Reply to Why Results Don't Mean Anything at U12

Forum Index » Soccer

Reply to "Why Results Don't Mean Anything at U12"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]About this hang up on physicality in American soccer....So I watched the Maradona HBO doc last night and it was the classic 'zero physical advantage so I had to find other ways'.  His footwork and smarts unbelievable.  Until the addictions.  A lot of truly amazing players fall into this category, Messi, Cryuff (said he was slow so had to be faster in his brain), Iniesta, Pep,  etc.

At the age of 16 Paul Scholes as he did not possess outstanding power, speed or athletic prowess which – unfortunately – is highly coveted by many misguided individuals involved at the grassroots level of the game. Without question, Scholes could have easily dropped out of the sport at a young age if the Manchester United academy staff were transfixed with short-term “success” and results. If they had been focusing on winning games, and therefore utilizing the capabilities of players who demonstrated greater speed and physicality, Paul Scholes would have been simply left on the bench. This is how Les Kershaw (the former Manchester United Academy Director) describes Paul Scholes and his development:

"He was a little one. He had asthma. No strength. No power. No athleticism. No endurance. 'You've got a bleeding dwarf,' I remember somebody said to Brian Kidd (Former youth-team coach). 'You will eat your words,' said Kidd. If Scholes had been at a lesser club, they would have got rid of him and he would probably not be in the game now. We stuck with Scholes, a wonderful technician.

He ended up one of the best midfielders of all time.  Sir Alex Ferguson (former Manchester United manager): “He has a clever football brain. He’s two-footed, has a quick football brain and that marks him out as one of the best players in the game. He`s actually the cleverest midfield player we’ve ever had. To work with him has been an absolute pleasure.”

The US will never be like this because the end game is 18 college.  There isn't time for kids to show later potential.  The sport is done for them when they could just be coming into their own.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics