PLENO1's footy thoughts

[pleno1]

Most people on here think I talk alot of bollocks regarding football I kind of play up to it and talk some bollocks to wind people up on here.

I do have some quite "debatable" thoughts though, so will mention them in here.

I always wanted to be a sports journo and whilst I am more to the point and not very "flairy" I do enjoy talking/writing about football and studied journalism at uni.

[pleno1]

Although being a good footballer doesn't mean you have a good knowledge about football, but I definitely think it has an advantage, I have a lot of friends who say things about football that make sense but in reality it just doesn't work. One thing is for sure, being good on Football Manager doesn't mean that you know what you're talking about

I played football since I was 5, captained every school team I played for, was captain of Newcastle city team untill I was 16 and played for a competitive county football side too. I was on the books of Southampton and had around 8/9 teams trying to sign me (including Man Utd) for a few years and played in the same team as Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. The latter murdering the former every session in training. Almost everyone on the team thought they were better than Gareth and I guess a lot were bemuxed why he, Dexter BlackStock, Nathan Dyer, Andrew Surman and Leon Best were  given pro contracts whilst the rest of us went to university or some other form of work/education. (Pic above is myself next to Gareth)

When I returned to Newcastle, I played for a good senior team, Walker Central when I was 16 after impressing in a under 18 match vs the senior team. I quickly was scouted by Blyth Spartans and signed a contract with them in the Blue Square Conference (North) I was only 16 and 5ft5 (9 stone) and lots of the teams were extremely physical/dirty and pitches were terrible. I didn't really feature in the team, but trianed 3 times a week/sat on the bench and held my own whenever it came to football.

I decided to go to uni (journalism - Sheffield) and played for the uni's football team which is really hard to do, lots of cliques and thousands applying for 50 spots. Was good fun and good standard.

I'm currently in Gibraltar and have just signed for a team who play in Gib's second division and have lost 7 games, genuinely a decent outfit and although this season is a write off next year we should win the league and play in the prem.

Anyway, I was always the clever player who was 1) small 2) slow, meaning my football mind had to be 1 step ahead or I would have no chance.

Will be writing mainly about the team I support, Newcastle United whom I have always had a season ticket for and gone through some huge highs (Keegan) and some horrible, horrible lows (Relegation) ((pic below is me playing for Blyth Spartans at St James Park, my dad took the photo from the same seat he watched Newcastle for every week)) will also talk a lot about other English teams and will try when possible to speak a little about the football I play and some stories from the past.

Click to see full-size image.

[sweet potata!]

Should read - Pleno1's footy d'ohs

[pleno1]

This was on the front page of the evening chronicle (biggest newspaper in Newcastle) when I was 15 and trialling with Southampton. Front page and page 3



Boy soccer skipper aiming to retrace idol's route to stardom

Teenager Patrick Leonard is hoping for a double success with his hero Alan Shearer this weekend.

As the Toon legend leads his troops out at Anfield on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round his schoolboy counterpart will be doing the same against a Liverpool Boys' team.

The opposition and timing of the game is not the only similarity between Patrick and Shearer.

Patrick attends Gosforth Central School just like the striker did and amazingly sat at the same desk as his hero.

And now 15-year-old Patrick is hoping to land an apprenticeship with Southampton after impressing bosses in a trial.

He is due there for another trial next month.

Shearer began his career with the Saints before his record-breaking moves to Blackburn Rovers and then Newcastle. Central defender Patrick of Kirkstone Gardens, High Heaton, Newcastle, said: "I'd love to end up playing for Newcastle.

"It'd be great to be taken on with Southampton but playing for Newcastle would be a dream come true.

"Shearer has been a great role model for the game and it would be amazing to follow in his footsteps."

Patrick will lead out the Newcastle Boys' team against Liverpool Boys in the fifth round of the FA Schools Trophy.

And both are hoping for victories to take them through to the next round. Liverpool are the favourites to win the trophy having won it a staggering 14 times already. They have also been beaten finalists three times.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have only won it once back in 1930. Newcastle skipper Patrick said: "We think we've got a good chance.

"We've already beaten some good teams to get this far, including Sunderland in the first round. They were one of the favourites."

[gatso]

Should read - Pleno1's footy d'ohs

it would make more sense than the actual title. that's gonna tilt me every time I see it

how many teams in the gibraltar league? with 2 divisions most of the population must be playing

[pleno1]

One of the main reasons I am doing this is because I've had some sad news over the last week.

My Godfather, Barry McQueen passed away on Thursday. He was only 50 and one of the nicest men you could wish to meet.

He was a football journo in his spare time and was respected throughout the internet. He had a really popular blog about Newcastle United where he posted a new feature every month.

He was the kind of family friend that you see once every few months but is extremely close to the family. My Dads best mate.

I was invited to go and play 5 a side with Barry and his friends when I was 14, a 5ft2 kid turned up and these guys were like "Phil (my dad) sorry but we cant let a kid play, its a pretty physical game" my Dad finally convinced them to let me play and I played most weeks for the next couple of years. I always enjoyed playing, but used to look forward most to the drive home with Barry where he would talk so enthusiastically yet accurately about Newcastle United. He spoke with such love as if he was talking about his family. The fact is with most Newcastle fans (similar with Liverpool and others) Newcastle is such as important as your family!

RIP Baz.

[pleno1]

Should read - Pleno1's footy d'ohs

it would make more sense than the actual title. that's gonna tilt me every time I see it

how many teams in the gibraltar league? with 2 divisions most of the population must be playing

Theres a main league which has 5 leagues in and most/every player in the league would be good enough for the conference premier, then other two leagues are your typical amateur league.

Although Gib is small, a lot of Spanish guys cross the border for some good organised football as Spain grassroots is awful. All games are played on a 3g pitch and you get some great games. Also there are so many people from the UK working in Gib in industry's such as gaming where the average age is around 25 and sporty which I guess helps things. Bet365's staff team for example would probably compete in the Northern/Southern leagues in England.

Gib national team is really good, they beat the Faroe Islands a few months ago, and in December beat England C team (the conference best 11 players)

Click to see full-size image.

[mulhuzz]

looking forward to reading - always fun to talk football with you

sorry to here about your godfather as well mate.

[mondatoo]

So jealous that you got to step onto the grass of SJP and play football, life long dream for me right there.

Look forward to reading, sorry about your Godfather.

[Josedinho]

I played football since I was 5, captained every school team I played for, was captain of Newcastle city team untill I was 16 and played for a competitive county football side too. I was on the books of Southampton and had around 8/9 teams trying to sign me (including Man Utd) for a few years and played in the same team as Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. The latter murdering the former every session in training. Almost everyone on the team thought they were better than Gareth and I guess a lot were bemuxed why he, Dexter BlackStock, Nathan Dyer, Andrew Surman and Leon Best were  given pro contracts whilst the rest of us went to university or some other form of work/education. (Pic above is myself next to Gareth)

Did you think this?
If so do you think you were wrong or have better players not made it?

[Acidmouse]

I agree 100% about University teams being clique's. I remember I went to Leeds Uni football trials and had to mark some African forward who didn't know the offside rule, the 1st team captain wasn't interested he already had his mates/team set for the year. I just sacked it off and played 5 aside instead (winning the top league and playoffs for the uni with all the other rejects )

I played a bit for USF in the states and it was more open, they wanted the best players and it didn't matter who you were, where you was from as long as you could play, i loved it.

[MahoganyVic]

I agree with the above. Leeds uni team was full of wankers when I was there too

[pleno1]

I played football since I was 5, captained every school team I played for, was captain of Newcastle city team untill I was 16 and played for a competitive county football side too. I was on the books of Southampton and had around 8/9 teams trying to sign me (including Man Utd) for a few years and played in the same team as Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. The latter murdering the former every session in training. Almost everyone on the team thought they were better than Gareth and I guess a lot were bemuxed why he, Dexter BlackStock, Nathan Dyer, Andrew Surman and Leon Best were  given pro contracts whilst the rest of us went to university or some other form of work/education. (Pic above is myself next to Gareth)

Did you think this?
If so do you think you were wrong or have better players not made it?

Dexter and Leon were both huge huge guys who just battered most 16-18 year olds with sheer physical presence. I think get a 3/10 footballer who is a 9/10 athlete into an academy when he is 14 then by the time he gets to 18 he will be able to be very very effective. Its one of the reasons why the premiership has developed into the league it has whilst La Liga and Seria A opt for bringing talent through like Messi et al.

One of the reasons I didn't get a contract was because one afternoon they brought us all into the indoor centre and had a 10m, 50m 70m race tracks lined up and if you didn't hit the speed that they thought was acceptable they literally didn't think you could ever make it. I was slow/immobile at this time and flunked this pretty bad, I was in a group of 3 with 2 other guys who were rapid and stole a march on me and I basically gave up. 2 weeks later I won the 1500m city championship, 1 month later the county championship and then ran nationally Didn't have that first 5 yards though..

Nathan Dyer I guess is the opposite to this theory, he was 5ft3 but lightening quick. I always remember him being really loud and cocky and I didn't really like him. Although he was my age he was progressed through the youth teams quite quickly so didn't play much with him.

The best player in the academy (except Theo) was Adam Lallana, pure class.

[pleno1]

I agree 100% about University teams being clique's. I remember I went to Leeds Uni football trials and had to mark some African forward who didn't know the offside rule, the 1st team captain wasn't interested he already had his mates/team set for the year. I just sacked it off and played 5 aside instead (winning the top league and playoffs for the uni with all the other rejects )

I played a bit for USF in the states and it was more open, they wanted the best players and it didn't matter who you were, where you was from as long as you could play, i loved it.

Yeah this is in almost any uni team. I remember at the end of the season, our captain was like, yeh X from the 2's, Y from the 3's etc will be with us next year, Jonny will be in goal etc. I was like wtf theres 30,000 new students coming next year!

[Solaris]

Dexter and Leon were both huge huge guys who just battered most 16-18 year olds with sheer physical presence. I think get a 3/10 footballer who is a 9/10 athlete into an academy when he is 14 then by the time he gets to 18 he will be able to be very very effective. Its one of the reasons why the premiership has developed into the league it has whilst La Liga and Seria A opt for bringing talent through like Messi et al.

Doubt I'll ever agree with you again on the subject of football, but I do in this instance. Went to school with Greg Halford (Pompey right-back) and technically he was pretty average but he was an unbelievable athlete. He had quite literally every single athletics record from year 7 onwards. Was a massive surprise when he turned pro as those of us who remembered him always thought of him as more of an athlete...

Was Theo as poor technically as he is now? He looks massively out of place at times with us.