Dan Crowley

[Toronto Villa]

the fuss over this kid or the fuss over the likes of Wilshere is what annoys the piss out of me about England. Is Wilshere a good player? Yes. Is he world class? Not even fucking close. We go on about these players as if they are the next saviour. Well they are not. We bleat on about them because they are players that come along once in a while and are better than the other dross our system produces. The Germans, Spanish, French, Italians, Brazilians etc produce numerous players of Wilshere's quality and several that are much better which is why consistently they are better than England at the national level. As a nation we get so wrapped up in our own league and sense of self worth that we fail to see the damage we have done to ourselves.

At some point in time in the past 20-30 yrs England had a better national program and team than France, Germany and Spain as examples. Yet each of those nations in that time, identify the issues that held them back, were able to change what they did domestically that not only enhanced their own leagues, but created a steady stream of young players that would excel on the world stage. It remains shameful that a nation of 50m+, with one of the most profitable and lucrative domestic leagues on the planet should ever struggle to beat the likes Montenegro or Poland. Yet, we miss the forest for the trees, generation after generation. Instead of heralding Rooney or Gerrard as the best thing since sliced bread we should be creating many, many more of them, and not accepting them as a bar that is set once in a while. Instead that should be the minimum standard and it isn't. So we keep telling the world how great we are as a nation, and wonder why at the end of every tournament we never advance past the last 16 or 8, provided we even get there.

[Jenks]

The sorts of changes that Spain made 20 years ago and Germany made 10 years ago are the sorts of changes that England are making now. If anything I think it's testament to the changing attitudes in this country that players like Wilshere get the attention they do. In days gone by a diminutive, left-footed technical player like him would likely have been stuck out wide and forgotten about, and we'd have been harping on about Cleverley and Henderson because they score goals and run about a bit instead. That's not to say the level of hype is justified, but I'm glad that as a nation we're starting to get excited about players like Wilshere, Crowley, McEachran, Morrison etc. and not the same-old athletic types.

[Malandro]

The biggest problem England have had over the past 15 years is player intelligence. We've had some really thick planks, no idea about discipline or how to react to pressure.

[Greg N'Ash]

The progress of young players is something you can never bet on. Amount of times you hear about players who were the bees knees at 16 and fail, while the hard-working plodder who everyone thought was average develops into a premiership player, mainly due to attitude and realising he's not as good as the star man who doesn't have to practice. Good luck to him, he could be playing for England in 5 years time or Barnet. Only galling thing is if he does make it, everyone will praise Arsenal's youth set-up as though he had two left-feet before he joined them.

[Mister E]

The sorts of changes that Spain made 20 years ago and Germany made 10 years ago are the sorts of changes that England are making now. If anything I think it's testament to the changing attitudes in this country that players like Wilshere get the attention they do. In days gone by a diminutive, left-footed technical player like him would likely have been stuck out wide and forgotten about, and we'd have been harping on about Cleverley and Henderson because they score goals and run about a bit instead. That's not to say the level of hype is justified, but I'm glad that as a nation we're starting to get excited about players like Wilshere, Crowley, McEachran, Morrison etc. and not the same-old athletic types.

Leave Bannan out of this, please!

I tend to agree with your point though.
My son is currently taking his UEFA 'B' licence coaching badge. He's 21 and hopes to have his Pro licence by the age of thirty. There are 23-24 people on his current course (one of whom is Super Tommy Johnson) and there are several courses running.
The point I'm making is that the FA are belatedly making more efforts to get qualified coaches out there; which is good (Spain had 10x the number of coaches qualified UEFA 'B' or better than England when I last saw the stats a few years' ago). Less good is the fact that the junior game here still prioritises results over performance, which encourages the wrong behaviours.

[Brend'Watkins]

the fuss over this kid or the fuss over the likes of Wilshere is what annoys the piss out of me about England. Is Wilshere a good player? Yes. Is he world class? Not even fucking close. We go on about these players as if they are the next saviour. Well they are not. We bleat on about them because they are players that come along once in a while and are better than the other dross our system produces. The Germans, Spanish, French, Italians, Brazilians etc produce numerous players of Wilshere's quality and several that are much better which is why consistently they are better than England at the national level. As a nation we get so wrapped up in our own league and sense of self worth that we fail to see the damage we have done to ourselves.

At some point in time in the past 20-30 yrs England had a better national program and team than France, Germany and Spain as examples. Yet each of those nations in that time, identify the issues that held them back, were able to change what they did domestically that not only enhanced their own leagues, but created a steady stream of young players that would excel on the world stage. It remains shameful that a nation of 50m+, with one of the most profitable and lucrative domestic leagues on the planet should ever struggle to beat the likes Montenegro or Poland. Yet, we miss the forest for the trees, generation after generation. Instead of heralding Rooney or Gerrard as the best thing since sliced bread we should be creating many, many more of them, and not accepting them as a bar that is set once in a while. Instead that should be the minimum standard and it isn't. So we keep telling the world how great we are as a nation, and wonder why at the end of every tournament we never advance past the last 16 or 8, provided we even get there.

That's exactly it. I can only add that if the player is even marginally handsome and or has a girlfriend who is marginally attractive then that player's worth will be that much more.  Filling columns in tabloids is as important as anything that is done on the pitch.

[not3bad]

I can only add that if the player is even marginally handsome and or has a girlfriend who is marginally attractive then that player's worth will be that much more.  Filling columns in tabloids is as important as anything that is done on the pitch.

To be fair I think that kind of palava has been frowned upon since the infamous WAGS World cup of 2006.  Not that it did our lot much good in 2010.

[LeeB]

I can only add that if the player is even marginally handsome and or has a girlfriend who is marginally attractive then that player's worth will be that much more.  Filling columns in tabloids is as important as anything that is done on the pitch.

To be fair I think that kind of palava has been frowned upon since the infamous WAGS World cup of 2006.  Not that it did our lot much good in 2010.

Look at the palava over Beckham.

For me, he was about as talented as Andy Sinton, and I doubt remember the media revelling in a week of blanket coverage upon his retirement.

[not3bad]

I can only add that if the player is even marginally handsome and or has a girlfriend who is marginally attractive then that player's worth will be that much more.  Filling columns in tabloids is as important as anything that is done on the pitch.

To be fair I think that kind of palava has been frowned upon since the infamous WAGS World cup of 2006.  Not that it did our lot much good in 2010.

Look at the palava over Beckham.

I think Beckham's a bit of a one off in this regard.  To be fair to him he had the good sense to turn it all into "brand Beckham" and he's set up for life now.  And he seems to be a nice bloke so fair play to him.

[Jenks]

Less good is the fact that the junior game here still prioritises results over performance, which encourages the wrong behaviours.

Things are being changed in that regard too though, slowly but surely. With the EPPP coming in, the younger age groups now all play small sided games on smaller pitches which means more touches for the players, and it also stops the athletes from dominating like they do on a full size pitch. League tables have also been abolished for U11 and below.

U7's & U8's - 5v5
U9's & U10's - 7v7
U11's & U12's - 9v9

[Somniloquism]

I think Beckham's a bit of a one off in this regard.  To be fair to him he had the good sense to turn it all into "brand Beckham" and he's set up for life now.  And he seems to be a nice bloke so fair play to him.

No good sense from David at all. It was marrying a supposed singer who was being managed by Fuller and Cowell that created Brand Beckham. Don't forget Cowell renamed Opportunity Knocks and turned that into a world wide institution earning himself and his hangers on multiple millions. So it was easy enough to shove a footballer who already playing for the most famous club in the world, (after us) into the limelight and advertising.

[Somniloquism]

I tend to agree with your point though.
My son is currently taking his UEFA 'B' licence coaching badge. He's 21 and hopes to have his Pro licence by the age of thirty. There are 23-24 people on his current course (one of whom is Super Tommy Johnson) and there are several courses running.

Wasn't Joey Barton supposedly starting (or even passing) his UEFA 'B' badge? You can imagine his training regime. Cigars in the eyes if they misbehave and white kids only should apply unless the non whites can play with a broken jaw.

[tomd2103]

Less good is the fact that the junior game here still prioritises results over performance, which encourages the wrong behaviours.

Things are being changed in that regard too though, slowly but surely. With the EPPP coming in, the younger age groups now all play small sided games on smaller pitches which means more touches for the players, and it also stops the athletes from dominating like they do on a full size pitch. League tables have also been abolished for U11 and below.

U7's & U8's - 5v5
U9's & U10's - 7v7
U11's & U12's - 9v9

I think there are problems at the younger age groups which need to be addressed, but all that coaching goes out of the window when kids join a professional club whose manager doesn't want players "fannying" on the ball and wants the ball played forward as quickly as possible.

I also don't think enough is done with the younger "elite" level players in this country.  The top players join a club at 16 and then as they progress through the ranks, they might meet up with the national team a few times a year for games.  They are the ones that really should be worked with, so by the time they reach the full squad, they are ready for international football.  Identify "elite" young players and implement a system that prepare them better.  Different sport, but the ECB have done a decent job in doing that in cricket.  Again though I can see problems with players going back to clubs and being accused of being "Billy Big Bollocks" because they might try something different.   

[not3bad]

Identify "elite" young players and implement a system that prepare them better.

So what does the elite training centre that the FA have set up do if it doesn't do that?

[PeterWithesShin]

As I said before, for every player we lose, we poach many more. This is from a couple of weeks ago.

CORNISH footballer Liam Prynn will complete a dream move to Premier Division Aston Villa this summer after a ‘compensation package’ was agreed with Torquay United.

The 16-year-old, from Constantine, will put pen to paper on a two-year scholarship on July 5, before he turns professional in 2015 after agreeing a one-year contract.

It is rare for players of this age to be offered pro terms so soon, but Villa officials have been so impressed they were keen to tie the young Cornishman down, with several other top flight clubs keen to sign him.

Prynn, who goes to Penryn Sports College, was in the West Midlands with his family at the weekend to discuss his move to Villa Park after the Villains reached a financial agreement with League Two Torquay, the club the teenager has been at since the age of 13.