Let's go back to the Chelsea/Everton/Mainland academy banter. That was interesting. How long do you think they will all last? And how good is it for football? I say not much to both.
They had 5 players in the NZ U17 World Cup team.� More than any other "club".� Would those players have made it anyway?� I dunno.� But it must be good for their development that players of that quality are training together constantly.�
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I'm not sure about their aproach to competitive games though, which is why I asked the question.� I saw some of the highlights of a match they played�against 'FC', which I presume is FC Twenty 11 in the PDL.� All boys against all men.� It may be better for their development as individuals if they were playing in a team of men against other men?� They seemed to be holding their own, though.
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My interest is because I coached a boy for 7 years who ended up getting a scholarship at the academy this year.� Taking a keen interest in his progress, hopefully to a pro contract.
They can't get competitive games as they aren't a club. All hell would break lose if Mainland allowed them to enter local leagues. Their are criteria around establishing new clubs and they fall well short. They would have been better to fund the programme through the Selwyn/Rolleston club setup, but that doesn't have the same appeal does it?