Over the past couple of months, I've travelled a lot. I have visited some of the top academies around Europe to learn more about how they develop their players. I've presented at conferences and met with owners, sporting directors, and heads of recruitment to get their take on academy football. I've sat with people from FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League, and we've discussed the philosophies that underpin academy football.
Do we medicate the fish or clean the tank?
I hear a lot of discussion about culture in clubs - clubs love to find "culture carriers" for their teams, but how often do they reflect on the environments that have given rise to certain cultures?
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"It's a huge challenge, and it's one that we face every single day"
From a player's and family perspective, if others are protecting their own position, then you have no choice but to do the same. Where is your evidence that you are good enough?
What happens when clubs get releases wrong?
A release is a moment in time. One point in a long process. A chance to be honest and reflect. A chance to critique feedback and re-prioritise.
Extreme Ownership
In ownership comes a level of freedom we can't accomplish without some hard work.