I noticed you mention this before. How do you think we are a mixture (in other words, what are we taking and leaving from each approach) and do you think it works well for us and the youth players or should we be going one way or another?
We tend to still focus a lot on results even at younger age groups compared to other clubs. For example, in simple terms, Utd will encourage centre halves to dribble out like Stones and if they lose it and costs them a goal it doesn't matter, just try the same again. Players don't have to pass, if they fancy a run, have 1, show your own talents off. They don't tell the younger ages how to play, they're letting them manage themselves in academy fixtures, organise themselves, agree how they are going to play and the coaches just watch. There not putting structure into training and doing hours and hours on tactics such as playing off a strong centre forward and getting runners around him, they just play lots of internal 4 aside small games so the kids have loads of time on the ball and lots of chances to express themselves. Something we've even heard form Martinez recent what these clubs do is not tell the players not to do something, they let them do it, make the mistake and see if they learn for themselves. they want them to make mistakes as they believe it's the best way to learn. If you tell them not to do something then they become like robots and can't think for themselves when they are older which is part of why they let them pick there own teams and tactics.
We are a lot more results driven, kids are told to lump it if under pressure, we don't really want them making mistakes in games anyway and we tend to have a lot of athletic / stronger kids and to a degree it works for us as we are good we do seem to attract the better players after City cause like anything the better players want to play for the best teams. If you get the best kids then you have the best chance of finding the next top players although coaching wise I feel we are a mixture between developing teams and individuals. Our younger teams have the same players playing the same positions week in week out and look a lot more like a professional team when they play as everyone knows there job and must be doing it.
I have seen some unbelievable development in players due to good coaching though and it's very rare the best players now are even the best players in 12 months time when we're taking about kids still in school.
Clubs aren't really looking for pace, power and strength anymore when scouting, if you excel in that department only you may have a 20% chance of getting signed. It's all about technique, if you have loads of that and are comfortable on the ball you'll get your chance at a club if you have even average pace and strength.
