safcftm wrote:Spot on- I was saying earlier (I think in this thread) that the whole approach is wrong- too much emphasis on big, athletic players (either Carroll types, or the likes of Walcott, SWP, Lennon who can run fast as fuck but can hardly control a football), too quick to progress to full size pitches (where again the quick players flourish at a young age and the physical players flourish), not enough games with a maximum of 2 or 3 touches (so players get used to controlling the ball first time, one touch to move it to the side, then pick a pass), not enough games where the ball isnt allowed above head height so there is too much of a tendency to hoof it to the big lad up front etc.
I came across an article a while ago about a british coach with a different outlook and it has been brought up again so i thought i'd copy it here, it highlights a lot of what is wrong- this is the kind of person the FA should be bringing in, not the likes of Carragher, Pearce etc (its a long article, but its pretty good):
Roger Spry is probably the most famous English football coach you've never heard of.
I know the bloke. Well, I know of him. He works for the ÖFB, the Austrian Football Association ( you'll just have to believe me about the initials ), and has just extended his contract. Very well thought of in Austria.
Actually probably well thought of everywhere, if you know of him. Very impressed.
Yes, it is amazing how held back England and the training methods are.
Case in point: Arsene Wenger comes to England, and with one idea...
...he revolutionises the whole of English football.Arsene Wenger wrote: "I think in England you eat too much sugar and meat and not enough vegetables."

Seriously though, the English need a wake-up call, and fast.