Academies are the worst thing?

[PAULCAFC]

To have ever happened to English football? Heard this on Radio 5 Live recently, think it was Hoddle who said it but can't be sure, in the light of England's exit from the WC things are being said that basically academies bring in young players at ages 8 or so and most of them believe they are going to be or are already destined for stardom at a big club, they become pampered esp by parents and clubs and don't really have to work at it which eventually leads to a cosy wealthy life when they get to an age later, anyone agree or disagree? Could the same thing be levelled at our own Max Clayton?

[DGFG]

This would be the same Max Clayton who worked incredibly hard to come back from a broken ankle? So hard, in fact, that he has had the temerity to use the RH gym during his summer holiday - did n't somebody else want to charge him for that?

I don't see any weaknesses from Clayton in terms of work ethic.

Was n't the advent of the Academies inspired at least partly by the success of the much vaunted Ajax system and,later, the Barcelona system which produced the likes of Xavi and Iniesta?

Irrespective of the 'Academy' label, how would you propose to produce sporting talent for future generations without a system based on identification of talent and elite level coaching from an early age?

For every set of parents who believe their kid has made it when they enter an academy at 8, there are surely many more who accept that they are embarking on a journey which is likely to end in disappointment some time in the future - as for the kids themselves,well, at age 8 they are entitled to beli

[MikeSB]

Why ask me when I never post about such things!

Or could be one of my fav topics and if it was Hoddle that made those comments shows the difference of opinion by the great and the good.

Its pretty obvious that the PL foreign players and money has done England and not sure how we can put that genie back in the bottle. I've said the word 'academy' is the wrong one as that instills a centre of academia that such places are far removed from that concept of learning and the good of mankind if you will and so all these places are just lads training to kick a bag of air for millions and so of course some of their heads consume personal greed without consequences and thinking who gave them the chance to play a game that we all consider an after work sport that we all loved to be involved with.

Great big deal that Max spent some of his holidays in the gym and me thinking they are on holiday all the year round. Max is a really good and bad example of what is the worst thing about academie

[MikeSB]

What I may be saying is you cannot teach football which rather makes all academies obsolete..

Even babies and dogs can play given a round thing to play with!

I've told you folks here that I'm light years ahead with my views on academies, so please take note in the future!

I mean what sense does it make to try and coach football to hundreds of kids that 90% won't make the grade anyway when anyone who loves football as I did when I was a ****ager can be seen any Sat or Sun Morning in the hundreds of matches played each week in the local leagues?

Most think we had some playing for our team last season lol.

[DGFG]

Messi was in the aforementioned Barcelona youth academy from the age of 12 or 13 (OK, not 8 but nevertheless...).

Natural talent and coaching are not mutually exclusive.

Roger Federer would be one of the most naturally gifted athletes I've ever seen, he has a coach.

[MikeSB]

While I'm on this subject. WTF chose a 70 year old guy to manage the England team FFS?

What passion and body language can he show to gee the players up Mourhino style?

I think Harry Rednapp would have been a far better choice but the ancient pen pushers at the FA wanted a so called safe pair of hands and gave it to the West Brom Manager at the lower end of the PL for 4 million quid a year..

We really did get what we deserved folks.

No idea, no passion, no zip and no results. I could have told you so...


And few flags flying this year too?

[MikeSB]

Messi was in the aforementioned Barcelona youth academy from the age of 12 or 13 (OK, not 8 but nevertheless...).

Natural talent and coaching are not mutually exclusive.

Roger Federer would be one of the most naturally gifted athletes I've ever seen, he has a coach.

Federer and Andy Murray?

Don't think its the same thing as they had the natural ability and so were not looking at technique just help with tactics and HOW to win which Lendle provided.

I wonder if Messi learned anything from coaching though? It was somewhere to be though while he grew up. I very much doubt that you could 'coach' that ability into him as if you could then you could produce a hundred just like him.

[DGFG]

Messi was in the aforementioned Barcelona youth academy from the age of 12 or 13 (OK, not 8 but nevertheless...).

Natural talent and coaching are not mutually exclusive.

Roger Federer would be one of the most naturally gifted athletes I've ever seen, he has a coach.

Federer and Andy Murray?

Don't think its the same thing as they had the natural ability and so were not looking at technique just help with tactics and HOW to win which Lendle provided.

I wonder if Messi learned anything from coaching though? It was somewhere to be though while he grew up. I very much doubt that you could 'coach' that ability into him as if you could then you could produce a hundred just like him.[/quote]

Who said anything about Andy Murray?

But as you mentioned him, he went to a tennis academy in Spain, Nadal was there at the same time I think.

I don't think Federer needed teaching how to win.

[MikeSB]

I was talking football, you mentioned tennis and so I mentioned Murray.

Know any good chess players who aren't Russian?

[crewebacca]

I.M.O. they manage and coach the crap out of everything and not just the players, even the supporters are orchestrated (corporate provided songs and flags). Way too much sausage machine and not enough natural, with not a tin of Dubbin in sight!