|
Post by luisluis on Oct 25, 2017 18:04:07 GMT
|
|
|
Post by luisluis on Oct 27, 2017 2:52:44 GMT
More on the brutal nature of the English football academies. link Premier League Castoffs, Starting Over at Age 11
"Focus Football is run by Sean Daly, a gruff but well-connected former employee at Chelsea and Tottenham. Daly, 28, has built a reputation for resurrecting the “careers” of children, some as young as 8, who have been told they are not good enough to play elite-level soccer." "The stat that is relevant here is that around one-third of 1 percent of all boys who enter an academy at the age of 9 will make a living from the game,” said Michael Calvin, who has written a book about the youth academy economy. Calvin said even fewer — “only 180 of the 1.5 million boys who are playing organized youth football in England at any one time” — will play a single minute in the Premier League."
|
|
|
Post by agooner on Nov 1, 2017 15:03:31 GMT
Having dual Canadian-British citizenship, I will admit, this 'notion' has passed through my mind, although fleetingly at most.
IF (huge huge IF) my son's pathway affords him any advantage or benefit from leaving Canada, my ancestry or that of my wife (Portugal and Brazil parentage) might be of benefit. But given the stats, and knowing that the channels are flooded with localized prospects who have placed 100% of their future lives in to such a future, I'm not being so naive.
Instead, I'm choosing to find my son the best possible footballing education close to his home (literally), but my priorities for him as an 8 yr old are centered around his own proclivity and enjoyment. Anything else at this point is just pure folly in my opinion...
|
|
|
Post by agooner on Nov 1, 2017 15:17:00 GMT
One question I didn't see answered in that review is...
Why don't these kids try a 2nd or 3rd division lg academy? Many footballers start at a lower lg academy and either get picked up by one in a higher league, or, the player signs a professional contract when of age and then they might transfer to a higher division club (or their Club might be promoted).
What happened to focusing on fundamentals and being a well rounded player and all that entails (including the social, personal development and leadership skills). These kids are going to burn out and leave the game out of hate or fear or some other negative emotion.
|
|
|
Post by luisluis on Nov 1, 2017 18:22:17 GMT
Im sure many of these kids start outside the academy system and get drawn in. I suppose once they get a taste of the "big time", its difficult to start over somewhere "lower". But I agree with you, nothing wrong with having a go at a lesser known academy and work your way to up. The numbers will always be against your favor however. Best bet is to get as much exposure as possible. One question I didn't see answered in that review is... Why don't these kids try a 2nd or 3rd division lg academy? Many footballers start at a lower lg academy and either get picked up by one in a higher league, or, the player signs a professional contract when of age and then they might transfer to a higher division club (or their Club might be promoted). What happened to focusing on fundamentals and being a well rounded player and all that entails (including the social, personal development and leadership skills). These kids are going to burn out and leave the game out of hate or fear or some other negative emotion.
|
|