If our players are so good why do we get shit transfer fees?

[sonic youth]

if he wasn't tall and strong, he'd fade into obscurity. it's stupid really, prem clubs just buy up any youngster decent enough to play in the lower leagues if they've got the physical attributes.

[JPC82]

if he wasn't tall and strong, he'd fade into obscurity. it's stupid really, prem clubs just buy up any youngster decent enough to play in the lower leagues if they've got the physical attributes.

Chris Allen is prob technically one of the best footballers at the club, if he was 6ft he would be at a prem club

[sonic youth]

exactly. the only reason nobody has taken a punt on him is cos he's a midget!

[JPC82]

exactly. the only reason nobody has taken a punt on him is cos he's a midget!

well i dont think hes quite in the Warwick Davis catergory but i take your point

[sonic youth]

he's clearly a primordial dwarf

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/jul2007/5/2/F7A8E898-F6EE-08FB-29C8A6393EB72C40.jpg

joking aside, he's impressed me whenever he's been given a chance in the first team this season. not sure he's at his most effective in front of the back four, would rather see him further forward

[JPC82]

he's clearly a primordial dwarf

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icliverpool/jul2007/5/2/F7A8E898-F6EE-08FB-29C8A6393EB72C40.jpg

joking aside, he's impressed me whenever he's been given a chance in the first team this season. not sure he's at his most effective in front of the back four, would rather see him further forward

 , he isnt a Makelele type player hes the opposite, cant tackle but great vison and technically sound, he could maybe suit us as a AMC in fm terms

[Boeta]

if he wasn't tall and strong, he'd fade into obscurity. it's stupid really, prem clubs just buy up any youngster decent enough to play in the lower leagues if they've got the physical attributes.

the long-term athlete development programme suggests it is a lot easier to make a footballer (or cricketer, rugby player and so on) out of an athlete, than it is to make an athlete out of a footballer

http://www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/html/rg_ltad.html
http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/publications/planning-for-long-term-success,736,BP.html
http://www.ltad.ca/content/home.asp

[sonic youth]

isn't that what i just said?

[Boeta]

it seemed to me that you said buying 'athletes' rather than 'footballers' was stupid - whereas research suggests its a better method

[JPC82]

isn't that what i just said?

it is indeed mate

[JPC82]

it seemed to me that you said buying 'athletes' rather than 'footballers' was stupid - whereas research suggests its a better method

thats why our national team is in the state it is, look at the best in the business Brazil, all about pure football ability

[sonic youth]

it seemed to me that you said buying 'athletes' rather than 'footballers' was stupid - whereas research suggests its a better method

no

you can coach technical skills, you can't coach someone to grow taller

[JPC82]

the problem goes down to 11yr olds, i believe that 11 & 12yr olds play on full size pitches, thats just encourages kids managers to play the bigger lads, in France they play on smaller pitches to a much older age where between ages of like 11-15 they get better technically than our kids do

[Boeta]

it seemed to me that you said buying 'athletes' rather than 'footballers' was stupid - whereas research suggests its a better method

thats why our national team is in the state it is, look at the best in the business Brazil, all about pure football ability

i tend to think the problem is that we don't build athletes or technically good players

the 'win culture' in youth football is an absolute mess.

when i played from 8-15 i really didn't improve technically as a player. nor was i particularly fast, quick or strong. the coaches were as passionate, committed and enthusiastic as you could possibly wish but they just didn't have the understanding or the skills to produce quality players. and this happens in more or less every club in the country. after not playing for 4 years i have taken up playing again over the last year, and although i'm nothing special i have improved considerably using learning techniques i have gathered through cricket

in terms of sports psychology and coaching football (here anyway) is so far behind sports like tennis

[Arriba]

exactly. the only reason nobody has taken a punt on him is cos he's a midget!

and lightweight and unable to cope with the physical side of pro footy yet.
great toch agreed but more to pro footy than that.i hope he bulks up and makes it mind