Practice penalties kicks. What’s the point?

This blog is not for the upcoming Euro Championship, or for the playoff games. There isn’t £200m at stake, no press will be there and no TV. It’s for youth players. If I stopped 1000 people in the city where it was held I would stake a large amount of money that 1,000 wouldn’t know about it and wouldn’t care. However 999 will know about and 995 will care about the 11^th June when England play Russia.

With all the work and investment the FA have made in football development education programs you would think the message would be getting through to parents. I don’t know the exact statistics or even how they would measure the success of this so I can only go on experience. On the whole there is clear improvement to side-line behaviour, but problems still exist. This is based on what I experience and the last week clearly shows there is still work to be done. Personally I feel that a lot of parents and unruly coaches have simply been ‘gagged’. So what we have done is make them feel tremendously guilty for shouting and that ‘on the whole’ is not a bad thing. We’ve done that by means of codes of conducts and parents courses which focus heavily on aggressive touchline behaviour and its affects. Courses are hard to get people to attend, that I know. But I feel maybe if someone went into a club and did a free workshop but focus more on the football development side. Because what I have seen and heard in the last weeks and consistently over the last 20 years is comments from parents where they ‘know best’. That’s the problem with our great sport and its popularity. Were all experts. So rather than just chucking guilt at parents & volunteer unqualified coaches (and unruly qualified coaches), we should maybe come at it more from a technical development perspective. Like a dressed down youth module. Educate them!

For example. We do some work with a club/organisation. (I don’t want to highlight the individuals for obvious reasons). We coach the children on a regular basis once a week. They are U10/U11. As part of that we took them in a tournament and recently they got knocked out of that tournament on penalties. One lad missed. In the days that followed it was commented back to us that parents had ‘complained’, albeit not directly to us, that it was the coaches fault. Because? He had not practiced penalties with the lads the week before. Now anyone that knows anything about football at any age know's this is outrageous. In particular when it comes to children of this age. We of course feel that we need address this but I’m sure it will be met with resistance. It takes me back to my days when I helped out in grass roots football and constantly fighting parents that know better and apparently know who the best players are and know how to win football matches. They think then that because you place development ahead of winning games that you’re a happy clapper and don’t care about winning.

The truth is, we just don’t care about winning as much as they do. Do I want the kids to lose? Of course not. Do I want them to win? Of course I do. I made this clear in my previous blog http://tonymccool.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/WinVLose.html

Schools and Academies made mistakes in removing the intrinsic natural winning motivation from children in PE and Games. But let’s be reminded why they did. 99.9% of the issues were on the side-lines, not on the pitch. So, I want to win and so does my colleague Kevin Gallen (the most competitive person I know) But, I’m not prepared to sacrifice development to win at all cost and nor will Kevin.

Regarding the penalty situation then. Why don’t we address it. Maybe those individuals involved will read this and perhaps have a rethink about the complaint. I just want them to think about it.

First and foremost, it’s our view that a penalty in a competitive situation is much more a psychological challenge than it is technical. Hence why it’s been proven over the years to be the case that many managers of some of the top teams in the world have not even bothered to practice penalties prior to some of the world’s biggest knock out football matches. Why? Because it’s pointless. If you’re an international football player, hitting an 18m² target from 12 yards should be pretty straight forward. On the training ground they would hit it showboating. But put 60,000 people in a stadium, do press conferences leading up to the game with journalist asking “what happens if you lose”? Think about what happens if you hoof it over the bar and years of teasing and torment. Think about all the back pages and the comments from people in the street. Now let an eye drift into the stand and see the fans waving and sticking their fingers up at you. All these dynamics are barriers and obstacles that you zone out from. Top players can do this. Most then that I have spoken to that took penalties in pro football have said to me. They pick a spot before the game and never change their mind. This includes Kevin Gallen who of course took many penalties and said: “on occasions, as a young player, of course, sometimes you did notice the 5000 people behind the goal distracting you with songs, verbal abuse and even miming ways they wanted to kill you”

So, how do you practice that? The only way possible for let’s say elite players, is to go to tournaments that are competitive knock out formats in stadiums that prepare you mentally for such situations. My current academy club have been excellent at this and I even remember at my previous club a great tournament in Oostende where we went on a regular basis with the U14/U15 youth team. One year I recall we done really well. We were in the knockout stages and we had one of the great Moscow teams. It went to penalties. There lad strolled up, thumped the ball on to the spot, never looked anywhere other than the target, steamed up, head down and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Our lad, looked so nervous I actually from the dugout wondered if his legs would give way on the walk to the ball. It’s in a stadium, there is maybe a thousand people watching. There is a stadium announcer, cameras, cheering. He’s just a kid and it’s all new. Predictably, he missed. That player is maybe the most technically gifted player I had. In training if I held an A4 piece of paper in the goal he would hit it from 25 yards not a problem. So, was the issue, Technical (requires practice) or Psychological? But then that requires practice surely? So, hang on, this event, the feeling, the anxiety, the thoughts, the disappointment. That WAS the practice? Going to the tournament? The experience. Eureka, that was it. We all know that England, let’s say, have a bit of an issue with penalties, so the good thing is, the academies know this and they want the teams to experience a proper competitive knock out experience.

I think about other sports like Darts. There are thousands of excellent ‘pub’ dart players so what the difference? Could it be, elevated on a stage with 5000 people in the room singing and TV cameras could be a distraction for many?

Going back to the original ‘complaint’. The only way to practice this would be to ask every child in the school to come out on to the pitch and stand around shouting and screaming. To perhaps create pressure. In fact thinking about pressure. The very fact that there is a complaint would suggest the pressure in the first place came from the parent. If they are that devastated about losing you can only imagine the conversation in the car on the way. The pressure didn’t come from us. Just the experience, experience that makes you psychologically stronger and better. Experience that made that player in Oostende better and stronger.

To finish, of course, there are technical aspects to taking a penalty. Striking a ball in many different ways is covered by us. If the children apply themselves to training they will get that. But we would not and would never queue up 20 children to practice penalties in a pointless situation sacrificing other learning. We have one hour a week to learn. So I would ask this. In the week leading up to the tournament we had one hour of learning. How many hours that week did the child spend on the PlayStation, in front of the TV or on the computer? Those house could have spent in the garden or the park with two people a ball and a goal practicing penalties.

Tony McCool

@antmccool7

Effects of Fifa gaming on young people. Can we embrace the game to get children active?

As a parent, a youth football coach and school sport provider, I am fully aware of the affects and influence gaming has on our children’s lives. #FifaRealDeal

As parents we know that we have always been concerned about the time spent on computer games. The effects it has on a child’s social skills, communications skills, the detrimental effects it has on our child’s education as we battle time spent on gaming or online versus homework or revising. The biggest concern of course is the affects on physical wellbeing due to inactivity. As parents, like many we questioned for years the effects on motor skills and the eyes looking at screens for hours on end. Of course much of this is hard to prove but our gut feeling is, it can’t be good for you. One thing that is perhaps more easy to identify is weight gain and the visual effects on our children. We can easily identify our children’s mood by their actions and we can see when they appear to become overweight. Sometimes we even turn a blind eye to it. 

The trouble is, this phenomenon is getting harder to control. Without any question obesity in the UK is an ever increasing concern with the government yet again committing its £150m a year school sports fund to try and tackle this and push increased activity across all children. So its clear activity has to be the primary factor. Well, along with the ‘fuel’ we put in our body. So leading brands like McDonalds bring so much to the country in terms of employment etc. But they are equally having such an huge impact on health. Of course, I don’t want to bash them. We have a choice. Why don’t we bash the grotty burger van or lesser performing fast food brands. Only because McDonalds is hugely successful we target them for criticism. So of course to tackle that McDonalds counter this by promoting the integrity of their produce and also by giving us a healthy option. Whether this sells or not in large volumes I don’t know, but at least they promote. Either way, we can’t stop our children wanting to go to the restaurant so for us it meant we just tried to reduce the volume and limit it to become a treat. McDonalds also invests heavily into Football by backing community football, providing kits for grass roots and supporting coaching. They also do work in education providing business training and food production education. So in fact, when you delve a bit, as well as the profit they take they do at least attempt to give something back and I of course support the football projects because it promotes burning off the fuel.

Trouble is, I don’t see this from the gaming community. If they do, then I stand corrected but perhaps it isn’t well marketed. In particular we are looking at Fifa here. As this is relevant to football which is of course the most popular sport in the world and my trade. If you look at the marketing and think about it. It typically uses the world’s most famous footballers and then puts them in there club kits and sit them in front of a screen playing Fifa. The messaging is almost like “play this and you could be like me”. It’s like it has become part of the development pathway. I’m sure those guys will produce some research figures showing how they increase interest in football. I don’t disagree with that but what I ask is this. You now have such an influence on the game through young children, teenagers and now adults due to the era, what do you give back? So, you employ a lot of people, you pay a lot of tax I’m sure. But two things have to happen for me. Your ‘superstars’ have to be shown to mention the importance of real activity and real practice if you want to be a footballer of any level and certainly if you want to be healthy. Secondly you surely have some moral responsibility considering the massive powerful influence you have on now a massive percentage of the population. Bearing in mind the Fifa product is promoted and deemed suitable to children aged 3+.

As parents we know that 3 hours could absolutely fly by for a child playing Fifa and it would be hell to play to get them off. Could the game or console manufactures create a parent area which gives parents the ability to create a time-limit? With today’s modern technology why don’t you give parents that control via an app? Parents sometimes lose track of the time they are on it so why not be responsible and give them more direct control and information. This would enable parents to even shut down the console remotely or set times breaks. Use a tool to control homework etc. I think as a parent I would buy that add on. Just a suggestion. If you make a gazillion dollars perhaps you’ll remember who gave you the idea?

As a football coach I have seen a complete change in culture as a result of this game. I’m of course a traditionalist. I used to go to the park with a ball under my arm. I used to be in the street playing football. But times have changed. Also there are so many alarming stories and disgusting crimes against children that perhaps we have also become so protective that in fact we take comfort that our child is inside safe and sound.

But I can’t help fighting it. I said to a child recently “You do know that you can’t get better at football by exercising your hands and fingers? You would be better warming up with a rubiks cube than a ball”. I recently had a full on debate about an Arsenal center back when a young Yr6 lad was suggesting you don’t have to be quick or fit to be a footballer. I was saying, I’ll think you will find that player is a lot quicker and fitter than you perhaps think. He laughed, shrugged his head. He absolutely didn’t buy into what I was telling him. I pressed further and then he told me. On Fifa he has only got 29 for pace. So that is his gauge of the player. What Fifa says goes. Not the coach!

I recently ran trials for teenagers. Now these were players serious about wanting to still become footballers. Again it’s my view that the culture has changed. When I was a teenager (I sound like uncle albert) we would meet up for a kick around in the parks. I remember one Christmas we all met up and played football in the snow. Loads of us. We needed to get out and play because all our games were off. But snow wouldn’t stop us. Now, its changed. Teenagers meet online. They play Fifa online. In fact, If, now as a parent of teenagers we didn’t bang on the wall at 2am in the morning I think they would play all through the night.

So, I went around these teenagers on trial and asked them what position they played. The replies were “CDM, CAM, LAM, RAM” etc. I thought to myself, wow, these guys all use “Fifa language” This is how they see the game now. During one of the games we asked why a midfielder had not tracked back with his runner and he replied “I’m not CDM, I’m CAM”. That was when it hit me. Times have changed. I can’t fight this on my own. The trouble is, the kids don’t believe me anyway. But I’m not going to concede to the challenge. I can do one of two things. I can keep fighting this challenge or I can embrace it and somehow use it.

There is of course benefits to the game. One of those being knowledge. Whenever I hear a player’s name I haven’t heard of before I just ask my teenage son. Now I work in professional football but my lad has got one up on me. He can tell me stats and history of seemingly any player in the world. Remarkable, how does he know that? Fifa. So to try to open my mind to change I took a bold step. Of course I played Fifa over the years, less recently as I don’t have time. So I know the basics. But I asked my son to show me all the new training sessions and drills. I recall doing some as you would wait for the game to load. I was shocked. Actually, some of these drills looked fantastic. Moreover they looked fun. They also looked like drills I would love to try myself. So I started jotting some down. Some also looked like a real good cardio exercise. Actually, overall, to me, if someone was exceptional at these drills in real life I suspect they would be absolutely fantastic! So, it was decided. I’m going to bring these drills to life.

In the last few weeks whilst coaching in schools I have now started to ask the question.

“How many of you play Fifa at home?” Nearly always all hands go up.

“How many of you would like to try the training drills in Fifa, in REAL LIFE?” The response was amazing, children jumping with their hands up, “me me me, when is it”.

So, my organisation has ran football holiday courses for years now. It’s always been structured within a learning syllabus typical of academy football. It’s I know, It’s what I was trained for. But I’m going to do something new. I’m going to completely change our approach. Try something fresh. We are going to deliver Drills that look like the Fifa training games. Including knocking down boxes and target rings for crossing. Shooting drills with balls launched from machines and dribbling challenges. The full works.

We will arrange a points and a prize for leading players in age range and maybe even talk to football club to see if they would like to invite a player in on trial as a result. Because these drills are tough!

I think I would also consider a late teens/adult competition. Purely because I think I would like to have a go myself!

@antmccool7

Coming soon April 2016

Bedfordshire 4^th & 5^th April

Hertfordshire 6^th & 7^th April

Details will be at:

Web:                   www.2touchfootball.co.uk

Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/2TouchFootball

Twitter:               @2touchfootball @FifaRealDeal

Pre register or direct communication: FifaRealDeal@2touchfootball.co.uk

Could you be the #FifaRealDeal

Steve Gallen - The end of an era

Steve Gallen

So, with the reported sad departure of Steve Gallen it means that he is the last person out the door from the days of Raheem Sterling and beyond. Key people from those days like Terry O'sullivan, Paul Bruce & Fitzroy Lewinson plus more have all gone and were important people that took part in Raheem's and others recruitment and development. Good coaches, good scouts, good people, QPR people. 

Every season we will here of managers getting sacked. That’s part of football but when it happens we often here and see many people in the game and in the media showing great human sympathy for a man losing his job and so we should. However, many that do are rewarded in a way far removed from us mere mortals with contracts paid out in full resulting in many multi-millionaire former managers. 

With this in mind I was truly shocked to see Steve Gallen seemingly ushered out of the back door at QPR after it being reported that he was removed from all duties at the club. QPR is a club that publicly reports its family feeling, culture and togetherness but this to me seems to be an action in contrast to that. Steve Gallen has been employed at QPR in a multitude of coaching roles for around 18 years. Most of which were working in the youth centre of excellence where he later became the head of youth and Academy manager. He was then moved out of that role to coach the U21's and later promoted to work with the first team. Of course things happen in the first team and people get sacked with new people coming in and with the introduction of Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink Steve has been deemed surplus to requirements I guess. I don’t see issues with that and I’m sure if Steve was asked, he wouldn’t either. That happens. However since the news broke I have seen lurching opinion on the overall value of Steve to the club and also questions of his ability and results working in the youth structure. This is such a shock to me and its when the 'only at QPR' term came to me again. Why can’t this gentleman be given the just reward and appreciation he so deserves? Instead it’s debated by certain quarters as to his success. One comment I read was. 

“It is an inconvenient truth...however...Steve Gallen has been a fundamental part of a youth system that has grossly failed for 20 years”

Being in football more than most industries means that you are open to criticism and I can take that. Steve certainly can I’m sure and he wouldn’t want to respond. However having worked for this guy and seeing first-hand the challenges I felt I want to tribute him and show the details of what he actually achieved. Knowing that if I was a chairman I would be currently hunting him down to come to work at my club. Criticism is ok but I think it’s fair if people know the details facts and truth as some either comment without the depth of knowledge or else have hidden agenda's which is unacceptable, damaging and disrespectful to someone that has given so much to his role and i'm guessing, doesn't walk away a millionaire for his family. 

Looking at the comment above I read the words 'fundamental part' as being an overall decision maker. Or a key person at least. Let’s put that in perspective. Steve was not in charge of the youth system for the last 20 years. He was to the best of my knowledge in charge of the youth system for 4-5 years up to 2012. Post 2012 was the era that Tony Fernandes came in as did Mike Rigg and Steve was almost immediately stepped aside. Since that date a further four people have been in charge of the academy and as many placed in the role of Head of Coaching. Steve has had no decision making responsibility during that period. I accept that Steve Gallen bleeding hoops doesn’t mean he is owed anything or that he is owed a job. He would never want that either. Hes a proud hard working man. So let’s examine the second part as indeed Steve was in charge of the Academy for the period leading to the influx of investment.

If we firstly look at the numbers. Steve was in charge of a ‘center of excellence’ under owners that seemingly didn’t focus too much on the youth. Investment was minimal and I estimate it to be around no more than £150k per year. At that time it had 3 full-time staff. It’s not up for debate the major influence Steve and coaches like Fitzroy Lewinson had on Raheem’s capture, development and majorly, keeping him at the club as long as they did as he gained approaches from the local ‘big guns’. Sterling’s recent move to Man City netted QPR £9m in a payment clause. I’m sure it’s clear that I’m a fan of Steve Gallen as a great coach and a great person. But were not debating his values, kindness and integrity here, were debating what he did for QPR. If his responsibility lasted 5 years that would equate to a circa cost of £750k. To ease the argument lets round it up and stick another £250k to the cost and that still leaves a profit to QPR of £8M for his term. I think that’s worth a thank you. Since then the investment was massive and now the academy has around 20 full-time staff and a cost of circa £2M in my estimation. Around a third of that could be recouped from the Premier League’s EPPP system but it still leaves the club paying out an estimated 8-10 times the investment under Steve. The same pro rata return would see the club profit circa £12M per year.

Considering all the challenges that were faced in these years and low budget it’s a miracle that any players of any level were produced and it’s that remarkable equation that always left me scratching my head as to why Steve was never given the reigns when the investment arrived. admissions were made about the many mistakes that were made and the ‘type’ of people that came in. But with the message and focus returning to youth as a clear strategy I feel it’s a huge mistake again to allow Steve to be pushed out in this way. If you went on a recruitment drive you would have to break the bank to gain the incredible capabilities of a Steve Gallen that produced players against the odds. Tony Fernandes has one under his nose and surely must reverse this decision if taken out of his hands.

"Steve [Gallen] was great. He always had such confidence in me and that gave me more confidence in myself"

Raheem Stirling

Its been much reported as the chairman having the wool pulled over his eyes and as part of that maybe he was told the same stories about what I read and what’s implied. The club hasn’t produced players over Steve’s term. Well, Let’s investigate that further. After some quick research of the football league and beyond it became very apparent that I would be able to put together a very decent team and squad from current players that all came through under Steve’s guidance and responsibility. Here it is….

These players are a mix of current QPR players, players sold and players released. The point is, they all make a reasonable living. Some higher, some lower but it’s a great testimony to Steve’s work. Imagine if he had been given the opportunity to drive the improved investment bus? This was on a shoestring compared to now.
As well as these players, most of which are still young and developing with therefore a great chance of making a higher grade, Steve led the U18's to 3 x league titles in his term and 1 x national cup. He was runner up in the U21 final in more recent years. In a New York tournament QPR beat Inter Milan and Liverpool to win an international trophy. Against all odds they had reached a quarter final of the FA youth cup beating level one class leading Southampton on the way to losing at Newcastle at St James Park. Clubs that had been investing millions in their academies for years. 

For an Academy to work properly there a simple equation in my book.

Recruitment (People)

You cannot turn a bull dog into a greyhound derby winner. You cannot turn a shire horse into a winner at Aintree. There is a starting point of talent and it’s the most crucial part. The trouble with a club like QPR is its competitive. When real talent presents itself you have to compete with clubs around you. You walk the player around the facility. In the days of Steve this was clearly tough to sell. Then it’s the people. You prove to the parents that you actually care and have good morals and transparency. Then you show them the proof of the pathway making it clear they have a chance. In the past of course this was again tough to sell.

Coaching (People)

Of course development is vital. You don’t take your new Mercedes to a back street garage. You want it cared for by the best. No doubt the coach has more contact with the player than anyone and could truly break a player as well as be pivotal in developing them. That’s also mentally as well as technically. Coaches like Fitzroy were great examples of that. He cared, you could feel his personality and he had the knowledge to back it up. In 20 years of being in professional clubs, Steve is the best coach I have seen and Ive worked with many high profile names.

Facility (Investment)

Its home. It’s the place you spend most time. As well as the bricks and mortar it’s the holistic science that now has been introduced to the game. The support of medical teams to keep players fit and protect them as well as pitches and equipment that gives the player the tools as well as the feel good factor

Pathway (Strategy)

All of it doesn’t matter if the club doesn’t have a strategy to bring the players through. In the past its obvious that this was not happening. Of course the players have to be good enough, but they also need a chance.

With those four pillars ticked you will then produce players for the first team. Mr Fernandes, you are frighteningly close to getting it right this time. But you need the right people. If you don't reconsider than I'm sure Steve will be back in work soon and everyone moves on. 

Knowing Steve he wont thank me for writing this, but its got to be said. I'm sure I speak for many when I say I thank you for all you did for the people you came into contact with and I'm sure fans that understand the depth of work, dedication, professionalism and value you brought to QPR they will also join me in showing their appreciation!

@antmccool7

Talent ID - Scouting with a metal detector

Jamie Vardy non league to Premier League top scorer

So it seems that the can of worms opened at Fifa has turned into a hidden cave of worms. So, whilst our own FA makes clear its disassociation from the deep deceit for personal gain, I wanted to pose them questions about TalentID. I’m certain that as they promote honesty, integrity and transparency the key people there will welcome the concept that we should continue to review and take care of our own house first and do what’s good for football.

They have a new Talent ID department delivering courses to professionalise recruitment of players. Like most things delivered by the FA, some we will agree with, some we won’t. Introducing overlapping coaching courses like Youth Modules for example could be deemed overkill by a sceptic but actually, having been on them I have found them to be excellent and would highly recommend coaches of any qualifications complete them. It’s good to always think, consider, and reconsider how you do things. I’ve now seem some of the results of the new Talent ID filter into my inbox. Again, a lot of it is really well structured and important. As pro clubs they are all now talking DNA and key features or pillars that players must display in order to be ‘scouted’. However, all the documents, PowerPoint, flipcharts aside, I think there are bigger and much more important issues to address when it comes to ‘Talent ID’

1.       Has England lost out on potential talent that was released from Academies for reasons other than their football ability?

2.       Our football culture has changed to include great facilities in hard up areas, but a pay to play situation which rules out heaps of children that can’t afford to take part.

The hottest player in the country today is Jamie Vardy. Yet another player that has come back into the game via non-league. Something I truly admire. In fact many players in the football league have come via that route. Some could argue development is more real post 16 when games become more realistic than the 21’s governed by the Premier League. There has been all sorts written over the last few days about clubs interested in Vardy but I couldn’t help tracing back his pathways. Surely Sheffield Wednesday must be kicking themselves. Surely someone in that club made a huge mistake. Had they not made that mistake that great club could now be sitting on a winning lottery ticket as QPR found when Sterling moved from Liverpool to Man City. So why did a club, who spent years of investment and effort let that lottery ticket blow out of the window? Mistakes happen, sometimes we get it wrong and I’ve seen high profile people very humbled when proven wrong, but with no malice either side. It was just an opinion and one that got away. That happens. But was this the case with Vardy?  I genuinely don’t know the exact ins and outs but I was left scratching my head, how? Really? A future England player, Premier League top scorer? Really? That player was let go? Considering some players I see get signed, surely this lad should have been locked tightly under contract at Sheffield Wednesday. So, as Talent ID I really want to know, how and why was this player allowed to drift out of the game. Yes, he’s done the unthinkable but let’s be honest, the vast majority don’t. They are destroyed and in some cases out of the game at all levels forever. Ok, so, most will be the right decision, but are their more Jamie Vardys?
To repeat, I DONT KNOW what happened to Jamie Vardy at Sheffield Wednesday. It could be a very genuine mistake in judgment. But it's his recent rise to the top that alerted me to the problem and I think it makes it worth investigating.

Iv’e seen players signed and released from clubs for what I believe to be the wrong reasons. This can be to hit performance targets. This can be to achieve a perceived success in recruitment for signing quotas. To show a success story to EPPP inspectors & club owners. But perhaps the most alarming question asked by many people in football is. Are players getting released and new ones signed to assist in scouts and middle management achieving bonus commissions? Many of the recruitment team will be on individual bonus schemes and also the middle and senior management. So there is an incentive to move players on and bring new ones in. This may seem cynical. Many good scouts out there and management of academies have been rewarded financially on success. Most of this is rightly earned as they are mostly underpaid and this justifies the miles put in. The problem is, like money does it can also bring out the worst in people. I believe there are now people going into clubs on a short term strategy to take as much money out as possible. Like all money grabbing leaches they turn in into drug hungry self-centred blinkered crusaders that will trample over everyone in their path for a pound note. If that means getting rid of players regardless of ability so be it. That includes any staff that might be on to them or challenge the strategy. The reality is it benefits no one other than a short term financial gain for the scout/staff. The player going out could be a Jamie Vardy and the player coming in might not be at that level giving up on alternative education and career. But people move jobs before anything is highlighted taking with them their bonus payments. This has to stop. Actually club owners put their trust in people but they need to dig down to look for this phenomenon and fix it. It’s costing them money.

Together with our new ‘play to pay’ culture I detailed here http://tonymccool.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/exclusive-football.html I fear that we can be missing out on talent who come from difficult backgrounds. These players who can’t afford to join clubs due to travel and subs. The FA have introduced all these wonderful new 3G pitches but in many cases they remain locked and empty at low peak times. Primarily these have been funded by outside organisations that promote inclusion in sport so these should be made available to local communities in a subsidised way.

There would be many things you could introduce as an academy manager but I think changes and influences need to come from above that. Here is my short manifesto that I would truly believe would produce better players, would protect football clubs better and would protect young players better.

Non contracts and reduced hours at Foundation phase

Recently I have heard of 6 year olds getting tapped up by clubs. This has got to stop. Young children should be enjoying playing football in the park without restriction. I think the value of school football, participation in multi sports and grass roots football out way the benefits of too much structured coaching under 10 years old. From the ages 8-11 I believe players should not be contracted and restricted in other activities. If asking for non-contracts is not achievable then we should look to change the hours of pro club contact and actively embrace the player taking part with grass roots clubs, school football and other sports. It was reported recently that a player has a 1 in 200 chance of making the first team. So surely it’s a moral crime to deny them other sporting opportunities at such a young age? Of course we can still find ways of recruiting them and securing them for clubs which could remain more structured from 12 years.

FREE non pro club development centres – FA Governed

Football has become a pay to play culture. The FA committed to installing hundreds of 3G pitches around the country as part of improving football. I welcome that. But the problem is, none of them are free. Simply opening the gates could result in damage but there is a solution which benefits everyone. Most of all England. Academy football is free, or is it? Driving to training four times a week and a long distance game on Sunday. It’s not free, so I suspect that some parents simply cannot afford to take the child to academies. Grass roots football receives no funding so a club has no choice to raise funds through sponsorship and parents. Some parents cannot afford this. So the new 3G pitch is rammed in the week in the evening where clubs can use subs to pay the bill. However, near me the two new ones are empty at weekends in the mornings. I would suggest that the FA book these and work with schools PE departments and grass roots managers to identify talent. Perhaps those that don’t play for a club at all. Those children can then come to that 3G free of charge for regular coaching and playing. Some clubs have their own development centres but many charge considerable amounts for that privilege. This free access would give us the ability to identify talent from within communities that are tough and deprived. My guess is that every year at least one player at every age group will be identified as at academy level but has been missed. They can then be routed to appropriate local academies as and when the time is right. I’m certain that the clubs would want to scout this centre anyway and if the player is good enough they will ‘find a way’ to get round financial restrictions. Maybe a bursary could be set aside to help the individual.

Review Elite Player Performance Plan

Clubs should have recruitment and release committee members. No one person, including the academy manager should have the autonomy to sign or release a player themselves. If it was my club I would want to see at least six signatures on a document from heads of departments. That includes:

The academy manager

The head of recruitment

The head of coaching

The head of relevant phase

The lead coach for that age

Sports science/medical department

(Possibly a first team coach depending on scale of club. Or 21s coach)

Equally, I would want to see a similar document on file with the six votes that agree the player should be released. This would be the result of a ‘release meeting’ where each players attributes and potential is discussed. Then the vote and recorded. Only then can the Academy Manager have the casting vote if required. After all, the club has been forking out £3-4k+ a year to develop this child. We also took him out of school. His parents have spent £100 a week driving him to training. He’s sacrificed all his other activities he used to take part in and is too tired to even do his homework or falling asleep in class (I heard this happen). The least we can do is take his release seriously? Of course it’s a necessary evil. Breaking a child’s heart is something I don’t take part in with ease. Some players just don’t develop and actually it’s for their own good long term. We can’t be 100% certain that we are right but let’s carefully consider everything before it’s another investment down the drain of the club and potential loss of essential future income. As well as a heartbroken child that didn’t need it.

I would also look into hours and pressure put on the child and parents. This should be age appropriate and if children come in during the day I would want to huge commitment by the staff to make this valuable. Also any child behind at school should not be able to come in on day release. Of course it’s not relevant to level 1 academies who provide the education.

EPPP follows the education format. This includes setting out learning objectives and outcomes. As well as this 6 week reporting and player meetings. Many parents want more information, so in that respect it’s good. But the problem I have is this. I don’t know a player yet that has been either recruited or released based on what has been written on the PMA systems. There is now all this data logged but it’s largely subjective and therefore how valuable is it? Do you really think the first team manager is going to ask to read what the U14’s coach thought of him before putting him in the first team? So, its work for works sake. Actually it applies more pressure to young players who know every mistake is logged against them and the coaches are spending hours upon hours on laptops instead of the grass. So this needs to be reviewed. I also wonder if all parents are entitled to full copies of this data under the Data Protection Act which includes access to information held about you.

New Bonus/Pay rules for Scouts

Short term bonus for scouts and bosses can’t work for the club or the player. I’m totally against it. Getting a bonus for a player signing at the academy should be disbanded. Pay the scout and pay expenses, yes. Give them performance targets, yes. But remove this bonus. Also the bonus for an academy player signing as a a scholar or first year pro. These achievements may seem huge to the player and parents at the time but they still have not reached the ultimate goal. A bonus should only come into place when the player has appeared twenty times in the first team, out on loan or sold to another club. That really proves the player had a chance and if you’re a proper scout that cares about players that is surely all you want to see? You will be happy to play the long game. I would also have a contract agreement meaning if staff get moved on, the scout will still receive the bonus. This would make individuals with the autonomy to ‘play the game’ and manipulate the system for personal gain change their strategy. Hopefully then we would find that the only players in the system are ones there on merit and merit alone. Who would disagree with that?

So for those recruiting lower down this seems like a long way away, 5 years plus before you could gain recognition. Well, yes, that’s true. But it’s for the good of the game. You get your match fee, you get your miles and we will look at the performance levels. You will be educated about what the club needs. But I’m not going to let you cash out early on an achievement, that actually, is not an achievement at all and puts the club at financial risk and can be harmful to vulnerable players.

The vast majority of people in football are good souls who care about the game and the lives they affect. That includes within the FA. Actually includes the current department set up. Those will be reading this nodding their heads. Others however with be boiling. Reading through each line to look for something liable. Maybe its fear of exposure? Maybe you have your own hidden cave? Those will be the ones checking their shoulders. But you see, what goes around comes around, just like we have seen at Fifa. Too many people in this country accept the words “that’s football”. If we truly want the game cleared up then it starts with honesty and openness. The prize for that integrity is that we might even improve our national team through better selection mixed with better development and pathways.

@antmccool7

Exclusive Football

It’s fantastic to see the growing volume of 3G pitches appearing in what the FA describe as urban areas. This is all part of Greg Dykes England Commission where he has committed to increasing the amount of artificial pitches by 130% to more than 500 by 2020.

This is commendable and to improve facilities can only be a good thing for everybody, or is it?

Travelling around its delightful to see these pitches rammed with players taking advantage of the surface that allows them to play all year round in relative safety. But these children will mostly be those that play for grass roots clubs for which they pay subs and others that are training with professional football clubs development centres, paying for the privilege. I work in many schools and listen to the children. On countless occasions I have heard youngsters tell me that they do not play for a club because mum or dad can’t afford it. Yet I see such great talent which makes that a heart-breaking situation. So where do these children play and will they ever be granted on opportunity? Schools already do tremendous work in engaging youngsters in sport as part of the governments primary sport premium. But mostly this encourages increased participation in many alternative activities, which is great. But it’s not football specific. So these children’s best hope is the school team but I don’t think this is enough for them to develop adequately and be seen.

Most great footballers have come from difficult or working class backgrounds and actually in the UK I fear more and more people are edging towards to the poverty line and many beneath it. So clothes, food, water and heating are a much greater priority for their children than football. So are we doing enough to help these children that fall into this bracket and should we? Why should some people pay for something and others not?

Culture of Football

Limbury, Luton. No Sport

The culture of football in England is changing. I think the reason that many play football has changed. Where we can play football has changed. To me it seems that for many, the reason for playing is simply to be a professional footballer and their are far too many players that are perceived to be in an elite bracket. With that come’s disappointment and rejection and the reality that for most it doesn’t happen. Parents living that dream through the children add to the pressure and ultimately the failure to cope with the rejection. Many teenagers then completely give the game up for good and I find that so sad. We played football for the love of the game regardless of the level it was. Where we play football has changed. I don’t think our parks are cared for as they should be and even our local field is now been giving up for a coronation meadow. It’s already been rotavated and now even walking on it feels like you could sprain your ankle. The cynic in me suspects this is more to do with economics and cut backs. A meadow will cost much less to maintain than a sports field. Playing in the street is no longer accepted and any local piece of green gets a ‘no ball games’ sign.

If you join a club then no doubt you will get to train on a nice surface. But you will need to contribute which of course is fair, kit is not free. You could go to a pro clubs development centre which around where I live you would pay for. Or you are lucky to sign schoolboy forms for a pro club and be coached and train for free. But is it free? Training four times a week and clocking up miles on the motorway? It’s not free.

New facility at 1.30pm on a Saturday recently

With this in mind it’s great to see these wonderful new facilities. Luton has two really difficult tough areas. Lewsey Farm and Marsh Farm. Both now boast wonderful new pitches. There is a big sign outside saying Football Foundation and Lottery funded, so clearly not paid for using commercial funds. Yet they are treated as commercial enterprises by the people that operate them. Of course revenue is vital but to me they are benefiting from the increased income but didn’t make the initial investment. The result of this is harsh reality. Saturday, lovely October day with sunshine. 1.30 pm, this was the pitch in Marsh Farm, Luton. Padlocked and empty. The next day, Sunday morning I drove past the other new 3G in Lewsey Farm at 11am. It was padlocked and empty. Of course during the week from 6pm they are packed with paying customers from clubs and teams but weekend’s with nobody is a criminal waste. If they simply opened the gate I’m sure the management would fear risk of theft and vandalism. But to me that is lazy and lacks any sort of commitment to engage empathetically with its local community. There will be so many children looking down on that pitch from the surrounding houses and high rise flats probably kicking a ball around the living room that could not afford to go and play for the local club. It could also be that he or she is the next Messi, Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona or Marta. If these organisations have benefitted from supporting funds surely there is something they can do to help engage these people. That ultimately benefits the community and also could benefit the England team in the future. Is this not the master plan of Greg Dyke? So for football to be great in this country again we must not discriminate against someone based on class and money. It has to be all inclusive. I think that’s a good reason to offer assistance for those not able to afford football.

Lets ask the top 100 players ever from England if they had to pay to participate in the game?

I would suggest that there should be partnership agreements with the local schools. If you get funding support for a pitch it’s a crucial must criteria. Children can register with the school for free access at times like I have seen which clearly don’t sell anyway. This could be used as a behaviour carrot for the school. That way they know who is on the pitch and have the ability to deal with any issues. I guess the other objection could be supervision based on crazy health & safety, insurance rules. Well, if that’s the case, supervise it. There are hundreds of coaches desperate for work and experience. Pay them. The FA is not short of funds I’m certain of that. 4 hours a week, 2 hours on Saturday and 2 on Sunday won’t send them into liquidation.

I have also said before that I believe the FA centrally should run their own ‘Elite Centre’s’. Independent from the professional clubs. In the style of development centres, a stepping stone between grass roots and professional academies where they can experience quality coaching and experience whilst playing for their registered clubs. But it should be selective and FREE.

I guess growing up in a council estate a stone’s throw from one of these 3G pitches is what makes me passionate about OPPORTUNTIY. Living in poverty or dysfunctional families doesn’t automatically mean children will follow the same path. It doesn’t mean they will be criminals and can’t achieve great things in their life. Football is such an important aspect of this enabling them to give their thoughts and worries a break. I believe we should empower them to change the cycle. Sport can do that. Let’s please let these children have a chance to live a dream and if not, at least enjoy football.

 

Typically over all the years of football, the best players have arrived on the scene having come from challenging backgrounds. Does that create more hunger and intrinsic desire to change your family’s life? But equally players are around that have very stable backgrounds. So, the point is, we just don’t know from what community and what background the next great player will be hiding. But for sure we certainly need to ensure we look under every stone and give everybody equal opportunity. If we create a pay to play culture this could eliminate so many people so we have to find a way.

 

@antmccool7

Is Passing & Receiving the best 'Skill' to learn?

One club I was at had a skills video with 21 variations that the players should learn. Most clubs now have a skills coach. Futsal has rocketed in popularity encouraging skills and providing a platform to perform them. Then another club I was at was completely obsessed with ‘tricks’ and in particular in 1v1 scenarios. The largest part of professional youth development has therefore moved into this philosophy of 1v1 domination and the ability to take people on. "We only want players that have got the 'wow' factor".

Being a master of the football is an obvious requirement in order to be able to be a world class player. But are we overlooking some of the more regular and major parts of the game? Like, receiving, passing and then moving. I see many players now losing possession because they are trying the ‘trick’ before they even have control of the football. I’ve also long been frustrated seeing players released as young pro’s and scholars because they don’t seem to be able to function in a real game environment. I’m an advocate of really young players learning technical skills which later become natural. But reality is at some point you need to master what the game requires. A balanced group of players and attributes dependant where you play. What I call technically appropriate.

I had this discussion recently with a former colleague who also happened to play for Fulham and Newcastle United and he told me. “A trick can be a way of getting out of trouble but it should never get you ‘IN’ trouble”. I’ve also had many discussions with senior coaches who decide on contracts for young potential pro’s and have said how frustrated they are at the players lack of simple passing and receiving with detail as a skill.

I decided to then look at the Champions League Final in a different way. We have on stage arguably the world’s best player and with him Europe’s best team. To reach the final Juventus must also be pretty handy and ran away with their own Serie A title. So this makes for perfect analysis.

I am a firm believer that players in development need to watch the best players. Watch what they do. The awareness, the passing range, the movement, the skills, what works and what didn’t. Certain stats are easy to obtain. Also, stats only tell part of a story. For example, the obvious one is the team with higher possession percentage do not always role out winners. Also, sideways and backwards passing is low risk compared to forward pressured passing which has higher risk. But we know Barcelona had 61% possession, had 18 attempts and completed 89% of their 570 passes. Whilst Juventus completed 83% of their 343 passes. (Data from UEFA.com). But I want to know deeper detail for development purposes.

Description	Juventus	Barcelona
Receive & Pass in 1or2 touches – Only successful	58	182
Short passes < 30 yards & on the ground	117	165
Longer pass >30 yards or lofted pass	17	31
Total	192	378
Description	Juventus	Barcelona
Cross – Any but does not include corners/set piece	13	14
Tackle – Includes fouls. Actual contact. ‘stopping a player’	27	17
Header – Any	32	26
Long Ball or Clearance – No target. Includes Goal kick	9	15
Description	Juventus	Barcelona
1v1 Beat opponent – Must be success	3	16
Step over, flip-flop, lollipop, etc – Achieved purpose	1	1

 

Of the 16 1v1’s ten of them were Lionel Messi & four were Neymar.

So, in conclusion I look at this data and think about clubs who have a recruitment policy for just players who are able dominate in 1v1 scenarios. It seems that for the best team in Europe they are weighted heavily toward passing and doing so quickly. I think about players in my mind that were released that were not ‘1v1’ players but were fantastic in the passing areas shown. Whilst they also were great in the miscellaneous area like heading, tackling, clearing. But didn’t do step overs and got released.

So as we chase the holy grail of the World Cup and scratch our heads watching other countries succeed in tournaments and admiring their development structures. I wonder that when we do, we should actually admire what they do on a consistent basis and not just the flash moment of Messi genius.

 Tony McCool

@antmccool7