Yes this is the first group that came through the NTC programme from its commencement. The previous U17 side was also part of the NTC programme for obviously a shorter time. I have been involved with the NTC programme since its outset as the parent of a player involved and at rep and regional level. From my position the best players that fronted up for rep football did go forward to FTC and NTC.. However the selectors for this current U17 group did cast their net further with players that had been at APFA coming through. Prior to them being at APFA they had been NTC members.(Rufer, Tam, Blake) I also know that there were players outside the NTC/Training group still being looked at through the last NYL and winter domestic season just finished. I think it was a pretty robust selection process, but also think I have seen one or two better players miss out who are better than the lads in UAE at present. That is just my opinion and I am not a selector. One of the beauties of football is that we can all look at the same game or player and draw a different conclusion.
As far as the success of the NTC programme, I think it has been a step in the right direction and the net has been cast wider and further than ever before. There is still alot of improvement to come especially in the coach development aspect. Just because you are an F DO in a federation delivering football in schools to primary kids, you are not necessarily qualified to coach at NTC level.
The other aspect that would help our elite is better football facilities. I is very hard to play controlled technical football on horrible bobble pitches.
I also agree that the lads away in UAE may have been guilty of reading a bit too much of their own press, however I also think there was a large mental issue in the fact that being involved in the NTC programme for the best part of four years with the target being that game the other night. The culmination of 4 years of work on a single event for a young 17 year old mind has to be daunting.
Hopefuly there was a lesson learnt and we see a better performance for the remainder of the tournament.