How it started. How it’s going.

We were:

1. Building up the academy and youth development and starting to see progress, players coming through and either being part of the first team or moving on for decent money and having good careers.

2. Developing a style of play throughout all the levels of the NCFC system, it was clearly visible. The short, fast and progressive passing, player rotation and flexibility produced some of the best football we’ve seen.

3. Making a big show of this “philosophy”. Sticking to it, because that’s what we believed in.

4. Scouting worldwide (or at least Europe wide) using data and good analysis to pick up promising players. Maddison, Buendía, Pukki, Godfrey and others are all examples of this.

We are:

1. Still showing signs of a youth development policy, though it seems much more “throw it at the wall and see what sticks”.

2. Not showing any signs of any footballing style whatsoever. The Guardian report of yesterday’s match (I can’t call it a game) sums it up pretty aptly.

3. Not adhering to any kind of core value when it comes to football, only mentioning “self-funding model” when pressed as an automatic response / excuse.

4. Anyone? Fucked if I know.

Posted By: APB, Dec 29, 14:07:37