Barca victory a template for Everton?

[Bruce Wayne]

Of the Barca side that defeated Man Utd last night, 7 of the 11 starters graduated from the youth system at the club. Surely a template for us to follow?

 

[Rugby Toffee]

In theory....but the whole teams movement was outstanding, pass and move at another level. In my experience youth football today has still not reached those heights. I watch a load of kids footie and still see long ball etc. But in saying that I have seen an improvement in the passing side of the game at that level.

 

[kenada_blue]

Unless we do what Arsenal do and bring foreign kids in and bring them through the youth system (Barca also do this), we've never going to have British kids that are technically at the same level…ever.

That's the problem for all clubs and their academy's. I think its just ground deep into the DNA of kids who play football in this country, where as kids in Spain or from South America have some thing completely different in their DNA.

They start playing football with tennis balls because they cant afford footballs. The kids in this country start with almost full size footballs….and the list goes on and on. I just wont happen for a loooong time.

Just look at the England squad under Capello, an expert class manager who's won countless trophies across Europe. Even he cant make Lamapard and Gerrard play together for eg and the team is miles away from being as good techinically as Spain or even Holland.

 

[Desaparecido]

I don't think it's as unchangeable as all that. Whatever the 'Everton Way' is - I don't really know. But coaching in a consistent style produces players with similar attributes I reckon.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

All about the culture though isn't it? Cruyff instigated this passing culture at Barca and every team since him as employed the same approach.

I feel that Moyes is trying to do the same thing here at Everton.

 

[Desaparecido]

All about the culture though isn't it? Cruyff instigated this passing culture at Barca and every team since him as employed the same approach.

I feel that Moyes is trying to do the same thing here at Everton.

What do you think the 'culture' is that Moyes is instigating?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I don't think it's as unchangeable as all that. Whatever the 'Everton Way' is - I don't really know. But coaching in a consistent style produces players with similar attributes I reckon.

Exactly. If you look at English players now compared to a few decades ago the difference is enormous. Youth development as an area is still very poor though in many instances and so I think it is a real opportunity for us as a club.

 

[Azzbot]

Get a big challenge in early, neville hard on drogba, get the crowd goin' even more than they will already be and weel be on our way!

 

[NeoNaoNeo]

The way Barca do it is they have their formation and their style of play. They cherrypick the best players in the world because of their stature as one of the biggest clubs in the game, and using their financial clout, then they bring kids up from like the age of 6 to play a specific position in the Barca 4-3-3. Like Arteta was brought up to play the Guardiola role, Bojan is being nursed as a centre forward, Messi as the winger, Xavi and Iniesta in the passing/attacking midfield roles etc.

I think it's a bit hard to copy in our position.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Barca don't cherry pick youngsters from around the world though. If anything, other clubs cherry pick their youngsters. Fabregas, Pique, Alonso, Arteta, Reina et al have all left the Barca academy for elsewhere.

 

[caught]

There's certainly an evolving fluidity to our game. Clearly Moyes is encouraging an intelligent pass-and-move style in the first team, so it makes reasonable sense that he'll try to filter that through the reserve and youth sides. It's noticeable that the younger players coming through now (Rodwell, Gosling, Baxter and Wallace specifically) are more comfortable and confident on the ball, more considerate and thoughtful in their passing, than a lot of the senior first teamers over the last few years.

He seems to be in this for the long term, and he seems to be determined to win trophies. The only logical way he can do that here is to develop his squad through youth and scouting systems that are superior to those of other teams. If that's going to be "the Everton way" then I'm pretty happy. However, at the moment we're at a sort of embryonic stage: we have a crop of promising teenagers that have come through our academy and a handfull of recent young recruits that are showing promise. It will probably be another two years before we can come to any conclusions.

 

[Desaparecido]

Barca certainly do have an advantage recruiting the best young players, perhaps not financial, more reputation.

I wonder what they get taught in the everton way.

 

[Nebbiolo]

Of the Barca side that defeated Man Utd last night, 7 of the 11 starters graduated from the youth system at the club. Surely a template for us to follow?

Definitely a blueprint to follow. Clearly we won't be able to attract every single great talent, but there has to be a pool of excellent young lads out there that can be ushered into the club. We'll need to scout outside of the UK, though. But it's entirely possible, it just needs handling with care and professionalism.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Definitely a blueprint to follow. Clearly we won't be able to attract every single great talent, but there has to be a pool of excellent young lads out there that can be ushered into the club. We'll need to scout outside of the UK, though. But it's entirely possible, it just needs handling with care and professionalism.

And judging by the recruitment policy this summer it seems one we are going after. It would be great if it materialises.

 

[NeoNaoNeo]

Barca don't cherry pick youngsters from around the world though. If anything, other clubs cherry pick their youngsters. Fabregas, Pique, Alonso, Arteta, Reina et al have all left the Barca academy for elsewhere.

Alonso, Reina, and Arteta aren't Catalan though. So ofcourse they cherrypicked them. Same with Messi. They got them right from when they were children, purely because they're Barcelona, and which dad wouldn't want his son at their academy?

This isn't something that can be imitated.