MaineDAWG2008
Well-Known Member
Was just on my way home yesterday from the gym and my route takes me past a few football pitches in Amsterdam Noord. I happened to notice a few local teams playing on the pitches, full sized articial pitch that is, and even though I have coached kids before, I'd thought I'd go watch a few of the local dutch youth teams play. Albeit the level looked like your normal local youth saturday teams playing but what took me back was the technical ability of these kids. These kids were on another level, believe me....They were under 11's but jeeez, it was like watching a premier league match. The passing, the movement, off the ball, their set peices, the defending, etc. I could go on and on.
These kids were something, in particular this black kid, it was like watching SWP in action. This boy was weaving round players for fun, his ball control and movement brought me to ask one of the parents who he was. Communication was abit of a problem so couldnt really put into context who exactly he was, but i did make out that maybe Almere FC were interested?!. If I was a city scout, id have him and the other players at city anyday. Anyhows, this boy scored 2 goals this game. And as for the other kids that were playing, there seems to be more and more moroccans and turkish kids playing for the local teams and well their ability is also something to admire. As we know the arabs seem to be bigger build than the dutch, and well this defender for the oposing team caught my eye, he reminded me of Samba for blackburn. Big, strong and mobile.
Gotta say, the dutch team will continue to produce excellent talent no doubt about it. Their vision of youth football and ofcourse philosophy is quite technical. They are taught the basics from a very young age and then develop this to a higher level whilst also having fun. Whereas when I coached the under 10's 2 years ago in UK, it was totally different. Kids are told to go have fun and leave it to that. No emphasis on skill, movement, passing, etc.
City scouts should come to the Netherlands and check out the talent.
These kids were something, in particular this black kid, it was like watching SWP in action. This boy was weaving round players for fun, his ball control and movement brought me to ask one of the parents who he was. Communication was abit of a problem so couldnt really put into context who exactly he was, but i did make out that maybe Almere FC were interested?!. If I was a city scout, id have him and the other players at city anyday. Anyhows, this boy scored 2 goals this game. And as for the other kids that were playing, there seems to be more and more moroccans and turkish kids playing for the local teams and well their ability is also something to admire. As we know the arabs seem to be bigger build than the dutch, and well this defender for the oposing team caught my eye, he reminded me of Samba for blackburn. Big, strong and mobile.
Gotta say, the dutch team will continue to produce excellent talent no doubt about it. Their vision of youth football and ofcourse philosophy is quite technical. They are taught the basics from a very young age and then develop this to a higher level whilst also having fun. Whereas when I coached the under 10's 2 years ago in UK, it was totally different. Kids are told to go have fun and leave it to that. No emphasis on skill, movement, passing, etc.
City scouts should come to the Netherlands and check out the talent.