Sunday Reading: Scout Interviews, Finances and English Youth
It’s been an interesting week in Football mainly for the wrong reasons. Ashley Cole shooting practise, Alex Fergusons hypocritical rants and evidence that hooliganism has moved from the the stands to the pitch. After a week of indiscipline lets move away from that and look at the beautiful game.
Exclusive Interview: Tor-Kristian Karlsen – Football Italiano
Tor-Kristian is a scout that has worked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, as well as having a popular section of the Calico Italia magazine. A insightful snapshot into the thoughts of a working scout make for interesting reading. Discussing what he looks for in players, what make a successful scouting infrastructure and several Italian clubs. Such common sense things when you think what might be a successful scouting system. That it make you wonder why not everyone gets it right.
Why do you think British players and Coaches rarely move to other European leagues?
People often explain this by pointing to the wage structure of English football, that there is no need for British players and Coaches to move abroad as the money is close to home. That is a simplification, in my opinion. In fact, there has never been a huge interest in British players from continental Europe, even during the days when the continental leagues paid the higher wages. It is very complex: I believe it is down to a variety of reasons, and it is a more suitable subject for a long article than in a short interview.
It is a subject that should be developed further but one that strikes me is the lack of interest in English players. Does this show really that it is the players in this country that are not good enough and why English clubs often look to import talent? English players over valued by their clubs, maybe encouraging loan moves or permanent moves for players across Europe and the world could really improve English football it’s national team.
Arsenal Hold The Key for England’s 2014 World Cup Success – Back Page Football
Arsenal have often been criticised at the lack of English talent that he has fielded over the years, often countering the argument that once someone good enough comes along they will play. Wenger has certainly made an effort to find and develop these young players and these could prove key figures when England travel to Brazil in 2014.
With Wallcott, Gibbs and Wilshere all looking to have matured by 2014. It shows how far Wenger has come in looking to bring in English players into the side, that likes of which that can fall into the footballing philosophy that he has looked to build over the last few years. With the Under 17′s and Under 21′s success over the last few seasons in international competitions. The players that will be joining them in the 2014 squad could be exciting indeed.
The Great English Talent Race – Regista
There seems to be a common theme in blogging this week. Michael puts it across that the big clubs and big money moneys are hampering the development of young players. Players of which could have glittering careers at lower league levels or lower premiership level before joining up with the best teams in Europe to shine. But when a the next Wayne Rooney comes around, it is always Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United that are sniffing around as they stockpile the best talent.
It is an odd paradox. Playing with the best players in the world, looking to force yourself into a first team squad should make you a better footballer. But opportunities are limited, without competitive football it’s hard to shine and too many players will be snapped up at big clubs and will never see the light of day. This brings us back to another point made earlier. Why aren’t young players looking for good opportunities abroad? Where a different brand of football is played, new styles learned to develop better players as a whole. Money thrown at these young players could in fact be holding them back.
Financial instability continues to see David beat Golaith in Lower Leagues – Just Football.com
Financial mismanagement and go for broke in search of success mentality is not just something that has been practised at the higher end of the leagues. But lower down their are too many teams that have now become ghosts of their former selves due to the unsustainable practises. Allowing clubs who have grown steadily to over take.
