This constant trumpeting of the Nix and Ole academies is a bit insulting to the countless really good coaches around the country doing really good work with girls in the younger age groups. Its getting pretty nauseating. The way some of you speak it would seem the only coaches capable of producing good players are Nix or Ole coaches. Wind your heads in a bit.
That list of above male players (most of whom when into those 2 academies in their early teens) does firmly show that they are producing results. Sure the coaches who had them at earlier ages should also be recognised, and obviously most of the kids going to Porrirua and Newton Park are pretty talented before they even get there. Singh stood out at Onehunga Sports well before he moved to Welly.
But if you simply crudely compare the boys programme to girls programme in NZ, what's one big smack you in the face difference. That boys have been going through those 2 academies (intense finishing schools) in largish numbers for quite sometime now, compared to girls.
Why hasn't the FDDP programme in Auckland produced the same conveyor belt of talent in the girls/women's game? Ain't they getting the best young female talent in the country?
Would Paige Satchell have been a better player at a younger age with a better touch/football brain, if she had been through Weenix or Ole? I'm say yes 100%.
And yes this is to acknowledge that the Matildas are 12th on womens rankings. 12th in the mens game is Germany - though of course the international women's game is much shallower. But when Ferns play a top 15 type side it's invariably a dire watch. Heraf, Sermanni, Klimková - all struggled/struggling to solve an issue that starts way before the players get to international football.
I think the criticism that Heraf aimed at the Ferns was pretty close to being correct. I think the older players in the squad were not keen on hearing a few truths being spoken (ie excess player power).
Sadly the Ferns are still carrying dead wood from then (Naylor, Wilkinson etc) but I do think some of the younger players coming through have far greater potentential then the players available when Heraf shot his mouth off.
There may be some truth in there about some player power issues. That's from some gossip re a mate who was working at Olympics NZ.
But Wilkinson is clearly still the best striker the Ferns have. She's just not in the same class as Sam Kerr & co. Matildas actually have 4 attackers playing in the English Super League. Fact is they have far better skilled, more technical players.
But yeah no use dumping Wilkinson if there is no one better. Though yes Nayler is at best 3rd choice now behind Keat & Esson.