[Devongone]

I do think extensive warming-up is no more than a showcase for the plethora of pointless coaches. Goalkeeping coaches who never used to exist have steadily edged some of the skills used in the position out of the game. How many goalies now come for a cross under challenge around the edge of the six-yard box? How many starfish themselves and end up stranded on the beach in one-on-ones inside the box? Keepers have become bigger (though that may be changing again) and more athletic and gymnastic than ever before, but only Emi Martinez has got the idea that catching the ball absolutely ends that attack. Keepers parry unnuecessarily, punch under no challenge and are regularly hit in the body by wholly catchable shots. Goalies are for catching the ball, not doing Cruyff-turns and misplacing a pass straight to the opposing winger .........

And hey why not adopt the mantra that playing in the game is what all the work and training is about - there's no point taking people so close to the edge of super-fitness they get injured doing the hoovering the night before ......

Is it wrong of me to suggest that most coaches are tracksuit yes men, nodding whenever the manager looks their way?