Youth Development

[el matador]

chief...

ive spent some time in spain and i can tell you that their system works so well because of the lack of black players. in la liga there are hardly any black players and in youth systems theres even less.

spanish academies are full of small, white highly technical players. the emphasis is on technical ability, not pace, power and height. the players compare equally atheletically and then the differences between players come down to talent. fernando torres isnt your typical spanish player, he's tall quick and not brilliant technically. he works so well in our league but when he plays for spain he looks ordinary.

players will play to instinct - to whatever attributes that come naturally. i dont have time to explain this but ive been coaching for years now and i speak from experience.

anyway off to watch tango or whatever at cinema with kids.

[BigChief]

I think we're both agreeing on the same point el.

I am Asian (Pakistani) and the build of Iniesta. In my younger days I could one two like Iniesta with added advantage of actually being faster than him as well. I reckon I would have had a great shot at professional football in Spain. Alas, I was in my teens in the early 90s in England.

Its a shame to see England hasn't even budged a centimetre since my pathetic days. Like I said, more managers like Wenger, Rafa, Deschamp, Pep and less like Grady and Roy the better. Maybe in another 10 years time.

[little dave hedgehog]

shouldn't we call you little chief?

[Drago]

So in summary, you were better then Iniesta but the players in the English league were too big for you.

[Shanks]

chief...

ive spent some time in spain and i can tell you that their system works so well because of the lack of black players. in la liga there are hardly any black players and in youth systems theres even less.

spanish academies are full of small, white highly technical players. the emphasis is on technical ability, not pace, power and height. the players compare equally atheletically and then the differences between players come down to talent. fernando torres isnt your typical spanish player, he's tall quick and not brilliant technically. he works so well in our league but when he plays for spain he looks ordinary.

players will play to instinct - to whatever attributes that come naturally. i dont have time to explain this but ive been coaching for years now and i speak from experience.

anyway off to watch tango or whatever at cinema with kids.

Good post.

[Fosterbloke]

I'm fascinated by the number of ex-players here! I couldn't even muster a game for pub team.

[el matador]

Good post.

ok here goes...

all players play to their natural instinct. thats why you always hear coaches telling kids to get back into position, to pass it quicker, to run with it...

Most kids will stick to what they do best. If they run quick they will always resort to using that trait in whatever they do, dribbling, chasing etc... Some players are built like tanks but have no pace. The lad up front who couldnt run but who can head the ball really well and no-one can knock him off it. He will always use his strength like beattie.

Usually taller stronger lads will use their strength, black lads will use strength and speed, smaller white / asian lads will use their technical ability.

Thats usually the way it works. The idea of proper coaching is to get players out of their comfort zone and look to enhance other areas of their game that arent as strong - ie if theyre quick, they have to learn not to use their pace all the time.

Look at theo walcott, as a coach you just know that everyone at saints was always telling the kid to run and keep running. No one said to him to slow down and look to make a yard first before trying to run like a gazelle. Unless he has 40 yards ahead of him unmarked he is totally useless.

Anyway, the spanish model cannot ever work here because of the physicality of the english game. you cannot only produce 5 10' technical players because they wouldnt get through.

Raul meireles wouldnt have stood a chance in the english youth system.

[BigChief]

So in summary, you were better then Iniesta but the players in the English league were too big for you.

That came out all wrong. Or not.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there are loads of good footballers in this country who will never get past trials, or even parks. Put Iniesta in Barn Elms trials (before the professional fitness conditioning) and see how many scouts notice him. I can tell you it will be absolutely zero.

[BigChief]

shouldn't we call you little chief?

Yes, yes you should.