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Why aren't certain countries producing top class players anymore?

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Modo

Modo

A contentious scando
Member
Let me just preface this by saying I haven't really done any research, this is basically a lazy observation...

During this international week, I've noticed that certain countries aren't really represented among the top teams in the Premiership the way they used to be.

I'm talking about Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Australia.

How come?

Scotland only has Robbo and McGinn, and both are past their peak.

Wales had a great generation a few years ago with Bale and Ramsey. Their best player now is Brennan Johnson.

Australia hasn't had a PL star since Cahill retired.

The Republic of Ireland's best player is Nathan Collins.

Northern Ireland's most prominent player is Bradley.

Is it more difficult to make it to the Prem nowadays because of how global it's become?
 
Hold on, Ireland have:

Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Declan Rice. Two of them have played games for Ireland before turning heel.

But it can't be easy for players from smaller countries to break into the premier league and so maybe don't get the chance to develop.

What could be interesting is the amount of Scottish players in Italy now. That could help them develop into decent international players.
 
Bradley said:
Hold on, Ireland have:

Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Declan Rice. Two of them have played games for Ireland before turning heel.

But it can't be easy for players from smaller countries to break into the premier league and so maybe don't get the chance to develop.

What could be interesting is the amount of Scottish players in Italy now. That could help them develop into decent international players.
Click to expand...
Yeah, yeah...Grealish and Rice sold you out, I wouldn't even mention them 😊.

Anyway, it was probably tough for Duff, Keane, O'Shea and Given too. Just seems like a massive drop off to me.
 
Ireland's problem is partly what you describe Majestro

- Not getting chances in the PL they used to
- Athletes going into rugby and Gaelic games - especially outside Dublin
- FAI not developing or investing in the game
- Poor grassroots infrastructure
- Corruption within the federation.
- Archaic coaching approach (Still crossing the ball into the box hoping for a goal)

That's how it looks from afar. People closer to home may know better.

I had to deal with the FAI a few years back when they came to America, and STILL 20+ years on from Saipan, it's not a place where professionalism thrives.
 
Same can be said for Italy. They've been on a downward spiral for ages.

Spain, Portugal and France seem to be producing top talents without stop, and funnily enough Norway is one of the countries being looked to at the moment given that we are developing quite a lot of top talent.
 
localny said:
Ireland's problem is partly what you describe Majestro

- Not getting chances in the PL they used to
- Athletes going into rugby and Gaelic games - especially outside Dublin
- FAI not developing or investing in the game
- Poor grassroots infrastructure
- Corruption within the federation.
- Archaic coaching approach (Still crossing the ball into the box hoping for a goal)

That's how it looks from afar. People closer to home may know better.

I had to deal with the FAI a few years back when they came to America, and STILL 20+ years on from Saipan, it's not a place where professionalism thrives.
Click to expand...

The Gaa is getting all the young players from a young age in Dublin too. The set up they have for young players is phenomenal. Other than the point around coaching, which is more of an outcome that is needed at senior level rather than a cause, the rest is about it. We are having way more success in other sports, so young people are more drawn to them. Huge amounts still play football course, but the pathways and opportunities to really develop them were never really developed or modernized. It's needed a shake up for 30 years, and they're still struggling to do it.
 
Because football doesn't wait around for talents to be produced, specifically from those nations you mentioned. Top clubs have the money to buy the best in class instantly.

If we had the big bucks 8-9 years ago, we never would've signed a Robbo and the likelihood is he would've been left to rot away at Hull or some other mid tier club his whole career without ever having an opportunity to hack it at a bigger club.

If you look back to the 80s/90s/00s and see how many big clubs bought players from lower leagues, doesn't happen anymore.
 
Gerry_A_Trick said:
The Gaa is getting all the young players from a young age in Dublin too. The set up they have for young players is phenomenal. Other than the point around coaching, which is more of an outcome that is needed at senior level rather than a cause, the rest is about it. We are having way more success in other sports, so young people are more drawn to them. Huge amounts still play football course, but the pathways and opportunities to really develop them were never really developed or modernized. It's needed a shake up for 30 years, and they're still struggling to do it.
Click to expand...

Yes all my friends have kids in hurling, camogie or gaa. Not as much really in football. And these are not people who themselves grew up with Gaelic games around them.

It feels like it’s not as family friendly or something in the football (soccer) scene.
 
localny said:
Yes all my friends have kids in hurling, camphor or gaa. Not as much really in football. And these are not people who themselves grew up with Gaelic games around them.

It feels like it’s not as family friendly or something in the football (soccer) scene.
Click to expand...

Yep, Gaa have done a great job of becoming part of the community in Dublin. They've always done it in rural areas, but over the last 20 years there's been a seismic shift, in my view, of how they do it in Dublin. The FAI needs to really get a move on, I think we're 10 years from really competing again, and only if they sort their shit out.
 
i can remember years ago at one of those qub inter sport things where gaa / rugby / soccer crowd played each other. the gaa lads narrowly beat the soccer team at soccer, to be fair it was freshman only and half the football team couldn’t be arsed with it as it was arranged for a weird time.

but yea north and south should ban gaa if they want a good football team
 
localny said:
Yes all my friends have kids in hurling, camphor or gaa. Not as much really in football. And these are not people who themselves grew up with Gaelic games around them.

It feels like it’s not as family friendly or something in the football (soccer) scene.
Click to expand...
Your mates keep their kids in moth balls?
 
Another thing about the GAA as a whole is that it seems to be very cheap to send you kids to that vs other sports. I'm not sure if that a legacy from the clubs generally owning the pitches and facilities so can keep costs low and number of participants high.

They also run super cheap kids summer camps that injects a load of new blood into the community as the parents are desperate for cheap childcare. Then to maximise it further, they include a full training kit in the cost, it includes shorts, shirt, hoody thing and bag that is sponspored by Kellogs. It changes every single year, I imagine there's also an appeal to having that gear as well.
 
Modo said:
Let me just preface this by saying I haven't really done any research, this is basically a lazy observation...

During this international week, I've noticed that certain countries aren't really represented among the top teams in the Premiership the way they used to be.

I'm talking about Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Australia.

How come?

Scotland only has Robbo and McGinn, and both are past their peak.

Wales had a great generation a few years ago with Bale and Ramsey. Their best player now is Brennan Johnson.

Australia hasn't had a PL star since Cahill retired.

The Republic of Ireland's best player is Nathan Collins.

Northern Ireland's most prominent player is Bradley.

Is it more difficult to make it to the Prem nowadays because of how global it's become?
Click to expand...
Its a problem worldwide, In the 80's/90's/00's, if a team had a player from Brazil, I would want to follow that team knowing I am gonna see something special . These days I dont get that feeling as most of them from Brazil are turning out average and mainly shit. I tell you all now, if the current Brazil team come up against an average team from any continent there is a chance that Brazil will either draw or lose. In the past decades I would watch Brazil against such sides waiting for moments of magic and them to win by at least 3-0 or something.
 
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