'Why we won't copy Barca' - Rodolfo Borrell

[Rich]

Jack Wilshire?

Well done

[el matador]

Jack Wilshire?

any others ?

[Drago]

Nah I know it was a good post. Jack is an exception.

He's a hard wee ****e that isn't afraid to get stuck in. That's rare for a player his build.

[RedReet]

any others ?

Joe Cole?

I hear he used to be a good player.

[dww]

Should we be looking to perpetuate the big player bias at younger levels though. Certainly that hasn't been the Wenger way - although he has balanced the needs by having a lot of athletes along side the likes of Wilshere and Lansbury. A lot of the players Arsenal have out on loan are pretty short I've noticed (as opposed to a few years ago when they were mostly man mountain types).

[el matador]

Joe Cole?

I hear he used to be a good player.

I think he's 5 10.

[el matador]

Should we be looking to perpetuate the big player bias at younger levels though. Certainly that hasn't been the Wenger way - although he has balanced the needs by having a lot of athletes along side the likes of Wilshere and Lansbury. A lot of the players Arsenal have out on loan are pretty short I've noticed (as opposed to a few years ago when they were mostly man mountain types).

it depends on whether you want to develop good players or good teams.

If you want a strong team then you go for the bigger lads, if you want strong players then you would have a much better mix of more physically able players and the smaller talented ones.

We should always be looking to develop good players at the expense of good teams. In simple terms it means sacrificing results for the sake of developping talented players.

The more simplistic example is having a 6 footer in the under 14's as a striker who is strong and quick. He will win headers and will scores plenty from wide high crosses into the box and will hold up the ball really well.

He's not special but he's effective. Now instead of playing him, you have a finisher who is much smaller, nowhere near as quick but is a genuine talent and can score goals but needs more support in attack.

If you want to win matches, you play the bigger lad and if you want to develop talent you always stick to the smaller lad. Its a bit like comparing Neil mellor to robbie fowler. At 16 mellor was a beast but fowler had more talent.

Neil mellor now plays in the lower league and fowler went on to play for england and liverpool.

Its a simplistic example but it illustrates the problem in the football structure in this country. Dickhead coaches shouting at kids when they lose the ball and bollocking them for every single mistake obsessed with winning matches.

[RedReet]

I think he's 5 10.

What's the limit to get into this illustrious club?