Also fairly common for careers to disappoint after being rushed in too early
James Vaughan, Smith-Rowe,
Even Owen to a certain extent. He was basically broken by 24.
I think there are many more aspects than talent or footballing ability they need to have at that age for it to be a safe, wise decision. First of all the physical side. Rooney was strong as an ox at 16 and would bully first team centre backs already. Bellingham too. Then there’s the mental side of it. Maturity. Being ready to deal with failure as well as success under intense media scrutiny. Look at the difference between Schwartau and Jurasek and how they have reacted to adversity.
And finally the technical aspects of the game - reading it, positioning, patterns - if you get those wrong or hesitate to think about it then it’s far more likely you can make a mistake and get the crowd on your back, or even get injured.
Posted By: Legacy Fan on March 17th 2026 at 10:37:41
Message Thread
- Youth-ready or not (NCFC) - Molmans Custard, Mar 17, 10:01:27
- It all makes sense (NCFC) - Molmans Custard, Mar 17, 11:09:21
- England have argueably their greatest ever group of players, especially attacking (NCFC) - Knitted Jesus, Mar 17, 14:44:28
- Look at Nwaneri and Lewis Skelly, they had a nibble but (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Mar 17, 10:11:21
- Playing first team football at 16 and 17 is still very rare tbf (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 17, 10:06:53
- The big clubs have massive academies.... (NCFC) - MORDENCANARY, Mar 17, 12:01:22
- For every one that makes it at a big academy hundreds don't (n/m) (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Mar 17, 13:24:06
- Yes but even with low odds the big ones will produce a few. (NCFC) - MORDENCANARY, Mar 17, 15:10:24
- For every one that makes it at a big academy hundreds don't (n/m) (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Mar 17, 13:24:06
- Also fairly common for careers to disappoint after being rushed in too early (NCFC) - Legacy Fan, Mar 17, 10:37:41
- And Dowman and Ngumoha are being very carefully managed (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 17, 10:46:46
- The big clubs have massive academies.... (NCFC) - MORDENCANARY, Mar 17, 12:01:22
- Our 19 year olds not as talent as elite prem clubs most talented 16’s… (NCFC) - loz, Mar 17, 10:04:31
- It all makes sense (NCFC) - Molmans Custard, Mar 17, 11:09:21
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