The Germans

Been watching their youth/reserve side play their way to the Confederation's Cup Final and although I think the experienced Chile side will win quite comfortably it's been good watching them.
You'd think that other nations would copy this way of bringing youngsters in and getting them ready to go out and compete for the World Cup, there's no fear of mass media hysteria if they lose its just understood that it gives younger players the experience needed to play at that level.
The lack of pressure shows in their performance.
The next World Cup will be too early but then I expect this group to be the main men through the Euros and then go on and win the next World Cup.

 

I wonder if the German press turn every promising youngster into the Next Big Thing at the first sign of talent, then rip the piss out of them the moment they show signs of not living up to their inflated reputations?

Also, how many young German players end up playing part time for Arsenal for record fees before going on loan to Middlesborough (if they are lucky. If not they rot in Arsenal,s reserves)?

 

Their U21 side was comfortably better than England's the other day too, despite only winning on penalties.

I don't think that it's a coincidence that Germany and Spain have a ton more qualified coaches than we do in this country.
The badges are far more expensive and clubs don't bring through either the young players or young coaches.
The grassroots of the game are being neglected.

 

Bloody Germans and their penalty kicks.

Isn't that how they always beat us.

 

Ain't it da truth. We won the under 20's WC. Semi final of under 21's. So we're not a million miles behind. But this is where these kids get lost.

The 'got to have it now' clubs will discard them, put them out on a dead end loan, and then buy Carlos Kickaball ( courtesy of A Sugar) because their shareholders are demanding instant success and pretty instant returns on their investment.

And that's why we'll never win a major senior tournament again.

 

I'd disagree, we are a million miles behind the Germans and some imo.

Our problems run much deeper than PL teams not giving young players chances. So much deeper.

 

I'd disagree with a million miles, but yes we're behind.

As we know, our under 20's are world champions. The question is, what happens to them from here.

Our two clubs are two of the few PL clubs who actually give young talent a chance and try to bring them on. But we need more from many notable exceptions.

 

I'm talking about the entire set up from grassroots to youth coaches to our domestic league etc. when I say we're so far behind.

Agreed there, but the problems go right down to grass roots imo, we still focus on pace and power rather than skill and technical ability. Until that changes we will continue to achieve **** all.

We've always been poor at bringing players through the age gaps, be interesting to see how many players from the 22 in the semi final this week make the squad for the next two tournaments for each nation.

 

I agree to an extent. But I also believe that our young players are trained to deal with the game as it is in England. Which, it goes without saying, is completely different to the game here, for instance.

They're trained to deal with the speed, pressure, and the pitch and weather conditions of the U.K. When they get away from the PL of course, the game is vastly different.

Clearly though, it's far easier to teach, say a Spanish player, who has all the basic skills, how to get fitter, run harder, close down quicker, etc, than it is to try to belatedly teach a PL youngster how to control a ball first touch.

 

Agree with that point but it comes back to us not focusing on technical ability at all instead choosing to value speed and power. All round the world players are more comfortable on the ball which is why foreign players dominate our domestic league.

Put it another way, I have serious doubts that a player like Iniesta would have broke through as quickly/easily at an English club... he'd been written off as too slow and lightweight.

You touch on another issue though, none of our young players tend to go abroad to get experience which is a problem in itself, why would they though when they can be on 80-100k a week here aged 19 having achieved **** all?

 

It's why a player, like Dier, who'd been trained in Portugal adapted easily to the PL. He found it easier to learn the pressing game here than an English player would the ball skills that Dier was taught as a youngster.

Those basic skills, and they are considered basic here, are like many things, far easier to learn when you're very young.

 

I think we pretty much agree. The youngsters should be taught the basics of first touch control, etc, at as early an age as is practical. As you say, the ease with which many foreign players learn our game shows which way we should be going.

But until our national team is given more precedence than it currently is, we'll get nowhere.

 

German football ought to provide a model for the FA to follow. The Bundesliga is similar to the PL in terms of the pace the game is played at, and German national sides tend to play aggressive, attacking football with an emphasis on athleticism. Regarding technique, touch, close control etc, vs. strength and speed, they really aren't a million miles from us - unlike the Italians and Spanish, and the Dutch, who all seem to be on another level in terms of first touch and close control.