DG
I know one of the education officers at City, they have two levels of scholarship, football and education.

I understand that at secondary school age, the kids they take get both a football and education scholarship, the football one until the age of 16, and the education one until the age of 18.

That way, if a kid doesn't make it (and most don't), they leave the club with A-levels and have the chance to go to Uni.

How does it work up north?
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:00, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

You get to kick a ball around for a bit,
eat loads of pies and then if you turn out to be crap, there's a life long career of dodging Jobcentre restart interviews ahead of you.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:02, Reply)

How did Joey Barton get away with it?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:04, Reply)

Scouse charm and a cunning left hook.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:04, Reply)

And the odd cigar to the eye?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:08, Reply)

All washed down with a night out in Liverpool followed by a Maccy D to round off the night.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:08, Reply)

A midfield of Barton and Bowyer would be something.
Especially if you had Duncan Ferguson up front.

(I choose to ignore the City players who all went down for a stretch a couple of years back)
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:13, Reply)

To be fair, Barton, whilst he has been a total cunt in the past,
does seemed to have reined himself in a bit, discipline wise. A year ago he would have been sent off in the recent Arsenal game for retaliating.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:15, Reply)

And, by the same token, he'd have hit that Blackburn player square on the chin, rather than in the chest.

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:20, Reply)

A page I started on Facebook called "When presented with a problem in life, I think 'What Would Joey Barton Do'" now has over ten thousand followers.
Completely unrelated but I think that in itself is quite amusing/astounding.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:11, Reply)

And what do most people think Joey would do?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:14, Reply)

Well my last update (after the 4-4 game with Arsenal) was:
Our Joey's influence is spreading, after Diaby was tackled yesterday he pondered "What Would Joey Barton Do" and proceeded to kick off all over the place.

120 people liked it so I assume they think what Joey Barton will do is get into scraps at any given opportunity. They're not wrong.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:29, Reply)

But what would Joey Deacon do?

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:36, Reply)

Actually I'm not sure.
All I know is that if he is selected he'll have to train at the academy and stop playing for his current team. Doubtless we'll find out more if he actually does get selected.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:06, Reply)

I wish him luck.
It isn't an easy profession to make it in, City picked up all-round cock, but goal machine for us Leroy Lita at exit trials.

He wasn't deemed good enough by Chelsea when he was with them so they cast him aside, within 18 months of his first-team debut, he was sold for over a million, having made an England U-21 appearance.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:10, Reply)

Yeah.
He does have a genuine talent and seems to be able to read other players, though. He also mixed well with the other lads, which is a good sign.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:14, Reply)

How old is he now?

( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:15, Reply)

Just turned 11.
The only thing that could hold him back is his asthma, and lack of pace (although he'll hopefully grow out of the former).
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:17, Reply)

There is a lot of growing to do between 11 and 16 so anything could happen!
As long as he enjoys playing and it doesn't become a chore, then he'll have every chance.
( JeffTheDogFucker Can you dig it?, Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:20, Reply)

He genuinely loves it.
I really hope something comes of it for him.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Wed 23 Feb 2011, 0:28, Reply)