Liam Bradys take on underage structure

**paul_oshea** · 31/07/2012, 9:53 AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...t-3186192.html

Given the other threads and some informed posts on the matter, i thought it appropriate to create a new thread, its a good read and shows brady has a good insight into the goings-on and goings-wrong of the underage structure in football in ireland.

**Stuttgart88** · 31/07/2012, 10:32 AM

"The problem is the power of the schoolboys clubs. Some of them are making a lot of money out of young players going to England so there's real competition to hold on to their players and not let anybody have them. They don't like the FAI having influence on them."

Therein lies the rub.

**Junior** · 31/07/2012, 10:58 AM

Agh, for a minute I misread that as Liam Brady takes on underage structure

**ifk101** · 31/07/2012, 12:09 PM

‘Phase two of our Abbotstown project is the creation of a national academy complete with seven top class training pitches,’ said Delaney.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...05/225573-fai/

There are/ were plans for a national academy. Might be a few more decades away. :-)

**Junior** · 31/07/2012, 12:54 PM

The opening of the new headquarters completes the first phase of the FAI’s National Sports Campus project and chief executive John Delaney said the focus will now shift to quickly completing the second phase.

‘Phase two of our Abbotstown project is the creation of a national academy complete with seven top class training pitches,’ said Delaney.

That article is dated Dec 2007.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2012, 3:19 PM

The Evening Herald report completely omits the part where Brady says Trap is unlikely to abandon the 442 and gives the impression he's ready to drop Robbie.

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/br...y-3186519.html

**nigel-harps1954** · 31/07/2012, 3:51 PM

Completely ignored the high standard under-19 league going on here at present. Also I believe there is plans to introduce an under 17 national league here too in the coming year or two.

All Brady knows these days is English football. Wrong person to be asking about the future of Irish football.

**Alf Honn** · 31/07/2012, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Completely ignored the high standard under-19 league going on here at present. Also I believe there is plans to introduce an under 17 national league here too in the coming year or two.

All Brady knows these days is English football. Wrong person to be asking about the future of Irish football.

Yes. And if he cared that much, he should quit Arsenal and take up Wim Koeverman's old job in the FAI to make a difference. Oh wait - that would require bravery.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2012, 4:27 PM

Bit much to call his bravery into account. He never said he wanted the job, he just answered the questions he was asked. Why on earth would anyone want to work with the FAI?

**OwlsFan** · 31/07/2012, 4:38 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Why on earth would anyone want to work with the FAI?

The wages are good ?

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2012, 4:43 PM

Not if you have an important job.

**DannyInvincible** · 31/07/2012, 5:04 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

All Brady knows these days is English football.

That becomes very clear when RTÉ get him on to do the rare European qualifiers involving Irish clubs that they cover.

**Alf Honn** · 31/07/2012, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Bit much to call his bravery into account. He never said he wanted the job, he just answered the questions he was asked. Why on earth would anyone want to work with the FAI?

He's already worked with them before.

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2012, 5:15 PM

How did that work out for him?

**Murfinator** · 31/07/2012, 8:25 PM

Whatever about the root of our problems he is correct that the young players we have coming through are of a very poor standards. He says they aren't similar to the golden generation of Keane/Duff etc, thats for damn sure but I'd go one further and say they aren't even at the level of the players we had coming through 5 years ago with the likes of Doyle, McGeady, Long, Whelan, Westwood etc. The reality is that the "star" of our young players Robbie Brady is in no better of a position at his age than McShane or Stokes were so you could very easily see his career go either way. There's no probable successes like he said.

It is very worrying times ahead post-2014

**Charlie Darwin** · 31/07/2012, 8:35 PM

Doyle, McGeady and Long weren't "coming through" five years ago - they were established in the international set-up. Westwood hadn't even declared for us.

Our current underage sides are enjoying success that would have been unimaginable 5 years ago - in fact, we hadn't achieved anything of note below the senior side since Keane and Duff emerged in the late 90s. Of those sides that won medals at World Cups and European Championships, only a handful actually made long-term international careers, and aside from Duff and Keane they weren't necessarily the obvious ones. It's hard to judge who will make the grade from the current crop but our current crop are definitely more promising than those of five years ago.

**magicman** · 01/08/2012, 1:56 AM

Completely ignored the high standard under-19 league going on here at present. Also I believe there is plans to introduce an under 17 national league here too in the coming year or two.

He isn't talking about U17-U19. He is talking about how kids brought into the game are being coached incorrectly. While players can always develop in the late teen years, most, if not coached properly from an early age, will never reach a high level

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

All Brady knows these days is English football. Wrong person to be asking about the future of Irish football.

Rubbish. The man is the director of the Arsenal academy. He surely sees a decent amount of games involving Irish players plying their trade in the English League and he commented that the standard isn't good enough.

To me he is one of the best people to ask about the future of Irish football.

Yes. And if he cared that much, he should quit Arsenal and take up Wim Koeverman's old job in the FAI to make a difference. Oh wait - that would require bravery.

Why should he quit his job? He has more than likely seen the workings in Ireland and known it was a pointless task at present. Considering his position at Arsenal, it's more than likely he would have been involved somewhat with Koeverman during his tenure.

**Murfinator** · 01/08/2012, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Doyle, McGeady and Long weren't "coming through" five years ago - they were established in the international set-up. Westwood hadn't even declared for us.

Our current underage sides are enjoying success that would have been unimaginable 5 years ago - in fact, we hadn't achieved anything of note below the senior side since Keane and Duff emerged in the late 90s. Of those sides that won medals at World Cups and European Championships, only a handful actually made long-term international careers, and aside from Duff and Keane they weren't necessarily the obvious ones. It's hard to judge who will make the grade from the current crop but our current crop are definitely more promising than those of five years ago.

Unimaginable because of Don Givens, not because the talent wasn't there.

**Charlie Darwin** · 01/08/2012, 11:31 AM

The talent wasn't there though. We have better players now playing a better brand of football. We have no stars like Keane and Duff, but plenty of prospects.

**paul_oshea** · 01/08/2012, 12:47 PM

ah we have always had plenty of prospects and if keane and duff were the only ones who actually made it hte last time,then we have a hell of a lot to be worried about.