ACADEMY ISSUES RANT
1) Look, someone has to offer our best players a pathway beyond Mainland Premier league (which is of average quality anyway - can't beat Dndn teams and no Chch club has got very far in Chatham of late). So, I'm FOR the Academy (in lieu of no other player development pathway that seems to be working) on that issue of developing players to a higher level than the local league. I'd love to see more Chch kids playing in decent quality leagues worldwide. If a broad spectrum of local clubs can offer development programs of that quality, then there is no need for Mainland's academy - and that is fine with me too.
2) Clearly there is a problem with current Mainland academy PATHWAY - surely the players spending time in there must have greater aspirations than playing Mainland club football. Otherwise, what is the point? The Danny route (play PDL at local club) is not a good enough reason to invest thousands of $ into supposedly the region's best.
3) Academy 2011. How has it performed? I'd like to see some info shared by Mainland on Academy KPIs. What IS their measure of success? It surely has to be players into NZ squads, NZF's National Talent Centre identification programme, right? But in the absence of any info, I'll give my own grades: A. The eldest girls team - PASS - didn't play in a Saturday league but have still been pretty successful in terms of getting a few (don't know exact numbers) into NZF World Cup training squad; B. 2nd girls team (13-14 year olds) - FAIL - what were they doing playing 14th grade FFS? Should have been 16s at least (could move to PASS if they get good numbers through to NTC); Danny's Boys - if good number into Canterbury Youth - ACHIEVED WITHOUT EXCELLING; otherwise FAIL - see (2) above; D. Ceri's team - TBA - (14-15 year olds seemed to handle themselves at 18th grade - though could be more a reflection of 18th grade - but really I'd like to know how many are in NTC squads before assessing); E. 12-13th grade Boys who played 14th grade - as per D; F. The next age group - FAIL - did ANYTHING happen for 11 year olds this year?
4) Academy 2012 - late September & no-one knows (or certainly is not telling) what the hell is planned...coaches, players, parents. FAIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
5) Club-based academies - FAIL. Not one new one this year?
ACADEMY ISSUES RANT
1) Look, someone has to offer our best players a pathway beyond Mainland Premier league (which is of average quality anyway - can't beat Dndn teams and no Chch club has got very far in Chatham of late). So, I'm FOR the Academy (in lieu of no other player development pathway that seems to be working) on that issue of developing players to a higher level than the local league. I'd love to see more Chch kids playing in decent quality leagues worldwide. If a broad spectrum of local clubs can offer development programs of that quality, then there is no need for Mainland's academy - and that is fine with me too.
2) Clearly there is a problem with current Mainland academy PATHWAY - surely the players spending time in there must have greater aspirations than playing Mainland club football. Otherwise, what is the point? The Danny route (play PDL at local club) is not a good enough reason to invest thousands of $ into supposedly the region's best.
3) Academy 2011. How has it performed? I'd like to see some info shared by Mainland on Academy KPIs. What IS their measure of success? It surely has to be players into NZ squads, NZF's National Talent Centre identification programme, right? But in the absence of any info, I'll give my own grades: A. The eldest girls team - PASS - didn't play in a Saturday league but have still been pretty successful in terms of getting a few (don't know exact numbers) into NZF World Cup training squad; B. 2nd girls team (13-14 year olds) - FAIL - what were they doing playing 14th grade FFS? Should have been 16s at least (could move to PASS if they get good numbers through to NTC); Danny's Boys - if good number into Canterbury Youth - ACHIEVED WITHOUT EXCELLING; otherwise FAIL - see (2) above; D. Ceri's team - TBA - (14-15 year olds seemed to handle themselves at 18th grade - though could be more a reflection of 18th grade - but really I'd like to know how many are in NTC squads before assessing); E. 12-13th grade Boys who played 14th grade - as per D; F. The next age group - FAIL - did ANYTHING happen for 11 year olds this year?
4) Academy 2012 - late September & no-one knows (or certainly is not telling) what the hell is planned...coaches, players, parents. FAIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
5) Club-based academies - FAIL. Not one new one this year?