Four pundits and a plasma - debating the next decade in football

By Giles Goford BBC Sport Producer

Glasshoughton Welfare FC, the demise of the DVD, and which chocolate is the equivalent of Barcelona v Manchester United.

The conversation fizzed through the studio air when Hugh Ferris, Jacqui Oatley, Nedum Onuoha and Rory Smith came together to discuss what football may look, sound, and feel like in 2036.

This is 'Football in 10 Years: The Pundits' Debate.

The quartet were tasked with debating several issues on football's future, including potential player burnout from too much football, the use of data and AI in defining future tactics and transfer targets, and how the spectators' experience - inside and outside of stadiums - will change.

Hugh kicked off with a brain-scratcher.

"What one thing that we don't have in the game currently, will we have by 2036?"

"Integrity," Jacqui fired back, adding: "Come on, we can but dream!"

She said: "This applies to players on the field, because at the moment there's not a lot of honesty going on, and the way clubs behave with their supporters - treating them fairly and with transparency - and what's going on at their club."

Nedum, meanwhile, was hopeful there would be more parity.

"I think the gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots' will shrink in the next 10 years," said the former Manchester City defender.

"That's not because we're going to elevate the ones who do not have, but I think the authorities will put a limit on those who do have. I think this will apply more around Europe.

"Take a team in Germany or France. Gone are the days when a special talent comes through and plays for their hometown side, and goes on and play for their national side. 70 or 80% of the time at the moment, those players are bought by Premier League clubs, so I think that will change... but maybe I'm just being optimistic."

Rory's response was simpler. "Buzzers," the Observer football correspondent said to much laughter, before explaining further.

"Ifab - the body that governs the Laws of the Game - passed a rule for the men's World Cup for the summer in which, at the referee's discretion, you can have a time limit on goal-kicks and throw-ins. I think that will be introduced for the Premier League next season.

"The direction of travel will be, within 10 years, we'll see big flashing boards across stadiums, counting down like a referee in Gladiators."

No more 'own goals and gaffes'

Among the other topics discussed were whether a European Super League would ever happen, and whether set-pieces would continue to be so dominant.

"It's all about control," Hugh said. "Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta loves to control as much as he possibly can, and from a dead-ball situation, you can pretty much control all elements of the play.

"In 10 years' time, will we find managers trying to assert control in whichever way is 'a la mode'?"

Rory pointed out mistakes are at a premium because Premier League clubs are so good at defending.

"You don't get enough hilarious defensive ricks to make a compilation of 'Own goals and gaffes' DVD any more, which is a real loss to the football landscape," he said.

Nedum replied: "Did he say 'DVD'? What's a DVD?"

Once two hours of pinpoint and futuristic football chat were over, there was time for just one more question.

"Will there be a female manager in the Premier League within the next 10 years?"

"No," replied Jacqui. "I think women will achieve higher status in the men's game as time goes on, but they have to have started by being embedded in a men's club at a lower level, to absorb the men's game, be trusted and respected, and work their way up organically, and being an assistant first.

"So you're not plucking that person from over there, sticking them in the men's game and saying: 'Go on, see how you get on in the Premier League.' That makes no sense."

And with that, the discussion was done - and an agreement made to meet up in 2036 to see if any of our suggestions have come to fruition.

And in case you were wondering...

Glasshoughton Welfare FC play in the Northern Counties East League Division One, and briefly had Bruce Grobbelaar on their books.

And the panel thought Quality Street's hazelnut caramel (the purple one) was the chocolate equivalent of Barcelona v Manchester United. Tasty, but only so often.