posted Aug 18, 2007

I don't see a problem with the quality of youth players coming through, the difference now, is that there are 2 more continents, that ae playing football, and if we took away these 2 continents, then the quality of the PL would fall.

The quality of youths hasn't fallen, just the quality of the top division has increased.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 18, 2007

Is a large problem with British Asians coming through that the top sportsmen among them play other sports as their first love, cricket and squash are two examples of this, because their parents prefered these games. It still doesn't explain why I can only think of 1 player (Harpal Singh) from that community, but that I guess is a large reason why there are less than there ought to be.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 18, 2007

Steve Bruce is of course right about academies but academies are not the place to find talented kids. Did George Best attend one of these eliteist?. You don't get to "learn " talent in an academy. The real talented kids play in the streets of the world and that is where the scouts should be looking.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 18, 2007

I find it incredible that Steve Bruce criticises the academies since the majority produce the sort of player the manager himself wants. The standard English pro that English managers look for (as Old Gold alluded to) is basically an athletic workhorse who can 'do a job', 'get from box to box' and 'put his foot in' - talent on the ball, the ability to see a pass and, better still, deliver it at the right time and with the correct weight (with either foot) unfortunately comes way down the list of priorities.

It has taken foreign players and foreign managers to open our eyes to what can be achieved on a personal level but even that has not changed the traditionally negative British approach to football in England, indeed Mourinho and Benitez have embraced it - but at least their teams are taught to defend properly, not just stop the other side from playing like the teams of Moyes, Keane, Allardyce etc do when they play more talented teams. It's no wonder talented English players get 'lost in the system' when this is what they are expected to aspire to.

How many left-footed English forward players are playing in the Premiership at the moment (Downing+?) and how many are getting experience in European Club Competition?

No, the Premiership is not helping us produce players capable of competing effectively at international level but Mr Bruce, take some of the resonsibility for that on your own shoulders. If Zidane had been born in England he would never have made it through the junior ranks in this country!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 18, 2007

We need to scrap the current set up and just make a straight copy of the French one which seems to be working very well, in my opinion.

Or the Australian set up, which is turning out great athletes in all sports.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 18, 2007

comment by kasbah

And finally, look at Man Utd! they brought through a golden generation of beckham, neville, scholes, etc, etc. But who have they brought through the ranks recently? Brown and O'Shea? Fergie doesn't seem willing to take a risk with a group of youngsters anymore, instead bringing in ronaldo, nani and the rest to make up his team. (although in fergies defence maybe the acadamy is failing to produce anyone of premiership standard!)
------------------------------
You seem to forget that Giggs, Butt, The Neville Brothers, Beckham, Scholes were a special and no other club will repeat this ever again! To have so many good players come through the acadamy all at once.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 20, 2007

Football acadamies are mostly staffed by failed footballers with chips on their shoulders. There are not enough ex-pros involved who have nothing to prove.

Results and image are everything and development of players is paid lip service to.
Height is such a major factor now - there will be no Paul Gasgoines or Michael Owens in 10 years time.

There is no fun or enjoyment for the youngsters and when they are 'released' many stop playing completely.

The acadamies treat children like working adults and create players with no team spirit, no loyalty and whose motivation is based on fear rather than passion and love of the game.

Children need to be praised and encouraged but the academies avoid this - players are kept at arm's length and feedback is minimal so that they can be released easily.

Acadamies need to lose the egos and celebrate the raw talent that they are blessed with. Let alone Holland and France - watch what the USA is doing.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 27, 2007

My comment was directed to the author of the hate comment about not being picked for an English team because of being 'Asian'. The thread has nothing to do with your personal feelings, it is about the academies in England. My experience is that - if one is good enough, then one is picked up, and plays. Owen Hargreaves was cut from the Canadian junior team. I don't think that he whined that being 'English-Canadian' was the reason he was cut (his father was born in England) Fact is, being born in Canada, made him ' Canadian-Canadian' didn't it? Unfortunately, there are those who will resort to any means to put out their own agenda - much to the detriment of society in general. I get tired of hearing comments relating to some boob who wants to hyphenate. If you were born, and live there, then are you - or are you not English? If you regard yourself as 'not', then you really should look in the mirror, and review your citizenship.
Try to stick to the content of the thread and leave your personal views to some other site.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 28, 2007

Maybe he got cut from the Canadian team because someone could tell that he was going to be a turn-coat little bas%#rd.

But hey maybe not...perhaps its just me that sees that

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Aug 29, 2007

I am not forgetting (Bobby) Charlton whom I saw live a number of times (1968 European Cup Final probably the best). He scored lots of memorable goals however he also played at a time when there were a lot of quality players (Pele, Tostao,Gerson,Garrincha,
Jairzinho,Eusebio,Coluna,
Seeler, Gento,Rivera ...)Not saying he wouldn't be in a World X1 squad.
My main point was unless we restrict imports half our national team players will come from lower leagues in 5 years.

add comment | complain about this comment