Some of what SN writes makes me think, but much of his scribblings have the fact checking of a Trump public address.
Italiano does have coaching experience. What he lacks is any experience playing the game at a high level. But that to me shows he can coach, having to do the hard yards from the grass roots upwards. You have to work harder to earn people's respect without the leg up of a known playing career. He gives hope to all roly poly 40 year olds who never got above Cap Prem Division 4, but reckon they know the game of football.
And those stats above re the lack of young player mins at both the Nix, and ALM generally this season is interesting. The Nix gave about 7-10 ALM debuts last season to young players when stuck in Aus, in the last Covid affected campaign. Most didn't cut the mustard (for now anyways). Someone like George Ott may get a 2nd crack at it. But yeah I hope they are not becoming too complacent in the Weenix Academy with all the kudos they have received the last few years. Likes of CCM & Adelaide have done far better this season in the youth space. I'm sure Temple, Falloon, Greenacre & Co will be looking at what can they do better.
Maybe alot of current crop had their development curtailed with no proper National Leagues in 2020 & 2021 (just CL football), plus no U17 & U20 age group World Cups over those years either, ie Covid slowed their potential development
Re the ALM as a whole, for young players the new National Second Division (NSD) can't come soon enough. Hopefully some Kiwis get the chance to play in it.
