A bully with power and a bullied person who becomes a bully are two sides of the same coin — both choose to use position over people. Different stories, same damage. One is consistent the other harsher, more unpredictable bc it comes from something personal #Adam
Watched our u21’s lose to Brackley 4-0 could of been 10. It’s been a while since of been at the Higgs. Looking to hold an event soon. Back into coaching.
The system completely failed a talented lad. Coach protected his own interests, paved a golden pathway for his player, and destroyed a genuine talent's environment just to win a petty power struggle.
By the time a coach is done whispering to rival scouts, assistant coaches, and the academy manager, the player walks onto the training pitch feeling like an outsider in their own kit. Every mistake is magnified, and every success is met with silence.
HK & FN will make it Professional bc of the connections & Those that are associated to them (discovered, coached, mentored). It’s more about them. It's their influence and network that elevate the project, more than the players alone. Seen better & more deserving.
@ground_guru A game of chess nowadays. The highlight has gone from being the magic moments to the high press and low block etc. The star man is the Coach, how he set them up and his tactics etc. very boring game to watch. The factory man has lost his smile.
@AcademyDad1 You don't build resilience with suffering, that leads to burnout & trauma. Its in the love & support. Its in the belief. Its in we go again anyway.
That's how so many people get it wrong & ppl working in these environments should fully understand human development. They don't
If players leave your environment loving football less than when they arrived, the impact isn’t positive—no matter the results.
What does it say about your environment?
once you accept the system isn’t clean, you stop relying on it to validate talent.
the system values certainty and familiarity over upside and discovery.
outstanding players outside the system who are better than some inside it.
They double down on the ones picked early.
Proper safeguarding and real accountability are essential in youth sport. Those entrusted with responsibility around young players must be chosen with the utmost care. It’s disappointing when concerns around standards in this area exist.
Seen a post on here and I 💯 agree.
Especially, when you look at how things are planning out. We would’ve had a genuine superstar being mentioned alongside these young, bright prospects.
JJ & Max is his style all over…its meeting the wrong people!!! You build or break talent
How can the system allow individuals to manipulate it for their own gain? The abuse of power and positions is unacceptable, and it’s time for real accountability. The system should protect, not enable, this kind of behavior.
Accountability matters, not silence and avoidance.