Academies are fine. Its always been that way just a different name. You play for a local team. You get spotted by a better local team. You get spotted by Lincoln City and they sign you up to their U10 team. I don't see what has changed that much from olden days to now other than it being all brought in house where you become a foster child of the club so to speak.
im high and idk if you're being sarcastic or not, but it proves my point that these players have played at the levels stated for the last 10 years.
The point is that we are talking about players coming out of academies and playing at the highest level now. These players came out of their academies 10+ years ago (most nearly 20 years ago.) Are academies producing talented players now?
Yeah, I get what you're saying Imps. When I talked about No Ball Games it wasn't really important to my message what the reason was for the signs going up, it was just that kids aren't allowed to play as freely as they once were. To me, that is the important bit. We can tackle the reasons why kids aren't allowed to play on local grass another time. The fact is, unless they do something that is organised, chiefly by adults, they won't get to play a game of football. And kids don't like that. They want to play when they want to play. They want to run outside the front door with a ball and start playing. That's how simple it used to be.
My son was lucky...we had a rec at the end of the road. He was down there all the time...football in winter, cricket in season, tennis during Wimbledon.
And who are their successors? The quality to replace them is awful. If Jack Wilshere is the best we can come up with, then England's International team is going to continue to nosedive.
So where is the age cut off in this discussion? You could make an argument for a number of players who in the next 5 years will have very good careers. I don't know why everyone seems to think Wilshere is awful now, he's had an injury plagued 2 seasons which haven't helped him. Give him a prolonged period of time where he is injury free and playing regular football then people will begin to see what a great player he is. The examples of 'great England players' listed in the original post I quoted span over a period of nearly 30 years. We've definitely continued to produce quality but the lifestyle of a footballer has changed so much since 30 years ago that it is quite ridiculous to try and debate this subject.
The big change is that the clubs taking young kids no longer allow them to continue with their 'local club' team. They take them away from their mates so they are only learning the way of that club. They stifle them at a young age and potentially coach any individualism out of them. They do also remove some of the fun. In short, clubs try to "coach 100%" rather than "watch and guide" boys from too young an age.
Although Harry Redknapp may not be a popular name on this website, he sort of alluded to the fact in the wake of the U21 performance in the Czech Republic that perhaps once they have the contract of tens of thousands a week, many do not work hard enough at their craft.. But as you say the lifestyle of a young footballer today is totally different to that of a generation or two ago.
I believe more youngsters should go on loan or sign with a club abroad to take advantage of having more opportunities to play first team football. I don't think the championship or lower league football is of a good enough standard.
Then you didn't see too much of the Championship last season. The obvious team, AFC Bournemouth, played some astonishingly good football, more than acceptable for a loanee. In fact, they were a bit too good. Watford too, were excellent. But any of the top half of the Championship teams, and some of the lower half, played very good football at times. Personally, I'm looking forward to see how the Cherries fare. If they get on a roll they are going to embarrass the odd PL team with their speed, skil and flair.
I have a concern that the more Saints progress, the more pressure there will be to field experienced, bought players, thus reducing the opportunities for Academy products. I`m sure our management will have a balanced approach though !
This is where the Spanish and their B teams have such an advantage. They can grow youngsters within controlled environments and competitive conditions. However, it is not a move I would endorse. However practical an idea it might be, the lower leagues should not be the official training environment of the elite. It disrespects those lower clubs. Obviously something the Spanish don't give a toss about, imo.
That is why I smile when the like of Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Villareal and Athletic Bilbao beat Real and Barca. As we all know Athletic Bilbao have always stuck to their principals are fielded players born and bred in the Basque region.
