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.
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.
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.