Pre-match handshake

[Silver Fox]

So there was a big thing on SSN last night with premier laegue managers being asked what they thought of the now traditional pre-match handshake, potentially threatened by John Terry's antics*. I have to say I was amazed at how bloddy thick some of their comments were, notably Mick McCarthy, whose blunt northernness I noramlly appreciate as a breath of fresh air. He basically came up with the type of claptrap you expect from ex-players no longer involvd in the game "I wouldn't want to shake someoene's hand if I was going to kick them in a couple of miuntes". Considering most EPL players are mates now** is this still the case or is it good to have the handshake line before games? Or is it just sad that they are so detached from the world that a little bit of decency, fair play and manners has to be force onto them? Feel free to discuss or more likely ignore

*how strange that the man resposnsible for both handshake controversies AFAIR is England captain
**apart from everyone and John Terry

[Svlad Cjelli]

Surely the fact that they're forced to do a handshake as part of the pre-match ritual makes it pretty much meaningless?

[Dare to Dr£am]

It's pointless. It doesn't encourage respect in the game. It's something they do because they have to, it means nothing.

[soggy biscuit]

Agreed, its just a big waste of time.

Do any other sports force a handshake before KO?

Handshake World Championships

[Red]

Agreed, its just a big waste of time.

Do any other sports force a handshake before KO?

Boxing?

[Mr Angry]

It should be replaced by the footballing equivilent of the haka, where the 2 teams line up opposite each other and give renditions of their fans' chants at their opponents.

[Maguire]

Agreed, its just a big waste of time.

Do any other sports force a handshake before KO?

Boxing?

How do you shake hands wearing those massive gloves

(yes yes, i get it)

[Terminal Boardom]

Probably as much use to football as the losers ribbons at a cup final.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Even more pointless when you see it filtering down to kid's football - my eldest's team (U13) have had to do it a couple of times this season and it looks ridiculous.

[TFF]

Even more pointless when you see it filtering down to kid's football - my eldest's team (U13) have had to do it a couple of times this season and it looks ridiculous.

There was an attempt (Saturday before last) at Berks Development League to get the opposing parents to shake hands. LOL.

Step too far and obviously not repeated last Saturday.

[TBM]

For some reason the ref in our sunday game made us do it.............i was "warming up" at the time though

[Silver Fox]

So maybe as a society we are doomed after all?

[Whore Jackie]

Even more pointless when you see it filtering down to kid's football - my eldest's team (U13) have had to do it a couple of times this season and it looks ridiculous.

There was an attempt (Saturday before last) at Berks Development League to get the opposing parents to shake hands. LOL.

Step too far and obviously not repeated last Saturday.

What BDL venue do your kid's play at TFF?

[TFF]

Reading Hockey Club

[Whore Jackie]

WJ Junior #1 plays there, WJ Junior #2 plays at Woodford. I like the BDL as a league, but crikey those end-of-match managerial presentations last forever.

[Hoop Blah]

What point is there to it in the first place?

I think McCarthys comments are spot on. It's a staged thing that's there for the TV and doesn't add anything so why bother.

Shake hands after the game by all means, but that's a individual thing and a show of respect to each other. Before though? Totally meaningless.

[Big Foot]

Think it's definitely something which should be done at International level and in major finals like the FA Cup. Seems a bit odd to do it for Reading vs Doncaster though.

[Terminal Boardom]

Take rugby as an example. No need for poncy handshakes before the game but there is always the traditional tunnel formed by players at the end of the game to applaud the opposition and officials off the field of play.

[Silver Fox]

With 80 minutes of stamping, eye gouging, sneaky punching and spear tackling in between

[Bandini]

Even more pointless when you see it filtering down to kid's football - my eldest's team (U13) have had to do it a couple of times this season and it looks ridiculous.

There was an attempt (Saturday before last) at Berks Development League to get the opposing parents to shake hands. LOL.

Step too far and obviously not repeated last Saturday.

Do you still get "three cheers for X" at the end of games?