English world class footballers

So most of us watched the Ballon d’Or and quite rightfully Mr Messi picked up the award, he truly is a world class player.  I noted not a single English player was in the ‘team of 2012’ all were either Spanish or South American so why is this? Why aren’t we producing world class players anymore? I think it’s down to two things, firstly the game has changed it has become faster and more technical and secondly coaching, when I say coaching I mean coaching kids from a young age to mould them into world class players.

A lot of people I speak to get on a high horse when they hear of professional clubs snapping up kids of 5, 6, 7 years old.  They are too young! they are babies! you can’t tell at that age how they will be! WRONG

I beg to differ, this attitude is dated.  If you can find a outstanding player at 5, 6, 7 years old and integrate them into a professional development program you can create world class players of the future.  By outstanding I mean outstanding for their age,  I’m not saying you will find any complete players at that age, far from it.  They need to be outstanding against kids their own age or even against kids year or two above.

Size was always looked at first in days gone by when scouting kids, give me a strong tall ball who is quick and powerful and I’ll make a player out of him.  WRONG! just look at the ‘team of 2012’ only 2 or 3 were 6ft or taller.  Smaller players seem to have a lower centre of gravity giving them superior technical ability and technical ability is without doubt more important than ever.  The game has changed whether you like it or not, it’s become more technical and for me personally I like that.  I like see individual brilliance working within teams.  The bigger boys scouted at a young age more often than not get caught up with in size and then overtaken ability wise by the smaller boys who have had to work harder technically in training in order to fend off the larger boys.  These larger boys then have their dreams shattered when they get released at 12-14 years old.

There are now several academies in England who over the last few years have seen the light and in the next 10-15 years we will see this pay off them and England will once again produce some world class players.

There is kid who I have seen play twice against my son’s team in our U7 hertfordshire league who is exactly the type of kid clubs now go for, you can see it a mile off.  He’s is not big but technically/mentally years ahead of all the other players on the pitch. His touch is unbelievable for a 6 year old.  I spoke to his dad who said he is training with a couple of premier league academy teams but he can’t sign with anyone until he is U9’s.  He was recently on BBC2’s Match of Day’s kickabout showing off his footballing skills.   He has a couple of Youtube videos but i can’t find the player link to the feature which is a shame.  But take a look, this is what I’m talking about.  If there are 20 or 30 6 year olds like this boy in England at only 6 years old if they all get world class coaching for the next 15 years why can’t we produce 10 world class players out of them?

http://youtu.be/5pf-IC0pgxM

My thoughts are snap the talented youngsters up as soon as possible and give them world class coaching.  Look at what the Chinese do with their divers? maybe slightly overkill on the hours they do but they are untouchable because they have been moulded into world class athletes.