Trent Alexander-Arnold

[Harv]

You already highlighted the distinction, the issue if kids go all in on footy and miss education.

The answer must be a combination of both. Preventive and corrective.

Are these kids actually just ditching school all together though??

[Corndog]

From what I’ve read, some clubs have gotten much better at trying to temper expectations but others do nothing.

Regardless, it doesn’t always work because many societies idolise professional footballers and most of the stories you read in the media are about xyz making it to fulfil their dream.

I imagine that a lot of it does come down to how the parents either stoke or temper their expectations and I’m sure it also does come down to personal responsibility and maturity.

There are lots of kids like Gerrard for example where it wouldn’t have mattered who was his parent or what his club did, he didn’t care for school and by his own admission was terrible at it.

I’m sure it’s a tough thing to deal with but the problem stems from society creating unrealistic expectations even outside of football. Most people don’t get to achieve their ‘dream’, most people aren’t extraordinary and very few of us ever get the privilege of working something we are truly passionate about but it’s still possible to have a great life.

[Harv]

From what I’ve read, some clubs have gotten much better at trying to temper expectations but others do nothing.

Regardless, it doesn’t always work because many societies idolise professional footballers and most of the stories you read in the media are about xyz making it to fulfil their dream.

I imagine that a lot of it does come down to how the parents either stoke or temper their expectations and I’m sure it also does come down to personal responsibility and maturity.

There are lots of kids like Gerrard for example where it wouldn’t have mattered who was his parent or what his club did, he didn’t care for school and by his own admission was terrible at it.

I’m sure it’s a tough thing to deal with but the problem stems from society creating unrealistic expectations even outside of football. Most people don’t get to achieve their ‘dream’, most people aren’t extraordinary and very few of us ever get the privilege of working something we are truly passionate about but it’s still possible to have a great life.

Exactly.

[Fivex]

Eh? I know full well what its about.

plight

Youre making out like they all get tossed into a vat of molten metal and turned into subbuteo figures when they 'don't make it'.

[BG1973]

Are these kids actually just ditching school all together though??

Would imagine quite a few are a lot less focused than their contemporaries, for sure. Most higher level clubs now address that to a degree but I'd say its still a problem for them.

Sport is so crazy competitive, must be quite hard to find the balance of training/education at that age and that's with a stable family.

[Fosterbloke]

Why does being a failed footballer at youth level (at a top club at least - which doesn't mean your dreams of being a pro are crushed BTW) mean you need special treatment over any other kids from a similar background (if were going with the many footballers come from working-class, low-income and poorly educated areas argument)? A "leg up" as someone put it earlier.

What do you mean by 'other kids from a similar background'? Equivalent aged people that aren't footballers?

[Harv]

What do you think?

[Big-Red-Ed]

I get that kids don't realise their dreams in all sorts of ways. But Trent is a footballer and wants to help those that don't make it. Fair play to him.
I'm really loving him in this new role on the pitch. Suits him and us.

YNWA

[Doc_Piptorious]

Theres plenty of things they can do. Whether they want to or not is another question. If they're kids (15-16), you have plenty of time to finish off your education and maybe get to uni if you want. Im not sure how the uni system works over there, but certainly here if you don't get the grades you need to get into the degree you want then there are other avenues. Thats the path I took actually.

Im not taking issue with what Trents trying to do per se, more the over the top language and why limit it to just kids that didn't make it as pro footballers?

Guessing because that is down to him seeing the fall out within the football system and personally knowing people that went off the rails after not becoming a footballer.

He is a footballer and will know lots of failed footballers.

He has the means and profile to maybe help make a difference for some.

Your points made throughout your posts about the bigger picture are perfectly valid imo, however I think that this is something a lot smaller in scale that one guy is passionate about and as such is trying to do something about.


As for the non football kids, I think that is something society at large and the governments that society votes in should be who gets held to account on that front.

It should not be down to Marcus Rashford to be asking questions about if kids get enough to eat, down to Andrew Roberston to be trying to help foodbanks, Roy Keane to be helping with modern day soup kitchens or Trent Alexander Arnold to be looking out for young kids who struggle to adapt to the working world and so on. But all deserve kudos and praise for what they do try to do, something you did say yourself about TAA to be fair.

The real question is why are famous and non famous people alike having to do more and more to help others, and why are governments and local authorities not brought to task more and held accountable.

[Corndog]

I think it’s great that Trent does this if he thinks there’s a gap but I don’t see what he’s doing as a place for government.

Football clubs should help where relevant but I think the wider problem of unrealistic expectations is a cultural one in the west, particularly in countries where football is very popular and players are revered as Demi gods.

It’s up to all of society, parents, artists and the education system to change this if they want to by focusing on different ideas or themes.

[Corndog]

I think it might be time to play him as a 6, either in a double pivot with Fabinho or as a sole DM.

Need to find a good RB though if that’s to happen.

I don’t really see the advantage of having him drift in from RB as it comes with a pretty big risk at times

[Charly]

A six is a centreback

[rudedog]

6 is DM

[Irishnev]

6 is DM

Depends on the country - in Spain 4 was always the DM but for me 6 is DM

[rudedog]

Depends on the country - in Spain 4 was always the DM but for me 6 is DM

Yeah well Liverpool is not in Spain