worcestersauce
"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
- Jan 23, 2006
- 26,951
- 45,210
After the sad failure of our under 21's yesterday we will all no doubt ask what went wrong and why!
Did anyone read the article in the Observer (possibly elsewhere) about the selection process for our clubs academies in England? It tells a very poor story of just what I think is wrong with it.
The FA has done a study and found that academies select a disproportionate number of autumn babies over others, the figures are frankly unbelievable:
the numbers break down thus.
Boys born from September to December = 57%
Boys born from January to April = 29%
Boys born from May to August = 14%
I still find it hard to believe but does anyone think that something in the weather makes autumn babies more skillful and better players than Summer babies? Of course not so why is it.
Personally it seems clear to me that September boys are 9 months to a year older than May-August boys and so are more mature, bigger, stronger and faster and this is the pathetic blind way our clubs and their scouts choose our players of the future.
One pleasing aspect in this is that the paper states that: Tottenham Hotspur now tailor the scouting and development of their future stars to ensure a players talent rather than his birthday or size. Well done Spurs.
Does anyone else know this or have another explanation?
Did anyone read the article in the Observer (possibly elsewhere) about the selection process for our clubs academies in England? It tells a very poor story of just what I think is wrong with it.
The FA has done a study and found that academies select a disproportionate number of autumn babies over others, the figures are frankly unbelievable:
the numbers break down thus.
Boys born from September to December = 57%
Boys born from January to April = 29%
Boys born from May to August = 14%
I still find it hard to believe but does anyone think that something in the weather makes autumn babies more skillful and better players than Summer babies? Of course not so why is it.
Personally it seems clear to me that September boys are 9 months to a year older than May-August boys and so are more mature, bigger, stronger and faster and this is the pathetic blind way our clubs and their scouts choose our players of the future.
One pleasing aspect in this is that the paper states that: Tottenham Hotspur now tailor the scouting and development of their future stars to ensure a players talent rather than his birthday or size. Well done Spurs.
Does anyone else know this or have another explanation?
