He would be perfect. Good CV. He always speaks well in the media. And if nothing else he would cost a fair bit less than Delaney.
He's got a pretty good CV for an ex-pro in fairness.
He would be perfect. Good CV. He always speaks well in the media. And if nothing else he would cost a fair bit less than Delaney.
Wasn't sure where exactly to put this, but Early is bang on in this article about big clubs and youth development even if it is stating the bleeding obvious. At the same time who can blame youngsters from going to clubs when they are often promised the sun, moon and stars, later to find themselves questioning their 'failure' when released and picked up by smaller clubs. Maybe the new U17 competition might educate players to the pitfalls of signing for big clubs.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...lent-1.2311686
Probably not the best thread for this but kind of relevant. A pal is on the board of Dulwich Hamlets FC in south London.
This article was in today's Observer.
http://www.theguardian.com/global/20...share_btn_link
Irish Footballers in the EPL 1992-2015
Republic Of Ireland footballers in the EPL
Compared to Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
that's a really interesting statistic. I would have assumed that our numbers would be way down vs the early 90's. Kind of calls the argument that we "don't have the players" into question. I understand that people might retort with the point that we don't have as many players playing with the top teams as we did in the 90's but neither do England to be perfectly frank.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
You could probably also make a case that the non-top teams are better than they were before so it's not like all our players are a league below.
England still have an awful lot of players playing for the top clubs to be fair. I know they flirt with the likes of Austin and Vardy these times but this was their most recent team in their qualifying group:
- 01 Hart
- 02 Jones (Lallana - 45' )
- 05 Cahill
- 06 Smalling
- 03 Gibbs
- 04 Henderson
- 07 Wilshere
- 08 Delph (Clyne - 85' )
- 11 Townsend (Walcott - 74' )
- 10 Rooney
- 09 Sterling
Including the used substitutes only Delph plays for a side outside what I would consider 'the big six' of Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool & Tottenham, although Clyne was with Southampton at the time. They have the likes of Jagielka and Barkley who often start as well and Everton should probably be the next best in England. Our stand out players (on paper at least) are the Everton contingent.
Looking at that team sheet though it's kind of surprising that they've so many (relatively) average players playing with the top clubs, it's easy to understand the English clubs recent Champions League performances in that context.
Bit harsh on Delph - hasn't had much of a chance to impress for Man City but to say he doesn't play at all...
Jesus I actually forgot about the u-turn!
Both of you (DeLorean and SkStu) are correct in your respective ways of looking at it. Most of England's regularly-selected senior international players still play for the top teams, but I think it's also accurate to say that Hodgson/the FA have fewer English players from whom to choose at those big clubs nowadays compared to the choice that England managers might have had from those same clubs in former days. Proportionately, England now have fewer players at the bigger clubs now.
Years ago, England had the option of players like Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Ray Parlour or Dennis Wise at the big clubs. That's just a few names straight off the top of my head, but would it be fair to say they were never anything more than peripheral (excess) players for England, whilst the fewer regular English starters at the bigger clubs now are invariably pivotal to the international side's fortunes?
Stephen Hunt on academy stars not making it as professionals: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31487838.html
Interview with Rudd Dokter about the player development plan: https://soundcloud.com/heraldstriker...rudd-dokterwav
Interesting read here about lads falling through the UK academies into upper non league, electing more and more to head stateside into the college / scholarship system instead and some doing very well, educationally and career wise. I wonder if many Irish lads are taking this route, there must be plenty candidates after each UK cull.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34097904
Depressing article in one way, but if NI can do it, we should be able to use a similar model to develop players in the future.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34244549.html
Same paper also reports John Devine is leaving SDSL for a nice job working for Bayern in the USA.
Some interesting facts about the numbers of games Scotland's underage players are getting in the SPL/Scottish Championship in this article: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35391918
The tone overall is pretty bleak towards Scottish football at the moment, but their U19s beat Ireland 4-0 only a few months ago, maybe their future isn't so bad?
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