Graham Roberts Interview

[PleaseNotPoll]

One slightly controversial point about the youth set up in this player seems to be the lack of Asian players breaking through.
If you look at some of the areas of the country with large local Asian communities, then you have to question why none of these kids are making it.
Is there something in these youth systems that's holding them back and if so, what can be done about it?

 

[Spurlock]

One slightly controversial point about the youth set up in this player seems to be the lack of Asian players breaking through.
If you look at some of the areas of the country with large local Asian communities, then you have to question why none of these kids are making it.
Is there something in these youth systems that's holding them back and if so, what can be done about it?

i have Asian roots PNP..that is why i hold this problem close to my heart..and ever since i have been playing park football(13)..i have witnessed a very obvious prejudice which leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth or feet.

Asian players are strong have pace..and something else which this country always craves...extreme skill..obviously not all but ive always found that they have an emphasis on skill....ethnic minorities are predominantly still poor and they do grow up in confined communities..play their football all day everyday like the romantic notion...much like how it still happens in the likes of Brazil etc....look at France..it is the ethnic minorities..i.e the Algerian and Moroccan blooded players that brought the skill factor to the national team..Zidane,Nasri etc....there are Sunday league teams full of Asians in every position..with asian coaches etc...yet they have no link with big clubs..no door open for these coaches or players to ask for a trial etc...and the usual tripe about them being 'too small'..rubbish..absolute rubbish...in my respective league we have been in the top 3 for the last 7 years but never any recognition..not even from Huddersfield Town FC (where i am from)..infact every year the local cup final was being played at the Galpharm..but the year we got to it we had to play in a fukin marshy field and the year after it was back at the Galpharm!

wrote letters to the FA.local authorities etc but everything was justified in their books..and its the same in the grand scheme of things..for ethnics it boils down to prejudice because on a field never have i played in a match we lost and we lost it due to our physical build up being the sole purpose ..you win some you lose some..but no way are ethnics out of place...i could go on and on but wont as i have experiences of over 20 years on this subject.

 

[Spurm]

guys, its probably nothing more sinister(!!!) than plain old fashioned racism.
(that is a joke before anyone starts)

I couldn't care less about the England team. I just want Spurs to bring these players through, and there is no reason they can't. Messi isn't Spanish, but he came through at Barca.
With investment Spurs could nurture youth of any ethnicity/nationality, as could ANY club. If that happens to help out England then all the better, but it isn't a requirement.
Barca have shown how to do it. Educate (traditionally as well as footbally) in-house and teach them "the Spurs way" from the very first day. The club should buy into playing a particular way at every level and every age. This would help progression. I think we are a small step ahead in a way as we have a "way" that the fans expect. Other clubs chop and change styles over the years.

The problem is that since the big money came in no-one has got the time (eg, management all get fired and in comes another guy with a different approach). The Utd team in the 90s was the best around. The players in that squad (Scholes, Beckham, Neville, Giggs etc etc) could have played in any team. They've lost the plot a bit since then, probably due to the competition from big spending Chelsea and now City forcing them to buy to keep up, but there is no fundamental reason a British Barca could not happen imo.

Also, if you recreate anything like Barca you might find that players leave, become better and then actively want to return (proably to play with their mates). Eg, Fabregas, Alba


What did Graham Roberts say again? I feel we've found a better topic of conversation anyway

 

[The Serious Guy]

You make some good points, I can't remember the last time I've seen a team (Premier to Confrence, Welsh, or Irish Leagues) playing a player from an Asian background, which is a scandal. I grew up with a kid in Swansea from the Indian districts, and he was convinced he was rejected out of hand on the basis of his heritage, skin colour and address. Absolute scandal, never seen a kid with his ability in district football, and since he's gone into working in Port Talbot steelworks, I doubt I ever will again.

You make the point earlier about clubs stepping in and snapping up players when they're very young, but unfortunately its not going to happen at the level required. Will Spurs or United or Arsenal ever be motivated enough, as well as have the man power to be sending scouts to under 7's matches in Penzance, Llandridnod Wells, Alfreton, Port William? Its a logistical nightmare.

 

[Spurm]

You make the point earlier about clubs stepping in and snapping up players when they're very young, but unfortunately its not going to happen at the level required. Will Spurs or United or Arsenal ever be motivated enough, as well as have the man power to be sending scouts to under 7's matches in Penzance, Llandridnod Wells, Alfreton, Port William? Its a logistical nightmare.

Yet we already send out scouts to the arse-end of nowhere halfway across the world to unearth 17yr olds that cost £15m. It must be cheaper and easier to do it in the UK, even if finding the talent at 7 vs 17 is more difficult.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Sorry to hear that Dona, but I can't say that I'm surprised.
I've heard similar stories myself.

You'd think that even if people didn't simply want to sort out the problem of prejudice, some intelligent chairman would see the marketing possibilities and deal with it.
Imagine how popular an Amir Khan (for example) of football could be?

 

[Spurlock]

You make some good points, I can't remember the last time I've seen a team (Premier to Confrence, Welsh, or Irish Leagues) playing a player from an Asian background, which is a scandal. I grew up with a kid in Swansea from the Indian districts, and he was convinced he was rejected out of hand on the basis of his heritage, skin colour and address. Absolute scandal, never seen a kid with his ability in district football, and since he's gone into working in Port Talbot steelworks, I doubt I ever will again.

You make the point earlier about clubs stepping in and snapping up players when they're very young, but unfortunately its not going to happen at the level required. Will Spurs or United or Arsenal ever be motivated enough, as well as have the man power to be sending scouts to under 7's matches in Penzance, Llandridnod Wells, Alfreton, Port William? Its a logistical nightmare.

Sundance i could point to many lads like that indian kid you describe..absolutely oozing with potential...spending hours kicking that ball against a wall etc etc...yet not one gets approached...as a token gesture the odd club will send some 'football liasing officer' who happens to be asian and he will teach kids how to kick a ball straight for a whole week with a 20 v 20 match at the end to finish the session off...fuk off mate..i can teach my own kid that without coming across patronising..and it had to be a bloody asian person running the sessions didnt it? amazing prejudice..and then at the annual report that club can say it is doing its best to get an asian player through..nothing pisses me off more than this 'token gesture'..no links no nothing..no monthly visit from a scout to see if there is any new potential etc..nope just a fukin kick a ball brown boy coaching class..once every 2 years..now fuk off back to the street and use jumpers for goalpoasts..we got a John Terry to unearth...bullshit and i feel strongly about it as i see what gets wasted..and then they end up bitter and selling drugs and hating the system..it might sound far fetched but it isnt..its outside right now as i sit in my home.

 

[Spurlock]

Sorry to hear that Dona, but I can't say that I'm surprised.
I've heard similar stories myself.

You'd think that even if people didn't simply want to sort out the problem of prejudice, some intelligent chairman would see the marketing possibilities and deal with it.
Imagine how popular an Amir Khan (for example) of football could be?

exactly..and i tell you..he would be damn popular..asian kids live and breathe the beautiful game..well passionate about it....its on our own doorstep..yet we scour the world for a Khumalo or someone from the Orient with the sole purose of making money..not saying these players are poor..saying the intentions behind their purchases are questionable....but yes..there is alot being missed.

 

[Spurlock]

clubs seem quite obsessed with 'catchment areas'..and the fact that i cant find say a THFC academy up North just shows how boxed the footballing world is..yet like Spurfectionist said..its quite ok to send someone to the far reaching parts of the world to find the next Palacios..yet i can give you 10 asian players tomorow that can get 'stuck in' but even better..they can pass a ball beyond 5 yards for free..yet we will pay 14 million for such 'talent'...baffling almost heartbreaking when you are that minority..knowing your kids wont get that chance unless something dramatic is done,very quickly.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Don't clubs actually have to pick their youth players from certain areas now or something?
Isn't there a 30 mile restriction?
This may be utter bollocks.

Does make you question why the likes of Leeds, Bradford, etc. don't have any Asian kids even more though, if it's true.

 

[Spurm]

..knowing your kids wont get that chance unless something dramatic is done,very quickly.

My kid is off to Barca to learn his trade, but then he's leaving on a free (a-la Fabregas) for Spurs and not going back.

Now, all i need is:
1 - a kid
2 - for said kid to have talent
3 - enough money to get him into the Barca academy (i assume it costs).

I believe this to be an almost foolproof plan

Does make you question why the likes of Leeds, Bradford, etc. don't have any Asian kids even more though, if it's true.

And Spurs! 30 miles from Tottenham covers the whole of London and then some.

 

[Spurlock]

My kid is off to Barca to learn his trade, but then he's leaving on a free (a-la Fabregas) for Spurs and not going back.

Now, all i need is:
1 - a kid
2 - for said kid to have talent
3 - enough money to get him into the Barca academy (i assume it costs).

I believe this to be an almost foolproof plan


And Spurs! 30 miles from Tottenham covers the whole of London and then some.

you can take my lad hes 10.

but seriously i have already told my son that if he ever did make it he should represent Germany..(hes half German) as you have more chance of making it there...so many nations have left us behind.

and PNP..even though the likes of Leeds and Bradford are surrounded with asians..the system and ideology remains the same in this country where they will not get that breakthrough..these clubs are still predominantly run with a blind eye...and dare i say it with an eye whose gaze is still stuck in the times of the Raj.

what a poor do.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

There's very few Asian players to make a name for themselves anywhere - Michael Chopra and Zesh Rehman are the only ones I can think of out of hand (and, after some digging, Shwan Jalal is doing alright at Bournemouth after we released him a few years back)

The problem is that there's talk of clubs taking initiatives to find Asian players, which misses the point somewhat - as it means they're scouting players based on ethnicity rather than ability, which defeats the object of the exercise.

 

[The Serious Guy]

Catchment areas, existent or non-existent shouldn't matter. Sorry for the generalisation, but from what I see day to day, its Indian or Pakistani kids who spend more time than the black and white kids out on the streets playing. By about 14, the vast majority of the kids have left the game behind for good, and from whats left (again, in my own experience) is a large proportion of Asian kids still first on the field after school and last to come in at night. Even when I'm working the doors, the you see more healthy, physically fit Asians than you do White or Black, which is remarkable considering the demographics.

I'm white, but I've been in, and know people who are in serious mixed race relationships, plenty of them with kids. If clubs are going to keep rejecting Asian heritage youth prospects, eventually, they're going to find out that they've run out of potential signings.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

Don't want to see my club turned into the latest billionaire's toy.

I love being a Spurs fan as we are and would support us whether we're improving and doing well or down the bottom of the table. That's part of the fun for me and I'd hate to see us artificially stuck to the top of the league with money with players that don't give a crap and will leave at the drop of a hat for a slightly bigger cheque at another toy club.

 

[Spurlock]

There's very few Asian players to make a name for themselves anywhere - Michael Chopra and Zesh Rehman are the only ones I can think of out of hand (and, after some digging, Shwan Jalal is doing alright at Bournemouth after we released him a few years back)

The problem is that there's talk of clubs taking initiatives to find Asian players, which misses the point somewhat - as it means they're scouting players based on ethnicity rather than ability, which defeats the object of the exercise.

Chopra is of a mixed background
Jalal is Kurdish.
Rehman is the one of an asian background fully and he plays a very 'english' game ..the 'on my head son' kind of game...and is now in china plying his trade...and became a international player for Pakistan.

Theres pure talent in asian communities..id love it if some of these lads were aknowledged and given the chance to get to the top due to them being dynamic midfielders etc..

and nobody is saying do the asian community a favour and make players out of them..as i dont think that the english set up can make players out of anyone...the only thing that was said is that they should be given the same chances....and treated in the same zest as many other communities and as i mentioned above sending an asian footballing liason officer in an official tracksuit to teach the kids to kick a ball is not taking the issue seriously enough for me...more like a 'token gesture' so that the illeterate first generation of asians will be satisfied with it..but my generation(2nd) has wised up to it and see it as a very patronising way of doing things...very arrogant.

i would love my club to be the first to unearth a gem from the slums of the asian communities in this country....an exciting midfielder or the like and i know that i have seen many with great potential and definatly with more potential and skill than the likes of Palacious,Crouch,Heskey,Parker,Milner and basing their games on the likes of the Brazilian Ronaldo,Gazza,Klinsmann etc etc...nobody said 'do us a favour'

 

[Spurlock]

Don't want to see my club turned into the latest billionaire's toy.

I love being a Spurs fan as we are and would support us whether we're improving and doing well or down the bottom of the table. That's part of the fun for me and I'd hate to see us artificially stuck to the top of the league with money with players that don't give a crap and will leave at the drop of a hat for a slightly bigger cheque at another toy club.

nope i dont want us to be a toy too..however we need a legacy a big project and that will have to have youth development as its core..or we have to spend money..so which of the 2 is it depends on what we want because quite frankly we wont be winning much unless we are competing with big players which requires big finances...im happy enough if someone official can tell me that we have a concrete plan to develop our own players...that will do me...im glad most spurs fans are not glory hunters.

 

[Spurm]

im glad most spurs fans are not glory hunters.

being a Spurs fan and a glory hunter are mutually exclusive in this day and age

 

[CanarySpurs]

I have a feeling there is different catchment areas, to stop the manchester united's of this world signing a 10 year old from Wales. I seem to remember there being different levels (size of area) based on academy status (I think Norwich extended theirs this year)

 

[Spurm]

I have a feeling there is different catchment areas, to stop the manchester united's of this world signing a 10 year old from Wales. I seem to remember there being different levels (size of area) based on academy status (I think Norwich extended theirs this year)

Ok, new plan:
Invest so our academy is huge.
Increase our catchment area to the whole of the UK
Recall all foreign scouts
Send them out around the UK
Become British Barcelona.


Another foolproof plan. I'm on a roll!