congratulations to the u17s. Fantastic. So, we are u17 and u21 World Cup holders. All we need is the seniors to step up in Russia.
We're starting to see the benefits of St George's Park - people love to say that England's failings is down to lack of passion/desire, &/or too many foreigners, but it's mostly been down to frankly not being technically good enough. Now our top kids are getting some of the best coaching in the World, hopefully we'll see our senior team start to reap the benefits too over the next decade. WC 2026 could be one to watch! ...back to the u17s though - a great result & they should be very proud.
It’s similar to our academy. Some people have moaned that nothing seemed to happen a few years back,about a year we went Cat B status. These things take time and we won’t see the benefit until these young lads mature. So 8-10 year olds, will mean at a least 6 years until we start the conveyor belt gets to first team. I’ve also seen the same person asking about St George’s Park saying is it a waste of money.
St Georges Park in isolation is not an asset. Why one centre of excellence v regional centres? Germany have over a hundred training hubs alongside its academy system.
But it's not in isolation is it? There are plenty of clubs with excellent academies also - to be fair to Man City, along with spunking many millions on players, they've also built one of the best; enjoyed by players such as Phil Foden, who is being touted as 'the next big thing'. I get being negative is your thing, but give credit where it's due - our youth sides have dominated international competitions this year and they deserve credit. It may not nean we end up winning the World Cup in your lifetime, but efforts are being made to close the gap to the best & make it more likely than otherwise.
Yes it is in isolation because it is not part of a national framework. The money spent on it could have provided that framework nationally from grass roots up. Both Germany and Spain have centres plural ran by their national bodies working in unison with their academy system. The Germans system pursued excellence by forging having a national stadium and national centre of excellence to create regional facilities and a coaching framework to dwarf England's. These regional centres spread the DFB's philosophy via coaching its players and constantly educating coaches and training ever more .. Its a self fulfilling circle. My Son has played at Man City's academy ... Its a amazing facility. That type of coaching could be more available for England's youth if St Georges park had not been pursued. .
Well, sounds like you're the expert, what they're doing is wrong and World Cup wins at U17 & U20 levels, a European Cup for the U19s and a runners up for the U17s is papering over the cracks of their incompetence.
These players are the product of their club academies not St Georges park. Clubs like Man City, Chelsea etc coaches are not incompetent. Most academies pay their coaches poorly £15000 - 23000 is a norm. These clubs employ elite coaches and pay highly for the best. St Georges park provides a elite facility for players from more or less the elite clubs to train at when they are with England U sides. What about the thousands and thousands of other kids who are not part of that elite? The German DFB provide 121 regional training centres away from club academies. Would it not make more sense to provide similar training centres regionally in England?
I'm not suggesting our system is the be all and end all - what I am saying is that in-roads have been made & St Georges Park plays its part, whereas you seem to be making out as though it's a white elephant & being overly negative in the face of a fantastic year for England's youth sides. Hopefully in years to come the infrastructure can improve more & England can compete at the highest level at all age groups, including ultimately the senior team.
I am questioning why success is being attributed to St Georges Park? It is a white elephant that has haemorrhaged money along with Wembley out of the FA's coffers. Money that could have alternatively created a national coaching framework and coaching culture to implement the FA's England DNA playing and coaching philosophy. A philosophy that is wholly worthy but cannot be thoroughly implemented because the FA cannot afford to run even simple things like skills programmes. It is a nonsense that ONE facility can be superior to Germanys system of regional talent centres working alongside club academies.
I don't attribute success solely to it, but partially. The proof of the pudding is in the eating & three competition wins is a tasty pudding. If you're supportive of your son's development, I'd pack him off to Germany lickity split.
Which still does not explain why one facility that does not develop players would be healthier for the long term development of football in England than FA ran regional centres. St Georges park did not develop the technical ability of that U17's team. What does St Georges Park do for kids in the South West?
****ng hell, I’ve read it (heard it) all tonight. England win the u17 along with the under 20 World Cup this year. And it’s still not as good as a structure as Germany or Spain. Are you really that argumentative that you want to scorn something just because it’s not the same model as Germany or Spain.
I made reference to St Georges Park not the under seventeens. I enjoyed the match for many of the reasons I enjoy coaching and watching youth football. The teams were allowed to play with freedom, and therefore demonstrate skills that are rarely seen in the adults game. England ended the game playing 4 - 2 - 4 such was the lack of intent to defend shown by both sides. Does it all make the English game suddenly more equipped to prosper at full International level? No. Is the model superior to Germany and Spain? No.