I saw this link on OTIB and as usual people are commenting that he isn't good enough etc, people who have probably never even seen him play! http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...mplete-signing-of-non-league-hotshot-tomorrow Bradley is a good friend of my sons and played with him in the Conference u19 alliance for 3 years, I have seen Brad develop from 16 years old and watched him play many times. this is a classic case of 'development' he is a small lad and the first year I watched him I could totally understand why City let him leave the academy, but as he regained his confidence he flourished. the manager at WSM, Ryan Northmore had every confidence that this lad would make it and has at this point been proved right. Brad is a 'goalscorer' with great touch and skills and that is a natural ability that can't really be coached in to someone. My son used to tell me he was 'unreal' in training and small games. For me this proves, keep patience with players let them find their confidence and comfort levels and you will get the best from them. I have a feeling we may be seeing a lot more from Brad in years to come and I wish him and his Dad, who is a lovely bloke, all the best of luck. Although his desire to 'want it' has got him this far and I'm sure that will continue. He's by no means the finished article and will be a 'work in progress' but then at 20 years old why would he be? Perhaps our academy should show a little more 'patience' too?
At the end of the day the best way to develop is game time and players who play more league football at a young age do better on average than those who get dumped by big football academies with no game time.
Still too many 'football coach dinosaurs' around who write kids off due to their size way too early...
Definitely true, young players like Reid are still bulking and you have Giants playing against midgets from the ages of 12-16 with the effext lasting long after
I absolutely agree however it has to be said that these players succeed despite their size as their skill and ability more than compensates for the lack of it but they are very much in the minority. You only have to look at the waist size of the average premiership football (there was a feature on Sky some time ago) to see the difference and it is scary...
