that hosts the premiership, touted as the most exciting in the world be so shambolic at their own game. Johnston is right, another body needs to conduct this enquiry. Until then, lets not even talk about hiring a new Manager. We have nothing to compete in at the moment so lets spend the time doing some home work.
Posted 11:33 23rd November 2007
Ian Ellul (Liverpool fan) says...
Like Johnston when he played for Liverpool and after his interview I like him even more! Disband the current FA and start afresh with football people like Johnston, Molby, Shearer, Pierce, Bobby Charlton, Venebles, Robson, Beckham - and let them sort out the mess. Successive governments are equally to blame selling off school play grounds and abolishing the school leagues. Everywhere you go there are no facilities for kids to play outside. Either because of "no ball games allowed" or traffic or fear of kids being snatched. To make things worse most kids' footie teams are so mismanaged it amounts to child abuse! It is not the Dutch or French models we need to emulate but those from Brazil. Meaning hunger for success, pride and love for country and hard hard work and dedication at becoming the best!
Posted 11:30 23rd November 2007
Mark Doran (Aston Villa fan) says...
Finally someone who talks sense. Get rid of Barwick and all the other suits at the FA because they are are to blame, also for us not qualifying and giving players bumper paydays. Get Jonstone in as Chief at the FA and let''s start getting players in who believe what it means to pull on the 3 lions and will play with pride, passion and belief. Even if it means picking league 1,2 or 3 players. These so called stars aren''t interested anymore and being paid to play for England is a disgrace. They should be proud to get a shirt and represent the country and everyone in it!
Posted 10:45 23rd November 2007
Neil Mather (Manchester City fan) says...
Totally and utterly agree with everything Craig has said. We also pretend our players are the best and our league is the best.Stop kidding yourselves it''s not. Gerrard is a yard dog in comparison to even Croat players yet we claim he is world class. Chasing around like a kitten after a piece of wool does not make you a top player, yes you Gerrard, Barton, Reo Coker, Parker, Butt, Smith, Bowyer.Learn how to pass!
Posted 10:17 23rd November 2007
Cory Clarke says...
I co-sign everything he said, give him a job in the FA.
Posted 10:14 23rd November 2007
David Cameron-young says...
At last someone who is talking sense. We have no decent young players anywhere, and the FA MUST invest in grass roots football. Each and every club must get some sort of payment to cover the cost of setting up youth academies, and must follow it through to senior level. Footballing scholarships should be available to our best youngsters, to allow them to be coached by the best coaches available, whether it be goalkeeping, defending or attacking. Let''s get it right, and do it NOW
Posted 10:12 23rd November 2007