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Will Any U17 Players Pick Up Pro Contracts Now?

9 replies · 454 views
over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Will Any U17 Players Pick Up Pro Contracts Now?
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Now that we have been eliminated, do you think that any of the boys at the torney have played well enough to pick up Academy contracts in Europe.  Obviously Milne and Lindsay are there now but will others join them?

Some-what annoyingly, living here in the UK has meant I've not been able to watch the games, only able to follow the match cast so don't have any real idea of how the guys played individually.
disco_mart2009-11-06 08:58:30
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Big difference between a spot in an Academy and a professional contract...

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I think a couple of our backs might get a look at, we were a pretty good defensive unit for most of the tournament.
 
I would be pleased if that happened, hopefully the get more confident in playing the ball out of the back etc which we need to work on.... across all teams admittedly.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Exactly Smithy, apparently less than 10% of academy graduates are in league football 2 years later.  That's the big step, going from an academy where you basically get some pocket money and digs to when you actually start earning money
 
On the original question, we've had guys picked up from every tournament recently haven't we so here where we've actually got some results you'd think the scouts might take a bit more notice

Normo's coming home

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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Well when people see the outcome that this Nigeria side will get in this tourny and that fact that NZ has been effective in getting the draw results in the 1st round games, it will give a solid picture of how reasonable the boys levels are at.
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
james dean wrote:
Exactly Smithy, apparently less than 10% of academy graduates are in league football 2 years later.  That's the big step, going from an academy where you basically get some pocket money and digs to when you actually start earning money
 
On the original question, we've had guys picked up from every tournament recently haven't we so here where we've actually got some results you'd think the scouts might take a bit more notice
 
Thats true. It's one thing to be signed, it's another thing altogether to make the first team squad
bling blang blah
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
TouchMe wrote:
I think a couple of our backs might get a look at, we were a pretty good defensive unit for most of the tournament.
 
I would be pleased if that happened, hopefully the get more confident in playing the ball out of the back etc which we need to work on.... across all teams admittedly.


Our defenders were terrible. So many goals were due to their errors at the back. The only reason we were a good defensive unit is because all the midfielders came back to defend. we were basically using a 8-2 formation. Good example would be all the deflections in the Nigeria game which you could see the goalkeeper had covered.
Luis Garcia2009-11-07 18:11:03
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I just don't get how every team we play are so attack orientated, they are so fast and play with so much flair. we don't have anyone close to that talent. I wouldn't be surprised if a few players did pick up a contract or get picked up by an academy. Jamie Doris had a pretty average tournament and he's at hibs. Coey Turipa could get one, he's an outstanding keeper. Jack Hobson-McVeigh based on that one goal..? maybe not but be brilliant for the kids cv
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over 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I agree Turipa played well and he was unlucky in those early goals from Nigeria, as you mentioned he did have them both covered until the deflections. He probably still has a bit of growing to do(out of the baby fat, no offense Coey), he def has a natural ability as a keeper. Hopefully one for the future.
 
Check out these safe hands against Costa Rica, can't remember what minute it was, I think it was near the end when he saved a good shot with two hands and held on to the ball.
 
As for players getting into some sort of acadamy in uk/europe etc, at the end of the day we do not have the best players in the tournament, the advantages clubs in the UK might have in signing one of our players over say a Nigerian, is probably the following: Visas/Language/Cultural fit/Stability.
 
A lot of the european/American/asian teams in the tournament will already have their players affiliated with pro clubs youth teams in their respective countries. That only really leaves the african and Nz players as options for scouts to even look at. So hopefully one or two of our players will get some sort of opportunity. Thats my theory anyway, and i am sticking to it.

If we build it, they will come...

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