1.9m tall 13 year old?

[Parm]

That height isn't exceptional. Both my sons (aged 13 and 15) play club and school football and you regularly see lads even in the Under 13s who are 6'0"+. My eldest lad is already 6 foot and one of his mates (who's had trials at Kirkby) is about 6'3" at just 15. The youngest lad has a few team-mates who are over 6'0" already.

It's quite comical at times watching Under 15 football because most of the players are taller than the adult coaches, referees and parents on the side. I've seen a few boys threaten to punch an abusive adult spectator!

Whilst I appreciate their height obviously doesn't automatically make them a better player many clubs deliberately scout taller boys, notably Everton and Man Citeh, as they believe they can work on their footballing skills whereas there's nothing they can do about their (lack of) height.

not doing much good for them though is it!

[dww]

Whilst I appreciate their height obviously doesn't automatically make them a better player many clubs deliberately scout taller boys, notably Everton and Man Citeh, as they believe they can work on their footballing skills whereas there's nothing they can do about their (lack of) height.

With that sort of mentality you have to say that Trevor Brooking asessment of the academy structure and general mentality of youth development in this country is right.

We badly need to get players to be more skillful at an earlier age.

[The_weatherman]

With that sort of mentality you have to say that Trevor Brooking asessment of the academy structure and general mentality of youth development in this country is right.

We badly need to get players to be more skillful at an earlier age.

Good point there, you get a lot of powerful thugs through but maybe England needs more Joe Cole´s?

[Rich]

Must admit I was 6'3" at 14/15... I had no right foot to speak of though, so Riise got my spot in the LFC squad

[PTP]

That height isn't exceptional. Both my sons (aged 13 and 15) play club and school football and you regularly see lads even in the Under 13s who are 6'0"+. My eldest lad is already 6 foot and one of his mates (who's had trials at Kirkby) is about 6'3" at just 15. The youngest lad has a few team-mates who are over 6'0" already.

It's quite comical at times watching Under 15 football because most of the players are taller than the adult coaches, referees and parents on the side. I've seen a few boys threaten to punch an abusive adult spectator!

Whilst I appreciate their height obviously doesn't automatically make them a better player many clubs deliberately scout taller boys, notably Everton and Man Citeh, as they believe they can work on their footballing skills whereas there's nothing they can do about their (lack of) height.

exactly - at school one of my bests mates who is a quality footballer, had trials at Crewe at 13 and was told by Dario Gradi "sorry son you are too small" - a lad a year or so younger who was a decent footballer but nowhere near as good as my mate, was signed by tranmere and went full time - he was 6ft at the age of 13/14 at his height was the primary reason he was signed.

[CAD]

Antiguoko?!?!?

I did Antiguoko once at a fullmoon party. What a rush

[dww]

exactly - at school one of my bests mates who is a quality footballer, had trials at Crewe at 13 and was told by Dario Gradi "sorry son you are too small" - a lad a year or so younger who was a decent footballer but nowhere near as good as my mate, was signed by tranmere and went full time - he was 6ft at the age of 13/14 at his height was the primary reason he was signed.

Although I'm shocked to hear it come from Gradi it is no surprise this attitude is rife at the lower leagues as to perform in them you almost always need to be able to take/give out a good kicking or if you are a forward be lightning quick. I think this is one of the reasons PL teams have historically not loaned out as many good players to the lower divisions as we might expect.

[Meursault]

Although I'm shocked to hear it come from Gradi it is no surprise this attitude is rife at the lower leagues as to perform in them you almost always need to be able to take/give out a good kicking or if you are a forward be lightning quick. I think this is one of the reasons PL teams have historically not loaned out as many good players to the lower divisions as we might expect.

Yes I'm quite shocked too. He certainly didn't tell Danny Murphy he was too ugly for pro terms.

[machiavelli]

Yes I'm quite shocked too. He certainly didn't tell Danny Murphy he was too ugly for pro terms.

[rushscored4]

exactly - at school one of my bests mates who is a quality footballer, had trials at Crewe at 13 and was told by Dario Gradi "sorry son you are too small" - a lad a year or so younger who was a decent footballer but nowhere near as good as my mate, was signed by tranmere and went full time - he was 6ft at the age of 13/14 at his height was the primary reason he was signed.

Although I'm shocked to hear it come from Gradi it is no surprise this attitude is rife at the lower leagues as to perform in them you almost always need to be able to take/give out a good kicking or if you are a forward be lightning quick. I think this is one of the reasons PL teams have historically not loaned out as many good players to the lower divisions as we might expect.

I'm surprised too about Dario Gradi as Crewe have an excellent reputation for nurturing young talent. Indeed one of my youngest son's mates is on their books in the Under 14 age group and whilst he's not short for his age he's no giant either. Last year my eldest lad's school played Rudheath (Northwich) who had two lads on Crewe's books: a massive lad at centre half and a small, very skillful midfielder with ginger hair who covered every blade of grass and scored a cracking goal from about 25 yards!

In response to Parm's comment about signing tall young players not doing Everton or Citeh much good, this policy has only been around for a few years and you could see from Citeh's team which we narrowly beat in last years FA Youth Cup Final that it is stating to work. Micah Richards is a classic example of the type of big, athletic kids they are looking for.

[zimbo]

....but maybe England needs more Joe Cole´s?

Apart from 'Presented by Vernon Kay' this must be the single most depressing sentence known to man.

[rushscored4]

Apart from 'Presented by Vernon Kay' this must be the single most depressing sentence known to man.

Apart from "another Koptalk exclusive"...